C O N S E R V EO N T A R I O ’ S C A R O L I N I A N F O R E S T S

Preserve

EndangeredSongbirds

Acadian Flycatchers and Hooded Warblers are migratory birds that shareessential breeding habitat in the forests of Ontario’s Carolinian Zone. Likemany songbirds that nest in Canada, these species winter in Central and SouthAmerica, and migrate each year to eastern North America for the warmmonths. In Canada, the birds nest only in Ontario, in the moderate climatefound in the southwestern portion of the province. Natural areas in this regionare under intense pressure from agricultural and urban expansion.

Acadian Flycatchers and Hooded Warblers prefer large, mature woodlandsfor nesting. In Ontario’s Carolinian Zone, the preferred habitat of thesebirds has diminished by as much as 90 per cent since European settlement.Acadian Flycatchers are listed as an endangered species in Canada, with only35 to 50 nesting pairs occurring annually. Hooded Warblers are a nationallythreatened species, with just 150 to 210 nesting pairs found each year.

Acadian Flycatchers and Hooded Warblers are fairly abundant in highlyforested regions of the eastern and southeastern United States. However,they have both been identified as “Species of Concern” in Indiana, Ohio,Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin,owing to significant loss and frag-mentation of forest habitat.

In Canada, Acadian Flycatchers andHooded Warblers are known to havenested in fewer than 100 individualforests. Preserving these populationsin Canada is contingent on conserv-ing the remaining Carolinian forestsin Ontario.

To protect and enhance the habitat ofthese songbirds, co-operative effortsare required from landowners, forestmanagers, foresters, wildlife biolo-gists, planners, municipalities, habitatrestoration groups, and communityconservation groups.

Acadian Flycatchers and Hooded Warblers

1. Acadian Flycatcher /Bill Rayner &Ron Kingswood

2. Hooded Warbler /M.K. Peck

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A Closer Look atAcadian Flycatchersand Hooded Warblers

The Species Ranges andthe Carolinian Zone

North American Distribution Map

The small songbirds reach thenorthern limits of their breedingranges in the Carolinian forestsof southwestern Ontario.1: Acadian Flycatcher2: Hooded Warbler

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1: Acadian Flycatcher / Judie Shore2: Hooded Warbler / Judie Shore

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Acadian Flycatchers are olive-coloured birds that maketheir homes under tall, closed tree canopies in the middlelevels of mature forests, often along steep-sided ravines.The small birds have an explosive song that sounds like“peet-sah,” which resounds from shady spots along creeksand swamps. Their nests are generally built at low heights(two to four metres) over bare, open areas like streams andpools of water. Nests are typically suspended from thehorizontal branches of American beech, eastern hemlockand flowering dogwood trees. They can be distinguishedby long, hanging strands of grass or other materials.

Hooded Warblers are easily identified by their yellow masksand underbodies. The males have full black hoods, whereasthe females may have nearly complete hoods or no hoods atall. Their loud song suggests the phrase “weeta-weeta-wee-tee-o.” The nest – a bulky mass of dry leaves – is placedin the low, shrubby understory that occurs in small gaps inmature, dry forests. Hooded Warblers prefer to nest closeto the ground, often in wild raspberry thickets.

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The majority of forest songbirds in Canada are neotropical migrants, whichmeans that they breed in North America in the summer months and winterin Central and South America, or the Caribbean. Acadian Flycatchers andHooded Warblers are two of Canada’s rarest neotropical migrants.

Both species reach the northern limits of their breeding ranges in theCarolinian forests of southwestern Ontario. Wildlife found at the edges oftheir breeding range can provide important benefits to the whole species.These populations often evolve unique genetic and behavioural variationsthat can contribute to species survival in the event of rapid changes tothe environment or climate, which may affect the larger group adversely.

ONTARIO’S CAROLINIAN ZONE

The Carolinian Zone lies south of an imaginary line between Grand Bendon Lake Huron and Toronto on Lake Ontario. This region enjoys warmeryear-round temperatures than any other part of Ontario. The accommo-dating climate supports ecosystems found nowhere else in Canada, alongwith levels of biological diversity unsurpassed elsewhere in the provinceand possibly the nation.

