Pine Warbler Research Articles

A Critical Analysis on the Use of Indicator Species in Management

We examined the habitat distributions of management indicator and sensitive species (MIS), as defined by the U.S. Forest Service within the Chequamegon National Forest (CNF) of northern Wisconsin and whether other bird species were positively associated with these MIS. We addressed these associations with 2 relatively large databases, annual breeding bird counts of 92 line transect segments gathered from 1986 to 1992 and counts of 122 Forest Stands gathered in 1992-1993. Of 25 MIS identified by the CNF, only 7 species were abundant enough for analyses. The other species were either too rare within the CNF or the censusing methods were not compatible with their life history. Only 2 of the MIS had nonrandom distributions associated with specific habitat types and warranted consideration as indicators. The yellow-bellied flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) was found primarily in lowland coniferous habitats, while the pine warbler (Dendroica pinus) was found primarily in upland coniferous habitats, especially pine. Although many positive species associations were found for most of the MIS, many inconsistencies among the 2 datasets also were identified. Most species responded to habitat attributes that satisfy their needs for survival and these autecological responses likely led to inconsistent patterns of species associations for most of the MIS. The lack of consistent patterns among most MIS casts doubt on the ability to use a few species as indicators for the well-being of many other species, especially for those that are uncommon and difficult to monitor. Developing more comprehensive techniques that improve habitat classifications and combine monitoring of trends in habitat and birds within those habitats likely will prove more fruitful than focusing on a few representative species.

Nongame Bird Use of Habitat in Central Appalachian Riparian Forests

Most studies that have shown higher bird species richness and abundance in riparian zones have been conducted where there is contrast between vegetation in riparian and upland habitats. In central Appalachian hardwood forests, substantial riparian habitat is potentially subject to habitat alterations. However, little information is available on the importance of riparian habitats to songbirds where the riparian-upland vegetation gradient is relatively uniform. We sampled relative bird abundance and habitat characteristics along a gradient from a stream to adjacent upland habitat at 16 sites in southwest Virginia. We evaluated total relative bird abundance, species richness, and relative abundance of 28 bird species to determine whether riparian habitats influenced bird assemblages. Total bird relative abundance and species richness showed no (P > 0.10) riparian influence; however, Acadian flycatchers (Empidonax virescens) and Louisiana waterthrushes (Seiurus motacilla) were most associated (P < 0.001) with streams. American robins (Turdus migratorius) showed a weaker but positive association (P = 0.068) with streams. Eastern woodpewees (Contopus virens) (P = 0.01), black-and-white warblers (Mniotilta varia) (P < 0.001), pine warblers (Dendroica pinus) (P < 0.001), worm-eating warblers (Helmintheros vermivorus) (P < 0.001), and scarlet tanagers (Piranga olivacea) (P = 0.041) were negatively associated with streams. We used cluster analysis to group the 28 bird species into 5 assemblages on the basis of their distributions at 69 sampling stations distributed among the 16 sites. Species were classified as belonging to riparian (n = 2 species), upland forest (n = 6 species), mesic forest (n = 3 species), xeric upland forest (n = 6 species), and mature hardwoods generalist (n = 11 species) assemblages. Management or protection of riparian zones often is justified on the basis of higher bird species richness and abundance found in these sites. Our data did not support this. However, Acadian flycatchers and Louisiana waterthrushes were dependent on riparian habitats, and such habitats should be protected for these species

