PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION BUREAU OF WILDLIFE …€¦ · PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION BUREAU OF...
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PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION
BUREAU OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
PROJECT ANNUAL JOB REPORT
PROJECT CODE NO.: 06740
TITLE: Golden-winged Warbler Comprehensive Monitoring and Management
JOB CODE NO.: 71040
PERIOD COVERED: 1 July 2015 to 30 July 2016
COOPERATING AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology; the
Golden-winged Warbler Working Group; Appalachian Mountain Joint Venture, Indiana University of
Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Forestry;
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; American Bird Conservancy; National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation; The Nature Conservancy, Pennsylvania Chapter; members of the Pennsylvania
Society for Ornithology and local bird clubs; members of Audubon Society and local chapters;
Northeast, Northcentral, Southcentral, and Southwest Region staffs.
WORK LOCATION(S): Statewide
PREPARED BY: Douglas A. Gross and Kathy Korber
DATE: 26 July 2016
ABSTRACT This study monitors nesting golden-winged warblers (GWWA) (Vermivora
chrysoptera) in Pennsylvania as part of a regional and national conservation monitoring project. This
study also is in the context of Pennsylvania’s participation in the Golden-winged Warbler Working
Group, an international organization, whose mission is: “Ensuring the conservation of Golden-winged
Warbler populations through sound science, education, and management in Pennsylvania working
with our partners on a state, regional, and international scale.” The Pennsylvania project implements
this mission on a statewide basis. The GWWA is a young forest and early succession habitat species
that is in steep population decline in the state and region, partly due to a lack of a disturbance regime
in the region’s forests. The Game Commission works in partnership with the Cornell Laboratory of
Ornithology (CLO) to monitor this species. The monitoring program informs us of management
potential for implementing best management practices where they are most appropriate. The U.S.
Geological Survey Breeding Bird Survey has documented a dramatic decline in Pennsylvania and the
Appalachian Mountains Region with a -6.7 percent yearly decline in our state and an -8.4 percent
decline in the Region from 1966-2010, but these trend results both suffer from an inadequate sample.
Pennsylvania continued to participate in the Golden-winged Warbler Conservation Initiative
Monitoring (GWWA CIM) project coordinated by the CLO, conducting 170 point counts in 34
quadrants of the state matrix of survey points in 2015. There were 17 golden-winged warblers detected
in these surveys. They were detected at 14 different points, representing 9 quadrants of the sample
matrix. In these same surveys, 27 blue-winged warblers and 1 hybrid also were found. Over the last
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five years, searches found GWWAs in several game lands and other locations, informing agency
management of good GWWA habitat (early forest and thicket) in those areas. Golden-winged warblers
also were found in some wetlands and scrub barrens which may serve as source populations for
forested areas. Management already is being targeted in game lands, forest lands, and on cooperating
private lands due to the results of GWWA surveys described in this report. Pennsylvania is a leader
in GWWA management in the Appalachian Mountains with cooperation of other agencies and
organizations.
OBJECTIVES
1. Monitor golden-winged warbler (GWWA) breeding populations in cooperation with our
partners in bird conservation on a state, regional, continental, and international level.
2. Identify important populations of GWWA within the focal areas and determine the current
size and status of these populations.
3. Study GWWA use of various habitats, both natural and artificial, to better understand how
we can manage for its recovery.
4. Monitor the reaction of GWWAs to various forms of disturbance to the forest landscape that
potentially produces more habitat.
5. Determine areas with best potential for management for GWWAs on game lands and other
properties where agency has influence by locating populations that may serve as source population to
treatment initiatives.
6. Identify opportunities for recovering GWWA populations through management,
conservation, and cooperation.
7. Work with partners on finding and applying best management practices for GWWA
management.
8. Determine effectiveness of management on non-forest habitat appropriate for GWWAs.
9. Work with partners to advance management for early succession and young forest species
including American woodcock (Scolopax minor), ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), and species of
greatest conservation need listed in the Wildlife Action Plan for those habitats.
METHODS
Golden-winged Warbler Conservation Initiative Monitoring (GWWA CIM)
The current GWWA CIM project is a derivation of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s
(CLO) Golden-winged Warbler Atlas Project (GOWAP) (Swarthout et al. 2009, Rohrbach et al. 2011).
