Abstract

Our understanding of songbird habitat needs during the breeding season stems largely from studies of nest success. However, growing evidence shows that nesting habitat and post-fledging habitat often differ. Management guidelines for declining species need to be reevaluated and updated to account for habitat shifts that may occur across the full breeding cycle. The Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) is a declining songbird species for which best management practices (BMPs) are based overwhelmingly on nesting habitat. We studied stand-scale habitat selection by fledgling Golden-winged Warblers during May–July, 2014–2017, in 2 landscapes (2 yr of data for each landscape), 200 km apart in Pennsylvania. Across 4 yr, we radio-tagged and tracked 156 fledglings. We used discrete-choice models to evaluate habitat selection during 2 post-fledging time periods (days 1–5, days 6–28). Fledglings used a variety of cover types, but most telemetry relocations (i.e. 85%) occurred in forest in the stand initiation stage, stem exclusion stage, or mature forest upland. Fledglings primarily selected stand initiation forest during the first 5 days, but preferred habitats differed between regions during days 6–28 post-fledging. Fledglings in one landscape favored stands in the stem exclusion stage while fledglings in the other landscape continued to select stands in the initiation stage. Fledglings moved greater distances as they aged and dispersed ~750 m by day 28 post-fledging. These findings suggest the need to update Golden-winged Warbler BMPs to account for the broader habitat needs of fledglings during the breeding season. In addition, these results indicate that regional studies of habitat requirements can help guide management of dynamic forest landscapes for birds.

中文翻译：

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后羽金翅鸣鸟需要具有多个林分发育阶段的森林

摘要

我们对繁殖季节对鸣禽栖息地需求的了解主要来自对巢成功的研究。但是，越来越多的证据表明，筑巢栖息地和迁徙后栖息地常常不同。需要重新评估和更新有关物种下降的管理指南，以考虑到整个繁殖周期中可能发生的生境变化。金翅莺（Vermivora chrysoptera）是一种数量不断下降的鸣禽物种，其最佳管理规范（BMP）绝大多数以筑巢栖息地为基础。我们研究了2014年5月至7月于2017年7月至2017年7月期间成年的金翅鸣鸟在两处景观中的立地规模生境选择（每种景观的两年数据），宾夕法尼亚州相距200 km。在4年的时间里，我们进行了无线电标记，并跟踪了156个雏鸟。我们使用离散选择模型来评估两个新时期（第1至5天，第6至28天）的栖息地选择。雏鸟使用了多种覆盖物类型，但大多数遥测重定位（即85％）发生在林分起始阶段，茎干排除阶段或成熟的林地高地。雏鸟在开始的前5天主要选择林分起始林，但是在雏后的6至28天之间，首选栖息地因地区而异。一个景观中的雏鸟在茎排斥阶段偏爱林分，而另一景观中的雏鸟在开始阶段则继续选择林分。雏鸟在出雏后第28天时会变老，并散开约750 m的距离。这些发现表明，有必要更新金翅莺莺BMP，以解决繁殖季节雏鸟对栖息地的广泛需求。此外，这些结果表明，对栖息地需求的区域研究可以帮助指导鸟类动态森林景观的管理。这些发现表明，有必要更新金翅莺莺BMP，以解决繁殖季节雏鸟对栖息地的广泛需求。此外，这些结果表明，对栖息地需求的区域研究可以帮助指导鸟类动态森林景观的管理。这些发现表明，有必要更新金翅莺莺BMP，以解决繁殖季节雏鸟对栖息地的广泛需求。此外，这些结果表明，对栖息地需求的区域研究可以帮助指导鸟类动态森林景观的管理。