FORESTED WETLAND: Proposed Actions
Actions (Objective 1)
Locate and estimate size of current breeding populations
of Swainson's Warblers.
Background and Progress: Although recent work with Swainson's
Warblers within the Great Dismal Swamp has begun to investigate
breeding ecology (Graves unpubl. data) estimates of population
size remain poor. Further work is needed to extrapolate densities
within small study areas to the greater Dismal Swamp population.
The status of the isolated Pocomoke population appears tenuous.
Surveys within the Pocomoke drainage have been limited to
a few isolated areas. Systematic survey work is needed to
determine the current status of this population. Targeted
survey work is needed throughout the region within appropriate
habitat to locate any additional and currently unknown populations.
Actions (Objective 2)
Identify blocks of forested wetlands that support significant
(>200 prs) populations of Prothonotary Warblers.
Background and Progress: Prothonotary Warblers are abundant
and widespread throughout the planning unit. A large number
of significant populations (some exceeding 500 prs) are distributed
within extensive swamps and along major river drainages. Many
significant populations currently occur on lands owned by
PIF partners. However, no attempt has been made to identify
and catalog populations. Signatures could easily be developed
to remotely sense large habitat blocks.
Protect and manage significant forested wetland blocks
to prevent further loss and degradation.
Background and Progress: Although jurisdictional wetlands
are protected by federal legislation, these laws are generally
not extended to silvicultural activities. For this reason,
large tracts of forested wetlands that are critical to bird
populations are vulnerable to being harvested. A large number
of such tracts are currently under ownership by PIF partners.
Remaining tracts considered to be significant should be considered
for acquisition.
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