The Birds of Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Birds of Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area Habitats at Sessions Woods The Future Is Now for Connecticut’s Upland hardwood forest - Most of the property Wildlife Heritage is composed of this habitat type. Oak, birch, and The biggest threat facing Connecticut’s wildlife is the loss of maple predominate, with an understory that includes habitat. As more land is developed across the state, there mountain laurel, huckleberry, and witch hazel. Look is less habitat that wildlife can call home. Because almost for migrant vireos, warblers, and tanagers. Nesting 90% of our state’s land is privately owned, all residents must species include whip-poor-will and broad-winged play a critical role in conserving wildlife and habitat. To meet hawk. this need now and into the future, the DEEP Wildlife Division Conifer stands - White pine and hemlock are established the Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area The Birds of scattered throughout the property. The trail map (WMA) and Conservation Education Center, located in indicates locations of dominant conifer stands. Birds Burlington, Connecticut. that may be encountered in this habitat include pine More than just a tract of natural land set aside for wildlife, warbler and great horned owl. Sessions Woods introduces visitors to wildlife and natural Riparian (streamside) areas - Negro Hill Brook resources conservation and management through various and its tributaries flow through Sessions Woods, educational programs, demonstration sites, self-guided hiking Sessions providing a rich diversity of streamside habitat. This trails, and exhibits. Visitors will gain an understanding about watercourse has been dammed by beavers, creating how Connecticut’s wildlife and habitats are conserved and a large marsh. The forested riparian areas have managed. They also will learn how to have a positive role in red maple, yellow birch, and black gum trees. Bird conservation efforts. Woods species to expect include Louisiana waterthrush and The land purchase and development of the facility were made eastern wood pewee. possible with the use of sportsmen-generated Federal Aid in Wildlife Management Area Open field - Small forest openings have been Wildlife Restoration (Pittman-Robertson) funds. Commitment created to provide field habitat for a variety of from the department, combined with active participation from animals. Red fox, coyote and wild turkey have the Friends of Sessions Woods volunteer organization, have been seen in these areas. Along field edges is a helped make Sessions Woods what it is today. good place to find Eastern towhee, great-crested flycatcher, and a variety of sparrows. Beaver marsh - Beavers have built many dams on the west end of the property, creating wetland habitat for wildlife, including river otter, muskrat, and mink. This is where the greatest diversity of bird species can be found at Sessions Woods. Look for wood duck, great blue heron, Virginia rail, flycatchers, migrating warblers, and possibly bald eagle. Standing dead trees (snags) - High water levels have killed a number of trees in the beaver marsh. Most are red maples. Holes created in dead trees by pileated, red-bellied, hairy, and downy woodpeckers are also used by tree swallows, chickadees, nuthatches, bluebirds, and wood ducks. Laurel thickets - Dense thickets of mountain laurel occur in a few locations, providing excellent nesting cover for a variety of birds, including black-throated The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program was initiated by sportsmen blue warbler and veery. and conservationists to provide states with funding for wildlife management and research programs, habitat acquisition, wildlife management area development, and hunter education programs. Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area is 777 Acres of Diverse Habitat Please Remember: funded in part with Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration (Pittman-Robertson) funds. ● Trails open at sunrise and close at sunset. