PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION

BUREAU OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

PROJECT ANNUAL JOB REPORT

PROJECT CODE NO.: 06740

TITLE: Golden-winged Warbler Comprehensive Monitoring and Management

JOB CODE NO.: 71040

PERIOD COVERED: 1 July 2015 to 30 July 2016

COOPERATING AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology; the

Golden-winged Warbler Working Group; Appalachian Mountain Joint Venture, Indiana University of

Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Forestry;

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; American Bird Conservancy; National Fish and

Wildlife Foundation; The Nature Conservancy, Pennsylvania Chapter; members of the Pennsylvania

Society for Ornithology and local bird clubs; members of Audubon Society and local chapters;

Northeast, Northcentral, Southcentral, and Southwest Region staffs.

WORK LOCATION(S): Statewide

PREPARED BY: Douglas A. Gross and Kathy Korber

DATE: 26 July 2016

ABSTRACT This study monitors nesting golden-winged warblers (GWWA) (Vermivora

chrysoptera) in Pennsylvania as part of a regional and national conservation monitoring project. This

study also is in the context of Pennsylvania’s participation in the Golden-winged Warbler Working

Group, an international organization, whose mission is: “Ensuring the conservation of Golden-winged

Warbler populations through sound science, education, and management in Pennsylvania working

with our partners on a state, regional, and international scale.” The Pennsylvania project implements

this mission on a statewide basis. The GWWA is a young forest and early succession habitat species

that is in steep population decline in the state and region, partly due to a lack of a disturbance regime

in the region’s forests. The Game Commission works in partnership with the Cornell Laboratory of

Ornithology (CLO) to monitor this species. The monitoring program informs us of management

potential for implementing best management practices where they are most appropriate. The U.S.

Geological Survey Breeding Bird Survey has documented a dramatic decline in Pennsylvania and the

Appalachian Mountains Region with a -6.7 percent yearly decline in our state and an -8.4 percent

decline in the Region from 1966-2010, but these trend results both suffer from an inadequate sample.

Pennsylvania continued to participate in the Golden-winged Warbler Conservation Initiative

Monitoring (GWWA CIM) project coordinated by the CLO, conducting 170 point counts in 34

quadrants of the state matrix of survey points in 2015. There were 17 golden-winged warblers detected

in these surveys. They were detected at 14 different points, representing 9 quadrants of the sample

matrix. In these same surveys, 27 blue-winged warblers and 1 hybrid also were found. Over the last

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five years, searches found GWWAs in several game lands and other locations, informing agency

management of good GWWA habitat (early forest and thicket) in those areas. Golden-winged warblers

also were found in some wetlands and scrub barrens which may serve as source populations for

forested areas. Management already is being targeted in game lands, forest lands, and on cooperating

private lands due to the results of GWWA surveys described in this report. Pennsylvania is a leader

in GWWA management in the Appalachian Mountains with cooperation of other agencies and

organizations.

OBJECTIVES

1. Monitor golden-winged warbler (GWWA) breeding populations in cooperation with our

partners in bird conservation on a state, regional, continental, and international level.

2. Identify important populations of GWWA within the focal areas and determine the current

size and status of these populations.

3. Study GWWA use of various habitats, both natural and artificial, to better understand how

we can manage for its recovery.

4. Monitor the reaction of GWWAs to various forms of disturbance to the forest landscape that

potentially produces more habitat.

5. Determine areas with best potential for management for GWWAs on game lands and other

properties where agency has influence by locating populations that may serve as source population to

treatment initiatives.

6. Identify opportunities for recovering GWWA populations through management,

conservation, and cooperation.

7. Work with partners on finding and applying best management practices for GWWA

management.

8. Determine effectiveness of management on non-forest habitat appropriate for GWWAs.

9. Work with partners to advance management for early succession and young forest species

including American woodcock (Scolopax minor), ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), and species of

greatest conservation need listed in the Wildlife Action Plan for those habitats.

METHODS

Golden-winged Warbler Conservation Initiative Monitoring (GWWA CIM)

The current GWWA CIM project is a derivation of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s

(CLO) Golden-winged Warbler Atlas Project (GOWAP) (Swarthout et al. 2009, Rohrbach et al. 2011).

