Prothonotary Warbler Project Update

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Prothonotary Warbler Update

UPDATE 9/16/09

Work on the MPRA warbler boxes began in 2007 when 10 boxes were placed at the Pamunkey Indian Reservation as a general nesting habitat improvement project. Since then 24 more boxes have been placed at a number of private and public properties along the Mattaponi and Pamunkey Rivers. MPRA hopes to develop enough boxes to provide reliable data on nesting prothonotary warblers along both rivers in hopes of contributing information to projects already running in Richmond and Henrico. MPRA would like to thank Bob Reilly who runs a number of banding operations in Virginia and has helped provide guidance with box placement as well as box construction. Reilly monitors warbler boxes along a section of the James River and wrote on the Richmond Audubon Societies website “It quickly became apparent that the nest boxes dramatically improved fledging success rates by nearly eliminating predation during the nesting period, and that many of the warblers were able to successfully rear two broods per season in the project boxes.” It’s this statement that drives MPRA to refine and improve our current efforts. Below is a summary of our 2009 project with plans for 2010.

In 2009 MPRA initiated 4 new project sites (Walkerton Tract, Garnett’s Marsh, Sandy Pt. and the Dunlap Tract) with 3 new locations on the Mattaponi and one on the Pamunkey. The boxes were mounted over water on 10-ft metal conduit poles. This year out of 24 boxes that were monitored (GPS) six had nests. This first year, boxes were just checked once during the breeding season. This first year was a test phase that allowed us to check if any of these areas would have productive prothonotary warbler activity. In 2010 we will expand on our current areas and maybe pick up a few new locations. (map below).

Out of the 24 boxes that were monitored, 6 had nest that were constructed (5 of these nest were constructed by prothonotary warblers). Nests were either documented as partial or full on the data sheet. *note (Meade and Marion Jones noted that a prothonotary warbler did make a nest on a structure located on there house or shed)

PW Eggs were present in two nest during our 6/18 trip to the Dunlap Tract (Pamunkey). The other four nest were found during our 5/31 trip (Mattaponi) which may have been too early for eggs to be present. Prothonotary Warblers were spotted on both dates. On our 5/13 trip a warbler was spotted flying 20 yards away and landing on a spatterdock leaf. During our 6/18 trip a bird was flushed off three eggs when the box was opened.

None of the nest were located near the main bank of the river (except one that was on a heavily vegetated bank directly over the river), they were all located on coves or creeks adjacent to the river (secluded, shaded, not in the open). Creeks and inlets will be emphasized for future boxes but boxes will be placed evenly throughout the study areas so selection can be examined more.

Next year MPRA plans on monitoring the boxes continuously from April 20th - July 20th by canoe. Next year we want to monitor more so we can catch double broods and fledglings (better data). This may be once a week or once a month depending on volunteer ability! During these visits presence and timing of nest material and eggs is recorded, in the future we hope to start banding. In addition, we are planning on doing vegetation/habitat data sheets for each box each year.

MPRA would like to thank everyone who helped make this project possible.

Land Owners

The Dunlap’s

Meade and Marion Jones

Pamunkey Indian Reservation

White Hall Tract- Mrs. Chappell

Randy and Dawn Shank

Charlie McGowan

Va. Department of Forestry

*Special thanks to Rod Tatum for helping me place and check boxes!!

I hope I have not forgotten to thank anyone!!! I look forward to working with you for the remainder of 2009 and hope you will continue to help improve our program in 2010!!

Thanks again,

Brad Davis, MPRA

Prothonotary Warbler Project

Wildlife Conservation

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