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Including Forests, Fields, Action/Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the ● Dogs must be leashed (7-foot max.) at all times. requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please contact us at 860-418-5910 ● Mountain bike use is restricted to the gravel trails. or [email protected] if you: have a disability and need a communication and Wetlands aid or service; have limited proficiency in English and may need information in another ● Poison ivy and ticks are found on the property. language; or if you wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint. ● Carry out what you carry in. ● Fires and unauthorized camping are not allowed. Connecticut Department of Energy and ● Collecting of plants and/or wildlife is prohibited. Sessions Sessions Woods Environmental Protection ● Large animals, including black bears and coyotes, Wildlife Management Area Bureau of Natural Resources 341 Milford Street (Route 69) may be present. Woods Wildlife Division Wildlife Management Area Burlington, CT 06013 www.ct.gov/deep Rev. 7/15 - The Birds of Sessions Woods - - The Birds of Sessions Woods - - The Birds of Sessions Woods - - The Birds of Sessions Woods - Sp Su F W Sp Su F W Sp Su F W Sp Su F W — Common Loon R R R — Rock Pigeon U U U U — Eastern Bluebird N C C C U — Rose-breasted Grosbeak N C C U N N N — Pied-billed Grebe R R R — Mourning Dove C C C C — Veery C C C — Indigo Bunting C C U — Swainson’s Thrush U U N — Double-crested Cormorant U U U — Yellow-billed Cuckoo U U U — Eastern Towhee C C C R — Black-billed Cuckoo U U U — Gray-cheeked Thrush R R — American Tree Sparrow U U N — American Bittern R — Hermit Thrush U U U N N — Chipping Sparrow C C C R — Eastern Screech Owl U U U U N — Great Blue Heron N C C C — Wood Thrush C C U N — Great Horned Owl N C C C C — Field Sparrow C C U — Great Egret U U U — American Robin N A A A R — Barred Owl N C C C C — Fox Sparrow U U — Green Heron U U U N N — Northern Saw-whet Owl R R R R — Gray Catbird C C C — Song Sparrow C C C U — Mute Swan R R R — Northern Mockingbird U U U — Lincoln’s Sparrow U U — Common Nighthawk U U R — Canada Goose N C C C — Brown Thrasher R R R — Swamp Sparrow N C C U — Whip-poor-will N U U R — Wood Duck N C C C — Cedar Waxwing C C C R — White-throated Sparrow C C C — Green-winged Teal R R R — Chimney Swift C C R — Dark-eyed Junco C C A — European Starling N U U U U — American Black Duck U R U — Ruby-throated Hummingbird N C C R — Red-winged Blackbird N C C U N — White-eyed Vireo R R R — Mallard C C C — Belted Kingfisher U U U — Eastern Meadowlark U U — Yellow-throated Vireo N U U R — Northern Pintail R R R — Common Grackle N C C U — Red-bellied Woodpecker N C C C C — Blue-headed Vireo N U U U — Blue-winged Teal R R R — Brown-headed Cowbird N C C C U — Yellow-bellied Sapsucker N C C C N — Ring-necked Duck C U — Warbling Vireo C C U N — Downy Woodpecker N C C C C — Baltimore Oriole C C U — Bufflehead R R — Philadelphia Vireo R R R — Hairy Woodpecker N C C C C N — Purple Finch U U U U — Hooded Merganser N C C C — Red-eyed Vireo C C C — Northern Flicker N C C C U — House Finch N C C C U — Common Merganser U U U — Blue-winged Warbler N C C C — Pileated Woodpecker N U U U U — Common Redpoll R — Red-breasted Merganser R R R — Tennessee Warbler U U — Pine Siskin U U U — Eastern Wood-Pewee N C C U — Nashville Warbler U U — Black Vulture U U U — American Goldfinch N A A A A — Least Flycatcher N U U R — Northern Parula U U — Turkey Vulture C C C — Evening Grosbeak R R — Eastern Phoebe N C C C — Yellow Warbler N C C U — Osprey U U U N N — Great-crested Flycatcher C C U — Chestnut-sided Warbler N C C U — House Sparrow U U U U — Bald Eagle R R R N — Eastern Kingbird C C U — Magnolia Warbler U U — Sharp-shinned Hawk U U U U — Tree Swallow N A A U — Black-throated Blue Warbler. N C C U — Cooper's Hawk N U U U U — Northern Rough-winged Swallow U U U — Yellow-rumped Warbler C C C — Northern Goshawk N R R R R — Bank Swallow U U U — Black-throated Green Warbler N C C U — Red-shouldered Hawk N U U U R — Barn Swallow C C U — Blackburnian Warbler N C C U Other Species: Checklist Key — Broad-winged Hawk N C C C — Pine Warbler N C C U — Red-tailed Hawk N C C C U — Blue Jay N C C C C A abundant — Prairie Warbler N C C U — American Kestrel R R — American Crow N A A A A C common — Palm Warbler C U — Merlin R R — Fish Crow U U U U U uncommon — Bay-breasted Warbler U U — Common Raven U U U U — Ring-necked Pheasant R R R — Black-and-white Warbler N C C U R rare N — Ruffed Grouse N U U U U — Black-capped Chickadee A A A A — American Redstart N C C U N confirmed or N N — Tufted Titmouse A A A A N probable nesting — Wild Turkey C C C U — Worm-eating Warbler U U Please report any new bird N — Red-breasted Nuthatch U U U U — Blackpoll Warbler U U sightings or nestings to the — Virginia Rail R R R N — White-breasted Nuthatch C C C C — Ovenbird N C C C DEEP Wildlife Division's Sp Spring: Mar.
