Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Wyoming
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Wyoming Project


Mechanistic Study of songbird energy development

May 2008 - June 2014


Personnel

Participating Agencies

  • U. S. Geological Survey
  • Wyoming Game and Fish Department

Several sagebrush steppe-obligate songbirds are declining range-wide (according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey) and are listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the Wyoming Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS), including the Brewer's sparrow (Spizella breweri), sage sparrow (Amphispiza belli) and sage thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus). Population declines have primarily been attributed to habitat alteration and loss on breeding grounds. One land use that has become particularly prevalent in Wyoming is the development of sagebrush steppe for energy extraction including oil and natural gas. The use and alteration of sagebrush habitats for energy development and extraction has largely unknown consequences for wildlife populations, though such disturbances have the potential to disrupt nesting, alter habitat selection, increase physiological stress, and reduce survival and reproduction. Research examining the potential impacts of different types and stages of energy development in Wyoming on sagebrush songbird breeding communities is therefore critically needed.

Technical Publications Publication Date
2012 Annual Report - Mechanistic Study of Songbird Energy Development Impacts June 2012
Presentations Presentation Date
Chalfoun, A., L. Sanders, and L. E. Hall. 2024. The utility of long-term ecological data: A case study focused on the WLCI Songbird Project. Joint Meeting of the WLCI and Wyoming Chapter of The Wildlife Society, Cody, WY.
April 2024
Chalfoun, A. 2024. Sagebrush-associated songbirds in the GYE: Conservation challenges and insights. 16th Biennial Scientific Conference on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Big Sky, MT. September 2024