Multi-model habitat suitability index analysis in the Red River Valley

Recent developments in habitat modeling have led to a situation where landscape architects, planners and wildlife biologists can study proposed landscape modifications and configurations simultaneously upon multiple species. Proposed development of the M.B. Johnson nature interpretive area in Clay County Minnesota illustrates this multi-model process. Nineteen species were studied: Blackcapped Chickadee (Parus atricapillus), Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix), Yellow warbler (Dendroica magna), Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens), Beaver (Castor canadensis), Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), Wood Duck (Aix sponsa), Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger), Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), Mink (Mustela vison), Pine Warbler (Dendroica pinus), Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus), Red-winged Black-bird Agelaius phoeniceus), Great Blue Heron (Adrea herodias), Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus), Veery (Catharus fuscescens) and Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon). Landscape iterations were examined to increase species diversity as measured by fauna richness number, Simn's Index and Shannon-Weiner Index. In addition, aesthetic values, hydrological constraints, cost criteria and time-benefit criteria affected the development of the landscape. The modeling process led to the creation of a prairie-scape matrix, shrubland patches, cropland patches, wetland patch and additional woodland matrix features. The multi-modeling procedure is described as a decision tool, as a form giver, as an indicator of goal achievement, as a time saver, as a communication device and as a temporary technology. In addition, the multi-modeling procedure is described within a human behavioral context and within the political arena.

Divergence in the Foraging Responses of Birds on Two Bahama Islands

Pine Warblers and Blue—gray Gnatcatchers forage extensively on bark in the pine forests on Andros Island, while on neighboring Grand Bahama Island they forage largely on foilage. The two islands are very similar in physiography, climate, and vegetation, but differ in the number of insect—gleaning species sharing the arboreal foraging substrates. Andros has only the two species mentioned above; Grand Bahama has five, and to of the additional species are bark specialists. Summed densities and consuming biomasses (masses adjusted for size variation in metabolic rate) of the birds in these arboreal insectivore communities were found to be roughly equal on the two islands, but the distribution of total foraging activity as measured in these same units was clearly unequal; foraging biomass on bark was 2.6 times as great on Andros as on Grand Bahama, on foliage it was 1.7 times as great on Grand Bahama as on Andros. When food (insect) abundance and distribution between bark and foliage was found to be similar on the two islands, I concluded that food abundance was probably not the deciding proximal factor behind the dissimilar bird distributions. Alternatively I speculated that some form of interference competition from the bark specialists on Grand Bahama could be inhibiting Pine Warbelers and gnatcatchers from visiting the bark on that island, while in the absence of bark specialists on Andros the birds were free to forage on both substrates. Since bark avoidance is characteristics of Pine Warblers and gnatcatchers throughout Grand Bahama, however, even where the presumptive competitors are scare or absent, I tentatively ruled out interference as the overall proximal factor. With the two most obvious extrinsic factors essentially eliminated, I propose that the proximal or immediate determinant of substrate distribution in these birds is substrate preference–an innate response tendency to select foliage and avoid bark in the one case, and to accept a balance of foilage and bark in the other. Further, since bypassing a rich and readily accessible food source would be clearly maladaptive under ordinary circumstances, I suggest that populations are currently maintained below carrying capacity and that the foliage preference trait of the Grand Bahama population arose under special circumstances of intensified interference competition during an environmental crisis or series of crises in the past. Individuals which avoid the competition from bark specialists at such times by preferring substrates other than bark should theoretically be favored in natural section and emerge numerically dominant from the evolutionary bottleneck created by the crisis. Similar food crises on Andros would, in the absence of bark—gleaning specialists, produce no comparable selective pressures and permit the resident populations to retain broad general responses to all profitable substrates.

Distribution and Behaviour of Birds on Small Islands in Northern Minnessota

Seven small islands and two nearby mainland plots were visited weekly throughout the late spring and summer. Of thirty-five bird species observed on one or more of the islands, only nine nested or occurred regularly on any particular site. Yellow-rumped warblers and song sparrows inhabited all of the islands, red-eyed vireos and chipping sparrows used the three largest sites, while pine warblers, blackburnian warblers and red-breasted nuthatches were regularly seen on the largest two. Isolation seemed to influence only the number of transient visitors, since distant islands supported the same regular species as similar-sized areas close to the mainland. There was some evidence that yellow-rumped warblers and song sparrows expanded their use of microhabitats in the absence of potential competitors. This was not consistent, however, because both species used a wide variety of foraging sites wherever they occurred. I suggest that the ability to utilize a large portion of available microhabitats is at least partly responsible for their success on small islands. Such ecological considerations help to explain island patterns where many species have opportunities to colonize, as they apparently do on the islands discussed here.

