PROTOCOL FOR SURVEYING PROPOSED MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES THAT MAY IMPACT NORTHERN SPOTTED OWLS

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) developed this 2011 NSO Survey Protocol (2011 Protocol) to promote consistent and scientifically rigorous procedures to survey for northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina; spotted owl) in areas where management activities may remove or modify spotted owl nesting, roosting or foraging habitat (excluding areas defined as dispersal habitat). This protocol should also be applied to activities that disrupt essential breeding activities and to activities that may injure or otherwise harm spotted owl other than through habitat modification (e.g., noise disturbance, smoke from prescribed fire). This 2011 version of the survey protocol builds upon the 1992 Protocol and incorporates changes made to the Draft 2010 Protocol.