Black-Capped Vireo and Golden-Cheeked
Warbler Recovery Permits
Applicants applying for a new
permit, amending an existing permit, or renewing a permit should use
Form 3-200-55 Federal Fish and Wildlife Application Form – Native Endangered
and Threatened Species. As part of that form, specific species experience
information is required in section D(1)(b). To make permit application
reviews more efficient and to provide specific guidance to applicants, the USFWS
is providing experience requirements for conducting presence/absence surveys for
the black-capped vireo and golden-cheeked warbler. This guidance is based
on the experience of species experts working in an established training program.
In addition to the general application requirements, the following minimum
requirements for experience in detecting black-capped vireos and golden-cheeked
warbler by song are necessary to receive a scientific permit for independently
performing presence/absence surveys.
Category 1– Applicants with
substantial experience detecting passerines by song. This category
includes applicants with a strong background in passerine surveys or bird song
identification; for example, regular or previous participation in breeding bird
surveys, point-count surveys, or other similar avian surveys.
Minimum requirements (for each species):
25 hours of active field survey time (from sunrise to 1:00 pm, under appropriate
weather conditions; five days minimum) searching for each target species with a
permitted biologist. A minimum of 10 detections must have been made over
four of the field survey days for each species requested. Sixty percent
(15 hours; six detections) of the 25 hours required for each species must have
been conducted during the three most recent survey seasons (past three years).
Category 2 – Applicants with little or no specific experience in
detecting passerines by song. This category includes
general biologists/ecologists and biologists with specialized training in other
animal or bird groups (e.g., reptiles, mammals, shorebirds), but with little or
no experience in passerine surveys or bird song identification.
Minimum requirements (for each species):
50 hours of active field survey time (from sunrise to 1:00 pm, under appropriate
weather conditions; 10 days minimum) searching for each target species with a
permitted biologist. A minimum of 20 detections must have been made over
eight of the field survey days for each species requested. Sixty percent
(30 hours; 12 detections) of the 50 hours required for each species must have
been conducted during the two most recent survey seasons (past two years).
Category 3 – Permit Renewal/Amendment. Additionally,
for the renewal/amending of an existing permit, the USFWS will require persons
already permitted to provide information showing current experience performing
presence/absence surveys. Thus, it will now be necessary for permitted
biologists to show a minimum of two days (or 10 hours) of field time with
positive detections of each species by song, within the three most recent survey
seasons to be renewed on an existing permit.
To simplify the process, we
have provided a
recommended format to provide documentation of the appropriate minimum
requirements. We recommend the level of experience be documented using
this format for each person requesting inclusion under the permit and submitted
with an application package. We have also included an
example for your convenience.
All black-capped vireo reports
including, but not limited to, interim reports, annual reports, GIS files,
habitat assessments, and property surveys can now be submitted electronically to
BCVIReporting@fws.gov.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with
others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and
their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
All images Credit to and Courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service unless specified otherwise.
Last updated:
November 1, 2012
