INTERIOR, DEPARTMENT OF THE / U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE / FWS HEADQUARTERS / U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

B--Notice of Intent to Award - Northern Spotted Owl Survey Protocol to Agricultural Research Foundation, OSU Strand Agriculture Hall, Suite 100, Corvallis, Oregon 97331-2219

DOI-SNOTE-070806-002ContractSpecial NoticeSAM.gov

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Existing northern spotted owl survey data determining spotted owl occupancy within demographic study areas will be analyzed. Much anecdotal evidence and 2 published research articles suggest that barred owl presence may be having a "suppression" effect on the detection rates of spotted owls. The purpose of the protocol evaluation will be to update the survey protocol due to the potential influence of barred owls on spotted owl detection probabilities. Several protocol related questions will be addressed in this analysis, these include: How many surveys (i.e., nighttime or daytime) are needed to adequately detect spotted owls in the presence of barred owls? How many years of surveys are needed to infer that a spotted owl site is unoccupied? Do these results vary by province and/or state? Both the Principal Investigator and research analysts on this project are on staff at Oregon State University (OSU). The project will rely on datasets that are anticipated to come from at least 6-8 spotted owl demographic areas located in Washington, Oregon and California. The demographic areas are affiliated with OSU, the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, and the USDI Bureau of Land Management. Both the Investigator and analysts have already conducted similar analysis for an Oregon study area. Anticipated products from the protocol evaluation include: 1) revisions, if any, in the amount of survey effort and timing of surveys is needed, due to barred owl presence, 2) probabilities associated with amount of survey effort and spotted owl detection rates with barred owl presence, 3) survey effort needed with no barred owls present, 4) what is the duration of surveys needed before concluding a site is unlikely occupied by spotted owls in the presence of barred owls, and, 5) what, if any, variation across the provinces exist for the above results?