FWS/OBS·82/10.44

AUGUST 1983

f tlter

d

506

HABITAT SUITABILITY INDEX MODELS:

BAIRD'S SPARROW

Fish and Wildlife Service

u.s. Department of the Interior

FWS/OBS-82/10.44

August 1983

HABITAT SUITABILITY INDEX MODELS: BAIRD'S SPARROW

by

Patrick J. Sousa

and

W. Neil McDonal

Habitat Evaluation Procedures Group

Western Energy and Land Use Team

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Drake Creekside BUilding One

2627 Redwing Road

Fort Collins, CO 80526-2899

Western Energy and Land Use Team

Division of Biological Services

Research and Development

Fish anq Wildlife Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Washington, DC 20240
This report should be cited as:

Sousa, P. J., and W. N. McDonal. 1983. Habitat suitability index models:

Baird's sparrow. U.S. Dept. Int., Fish Wildl. Servo FWS/OBS-82/l0.44.

12 pp.
PREFACE

This document is part of the Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) Model Series

(FWS/OBS-82/10), which provides habitat information useful for impact assessment and habitat management. Several types of habitat information are

provided. The Habitat Use Information Section is largely constrained to those

data that can be used to derive quantitative relationships between key environmental variables and habitat suitability. The habitat use information provides

the foundation for HSI models that follow. In addition, this same information

may be useful in the development of other model s more appropriate to specific

assessment or evaluation needs.

The HSI Model Section documents a habitat model and information pertinent

to its application. The model synthesizes the habitat use information into a

framework appropriate for field application and is scaled to produce an index

value between 0.0 (unsuitable habitat) and 1.0 (optimum habitat). The applicati on i nformat ion i ncl udes descri pt ions of the· geographi c ranges and seasonal

application of the model, its current verification status, and a listing of

model variables with recommended measurement techniques for each variable.

In essence, the model presented herein is a hypothesis of species-habitat

relationships and not a statement of proven cause and effect relationships.

Results of model performance tests, when available, are referenced. However,

model s that have demonstrated rel iabil ity in specific situations may prove

unreliable in others. For this reason, feedback is encouraged from users of

this model concerning improvements and other suggestions that may increase the

utility and effectiveness of this habitat-based approach to fish and wildlife

planning. Please send suggestions to:

Habitat Evaluation Procedures Group

Western Energy and Land Use Team

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

2627 Redwing Road

Ft. Collins, CO 80526-2899

iii
iv
CONTENTS

Page

PREFACE iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vi

HABITAT USE INFORMATION................................................ 1

Genera 1 1

Food 1

Water 1

Cover 1

Reproduct ion 1

Interspersion..................................................... 4

HABITAT SUITABILITY INDEX (HSI) MODEL....... 4

Model Applicability 4

Model Description................................................. 6

Model Relationships............................................... 8

Appl ication of the Model 9

SOURCES OF OTHER MODELS 10

REFERENCES 10

v
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Harold Kantrud and Craig Faanes, both of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service l s Northern Prairie Wildl ife Research Center, reviewed earl ier drafts

of an HSI model for the Baird's sparrow. Their review comments have added

significantly to the quality of this HSI model, and their efforts are

gratefully acknowledged.

The cover of this document was illustrated by Jennifer Shoemaker. Word

processing was provided by Dora Ibarra and Carolyn Gulzow.

Funding for tne development of this model was provided to the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service's Habitat Resources Program (Region 6) by the U.S. Bureau

of Reclamation under the provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act.

Additional funds were provided by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Program

Related Engineering and Scientific Studies - Environmental, Evaluation, and

Planning Project.

vi
BAIRD!S SPARROW (Ammodramus bairdii)

HABITAT USE INFORMATION

General

The Baird's sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii) is principally found in native

prairie and other habitats of similar structure in Montana, North and South

Dakota, and the Canadian provi nces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan

(Cartwright et al. 1937). The Baird's sparrow has a disjunct distribution in

the U.S. Northern Great Plains, with highest breeding densities in northwestern

North Dakota, northeastern Montana, and the northwestern portions of the Great

Plains (Kantrud 1982). Winter range includes Arizona, New Mexico, western

Texas, and northern Mexico (Lane 1968).