The CLO’s monitoring projects have evolved with the changing needs for monitoring this declining
species. Surveys were established in the previously-described focal areas for this species (Fig. 1). The
standardized GWWA monitoring protocol used by CLO and its partners, and adopted here, involves
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a series of point counts using time banding and audio-lure (Rohrbaugh et al. 2011). Geospatial and
habitat data are recorded for points, which are kept consistent from year to year. The field observer
has the option to abandon a point if the location no longer contains appropriate habitat for GWWAs
and adopt another point nearby. These methods have been tested in the field and standardized over
several years of methodological evaluation (Swarthout et al. 2009, Rohrbach et al. 2011). The current
GWWA CIM project is an application of a spatially balanced design using a Generalized Random
Tessellation Stratified survey design in Pennsylvania (Rohrbach et al. 2011). These protocols require
visual and acoustic detections of golden-winged warblers, blue-winged warblers, hybrids, and a group
of birds of conservation interest that use the same habitat. The series of 1-minute sequences yield a
“detection history” for each point each year. Geographic Information System support staff have
assisted this effort to map points for staff and volunteers and ease the challenge of finding sample sites
on the ground.
The targeted survey period for golden-winged warblers, even with use of audio-lure, is fairly
short, approximately from 1 May to 15 June in Pennsylvania (Rohrbaugh et al. 2010). Surveys can be
planned in southern counties earlier in May and in northern counties as late as early June, but response
by golden-winged warbler males can decline dramatically by 10 June. Like other partners in the
GWWA CIM partnership, Pennsylvania contributes data to the Cornell Laboratory’s database from
which it can analyze populations on a broad geographical scope and use the data for predictive
modeling. The CLO team uses data from participating states to determine detection and occupancy
estimates as well as colonization and extinction rates. So, there are delays after the field season for
data analysis which includes several other states in the region. These results also are applied toward
management planning including the regional application of the national plan (Roth et al. 2012). Data
contributed by Pennsylvania are being used by the CLO to analyze trends and model GWWA
populations in the Appalachian Mountain region, report pending. To better understand the relationship
between golden-winged warblers and its close relative, the blue-winged warbler, the latter species and
their hybrids also were surveyed at these points.
In addition to the CLO GWWA surveys, the Pennsylvania Game Commission and partners
conducted searches for GWWA populations especially on public lands. The intent of these searches is
to locate GWWA populations with the potential for managing at or near those locations and expand
the size of the habitat and population. Observers searched suitable habitats, especially searching areas
or habitats that may have been overlooked previously. Wooded wetlands, scrub barrens, and newly
disturbed (cut or burned) forests are among the kinds of locations surveyed. The observers searched
these areas for GWWAs by doing passive listening and then using the CLO audio lure “play-back” if
no GWWAs were heard or seen (Swarthout et al. 2009). The species population size, geospatial data,
land ownership, and habitat information were noted for each GWWA found as well as the potential
for management at the location. Past annual reports have listed locations where GWWA have been
found and some of these have been targeted by the agency or its GWWA conservation partners for
management. Results of these searches and the CLO CIM surveys are shared with land management
and cooperating agents to better target management for GWWAs in the state.
Focused Searches and Surveys
In addition, the Game Commission has engaged the public in monitoring and managing for
GWWAs and young forest wildlife by publishing articles on GWWA and soliciting for GWWA
information with media outreach. Articles about the value of scrub barrens and wooded wetlands to
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GWWAs and how Pennsylvania eBird data assists golden-winged warbler management were
published in the PA Society for Ornithology newsletter and the Pennsylvania eBird portal (e.g. Gross
2015a,b). Content produced for 1 medium are used in another to increase readership. These articles
supplement media from national and regional bird conservation organizations and make them more
specific to our state. Volunteer birders provide their observations directly to Game Commission staff
or enter their observations in Pennsylvania eBird that can be accessed by anyone including Game
Commission staff.
The results of these GWWA surveys have been provided to the Bureau of Land Management,
Region Offices, Indiana University of Pennsylvania research team, and some Land Managers,
foresters, and biologists so golden-winged warbler management can be included in game land planning
and implementation of known best management practices (Bakermans et al. 2011, Golden-winged
Warbler Working Group 2013). Wildlife Diversity staff were assisted in some cases by Region staff
and volunteers.
