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Articles by Barbara E. Kus
Non-native invasive beetle alters structure of a riparian bird community in a biodiversity hotspot
Links More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI) Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core Suggested Citation Kus, B., Yee, J.L., and Mendia, S., 2026, Non-native invasive beetle alters structure of a riparian bird community in a biodiversity hotspot: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, v. 14, 1810966, 9 p., https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2026.1810966.
Genetic and environmental factors associated with survival of a rare songbird in a fragmented urban landscape
1 INTRODUCTION Factors that influence individual survival are important to understand in rare and declining species to inform population and habitat management actions aimed at enhancing population viability. Drivers can include both extrinsic environmental and ecological factors (climate, habitat, food availability, predation, competition) and intrinsic genetic factors (variation and adaptation) as well as their interactions (Frankham et al., 2017; Schwartz et al., 2007).
Distribution, abundance, and breeding activities of the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California-2023 Annual report
First posted January 31, 2025 For additional information, contact: Western Ecological Research Center U.S. Geological Survey 3020 State University Drive East Sacramento, California 95819 The purpose of this report is to provide the Marine Corps with an annual summary of the distribution, abundance, and breeding activity of the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus; flycatcher) at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (MCBCP or “Base”).
Occupancy dynamics of the California Gnatcatcher in southern California
First posted August 26, 2024 For additional information, contact: Western Ecological Research Center U.S. Geological Survey 3020 State University Drive East Sacramento, California 95819 The Coastal California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica: “gnatcatcher”) is a resident species restricted to coastal sage scrub habitat in southern California.
Distribution, abundance, and breeding activities of the Least Bell's Vireo at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California-2021 annual report
First posted August 23, 2024 For additional information, contact: Western Ecological Research Center U.S. Geological Survey 3020 State University Drive East Sacramento, California 95819 The purpose of this report is to provide the Marine Corps with an annual summary of abundance, breeding activity, demography, and habitat use of endangered Least Bell’s Vireos (Vireo bellii pusillus) at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (MCBCP or “Base”).
Distribution, abundance, and breeding activities of the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California-2021 annual report
First posted August 20, 2024 The purpose of this report is to provide the Marine Corps with an annual summary of abundance, breeding activity, demography, and habitat use of the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (MCBCP). Surveys for the flycatcher were completed at MCBCP between May 5 and July 31, 2021. All of MCBCP’s historically occupied riparian habitat (core survey area) was surveyed for flycatchers in 2021.
Least Bell's Vireos and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers-Breeding activities and habitat use-2023 annual report
First posted August 15, 2024 For additional information, contact: Western Ecological Research Center U.S. Geological Survey 3020 State University Drive East Sacramento, California 95819 We completed four protocol surveys for Least Bell’s Vireos (Vireo bellii pusillus; hereinafter vireo) during the breeding season, supplemented by weekly territory monitoring visits between April 6 and July 20 at the San Luis Rey Flood Risk Management Project Area (hereinafter Project Area).
Rangewide occupancy of a flagship species, the Coastal California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) in southern California: Habitat associations and recovery from wildfire
Links More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI) Open Access Version: Publisher Index Page Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core Study Area Publication type Article Publication Subtype Journal Article Title Rangewide occupancy of a flagship species, the Coastal California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) in southern California: Habitat associations and recovery from wildfire Series title PLoS ONE DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0306267 Volume 19 Issue 7 Year Published 2024...
Distribution, Abundance, and Breeding Activities of the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California-2020 Annual Report
First posted June 20, 2024 For additional information, contact: Western Ecological Research Center U.S. Geological Survey 3020 State University Drive East Sacramento, California 95819 Surveys for the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) were done at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (MCBCP or “Base”), California, between May 4 and July 31, 2020. All of MCBCP’s historically occupied riparian habitat (core survey area) was surveyed for flycatchers in 2020.
Distribution, abundance, and breeding activities of the Least Bell's Vireo at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California-2020 annual report
The purpose of this report is to provide the Marine Corps with an annual summary of abundance, breeding activity, demography, and habitat use of endangered Least Bell’s Vireos (Vireo bellii pusillus) at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (MCBCP, or Base). Surveys for the Least Bell's Vireo were conducted at MCBCP, California, between April 1 and July 10, 2020. Core survey areas and a subset of non-core areas in drainages containing riparian habitat suitable for vireos were surveyed 3–4 times.
Distribution, abundance, and habitat characteristics of Coastal Cactus Wrens (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) in San Diego County, California-2023 Data Summary
First posted June 18, 2024 We surveyed for coastal Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) in 507 established plots in San Diego County in 2023, encompassing 4 genetic clusters (Otay, Lake Jennings, Sweetwater/Encanto, and San Pasqual). Two surveys were completed at each plot between March 1 and July 31. Cactus Wrens were detected in 181 plots (36 percent of plots).
Neotropical Migratory Bird Monitoring Study at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California-2021 Annual Data Summary
First posted June 12, 2024 For additional information, contact: Western Ecological Research Center U.S. Geological Survey 3020 State University Drive East Sacramento, California 95819 Two Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) stations were operated at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (MCBCP), California, in 2021: one at De Luz Creek and one at the Santa Margarita River.
Distribution and abundance of Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii extimus) on the Upper San Luis Rey River, San Diego County, California-2023 data summary
First posted May 17, 2024 We surveyed for Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii extimus; flycatcher) along the upper San Luis Rey River near Lake Henshaw in Santa Ysabel, California, in 2023.
High inter-population connectivity and occasional gene flow between subspecies improves recovery potential for the endangered Least Bell’s Vireo
Links More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI) Open Access Version: Publisher Index Page Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core Publication type Article Publication Subtype Journal Article Title High inter-population connectivity and occasional gene flow between subspecies improves recovery potential for the endangered Least Bell’s Vireo Series title Ornithological Applications DOI 10.1093/ornithapp/duae009 Edition Online First Volume 126 Year Published 2024 Language English...
Distribution and Abundance of Least Bell’s Vireos (
We surveyed for Least Bell’s Vireos (LBVI) (Vireo bellii pusillus) and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (SWFL) (Empidonax traillii extimus) along the San Luis Rey River, between College Boulevard in Oceanside and Interstate 15 in Fallbrook, California (middle San Luis Rey River), in 2016. Surveys were done from March 30 to July 11 (LBVI) and from May 18 to July 30 (SWFL). We found 142 LBVI territories, at least 106 of which were occupied by pairs. Six additional transient LBVIs were detected.
Monitoring Breeding and Migration of Neotropical Migratory Birds at Point Loma, San Diego County, California, 5-Year Summary, 2011-15
We operated a bird banding station on the Point Loma peninsula in western San Diego County, California, during spring and summer from 2011 to 2015. The station was established in 2010 as part of a long-term monitoring program for neotropical migratory birds during spring migration and for breeding birds as part of the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) program.
Female-biased sex ratio, polygyny, and persistence in the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (
Demographic changes in populations, such as skewed sex ratios, are of concern to conservationists, especially in small populations in which stochastic and other events can produce declines leading to extirpation. We documented a decline in one of the few remaining populations of Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) in southern California, USA, which dropped from 40 to 5 adults between 2000 and 2015. Declines were unequal between sexes (94% for males, 82% for females).
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