Food

Small insects are the principal food of the Baird ' s sparrow during the

breeding season (Cartwright et al. 1937), although the winter diet probably

consists primarily of weed seeds (Lane 1968). Nestlings are fed a variety of

insects, with grasshoppers (Orthoptera) forming the bulk of the diet

(Cartwright et al. 1937). Grasshoppers accounted for 64% of the nestling food

items in Saskatchewan, while spiders (Araneae) made up 16% of the food items

(Maher 1979).

Water

A population of Baird's sparrows in Manitoba studied by Cartwright et al.

(1937) was located greater than 1.6 km (1.0 mile) from a water source; dew

provided the only water. The proximity of standing water is apparently not a

critical factor in determining habitat selection by the Baird's sparrow,

although well-drained sites appear to be preferred over wetter sites (Lane

1968) .

Cover

Cover needs during the breeding season are described in the following

section. No description of winter habitat requirements for the Baird's sparrow

was located in the literature.

Reproduction

Stewart (1975:255) described optimum natural habitats for the Baird's

sparrow as II ••• extensive, idle, or lightly grazed tracts of mixed-grass prairie

and local pockets of wet-meadow zone or tall-grass prairie along the periphery

of pra i ri e ponds and 1akes or along i ntermi ttent streams. II Mi dhei ght bunch

1
grasses, with a short grass understory and dense litter, provide nesting

habitat (Kantrud, pers. comm.).

The Baird's sparrow has been described as inhabiting open grasslands with

abundant residual vegetation (i .e., dead herbaceous vegetation from the

previous growing season) (Salt and Salt 1976). Baird's sparrow territories in

North Dakota grass 1ands were characteri zed by mean 100% vi sua1 obstruction

(Robel et al. 1970) of residual vegetation of 1.3 ± 0.06 dm (5.1 ± 0.24 inches)

(Renken 1983). However, this was not significantly different from visual

obstruction measurements in grasslands without Baird's sparrow territories,

nor significantly different from unused portions of the territories. The only

difference in structural characteristics between used and unused portions of

territories was a sl ightly greater coverage of 1itter on used portions.

Optimum habitat has been described as mixed grass prairie with visual

obstruction measurements from 2 to 4 dm (7.9 to 15.7 inches) during the nest

construction period in May, and a mean height range of 2.5 to 10 dm (9.8 to

39.4 inches) for the dominant midgrasses during the breeding season (Kantrud,

pers. comm.). Increasing vegetative height or density beyond these levels may

impede movement and decrease the value of the habitat. The highest breeding

densities observed by Kantrud and Kologiski (1982) occurred on lightly grazed

habitats with soils classified as typic borolls. The height of herbaceous

vegetation on these sites averaged 30 cm (12 inches), and the average amount

of bare soil on these sites was only 5%. The dominant vegetative canopy on

undisturbed native fescue (Festuca scabrella) grasslands preferred by the

Baird's sparrow in Alberta was greater than -20 cm (7.9 inches) in June and

July, while disturbed habitats unused by Baird's sparrow had dominant vegetative heights of less than 20 tm (7.9 inches) in June and July (Owens and Myres

1973). Baird's sparrows in Saskatchewan preferred grasslands that lacked

shrubs (Maher 1979). Renken (1983) suggested that breeding Baird's sparrows

are not associated with shrubs. Breeding Baird's sparrows were not found on

idle native prairie in her North Dakota study area, but were found on grazed

native prairie and areas planted with dense nesting cover. Idle native prairie

averaged 18% shrub cover while grazed prairie and areas of dense nesting cover

had a shrub cover of only 0.9 and 0.1%, respectively. A canopy cover of tall

shrubs [greater than 1 m (3.3 ft)] that exceeds 25% has a strong negative

i nfl uence on the habitat suitabil ity for the Ba i rd ' s sparrow (Kantrud, pers.

comm.), although males use scattered shrubs as song perches (Cartwright et al.

