Passive Acoustic Monitoring of Mexican Spotted Owl PACs
Project ID: 7634
Status: Proposed
Fiscal Year: 2026
Submitted By: N/A
Project Manager: Russell Norvell
PM Agency: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
PM Office: Salt Lake Office
Lead: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
WRI Region: Statewide
Description:
We propose to develop and pilot a novel, scientifically rigorous, and flexible Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) framework for monitoring the threatened Mexican Spotted Owl in remote, rocky-canyon habitats. This project will address significant challenges associated with traditional callback survey methods and enhance recovery efforts for the Mexican spotted owl (MSO).
Location:
Our goal is to develop a PAM monitoring framework for MSO in their designated Protected Activity Centers (PACs). High-quality, low cost autonomous recording units (aka ARUs) and emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies will be deployed by partners to assess how ARUs in canyons can function to develop owl site occupancy estimates, detection probabilities, and cost-effectively collect information needed to meet recovery plan tasks.
Project Need
Need For Project:
We aim to develop and pilot a flexible, multi-species Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) framework for tracking threatened and endangered birds in remote rocky-canyon habitats. This approach seeks to overcome challenges of traditional call-back survey methods, focusing on the Mexican spotted owl. Our primary objective is to refine the PAM framework for the spotted owl by utilizing cost-effective autonomous recording units (ARUs) and innovative artificial intelligence technologies. We will examine how different ARU placements and deployment durations influence owl occupancy estimates and detection probabilities. This adaptable framework can be implemented across various ranges as needed by wildlife managers.
Objectives:
To purchase ARUs for use in the future development of a cost-effective and novel monitoring protocol for MSO.
Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?):
MSO surveys in Utah can be fairly difficult to conduct due to their remote locations in canyon habitat. ARUs are now more affordable, more common, and more accessible than they were in the past making this an ideal time to start the process of developing a PAM.
Relation To Management Plan:
This work will help facilitate the development in a cost effective and more accessible surveying method that will help address recovery criteria as outline in the 2012 Revised Mexican Spotted Owl Recovery Plan.
Fire / Fuels:
Not applicable.
Water Quality/Quantity:
Not applicable.
Compliance:
The use of ARUs to conduct research on MSO does not require a Section 10(a)(1)(A) federal recovery permit. However, permits are required for placement of equipment federally managed lands.
Methods:
Money will be contracted out for a third party to purchase equipment for later use in MSO PAM development.
Monitoring:
Any contracted individual will coordinate with Utah Division of Wildlife Resource, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and other interested state partners, federal partners, tribal, or NGO partners.
Partners:
Federal partners National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service. NGO partners include but are not limited to Hawkwatch International
Future Management:
ARUs will be used to develop a scientifically sound acoustic monitoring protocol for MSO. Developing an acoustic monitoring protocol would likely increase data collection and help meet recovery goals.
Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources:
Not applicable.
Budget WRI/DWR Other Budget Total In-Kind Grand Total
$17,000.00 $0.00 $17,000.00 $0.00 $17,000.00
Item Description WRI Other In-Kind Year
Contractual Services Purchase ARUs $17,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 2026
Funding WRI/DWR Other Funding Total In-Kind Grand Total
$17,000.00 $0.00 $17,000.00 $0.00 $17,000.00
Source Phase Description Amount Other In-Kind Year
Species Protection Account $17,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 2026
Species
Species "N" Rank HIG/F Rank
Mexican Spotted Owl N3
Threat Impact
Data Gaps - Inadequate Understanding of Ecology and Life History NA
Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo N3
Threat Impact
Data Gaps - Inventory Techniques Poorly Developed NA
Habitats
Habitat
Not Listed
Threat Impact
No Threat NA
Project Comments
Comment 01/23/2025 Type: 1 Commenter: Paul Thompson
Please submit this proposal if you wish to have it considered for Species Protection Account funding. Thanks. Paul
Completion
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Map Features
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Project Map
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