Graduation Date
Summer 2026
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Science degree with a major in Natural Resources, option Wildlife
Committee Chair Name
Matthew Johnson
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Elizabeth Porzig
Second Committee Member Affiliation
Community Member or Outside Professional
Third Committee Member Name
Nicole Michel
Third Committee Member Affiliation
Community Member or Outside Professional
Keywords
Grassland birds, Rangelands, California, Soil, Birds, Healthy soils
Subject Categories
Wildlife
Abstract
Rangelands are important landscapes in California that support a robust cattle industry and serve as vital grassland habitat for birds. Climate change is projected to impact rangelands, leading to economic and ecological deterioration. In California, the Healthy Soils Program (HSP) incentivizes climate-smart solutions to increase working land resiliency. While the HSP targets soil and range health for livestock, it may also benefit birds. We surveyed rangeland operators to examine whether the implementation and duration of specific range management practices, such as range seeding, prescribed grazing, and silvopasture, are associated with bird community responses, using avian point count data from Point Blue Conservation Science’s Rangeland Monitoring Network to calculate the National Audubon Society’s Bird-Friendliness Index (BFI). For bird species associated with both oaks and grasslands, we found prescribed grazing and range seeding increased BFI. For grassland-associated birds, shrub establishment increased BFI. The number of livestock animals per acre and duration of rangeland management practices had mixed effects on BFI, indicating a trade-off between restoration and disturbance that may impact conservation on working rangelands. Sustaining consistent ecological monitoring of climate-smart practices will be critical for understanding how they shape bird communities over time.
Citation Style
Journal of Wildlife Management (JWM)
Recommended Citation
Gil, Ximena O., "Do California rangeland healthy soil practices offer co-benefits for grassland birds?" (2026). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2642.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2642