1937; Lane 1968).

Territories of Baird's sparrow in undisturbed native fescue grasslands in

Alberta ranged from 3 to 9 per 16.2 ha (40 acres) (Owens and Myres 1973). No

territories were located on study plots classified as mowed, grazed, fallow,

or seeded. In the same study area, results of roadside surveys through native

grassland and cultivated routes indicated that approximately seven times as

many Baird's sparrows occurred on the native grassland route. Significantly

more Baird's sparrow territories occurred on undisturbed sites than on either

grazed or cultivated sites, and more occurred on grazed sites than on cultivated sites. In cultivated or heavily grazed areas, Ba i rdvs sparrows were

restricted to dense stands of tame hay or to the denser grass present in

low-lying areas. The species is considered to be " ... most susceptible to

habi tat change brought about by agri culture" (Owens and Myres 1973: 709).

2
Baird's sparrows in Manitoba were also considered to be extremely sensitive to

cultivation, mowing, and burning, although grazed habitats were used

(Cartwright et al. 1937).

Baird's sparrows on native grasslands in North Dakota were equally

abundant in areas of light or moderate grazing, but were less abundant on

heavily grazed sites (Kantrud 1981). Baird's sparrows preferred lightly

grazed or ungrazed mixed prairies in Alberta (Karuziak et al. 1977 ci t ed by

Kirsch et al. 1978) and ungrazed prairies in Saskatchewan (Maher 1973).

Breeding pairs of Baird's sparrows on uncultivated grasslands in the Northern

Great Plains were twice as common on 1ightly grazed sites as on moderately

grazed sites and three times as common on lightly grazed sites as on heavily

grazed sites (Kantrud and Kologiski 1982). Stewart (1975) stated that heavily

grazed grasslands may be used by the Baird's sparrow, but only to a 1imited

extent. The impact of grazing is reduced in areas containing patches or

clumps of unpalatable grasses or short shrubs (Kantrud, pers. comm.).

Grazing impacts may vary across the range of the Baird's sparrow. Idle

grasslands may support highest concentrations in arid areas, while lightly or

moderately grazed grasslands may attract highest densities in the moister,

eastern parts of the range (Kantrud, pers. comm.). Grazing or burning may

increase the use of long-idled mixed grass prairie of the mesic type that has

become heavily dominated by introduced cool season grasses or native shrubs.

Baird's sparrows are found in other agricultural areas, including fallow

or currently unmowed hayfields (Kantrud 1981), retired croplands, or fields of

domestic grasses and legumes (Stewart 1975). Their order of decreasing value

as habitat for the Baird's sparrow is as follows: areas seeded to native

grasses; idle tame grasses or retired cropland; grazed tame grasses; mowed

native or tame grasses; alfalfa; and croplands (Kantrud, pers. comm.).

Moist sites may be used more extensively in dry years or in the more arid

parts of the range (Salt and Salt 1976; Kantrud pers. comm.), although Lane

(1968) concluded that the species prefers well-drained sites. An apparent

southward expansion of the breeding range may have resulted from the increased

he i ght and den s i ty of vegetation duri ng a wet peri od (Kantrud and Faanes

1979).

Kantrud and Kologiski (1982:17) describe optimum habitat for the Baird's

sparrow as " ... lightly grazed grassland on typic bcro l l s ." These boroll soils

are the cool or cold soils of the organically rich, fertile Mollisol order,

common to prairie vegetation (Brady 1974). The highest densities of Baird's

sparrows were on typic borolls, followed by drier aridic borolls, with the

warmer ustolls and the cold, dry borollic Aridisols having the lowest measurable sparrow population of the soils studied (Kantrud and Kologiski 1982).