The CLO’s monitoring projects have evolved with the changing needs for monitoring this declining

species. Surveys were established in the previously-described focal areas for this species (Fig. 1). The

standardized GWWA monitoring protocol used by CLO and its partners, and adopted here, involves

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a series of point counts using time banding and audio-lure (Rohrbaugh et al. 2011). Geospatial and

habitat data are recorded for points, which are kept consistent from year to year. The field observer

has the option to abandon a point if the location no longer contains appropriate habitat for GWWAs

and adopt another point nearby. These methods have been tested in the field and standardized over

several years of methodological evaluation (Swarthout et al. 2009, Rohrbach et al. 2011). The current

GWWA CIM project is an application of a spatially balanced design using a Generalized Random

Tessellation Stratified survey design in Pennsylvania (Rohrbach et al. 2011). These protocols require

visual and acoustic detections of golden-winged warblers, blue-winged warblers, hybrids, and a group

of birds of conservation interest that use the same habitat. The series of 1-minute sequences yield a

“detection history” for each point each year. Geographic Information System support staff have

assisted this effort to map points for staff and volunteers and ease the challenge of finding sample sites

on the ground.

The targeted survey period for golden-winged warblers, even with use of audio-lure, is fairly

short, approximately from 1 May to 15 June in Pennsylvania (Rohrbaugh et al. 2010). Surveys can be

planned in southern counties earlier in May and in northern counties as late as early June, but response

by golden-winged warbler males can decline dramatically by 10 June. Like other partners in the

GWWA CIM partnership, Pennsylvania contributes data to the Cornell Laboratory’s database from

which it can analyze populations on a broad geographical scope and use the data for predictive

modeling. The CLO team uses data from participating states to determine detection and occupancy

estimates as well as colonization and extinction rates. So, there are delays after the field season for

data analysis which includes several other states in the region. These results also are applied toward

management planning including the regional application of the national plan (Roth et al. 2012). Data

contributed by Pennsylvania are being used by the CLO to analyze trends and model GWWA

populations in the Appalachian Mountain region, report pending. To better understand the relationship

between golden-winged warblers and its close relative, the blue-winged warbler, the latter species and

their hybrids also were surveyed at these points.

In addition to the CLO GWWA surveys, the Pennsylvania Game Commission and partners

conducted searches for GWWA populations especially on public lands. The intent of these searches is

to locate GWWA populations with the potential for managing at or near those locations and expand

the size of the habitat and population. Observers searched suitable habitats, especially searching areas

or habitats that may have been overlooked previously. Wooded wetlands, scrub barrens, and newly

disturbed (cut or burned) forests are among the kinds of locations surveyed. The observers searched

these areas for GWWAs by doing passive listening and then using the CLO audio lure “play-back” if

no GWWAs were heard or seen (Swarthout et al. 2009). The species population size, geospatial data,

land ownership, and habitat information were noted for each GWWA found as well as the potential

for management at the location. Past annual reports have listed locations where GWWA have been

found and some of these have been targeted by the agency or its GWWA conservation partners for

management. Results of these searches and the CLO CIM surveys are shared with land management

and cooperating agents to better target management for GWWAs in the state.

Focused Searches and Surveys

In addition, the Game Commission has engaged the public in monitoring and managing for

GWWAs and young forest wildlife by publishing articles on GWWA and soliciting for GWWA

information with media outreach. Articles about the value of scrub barrens and wooded wetlands to

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GWWAs and how Pennsylvania eBird data assists golden-winged warbler management were

published in the PA Society for Ornithology newsletter and the Pennsylvania eBird portal (e.g. Gross

2015a,b). Content produced for 1 medium are used in another to increase readership. These articles

supplement media from national and regional bird conservation organizations and make them more

specific to our state. Volunteer birders provide their observations directly to Game Commission staff

or enter their observations in Pennsylvania eBird that can be accessed by anyone including Game

Commission staff.

The results of these GWWA surveys have been provided to the Bureau of Land Management,

Region Offices, Indiana University of Pennsylvania research team, and some Land Managers,

foresters, and biologists so golden-winged warbler management can be included in game land planning

and implementation of known best management practices (Bakermans et al. 2011, Golden-winged

Warbler Working Group 2013). Wildlife Diversity staff were assisted in some cases by Region staff

and volunteers.

RESULTS

Background Monitoring

Pennsylvania’s Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) route data indicate a steep decline in GWWA

populations of 7.36 % per year from 1966 – 2013, with an even steeper decline from 2003 – 2013 of

-8.36% per year (Fig. 2; Sauer et al. 2014). Results of the Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in

Pennsylvania also show a retraction in range and greater patchiness of the remaining breeding GWWA

range (Wilson et al.2012). These trends seem to follow the decrease in early succession and young

forest habitats with less disturbance-based management of forests, more intense vegetation

management of rights-of-way openings, and farmland abandonment. Trends are not as extreme in the

Great Lakes Region, which is the stronghold for this species. The limited number of routes where

GWWAs are located on BBS (56) nationally limits the confidence in the trend results (Sauer et. al

2014). Yet, the pattern of decline is consistent in the Eastern Region especially in the Appalachian

Mountain Bird Conservation Region. Low detection rates on BBS routes throughout the Appalachian

Mountains necessitates a targeted survey to track this species.

Golden-winged Warbler Conservation Initiative Monitoring Program

We conducted 170 GWWA CIM point counts in 34 quadrants of the state matrix of survey

points in 2015 (Table 1, Table 2). Modifications were made in 2012, so the 2015 sampling matrix

continues to represent the current range of golden-winged warbler, which has shrunk appreciably in

recent years (Rohrbaugh et al. 2011, Larkins and Bakerman 2012). Surveys detected 17 golden-winged

warblers at 14 different points, from 9 quadrants of the sample matrix (Table 1). Most of the golden-

winged warblers (n=14) detected were singing males, but 3 females also were counted (Table 1). This

is consistent with recent results.

The majority of surveyed points, 91%, were in GWWA focal areas (Table 3, Fig. 1). The

detection rate of a GWWA found at a focal area point was on average 8%, varying significantly among

the three focal areas. The t NA5 Focal Area in the Poconos showed the greatest change in detection

with golden-winged warbler being detected in just 6% of the points as compared to 17% in 2014

surveys, 23% in 2013 and 14% in 2012. The detection rate for NA7 Bedford remained the same as

2014 surveys at 13%. This was the same detection rate as in 2012 as well which dropped to 10% in

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2013. There was a slight increase in detection for 1 focal area, NA6 Sproul. Sproul increased from 4%

in 2014 surveys to 6% in 2015. This is still significantly lower than 2012 surveys which showed a

16% detection. Sproul’s 2013 season was closer to the past 2 at 5%.

Few golden-winged warblers were found outside the areas designated for GWWA

management. The average elevation of a GWWA point was 1,430 feet (range: 725 – 1,828 feet). The

average size of the habitat block identified around an occupied point was 7 acres (range: 2 - 25 acres).

Of the occupied points, 6 were described as “early succession”, 8 were “middle succession” and none

was “late succession.” This is consistent with management guidelines used in the Appalachian

Mountains (Golden-winged Warbler Working Group 2013). Golden-winged warblers were detected

in State Game Lands (SGLs) in 2 of the quadrants and in State Forest land in 2 quadrants. These areas

are being identified as having management potential for GWWA and other early successional species.

Observers recorded 27 blue-winged warblers and 1 hybrid (Table 1). During these surveys,

blue-winged warblers or hybrids were found in only 2 of the quadrants with golden-winged warblers.

This is down significantly from 6 quadrants in 2014. The 2012 surveys also produced blue-wings and

hybrids in 6 quadrants that had golden-wings but 2013 samples were comparable to 2015 with only 2

quadrants. The highest elevation was on the fringes of Forbes State Forest, Westmoreland County.

These results are somewhat surprising considering that blue-winged warblers are usually found at

lower elevations than golden-winged warblers and uncommonly above 1,640 ft. (Larkin et al. 2011,

Larkin and Bakermans 2012, Bakermans and Larkin 2012). Blue-winged warblers are colonizing

higher elevations than ever before recorded in the state. The habitat where blue-winged warblers were

found was described as “early succession” at 12 points (57%), “middle succession” at 7 points (33%),

and 1 site was a combination of early and middle stages of succession (5%). This suggests that blue-

winged warblers tended to be found where there was less tree canopy than golden-winged warblers,

on average. This is consistent with the perception that blue-winged warbler uses a wider variety of

early succession habitats (Bakermans and Larkin 2012). Blue-winged warblers were associated with

sites that had wetlands at only 2 locations, 1 in Susquehanna County and the other at a lower elevation

site (753 ft.) in Schuylkill County. The only hybrid detected during GWWA CIM surveys was a

Brewster’s warbler that was found in Centre County at an elevation of 1,306 ft. along a utility right-

of-way described as “middle” succession.

