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: |