The distribution of these soils in the Northern Great Plains is shown in

Kantrud and Kologiski (1982) and Kantrud (1982). Dominant plants that occurred

in greater than average abundance on plots with the highest densities of

Baird's sparrows included spikemoss selaginella (Selaginella densa), fringed

3
sagebrush (Artemisia frigida), junegrass (Koeleria pyramidata), and needle-andthread (Stipa comata) (Kantrud and Kologiski 1982). Stewart (1975) listed the

following plants as characteristic of the mixed-grass prairie habitat used by

the Baird's sparrow: blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis); needle-and-thread;

green needlegrass (Stipa viridula); western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii);

little bluestem (Andropogon scoparius); prairie junegrass (Koeleria cristata);

and needleleaf sedge (Carex stenophylla).

Interspersion

Male Baird's sparrows were reported defending territories of approximately

0.4 to 0.8 ha (1 to 2 acres) (Lane 1968).

Maximum reported breeding densities of Baird's sparrows are 11.5 pairs/

40 ha (100 acres) on ungrazed grasslands in Saskatchewan (Maher 1979),

13.8 pairs/40 ha in North Dakota (Stewart and Kantrud 1972), and 22.5 pairs/

40 ha of undisturbed grasslands in Alberta (Owens and Myres 1973). The average

density on grazed grasslands in Saskatchewan was 2.1 pairs/40 ha (100 acres)

(Maher 1979), while the statewide average density of Baird's sparrows in North

Dakota was 0.8 pairs/40 ha (Stewart and Kantrud 1972). Renken (1983) estimated

3.8 territorial males/40 ha (100 acres) on grazed native prairie in North

Dakota and 2.1 males/40 ha on areas planted with dense nesting cover. However,

territories on grazed plots were established prior to grazing on sites that

had been ungrazed for 3 to 4 years prior to the study.

HABITAT SUITABILITY INDEX (HSI) MODEL

Model Applicability

Geographic area. This HSI model was developed for application throughout

the breeding range of the Baird's sparrow (Fig. 1). The breeding range map

depicted in Figure 1 was developed from several sources (American Ornithologists' Union 1957; Peterson 1980; Kantrud 1982), and the boundaries should be

considered approximations of the breeding range of the Baird's sparrow in the

United States. However, Baird's sparrow populations are not uniformly distributed throughout thi s range; a more deta i 1ed map of breedi ng di stri bution in

the U.S. Northern Great Plains may be found in Kantrud (1982:26), The breeding

range is II... from southern Alberta , southern Saskatchewan ... , and

southern Manitoba ... south to Montana , northwestern and central South

Dakota ... , southeastern North Dakota , and central western Mi nnesota"

(American Ornithologists' Union 1957:542).

4
Figure 1. Geographic applicability of the Baird's sparrow HSI model

in the United States.

Season. This HSI model was developed to evaluate the quality of habitat

for the Baird's sparrow during the breeding season (late May through

mid-August).

Cover types. This model was developed to evaluate habitat in the following cover types (terminology follows that of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

1981): Grassland (G); Pasture/Hayland (P/H); and Deciduous Shrub Savanna

(OSS).

Minimum habitat area. Minimum habitat area is defined as the rm ninum

amount of contiguous habitat that is required before an area will be occupied

by a species. Territories of male Baird's sparrows range from approximately

0.4 to 0.8 ha (l to 2 acres). Based on this information, it is assumed that

there must be at least 0.8 ha (2 acres) of potential habitat (i.e., the cover

types listed above) before an area will be occupied by this species. If an

area has less than 0.8 ha (2 acres) of potential habitat available, the HSI

for the Baird's sparrow is assumed to be 0.0. Although the minimum habitat

area is probably greater than 0.8 ha (2 acres) (Faanes, pers. comm.), no

information was found in the literature to more accurately define the minimum

habitat area.

Verification level. Previous drafts of this model were reviewed by

Harold Kantrud and Craig Faanes, and their comments have been incorporated

into thi s model.

5
Model Description

Overview. All of the breeding habitat requirements of the Baird's sparrow

can be satisfied within grasslands or areas where grasses are the dominant

vegetation. Water is not included as a life requisite in this model since no

data on water requirements for the Baird's sparrow were located in the

1iterature. Food needs are assumed to be described by the same habitat

variables that describe cover and reproduction.

