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Multiscale drivers of restoration outcomes for an imperiled songbird
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Habitat restoration is a cornerstone of conservation, particularly for habitat-limited species. However, restoration efforts are
seldom rigorously monitored at meaningful spatial scales. Poor understanding of how species respond to habitat restoration
programs limits conservation efficacy for habitat-restricted species like the Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera,
GWWA). We provide one of the first concerted assessments of a national conservation program aimed at restoring songbird
habitat across its breeding range. We studied GWWA response to forest habitat restoration across two broad regions with
opposing population trajectories and assessed factors driving species use of restored habitats across multiple spatial scales.
From 2015 to 2017, we conducted 1,145 (n = 457 locations) and 519 point counts (n = 215 locations) across the Appalachian
Mountains and Great Lakes (respectively) within restored habitats. Warbler abundance within restored habitats across the
Great Lakes varied with latitude, longitude, elevation, forest type, and number of growing seasons. In the Appalachian Mountains,
occupancy ( ^ ψ) varied with longitude, elevation, forest type, and number of growing seasons. Detections were restricted
to areas within close proximity to population centers (usually <24 km) in the Appalachian Mountains, where GWWAs are rare
( ^ ψ= 0.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.20–0.25), but not in the Great Lakes, whereGWWAs remain common ( ^ ψ= 0.87, 95%
CI: 0.84–0.90). Our study suggests that, even when best management practices are carefully implemented, restoration outcomes
vary within/across regions and with multiscale habitat attributes. Although assessments of concerted habitat restoration efforts
remain uncommon, our study demonstrates the value of monitoring data in the adaptive management process for imperiled
species.
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WLFW Outcomes: Funded Research
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Regional abundance and local breeding productivity explain occupancy of restored habitats in a migratory songbird
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Ecological restoration is a key tool in offsetting habitat loss that threatens biodiversity worldwide, but few
projects are rigorously evaluated to determine if conservation objectives are achieved. We tested whether restoration
outcomes for an imperiled bird, the Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera; GWWA) met the
assumptions of the ‘Field of Dreams’ hypothesis or whether local and regional population dynamics impacted
restoration success. From 2015 to 18, we surveyed 514 points located in recently restored successional habitats.
We used new- and published data on the survival of 341 nests and 258 fledglings to estimate GWWA breeding
productivity. Occupancy and colonization of restored habitats were significantly higher in our Western Study
Region (Minnesota and Wisconsin) than our Eastern Study Region (Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey), a
pattern that mirrored broader regional population trends. At local scales, productivity was high in Eastern
Pennsylvania (> 3 independent juveniles/pair/year) but low in Central Pennsylvania (1 juvenile/pair/year)
while both Western and Central Minnesota hosted intermediate productivity (between 1 and 2 juveniles/pair/
year). Productivity and occupancy covaried locally in the Eastern Study Region, while occupancy was high in the
Western Study Region, despite intermediate productivity. These differences have profound implications for restoration
outcomes, as GWWA possessed robust capacity to respond to habitat restoration in both regions, but
this capacity was conditional upon local productivity where the species is rare. Our findings suggest that, even
when restoration efforts are focused on a single species and use comparable prescriptions, interactions among
processes governing habitat selection, settlement, and productivity can yield variable restoration outcomes.
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WLFW Outcomes: Funded Research
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Golden-winged Warbler Conservation Initiative Brochure
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This printable brochure from the Golden-winged Warbler Working Group highlights research priorities as well as key management strategies for private landowners and public land managers.
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Golden-Winged Warbler General Fact Sheets
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Golden-winged Warbler Poster
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This poster from the Golden-winged Warbler Working Group provides simple ways to help the Golden-winged Warbler, as well as outlines threats to Golden-winged Warblers during migration and the nonbreeding season.
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Golden-Winged Warbler General Fact Sheets
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Golden-winged Warbler Non-breeding Season Conservation Plan
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The Golden-winged Warbler Non-breeding Season Conservation Plan (Chapter 4 of the Goldenwinged
Warbler Conservation Plan) describes the non-breeding ecology of the Golden-winged
Warbler and proposes concrete actions to maintain habitat throughout its stationary nonbreeding
range (hereafter winter range). The plan is intended for use by conservation
practitioners, land managers, and governmental agencies both in North America and Latin
America. This plan provides guidance on where conservation investment in Latin America will
have the greatest impact on Golden-winged Warbler habitat and recommends conservation
actions to address the specific threats to habitat retention in the winter range. This plan is also
intended for use at the country level for all Latin American countries within the Golden-winged
Warbler winter range. For each country, this plan prioritizes areas where conservation action
should begin immediately, defines five-year conservation goals, and proposes a conservation
strategy to meet those goals by the year 2020.
