Chapter 3 North Carolina Species
3.3.8.1 Surveys Surveys are systematic and scientific methods of collecting information about the distribution, abundance, and ecology of wildlife or their habitats in a specific area at a specific time. Repeated surveys using the same methods, such as Audubon’s annual Christmas Bird Count, can provide census information about a species over time. Common survey methods include transect walks, point counts, camera trapping, and acoustic monitoring. Distributional and status surveys need to focus on species for which there are little data, are believed to be declining, or are mainly dependent on at-risk or sensitive natural communities. Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats • Determine the breeding distribution of and develop and ground truth occurrence models; extend surveys to include hardwood forests for the Northern Saw-whet Owl. Northern Saw-whet Owl Eastern Whip-poor-will • Use autonomous recording units (ARUs) for vocal species with brief survey windows to extend surveys across a broader geography than is otherwise reachable by limited personnel, especially during the peak survey windows. ARUs that can be programmed with a delayed start can be deployed and retrieved outside of the narrow, busy survey window. • Build out infrastructure statewide for the Motus Wildlife Tracking Network to support migration studies. North Carolina’s Motus stations can fill in knowledge gaps about migration timing, especially for birds that move through the state, and about important stopover sites.
Migratory species
• Survey for birds on the PIF Watch List, Common Birds in Steep Decline, and Regional Stewardship lists. Loggerhead Shrike Northern Bobwhite Savannah Sparrow • Survey for priority species identified by Migratory Bird Joint Ventures: o Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture (AMJV) o Atlantic Coast Joint Venture (ACJV) American Black Duck Bank Swallow Black Skimmer Chuck-will’s-widow Grasshopper Sparrow Little Blue Heron
o Black Duck Joint Venture o Sea Duck Joint Venture
Landbirds Shorebirds
Waterbirds Waterfowl
2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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