Reproductive success and habitat characteristics of Golden-winged Warblers in high-elevation pasturelands

• Published in: The Wilson journal of ornithology 2014-06, Vol.126 (2), p.279-287
• Main Authors: Aldinger, Kyle R., Wood, Petra Bohall
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Birds; breeding habitat; Cattle; classification tree; Forest reserves; Genotype & phenotype; Golden-winged Warbler; grazing; habitat selection; Habitats; MAJOR ARTICLES; Mitochondrial DNA; Natural resources; pasture; Pastures; Protection and preservation; Variance analysis; Vegetation; Vermivora chrysoptera
• ISSN: 1559-4491; 1938-5447
• DOI: 10.1676/13-114.1

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 (