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Bunny Management is… for the birds!

Bunny Management is… for the birds!. E. Hinkel. Shannon B. Kearney-McGee Shannon.kearney@ct.gov. Connecticut Wildlife Action Plan. “Conserve and Increase the number of breeding populations of GCN early successional birds, especially the golden-winged warbler and yellow-breasted chat”.

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Bunny Management is… for the birds!

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  1. Bunny Management is…for the birds! E. Hinkel Shannon B. Kearney-McGee Shannon.kearney@ct.gov

  2. Connecticut Wildlife Action Plan • “Conserve and Increase the number of breeding populations of GCN early successional birds, especially the golden-winged warbler and yellow-breasted chat”

  3. Let’s meet some of the shrubland birds • 30 Shrubland Obligates • State endangered: • Golden-winged warbler • Yellow-breasted chat • State Special concern: • Brown thrasher Arlene Koziol

  4. Blue-winged warbler • 10% of world’s population breeding in Southern New England

  5. Blue-winged warbler • >3% per year decline • We will lose ¼ of our population in the next 10 years

  6. Eastern towhee • Significant % of world’s population in Southern New England • 20% of New England’s population is specifically in CT

  7. Eastern towhee • Estimated only 13% of original population remain • 7% annual decline • Projected loss 50% population over next 10 years

  8. Prairie warbler • Significant % of global population E. Hinkel

  9. Prairie warbler • 4.5% annual population decline • Projected loss >30% of population over next decade E. Hinkel

  10. Migration stress?

  11. Risk by nesting location? • Ground nesters • Shrub nesters

  12. Breeding habitat loss!

  13. Why are we losing shrubland habitat? • Ugly places… • (for beautiful birds) • Ephemeral - • Unsuitable 10 years after creation • Requires active management • $$ Schlossberg and King 2007

  14. Capacity of DEEP Management to Support Shrubland Bird Population

  15. Progress Towards our Population Goals?

  16. Estimated Cost to “Buy” Shrubland Birds on WMA’s in Connecticut

  17. Estimated Cost to “Buy” Shrubland Birds on WMA’s in Connecticut

  18. Estimated Cost to “Buy” Shrubland Birds on WMA’s in Connecticut

  19. New England Cottontail Management

  20. How cottontail management helps birds

  21. But… What about the forest birds? • Cutting may help forest species! • Post fledgeling period • Migrants higher fitness

  22. Worm-eating warbler fledglings in 30% of forest cuts in Connecticut

  23. Regional Bird Conservation Plans • Regional priorites

  24. Population trends of mature forest birds vs. shrubland birds

  25. Can we have our cake and eat it too? • Decision support tool • Cost and benefit • Regional and local priorities • Data will drive the decisions

  26. Thank you! • Questions? • Shannon.kearney@ct.gov

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