The following section identifies important habitat variables, describes

suitability levels of the variables, and describes the relationships between

variables. The relationship between habitat variables, life requisites, and

cover types used in this model and an HSI value for the Baird's sparrow is

shown in Figure 2.

Habitat variables Life requisites Cover types

Maximum height of the

grass canopy during

the growing season.>

Cover/Reproduction ---

Average visual obstruction of residual

vegetation

Grassland

Pasture/hayland

Deciduous shrub

savanna

--HSI

Figure 2. Relationship of habitat variables, life requisites,

and cover types in the Baird's sparrow HSI model.

Cover/reproduction component. The Baird's sparrow is found primarily in

areas with vegetative structure similar to that of native grasslands. This

includes prairie grasses with dense residual vegetation, an upper stratum of

midgrasses, and an understory of short grasses.

The suitability of a given habitat for the Baird's sparrow is apparently

a function of the grassland structure rather than species composition. In

arid portions of the range of the Baird's sparrow, undisturbed grasslands

likely are preferred, while lightly grazed sites are preferred in the moister

portions of the range (Kantrud,pers. comm.). Moist sites are used during dry

periods (Salt and Salt 1976) and probably provide the only habitat in the

driest portions of the range (Kantrud, pers. comm.). A southward expansion of

the breeding range was an apparent response to changes in vegetative structure

duri ng a peri od of wet years (Kantrud and Faanes 1979). It is assumed that

these responses to habitat differences reflect a response to the height and

density of vegetation.

6
Several characteristics can be used to define the structure of grassland

habitats (e.g., stem density, canopy cover, height, or residual vegetation).

Only height and amount of residual vegetation are considered in this model.

These two characteristics are easily measured or estimated and are related to

other habitat characteristics (e.g., stem density is reflected in the amount

of residual vegetation). Highest densities of Baird's sparrows on undisturbed

grasslands occurred where the average vegetative height was about 30 cm

(12 inches) (Kantrud and Kologiski 1982). Preferred habitat in Alberta was

characterized by a dominant vegetative layer in excess of 20 cm (8 inches) in

June and July (Owens and Myres 1973). Kantrud (pers. comm.) considered optimum

height conditions to be between 0.25 and 1.0 m (0.8 to 3.3 ft). Based on this

information, optimum vegetative height is assumed to exist if the maximum

height during the growing season exceeds 25 cm (10 inches). Heights in excess

of 1.0 m (3.3 ft) are assumed to restrict movement, although such conditions

are unlikely to exist. Heights less than 10 cm (4 inches) are assumed to

provide inadequate cover for Baird's sparrows.

In addition to grasses of a certain height, Baird's sparrows require

habitats with a large amount of residual vegetation in order to have optimum

habitat conditions. Dense residual vegetation at ground level provides cover

for nests (Kantrud, pers. comm.) and also can provide early spring cover

before new growth is of sufficient height to provide concealment. Visual

obstruction measurements (Robel et al. 1970) have been used to quantify the

amounts of residual vegetation available. Renken (1983) associated Baird's

sparrows with visual obstruction measurements of residual vegetation of 1.3 ±

0.06 dm (5.1 ± 0.24 inches), and Kantrud (pers. comm.) considered optimum

visual obstruction measurements to range from 2 to 4 dm (7.9 to 15.7 inches).

In this model, grasslands with average visual obstruction measurements of less

than 0.5 dm (2.0 inches) are assumed to be unsuitable for Baird's sparrows,

while grasslands with average visual obstruction measurements between 1.5 dm

(5.9 inches) and 4 dm (15.7 inChes) are assumed to represent optimum residual

vegetation conditions. It is possible that extremely dense residual vegetation

inhibits use by Baird's sparrows. However, in the absence of any evidence to

support this possibility, it is assumed in this model that visual obstruction

measurements of residual vegetation greater than 4 dm (15.7 inches) also

represent optimum conditions.

Agricultural activities are not directly evaluated with this model.

