Last updated: October 8, 2020
Article
Bird Community Monitoring at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, Iowa
![Red-winged Blackbird Red-winged blackbird in flight](/articles/images/HEHO_blackbird_960px.jpg?maxwidth=1300&maxheight=1300&autorotate=false)
NPS
![BCR_HEHO Eastern Tallgrass Prairie Bird Conservation Region](/articles/images/BCR_HEHO.jpg?maxwidth=650&autorotate=false)
NPS
Scientists measure changes in bird numbers and habitat to determine the health of bird communities. They survey birds in the park during the breeding season. They also survey habitat structure and composition during this time. Together, the data helps researchers to determine responses of birds to their habitat. Regional surveys are also studied to determine local vs. regional trends
Common name | Species name | AOU code | Residency¹ |
American Crow |
Corvus brachyrhynchos |
AMCR |
R |
American Goldfinch |
Spinus tristis |
AMGO |
R |
American Redstart |
Setophaga ruticilla |
AMRE |
SR |
American Robin |
Turdus migratorius |
AMRO |
SR |
Baltimore Oriole |
Icterus galbula |
BAOR |
SR |
Bank Swallow |
Riparia riparia |
BANS |
SR |
Barn Swallow |
Hirundo rustica |
BARS |
SR |
Barred Owl |
Strix varia |
BDOW |
R |
Black-capped Chickadee |
Poecile atricapillus |
BCCH |
R |
Blue Jay |
Cyanocitta cristata |
BLJA |
R |
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher |
Polioptila caerulea |
BGGN |
SR |
Blue-winged Warbler² |
Vermivora pinus |
BWWA |
SR |
Brown Thrasher |
Toxostoma rufum |
BRTH |
SR |
Brown-headed Cowbird |
Molothrus ater |
BHCO |
SR |
Canada Goose |
Branta canadensis |
CAGO |
R |
Cedar Waxwing |
Bombycilla cedrorum |
CEDW |
SR |
Chimney Swift |
Chaetura pelagica |
CHSW |
SR |
Chipping Sparrow |
Spizella passerina |
CHSP |
SR |
Cliff Swallow |
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota |
CLSW |
SR |
Common Grackle |
Quiscalus quiscula |
COGR |
SR |
Common Nighthawk |
Chordeiles minor |
CONI |
SR |
Common Yellowthroat |
Geothlypis trichas |
COYE |
SR |
Dickcissel³ |
Spiza americana |
DICK |
SR |
Downy Woodpecker |
Picoides pubescens |
DOWO |
R |
Eastern Bluebird |
Sialia sialis |
EABL |
SR |
Eastern Kingbird |
Tyrannus tyrannus |
EAKI |
SR |
Eastern Meadowlark |
Sturnella magna |
EAME |
SR |
Eastern Phoebe |
Sayornis phoebe |
EAPH |
SR |
Eastern Towhee |
Pipilo erythrophthalmus |
EATO |
SR |
Eastern Wood-pewee |
Contopus virens |
EAWP |
SR |
European Starling |
Sturnus vulgaris |
EUST |
R |
Field Sparrow³ |
Spizella pusilla |
FISP |
SR |
Grasshopper Sparrow³ |
Ammodramus savannarum |
GRSP |
SR |
Gray Catbird |
Dumetella carolinensis |
GRCA |
SR |
Great Blue Heron |
Ardea herodias |
GBHE |
SR |
Great Crested Flycatcher |
Myiarchus crinitus |
GCFL |
SR |
Great Horned Owl |
Bubo virginianus |
GHOW |
R |
Henslow’s Sparrow³ |
Ammodramus henslowii |
HESP |
SR |
House Finch² |
Haemorhous mexicanus |
HOFI |
R |
House Sparrow |
Passer domesticus |
HOSP |
R |
House Wren |
Troglodytes aedon |
HOWR |
SR |
Indigo Bunting |
Passerina cyanea |
INBU |
SR |
Killdeer² |
Charadrius vociferus |
KILL |
SR |
Mallard |
Anas platyrhynchos |
MALL |
SR |
Mourning Dove |
Zenaida macroura |
MODO |
SR |
Northern Cardinal |
Cardinalis cardinalis |
NOCA |
R |
Northern Flicker³ |
Colaptes auratus |
YSFL |
R |
Northern Mockingbird |
Mimus polyglottos |
NOMO |
R |
Purple Martin |
Progne subis |
PUMA |
SR |
Red-bellied Woodpecker |
Melanerpes carolinus |
RBWO |
R |
Red-headed Woodpecker²´³ |
Melanerpes erythrocephalus |
RHWO |
R |
Red-tailed Hawk |
Buteo jamaicensis |
RTHA |
R |
Red-winged Blackbird |
Agelaius phoeniceus |
RWBL |
R |
Ring-necked Pheasant |
Phasianus colchicus |
RPHE |
R |
Rock Dove |
Columba livia |
RODO |
R |
Rose-breasted Grosbeak |
Pheucticus ludovicianus |
RBGR |
SR |
Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
Archilochus colubris |
RTHU |
SR |
Sedge Wren |
Cistothorus platensis |
SEWR |
SR |
Song Sparrow |
Melospiza melodia |
SOSP |
R |
Swainson’s Thrush |
Catharus ustulatus |
SWTH |
M |
Swamp Sparrow² |
Melospiza georgiana |
SWSP |
SR |
Tree Swallow |
Tachycineta bicolor |
TRES |
SR |
Turkey Vulture |
Cathartes aura |
TUVU |
SR |
Warbling Vireo |
Vireo gilvus |
WAVI |
SR |
Willow Flycatcher |
Empidonax traillii |
WIFL |
SR |
Wild Turkey² |
Meleagris gallopavo |
WITU |
R |
Yellow Warbler |
Setophaga petechia |
YWAR |
SR |
Yellow-throated Vireo |
Vireo flavifrons |
YTVI |
SR |
¹ Residency: M = migrant through the area; R = year around resident; SR = summer resident (According to Jackson et al. [1996]).
² Species recorded only while traveling between survey plots or at other times outside of 5-min survey periods.
³ Species considered of regional concern for the Central Mixed Grass Prairie Bird Conservation Region (USFWS 2008; also in bold).
NPS
Scientists recorded 68 bird species in the park over the last 13 years. Sixty-seven of the bird species are breeding species. Seven of the bird species are of concern for the region. The American Robin and Red-winged Blackbird were common species. A total of eight species were common enough to calculate trends in their numbers for comparison with regional trends. Red-winged Blackbird numbers declined during the surveys. Populations of the remaining seven species were unchanged. Populations of five species including the Red-winged Blackbird declined within the region. Populations of two of the remaining species were unchanged within the region. The American Robin population was the only species to increase within the region. Overall, most populations on the park are faring similar to or slightly better than the region. Unchanging species richness suggests habitat on the park has remained similar across years.
NPS
Bird population changes may reflect habitat management activities. For that reason scientists track changes in bird populations and habitat over time. This improves the parks efforts to manage habitat for birds. Preserving habitat for birds preserves entire ecosystems for the benefit of all species.
Visit the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site Volunteer Bird Monitoring page.
Learn more about the Heartland Inventory & Monitoring Network.
Data in this report were collected and analyzed using methods based on established, peer-reviewed protocols and were analyzed and interpreted within the guidelines of the protocols.