The Status of Prothonotary WarblerOver the last 60 years Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) (PROW) has experienced range-wide population declines and has been designated a priority species by Partners in Flight with the goal of reversing population declines (Carter et al 1996). In the State of Ohio, PROW is listed as a species of concern (Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife 2020) where the breeding population “has changed substantially during the 20th century” (Rodewald et al 2016). Additionally, PROW is listed as a species of concern in Michigan and is federally listed as endangered in Canada, which encompasses the entirety of PROW’s range due north of Ohio (Michigan Natural Features Inventory 2020, COSEWIC 2016).
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Prothonotaries and BSBO
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BSBO has conducted long-term monitoring of neotropical migrants since 1991 in the Navarre Marsh Unit (Navarre) of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in Ottawa County, Ohio. We have documented PROW nesting in the buttonbush swamp and beach ridge habitats and observed family groups during MAPS banding work throughout BSBO’s bird banding research station. Navarre is an important breeding site for this species, but it is also likely an important migrant stopover site, evidenced by annual influxes of PROW during the peak of spring and fall migration according to BSBO’s banding data. In recent years, PROW encounters in Navarre have increased during both spring and fall migration indicating a possible expansion of the local population or populations to the north.
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Research Goals
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BSBO's Prothonotary Warbler research will help illuminate our understanding of the species' springtime migratory movements and population dynamics near the northern end of their range. Using banding techniques and automated Motus tracking technology, we will collect data on stopover duration in the Navarre Marsh and where tagged individuals travel when they leave. Of particular interest is identifying what routes to more northerly breeding grounds are employed (trans-Lake Erie, circum-Lake Erie, island-hopping, etc.) along with identifying other PROW movements and breeding locations within the local region. Results of this project will be published in a peer-reviewed ornithological journal, shared with land management agencies, and communicated with members of the general public, the birding community, and the bird banding community.
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Funding
We are deeply grateful to the Kirtland Bird Club, Inland Bird Banding Association, and the Ohio Ornithological Society for awarding BSBO $1,000 each for our upcoming research into Prothonotary Warblers. We are working towards our goal of an additional $7,500 to cover the scope of the project. Please email kimkaufman@bsbo.org if you'd like to be part of helping us achieve this goal.
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Thank You for your contribution!
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Mark and Cheryl Klimek
Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman Frank Merritt Craig Caldwell Gloria Bando Bernice Jackson Lisa Brohl Marie Rust Erica Reese Kris Reutzel Debbie Vessels Carolyn Garber Bev Walborn Pamela Ciccone David Descutner Bob Scott Placier Donna Schulman Linda Rockwell Louanne Koch Kay Darnell Jim Sloan Paula Lozano Doug LeVasseur |
Kristi Luzader
Tina Frey Erik Bruhnke Kevin Loughlin David Johnson Mary Eyman Jeff Cox Nancy Bogart Cindy Steffen Allison Hilf Carrie Jones Jo-Anne Bellemer Bryan Smith Julie Wittmer Jennifer Rycenga Peggy Macres Katie Andersen Joyce Stefancic Anita Manzeck Katie Ware Brian Parsons Liz Copeland Mike Parr |
Johanna Hull
Paula Goldberg Chad Williams Jeremy Efroymson Amy Girten Nancy Hawley Lillian and Don Stokes Jill Noll Christine Manzey Tyler Connell Priscilla Morrill Stephen Ingraham Larry Wilson Anna Dissanayaka Kathy O’Connor Shawn Graff Liz McQuaid Joyce Penny Marsha Penner Thomas Kuenzli Beth Cooper Lisa Velasquez Linda Cherkassky |
Alan Green
Melissa Wales Monica Essenmacher Carlton Schooley Mindy Sykes Trudy Aleksander Paula Reich Janet Baker Hughes Betsy McCaskey Deanna Lammie Pat Folsom Nancy Andersen Stella Hansen Mindy Kaufman Diane Friedman Vince Capozziello Michelle Schisler David Lewis Deb Schelling Daniel Parsons Barbara Eshbaugh Lance Woodworth |
Progress:
BSBO Installs its First Motus Tower
Prothonotary Tagging Spring 2021
Other Data Gathered from BSBO
Based on BSBO 30+ years of bird banding data, we have been able to generate detailed timing graphs for many migrant species traveling through the marshes of Northwest Ohio in spring and fall. These graphs and accounts have been assembled into one location for the first time ever and made public through our BSBO Bird Migration Profiles. From this data, our research department is able to approximate when Prothonotary Warblers will be migrating through the region and the peak times to perform our research.
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