Evaluating Avian Occupancy On Sites Treated With NRCS Conservation Practices Implemented To Benefit Cerulean (Setophaga Cerulea) and Golden-Winged Warblers (Vermivora Chrysoptera) in West Virginia

Abstract

The USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) supports private lands conservation across the United States to benefit imperiled focal wildlife species using conservation practices to restore habitat. Through the Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea) Forestland Enhancement Project (CWAFEP) and the Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) initiative, the NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to private landowners to implement conservation practices that follow science-based habitat management guidelines. Few research studies have evaluated focal species-specific occupancy on CWAFEP and/or WLFW sites, and research is required to inform each conservation project’s effectiveness in an adaptive management framework. This thesis includes 4 chapters which focus on avian occupancy and species richness on CWAFEP and WLFW sites in West Virginia. In chapter 1, I provide a brief introduction and justification for my research. This chapter summarizes each project’s background and the importance of evaluation efforts. Also included in chapter 1 is an overview of Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) ecology and their relevance to the following thesis chapters. In chapter 2, I evaluate Cerulean Warbler and forest focal species occupancy and avian guild species richness on CWAFEP sites treated using to conservation practices. During May – July 2019 – 2020, I conducted point count surveys at 194 locations on 21 CWAFEP sites in West Virginia. There were no differences in Cerulean Warbler occupancy estimates at untreated and treated locations. Cerulean Warbler occupancy decreased by 91% as elevation increased from 200 to 800 m and increased by 397% as sapling cover increased from 0 to 100%. Occupancy for three forest focal species and species richness in four avian guilds also were not different at untreated and treated locations. My study indicates that Cerulean Warbler and the avian community were not positively correlated with recent conservation practice implementation (1 – 4 years post-treatment) and that CWAFEP must adhere more strictly to the recommended guidelines if it is going to be effective for Cerulean Warbler conservation. I suspect that the lack of differences in occupancy and species richness estimates was due to private lands variability, site selection, small treatment areas, and challenges associated with private lands conservation resulting in insufficient basal area removal. Basal area was above the recommended range of 9.2 – 20.7 m 2/ha (40 – 90 ft 2/ac) at 40% of post treatment sampling locations. I recommend all CWAFEP sites achieve the recommended basal area range of 9.2 – 20.7 m 2/ha