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Gunpowder Falls Bird Blitz summary 2007

From:

"CURSON, David"

Reply-To:

CURSON, David

Date:

Fri, 6 Jul 2007 14:40:16 -0400

Dear All,
I have just finished tabulating the Bird Blitz data collected at Gunpowder Falls SP (Hereford section only) and Prettyboy Reservoir over the past 6 weeks. This site was the main focus for Bird Blitzing in the Baltimore area this year.  As a reminder, Bird Blitz is a breeding season survey designed to provide data for reviewing potential Important Bird Areas (see Audubon Maryland-DC website http://www.audubonmddc.org/SciCon_IBAs.html

The totals are quite impressive. 16 volunteers completed 14 Bird Blitz counts and hiked around 70kms of trails (I'll know the exact length of all routes when the final couple of dataforms are in).

Species totals are in the table below (I hope it's still a table by the time it's got to your e-mail screen!). Of the 9 at-risk species (our primary targets for Bird Blitz), 2 are clearly above the state-level IBA threshold; these are Worm-eating Warbler (threshold = 20 pairs) and Louisiana Waterthrush (threshold = 20 pairs). Bear in mind that the Bird Blitz totals represent a minimum population estimate of breeding pairs - the actual population is higher because not all the habitat was covered and because not all birds along a route are counted (if they are silent and hidden while observers pass by).  Unfortunately no Cerulean Warblers were found during safe dates but hopefully there are a few still breeding in this area.

The Bird Blitz also revealed a pretty good diversity of Forest-Interior Dwelling Species (FIDS, labelled in table below). Of the 20 species detected, 18 are likely regular breeders (Prothonotary Warbler and Black-billed Cuckoo are likely sporadic). This is somewhat lower than the FIDS diversity at Patapsco Valley where we blitzed last year  but higher than most other forest sites on the Piedmont or Coastal Plain of Maryland.

Thanks to all volunteers who participated. I would particularly like to thank Paul Kreiss for coordinating the effort and ensuring that different trails got covered each time, and also the teams of "regulars" who did several blitzes each: Paul Kreiss, Kevin Graff and Carol Schreter, Georgia and Dan McDonald, and Wendy and Rob Olsson. Other volunteers included Robin Todd, Elise Kreiss, Pete Webb, Keith Costley, Nancy Grace, Tekla Ayers, Steve Ayers, Andrew Ayers, and Bryce Butler. Apologies (and please let me know) if I have forgotten anyone.  These data will greatly assist our review of this site as a potential IBA later this year. 

Primary Target Species	Total	FIDS	
Bald Eagle	2		
Black-billed Cuckoo	1	FIDS	
Red-headed Woodpecker	1		
Wood thrush	43	FIDS	
Prairie Warbler	11		
Prothonotary Warbler	1	FIDS	
Worm-eating Warbler	51	FIDS	
Louisiana Waterthrush	29	FIDS	
Kentucky Warbler	3	FIDS	
			
Seconary Target Species	Total		
Red-shouldered hawk	6	FIDS	
Barred Owl	2	FIDS	
Hairy Woodpecker	5	FIDS	
Pileated Woodpecker	9	FIDS	
Acadian Flycatcher	70*	FIDS	
White-eyed Vireo	11		
Yellow-throated Vireo	12	FIDS	
Red-eyed Vireo	141*	FIDS	
Veery	7	FIDS	
Northern Parula	29	FIDS	
Black-and-White Warbler	23	FIDS	
American Redstart	2	FIDS	
Ovenbird	120*	FIDS	
Hooded Warbler	15	FIDS	
Scarlet Tanager	35*	FIDS	
Eastern Towhee	11		
Field Sparrow	3		
(Species marked with an asterisk * were not counted during all surveys)

Best regards,

	Dave


David Curson, PhD
Director of Bird Conservation,
Audubon MD-DC,
2437 Eastern Avenue,
Baltimore  MD  21224
Tel: (410) 558 2473
E-mail: