Hello Maryland Birders,
Now that the 2009 Bird Blitz survey effort is complete, we want to keep you
updated on this year's results and the progress of identifying new Important
Bird Areas in Maryland. This is the first of several summary reports for
each candidate IBA site which was surveyed this year. This report covers the
Mattawoman Creek watershed in Charles County. You can read the report
contained in the text of this email or you may view and download the report
as a formatted PDF at the link below:
http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0BwDSYGXqd_YXOTg0MzQ1OTUtMTdhMi00MTI0LWIxZjAtN2I1NWFkNGQ0NjA1&hl=en
*Important Bird Areas Program*
*Bird Blitz 2009: Mattawoman Creek*
The Mattawoman Creek watershed, including areas along the Indian Head Rail
Trail, Mattawoman NEA, and Myrtle Grove WMA, was among the highest
priorities of our target candidate IBA sites this year. In April,
Mattawoman Creek was ranked 4th among America’s Most Endangered Rivers of
2009 due to its importance to the Chesapeake Bay watershed and threats of a
proposed highway and development (see American
Rivers<http://www.americanrivers.org/our-work/protecting-rivers/endangered-rivers/mattawoman.html>and
Chesapeake
Bay Foundation <http://www.cbf.org/Page.aspx?pid=1002>). This summer there
were 12 Bird Blitz surveys conducted by 6 volunteers. Site coverage was
quite good with 47.2 km hiked during 36.1 hours of surveying (Table 1).
The results are summarized below in Table 2, with highlighted species
representing those which matched or exceeded their state-level IBA
thresholds. There were 7 at-risk species recorded with Prothonotary Warbler
surpassing its IBA threshold of 30 pairs. Bird Blitz survey totals represent
minimum population estimates of breeding pairs – actual populations are
higher because not all the habitat was covered and because not all birds
along a route were counted (if they were silent and hidden while observers
passed by). These results also indicate that the area supports a relatively
high diversity of Forest Interior-Dwelling Species (FIDS) with 18 recorded
out of 24 possible on Maryland’s Coastal Plain.
Also, one survey was done at Smallwood State Park. At-risk species recorded
included 1 Red-headed Woodpecker, 1 Prothonotary Warbler, 1 Prairie Warbler,
1 Louisiana Waterthrush, and 6 Wood Thrush. This area may or may not be
included with the Mattawoman Creek candidate IBA.
Thanks to all volunteers who conducted Bird Blitz surveys at this site: Gwen
Brewer, George Jett, Ross Geredien, Dave Gillum, and Colin Hebert. Thanks
to Jean Artes and Lynn Wheeler for their efforts at Smallwood State
Park. These
data will greatly assist our review of this area as a potential IBA later
this year.
*Table 1. *Bird Blitz 2009 survey effort for Mattawoman Creek candidate
IBA.*
*Volunteers*
*Surveys*
*Distance (km)*
*Time (hr)*
6
12
47.15
36.1
*Totals do not include Smallwood State Park surveys.
*Table 2. *Bird Blitz 2009 results for Mattawoman Creek candidate IBA.**
*Primary Targets – At-risk Species*
*Total*
*Assemblage*
Bald Eagle
3
--
Red-headed Woodpecker
3
--
Wood Thrush
63
FIDS
Prairie Warbler
2
--
*Prothonotary Warbler*
*40*
*FIDS*
Kentucky Warbler
10
FIDS
Louisiana Waterthrush
13
FIDS
*Secondary Target Species*
*Total*
*Assemblage*
Red-shouldered Hawk
6
FIDS
Barred Owl
5
FIDS
Hairy Woodpecker
9
FIDS
Pileated Woodpecker
12
FIDS
Acadian Flycatcher*
3
FIDS
White-eyed Vireo
38
SHRUB
Red-eyed Vireo*
3
FIDS
Yellow-throated Vireo
24
FIDS
Brown Thrasher
7
SHRUB
Northern Parula
112
FIDS
Black-and-white Warbler
2
FIDS
American Redstart
23
FIDS
Ovenbird*
6
FIDS
Hooded Warbler
57
FIDS
Yellow-breasted Chat
5
SHRUB
Scarlet Tanager*
3
FIDS
Summer Tanager
7
FIDS
Eastern Towhee
5
SHRUB
*Species not formally counted due to wide distribution across Maryland.
Best regards,
David
--
David Yeany II, M.S.
IBA Program Assistant
Audubon MD-DC
109.5 Pennsylvania Ave.
Cumberland, MD 21502
Phone: 814-221-4361
Email: |