Recommended publications
  • Catharus Fuscescens the Veery, Like Most Woodland Thrushes, Is More
    Veery Catharus fuscescens The Veery, like most woodland thrushes, is more frequently heard than seen. Most bird­ ers are familiar with its veer alarm call. Its melodious song, a series of downward­ spiraling notes, rivals that of the Hermit Thrush. Veeries breed throughout Vermont; their range of accepted habitats overlaps that of all other thrushes except the Gray­ cheeked. Although accepting a nearly ubiq­ uitous array of breeding areas, in Connecti­ cut Veeries preferred moist sites (Berlin 1977) and, indeed, few swamps or moist son's thrushes in overlapping territories woodlands in the Northeast are unoccupied (D. P. Kibbe, pers. observ.). by Veeries. However, Vermont's greatest re­ The Veery's bulky nest is built on a thick corded breeding densities for the Veery-64 foundation of dead leaves, usually among to 91 pairs per 100 ha (26 to 37 pairs per saplings or in shrubbery on or near the lOa a)-have been found in habitat com­ ground. Three to 5 pale blue eggs are laid; posed of mixed forest and old fields in cen­ they are incubated for II to 12 days. Twenty­ tral Vermont (Nicholson 1973, 1975, 1978). three Vermont egg dates range from May 26 Dilger (195 6a) found that Veeries preferred to July 23, with a peak in early June. Nest­ disturbed (cutover) forests, presumably lings grow rapidly, and they may leave the because of dense undergrowth there. The nest in as few as 10 days. Nestlings have Veery's acceptance of varied habitat is not been found as early as June 10 and as late surprising in light of its geographic distri­ as July 6.
    [Show full text]
  • Field Checklist (PDF)
    Surf Scoter Marbled Godwit OWLS (Strigidae) Common Raven White-winged Scoter Ruddy Turnstone Eastern Screech Owl CHICKADEES (Paridae) Common Goldeneye Red Knot Great Horned Owl Black-capped Chickadee Barrow’s Goldeneye Sanderling Snowy Owl Boreal Chickadee Bufflehead Semipalmated Sandpiper Northern Hawk-Owl Tufted Titmouse Hooded Merganser Western Sandpiper Barred Owl NUTHATCHES (Sittidae) Common Merganser Least Sandpiper Great Gray Owl Red-breasted Nuthatch Red-breasted Merganser White-rumped Sandpiper Long-eared Owl White-breasted Nuthatch Ruddy Duck Baird’s Sandpiper Short-eared Owl CREEPERS (Certhiidae) VULTURES (Cathartidae) Pectoral Sandpiper Northern Saw-Whet Owl Brown Creeper Turkey Vulture Purple Sandpiper NIGHTJARS (Caprimulgidae) WRENS (Troglodytidae) HAWKS & EAGLES (Accipitridae) Dunlin Common Nighthawk Carolina Wren Osprey Stilt Sandpiper Whip-poor-will House Wren Bald Eagle Buff-breasted Sandpiper SWIFTS (Apodidae) Winter Wren Northern Harrier Ruff Chimney Swift Marsh Wren Sharp-shinned Hawk Short-billed Dowitcher HUMMINGBIRDS (Trochilidae) THRUSHES (Muscicapidae) Cooper’s Hawk Wilson’s Snipe Ruby-throated Hummingbird Golden-crowned Kinglet Northern Goshawk American Woodcock KINGFISHERS (Alcedinidae) Ruby-crowned Kinglet Red-shouldered Hawk Wilson’s Phalarope Belted Kingfisher Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Broad-winged Hawk Red-necked Phalarope WOODPECKERS (Picidae) Eastern Bluebird Red-tailed Hawk Red Phalarope Red-headed Woodpecker Veery Rough-legged Hawk GULLS & TERNS (Laridae) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Gray-cheeked Thrush Golden
    [Show full text]
  • Factors Affecting Nesting Success of Wood Thrushes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