RESULTS
Background Monitoring
Pennsylvania’s Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) route data indicate a steep decline in GWWA
populations of 7.36 % per year from 1966 – 2013, with an even steeper decline from 2003 – 2013 of
-8.36% per year (Fig. 2; Sauer et al. 2014). Results of the Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in
Pennsylvania also show a retraction in range and greater patchiness of the remaining breeding GWWA
range (Wilson et al.2012). These trends seem to follow the decrease in early succession and young
forest habitats with less disturbance-based management of forests, more intense vegetation
management of rights-of-way openings, and farmland abandonment. Trends are not as extreme in the
Great Lakes Region, which is the stronghold for this species. The limited number of routes where
GWWAs are located on BBS (56) nationally limits the confidence in the trend results (Sauer et. al
2014). Yet, the pattern of decline is consistent in the Eastern Region especially in the Appalachian
Mountain Bird Conservation Region. Low detection rates on BBS routes throughout the Appalachian
Mountains necessitates a targeted survey to track this species.
Golden-winged Warbler Conservation Initiative Monitoring Program
We conducted 170 GWWA CIM point counts in 34 quadrants of the state matrix of survey
points in 2015 (Table 1, Table 2). Modifications were made in 2012, so the 2015 sampling matrix
continues to represent the current range of golden-winged warbler, which has shrunk appreciably in
recent years (Rohrbaugh et al. 2011, Larkins and Bakerman 2012). Surveys detected 17 golden-winged
warblers at 14 different points, from 9 quadrants of the sample matrix (Table 1). Most of the golden-
winged warblers (n=14) detected were singing males, but 3 females also were counted (Table 1). This
is consistent with recent results.
The majority of surveyed points, 91%, were in GWWA focal areas (Table 3, Fig. 1). The
detection rate of a GWWA found at a focal area point was on average 8%, varying significantly among
the three focal areas. The t NA5 Focal Area in the Poconos showed the greatest change in detection
with golden-winged warbler being detected in just 6% of the points as compared to 17% in 2014
surveys, 23% in 2013 and 14% in 2012. The detection rate for NA7 Bedford remained the same as
2014 surveys at 13%. This was the same detection rate as in 2012 as well which dropped to 10% in
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2013. There was a slight increase in detection for 1 focal area, NA6 Sproul. Sproul increased from 4%
in 2014 surveys to 6% in 2015. This is still significantly lower than 2012 surveys which showed a
16% detection. Sproul’s 2013 season was closer to the past 2 at 5%.
Few golden-winged warblers were found outside the areas designated for GWWA
management. The average elevation of a GWWA point was 1,430 feet (range: 725 – 1,828 feet). The
average size of the habitat block identified around an occupied point was 7 acres (range: 2 - 25 acres).
Of the occupied points, 6 were described as “early succession”, 8 were “middle succession” and none
was “late succession.” This is consistent with management guidelines used in the Appalachian
Mountains (Golden-winged Warbler Working Group 2013). Golden-winged warblers were detected
in State Game Lands (SGLs) in 2 of the quadrants and in State Forest land in 2 quadrants. These areas
are being identified as having management potential for GWWA and other early successional species.
Observers recorded 27 blue-winged warblers and 1 hybrid (Table 1). During these surveys,
blue-winged warblers or hybrids were found in only 2 of the quadrants with golden-winged warblers.
This is down significantly from 6 quadrants in 2014. The 2012 surveys also produced blue-wings and
hybrids in 6 quadrants that had golden-wings but 2013 samples were comparable to 2015 with only 2
quadrants. The highest elevation was on the fringes of Forbes State Forest, Westmoreland County.
These results are somewhat surprising considering that blue-winged warblers are usually found at
lower elevations than golden-winged warblers and uncommonly above 1,640 ft. (Larkin et al. 2011,
Larkin and Bakermans 2012, Bakermans and Larkin 2012). Blue-winged warblers are colonizing
higher elevations than ever before recorded in the state. The habitat where blue-winged warblers were
found was described as “early succession” at 12 points (57%), “middle succession” at 7 points (33%),
and 1 site was a combination of early and middle stages of succession (5%). This suggests that blue-
winged warblers tended to be found where there was less tree canopy than golden-winged warblers,
on average. This is consistent with the perception that blue-winged warbler uses a wider variety of
early succession habitats (Bakermans and Larkin 2012). Blue-winged warblers were associated with
sites that had wetlands at only 2 locations, 1 in Susquehanna County and the other at a lower elevation
site (753 ft.) in Schuylkill County. The only hybrid detected during GWWA CIM surveys was a
Brewster’s warbler that was found in Centre County at an elevation of 1,306 ft. along a utility right-
of-way described as “middle” succession.
