Developing Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Habitat and Ranking Metrics at
Multiple Scales with a Satellite Model
James R. Hatten1*, Matthew J. Johnson2, and Jennifer A. Holmes3
1U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Jhatten@usgs.gov
2Northern Arizona University, Colorado Plateau Research Station, Flagstaff, AZ, USA; matthew.johnson@nau.edu
3Northern Arizona University, Colorado Plateau Research Station, Flagstaff, AZ, USA; jennifer.holmes@nau.edu
Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (SWFL) habitat metrics are important for discovery surveys, ranking and prioritizing reaches for restoration and enhancement activities, conducting change detection, and performing basin-scale planning. Toward that end, the SWFL satellite model was used to generate a suite of variables at multiple scales in the upper Gila River Basin to characterize stability, heterogeneity, and area of predicted habitat. An approach to reach-scale habitat ranking was developed and applied to the upper Gila River Basin, prioritizing river reaches for discovery surveys, restoration and enhancement activities, change detection, and basin-scale planning. Model verification was performed with SWFL territories collected between 2016 and 2019 on the upper Gila River.