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Connecticut Wildlife March/April 2015 a Decade of Swift Conservation with the Wildlife Action Plan

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Connecticut Wildlife March/April 2015 a Decade of Swift Conservation with the Wildlife Action Plan March/April 2015 CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BUREAU OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISIONS OF WILDLIFE, INLAND & MARINE FISHERIES, AND FORESTRY March/April 2015 Connecticut Wildlife 1 Volume 35, Number 2 ● March/April 2015 Eye on Connecticut Wildlife the Wild Published bimonthly by Connecticut Department of Why the Focus on Insects? Energy and Environmental Protection Bureau of Natural Resources As you read through this issue of Connecticut Wildlife, you will probably notice Wildlife Division that several of the articles focus on insects, and even mention insects as a www.ct.gov/deep source of food for wildlife. Sometimes, insects are the forgotten species. Maybe Commissioner it’s because they are typically so small and not always seen. Or, maybe it’s Robert Klee Deputy Commissioner because some insects are considered annoying pests. But, as you read through Susan Whalen the articles, you will discover that insects play important roles in our ecosystem. Chief, Bureau of Natural Resources William Hyatt Two years ago, Connecticut residents were intrigued and excited about the Director, Wildlife Division emergence of the 17-year periodical cicada. The DEEP Wildlife Division Rick Jacobson provided funding for a monitoring effort that was coordinated by the Magazine Staff Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. Lead researcher (and cicada Managing Editor Kathy Herz expert) Chris Maier spent countless hours documenting and monitoring the Production Editor Paul Fusco emergence (with the help of several volunteer monitors). His final report (page Contributing Editors: Mike Beauchene (Inland Fisheries) 14) describes where these amazing insects were found in our state and how Penny Howell (Marine Fisheries) Christopher Martin (Forestry) their range has declined. Circulation Trish Cernik In the cases of the emerald ash borer (page 6) and southern pine beetle (page Wildlife Division 19), these two destructive insects are not native to Connecticut and pose a 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5127 (860-424-3011) serious threat to the composition of our state’s forest habitats. As native ash Office of the Director, Recreation Management, Technical Assistance, trees and now pitch pine succumb to these insect infestations, there will be Natural History Survey serious consequences for the wildlife that depend on these trees. Efforts are Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area P.O. Box 1550, Burlington, CT 06013 (860-424-3011) underway to monitor and hopefully control the spread of these insects, but it Wildlife Diversity, Birds, Furbearers, Outreach and Education, Habitat is a huge task. Claire Rutledge, of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Management, Conservation Education/Firearms Safety, Connecticut Station, details an interesting biocontrol project for the emerald ash borer that Wildlife magazine Franklin Wildlife Management Area is currently going on in our state. 391 Route 32, N. Franklin, CT 06254 (860-424-3011) Two other non-native insects – the Asian bush mosquito and Asian tiger Migratory Birds, Deer/Moose, Wild Turkey, Small Game, Wetlands Habitat and Mosquito Management, Conservation Education/Firearms mosquito – are the topic of another article that highlights the importance of Safety properly storing and covering scrap tires to prevent the proliferation of these Eastern District Area Headquarters pests (page 16). Both of these mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus and 209 Hebron Road, Marlborough, CT 06447 (860-295-9523) State Land and Private Land Habitat Management other mosquito-borne disease pathogens. We all can play a role in reducing the Connecticut Wildlife magazine (ISSN 1087-7525) is published bimonthly number of mosquitoes around our homes just by taking a few small actions. by the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection Wildlife Division. Send all subscription orders and address changes to Recent research on chimney swifts (page 3) found that these birds may be Connecticut Wildlife, Sessions Woods WMA, P.O. Box 1550, Burlington, declining – not necessarily because of a lack of appropriate chimneys for CT 06013. Subscription rates are $8 for one year, $15 for two years, and $20 for three years. No refunds. Periodical postage paid at Bristol, CT. nesting – but possibly because of dietary shifts in their invertebrate foods due to Postmaster: Please send all address changes to Connecticut Wildlife, P.O. pesticide use. More research is needed to understand what has changed in the Box 1550, Burlington, CT 06013. diet of chimney swifts and other aerial