Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference 2019

AUTHORS. Brandon Connare, Kamal Islam – Ball State University

ABSTRACT. The Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea), a once common neo-tropical migrant throughout its breeding range, is one of the fastest declining North American wood-warblers.  Listed as state-endangered in Indiana and a species of conservation concern across its range, this small songbird has recently been the subject of much research throughout the Eastern United States and Canada.  Over the past 10 years, we have been monitoring Cerulean Warbler breeding populations at Yellowwood and Morgan-Monroe state forests in Southern Indiana as part of a larger 100-year project, the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment.  This long term study intends to determine the effect of a variety of forestry practices on local plant and animal communities.  Understanding the impacts of forest management practices on Cerulean Warbler populations is reliant upon accurate estimations of the size of home range and territory.  Previous research conducted at our study sites and elsewhere mapped Cerulean Warbler territories by following males and recording song-perch locations, which is difficult due to this species’ tendency to stay high up in the forest canopy.  For similar reasons, studies examining the size of this species’ home range outside of its defended territory have not been previously conducted.  Our objective is to determine the size and seasonal plasticity of Cerulean Warbler territories and home ranges throughout the nesting cycle.  In the summer of 2018, we conducted a pilot study on five male Cerulean Warblers using radio-transmitters.  We tracked and recorded each bird’s location throughout its home range and territory.  We present preliminary results from our study.  A better understanding of Cerulean Warbler movements in its territory and home range is vital for the management and conservation of this declining species.