However, the hei ght of vegetation and the amount of residual vegetation are

reflections of the type and extent of agricultural activity. For example, a

mowed field may have adequate height but very little residual vegetation. A

grassland used for early summer pasture may have adequate residual vegetation

but insufficient vegetative height, while late summer grazing may result in

adequate height throughout much of the breeding season but leave insufficient

residual vegetation. Because Baird's sparrows require suitable levels of both

vegetative height and residual vegetation, and because one of these variables

may be suitable while the other is unsuitable, the overall cover value of the

habitat is assumed to be limited by the variable with the lowest suitability

level.

7
Shrubs may have a significant negative impact on habitat suitability for

Baird's sparrows if shrub canopy cover exceeds 25% (Kantrud, pers. comm.).

However, shrub canopy cover is not included as a habitat variable in this

model because the only cover type with shrubs that is considered in this model

is deciduous shrub savanna (OSS), which, by definition, has a shrub canopy

cover of 5 to 25% with areas between shrubs dominated by grasses (U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service 1981). Habitat suitability within the OSS cover type

can, therefore, be evaluated by the vegetative height and residual vegetation

variables described above.

Model Relationships

Suitability Index (SI) graphs for habitat variables. This

tains suitability index graphs that illustrate the habitat

described in the previous section.

section conrelationships

Cover

type

G,P/H,OSS

Variable

Maximum height of

the dominant grass

canopy during the

growing season.

1.0

x

Q)

-0

s:: 0.8 ......

>,

0.6 ......

..0

co 0.4

(/)

0.2

8

o

o

10

4

20

8

30

12

40+(crn)

16+(in)
G,P/H,DSS Average visual

obstruction of

res1dual vegetation (measured

prior to spring

growth of new

herbaceous

vegetation).

x

Q)

-c

oS 0.8

»

+-'

;:: 0.6

..c

.B 0.4 .....

V)

0.2

o

o

0.5

2

1.0

4

1.5

6

2.0+(dm)

8+ (i n)

Equation. As discussed under Model Description, the cover value for the

Baird's sparrow in grassland, pasture/hayland, or deciduous shrub savanna is

assumed to equal the lowest suitability index (S1) for the two variables in

this model:

HSI determination. The cover/reproduction value determined in this model

is assumed to represent the food, reproductive, and cover needs of the Baird's

sparrow duri ng the breedi ng season. The HSI, therefore, equa 1s the cover/

reproduction value.

Application of the Model

Use of this model presents a potential problem in that the two critical

habitat variables are most easily and accurately measured at different times

of the year. Estimates of residual vegetation are best made prior to development of new spring growth, while estimates of the maximum height of the

dominant grass canopy are best made after grasses have achieved the majority

of their annual growth. Estimates of either variable can be made if measurements are not possible during the preferred periods. Estimates should be

based on knowledge of local vegetative communities and land management

practices.

Definitions of variables and suggested field measurement techniques are

provided in Figure 3.

9
Variable (definition)

Maximum height of the

grass canopy during the

growing season (the

average vertical distance

from the ground surface

to the dominant height

stratum in the grass

canopy, when the grass

canopy is tallest).

Average visual obstruction measurement of

residual vegetation

[an estimate of the

quantity of residual

vegetation, expressed

as the depth of dead

vegetation providing 100%

visual obstruction when

viewed from a distance

of 4 m (13.1 ft); estimated to the nearest

0.5 dm and measured in

early spring prior to

growth of new

vegetation].

Cover types

G,P/H,DSS

G,P/H,DSS

Suggested technique

Transect, ocular estimate,

graduated rod (Hays et

a1. 1981).

Ocular estimate (Hays

et al. 1981), visual

obstruction measurement

technique (Robel et al.

1970).

Figure 3. Definitions of variables and suggested measurement techniques.

SOURCES OF OTHER MODELS

No other habitat models for the Baird's sparrow were located in the

1i tera ture.

REFERENCES

American Ornithologists' Union. 1957. Check-list of North American birds,

5th Edition. American Ornithologists' Union. 691 pp.

