This readme.txt file was generated on 2023-10-13 by Recommended citation for the data: Grinde, Alexis. (2023). Habitat use and characteristics of Connecticut Warbler during the nesting and post-fledging period. Retrieved from the Data Repository for the University of Minnesota. https://doi.org/10.13020/4a56-ma06 ------------------- GENERAL INFORMATION ------------------- 1. Title of Dataset: Habitat use and characteristics of Connecticut Warbler during the nesting and post-fledging period 2. Author Information Author Contact: Alexis Grinde (agrinde@d.umn.edu) Name: Alexis Grinde Institution:Natural Resources Research Institute Email: agrinde@d.umn.edu ORCID: 3. Date published or finalized for release: 2023-10-09 4. Date of data collection (single date, range, approximate date): 2019-06-01 to 2020-08-01 5. Geographic location of data collection (where was data collected?): Minnesota, USA 6. Information about funding sources that supported the collection of the data: Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund 7. Overview of the data (abstract): Widespread declines in breeding bird populations have been documented across North America since the 1970s and concerns for loss of avian biodiversity are growing. Species with narrow habitat preferences are of particular conservation concern. Connecticut Warblers (Oporornis agilis) breed in forests in central Canada and around the western Great Lakes; throughout much of its breeding range, this species is associated with lowland black spruce (Picea mariana) and tamarack (Larix laricina) forests. Population trends of Connecticut Warblers indicate they are one of the most rapidly declining bird species in North America; but the species is understudied because they occur in relatively low densities across their breeding range. To better understand the breeding ecology of Connecticut Warblers, we studied their nesting and post-fledging habitat use and survival in northern Minnesota, USA at two study sites in 2019 and 2020. We mapped territories of 49 singing males, located and monitored 11 nests, and tracked the post-fledging movements of individuals from 5 broods. Nest sites were located in lowland-conifer stands with a semi-open canopy and dense understory. The average fledging age was 7.5 days post-hatch and the individuals (n= 14) tracked during 0-7 days post-fledging had a mean daily distance from nests of 35.5 m and a maximum distance from nest of 104 m during that time period. Connecticut Warblers were not observed making movements of greater than 100 m from the nest until 7 days post-fledge. . Our findings indicate that micro-site areas with high stem density were important features for post-fledgling birds and that the same habitats were used for breeding and the post-fledging time period. Results from this study can be used by managers to develop conservation strategies that will provide critical habitat to support this species. -------------------------- SHARING/ACCESS INFORMATION -------------------------- 1. Licenses/restrictions placed on the data: CC0 1.0 Universal (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) 2. Links to publications that cite or use the data: Grinde, AR, Kolbe, SR, Snow, KG, Howland, BS, Niemi, G, Slesak, RA. 2023. Habitat Use and Characteristics of Connecticut Warbler during the Nesting and Post-Fledging Period. Journal of Field Ornithology, 94(4). https://doi.org/10.5751/JFO-00331-940402 3. Was data derived from another source? No If yes, list source(s): 4. Terms of Use: Data Repository for the U of Minnesota (DRUM) By using these files, users agree to the Terms of Use. https://conservancy.umn.edu/pages/drum/policies/#terms-of-use --------------------- DATA & FILE OVERVIEW --------------------- File List Filename: fledgling_vegetation_data.csv Short description: Vegetation Survey Data Filename: fledgling_vegetation_metadata.csv Short description: Description of Vegetation Survey Data Filename: nestling_measurements.csv Short description: Nestling Data Filename: nestling_measurements_metadata.csv Short description: Description of Nestling Data 2. Relationship between files:There is not a direct link between the data files. The fledgling vegetation data was collected based on the observed locations of the nestlings; the nestling measurements were of birds before leaving the nests. -------------------------- METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION -------------------------- 1. Description of methods used for collection/generation of data: Nest searching was conducted daily from early June to early-July in 2019 and 2020 in two study areas in Northern Minnesota. Nests were located using systematic searches and behavioral cues. Nests were monitored every 2-4 days until the nest failed or nestlings fledged. Nestlings were measured and banded with a USGS metal band on the left leg and a unique combination of plastic, UV-resistant Darvic band approximately 6 days post-hatch (day of pinbreak; 2–3 d prior to fledging). We attached VHF radio transmitters (Nanotag, NTQB2-2, Lotek Wireless, Inc.) to nestlings using an elastic thread, figure-eight harness design. We tracked each radio-tagged bird once daily and conducted detailed vegetation surveys to characterize stand and micro-habitat features of the study areas. Habitat features were measured using an 11.3 m radius circular plot (400 m2) at bird locations (bird plots) as well as at paired randomly selected locations (random plots) to compare preferences in micro-site features. 2. Methods for processing the data: Data were collected in the field and were double entered to check for errors. 3. Instrument- or software-specific information needed to interpret the data: NA 4. Standards and calibration information, if appropriate:NA 5. Environmental/experimental conditions:These data were collected at two study sites in lowland conifer forests in Northern MN. 6. Describe any quality-assurance procedures performed on the data: Data were double entered and checked for errors. 7. People involved with sample collection, processing, analysis and/or submission: Alexis Grinde, Steve Kolbe, Kara Snow, Brett Howland, Rob Slesak, Marcella Windmuller-Campione ----------------------------------------- DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: fledgling_vegetation_data.csv ----------------------------------------- 1. Number of variables: 16 2. Number of cases/rows: 96 3. Missing data codes: No missing data 4. Variable List A. Name: SiteID Description: Unique ID for location of fledgling B. Name: point Description: Name of location point C. Name: point_rand Description: Point type; point= location of fledgling, random= non-used point 30 m from observed point D. Name: year Description: Year of data collection E. Name: studyarea Description: SZ= Sax-Zim; RL= Red Lake F. Name: brood_nest_ID Description: Unique nest ID G. Name: Age Description: Age (days old after leaving the nest) of fledgling when located H. Name: SC_total Description: Total stem count of wood species over 0.5 m in the 5 m plot I. Name: TC_total Description: Total tree count in the 11.3 m plot J. Name: TC_small Description: Count of trees that were 8-23 cm DBH in the 11.3 m plot K. Name: Paircode Description: Estimated percent canopy cover L. Name: canopy_cover Description: Depth of moss (cm) M. Name: sphag_depth Description: Percentage of ground covered by grass N. Name: gc_grass Description: Percentage of ground covered by grass O. Name: gc_shrub Description: Percentage of ground covered by shrubs below 0.5 m P. Name: gc_sphag Description: Percentage of ground covered by sphagnum moss ----------------------------------------- DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: nestling_measurements.csv ----------------------------------------- 1. Number of variables: 7 2. Number of cases/rows: 18 3. Missing data codes: No missing data 4. Variable List A. Name: Study area Description: Study area. SZ= Sax-Zim; RL= Red Lake B. Name: Band # Description: USFWS unique band number C. Name: Species Description: CONW= Connecticut Warbler D. Name: Sex Description: U= unknown E. Name: Weight Description: Weight of nestling (g) F. Name: Wing Chord Description: Length of wing from wrist joint to longest primary feather (mm) G. Name: Tarsus Description: Length of leg bone (mm)