Bird Habitats
Boxes are placed in the open ponderosa pine forest of the canyons and piñon–juniper woodland on the Pajarito plateau mesas.
Contact
- Environmental Communication & Public Involvement
- P.O. Box 1663 MS M996
- Los Alamos, NM 87545
- (505) 667-0216
Who nests in our network?
More than two dozen North American bird species prefer to nest in bird houses. At LANL, we provide nestboxes for the following native bird species:
- Western bluebird (Sialia mexicana) - primary species
- Ash-throated flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens)
- Mountain chickadees
- House finches
- House wrens
The main objective of the avian nestbox monitoring network is to determine efficient and sensitive indicators of potential contaminant exposure and environmental stress on cavity-nesting birds.
The project has over 850 nest boxes placed on LANL land.
All adults and nestlings western bluebirds are banded and return band numbers are recorded.
The long-term Avian Nestbox Network study has:
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Completed field and laboratory research on dose-responses to the heavy metal lead, a significant contaminant of concern at LANL
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Specific studies in areas of potential contamination in Mortandad and Sandia Canyons
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Supported exposure assessments of the watershed Canyon Investigations for a decade
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Supported environmental monitoring for the LANL Open-burn Permit
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Been able to parse out environmental impacts such as fire, drought, and habitat change versus contaminant impacts on avian populations
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Supported the Natural Resource Damage Assessment program at LANL, showing little to no overall impact from contaminants on avian populations.
As a long-term monitoring program at LANL, the Avian Nestbox Network is in the position to be a cost-effective and efficient surveillance tool for long-term environmental stewardship at Los Alamos, coupled with monitoring chronic low-level exposure to contaminants and climate change.
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