Surveys to determine the current population of NSO within the ESRF, which was last surveyed in 2016. Survey areas, stations and surveys are defined in the USFWS 2012 protocol. The work will entail establishing approximately 665 survey stations, of which approximately 20% are daytime stations requiring hiking to access survey points. Each station will be scheduled to receive six (6) survey visits unless occupancy and nesting/reproductive status are determined sooner and further survey efforts are deemed unnecessary. Additionally, there are a minimum of 22 daytime site visits to activity centers for known designated NSO sites, which may be increased up to 53 to include alternative site centers and additional historic sites. Site visits include daytime follow-up visits for known owl activity centers as well as follow-up visits resulting from nighttime detections of previously unknown owls. Therefore, actual daytime visits may vary, depending on the number of nighttime observations, as well as the current occupancy at known NSO sites. Any barred owls encountered during survey efforts will be recorded in the same manner as spotted owl responses, including a response data form and responses depicted upon maps. The number of survey areas (compartments), stations, survey station visits and daytime site visits are estimates and are subject to revision due to changes in protocol, timber sale planning and field review of designated stands. More accurate survey workloads will be available prior to the survey season; however, the Contractor should be prepared for fluctuations of +/-20% from these estimates. Site visits include daytime visits for known owl activity centers as well as follow-up visits resulting from nighttime observations of previously unknown owls. Therefore, actual daytime visits may vary, depending on the number of nighttime observations, as well as the current occupancy at known NSO sites.