During the 2014 GWWA CMI, golden-winged warblers were found 24% of the time in habitats
described as a mosaic mix of habitats or other upland habitat which was usually used to cover scrub
oak barrens, a Pennsylvania specialty. In 2015 surveys, golden-wings were most often found in upland
successional forest (n=14, 29%; Table 4) followed by upland clearcut (n=3, 21%). Golden-wings were
found in shrub wetland and a mosaic mix of habitat less frequently (n=2, 14%) and even less often in
upland shrubby field, other upland habitat and upland right of way (ROW) (n=1, 7%). Typical
management of utility ROWs now eliminates virtually all woody vegetation of interest to golden-
winged warbler and associated species. So, ROWs are less likely to be occupied than found in earlier
research conducted in Pennsylvania (Kubel and Yahner 2008) and should be avoided as sampling
points and management targets unless there are good possibilities for managing scrub barren, wetland,
or forest edge habitat beneficial for golden-winged warblers or other target species.
Certain species associated with young forest and early succession habitats also were counted
during the GWWA surveys. Of these, eastern towhee (n=133) was found most frequently. Field
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sparrow (n=66), prairie warbler (n=19) and brown thrasher (n=27) were more commonly found than
golden-winged warbler. Willow flycatcher was the most uncommon of the targeted survey species (5
points). Alder flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) seemed to replace willow flycatcher at higher
elevations including clearcuts and wetlands (Table 5). Chestnut-sided warbler (Setophaga
pensylvanica) was a commonly reported species at these survey points, a species that is responding
well to timber management.
Focused Searches and Surveys
In 2015, with the support of region staff, searches were conducted on 26 game lands where
there is potential for proactive management (Table 6). Additional public lands including 10 state
forests and 5 state parks also were surveyed as well as private lands that are adjacent to or adjoining
public lands. Golden-winged warbler populations seem very fragmented and isolated in many parts of
its range in Pennsylvania, so these surveys are locating the few opportunities available for managing
the species.
State Game Land 176 is host to 1 of the largest GWWA nesting populations in the state. It has
been a stronghold for this species and other early succession species for several decades. State Game
Land 176 managed for early succession stages including scrub barrens. Searches in SGL 176
consistently yield GWWAs, despite forest maturation. This area has great potential for GWWA and
other young forest species. Unfortunately, staff and volunteer data indicate that blue-winged warbler
(BWWA) is increasing in this area.
The Northcentral Region staff did surveys on SGL 75 and did not find GWWAs. While there
seems to be plenty of habitat in the region’s high-elevation forests as a result of created and natural
forest disturbances, few golden-wings have been found in the northcentral counties outside of Sproul
State Forest. No surveys were conducted in SGL 100 where GWWAs were found in 2014. This game
land is being targeted for early succession management.
Southcentral Region staff has been actively working to increase GWWA habitat in that region.
Golden-winged warblers have been located by region staff in SGL 322 and in SGL 121, both in
Huntingdon County, and in Juniata County on SGL 215. Several Tuscarora State Forest blocks and
some adjacent private lands also hold clusters of GWWA as found through 2015 surveys and recent
Pennsylvania eBird reports. These include Blacklog and Kansas Valleys and Reeds Gap. This region
has high potential for managing its deciduous forest and scrub barrens for young forest and scrub
barrens expansion through canopy removal.
The searches in Northeastern counties had mixed results but found fewer GWWA than in past
years. Targeting locations in close proximity to a GWWA nesting population has been documented as
a successful management approach for managing them in the Pocono region of Pennsylvania
especially in Delaware State Forest (Larkin, personal communication; McNeil 2015). Densities of
GWWAs in timber harvests and wooded wetlands did not differ at locations where the species is found
(McNeil 2015).
