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Elf Owl Home Range and Habitat Study (R14SF30001) - FAQs

What is the Elf Owl Home Range and Habitat Study grant opportunity?

It is a discretionary natural resources research grant opportunity offered by the Bureau of Reclamation (Lower Colorado Region) under the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (MSCP), CFDA 15.538.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is R14SF30001.

How much total funding is available under this opportunity?

The estimated total funding amount is $675,000.

What is the minimum and maximum award size?

The award floor is $200,000 and the award ceiling is $675,000.

How many awards were anticipated?

Up to 10 awards were anticipated.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity states that no cost sharing or matching was required.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

It was originally posted in late September 2013 and had a final closing date of November 1, 2013.

What are the main components (tasks) of the work?

The work is organized into two main tasks: (1) a breeding-season riparian habitat and home-range study focused on describing habitat within elf owl home ranges, and (2) a follow-on detectability methods study focused on call playback response distances under obstructed conditions.

What is Task 1 focused on?

Task 1 focuses on describing elf owl habitat preferences and space use in breeding-season riparian environments. The study is expected to characterize habitat found within elf owl home ranges (not outside them), estimate home range size, and develop an activity budget describing how owls allocate time across different habitat features.

Does Task 1 require habitat characterization outside of owl home ranges?

No. The announcement emphasizes describing the habitat found within elf owl home ranges, not habitat outside of them.

What is meant by an "activity budget" in Task 1?

The activity budget is expected to describe how elf owls spend time across different habitat features present at the study sites (for example, uplands, cliffs, saguaros, and riparian zones), tied to foraging, roosting, nesting, and sheltering use.

What kind of habitat description is Reclamation looking for in Task 1?

Reclamation emphasizes a practical, larger-scale habitat description rather than intensive fine-scale vegetation sampling or formal habitat selection modeling.

Which habitat attributes are specifically called out as important in Task 1?

The opportunity highlights these attributes of interest: the species of the cavity-bearing tree or cactus used for nesting; the species used for roosting; the substrate used for sheltering; the dominant riparian tree community; approximate canopy height and canopy cover; a description of the midstory layer; and estimates of the abundance of cavities and snags, plus any other broad habitat parameters that may be important.

What is a key deliverable for Task 1?

A key deliverable is a detailed GIS-based map linking nest locations and other relevant owl-use locations with larger-scale habitat parameters, producing a clear description of foraging, roosting, nesting, and sheltering habitat within each home range.

What summary outputs are expected for home range size?

Final products are expected to include summary statistics for home range size, including average, median, and range.

What outputs are expected for the activity budget?

The activity budget is expected to be broken out by habitat types or features present at the study sites.

Are recommendations for future research expected?

Yes. The final products are expected to include recommendations for any additional habitat research that would be worthwhile.

If field-based measurements are proposed for habitat parameters, are there coordination requirements?

Yes. Field-based measurements for the larger-scale parameters must be coordinated with Reclamation staff and aligned with MSCP standards. The announcement also specifies avoiding the full Lower Colorado River MSCP vegetation monitoring protocol for smaller-scale variables that Reclamation is not seeking for this effort.

What sample size does Reclamation suggest for Task 1?

Applicants must propose an ideal and feasible sample size. Reclamation suggests 15 to 30 elf owl pairs over a three-year period.

How is a "home range" counted if a pair is monitored across multiple years?

The announcement indicates that a home range is counted as a single pair even if that pair is monitored across multiple years.

Do the data need to come from multiple study areas?

Yes. Data must be collected from multiple study areas that represent the range of riparian habitat types the species uses.

Is Bill Williams National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) required as a study site?

The Bill Williams NWR is identified as an important site because it supports a moderate breeding population, but the project must also include other lowland riparian sites in Arizona and/or New Mexico that resemble habitat along the Lower Colorado River.

Are applicants encouraged to survey the main stem of the Lower Colorado River?

No. The announcement is explicit that applicants should not spend effort surveying the main stem of the Lower Colorado River because there are few to no recent breeding records there.

What types of nesting situations should be included in the sample?

The study should include pairs that nest on the riparian edge (for example, in saguaros) but forage in riparian habitat, as well as pairs whose nest cavities are within the riparian zone.

Is there a preference for pairs nesting in riparian trees or snags?

If feasible, Reclamation would like at least 50 percent of the sample to be pairs nesting in riparian trees or snags, while recognizing this may be constrained by availability.

Do applicants need to estimate how many pairs use different nesting substrates?

Yes. The applicant must provide a rough estimate of how many pairs are using cacti or other non-riparian edge substrates versus nesting in riparian trees.

What is Task 2 focused on?

Task 2 is a methods-focused effort intended to improve survey effectiveness by refining call playback detectability under obstructed conditions at shorter distances.

Does Task 2 require reviewing prior work?

Yes. Applicants must review the earlier Elf Owl Detectability Study (2010-2011) and then design a follow-on detectability study.

What call playback distances must be tested in Task 2?

The follow-on detectability study must test call playback response under obstructed conditions at 50 m, 100 m, 150 m, and 250 m.

What is the intent of the Task 2 distance testing?

The intent is to refine and finalize the preliminary survey protocol from the earlier report, with particular attention to adjusting the distance between survey points.

How similar must the new Task 2 methods be to the earlier detectability study?

Methods must remain similar enough to the original study that new results can be combined with the prior data.

What is expected regarding Task 2 sample size?

Applicants are expected to propose a sample size large enough to generate robust detectability estimates.

Can previous detectability data be incorporated into the new Task 2 analysis?

Yes. The announcement notes that prior detectability data at 50 m, 100 m, 150 m, and 200 m in obstructed conditions may be incorporated into the new analysis if the applicant chooses.

Where are study areas expected to be located?

Study areas are expected to be in riparian habitats within the breeding range of the elf owl in Arizona and New Mexico.

What logistical realities about riparian habitat work should proposals account for?

Applicants need to account for the reality that dense riparian understory (such as at Bill Williams NWR) can make interior work more time- and resource-intensive than edge-based work.

Who is responsible for permits?

The recipient is responsible for obtaining necessary state and land-use permits and should only propose a design they are confident can be permitted.

What are the requirements if field crews need to create trails?

If crews need to create trails, landowner permission is required, impacts must be minimized by using existing paths whenever possible, and vegetation cutting should be kept to the minimum necessary.

Are chainsaws or electronic clearing equipment allowed for trail or vegetation clearing?

No. The use of chainsaws or other electronic clearing equipment is prohibited.

What must be included in the proposal's technical approach?

The proposal must include a detailed technical approach covering study design, methods, data collection, data management, and data analysis.

Are draft field data sheets required with the proposal?

Yes. The proposal must include draft hard-copy field data sheets intended for use during the project.

What study design deliverables are required after award, and on what timeline?

After award, the recipient must submit an expanded draft study design within 30 days that incorporates input from Reclamation personnel. A final study design is due 15 days before fieldwork begins.

Will Reclamation help with study site identification?

Yes. Reclamation notes it will assist the awardee in locating and scouting potential study areas, reflecting that site identification and access logistics are important for completing the work.