Habitat Requirements of the Golden-Cheeked Warbler: Management Implications

Abstract

Characteristics of nesting and wintering habitats of goldencheeked warblers (Den&o&z chrysoparia) were studied from 19'73-lY78. Golden-cheeks are obligatively dependent on Ashe juniper (funiperus ashei) for nesting materials and singing perches, but are equally dependent on scrub-oak (Quercus durundii breviloba) for foraging substrates. Golden-cheeks preferred to forage (73.6% of total observations) in hardwood species. Stepwise discriminant analysis suggested that quality nesting habitat differs from poor nesting habitat by having older (240 yrs.) Ashe juniper, lower juniper densities and higher densities of oak (juniper-oak ratio= 1.35 to 1). Structure of scrub-oak (mostly Q. oleoides) in the wintering habitat (La Esperanza, Intibuca Dept., Honduras) was structurally similar to that in the nesting habitat. Golden-cheeks were observed feeding in the shrubby understory. The golden-cheeked warbler (Derzdroicu chtysopuriu) is a rare bird inhabiting the so-called "cedar brakes" in the Edwards Plateau region of west-central Texas. Golden-cheeks have been the center of controversy involving clearing of Ashe juniper (Jwziperus ushei) for range improvement and commercial harvesting for fence posts and aromatic oils; yet, no study to date has dealt quantitatively with habitat requirements of these birds. Pulich (1976) conducted an in-depth study on the natural history of golden-cheeks. He noted that the warblers are obligatively dependent on Ashe juniper for nesting habitat, and that golden-cheeks require large blocks of mature (~50 years old) Ashe juniper. He further noted that: "Only older cedar brakes with some variation in age provide the necessary requisites of warbler habitat. ' ' Previous studies by Johnston et al. (1952) and Huss (1954) characterized the vegetative composition of golden-cheek nesting habitat as juniper-oak; juniper composition ranged 14-50% (of stems per acre), while oaks made up 20-70%. My study was initiated to obtain quantitative data on nesting and wintering habitats of golden-cheeks, as well as, to develop a habitat management strategy for these rare birds. Methods Meridian State Park Study Area Meridian State Park is located in Bosque County, approximately 83 km west of Waco, Tex. (Fig. I). The park contains 203.2 ha, about one fourth of which is inundated by Lake Bosque. The eastern portion

Survey of the Golden-Cheeked Warbler on Fort Hood in Support of NEPA Requirements

“…Unfortunately TNC did not gather territory size data on each territorial male they monitored; therefore we cannot compare estimates. When comparing the current data to other studies, territory size collected in this study seems to fall somewhere in the middle of territory size estimates ( 0.81 -2.55 ha [Pulich 1976] and 4.44 -8.48 ha [Kroll 1980]). The fact that only 15 out of 30 males were banded within the study area may have lead to inaccurate identification of males.…”

Spatiotemporal variation in range‐wide Golden‐cheeked Warbler breeding habitat

“…The Golden-cheeked Warbler (Setophaga chrysoparia; hereafter, warbler) is a migratory songbird that breeds exclusively in the mature (generally 4.6 m tall and 12.7 cm in diameter at breast height) juniper-oak/deciduous woodlands of the Texas Hill Country and Balcones Escarpment (Pulich 1976, Kroll 1980, Ladd and Gass 1999. In 1990, the species endemism coupled with perceived high rates of habitat loss across the landscape resulted in the species' emergency listing as endangered by the U.S. Federal Government (United States Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS] 1990).…”

Canopy Spectra and Remote Sensing of Ashe Juniper and Associated Vegetation

“…The fruit are eaten by several species of birds and mammals, while the wood is utilized for poles and fence posts (Hatch & Pluhar, 1993;Scifres, 1980). Mature stands of Ashe juniper provide nesting habitat for the endangered golden-cheeked warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia Sclater and Salvin) (Kroll, 1980). Ashe juniper can be controlled by mechanical methods including bulldozing and chaining (Scifres, 1980).…”