Bird Conservation – Prothonotary Warbler
June 21, 2008
Article in: Bird Conservation
Prothonotary Warblers (Protonotaria citrea)are one of the few songbirds to nest in cavities and inhabit much of the southeast and Great Lake states. They nest in swampy forests and winter along the coast of Central and South America. Their mangrove wintering sites are rapidly decreasing.
In our area, Prothonotary Warblers are uncommon but found yearly along riparian areas. We have been lucky to see them often this year, perhaps due to high amounts of rainfall.
Conservation List
- Increase acreage of bottomland and upland forest habitats
- Slow or halt deforestation and degradation of wintering mangrove habitat (restore habitat where possible)
- Develop baseline inventory of Prothonotary Warbler breeding and wintering populations
Conservation Action
Partners in Flight along with other conservation organizations such as Mississippi Valley Joint Venture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Wildlife Program, The National Resources Conservation Service Wetland Reserve Program, Ducks Unlimited, and the Nature Conservancy have taken up efforts to increase acreage of proper habitat. Other organizations on the wintering grounds have been limited and stricter laws are needed (and enforced).
In our area we have been tracking Prothonotary Warbler sightings to work on establishing nesting locations. We have hopes of creating a nest box program similar to what has been done for Eastern Bluebirds. However, according to the Birder’s Conservation Handbook, nest boxes have “increased local densities of breeding birds, though there is concern that birds breeding in nest boxes may have increased rates of nest predation”.
As of 2004, Prothonotary Warbler population was estimated at 1.8 million (39% decline since 1966). Full details on this species and 99 other North American birds at risk can be found in Jeffrey V. Wells’ Birder’s Conservation Handbook.
Deer Run Bird Survey – #14
June 5, 2008
Article in: Bird Conservation
Our last Deer Run Bird Survey for May (31st) and warbler migration is definitely slowing down. However, we found several new species including some from the past week by other local birders.
First, the new birds found from others:
- Bald Eagle
- Bay-breasted Warbler
- Canada Warbler
- Eastern Wood Pewee
- Green Heron
- Kentucky Warbler
- Philadelphia Vireo
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Semipalmated Plover
Over our 72 hour count we also added two new species on an unofficial survey: American Woodcock and Common Nighthawk.
Black-billed Cuckoo
We spent over 5 hours hiking and were thrilled to find a lot of cuckoos, including 8 Yellow-billed and 2 Black-billed. Warbler numbers were low but we believe there are Prothonotary Warblers nesting in the swampy areas.
Prothonotary Warbler singing on his territory
New birds:
- Blackpoll Warbler*
- Cliff Swallow
- Eastern Screech-Owl
- Olive-sided Flycatcher
- Scarlet Tanager
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo
- Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
We sighted 70 species and now have found 139 species for the survey area.
Total individual birds counted: 5,760
*sighted the following day on a non-survey outing
Deer Run Bird Survey #9
April 29, 2008
Article in: Bird Conservation
This is our ninth Deer Run Bird Survey and the best “migrationally” speaking.
Sparrows (eight kinds) and warblers (four) were the main attraction. Deer Run is an excellent place for sparrows due to all the grasses in the restored prairie.
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Savanna Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
A huge surprise was one of our favorite birds, a Prothonotary Warbler
Not a surprise was this Palm Warbler
Despite cloudy weather, the birds were quite photogenic, including this Eastern Towhee.
Total species sighted: 40 [a new high count]
Total birds counted: 194 (a bit low but the mini flocks of sparrows were hard to count)
New for the survey, 12 species:
- Chipping Sparrow
- Gray Catbird
- Lark Sparrow
- Lincoln’s Sparrow
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow
- Ovenbird
- Palm Warbler
- Prothonotary Warbler
- Savannah Sparrow
- Spotted Sandpiper
- Barn Swallow
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Survey numbers up to this point:
Total Species: 74
Total Birds: 3,142
Next up, May and more migrants!!