During the 2014 GWWA CMI, golden-winged warblers were found 24% of the time in habitats

described as a mosaic mix of habitats or other upland habitat which was usually used to cover scrub

oak barrens, a Pennsylvania specialty. In 2015 surveys, golden-wings were most often found in upland

successional forest (n=14, 29%; Table 4) followed by upland clearcut (n=3, 21%). Golden-wings were

found in shrub wetland and a mosaic mix of habitat less frequently (n=2, 14%) and even less often in

upland shrubby field, other upland habitat and upland right of way (ROW) (n=1, 7%). Typical

management of utility ROWs now eliminates virtually all woody vegetation of interest to golden-

winged warbler and associated species. So, ROWs are less likely to be occupied than found in earlier

research conducted in Pennsylvania (Kubel and Yahner 2008) and should be avoided as sampling

points and management targets unless there are good possibilities for managing scrub barren, wetland,

or forest edge habitat beneficial for golden-winged warblers or other target species.

Certain species associated with young forest and early succession habitats also were counted

during the GWWA surveys. Of these, eastern towhee (n=133) was found most frequently. Field

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sparrow (n=66), prairie warbler (n=19) and brown thrasher (n=27) were more commonly found than

golden-winged warbler. Willow flycatcher was the most uncommon of the targeted survey species (5

points). Alder flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) seemed to replace willow flycatcher at higher

elevations including clearcuts and wetlands (Table 5). Chestnut-sided warbler (Setophaga

pensylvanica) was a commonly reported species at these survey points, a species that is responding

well to timber management.

Focused Searches and Surveys

In 2015, with the support of region staff, searches were conducted on 26 game lands where

there is potential for proactive management (Table 6). Additional public lands including 10 state

forests and 5 state parks also were surveyed as well as private lands that are adjacent to or adjoining

public lands. Golden-winged warbler populations seem very fragmented and isolated in many parts of

its range in Pennsylvania, so these surveys are locating the few opportunities available for managing

the species.

State Game Land 176 is host to 1 of the largest GWWA nesting populations in the state. It has

been a stronghold for this species and other early succession species for several decades. State Game

Land 176 managed for early succession stages including scrub barrens. Searches in SGL 176

consistently yield GWWAs, despite forest maturation. This area has great potential for GWWA and

other young forest species. Unfortunately, staff and volunteer data indicate that blue-winged warbler

(BWWA) is increasing in this area.

The Northcentral Region staff did surveys on SGL 75 and did not find GWWAs. While there

seems to be plenty of habitat in the region’s high-elevation forests as a result of created and natural

forest disturbances, few golden-wings have been found in the northcentral counties outside of Sproul

State Forest. No surveys were conducted in SGL 100 where GWWAs were found in 2014. This game

land is being targeted for early succession management.

Southcentral Region staff has been actively working to increase GWWA habitat in that region.

Golden-winged warblers have been located by region staff in SGL 322 and in SGL 121, both in

Huntingdon County, and in Juniata County on SGL 215. Several Tuscarora State Forest blocks and

some adjacent private lands also hold clusters of GWWA as found through 2015 surveys and recent

Pennsylvania eBird reports. These include Blacklog and Kansas Valleys and Reeds Gap. This region

has high potential for managing its deciduous forest and scrub barrens for young forest and scrub

barrens expansion through canopy removal.

The searches in Northeastern counties had mixed results but found fewer GWWA than in past

years. Targeting locations in close proximity to a GWWA nesting population has been documented as

a successful management approach for managing them in the Pocono region of Pennsylvania

especially in Delaware State Forest (Larkin, personal communication; McNeil 2015). Densities of

GWWAs in timber harvests and wooded wetlands did not differ at locations where the species is found

(McNeil 2015).

In Carbon County, the Wild Creek population retracted to an area in Weiser State Forest that

includes the Yellow Run wetland and scrub barrens in recent past years. The golden-winged warblers

persist in the wetland and scrub openings despite the loss of woody vegetation in the transmission

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corridor rights of way. However, GWWA CIM surveys did not find any GWWA there at the 5 points

sampled in 2015. More thorough searches are needed in this management unit. There is potential for

management here that will reduce canopy cover and release the scrub oak and shrubs that will favor

GWWA and other young forest and thicket species. Information has been shared with Weiser State

