Neotropical Migratory Birds of the Southern Appalachians

40 Pages·2001·32.81 MB·English

NeotropicalM igratory Birds
of the Southern Appalachians
kdttlieell E. i+‘dllX~i
and Rick! I\. Phillip:
The Authors:
Kathleen E. Franzreb is Project Leader and Ricky A. Phillips
is a Wildlife Biologist with the Endangered, Threatened and
Sensitive Wildlife and Plants in Southern Forests group,
Southern Research Station, Clemson, SC.
March 1996
Southern Research Station
PO. Box 2680
Asheville, North Carolina 28802
Cover Photo: Golden-Winged Warbler, Ricky A. Phillips
Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
\\ oudpdm !I)
hl\ \er\r,\ fkllctlts 01 \l1!$ili0!1 i
Flytch ?I1
Breeding Habitat . . . . . . . . . ,i S\\allons _‘I
JIccIl:IIIIvll\ (11 Il:illll:tl Selrctron t
Creeps ,,,,,, .?I
\rw1g t
I‘lircl\ 01 trqqwnt:irim .i
Intluwc~ 01 Mg :md I’wst \re:l .6
Winter Habitat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _
ll:lblt:il l’rcler~llcr\ ‘lhnager; ..,,, ,,,. ,, ,,.... .,, ,,,.. 23
‘i
Gro>be:ds :md ~mtmgs..
I’opd;iiio~l lknsltic5 x
Hlackbid\ ml ikioles 23
\q :ml Grntlrr I)i5trilxilms .x
Population Trends . . . . . ..I.............. _J-1
rkhre\t:ltloll .o
Pr\liclrlr\ ,,, .... ..9 KHS tkWl~S ,,, ,,,,.,, 24
The Southern Appalachians, ,., ,., ,, ,., ,., ,., ,t IO Ii the Problem 011 the \fintrring Gr~nlds
lh\l ctr\er ip II (II Krrrtllllg Grounds? ,...,, ..?i
Forest Types and Bird Associations ,.,..,..,,, 12
Sprwl’il I ’
\I:iplr~liercl~~lii~cl~ 13
lhc li:11.d\\ood
\\llik I’IIK-llmlock. Ii
\liwl l’~~~e~H;ird\~(~(~tl 1
\li\C~l Ok ,:Ih’
\lrgilu: iI’inc-l%cll I’inf I‘
Southern Appalachian Migrants ..,,.,..,.,,. IS
?C\\ \\aNlrl \lllulw\ ,,, ,, IX
hlte\. ti:n\k\. ml il:x!k\ IX
1~:111~011~ IS
cilc!4lils I9
\ighri;irs 19
S\\ill\ IO
lllimlllill~l)lrUs 20
\
.
Introduction

Breeding Habitat
Mechanisms of Habitat Selection Nestmg
How does a bird decide where to
establish its tenit@? Why are certain birds
found in some areas and not othen. even in
situations where the areas are in close prosimi@
For almost all species, the male arrives fiisl on particular bird species. Nests are
the breeding groundi and establishes a at ground Ic~l for ovrnhirds and
territoF with the expectation of attracting a Kentuck\ warblers: at 1 to 3 ym!z fur
mate. A territoy is an area that ihe bird will gray cathirds: at 3 IO 6 yard? for acadlan
defend against others of it. ow species, and flyarchers and wood thrushes; from 6 to 11
in some situations. other species as well. yard< for scarlet tanagers and red-eyed vireos.
Each species has iti own ret of habitat and ai the tops of the canopy for eastern wood-
affinities (see Appendix) that influence it. pewees atid yellow-throated vireos. If a vegetative la)ei
distributional patterns. To understand habitat disappears, any species normally associated with it is not likeI>
affinities. think of the bird as having a to occur, thus reducing the de@ of that species and the divers@
template or mental image of LYhat constitutes of the avnn communiix Hence. habitat structure and composition can
acceptable habitat. lIepending on the species greatly influence the a&n comnruni?:
this image will be either genetically deter- .\kmy species require cavities for nesting Woodpeckers are
mined or environmentally induced through examples of primary cavity nesten. or those species lhat construct thei
learning. The bird asseues the charactcristlcs own caritles. Secondary cayi& nesten use cavities that have been
of a potential territory to judge its sutability. constructed by other species: they include chickadees, titmice, and
such ‘a the structural configurations bluebirds. Because many cavities are constructed in snags (dead trees),
(horizontal and vertical complexi~-. amount nestmg opportunities will imorove if srws are allowed IO remain during:
of canopy, proportion of open ground). harvesting oper:ctions
vegetative cornmuni& composition. edge area.
proportion of undisturbed forest.
microclimate, availability of Inest
sites, quality and quantity of food
remrces, and presence of
potential competitors or predators.

FOLIAtiE IhSEC’H\ORE
I I
4JRlAL IRSECl’l\OM
0 5 10
Winter H~bi~t