    The Auk 116(4):1075-1082, 1999 FACTORS AFFECTING NESTING SUCCESS OF WOOD THRUSHES IN GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK GEORGE L. FARNSWORTH • AND THEODORE R. SIMONS 2 CooperativeFish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology,North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA ABSTRACT.--Recentevidence suggests that the nestingsuccess of forest-interiorNeotrop- ical migrantsis lower in fragmentedhabitat. We examinedthe nestingsuccess of Wood Thrushes(Hylocichla mustelina) in a largecontiguous forest from 1993 to 1997.From a sample of 416nests we testedfor predictorsof daily nestsurvival rates, including activity at the nest andvegetation parameters at the nestsite. We tested whether disturbance during nest checks (asmeasured by the behaviorof the adults)was relatedto subsequentnest predation. Fe- maleswere more likely to vocalizewhen brooding chicks than when incubating eggs. How- ever,we found no evidencethat observerdisturbance or WoodThrush activity influenced daily nestsurvival rates. Wood Thrushes nested predominately in smallhemlocks, generally surroundedby many other small hemlocks.However, survival ratesof nestsin hemlocks were not significantlydifferent from thosein othersubstrates. Overall, neither activity at the nestnor habitatin the vicinityof the nestwas a goodpredictor of nestingsuccess, and only onevegetation characteristic, a measure of concealment,was significantly correlated with successfulnesting. Brood parasitism by Brown-headedCowbirds (Molothrus ater) was extremelylow (<2% of nestsparasitized). However, nesting success was moderate(daily survivalrate = 0.958)when comparedwith otherpublished studies from more-fragmented landscapes.Our resultssuggest that daily nestsurvival rates do not increasemonotonically from smallto very largeforest patches. Received 31 August1998, accepted 22 March1999. GLOBALDECLINES in Wood Thrush (Hylocich- Midwest probably is insufficient to maintain la mustelina)populations are evident from an- the breedingpopulations in many fragments.
    [Show full text]
  • Aullwood's Birds (PDF)
    Aullwood's Bird List This list was collected over many years and includes birds that have been seen at or very near Aullwood. The list includes some which are seen only every other year or so, along with others that are seen year around. Ciconiiformes Great blue heron Green heron Black-crowned night heron Anseriformes Canada goose Mallard Blue-winged teal Wood duck Falconiformes Turkey vulture Osprey Sharp-shinned hawk Cooper's hawk Red-tailed hawk Red-shouldered hawk Broad-winged hawk Rough-legged hawk Marsh hawk American kestrel Galliformes Bobwhite Ring-necked pheasant Gruiformes Sandhill crane American coot Charadriformes Killdeer American woodcock Common snipe Spotted sandpiper Solitary sandpiper Ring-billed gull Columbiformes Rock dove Mourning dove Cuculiformes Yellow-billed cuckoo Strigiformes Screech owl Great horned owl Barred owl Saw-whet owl Caprimulgiformes Common nighthawk Apodiformes Chimney swift Ruby-throated hummingbird Coraciformes Belted kinghisher Piciformes Common flicker Pileated woodpecker Red-bellied woodpecker Red-headed woodpecker Yellow-bellied sapsucker Hairy woodpecker Downy woodpecker Passeriformes Eastern kingbird Great crested flycatcher Eastern phoebe Yellow-bellied flycatcher Acadian flycatcher Willow flycatcher Least flycatcher Eastern wood pewee Olive-sided flycatcher Tree swallow Bank swallow Rough-winged swallow Barn swallow Purple martin Blue jay Common crow Black-capped chickadee Carolina chickadee Tufted titmouse White-breasted nuthatch Red-breasted nuthatch Brown creeper House wren Winter wren