Forest which is seeking management options. In the northeast, GWWA were also found on SGLs 55

and 183 and Pinchot and Delaware state forests. The SGL 55 in Columbia County is being managed

with silviculture and prescribed fire to increase oak regeneration and young forest habitat, but there

are no known GWWA within 5 miles of this location. A small population of GWWA was located by

cooperating birders who searched for GWWA in the Arbutus Mountain scrub barrens near Crystal

Lake and SGL 119, Luzerne County. Although these GWWA were not found right in the game lands

they are close enough to provide a source population there where the agency is managing for this and

other species associated with scrub barrens and young forest. Targeted management may expand this

population and others in the state. The agency’s program for management has only begun and positive

results will take time to develop due to the delay in vegetative response and then the avian response

to vegetation changes.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Continue to monitor golden-winged warblers in the state using the modified CLO

Conservation Monitoring protocol, including the new quadrants that are in the GWWA focal areas in

the matrix.

2. Continue coordination of BBS routes and consider conducting special routes in areas of

golden-winged warbler concentration or management to measure landscape effect of management on

this and habitat-related species.

3. Involve more volunteers with monitoring and with golden-winged warbler area searches in

appropriate areas.

4. Conduct more golden-winged warbler surveys in Game Lands and Forest Lands to find more

populations where management is possible.

5. Continue to seek golden-winged warbler in particular habitats which may harbor and

determine local populations and responses to management or disturbance.

6. Plan post-treatment monitoring of locations managed for golden-winged warbler habitat,

working with the Bureau of Wildlife Habitat Management and partners to execute this study which

also would include other young forest species of concern.

7. Collaborate with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

(DCNR) and private landowners to manage for GWWA habitat on properties with potential for

management.

LITERATURE CITED

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Bakermans, M. H., J. L. Larkin, B. W. Smith, T. M. Fearer, and B. C. Jones. 2011. Golden-winged

Warbler Habitat Best Management Practices for Forestlands in Maryland and Pennsylvania.

American Bird Conservancy. The Plains, Virginia, USA.

Bakermans, M. H. and J.L. Larkin. 2012. Blue-winged Warbler, Vermivora cyanoptera. Pages 352–

353 in A. W. Wilson, D. W. Brauning, and R. S. Mulvihill, editors. Second Atlas of Breeding

Birds in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park, USA.

Golden-winged Warbler Working Group. 2013. Best Management Practices for Golden-winged

Warbler Habitats in the Great Lakes Region. www.gwwa.org.

Gross, D.A. 2015a. Raven Reporter: eBird Data Assists Golden-winged Warbler Management. The

PSO Pileated: The Newsletter of the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology. Vol. 28 (3): 12 –

13.

Gross, D.A. 2015b. Raven Reporter: More About How eBird Data Assists Golden-winged Warbler

Management. The PSO Pileated: The Newsletter of the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology.

Vol. 28 (3): 8 – 10.

Kubel, J. E., and R. H. Yahner. 2008. Quality of anthropogenic habitats for Golden-winged Warblers

in Central Pennsylvania. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 120:801-812.

Larkin, J. L., J.Gratta, and M. Frantz. 2011. Golden-winged Warbler breeding ecology and response

to habitat manipulation in Northcentral Pennsylvania. Final Report, Department of

Conservation and Natural Resources, Wild Resources Conservation Program, Harrisburg,

Pennsylvania, USA.

Larkin, J. L. and M. H. Bakermans. 2012. Golden-winged Warbler, Vermivora chyrsoptera. Pages

350-351 in A. M. Wilson, D. W. Brauning, and R. S Mulvihill, editors. Second Atlas of

Breeding Birds in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University Press, State College, USA.

McNeil, D. J. Jr. 2015. Gauging the Success of Timber Harvesting Managed for Golden-winged

Warblers (Vermivora chysoptera): Characteristics and Territory Density within a Wetland

Reference System. A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies and Research,

Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA.

Rohrbaugh, R. W., S. B. Swarthout, and K. V. Rosenberg. 2010. Golden-winged Warbler

Conservative Initiative: Breeding Grounds Monitoring throughout the Appalachian region.

Statement of work to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology,

Ithaca, New York, USA.

Rohrbaugh, R. W., S. B. Swarthout, D. L. Crawford, M. D. Piorkowski, J. D. Lowe, and K. V.

Rosenberg. 2011. Golden-winged Warbler Conservation Initiative: Year 3; Breeding Grounds

Monitoring throughout the Appalachian region. Report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York, USA.

