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1 June 2014 Reproductive success and habitat characteristics of Golden-winged Warblers in high-elevation pasturelands
Kyle R. Aldinger, Petra Bohall Wood
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Abstract

The Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) is one of the most rapidly declining vertebrate species in the Appalachian Mountains. It is the subject of extensive range-wide research and conservation action. However, little is known about this species' breeding ecology in high-elevation pasturelands, a breeding habitat with conservation potential considering the U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service's Working Lands for Wildlife program targeting private lands in the Appalachian Mountains. We located 100 nests of Golden-winged Warblers in pastures in and around the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia during 2008–2012. Daily nest survival rate (mean ± SE  =  0.962 ± 0.006), clutch size (4.5 ± 0.1), and number of young fledged per nest attempt (2.0 ± 0.2) and successful nest (4.0 ± 0.1) fell within the range of values reported in other parts of the species' range and were not significantly affected by year or the presence/absence of cattle grazing. Classification tree analysis revealed that nests were in denser vegetation (≥52%) and closer to forest edges (<36.0 m) and shrubs (<7.0 cm) than random locations within the male's territory. Successful nests had significantly more woody cover (≥9%) within 1 m than failed nests. Our results suggest that cattle grazing at 1.2–2.4 ha of forage/animal unit with periodic mowing can create and maintain these characteristics without interfering with the nesting of Golden-winged Warblers. High-elevation pasturelands may provide a refuge for remaining populations of Golden-winged Warblers in this region.

2014 by the Wilson Ornithological Society
Kyle R. Aldinger and Petra Bohall Wood "Reproductive success and habitat characteristics of Golden-winged Warblers in high-elevation pasturelands," The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 126(2), 279-287, (1 June 2014). https://doi.org/10.1676/13-114.1
Received: 22 July 2013; Accepted: 1 January 2014; Published: 1 June 2014
KEYWORDS
breeding habitat
Classification tree
Golden-winged Warbler
grazing
habitat selection
pasture
Vermivora chrysoptera
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