Conservation Assessment for Bay-breasted Warbler (Dendroica castanea)
Loading...
View/Download File
Persistent link to this item
Statistics
View StatisticsJournal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Title
Conservation Assessment for Bay-breasted Warbler (Dendroica castanea)
Authors
Published Date
2003
Publisher
University of Minnesota Duluth
Type
Technical Report
Abstract
This is a draft conservation assessment designed to provide a synopsis of the life history,
ecology, and management and conservation concerns of the Bay-breasted Warbler (Dendroica
castanea). The primary focus of this conservation assessment is on information relevant to
Region 9 of the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
The Bay-breasted Warbler is a neotropical migrant that inhabits boreal coniferous forests in a
broad band, primarily, across central and eastern Canada. It breeds in northern spruce-fir forests,
feeding and nesting in the dense foliage of these conifers. It winters in Panama and northern
South America. Males and females are fairly large relative to other members of the genus
Dendroica, being 13 to 14 cm long and weighing about 13 g. Bay-breasted Warbler numbers
have been reported to dramatically increase and decrease in synchrony with outbreaks and
declines of the spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana), a key food item. Its North
American breeding distribution is closely correlated with that of spruce and fir in the boreal
forest. The greatest threat to the breeding range of the Bay-breasted Warbler is the reduction in
the area of old-growth spruce and fir of the boreal forest. Both nesting habitat and food supply
(spruce budworm) are at risk when reductions or alterations of these forest areas occurs.
Spraying insecticides to control spruce budworm can have direct toxic affect on this Warbler
(inhibition of brain acetylcholinesterase activity). Winter habitat degradation and loss is also a
threat, as commercial and residential development activity continues to reduce the forested
habitats in the tropics.
No specific or dedicated management activities have been attempted for the Bay-breasted
Warbler in Region 9. If management activities are developed and implemented, they should
address ecological sustainability. No past or current conservation activities in Region 9 are
known to be relevant to the Bay-breasted Warbler. However, the adoption of an ecosystemcentered
forest management perspective within Region 9 would likely help conserve
inconspicuous boreal birds such as the Bay-breasted Warbler. No surveying, monitoring or
research specific to the Bay-breasted Warbler has occurred or is occurring within the national
forests of Region 9, although some generalized bird monitoring is occurring. Modifications to a
point-count survey protocol could improve the monitoring of Bay-breasted Warblers in national
forests. Considering the limited extent of its habitat within these forests, its migratory behavior
and inconspicuous nature, declines in the abundance of Bay-breasted Warblers in Region 9
forests could easily be overlooked.
Description
Related to
Replaces
License
Collections
Series/Report Number
Funding information
Isbn identifier
Doi identifier
Previously Published Citation
Suggested citation
Mayasich, Joseph M; Niemi, Gerald J. (2003). Conservation Assessment for Bay-breasted Warbler (Dendroica castanea). Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/187280.
Content distributed via the University Digital Conservancy may be subject to additional license and use restrictions applied by the depositor. By using these files, users agree to the Terms of Use. Materials in the UDC may contain content that is disturbing and/or harmful. For more information, please see our statement on harmful content in digital repositories.