Songbird response to natural gas development.

Authors(s): S. Anderson and F. Ingelfinger

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Publication Date: 0000-00-00

Type: Annual

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Abstract: The Mesa, which is located southeast of Pinedale, Wyoming, on a 75,000-acre plateau dominated by sagebrush, is currently being developed for natural gas extraction. The purpose of this project is to examine the effects of continued natural gas development and extraction on breeding songbird populations. Common species in this sagebrush-grassland community include: horned larks (Eremophila alpestris), Brewer's sparrows (Spizella breweri), sage sparrows (Amphispiza belli), and sage thrashers (Oreoscoptes montanus). The most conspicuous disturbance associated with this development is the extensive road-network that is created to access these wells. Research has focused on bird distribution along roadways associated with development and species' habitat associations. Preliminary results from the 1999 and 2000 field seasons suggest that songbird densities are reduced within a 100-meter buffer around roads with moderate traffic densities (> 400 vehicles/day), and reduced within a 50-meter buffer around roads with low traffic densities (less than 10 vehicles/day).

Keywords: Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Wyoming, animal, population, breeding, habitat, bird, Aves, ornithology, Pinedale, oil and gas drilling, human activity, horned lark, Eremophila alpestri, Brewer's sparrow, Spizella brewer, songbird, sage sparrow, Amphispiza bell, sage thrasher, Oreoscoptes montanu