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Roth, A. M., R. W. Rohrbaugh, T. Will, and D. A. Buehler, editors. 2012. Golden-winged Warbler

status review and conservation plan. <www.gwwa.org>. Accessed 01 Sept 2013.

Sauer, J. R., J. E. Hines, J. E. Fallon, K. L. Pardieck, D. J. Ziolkowski, Jr., and W. A. Link. 2014. The

North American Breeding Bird Survey, Results and Analysis 1966 - 2013. Version 01.30.2015

USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD.

Swarthout, S. B., K. V. Rosenberg, R. W. Rohrbaugh, and R. S. Hames. 2009. Golden-winged Warbler

Atlas Project: Final Report to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Population Survey: 1999-2005,

Hybrid Index: 1999-2005, Habitat Sampling: 2004-2006. Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology,

Ithaca, New York, USA.

Wilson, A. W., D. W. Brauning, and R. S. Mulvihill, editors. 2012. Second Atlas of Breeding Birds

in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park, USA.

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Table 1. Golden-winged Warbler Conservation Initiative Monitoring Program results, 2015, including

summary of observed golden-winged warblers (GWWA), blue-winged warblers (BWWA), and hybrid

warblers.

DeLorme

Page Quadrant

PGC

Reg.

GWWA

Focal

Area Counties

GWWA

Total

BWWA

Total

Hybrid

Total

39 SE NE NA5 Wayne/Susquehanna/

Lackawanna 0 3 0

40 SE NE NA5 Wayne 0 0 0

47 SE NC NA6 Clearfield/ Centre 0 0 0

48 NE NC NA6 Clinton 1 0 0

48 NW NC NA6 Clinton 0 0 0

48 SW NC NA6 Centre/ Clinton 0 0 0

49 SW NC NA6 Clinton 0 0 0

51 NW NE NA6 Sullivan 0 0 0

51 NE NE NA6 Sullivan / Wyoming 0 0 0

51 SE NE NA5 Columbia 1 0 0

52 SE NE NA6 Luzerne 0 1 0

53 SE NE NA5 Monroe 0 0 0

54 NE NE NA5 Pike 2 0 0

54 NW NE NA5 Pike 0 0 0

62 NE NC NA6 Centre 0 0 0

62 NW NC NA6 Centre 2 0 1

62 SE SC NA7 Mifflin 0 0 0

63 SE SC NA7 Juniata / Snyder 0 1 0

63 SW SC NA7 Mifflin / Juniata 2 0 0

65 SE SE None Schuylkill 0 1 0

66 SE SE None Berks/Schuylkill 0 2 0

66 SW SE None Schuylkill 0 1 0

67 NW SE NA5 Carbon / Monroe 0 0 0

72 NE SW NA7 Westmoreland 0 1 0

72 SE SW NA7 Westmoreland 5 9 0

73 NW SW NA7 Westmoreland 0 4 0

73 SW SW NA7 Westmoreland/Somerset 0 2 0

75 NE SC NA7 Huntingdon/ Blair 1 0 0

75 SW SC NA7 Bedford 1 0 0

76 NW SC NA7 Huntingdon / Mifflin 0 0 0

77 NW SC NA7 Perry/Juniata 0 0 0

77 NE SC NA7 Perry/Cumberland 0 2 0

78 NW SC NA7 Perry 0 0 0

86 NW SW NA7 Fayette 2 0 0

Totals 17 27 1

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Table 2. A summary of the number of golden-winged warblers, blue-winged warblers, and hybrids found in

Golden-winged Warbler Conservation Initiative Monitoring, 2010 – 2015.

Species / Sampling

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

No. / Quad No. / Quad No. / Quad No. / Quad No. / Quad No. / Quad

Golden-winged warblers 0.4 0.5 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.50

Blue-winged warblers 1.0 1.0 0.9 0.6 1.2 0.79

Hybrids 0.0 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.03

Number of Quads Sampled 28 28 33 36 34 34

Table 3. Golden-winged warbler (GWWA) survey success in each of the GWWA Working Group

focal areas, designating the points where GWWA was found or not during CLO surveys.

Focal Area

GWWA Found GWWA Not Found Total

Number

Pts. % of Pts.

Number

Pts. % of Pts No. Pts. % Pts.