    [Show full text]
  • The Birds of New York State
    __ Common Goldeneye RAILS, GALLINULES, __ Baird's Sandpiper __ Black-tailed Gull __ Black-capped Petrel Birds of __ Barrow's Goldeneye AND COOTS __ Little Stint __ Common Gull __ Fea's Petrel __ Smew __ Least Sandpiper __ Short-billed Gull __ Cory's Shearwater New York State __ Clapper Rail __ Hooded Merganser __ White-rumped __ Ring-billed Gull __ Sooty Shearwater __ King Rail © New York State __ Common Merganser __ Virginia Rail Sandpiper __ Western Gull __ Great Shearwater Ornithological __ Red-breasted __ Corn Crake __ Buff-breasted Sandpiper __ California Gull __ Manx Shearwater Association Merganser __ Sora __ Pectoral Sandpiper __ Herring Gull __ Audubon's Shearwater Ruddy Duck __ Semipalmated __ __ Iceland Gull __ Common Gallinule STORKS Sandpiper www.nybirds.org GALLINACEOUS BIRDS __ American Coot __ Lesser Black-backed __ Wood Stork __ Northern Bobwhite __ Purple Gallinule __ Western Sandpiper Gull FRIGATEBIRDS DUCKS, GEESE, SWANS __ Wild Turkey __ Azure Gallinule __ Short-billed Dowitcher __ Slaty-backed Gull __ Magnificent Frigatebird __ Long-billed Dowitcher __ Glaucous Gull __ Black-bellied Whistling- __ Ruffed Grouse __ Yellow Rail BOOBIES AND GANNETS __ American Woodcock Duck __ Spruce Grouse __ Black Rail __ Great Black-backed Gull __ Brown Booby __ Wilson's Snipe __ Fulvous Whistling-Duck __ Willow Ptarmigan CRANES __ Sooty Tern __ Northern Gannet __ Greater Prairie-Chicken __ Spotted Sandpiper __ Bridled Tern __ Snow Goose __ Sandhill Crane ANHINGAS __ Solitary Sandpiper __ Least Tern __ Ross’s Goose __ Gray Partridge
    [Show full text]
  • Pattern and Chronology of Prebasic Molt for the Wood Thrush and Its Relation to Reproduction and Migration Departure
    Wilson Bull., 110(3), 1998, pp. 384-392 PATTERN AND CHRONOLOGY OF PREBASIC MOLT FOR THE WOOD THRUSH AND ITS RELATION TO REPRODUCTION AND MIGRATION DEPARTURE J. H. VEGA RIVERA,1,3 W. J. MCSHEA,* J. H. RAPPOLE, AND C. A. HAAS ’ ABSTRACT-Documentation of the schedule and pattern of molt and their relation to reproduction and migration departure are important, but often neglected, areas of knowledge. We radio-tagged Wood Thrushes (Hylocichlu mustelina), and monitored their movements and behavior on the U.S. Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia (38” 40 ’ N, 77” 30 ’ W) from May-Oct. of 1993-1995. The molt period in adults extended from late July to early October. Molt of flight feathers lasted an average of 38 days (n = 17 birds) and there was no significant difference in duration between sexes. In 21 observed and captured individuals, all the rectrices were lost simultaneously or nearly so, and some individuals dropped several primaries over a few days. Extensive molt in Wood Thrushes apparently impaired flight efficiency, and birds at this stage were remarkably cautious and difficult to capture and observe. All breeding individuals were observed molting l-4 days after fledgling independence or last-clutch predation, except for one pair that began molt while still caring for fledglings. Our data indicate that energetics or flight efficiency constraints may dictate a separation of molt and migration. We did not observe Wood Thrushes leaving the Marine Base before completion of flight-feather molt. Departure of individuals with molt in body and head, however, was common. We caution against interpreting the lack of observations or captures of molting individuals on breeding sites as evidence that birds actually have left the area.
