Partners in Flight Bird Conservation Plan for The Boreal Hardwood Transition (Bird Conservation Region 12 — U.S. Portion) Partners in Flight Bird Conservation Plan for The Boreal Hardwood Transition (Bird Conservation Region 12 – U.S. Portion) Version 1.0 March 2009 by Sumner Matteson1, Kimberly Kreitinger2, Gerald Bartelt3, Gregory Butcher4, David Sample3, and Tom Will5 1 Bureau of Endangered Resources, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 2 Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative 3 Bureau of Integrated Science Services, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 4 National Audubon Society 5 Division of Migratory Birds, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Suggested citation: Matteson, S., K. Kreitinger, G. Bartelt, G. Butcher, D. Sample, and T. Will. 2009. Partners in Flight Bird Conservation Plan for The Boreal Hardwood Transition (Bird Conservation Region 12 — U.S. Portion). Version 1.0. Partners in Flight. www.partnersinflight.org. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The following individuals should be mentioned for their review, comments, edits, and for contributing information and/or data: Tom Cooper, Ron Eckstein, Eric Epstein, Dave Ewert, Jane Fitzgerald, David Flaspohler, Ronald Gatti, Diane Granfors, Kimberly Hall, JoAnn Hanowski, Randy Hoffman, Robert Howe, Rex Johnson, Melinda Knutson, Jim Lind, Karl Martin, Gerald Niemi, Eunice Padley, Linda Parker, Andy Paulios, Lee Pfannmuller, Anna Pidgeon, Amber Roth, Mike Tans, and Wayne Thogmartin. Larry McQueen created the Golden-winged Warbler cover artwork. PRIMARY CONTACT Sumner Matteson Avian Ecologist, Bureau of Endangerd Resources Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Box 7921 Madison, Wisconsin 53707 [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................................1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................4 GOAL ...................................................................................................................................................................4 PROCESS ..............................................................................................................................................................4 IMPLEMENTATION................................................................................................................................................5 SECTION 1: THE PLANNING UNIT.................................................................................................................5 PHYSICAL FEATURES ...........................................................................................................................................5 VEGETATION........................................................................................................................................................7 NATURAL DISTURBANCES ...................................................................................................................................8 HISTORY AND LAND USE .....................................................................................................................................9 SECTION 2: AVIFAUNAL ANALYSIS ...........................................................................................................10 SPECIES ASSESSMENT FACTORS.........................................................................................................................10 SPECIES OF REGIONAL IMPORTANCE..................................................................................................................11 SECTION 3: BIRD CONSERVATION ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES...................................................15 TIMBER MANAGEMENT......................................................................................................................................15 HABITAT FRAGMENTATION ...............................................................................................................................16 WHITE-TAILED DEER HERBIVORY .....................................................................................................................17 CLIMATE CHANGE .............................................................................................................................................17 IDENTIFICATION AND PROTECTION OF STOP-OVER HABITATS............................................................................18 GENERAL CONSERVATION OPPORTUNITIES .......................................................................................................19 SECTION 4: HABITATS AND OBJECTIVES................................................................................................19 FORESTS .............................................................................................................................................................19 ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION STATUS ............................................................................................................19 PRIORITY BIRD SPECIES.....................................................................................................................................20 POPULATION OBJECTIVES AND HABITAT STRATEGIES .......................................................................................23 Forest Bird Conservation Area Strategy......................................................................................................24 MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES...............................................................................................................................26 RESEARCH AND MONITORING NEEDS ................................................................................................................27 OUTREACH.........................................................................................................................................................28 GRASSLANDS AND SAVANNAS ....................................................................................................................29 ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION STATUS ............................................................................................................29 BIRD HABITAT REQUIREMENTS .........................................................................................................................29 POPULATION OBJECTIVES AND HABITAT STRATEGIES .......................................................................................31 MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES...............................................................................................................................32 RESEARCH AND MONITORING NEEDS ................................................................................................................33 OUTREACH.........................................................................................................................................................34 WETLANDS ........................................................................................................................................................35 ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION STATUS ............................................................................................................35 BIRD HABITAT REQUIREMENTS .........................................................................................................................35 POPULATION OBJECTIVES AND HABITAT STRATEGIES .......................................................................................36 MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES...............................................................................................................................37 RESEARCH AND MONITORING NEEDS ................................................................................................................39 OUTREACH.........................................................................................................................................................39 URBAN LANDSCAPES......................................................................................................................................40 BIRD HABITAT REQUIREMENTS .........................................................................................................................40 POPULATION OBJECTIVES AND HABITAT STRATEGIES .......................................................................................40 MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES...............................................................................................................................41 RESEARCH AND MONITORING NEEDS ................................................................................................................42 OUTREACH.........................................................................................................................................................42 LITERATURE CITED .......................................................................................................................................43 APPENDIX A. LAND COVER CLASS DEFINITIONS .................................................................................52 APPENDIX B. PIF SPECIES ASSESSMENT FACTORS ..............................................................................53 APPENDIX C. POPULATION OBJECTIVES AND TARGETS...................................................................54 LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1. THE