NA5 – Poconos 2 6 33 94 35 20

NA6 – Sproul 3 6 47 94 50 29

NA 7 – Bedford 9 13 61 87 70 41

None 0 0 15 100 15 9

Total 17 153 170

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Table 4. A summary of habitats described at Golden-winged Warbler (GWWA) Conservation

Initiative Monitoring points where golden-winged warblers were found in 2015 field surveys.

(Numbers in parentheses were included in Mosaic Mix of Habitats.)

Habitat Described

GWWA Found GWWA Not Found Sum

Number of

Points % of Total

Number

of Points

% of

Total

Number

of

Points

% of

Total

Upland Shrubby

Field (SHF) 1(1) 7 36 23 37 22

Upland Abandoned

Farm (AF) (1) 0 18 12 18 11

Upland Strip Mine

(SM) 0 0 4 3 4 2

Upland Clearcut

(CC) 3 21 18 12 21 12

Upland

Successional Forest

(SUF)

4 29 29 19 33 19

Upland Pine Barren

(PB) 0 0 7 4 7 4

Other Upland

Habitat (UP) 1 (1) 7 34 22 35 21

Upland Utility

Right-of-way (UT-

U)

1 (1) 7 24 15 25 15

Shrub Wetland

(WS) 2 14 17 11 19 11

Hardwood Swamp

(HS) 0 0 2 1 2 1

Tamarack Bog (TB) 0 0 2 1 2 1

Beaver Wetland

(BW) 0 0 1 1 1 1

Wetland Right-of-

way (UT-W) 0 0 4 3 4 2

Other Wetland

(WE) 0 0 2 1 2 1

Sedge Wetland

(SEM) 0 0 0 0 0 0

Mosaic Mix of

Habitats (MOS) 2 14 20 13 22 13

Total 14 156 170

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Table 5. Wetlands in which golden-winged warbler (GWWA) breeding populations were found in

2015.

County Property Wetland Type

Size

(ac)

Elev

. (ft) Notes

Pike SGL 183 Decker Creek

Swamp

Wetlands

Complex: needle

and broad-leafed

swamp, emerg.

vegetation

72 1900 Observed GWWA

in 10-acre section

near Row.

Pike Delaware SF Five Mile

Meadow Rd.

Red maple

swamp; 30 1370

Some sites have

produced

GWWA’s

consistently for

many years.

Hunting

don

Lake

Raystown

area

East of Lake

Raystown Shrub wetland 3 1187 Near Great

Trough Creek

Juniata SGL 215 Willow Run Wetland stream

bottom 30 670

GWWA

populations also

in adjacent

Tuscarora SF

Juniata Near

Tuscarora SF

East

Waterford Shrub wetland 10 665

Mosaic of

abandoned farm,

shrub wetland and

minor ROW.

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Table 6. Public lands surveyed for golden-winged warblers (GWWA) and blue-winged warblers

(BWWA) in 2015 field season including State Game Lands (SGL), State Forest Lands (SF), and State

Parks (SP).

Location

PGC

Reg. County

GWWA (and

BWWA)

Population Notes

Elk SF NC Cameron None

Northern hardwood upland at

appropriate elevation in

Quehanna

Weiser SF NE Carbon GWWA

Multiple sites with GWWA;

Boreal conifer swamp and scrub

oak barrens; elevation 1600 ft.

Sproul SF NC Centre/Clinton None

18 sites within Sproul SF were

surveyed; GWWA found in 2014

in reg. clear cut at 1,729 ft. near

Renovo

Bald Eagle

SP NC Centre None Wetland shrub

SGL 176 NC Centre GWWA

Scotia Barrens; scrub barrens,

mixed deciduous woods;

populations persist but formerly

more abundant.

Moshannon

SF NC Clearfield/Cameron None

Northern hardwood and mixed

forest over 2100 ft. in elevation.

SGL 89 NC Clinton None Upland shrubby field at elev. >

1700

Sproul SF NC Clinton None GWWA found on bordering

private land.

SGL 55 NE Columbia GWWA

Recent cut; shelterwood cut, oak-

hick. forest on ridge, elev. 1500 –

1600.

SGL 230 SC Cumberland BWWA

Shrubby rows with shrub and

grass fields at base of heavily

forested Blue Mt.

SGL 251 SC Huntingdon Hybrid Habitat management area near

maintenance building.

Rothrock

SF SC Huntingdon None Alder shrub wetland

SGL 121 SC Huntingdon GWWA

Habitat enhancements for

GWWA implemented here as a

result of surveys.

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Table 6. cont.

