Spotted Owls - Santa Ysabel [ds538]

Santa Ysabel Ranch Open Space Preserve, a 5,400-acre property previously operated as a cattle ranch, became part of the San Diego County Parks and Recreation Department in the fall of 2001. Following this acquisition, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted surveys to establish baseline species data. In 2002, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began a series of baseline biodiversity surveys for ants, fishes, reptiles, amphibians, birds, bats, and small, medium, and large mammals. The bird component of the biodiversity surveys included focused species surveys for California spotted owls. Between May and August 2003, USGS conducted surveys for California spotted owls at 16 calling stations located within Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve. Over the course of the surveys, four owl species were detected, including the barn owl (Tyto alba), the great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), the California spotted owl (Strix occidentalis), and the western screech owl (Otus kennicottii). California spotted owls were detected at six calling stations near Santa Ysabel Creek. A male and female California spotted owl were detected in close proximity (less than 1/4 mile apart) to each other during day follow-up surveys on two separate occasions, confirming pair status. As such, an activity center was determined based on the pair's location. This dataset contains all data related the 2003 California spotted owl surveys at Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve, in addition to incidental sightings of other bird species observed during the surveys.

Disclaimer: The State makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or adequacy of these data and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in these data. No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed, or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from computer virus, is given with respect to these data.

Use restricted to government agencies. Positional accuracy of individual locations is limited by: accuracy of satellite GPS locations, observer error, and possible data entry errors. Although, all reasonable attempts have been made to limit these factors, positional accuracy for any individual point should not necessarily be considered minimal. The appropriateness of multiple scales of inference is the end-users responsibility to justify and the originators assume no responsibility for incorrect or misleading uses of this data.