Research about San Luis Rey River

USGS2025

Distribution, abundance, and breeding activities of Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii extimus) at select locations on the San Luis Rey River, San Diego County, California—2024 data summary

We surveyed for Southwestern Willow Flycatchers ( Empidonax traillii extimus ; flycatcher) at select locations along the San Luis Rey River, including along the middle San Luis Rey River near Bonsall and the upper San Luis Rey River near Santa Ysabel, California, in 2024. Surveys were completed at six locations: two along the middle San Luis Rey River (Bonsall [BO] and Rincon), which were last surveyed in 2021, and four along the upper San Luis Rey River, including three downstream from Lake Henshaw that have been surveyed annually since 2015 (Rey River Ranch, Cleveland National Forest [CNF] , Vista Irrigation District [VID] ), and one upstream at VID Lake Henshaw (VLH) that has been surveyed annually since 2018. There were a minimum of 47 territorial flycatchers (26 male, 21 female) detected at 1 location (VLH) and 6 transient flycatchers of unknown subspecies detected at 3 locations (BO, CNF, and VLH). In total, 30 territories were established, containing 21 pairs and 9 flycatchers of undetermined breeding status. Of the 21 pairs, 13 pairs were monogamous (1 male and 1 female), and 8 pairs were polygynous (1 male paired with more than 1 female). No territorial flycatchers were detected downstream from Lake Henshaw or along the middle San Luis Rey River. Brown-headed Cowbirds ( Molothrus ater ; cowbird) were detected at all six survey locations. No banded flycatchers were detected during surveys. Flycatchers used four habitat types in the survey area: (1) mixed willow riparian, (2) willow-cottonwood, (3) willow-oak, and (4) willow-sycamore. Of the flycatcher locations, 86 percent were in habitat characterized as mixed willow riparian, and 97 percent were in habitat with greater than 95-percent native plant cover. We monitored flycatcher nests at VLH to collect baseline data on nest success, productivity, and parasitism rate. There were 22 nests monitored in 13 territories; 9 were successful. Of the 13 failed nests, 8 were depredated, 3 failed for unknown reasons, and 2 failed because of cowbird parasitism. We confirmed 26 juvenile flycatchers in 2024, which included 22 from monitored nests, and an additional 4 juveniles detected in unmonitored territories. Based on 19 nests in which the contents were observed during the egg stage, 16 percent of nests in 2024 were parasitized.

California↗

USGS2019

Distribution and abundance of Least Bell’s Vireos (Vireo bellii pusillus) and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii extimus) on the Middle San Luis Rey River, San Diego County, Southern California—2018 data summary

We surveyed for Least Bell’s Vireos ( Vireo bellii pusillus ; vireo) and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers ( Empidonax traillii extimus ; flycatcher) along the San Luis Rey River, between College Boulevard in Oceanside and Interstate 15 in Fallbrook, California (middle San Luis Rey River), in 2018. Surveys were conducted from April 17 to July 16 (vireo) and from May 16 to July 27 (flycatcher). We found 148 vireo territories, at least 90 of which were occupied by pairs. Six additional transient vireos were detected. Vireos used six different habitat types in the survey area: mixed willow, willow-cottonwood, riparian scrub, willow-sycamore, upland scrub, and non-native habitat. Forty-one percent of the vireos were detected in habitat characterized as mixed willow, and 97 percent of the vireos were detected in habitat with greater than 50 percent native plant cover. Of 10 banded vireos detected in the survey area, 5 had been given full color-band combinations prior to 2018. Four other vireos with single (natal) federal bands were recaptured, identified, and color banded in 2018. One vireo with a single dark blue federal band, indicating that it was banded as a nestling on the lower San Luis Rey River, could not be recaptured for identification. One resident flycatcher and eight transient flycatchers of unknown subspecies were observed in the survey area in 2018. The resident flycatcher (male) was detected in a territory of mixed willow habitat with greater than 95 percent native plant cover. He was detected as a single male from May 24 to July 17, 2018, and no evidence of pairing or nesting was observed. The male flycatcher, detected with a single natal band, was recaptured, identified, and given a unique color combination in 2018. The male flycatcher was originally banded as a nestling on the middle San Luis Rey River in 2016. The eight transient flycatchers were detected from May 25 to June 8, 2018, in mixed willow riparian, willow-cottonwood, and riparian scrub habitat with greater than 95 percent native plant cover.

California↗