Location

PGC

Reg. County

GWWA (and

BWWA)

Population Notes

SGL 322 SC Huntingdon GWWA and

BWWA

Management on this SGL was

implemented adjacent to ROW

corridors; regenerated forest extends

200-300 ft. on either side.

SGL 215 SC Juniata GWWA

Willow Run bottomland in largely

forested area; and populations on

adjacent Tuscarora SF.

Tuscarora

SF SC

Juniata /

Perry

GWWA and

hybrid

Several timbered sites in Tuscarora SF

hold GWWA. There are three GWWA

sites without BWWA or hybrids.

SGL 300 NE Lackawanna None Upland successional forest and ROW

Nescopeck

SP NE Luzerne None

Mixed hardwood successional forest,

shrubby field and ROW.

SGL 38 NE Luzerne None Shrub oak on top of Pocono Plat.

SGL 119 NE Luzerne None Scrub oak barrens, prescribed fire management

area; nearby GWWA populations on

Lackawanna SF. SGL 187 NE Luzerne None Regenerating after accidental forest fire.

SGL 221 NE Luzerne None Scrub oak barrens; prescribed fire and clearcut

forest at elev. 1380 – 1500 ft. SGL 75 NC Lycoming None Small habitat patches within large forest tract.

SGL 107 SC Mifflin

GWWA,

BWWA and

hybrids

Woodcock Management area north side of

Shade Mountain.

SGL 38 NE Monroe None Newly cut and burned area near food plot;

former GWWA location.

SGL 170 SC Perry BWWA Wet shrubby creek bottom at edge of game

land; formerly BWWA and hybrid.

Little

Buffalo SP SC Perry BWWA

BWWA appear to have replaced GWWA (in

2010 GWWA only); prior years produced

hybrids.

SGL 88 SC Perry /

Juniata None

Mountain top clearcut with standing snags and

tress, elev. 1800 ft.; GWWA on bordering

private property.

SGL 316 NE Pike None GWWA found in previous years; shrubby field

and successional forest

Delaware

SF NE Pike GWWA

Multiple sites with GWWA in Highline Rd.

area; Painter Swamp Rd. exclosure holds

population.

SGL 183 NE Pike GWWA Wetlands near ROW; thinned managed woods,

shrubs and edge.

Promised

Land SP NE Pike None

Surrounded by DSF and Bruce Lake NA;

mixed swamp, tornado disturbance; good

potential. SGL 229 NE Schuylkill BWWA Abandoned strip mine; shrubby field

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Table 6. cont.

Location

PGC

Reg. County

GWWA (and

BWWA)

Population Notes

SGL 110 NE Schuylkill None Mountain top habitat management area in

cooperation with Ruffed Grouse Society;

elev. 1572 ft. SGL 188 SC Snyder None Small game management area

Bald Eagle

SF SC Snyder None

Mt. vista regenerating clearcut within large

forest tract; GWWA found to the south and

west on south side of Shade Mt.; elev. 2096

ft.

SGL 13 NE Sullivan None Mosaic of shrub wetland, abandoned farm,

young forest and shrubby field.

SGL 57 NE Sullivan None Blueberry shrubland and young forest with

road edge and lot; elev. 2080 ft.

Loyalsock

SF NE Sullivan None

High elevation clearcut areas with beech,

maple, cherry, hemlock, white ash, black

birch. Former small population. Stillwater

Lake NE Susquehanna None

Shrubby field at boat ramp; BWWA and

hybrid previously.

SGL 37 NC Tioga BWWA Reverting fields.

Forbes SF SW Westmoreland GWWA and

BWWA

Successional forest at an elevation of 1600

ft; also regenerated clearcut sites and

abandoned farm habitat. Ricketts

Glenn SP NE Wyoming None

Blueberry and goldenrod meadow with wet

swales; elev. 2292 ft.

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Figure 1. Golden-winged warbler focal areas in the Central Appalachians as determined by

the GWWA Working Group. NC 5 – Pocono Northeast counties; NC6- Sproul State Forest

and adjoining areas in Northcentral region; NC7 – Blair County and adjoining areas in

Southcentral and Southwestern counties into Maryland and West Virginia.

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Figure 2. Trend of golden-winged warbler in Pennsylvania, 1996 –

2013, based on USGS Breeding Bird Surveys (n = 56 routes), is -

7.36% / year (2.5% and 97.5% percentiles: -9.26 to -5.56.