Virginia Coastal Program: 2002 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY2002 Task 12.07
Grantee:
Virginia Museum of Natural History
Project Title:
Virginia Seaside Heritage Program: Avian Habitat Restoration on the Virginia Barrier Islands
Project Description as Proposed:
We propose to continue
testing and refining our plan for avian habitat restoration through
predation management on the Virginia barrier islands. We implemented
experimental predation management (i.e., intensive trapping and
removal of raccoons and red foxes) on Metompkin and North Cedar
islands in 2000; on Assawoman, Wreck, Ship Shoal and Myrtle islands
in 2001; and on Assawoman, North Cedar, Metompkin, and Myrtle islands
in 2002. This relatively low-intensity management continues to yield
very encouraging results. Based on the 1999 through 2002 bird surveys,
the number of adult birds present during the breeding season continues
to increase on Metompkin, North Cedar and Assawoman. Least terns
have increased ~900% on Metompkin, ~500% on North Cedar and ~100%
on Assawoman. Black Skimmers and Common Terns have increased ~350%
and 200%, respectively, on North Cedar. Piping Plovers have increased
modestly (<100%) on all three islands. During 2003, we propose
to continue these experiments and the related predator population
studies, track surveys and translocations that allow us to interpret
the results of the removals.
Federal Funding:
$20,000
Project Contact:
Nancy D. Moncrief, 276/ 666-8614, moncrief@mail.evsc.virginia.edu
Project Status:
Grant Closed
Final Product Received:
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
The
recent spread of the raccoon (Procyon lotor) and red fox (Vulpes
vulpes) on the Virginia barrier islands (VBIs) has greatly reduced
habitat suitability for beach-nesting and colonial waterbirds on
the islands (Erwin et al. 2001). We have been working since 1998
to develop, test and refine a plan for predation management in order
to restore avian nesting habitat on the VBIs.
Our 2003 activities, results, and observations can be summarized
as follows:
(1) Track surveys detected raccoons on 18 of the 26 islands and
red fox on 9.
(2) At the start of the nesting season we believed that several
islands were raccoon- and red fox-free. Later observations revealed
that only two islands were predator-free throughout the 2003 nesting
season.
(3) The raccoon population on Parramore Island was essentially unchanged
in abundance, age structure and sex ratio between 2002 and 2003.
(4) We monitored movements of radio collared raccoons between Parramore
and Revel Islands.
(5) We monitored the locations of 10 raccoons radio collared in
2002, and we radio collared and monitored 1 raccoon in 2003 to look
for natural over-water movements.
(6) We tagged and released a sample of raccoons on the mainland
to look for natural movement from the mainland to Metompkin and
North Cedar Islands.
(7) We monitored avian nesting on 6 islands from June through August
to further test the influence of predator removal and/or absence
on recruitment. Despite incomplete predator removal, there was still
evidence of increased avian breeding populations.
8) We ran a pilot study in which we used artificial nest scrapes
to determine the rate of predation and the species composition of
the nest predator community.
(9) We analyzed additional tissue samples of raccoons to further
describe the patterns of genetic connectivity among mainland and
island populations and to identify avenues of access from the mainland
to the islands. These genetic data indicate that movement of raccoons
is less restricted from the mainland to adjacent islands (west to
east), and more restricted among islands (north to south and south
to north) in the Virginia barrier island system.
Form C end
Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Laura McKay, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4323 or email: Laura.McKay@deq.virginia.gov
A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov
