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Copyright © 2011 Ecostudies Institute
| A nonprofit organization committed to ecological research and conservation |
| ECOSTUDIES INSTITUTE |
| ECOSTUDIES INSTITUTE |
| Contact Information: Ecostudies Institute P.O. Box 703 Mount Vernon, WA 98273 305-213-8829 ecostudies@ecoinst.org |
Within the lowlands and valleys of western
Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia,
prairie-oak habitats support a unique assemblage
of plants and animals, and therefore serve as an
important source of regional biodiversity. Patchily
distributed across the region, prairie-oak habitats
have been degraded and reduced in size by human
development, fire suppression, and encroachment
of exotic species. Today, prairie-oak habitats
comprise less than 1% of their historical extent in
the Willamette Valley and less than 10% in the
Puget Sound lowlands. More Information.
Unsurprisingly, these dramatic losses have affected
many wildlife taxa. Bird, butterfly, rodent, and
herpetofauna populations all show similar patterns
of reduced abundance and changed composition.
Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia,
prairie-oak habitats support a unique assemblage
of plants and animals, and therefore serve as an
important source of regional biodiversity. Patchily
distributed across the region, prairie-oak habitats
have been degraded and reduced in size by human
development, fire suppression, and encroachment
of exotic species. Today, prairie-oak habitats
comprise less than 1% of their historical extent in
the Willamette Valley and less than 10% in the
Puget Sound lowlands. More Information.
Unsurprisingly, these dramatic losses have affected
many wildlife taxa. Bird, butterfly, rodent, and
herpetofauna populations all show similar patterns
of reduced abundance and changed composition.
In the bird community, for example, range contractions and local extirpations of Western bluebird, slender-
billed white-breasted nuthatch, Lewis’s woodpecker, and streaked horned lark have been documented; many
other species' populations have exhibited significant declines.
Over the last decade, many organization and government agencies have been working to conserve, restore,
and protect prairie-oak habitats. In many places, the extent and quality of prairie-oak habitats has
increased. However, even though habitat conditions have improved in come locations, extirpated birds have
failed to return to portions of their former range.
billed white-breasted nuthatch, Lewis’s woodpecker, and streaked horned lark have been documented; many
other species' populations have exhibited significant declines.
Over the last decade, many organization and government agencies have been working to conserve, restore,
and protect prairie-oak habitats. In many places, the extent and quality of prairie-oak habitats has
increased. However, even though habitat conditions have improved in come locations, extirpated birds have
failed to return to portions of their former range.
Ecostudies Institute has been working to advance bird conservation in prairie-oak habitats, specifically
through avian reintroductions. Avian reintroductions are an important conservation tool, often turned to
when the factors that led to the species’ extirpation have been eliminated or reduced, yet natural
recolonization fails, presumably because of a species’ poor dispersal ability or the presence of a physical
barrier. Reintroductions seek to enhance the long-term survival of a species, restore native biodiversity,
increase conservation awareness, or some combination of these goals, through the establishment of a viable,
self-sustaining population.
through avian reintroductions. Avian reintroductions are an important conservation tool, often turned to
when the factors that led to the species’ extirpation have been eliminated or reduced, yet natural
recolonization fails, presumably because of a species’ poor dispersal ability or the presence of a physical
barrier. Reintroductions seek to enhance the long-term survival of a species, restore native biodiversity,
increase conservation awareness, or some combination of these goals, through the establishment of a viable,
self-sustaining population.
Current projects
Reintroduction of Western Bluebirds on San Juan Island
The goals of this project are: 1) to establish a viable population of Western bluebirds on San Juan Island
and 2) to use the bluebird as a flagship emblem for conservation in prairie-oak habitats. In 2011, we
began project's fifth year. To date, we have been successful at restoring a population of this species and
improving our knowledge of how to use reintroductions to restore and augment wildlife populations.
Reintroduction of White-breasted Nuthatches in south Puget Sound.
Ecostudies Institute and its partner, American Bird Conservancy, completed an assessment evaluating the
feasibility of reintroducing the slender-billed white-breasted nuthatch to oak habitats in south Puget
Sound. The assessment indicated that reintroducing nuthatches was feasible and timely. We are currently
working with partners to submit proposals aimed at securing funding to initiate this conservation program.
We hope to begin pilot reintroductions in 2012.
Reintroduction of Western Bluebirds in Canada
We completed a reintroduction plan outlining the steps required to reintroduce the Western bluebird to its
former range on Vancouver and the Gulf Islands, British Columbia. We are currently working with
Canadian partners to obtain funding and begin implementing this program.
Reintroduction of Western Bluebirds on San Juan Island
The goals of this project are: 1) to establish a viable population of Western bluebirds on San Juan Island
and 2) to use the bluebird as a flagship emblem for conservation in prairie-oak habitats. In 2011, we
began project's fifth year. To date, we have been successful at restoring a population of this species and
improving our knowledge of how to use reintroductions to restore and augment wildlife populations.
Reintroduction of White-breasted Nuthatches in south Puget Sound.
Ecostudies Institute and its partner, American Bird Conservancy, completed an assessment evaluating the
feasibility of reintroducing the slender-billed white-breasted nuthatch to oak habitats in south Puget
Sound. The assessment indicated that reintroducing nuthatches was feasible and timely. We are currently
working with partners to submit proposals aimed at securing funding to initiate this conservation program.
We hope to begin pilot reintroductions in 2012.
Reintroduction of Western Bluebirds in Canada
We completed a reintroduction plan outlining the steps required to reintroduce the Western bluebird to its
former range on Vancouver and the Gulf Islands, British Columbia. We are currently working with
Canadian partners to obtain funding and begin implementing this program.