    [Show full text]
  • Chimney Swift
    TALES FROM THE TREE The Quarterly Newsletter of Ziggy’s Tree Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Website: www.ziggystree.org E-mail: [email protected] CHIMNEY SWIFT Chaetura pelagica Naturalist and ornithologist Roger Tory Peterson is The chimney swift is a monogamous breeder and typically credited with describing the Chimney Swift as a “cigar with will mate for life. Swifts feed primarily on flying insects, wings” – an apt description of their stubby little bodies. including flies, wasps, bees, whiteflies, aphids, stoneflies Swifts are medium-sized, sooty gray birds with long and mayflies. It has been estimated that a pair of adults slender wings and very short legs. They are incapable of raising young may consume the weight equivalent of perching upright – they use their feet like tiny grappling 5,000 to 6,000 housefly sized insects every day! These hooks to cling vertically to surfaces. chatterboxes are wonderful neighbors to have if you are looking for natural pest control. The chimney swift's genus name, Chaetura, basically translates into “spine tail”. This is an accurate description of the bird's tail, as the shafts of all ten tail feathers end in sharp, protruding points. This assists them with vertical perching. Chimney Swifts build their half cup nest out of twigs glued together by their saliva. The nest is attached to the wall of the nest cavity, typically a chimney. The female lays 4 or 5 Chimney Swifts breed through much of the eastern half of white eggs which are incubated for approximately 19 days. the United States and the southern reaches of eastern The altricial young (hatched naked, blind and helpless) Canada.
    [Show full text]
  • Birds of Allerton Park
    Birds of Allerton Park 2 Table of Contents Red-head woodpecker .................................................................................................................................. 5 Red-bellied woodpecker ............................................................................................................................... 6 Hairy Woodpecker ........................................................................................................................................ 7 Downy woodpecker ...................................................................................................................................... 8 Northern Flicker ............................................................................................................................................ 9 Pileated woodpecker .................................................................................................................................. 10 Eastern Meadowlark ................................................................................................................................... 11 Common Grackle......................................................................................................................................... 12 Red-wing blackbird ..................................................................................................................................... 13 Rusty blackbird ...........................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Using GIS to Monitor Forest Fragmentation and Designate Wood Thrush Habitat for Conservation Along the Eastern United States
    Using GIS to Monitor Forest Fragmentation and Designate Wood Thrush Habitat for Conservation along the eastern United States By Isabel Esparza Background and Hypothesis The Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) is a neotropical migratory songbird whose renowned flute-like song can be commonly heard in eastern U.S. forests in the spring through early summer. This beautiful and reclusive bird can be observed thrashing and hopping around the leaf litter on the forest floor, probing for insects to eat. Though this native species is still abundant in the U.S., its numbers are rapidly declining. Reasons for Wood Thrush decline are currently being researched, but hypotheses include increased numbers of brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) nest parasitism, which lowers Wood Thrush nestling survival. Also, the Wood Thrush relies on interior deciduous forest for nesting, and increased habitat fragmentation is diminishing suitable Wood Thrush habitat in the United States (“Wood Thrush” 2013). Habitat fragmentation is the process of breaking down continuous habitat into smaller, isolated patches, thus reducing the overall amount of habitat and producing smaller isolated patches of habitat with decreased interior and increased edge. Increase in edge habitat facilitates the proliferation of invasive species of plants and animals as well as predators. Furthermore, the creation of new edge habitat allows species such as the brown-headed cowbird to infiltrate into habitats which were once interior forest. Wood Thrush thrive in interior forest habitat, and experience decreased success in edge habitats because edge habitats make Wood Thrush nests more vulnerable to predation by raccoons, domestic or feral cats, crows, jays, and the brood parasite brown-headed cowbird.