Brady, N. C. 1974. The nature and properties of soils. MacMillan Publ. Co.,

Inc., New York. 639 pp.

Cartwright, B. W., T. M. Shortt, and R. D. Harris. 1937. Baird's sparrow.

Trans. R. Can. Inst. 21:153-197.

10
Faanes, C. A. Personal communication (letter dated 19 May 1983). U.S. Dept.

Int., Fish Wildl. Serv., Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, P.O.

Box 1747, Jamestown, NO 58401.

Hays, R. L., C. S. Summers, and W. Seitz. 1981. Estimating wildlife habitat

variables. U.S. Dept. Int., Fish Wildl. Servo FWS/OBS-81/47. 111 pp.

Kantrud, H. A. 1981. Grazing intensity effects on the breeding avifauna of

North Dakota native grasslands. Can. Field-Nat. 95(4):404-417.

1982. Maps of distribution and abundance of selected species

of birds on uncultivated native upland grasslands and shrubsteppe in the

Northern Great Plains. U.S. Dept. Int., Fish Wildl. Servo FWS/OBS-82/31.

31 pp.

Personal communication (letters dated June 1982, September

1982, and 10 May 1983 and phone conversations). U.S. Dept. Int., Fish

Wildl. Serv., Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, P.O. Box 1747,

Jamestown, NO 58401.

Kantrud, H. A., and C. A. Faanes. 1979. Range expansion of Baird's sparrow

in South Dakota. Prairie Nat. 11(4):111-112.

Kantrud, H. A., and R. L. Kologiski. 1982. Effects of soils and grazing on

breeding birds of uncultivated upland grasslands of the Northern Great

Plains. U.S. Dept. Int., Fish Wildl. Servo Wildl. Res. Rep. 15. 33 pp.

Karuziak, D., H. Vriend, J. G. Stelfox, A. Smith, and J. R. McGillis. 1977.

Effects of livestock grazing on mixed prairie range and wildlife within

PFRA pastures, Suffield Military Reserve. Can. Wildl. Serv., Edmonton,

Albe rt a . Cited by Kirsch et al. 1978.

Kirsch, L. M., H. F. Ouebbert, and A. O. Kruse. 1978. Grazing and haying

effects on habitats of upland nesting birds. Trans. N. Am. Wildl. Nat.

Resour. Conf. 43:486-497.

Lane, J. 1968. Baird's sparrow. Pages 745-765 in O. L. Austin, Jr., ed.

Life histories of North American cardinals, grosbeaks, buntings, towhees,

f I nche s , sparrows, and allies. Dover Publ., Inc., NY.

Maher, W. J. 1973. Birds: 1. Population dynamics. Canadian Committee for

the Int. Biol. Program-Matador Proj., Tech. Rep. 34. 56 pp.

1979. Nestling diets of prairie passerine birds at Matador,

Saskatchewan, Canada. Ibis 121:437-452.

Owens, R. A., and M. T. Myres. 1973. Effects of agriculture upon populations

of native passerine birds of an Alberta fescue grassland. Can. J. Zool.

51:697-713.

11
Relationgrassland

Peterson, R. T. 1980. A field guide to the birds (4th ed.). Houghton Mifflin

Co., Boston. 384 pp.

Renken, R. B. 1983. Breeding bird communities and bird-habitat associations

on North Dakota Waterfowl Production Areas of three habitat types. M.S.

Thesis, Iowa State Univ., Ames. 90 pp.

Robel, R. J., J. N. Briggs, A. D. Dayton, and L. C. Hulbert. 1970.

ship between visual obstruction measurements and weight of

vegetation. J. Range Manage. 23(4):295-297.

Salt, W. R., and J. R. Salt. 1976. The birds of Alberta. Huntig Publ.,

Edmonton, Alberta. 498 pp.

Stewart, R. E. 1975. Breeding birds of North Dakota. Tri-college Center for

Environmental Studies, Fargo, NO. 295 pp.

