CERULEAN WARBLER ATLAS PROJECT FOR PRIVATE LANDS

1. CERULEAN WARBLER ATLAS PROJECTFOR PRIVATE LANDS A Voluntary Landowner-conducted Survey Presentation 2: How to Conduct the Survey Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

2. The Cerulean Warbler • Is of high conservation priority • Has declined 70% since 1966 (BBS) • Has been proposed as a federally threatened species Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

3. The Cerulean Warbler • Cerulean Warblers are mostly found in deciduous forests with some tall, mature trees such as oaks, hickories, sycamore, black locust, elm, and cottonwoods. • They occur primarily on ridge tops and in floodplain and mesic cove forests. Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

4. Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands • The Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands is a voluntary, landowner-conducted survey developed to improve information about the abundance, distribution, and habitat relationships of Cerulean Warblers. • Landowners gather their own information and submit it to NCASI who obscures ownership. Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

5. Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands • Cornell Lab of Ornithology analyzes the data to help us learn more about the Cerulean Warbler’s abundance, distribution, and habitat relationships. • The results will be used to inform regulatory agencies and landowners about cost-effective ways to help the bird. Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

6. Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands • Landowners select sites to survey in suitable Cerulean Warbler habitat during May and June • Surveys are conducted along accessible roads or trails, using a playback CD provided by Cornell Lab of Ornithology • NCASI coordinates participation and conceals land ownership in data presentations General Methods: What is involved? Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

7. Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands • The following slides describe where and how to conduct the survey, and other important details: Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

8. Where to Survey • Drive as many roads as possible or walk in forests, stopping every 0.5 mile to survey for Cerulean Warblers. • If roads are used, use those that traverse forested lands and are not subject to heavy volumes of traffic. Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

9. Where to Survey • Prior to the actual survey, participants may wish to plot the locations of survey routes and the planned stops on USGS topographic maps to ensure that their property is adequately covered and that survey points are no closer than 0.5 miles in any direction. • Survey points should be surrounded by relatively uniform forest type and age, so any Ceruleans found can be assigned to a habitat type. Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

10. Where to Survey • We recommend that landowners concentrate surveys on roads that pass through hardwood forest that is at least in the small poletimber size class (predominant trees >5.0 inches DBH). • Roads that traverse ridge tops and slopes are preferable to those along creek bottoms or lower slopes. Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

11. When to Survey • The surveys should be conducted between May 1 and June 15. • Routes should be driven in the mornings starting no earlier than 30 minutes before sunrise and ending by 12 noon. • Do not conduct the survey during periods of rain or if winds are strong enough to make hearing difficult. Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

12. How to Survey • The protocol at each survey point is: • 1-min listening with no playback • 1-min listening with playback of CD Track 7 • 1-min listening with no playback • More details about each of these steps is provided in the following slides: Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

13. How to Survey Step 1: • At each stop, observers should stand at the survey point and listen passively for one minute to detect any Ceruleans that are singing spontaneously. Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

14. How to Survey Step 2: • Then, play the pre-recorded song of the Cerulean Warbler for one minute to elicit a response from any non-singing bird or birds that were too far away to be heard. Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

15. How To Survey • Any Ceruleansnear enough tohear the playback usuallyrespond quickly. Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

16. How to Survey Step 3: • Following playback of the CD, observers should listen passively again for a final minute and watch for bird movement in surrounding trees to assess the total number of Ceruleans detected at that point. Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

17. How to Survey • Please remember that information about the absence of Cerulean Warblers (where they are NOT found) is just as important as information about presence of Ceruleans (where they ARE found). Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

18. Equipment to Use • We recommend using a portable CD player and a detachable amplified speaker to play the prerecorded Cerulean song. • An inexpensive model bought at a store such as Radio Shack should work just fine. Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

19. Describing Habitat • Describe the habitat around the sample point on the data formusing the list of variables and their definitions on the back of the form. Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

20. Describing Habitat • Characterize the dominant habitat within 650 feet of each survey point. • If multiple habitat types are present, move the survey point along the road until the habitat within 650 feet is more easily assigned to one predominant condition. Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

21. Describing Habitat • It is very important that landowners record the exact location of each roadside survey point (preferably with GPS), so that the presence or absence of Cerulean Warblers can be tied to habitat conditions. • We also suggest that you plot these points on a photocopy of a map that you take with you in the field. Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

22. Where To Acquire Supplies • Copies of the data forms and protocols can be downloaded over the internet at:http://www.birds.cornell.edu/cewappl • This Powerpoint presentation and a second presentation used to recruit additional participants are available to download. • You can also listen to an example of the Cerulean Warbler song at this site. Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

23. Where To Acquire Supplies • Copies of the CD, data form, and protocol also can be acquired by contacting: • Sara Barker Swarthout, Cornell Lab of Ornithology • 607-254-2465, sb65@cornell.edu Sheron Sweeney, NCASI 864-656-0929, sswny@clemson.edu Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

24. What To Do With Data Forms • Please send completed copies of your data forms and your maps indicating the survey points to: NCASI Attn: CEWAPPL Data PO Box 340317 Clemson, SC 29634-0317 Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

25. What To Do With Data Forms • Please indicate in your cover letter or on the data forms whether you want NCASI to keep your land ownership information confidential. Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

26. If You Have Questions • If you have questions, please contact: Sara Barker Swarthout, Cornell Lab of Ornithology 607-254-2465, sb65@cornell.edu Ben Wigley, NCASI 864-656-0840, wigley@CLEMSON.EDU Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands

27. Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands We thank you for your interest and participation in this important survey! Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project for Private Lands