Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands 1 CERULEAN WARBLER ATLAS PROJECT FOR PRIVATE LANDS A Voluntary Landowner- conducted Survey Presentation

Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

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CERULEAN WARBLER ATLAS PROJECT

FOR PRIVATE LANDS

A Voluntary Landowner-conducted Survey

Presentation 1: About the Project


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The Cerulean Warbler

• Is of high conservation priority • Has declined 70% since 1966 (BBS)• Has been proposed as a federally threatened

species


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• Some conservation measures may be appropriate for this species.

• However, listing could potentially constrain forest management activities in many areas of eastern North America.

• Thus, sound information is needed to both help the bird and to avoid unnecessary constraints on landowners.


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• The Cerulean breeds in eastern North America.

• It winters on east slopes of the Andes in northern South America.


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• Cerulean Warblers are mostly found in deciduous forests with some tall, mature trees such as oaks, hickories, sycamore, black locust, elm, and cottonwoods.

• They occur primarily on ridge tops and in floodplain and mesic cove forests.


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• The Cerulean Warbler Atlas project recently documented current distribution and areas with highest populations -- over 3,000 sites surveyed.


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The Cerulean Warbler• Many areas of potential habitat have not been

surveyed for Cerulean Warblers, particularly on private lands in the core of the range.

• Better information about the population status of Ceruleans would help the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decide whether listing of this species is appropriate.


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• A partnership among industry, government agencies, and conservation groups has led to proactive measures to conserve Cerulean populations and avoid federal listing.

• NCASI has received a $150K grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (matched by private funds) to conduct surveys on private forest lands and do manipulative forestry experiment.


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• The Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands is a voluntary, landowner-conducted survey developed to improve information about the abundance, distribution, and habitat relationships of Cerulean Warblers.

• Landowners gather their own information and submit it to NCASI who obscures ownership.


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• Cornell Lab of Ornithology analyzes the data to help us learn more about the Cerulean Warbler’s abundance, distribution, and habitat relationships.

• The results will be used to inform regulatory agencies and landowners about cost-effective ways to help the bird.


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• Landowners select sites to survey in suitable Cerulean Warbler habitat during May and June.

• Surveys are conducted along accessible roads or trails, using a playback CD provided by Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

• NCASI coordinates participation and conceals land ownership in data presentations.

General Methods: What is involved?


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• In 2003-2004, 11 landowners conducted surveys at 404 sites.

• Ceruleans were located at roughly 30% of all sites surveyed.

• Important gaps were filled for distribution atlas in core of range.


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• In 2005, we seek additional landowner participants in KY, OH, TN, VA, and WV

• Results will help inform forestry experiments and ultimately forestry guidelines

• For more information, contact:

Ben Wigley, NCASI864-656-0840, [email protected]

Documents

Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands 1 CERULEAN WARBLER ATLAS PROJECT FOR PRIVATE LANDS A Voluntary Landowner- conducted Survey Presentation