The Nasal Mites of Birds from Louisiana. VIII. Additional Records and Description of a New Species (Acarina: Dermanyssidae, Ereynetidae, Epidermoptidae, and Cytoditidae)

Sternostoma pirangae sp. n. from the nasal passages of Piranga rubra is described. The new species is most similar to Sternostoma tangarae Fain and Aitken, but differs in having 7 pairs of large cylindrical subapical setae on tarsi II to IV, slightly more rounded podosomal plate which is longer than wide, and 6 solenidions on the sensorial area of tarsus I. New host records are established for Sternostoma lanorium Fain from Lanius ludovicianus, Astrida caprimulgi Fain from Caprimulgus carolinensis, Boydaia spatulata Fain from Sialia sialis, Cytonyssus therae Hyland from Coccyzus americanus, and Turbinoptes strandtmanni Boyd from Tringa solitaria. Also collected were Ptilonyssus Castro from Dendroica pinus, P. japuibensis Castro from Pipilo erythrophthalmus, P. thryothori Pence from Thryothorus ludovicianus, P. hoseini Fain and Aitken from Vireo griseus, P. toxostomae Pence from Toxostoma rufum, Tinaminyssus belopolskii Bregetova from Florida caerulea, Colinoptes cubanensis Fain from Colinus virginianus, Congocoptes furmani Fain from Centurus carolinus, and Cytonyssus troglodyti Pence from Thryothorus ludovicianus. The systematics of the sairae species group of the genus Ptilonyssus is discussed and Ptilonyssus constrictus Ford is regarded as a synonym of P. Castro. Examination of some additional specimens of Louisiana birds has revealed several new and additional host and geographic records for nasal mites and a new species, Sternostoma pirangae. The materials and methods, including the designations used in the following descriptions, have been previously outlined (Pence, 1972a). Family Dermanyssidae Subfamily Rhinonyssinae Genus Tinaminyssus Strandtmann and Wharton Strandtmann and Wharton, 1958, Contrib. Inst. Acar. Univ. Md. 4: 161. Synonymy: Domrow, 1969, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales 93: 305. Tinaminyssus belopolskii (Bregetova) Bregetova, 1950, Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 71: 1005. Additional host record: 7 9 9, 1 N from Florida caerulea, little blue heron, Mandeville, La., 15 September 1972, D.B.P. Received for publication 16 April 1973. * Present address: Department of Veterinary and Zoological Medicine, Texas Tech University School of Medicine, Lubbock, Texas 79409. Genus Sternostoma Berlese and Trouessart Berlese and Trouessart, 1889, Bull. Biblioth. Sci. Ouest 2: 128. Sternostoma lanorium Fain Fain, 1956, Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 53: 156. New host record: 1 9, 1 8 from Lanius ludovicianus, loggerhead shrike, Mandeville, La., 9 September 1972, D.B.P.

COMPETITION AND CHARACTER DISPLACEMENT IN TWO SYMPATRIC PINE-DWELLING WARBLERS (DENDROICA , PARULIDAE)

Studies of the interactions of an invading species with an already established close relative provide considerable insight into the question of how partitioning of habitats initially occurs (e.g., Mayr, 1963). Such a situation exists where Yellowthroated Warblers (Dendroica dominica) have invaded the habitat of the Pine Warbler (D. pinus) in the loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) forests of the DelawareMaryland-Virginia Peninsula (Delmarva). The purpose of this study was to determine the morphological, behavioral, and feeding adaptations that permit the coexistence of these two species in a relatively homogeneous environment.

