Cerulean warbler breeding biology

No Thumbnail Available
Authors
Roth, Kirk L.
Advisor
Islam, Kamal
Issue Date
2004
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (M.S.)
Department
Department of Biology
Other Identifiers
Abstract

The Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea) is a Neotropical migrant bird species which is experiencing severe population declines. This study fills in gaps in the information available concerning Cerulean Warbler territoriality and breeding in a site in southeastern Indiana. During the summers of 2002 and 2003, 51 territories were mapped, with an average territory size of 0.21 hectares. Differences existed between territories and random sites for canopy cover, slope, canopy height, number of trees, diameter at breast height (DBH), the number of trees between 3 - 7.9 cm DBH, the number of trees between 8 - 14.9 cm DBH, the number of trees between 15 - 22.9 cm DBH, and the number of trees > 38 cm DBH. Nest productivity was very low in the study area, suggesting that Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge was a sink population of Cerulean Warblers during the two years of the study.

Collections