Training, Analysis, Extension and Provider
Art by Diane Taylor
The Golden-cheeked Warbler may be the only bird types that breeds solely in Texas. This bird is extremely striking, featuring its bright yellowish cheeks offset by a throat that is black straight straight right right straight straight back, however it is frequently discovered by its distinctive buzzy track increasing from the wooded canyons by which it breeds. The Golden-cheeked types in main Texas with a variety that coincides closely with this associated with the Ashe Juniper (Juniperus ashei), and winters within the highlands of Central America from southern Mexico to Nicaragua. On migration, this warbler generally speaking utilizes the Sierra Madre Oriental of Mexico, but documents occur for Florida, the Virgin isles, and Ca.
CIRCULATION: In Texas, TBBAP information suggest that the Golden-cheeked Warbler types across the Balcones Escarpment, into the eastern and southern an element of the Edwards Plateau, in the Lampasas Cut-Plain additionally the Llano Uplift. The next counties are included in the warbler’s range that is historical aren’t represented into the TBBAP information: Eastland, Edwards, Erath, Hamilton, Hood, Johnson, Kinney, Medina, Stephens, and Williamson. Supplemental information through the U. S. Fish and Wildlife provider show that the Golden-cheeked had been present in Williamson County (latilong 30097, quad F7) through the Atlas duration having a status of likely (C. Beardmore, pers. comm.). Regarding the remainder among these counties, just Edwards and Medina have much warbler habitat (Wahl et al.).
SEASONAL OCCURRENCE: Breeding for the Golden-cheeked Warbler is hard to ensure, with just 24% of 83 total documents representing verified documents. Nests are difficult to get, as shown by too little documents of nests with eggs in accordance with only three records of nests with young (15% of most confirmations). The Golden-cheeked is many effortlessly discovered by vocalization. Some type of vocal task ended up being connected with 75% of most documents. All of the records that are confirmed related to begging young: 15% for young when you look at the nest and 70% for fledged young.
The Golden-cheeked is definitely a breeder that is early. They get back from their wintering grounds because of the center of March with track task peaking in and declining thereafter until virtually ceasing by the end april. The sharp begging “chip” notes of the young become apparent in May and June. Fall migration starts during the early July with many wild birds having kept. Reported egg times when it comes to Golden-cheeked are. TBBAP information usually do not earlier document any or later on dates.
REPRODUCTION HABITAT: Golden-cheeked Warblers breed in dense woodlands and woodlands dominated by mature Ashe Juniper, but additionally containing an assortment of other, mostly deciduous tree types. Locally, these woodlands in many cases are gcwapen (17829 bytes)
Art by Diane Taylor called “cedar brakes”. Warblers commonly spot their nests in Ashe Junipers, but nests have also present in many different oaks, elms, and walnuts, as well as pecan and bald cypress (USFWS). The little, cup-shaped nests are woven by the females from strips of Ashe Juniper bark guaranteed by cobwebs. The nests are lined with fine lawn, rootlets, feathers, locks, moss, lichens, and oak leaves. Golden-cheekeds are single-brooded, but will re-nest in the event that attempt that is first..
REPUTATION: The Golden-cheeked Warbler ended up being detailed as endangered underneath 
the Endangered Species Act by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife provider by way of an urgent situation guideline, with last listing. This course of action accompanied a few years of concern in regards to the warbler’s future (Oberholser, Pulich, Wahl et al.).
The essential essential danger dealing with the warbler could be the loss in habitat from urbanization and from clearing for agricultural usage (USFWS). Additional threats consist of lack of oaks from oak wilt (Ceratocystis fagacearum), nest parasitism by the Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater), and habitat fragmentation. Even though warbler does occur on general general general general public lands throughout its range, long-lasting security may possibly not be feasible without some help from personal landowners (Sexton).
A dedication of this general status of an endangered species from the TBBAP information needs to be created using care. A smaller sized range than anticipated may express incomplete protection or it might probably express extirpation in those areas or a mixture of both. Aided by the Golden-cheeked Warbler, incomplete protection can’t be eliminated. A lot of the land in the warbler’s range is independently owned and access in a few certain areas might have been limited. Just a small amount of suitable habitat take place in all of the counties maybe perhaps perhaps perhaps perhaps maybe not represented by TBBAP information, which has a tendency to magnify the issues of access because of ownership that is private. Furthermore, this bird is hard to locate along roadways. Breeding Bird Survey data reveal just two documents using one path. Therefore, the number limitation suggested by the TBBAP information might have been the total consequence of incomplete protection rather than extirpation in those areas. Appropriate studies on personal lands are required to find out in the event that Golden-cheeked Warbler is not any longer breeding in those areas. Text by Cade L. Coldren
Literature cited Bent, A.C. lifestyle records of united states timber warblers. U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. No. 203.
Oberholser, H. C. The bird life of Texas. University of Texas Press, Austin.
Pulich, W .M. The Golden-cheeked Warbler: a study that is bioecological. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Austin, Texas.
Robbins, C. S., D. Bystrak, and P. H. Geissler. The breeding bird survey: Its very very very very first fifteen years. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Site Publ. No. 157.
Sexton, C. Rare, neighborhood, little-known, and decreasing united states breeders: The Golden-cheeked Warbler. Birding.