In Carbon County, the Wild Creek population retracted to an area in Weiser State Forest that
includes the Yellow Run wetland and scrub barrens in recent past years. The golden-winged warblers
persist in the wetland and scrub openings despite the loss of woody vegetation in the transmission
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corridor rights of way. However, GWWA CIM surveys did not find any GWWA there at the 5 points
sampled in 2015. More thorough searches are needed in this management unit. There is potential for
management here that will reduce canopy cover and release the scrub oak and shrubs that will favor
GWWA and other young forest and thicket species. Information has been shared with Weiser State
Forest which is seeking management options. In the northeast, GWWA were also found on SGLs 55
and 183 and Pinchot and Delaware state forests. The SGL 55 in Columbia County is being managed
with silviculture and prescribed fire to increase oak regeneration and young forest habitat, but there
are no known GWWA within 5 miles of this location. A small population of GWWA was located by
cooperating birders who searched for GWWA in the Arbutus Mountain scrub barrens near Crystal
Lake and SGL 119, Luzerne County. Although these GWWA were not found right in the game lands
they are close enough to provide a source population there where the agency is managing for this and
other species associated with scrub barrens and young forest. Targeted management may expand this
population and others in the state. The agency’s program for management has only begun and positive
results will take time to develop due to the delay in vegetative response and then the avian response
to vegetation changes.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Continue to monitor golden-winged warblers in the state using the modified CLO
Conservation Monitoring protocol, including the new quadrants that are in the GWWA focal areas in
the matrix.
2. Continue coordination of BBS routes and consider conducting special routes in areas of
golden-winged warbler concentration or management to measure landscape effect of management on
this and habitat-related species.
3. Involve more volunteers with monitoring and with golden-winged warbler area searches in
appropriate areas.
4. Conduct more golden-winged warbler surveys in Game Lands and Forest Lands to find more
populations where management is possible.
5. Continue to seek golden-winged warbler in particular habitats which may harbor and
determine local populations and responses to management or disturbance.
6. Plan post-treatment monitoring of locations managed for golden-winged warbler habitat,
working with the Bureau of Wildlife Habitat Management and partners to execute this study which
also would include other young forest species of concern.
7. Collaborate with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
(DCNR) and private landowners to manage for GWWA habitat on properties with potential for
management.
LITERATURE CITED
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Bakermans, M. H., J. L. Larkin, B. W. Smith, T. M. Fearer, and B. C. Jones. 2011. Golden-winged
Warbler Habitat Best Management Practices for Forestlands in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
American Bird Conservancy. The Plains, Virginia, USA.
Bakermans, M. H. and J.L. Larkin. 2012. Blue-winged Warbler, Vermivora cyanoptera. Pages 352–
353 in A. W. Wilson, D. W. Brauning, and R. S. Mulvihill, editors. Second Atlas of Breeding
Birds in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park, USA.
Golden-winged Warbler Working Group. 2013. Best Management Practices for Golden-winged
Warbler Habitats in the Great Lakes Region. www.gwwa.org.
Gross, D.A. 2015a. Raven Reporter: eBird Data Assists Golden-winged Warbler Management. The
PSO Pileated: The Newsletter of the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology. Vol. 28 (3): 12 –
13.
Gross, D.A. 2015b. Raven Reporter: More About How eBird Data Assists Golden-winged Warbler
Management. The PSO Pileated: The Newsletter of the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology.
Vol. 28 (3): 8 – 10.
Kubel, J. E., and R. H. Yahner. 2008. Quality of anthropogenic habitats for Golden-winged Warblers
in Central Pennsylvania. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 120:801-812.
Larkin, J. L., J.Gratta, and M. Frantz. 2011. Golden-winged Warbler breeding ecology and response
to habitat manipulation in Northcentral Pennsylvania. Final Report, Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources, Wild Resources Conservation Program, Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania, USA.
Larkin, J. L. and M. H. Bakermans. 2012. Golden-winged Warbler, Vermivora chyrsoptera. Pages
350-351 in A. M. Wilson, D. W. Brauning, and R. S Mulvihill, editors. Second Atlas of
Breeding Birds in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University Press, State College, USA.
McNeil, D. J. Jr. 2015. Gauging the Success of Timber Harvesting Managed for Golden-winged
Warblers (Vermivora chysoptera): Characteristics and Territory Density within a Wetland
Reference System. A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies and Research,
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA.
Rohrbaugh, R. W., S. B. Swarthout, and K. V. Rosenberg. 2010. Golden-winged Warbler
Conservative Initiative: Breeding Grounds Monitoring throughout the Appalachian region.
Statement of work to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology,
Ithaca, New York, USA.
Rohrbaugh, R. W., S. B. Swarthout, D. L. Crawford, M. D. Piorkowski, J. D. Lowe, and K. V.
Rosenberg. 2011. Golden-winged Warbler Conservation Initiative: Year 3; Breeding Grounds
Monitoring throughout the Appalachian region. Report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York, USA.