Foraging Relationships of Brown‐Headed Nuthatches and Pine Warblers

Foraging behavior and interactions between Brown—headed Nuthatches (Sitta pusilla) and Pine Warblers (Dendroica pinus) were studied in longleaf pine lands of Louisiana during the fall and winter of 1963—64 and 1964—65. Both species frequently were members of flocks that formed around Carolina Chickadees (Parus carolinensis) and Tufted Titmice (P. bicolor). Most contact between the former two species occurred in these flocks. While in flocks, Brown—headed Nuthatches foraged most heavily on the distal parts of limbs and on twigs, Pine Warblers on proximal parts of limbs. When alone, Brown—headed Nuthatches foraged more heavily on trunks and proximal parts of limbs than they did when Pine Warblers. When pine seeds were abundant, Brown—headed Nuthatches fed upon them heavily and regularly ventured to large limbs and trunks to crack seeds, causing increased hostilities with Pine Warblers. Attempts to crack seeds where bark was not sufficiently rough to permit adequate anchoring met with little success. Pine Warblers fed upon pine seeds much less frequently than did Brown—headed Nuthatches. During the height of seed abundance, Brown—headed Nuthatches lingered behind mixed flocks and often became separated from them. More competition for food apparently exists between Brown—headed Nuthatches and Pine Warblers than between either of these species and others. The noticeably different foraging distribution of the two species when together and apart is probably largely the result of the presence or absence of the other. Dividing the habitat in each other's presence avoids fighting over a similar foraging station. Abundant food sources may cause this system to break down.

First Specimen Record of Pine Warbler for Saskatchewan

First Specimen Record of Pine Warbler for Saskatchewan

Pine and Yellow-Throated Warblers Feeding on the White Pine Scale Insect

Pine and Yellow-Throated Warblers Feeding on the White Pine Scale Insect

Post-Breeding Pugnacity of the Pine Warbler

Post-Breeding Pugnacity of the Pine Warbler

A Pine Warbler Killed by Arsenical Spray

A Pine Warbler Killed by Arsenical Spray

Notes on the Winter Birds of Central Arkansas

PULASKI County is the centralmost county of Arkansas. The topography of the county is quite diversified. While a goodly portion of the area is given up to the city of Little Rock there are still many wooded sections in the northern part of the county and more or less bald cypress is to be found in the river bottoms of the southeastern portion. The Arkansas River enters the county at the northwestern corner and snakes its crooked way across the county finally making its exit at the southeastern corner. In the western part of the county lies an area of pine-clad hills where Pine Warblers and Kinglets were found in numbers while the eastern part of the county is mainly given up to cultivated fields where such species as the Prairie Horned Lark were found. The Arkansas River supplies many water bird records. In Prairie and Arkansas Counties, lying to the east of Pulaski County, is located the state's great rice growing territory and it is here that vast numbers of wild ducks congregate for the winter. Here is to be found one of the greatest duck hunting sections of the United States. The writer spent the winter of 1924-1925 in Little Rock and spent considerable time exploring the surrounding country. My field trips covered most of Pulaski County but as I also have numerous records for the surrounding counties it seems advisable to include these as I believe my list to be truly representative of the winter bird life of central Arkansas. Unless otherwise stated the localities given are in Pulaski County, and the dates, unless otherwise noted, refer to the winter of 19241925, that is the months of December, 1924 and January, February and March of 1925. Colymbus auritus. HORNED GREBE.-One observed at Willow Beach on January 29. Podilymbus podiceps. PIED-BILLED GREBE.-Single birds observed at different times in many localities. Anhinga anhinga. WATER TuRKEY.-One observed in the Arkansas River east of Little Rock on March 13.

Pine Warbler Taken in Nova Scotia

Pine Warbler Taken in Nova Scotia

The Proper Name of the Pine Warbler

The Proper Name of the Pine Warbler

The Cuban Pine Warbler

The Cuban Pine Warbler

The Kirtland and Pine Warblers in Wayne Co., Michigan

The Kirtland and Pine Warblers in Wayne Co., Michigan