Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Southern Appalachian Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit

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The USGS is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research in developing approaches to reintroducing native Guam birds in areas with Brown treesnake (BTS) control. BTS were introduced after World War II to Guam, and over several decades spread across the island decimating the native forest birds. Only two native species of forest birds still exist in the wild, but effort to control BTS for eventual reintroduction of birds is underway. Request documenting bird use around an area of intensive BTS control, the Control Population (CP) on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. In addition to evaluating bird use, will also include developing methods to attract native birds from neighboring areas and developing and trialing technology (artificial nesting and roosting structures) for protecting birds from BTS predation. Work should include periodic bird surveys in and around the CP for a period of one year, construction of nesting and roosting structures to be deployed in the CP and assessing the use of such structures in the first year of deployment.