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California Spotted Owls along the Central Coast
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Project Funded By: U.S. Forest Service, Los Padres National Forest
The California Spotted Owl is a California Bird Species of Special Concern, a designation prompted by the loss or degradation of old-growth woodland habitat required by the species. In Monterey County, wildfire and tree mortality, particularly Sudden Oak Death, are among the leading threats to woodland habitat. In 2006 and 2009, Ventana Wildlife Society conducted nocturnal Spotted Owl surveys at 250 points within and adjacent to Northern Los Padres National Forest to monitor changes in Spotted Owl occupancy associated with Sudden Oak Death and the 2008 wildfire in Monterey County.
We identified a minimum of 99 Spotted Owls in 2009, fewer than the 112 identified in 2006. We also calculated a lower Spotted Owl detection rate in 2009 (0.30 owls per point) than in 2006 (0.42 owls per point). Although sampling differences between years complicate the interpretation of results, the consistent pattern of fewer owls and lower detection rates is strong evidence that there were fewer Spotted Owls in our survey area in 2009. The decline in detection rates was particularly substantial for points associated with the recent wildfire, indicating that the fire displaced some of the Spotted Owls found in 2006. We did not observe a meaningful difference in detection rates between years at points associated with Sudden Oak Death. Likely, the three year interval between surveys was not enough to identify true effects of Sudden Oak Death on Spotted Owls.
Because this population is small and relatively isolated from other California Spotted Owl populations, the effects of future wildfire and continued tree mortality could be severe. To ensure that management decisions are guided by the most current information on the Spotted Owl population in Monterey County, we recommend a repetition of surveys at least every third year.