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Roth, A. M., R. W. Rohrbaugh, T. Will, and D. A. Buehler, editors. 2012. Golden-winged Warbler
status review and conservation plan. <www.gwwa.org>. Accessed 01 Sept 2013.
Sauer, J. R., J. E. Hines, J. E. Fallon, K. L. Pardieck, D. J. Ziolkowski, Jr., and W. A. Link. 2014. The
North American Breeding Bird Survey, Results and Analysis 1966 - 2013. Version 01.30.2015
USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD.
Swarthout, S. B., K. V. Rosenberg, R. W. Rohrbaugh, and R. S. Hames. 2009. Golden-winged Warbler
Atlas Project: Final Report to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Population Survey: 1999-2005,
Hybrid Index: 1999-2005, Habitat Sampling: 2004-2006. Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology,
Ithaca, New York, USA.
Wilson, A. W., D. W. Brauning, and R. S. Mulvihill, editors. 2012. Second Atlas of Breeding Birds
in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park, USA.
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Table 1. Golden-winged Warbler Conservation Initiative Monitoring Program results, 2015, including
summary of observed golden-winged warblers (GWWA), blue-winged warblers (BWWA), and hybrid
warblers.
DeLorme
Page Quadrant
PGC
Reg.
GWWA
Focal
Area Counties
GWWA
Total
BWWA
Total
Hybrid
Total
39 SE NE NA5 Wayne/Susquehanna/
Lackawanna 0 3 0
40 SE NE NA5 Wayne 0 0 0
47 SE NC NA6 Clearfield/ Centre 0 0 0
48 NE NC NA6 Clinton 1 0 0
48 NW NC NA6 Clinton 0 0 0
48 SW NC NA6 Centre/ Clinton 0 0 0
49 SW NC NA6 Clinton 0 0 0
51 NW NE NA6 Sullivan 0 0 0
51 NE NE NA6 Sullivan / Wyoming 0 0 0
51 SE NE NA5 Columbia 1 0 0
52 SE NE NA6 Luzerne 0 1 0
53 SE NE NA5 Monroe 0 0 0
54 NE NE NA5 Pike 2 0 0
54 NW NE NA5 Pike 0 0 0
62 NE NC NA6 Centre 0 0 0
62 NW NC NA6 Centre 2 0 1
62 SE SC NA7 Mifflin 0 0 0
63 SE SC NA7 Juniata / Snyder 0 1 0
63 SW SC NA7 Mifflin / Juniata 2 0 0
65 SE SE None Schuylkill 0 1 0
66 SE SE None Berks/Schuylkill 0 2 0
66 SW SE None Schuylkill 0 1 0
67 NW SE NA5 Carbon / Monroe 0 0 0
72 NE SW NA7 Westmoreland 0 1 0
72 SE SW NA7 Westmoreland 5 9 0
73 NW SW NA7 Westmoreland 0 4 0
73 SW SW NA7 Westmoreland/Somerset 0 2 0
75 NE SC NA7 Huntingdon/ Blair 1 0 0
75 SW SC NA7 Bedford 1 0 0
76 NW SC NA7 Huntingdon / Mifflin 0 0 0
77 NW SC NA7 Perry/Juniata 0 0 0
77 NE SC NA7 Perry/Cumberland 0 2 0
78 NW SC NA7 Perry 0 0 0
86 NW SW NA7 Fayette 2 0 0
Totals 17 27 1
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Table 2. A summary of the number of golden-winged warblers, blue-winged warblers, and hybrids found in
Golden-winged Warbler Conservation Initiative Monitoring, 2010 – 2015.
Species / Sampling
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
No. / Quad No. / Quad No. / Quad No. / Quad No. / Quad No. / Quad
Golden-winged warblers 0.4 0.5 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.50
Blue-winged warblers 1.0 1.0 0.9 0.6 1.2 0.79
Hybrids 0.0 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.03
Number of Quads Sampled 28 28 33 36 34 34
Table 3. Golden-winged warbler (GWWA) survey success in each of the GWWA Working Group
focal areas, designating the points where GWWA was found or not during CLO surveys.
Focal Area
GWWA Found GWWA Not Found Total
Number
Pts. % of Pts.
Number
Pts. % of Pts No. Pts. % Pts.