    [Show full text]
  • Nesting Success and Juvenile Survival for Wood Thrushes in an Eastern Iowa Forest Fragment Larkin A
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Papers in Natural Resources Natural Resources, School of 2003 Nesting Success and Juvenile Survival for Wood Thrushes in an Eastern Iowa Forest Fragment Larkin A. Powell University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Lara Scott University of Nebraska-Lincoln Jason Hass University of Nebraska-Lincoln Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/natrespapers Powell, Larkin A.; Scott, Lara; and Hass, Jason, "Nesting Success and Juvenile Survival for Wood Thrushes in an Eastern Iowa Forest Fragment" (2003). Papers in Natural Resources. 419. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/natrespapers/419 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Natural Resources, School of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Papers in Natural Resources by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Nesting Success and Juvenile Survival for Wood Thrushes in an Eastern Iowa Forest Fragment Larkin A. Powell1, Lara J. Scott, and Jason T. Hass ABSTRACT Forests in NE Iowa are highly fragmented, which may affect sustainability and dynam- ics of bird populations. We studied Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) nesting success at the Mines of Spain Recreation Area near Dubuque, IA during 2001. We also monitored movements of juveniles using radio transmitters during the birds’ initial dispersal from the nest site, and we used DNA analyses to determine their gender. Seventy percent of the nests (n=10) were parasitized by Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater). The daily nest suc- cess rate was 0.9612 (SE=0.0189), and daily juvenile survival was 0.9703 (SE=0.0169).
    [Show full text]
  • Reproductive Success of the Wood Thrush in a Delaware Woodlot
    REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS OF THE WOOD THRUSH IN A DELAWARE WOODLOT JERRY R. LONGCOREAND ROBERT E. JONES OODLAND habitat in northern Delaware is being altered considerably by urbanization (Catts et al., 1966). These habitat changes are not confined to Delaware but encompass most of the Atlantic seaboard. Changes in land-use priorities stemming from the increasing human population are resulting in the destruction of wooded areas. To evaluate the effects of these changes on wildlife populations, an ecological study of suburban woodlots is under way in the Department of Entomology and Applied Ecology at the University of Delaware. Birds, being conspicuous and common, seemed a logical choice on which to undertake studies. Initially a 35.6-acre relatively undisturbed woodlot was chosen as a basic study unit so that a base line of breeding bird SUC- cess could be established. Information gained on this unit is to be used for comparative purposes with breeding bird success obtained for greatly disturbed, remnant woodlots scattered throughout suburban developments. This paper deals only with the Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) in the 35.6-acre study unit. In addition to the standard information on breed- ing success; i.e., per cent of nests successful, per cent of eggs hatching, per cent of young fledging, etc., an attempt is made to relate reproductive success to the interplay of the physical and biological factors at work in the woodlot. An analysis of the 142 Wood Thrush nesting attempts recorded over a two-year period is presented. METHODS Systematic nest searches were initiated in mid-May, 1965, and in late April in 1966.
    [Show full text]
  • Foraging Guilds of North American Birds
    RESEARCH Foraging Guilds of North American Birds RICHARD M. DE GRAAF ABSTRACT / We propose a foraging guild classification for USDA Forest Service North American inland, coastal, and pelagic birds. This classi- Northeastern Forest Experiment Station fication uses a three-part identification for each guild--major University of Massachusetts food, feeding substrate, and foraging technique--to classify Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA 672 species of birds in both the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. We have attempted to group species that use similar resources in similar ways. Researchers have identified forag- NANCY G. TILGHMAN ing guilds generally by examining species distributions along USDA Forest Service one or more defined environmental axes. Such studies fre- Northeastern Forest Experiment Station quently result in species with several guild designations. While Warren, Pennsylvania 16365, USA the continuance of these studies is important, to accurately describe species' functional roles, managers need methods to STANLEY H. ANDERSON consider many species simultaneously when trying to deter- USDI Fish and Wildlife Service mine the impacts of habitat alteration. Thus, we present an Wyoming Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit avian foraging classification as a starting point for further dis- University of Wyoming cussion to aid those faced with the task of describing commu- Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA nity effects of habitat change. Many approaches have been taken to describe bird Severinghaus's guilds were not all ba~cd on habitat feeding behavior. Comparisons between different studies, requirements, to question whether the indicator concept however, have been difficult because of differences in would be effective. terminology. We propose to establish a classification Thomas and others (1979) developed lists of species scheme for North American birds by using common by life form for each habitat and successional stage in the terminology based on major food type, substrate, and Blue Mountains of Oregon.
    [Show full text]