Stewart, R. E., and H. A. Kantrud. 1972. Population estimates of breeding

birds in North Dakota. Auk 89:766-788.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1981. Standards for the development of

habitat suitability index models. 103 ESM. U.S. Dept. Int., Fish Wildl.

Serv., Div. Ecol. Serv., Washington, DC. n.p.

12
3021'1 -ret

REPORT OOCUMENTATlON II._REPORT NO.

PAGE FWS/OBS-82/10.44 I~

4. Title and So.Illtttle

Habitat Suitability Index Models: Baird's sparrow

5. Reoort Oate

August 1983

7. Aumor(sl

Patrick J. Sousa and W. Neil

1.5. SUODIementary /'COl"

. UI. AlIStnet (Wtntt: 200 _rasa

McDonal

Habitat Evaluation Procedures Group

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Western Energy and Land Use Team

Creekside One Building

2627 Redwing Road

Fort Collins CO 80526-2899

Western Energy and Land Use Team

Division of Biological Services

Research and Development

Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

wasnlngtOn, Ul., i:::Ui:::£tU

10. Prajec:t/Tuil/WorW Unit No.

11. ContrKt<Q or GBnt(O) No.

(I:)

(0)

A review and synthesis of existing information were used to develop a habitat model

for Baird1s sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii). The model is scaled to produce an index

of suitability between 0 (unsuitable habitat) and 1 (optimally suitable habitat)

for Baird's sparrow habitat in the Northern Great Plains. Habitat suitability indices

are designed for use with Habitat Evaluation Procedures previously developed by the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

17. Oocutnent Ane'ysi. a. O_riOlal'l

Mathematical models

Birds

Wildlife

Habitabil ity

O. Identttlers/OQen.E:na8CI T'erms

Baird's sparrow

Allllllodramus bai rdi i

Habitat Suitability Index

e, COSATT Fieta/Gl'Ouo

Av....llility Statement

Release unlimited

See ANSI-l:!9.181

,~, LJR GnVFRN"FNT PRINTING nFFIr,F· ,qA~-nA'-4SAIS'4RFGlnN Nn A

19. Security Class (Thi~ ~eaart)

Unclassified

20. SecurIty Clu. (Thi~ "''I'"

Unclassified

21. xe, ot P.C"

12

OflTtONAL FORM 272 \~m

(Formerly :-fTTS-3S1
-, ...

tl HeadQuarters DIYISlon Of Biological

Services Washington DC

)( Easler" Energy and LanO Use Team

t.eetown WV

• auona! Coaslal Ecosystems Team

Stooell LA

• western Energy and lana use Team

F' Collon. CO

• Localton. 01 RegIonal OlllCes

REGION 1

Regional Director

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Lloyd Five Hundred Building,Suite 1692

500 N.E. Multnomah Street

Portland, Oregon 97232

REGION 4

Regional Director

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Richard B. Russell Building

75 Spring Street, S.W.

Atlanta, Georgia 30303

I

I

I __r----

61

,----- L....,__ I , ---,

I : ,--- I I

I

REGION 2

RegionalDirector

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

P.O. Box 1306

Albuquerque, New Mexico87103

REGION 5

RegionalDirector

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

OneGateway Ce ter

ewton COrtle"T assac use IS02 58

REGION 7

Reponal Director

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

10II e. Tudor Road

Anchorage,Alaska 99503

Pue rl o RICO and

c:»«;

Virg i n IslandS

REGION 3

RegionalDirector

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Building,Fort Snelling

Twin Cities, Minnesota 55111

REGION 6

Regional Director

US Fish and Wildlife Service

P.O Box 25486

De e Fede a Ce'l er

De ver , Co rado 80225
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

u.s. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

As the Nation's principal conservation aaeney, the Department of the Interior has responsibility for most of our .nationally owned public lands and natura' resources. This includes

fosterina the wisest use of our 'and and water resources, protectins our fish and wildlife,

preservins th&environmental and cultural values of our national parks and historical pilCes,

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the best interests of III our people. The Department also has a major responsibility for

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U.S. administration.