NA5 – Poconos 2 6 33 94 35 20
NA6 – Sproul 3 6 47 94 50 29
NA 7 – Bedford 9 13 61 87 70 41
None 0 0 15 100 15 9
Total 17 153 170
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Table 4. A summary of habitats described at Golden-winged Warbler (GWWA) Conservation
Initiative Monitoring points where golden-winged warblers were found in 2015 field surveys.
(Numbers in parentheses were included in Mosaic Mix of Habitats.)
Habitat Described
GWWA Found GWWA Not Found Sum
Number of
Points % of Total
Number
of Points
% of
Total
Number
of
Points
% of
Total
Upland Shrubby
Field (SHF) 1(1) 7 36 23 37 22
Upland Abandoned
Farm (AF) (1) 0 18 12 18 11
Upland Strip Mine
(SM) 0 0 4 3 4 2
Upland Clearcut
(CC) 3 21 18 12 21 12
Upland
Successional Forest
(SUF)
4 29 29 19 33 19
Upland Pine Barren
(PB) 0 0 7 4 7 4
Other Upland
Habitat (UP) 1 (1) 7 34 22 35 21
Upland Utility
Right-of-way (UT-
U)
1 (1) 7 24 15 25 15
Shrub Wetland
(WS) 2 14 17 11 19 11
Hardwood Swamp
(HS) 0 0 2 1 2 1
Tamarack Bog (TB) 0 0 2 1 2 1
Beaver Wetland
(BW) 0 0 1 1 1 1
Wetland Right-of-
way (UT-W) 0 0 4 3 4 2
Other Wetland
(WE) 0 0 2 1 2 1
Sedge Wetland
(SEM) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mosaic Mix of
Habitats (MOS) 2 14 20 13 22 13
Total 14 156 170
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Table 5. Wetlands in which golden-winged warbler (GWWA) breeding populations were found in
2015.
County Property Wetland Type
Size
(ac)
Elev
. (ft) Notes
Pike SGL 183 Decker Creek
Swamp
Wetlands
Complex: needle
and broad-leafed
swamp, emerg.
vegetation
72 1900 Observed GWWA
in 10-acre section
near Row.
Pike Delaware SF Five Mile
Meadow Rd.
Red maple
swamp; 30 1370
Some sites have
produced
GWWA’s
consistently for
many years.
Hunting
don
Lake
Raystown
area
East of Lake
Raystown Shrub wetland 3 1187 Near Great
Trough Creek
Juniata SGL 215 Willow Run Wetland stream
bottom 30 670
GWWA
populations also
in adjacent
Tuscarora SF
Juniata Near
Tuscarora SF
East
Waterford Shrub wetland 10 665
Mosaic of
abandoned farm,
shrub wetland and
minor ROW.
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Table 6. Public lands surveyed for golden-winged warblers (GWWA) and blue-winged warblers
(BWWA) in 2015 field season including State Game Lands (SGL), State Forest Lands (SF), and State
Parks (SP).
Location
PGC
Reg. County
GWWA (and
BWWA)
Population Notes
Elk SF NC Cameron None
Northern hardwood upland at
appropriate elevation in
Quehanna
Weiser SF NE Carbon GWWA
Multiple sites with GWWA;
Boreal conifer swamp and scrub
oak barrens; elevation 1600 ft.
Sproul SF NC Centre/Clinton None
18 sites within Sproul SF were
surveyed; GWWA found in 2014
in reg. clear cut at 1,729 ft. near
Renovo
Bald Eagle
SP NC Centre None Wetland shrub
SGL 176 NC Centre GWWA
Scotia Barrens; scrub barrens,
mixed deciduous woods;
populations persist but formerly
more abundant.
Moshannon
SF NC Clearfield/Cameron None
Northern hardwood and mixed
forest over 2100 ft. in elevation.
SGL 89 NC Clinton None Upland shrubby field at elev. >
1700
Sproul SF NC Clinton None GWWA found on bordering
private land.
SGL 55 NE Columbia GWWA
Recent cut; shelterwood cut, oak-
hick. forest on ridge, elev. 1500 –
1600.
SGL 230 SC Cumberland BWWA
Shrubby rows with shrub and
grass fields at base of heavily
forested Blue Mt.
SGL 251 SC Huntingdon Hybrid Habitat management area near
maintenance building.
Rothrock
SF SC Huntingdon None Alder shrub wetland
SGL 121 SC Huntingdon GWWA
Habitat enhancements for
GWWA implemented here as a
result of surveys.
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Table 6. cont.
