Central Hardwoods Cerulean Warbler Survey

Cerulean Warbler. Photo: Robert Royce

Preliminary results of the first coordinated, region-wide count of Cerulean Warblers in the Central Hardwoods indicate that there may be far more birds breeding there than many scientists had previously thought. Counts from the forested breaks along the Current and Jack's Fork Rivers point to upwards of 10,000 territorial males just in the Missouri Ozarks. "I really didn't think we had that many birds in the whole Central Hardwoods region, let alone the Missouri Ozarks," said ABC's , Central Hardwoods Joint Venture Coordinator, who helped coordinate the count and assist with sampling design.

Though still fairly numerous in some extensively forested landscapes across northern, central, and eastern portions of the country, overall Cerulean numbers have plummeted by almost 70% since 1966. While the species appears to be most abundant in the Ohio Hills and Cumberland Plateau regions of the Appalachian Mountains, sizable populations may also exist in the forested landscapes of the Central Hardwoods (which falls primarily within Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana). But just how many birds are there has been the subject of speculation, making these early data encouraging.

The Central Hardwoods Joint Venture is working with the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station and University of Missouri to document the distribution and abundance of the Cerulean Warbler in the region. This is no small feat given the area's size and the inherent difficulties of counting small, elusive birds that breed high in the tree canopy; so the study partners are employing the latest statistical and mapping methods to ensure maximum accuracy of the study results.

While good surveys require good designs, they also depend on people who are willing and able to collect the data needed for the analyses. Staff from partner agencies and organizations in five states fought ticks, chiggers, heat, steep hills, and thick vegetation to complete the surveys. Data collection for 2007 has been completed, but the valiant warbler counters will be back in the field in 2008.

"This marks the first time that we have attempted a coordinated bird monitoring project at this scale," said Fitzgerald. "It's exciting to see our partners using new methods that will not only give us a better picture of Cerulean distribution and abundance throughout the Central Hardwoods, but should also help improve similar large-scale counts for other species elsewhere."