insectivores. www.ct.gov/deep/wildlife www.facebook.com/CTFishandWildlife E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 860-424-3011 You will continue to see more focus on insects in the near future. Scientists are concerned about the decline in native pollinators (like bees) and efforts are The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program was initiated by sportsmen and conservationists to provide states with funding for underway to figure out what is contributing to these declines and what can be wildlife management and research programs, habitat acquisition, done to help these animals. Monarch butterflies are also in the forefront as the wildlife management area development, and hunter education programs. Connecticut Wildlife contains articles reporting on Wildlife Division population has suffered a steep decline. Much of the focus will be on providing projects funded entirely or in part with federal aid monies. habitat and encouraging the planting of milkweeds and other native butterfly plants. Look for more to come in future issues of Connecticut Wildlife, on our The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to Facebook page (www.facebook.com/CTFishandWildlife), and on our website complying with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please contact us at 860-418-5910 or [email protected] if you: (www.ct.gov/deep/wildlife). have a disability and need a communication aid or service; have limited proficiency in English and may need information in another language; or if Kathy Herz, Editor you wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint. Cover: Copyright 2015 by the Connecticut Wildlife Division. The Wildlife Division grants permission to reprint text, not artwork or photos, provided the Wildlife Division is credited. Artwork and photographs printed in this publication are copyrighted by the The DEEP Wildlife Division has been conducting a research project on CT DEEP Wildlife Division. Any unauthorized use of artwork and photos is prohibited. black bears to determine the growth and movements of Connecticut’s bear Please contact the managing editor to obtain permission for reprinting articles (deep. population. See article on page 22. [email protected] or 860-424-3011). Printed on recycled paper Photo by Paul J. Fusco 2 Connecticut Wildlife March/April 2015 A Decade of Swift Conservation with the Wildlife Action Plan Written by Shannon Kearney-McGee, DEEP Wildlife Division himney swifts, also known as “flying there now was indirect Ccigars,” are a common sight in the evidence that food may skies of the Northeast throughout spring be part of the driv- and summer. However, populations have ing cause of the swift declined steadily over the last several decline. Still far from decades across their entire range. a direct link, research- In 2005, DEEP issued Connecticut’s ers are in need of good Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation monitoring protocols Strategy (now called Wildlife Action to track the birds and Plan) aimed at guiding the state’s conser- their invertebrate food vation efforts over a decade. A main tenet source, with the goal of of this document is to “keep common prescribing measures to JUDY GRUND, MASTER WILDLIFE CONSERVATIONIST GRUND, MASTER WILDLIFE CONSERVATIONIST JUDY species common,” encouraging a proac- stop the swifts’ decline. tive approach to managing wildlife spe- Through various cies that may become threatened in the trial and error efforts, future. The chimney swift was a particu- researchers and citizen larly interesting and accessible species to scientists have been focus on in Connecticut because the state refining protocols to is in the core of this bird’s range with monitor biological plenty of towns full of chimneys. rates, like productiv- At the start of Wildlife Division inves- ity and survival, with tigations, it was assumed that chimneys the ultimate plan of were limiting swift populations. Initial linking these metrics efforts focused on this problem through with information about a coordinated regional monitoring effort invertebrate abundance called “Chimney Watch.” This effort in- and availability: cluded a standardized inventory to assess ● Citizen scientists local areas for their capacity to support piloted nest monitoring chimney swift populations, as well as efforts, but results were Chimney swift roost watching events and public outreach quantify the occupancy rates of each area. unreliable. It is clear at key roosting locations have increased awareness and Essentially, we counted chimneys and that camera systems are appreciation for swifts. then determined just how many chimneys required for accurate were being used by swifts. Surprisingly, monitoring of nests. locations have increased awareness and it was discovered that there are more than ● Roost monitoring has also proven appreciation for swifts. These efforts have enough available chimneys for chimney
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