Location
PGC
Reg. County
GWWA (and
BWWA)
Population Notes
SGL 322 SC Huntingdon GWWA and
BWWA
Management on this SGL was
implemented adjacent to ROW
corridors; regenerated forest extends
200-300 ft. on either side.
SGL 215 SC Juniata GWWA
Willow Run bottomland in largely
forested area; and populations on
adjacent Tuscarora SF.
Tuscarora
SF SC
Juniata /
Perry
GWWA and
hybrid
Several timbered sites in Tuscarora SF
hold GWWA. There are three GWWA
sites without BWWA or hybrids.
SGL 300 NE Lackawanna None Upland successional forest and ROW
Nescopeck
SP NE Luzerne None
Mixed hardwood successional forest,
shrubby field and ROW.
SGL 38 NE Luzerne None Shrub oak on top of Pocono Plat.
SGL 119 NE Luzerne None Scrub oak barrens, prescribed fire management
area; nearby GWWA populations on
Lackawanna SF. SGL 187 NE Luzerne None Regenerating after accidental forest fire.
SGL 221 NE Luzerne None Scrub oak barrens; prescribed fire and clearcut
forest at elev. 1380 – 1500 ft. SGL 75 NC Lycoming None Small habitat patches within large forest tract.
SGL 107 SC Mifflin
GWWA,
BWWA and
hybrids
Woodcock Management area north side of
Shade Mountain.
SGL 38 NE Monroe None Newly cut and burned area near food plot;
former GWWA location.
SGL 170 SC Perry BWWA Wet shrubby creek bottom at edge of game
land; formerly BWWA and hybrid.
Little
Buffalo SP SC Perry BWWA
BWWA appear to have replaced GWWA (in
2010 GWWA only); prior years produced
hybrids.
SGL 88 SC Perry /
Juniata None
Mountain top clearcut with standing snags and
tress, elev. 1800 ft.; GWWA on bordering
private property.
SGL 316 NE Pike None GWWA found in previous years; shrubby field
and successional forest
Delaware
SF NE Pike GWWA
Multiple sites with GWWA in Highline Rd.
area; Painter Swamp Rd. exclosure holds
population.
SGL 183 NE Pike GWWA Wetlands near ROW; thinned managed woods,
shrubs and edge.
Promised
Land SP NE Pike None
Surrounded by DSF and Bruce Lake NA;
mixed swamp, tornado disturbance; good
potential. SGL 229 NE Schuylkill BWWA Abandoned strip mine; shrubby field
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Table 6. cont.
Location
PGC
Reg. County
GWWA (and
BWWA)
Population Notes
SGL 110 NE Schuylkill None Mountain top habitat management area in
cooperation with Ruffed Grouse Society;
elev. 1572 ft. SGL 188 SC Snyder None Small game management area
Bald Eagle
SF SC Snyder None
Mt. vista regenerating clearcut within large
forest tract; GWWA found to the south and
west on south side of Shade Mt.; elev. 2096
ft.
SGL 13 NE Sullivan None Mosaic of shrub wetland, abandoned farm,
young forest and shrubby field.
SGL 57 NE Sullivan None Blueberry shrubland and young forest with
road edge and lot; elev. 2080 ft.
Loyalsock
SF NE Sullivan None
High elevation clearcut areas with beech,
maple, cherry, hemlock, white ash, black
birch. Former small population. Stillwater
Lake NE Susquehanna None
Shrubby field at boat ramp; BWWA and
hybrid previously.
SGL 37 NC Tioga BWWA Reverting fields.
Forbes SF SW Westmoreland GWWA and
BWWA
Successional forest at an elevation of 1600
ft; also regenerated clearcut sites and
abandoned farm habitat. Ricketts
Glenn SP NE Wyoming None
Blueberry and goldenrod meadow with wet
swales; elev. 2292 ft.
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Figure 1. Golden-winged warbler focal areas in the Central Appalachians as determined by
the GWWA Working Group. NC 5 – Pocono Northeast counties; NC6- Sproul State Forest
and adjoining areas in Northcentral region; NC7 – Blair County and adjoining areas in
Southcentral and Southwestern counties into Maryland and West Virginia.
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Figure 2. Trend of golden-winged warbler in Pennsylvania, 1996 –
2013, based on USGS Breeding Bird Surveys (n = 56 routes), is -
7.36% / year (2.5% and 97.5% percentiles: -9.26 to -5.56.