TABLE OF CONTENTS

Background i

Conservation Strategy i

Implementation iii

Adaptive Management iv

The Future iv

Acknowledgments iv

CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION 1

A. Goal 1

B. Process 1

C. Integration 3

CHAPTER 2. THE PLANNING UNIT 4

A. Scope 4

B. Physical Features 4

C. Vegetation 6

1. Pre-European Settlement 6

2. Current Vegetation 8

D. Land Uses 9

E. Conservation Issues 9

F. Conservation Opportunities 10

G. Subprovinces 11

CHAPTER 3. AVIFAUNA 12

A. Scope 12

B. Species Composition 12

1. Shrub-Steppe 12

2. Riparian 13

C. Species and Habitat Associations 13

D. Population Trends 13

CHAPTER 4. CONCEPTUAL APPROACH 16

A. Biological Objectives 17

B. Conservation Strategies 19

C. Bird Conservation Areas 19

CHAPTER 5. PRIORITY HABITATS AND SPECIES 20

A. Selection 20

B. Priorities 21

1. Shrub-Steppe 21

2. Riparian 22

3. Unique Habitats 23

CHAPTER 6. LANDBIRD CONSERVATION 24

A. Shrub-Steppe 24

1. Conservation Issues 25

2. Biological Objectives 26

3. Conservation Strategies 27

B. Steppe (Grasslands) 30

C. Steppe-Shrubland 33

D. Sagebrush 39

E. Shrublands 49

F. Juniper Sage-Steppe 53

G. Riparian 55

1. Conservation Issues 55

2. Biological Objectives 56

3. Conservation Strategies 57

H. Riparian Woodland 59

I. Riparian Shrub 70

J. Unique Habitats 74

CHAPTER 7. STRATEGY OVERVIEW AND SYNTHESIS 81

A. Prioritization 82

B. Future Versions 82

CHAPTER 8. MONITORING/RESEARCH 83

A. Integration 83

B. Methods 83

C. Implementation 84

D. Adaptive Management 85

CHAPTER 9. IMPLEMENTATION 86

A. Key Partners 86

C. Interfacing with other Planning/Conservation Efforts 86

B. Opportunities for Participation 86

1. Resources for individual landowners 87

2. Bird friendly agriculture 88

3. Bird friendly backyards 88

CHAPTER 10. OUTREACH 89

A. Public and Agency Outreach 89

B. Conservation Education 89

C. Key Concepts about Bird Conservation 89

CHAPTER 11. LITERATURE CITED 91

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Flow chart of the process for implementing landbird conservation in the Columbia Plateau Landbird Conservation Planning Region 2

Figure 2. Location of the Columbia Plateau Landbird Conservation Planning Region in eastern Oregon and Washington 5

Figure 3. Example of an adaptive management feedback loop using monitoring to define and modify management prescriptions 85

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Native vegetation characteristic of upland and riparian habitats in the Columbia Plateau Landbird Conservation Planning Region .7

Table 2. Native landbird species with significantly declining or increasing population trends in the Columbia Plateau BBS Physiographic Region 14

Table 3. Breeding Bird Survey routes in the Columbia Plateau Landbird Conservation Planning Region 14

Table 4. Priority habitat features and associated focal species for conservation in shrub-steppe habitats of the Columbia Plateau Landbird Conservation Planning Region .21

Table 5. Priority habitat features and associated focal species for conservation in riparian habitats of the Columbia Plateau Landbird Conservation Planning Region 22

Table 6. Priority habitat features and associated focal species for conservation in unique habitats of the Columbia Plateau Landbird Conservation Planning Region 23

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix A. Considerations for prioritizing conservation of breeding native landbird species highly associated with shrub-steppe, grassland, riparian, and juniper/mountain mahogany habitats in the Columbia Plateau Landbird Conservation Planning Region.

Appendix B. Bird Conservation Areas in the Columbia Plateau Landbird Conservation Planning Region.

Appendix C. Summary of habitat features important to shrub-steppe landbirds in the Columbia Plateau Landbird Conservation Planning Region.

Appendix D. Prioritization of habitat types and physiographic subprovinces for conservation of focal species in shrub-steppe habitats in the Columbia Plateau Landbird Conservation Planning Region.

Appendix E1. Habitat relationships of focal species in shrub-steppe habitats of the Columbia Plateau Landbird Conservation Planning Region.

Appendix E2. Habitat relationships of focal species in riparian habitats of the Columbia Plateau Landbird Conservation Planning Region.