Bill Block

Program Manager/Supervisory Research Wildlife Biologist

picture of Bill Block and lynx

Phone: (928) 556-2161
Fax: (928) 556-2130
e-mail: wblock@fs.fed.us

Address:
Rocky Mountain Station
Southwest Forest Science Complex
2500 South Pine Knoll Drive
Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Abbreviated Vitae

CAREER GOALS

  • Continue as a research scientist.
  • Make important contributions to wildlife conservation.

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

  • Habitat ecology of neotropical migratory birds (NTMBs) in the Madrean Archipelago.
  • Effects of prescribed fire on breeding and wintering birds in the American Southwest.
  • Fire effects on bird and small mammal communities.
  • Effects of fire risk abatement treatments in the urban-wildland interface on small mammal populations.

REALIZED MAJOR RESEARCH OUTPUTS

  • Block, W.M., J.L. Ganey, P.E. Scott, and R. King. 2005. Prey ecology of Mexican spotted owls in pine-oak forests of northern Arizona. Journal of Wildlife Management 69:618-629. PDF
  • Bock, C.E., and W.M. Block. 2005. Fire and birds in the American Southwest. Studies in Avian Biology 30:14-32. PDF
  • Converse, S.J., G.C. White, and W.M. Block. In press. Small mammal responses to thinning and wildfire in ponderosa pine-dominated forests of the southwestern USA. Journal of Wildlife Management.
  • Covert-Bratland, K.E., W.M. Block, and T. Theimer. In press. Hairy woodpecker winter ecology in ponderosa pine forests representing different ages since wildfire. Journal of Wildlife Management 70:1379-1392. PDF

KEY SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS

  • Leader, Mexican Spotted Owl Recovery Team (1993-Present)
  • Member, Terrestrial Mammal Risk Assessment Panel, Tongass National Forest (1996-1997)
  • Co-coordinator and co-editor, Ponderosa Pine Songbird Review (1996-1997)
  • Editorial Board, Restoration Ecology (1999-2006)
  • Co-Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Wildlife Management (2001 to present)
  • Member, Lincoln NF Capability Assessment Team (2005)
  • Member, Species Diversity Team, R3 Forest Plan Revision Coordination (2005)

OUTCOMES OF PAST RESEARCH, SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS, AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

  • Mexican spotted owl recovery plan provides basis for forest management in the Southwest.
  • Protocol developed for implementation monitoring of owl habitat is being implemented throughout the Southwest.
  • Completion of pine songbird document was part of the settlement in Silver vs. Thomas litigation.
  • Risk assessment of FEIS alternatives for the Tongass National Forest plans aided in selection of preferred alternative.
  • Research results on habitat relationships, including developing, testing, and validating wildlife habitat models, have provided widely-used management tools.

ANTICIPATED OUTCOME OF CURRENT EFFORTS

  • Fine-tune management for spotted owls by managing for their prey as well.
  • Understand the effects of habitat isolation on distributions of NTMBs to help in large-scale management planning.
  • Document how habitat mosaic influenced by variable fire severity influences vertebrate community structure.
  • Provide guidance for the development and implementation of wildlife research and monitoring studies.
  • Provide guidance for conserving wildlife populations while conducting fuels reduction treatments.