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Golden-Winged Warbler General Fact Sheets
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Golden-winged Warbler Status Review and Conservation Plan
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The Golden-winged Warbler Status Review was initiated over a decade ago when David Buehler, John Confer, and Ron Canterbury were funded by the US Fish & Wildlife Service to elaborate on what was originally a status assessment begun by Chuck Hunter in 1999. Over time, that original project received input from others and underwent numerous stalls, revisions, and reviews. The continuous stream of new information that so rapidly outpaced the writing of the document is actually a tribute to the tremendous dedication and energy of the Golden-winged Warbler Working Group and its partners. In this version of the Status Review, survey and trend estimates have been updated to include 2009 BBS trend information. Genetic data were updated to include birds sampled during the 2010 breeding season. We are pleased finally to release the Status Review, at the same time acknowledging that new research and conservation action will just as quickly outdate much of the information it summarizes. We prefer to think of this document as a Status Transition to a more hopeful future.
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Golden-Winged Warbler General Fact Sheets
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Best Management Practices For Golden-winged Warbler Habitats in the Great Lakes Region: A Guide for Land Managers and Landowners
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This guide is intended to provide land managers and landowners with regional, habitat-specific strategies and techniques to begin developing and restoring habitat for Golden-winged Warblers. This document includes general information that applies to all habitat types in the Great Lakes region and should be used along with supplemental documents dedicated to the management of specific regional habitat types (deciduous forests, aspen parkland transition zone, abandoned farmlands, utility rights-of-way, forest and shrub wetlands) most important to Golden-winged Warblers.
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Golden-Winged Warbler Great Lakes/Canada Fact Sheets
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Best Management Practices for Golden-winged Warbler Habitat in Deciduous Forests of the Great Lakes
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This supplement for Deciduous Forests accompanies Best Management Practices for Golden-winged Warbler Habitats in the Great
Lakes Region, which includes general information that applies to all habitat types in this area. Users should refer to both documents
to develop a comprehensive management strategy for Golden-winged Warbler. The following are guidelines and not absolute
rules for the creation of breeding habitat, thus prescriptions that fall outside the numerical ranges presented can provide habitat,
too. Consult a Golden-winged Warbler or young forest habitat expert for assistance in tailoring a management plan to your property,
and, if available, follow forest management guidelines for your state or province.
Historically, young forest in this region was generated by natural disturbances such as wind, ice, insect outbreaks, flooding, beaver
activity, and fire. Today, much habitat is created through commercial management of deciduous forests, which is the focus of this
habitat guide. Deciduous forest management opportunities exist throughout the Great Lakes on public, private, and tribal lands.
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Best Management Practices for Golden-winged Warbler Habitat on Utility Rights-of-way in the Great Lakes
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Utility ROWs consist of long, linear corridors that are often
managed in a way that can provide habitat for Golden-winged
Warbler and other shrubland birds. Many landscapes within
the Great Lakes region are traversed by extensive and growing
networks of electric transmission lines and gas pipelines (Figure
1), and in some of these the utility corridors are the principal
sites of extensive shrubland habitat. Only a small proportion of
these utility ROWs are managed for Golden-winged Warbler;
therefore, substantial opportunities exist to benefit this species
while still meeting the vegetation management goals of utility
companies and working within acceptable budgets.
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Golden-Winged Warbler Great Lakes/Canada Fact Sheets
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Best Management Practices for Golden-winged Warbler Habitat on Abandoned Farmlands in the Great Lakes
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Since the early 20th century, abandoned farmland has become
an important component of the Great Lakes landscape.
When crop and pasture lands become inactive, they begin
succeeding into their pre-agricultural state, which is often
deciduous forest. The span of time from field to forest takes
decades, during which there is a period of years where the ratio
of herbaceous vegetation, shrubs, and young trees on a given
site can potentially create habitat for breeding Golden-winged Warblers (Figure 1). Without active management, this is a temporary
condition that typically persists for less than a decade.
Throughout the region there is an excellent opportunity, especially on private lands, to create habitat for Golden-winged Warbler
on abandoned farmlands. Perhaps the best opportunities exist on poorly drained soils that are too wet for pasture or crops.
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