“Carolinian” is a name coined by early botanists, who observed thathardwood forests in southwestern Ontario share many characteristicswith forests as far south as the Carolinas. Forests in Ontario’s CarolinianZone are enriched by trees having a strong southern affinity, such astulip, sassafras, Kentucky coffee, cucumber magnolia, black gum,and papaw.

Carolinian forest is one of Canada’s most threatened habitats. Morethan 40 per cent of the national list of endangered and threatenedspecies occur in the Carolinian zone – more than in any other Canadianlife zone. Throughout the Carolinian Zone, agricultural and residentialpressures have caused extensive wildlife habitat destruction. In parts ofsouthwestern Ontario, over 90 per cent of the original forests are gone.Most of the remaining forests are too small and isolated to accommo-date Acadian Flycatchers, Hooded Warblers and other species thatdepend on the specialized habitats found in large forests.

Recovery actions are needed to ensure the conservation of the remainingCarolinian forests in Ontario. Preservation and enhancement of the habitatfavoured by Acadian Flycatchers and Hooded Warblers will benefit otherforest birds, including three species of special concern: Red-shoulderedHawks, Cerulean Warblers and Louisiana Waterthrushes. More commonforest bird species, such as Wood Thrushes, Ovenbirds and PileatedWoodpeckers, will also gain from the conservation and wise managementof mature forest habitat.

Canada’sRecovery Plan

In 1994, Acadian Flycatchers andHooded Warblers received theircurrent, respective designations,“Endangered” and “Threatened.”The Committee on the Status ofEndangered Wildlife in Canada,known as COSEWIC, is the nationalassessment body that makes recom-mendations on the status of speciesbelieved to be at risk of extinction.COSEWIC consists of distinguishedscientists and wildlife managers repre-senting 20 member agencies andorganizations from across Canada,plus the chairs of its eight SpeciesSpecialist Groups. In 1996, theCanadian Wildlife Service, throughthe committee for Recovery ofNationally Endangered Wildlife,or RENEW, established the firstmulti-species recovery team inCanada, the Acadian Flycatcher andHooded Warbler Recovery Team. Thisgroup developed a National RecoveryStrategy and Recovery Action Planto preserve the two species.

The National Recovery Strategy aimsto substantially increase the currentpopulations of the birds in Ontario.Successful recovery will raise thepopulations to 250 nesting pairs ofAcadian Flycatchers and 500 nestingpairs of Hooded Warblers. The recov-ery team is realizing these goals by:

• encouraging private landownersand public managers of Carolinianforests in Canada to protect andenhance these rare ecosystems;

• providing management guidelineoptions to concerned landowners,managers and foresters that aredesigned to maintain and enhanceCarolinian forest habitat; and

• assisting landowner stewardship andthe creation of broad partnershipsbetween landowners, government,and interest groups around six CoreWoodland Complexes identified inthe Recovery Action Plan.

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FOREST INTERIORHABITAT REQUIRED

Acadian Flycatchers and HoodedWarblers are considered “area-sensitive” species because of theirpreference for nesting in large wood-lands. The birds occasionally inhabitforests as small as 20 hectares (about50 acres), but are much more commonin forests of at least 100 hectares(about 250 acres). Small woodlotscan, and do, attract these species ifthey are in close proximity to largerforest cover within the region.

Large woodlands are more likely tocontain the variety of microhabitatsthese songbirds require for nesting,foraging and cover. In addition, largewoodlands offer extensive interiorhabitat, the inner part of the forestmore than 100 metres from the edges.Because there are generally morepredators in small forests and alongforest edges, nesting success is oftengreater in the interior portion thannear the edges or in small woodlots.

Clear Creek Forest, Cochrane Woods /James Duncan, Nature Conservancyof Canada

Building on Forest Interiors

Circular or square woodlands haveproportionally more interior habitatthan long, narrow woodlands of thesame area. Strategic reforestation ofedges and openings will increase theamount of forest interior habitat.

Building Better Forest Habitat

Acadian Flycatchers and Hooded Warblers prefer extensive forest cover fornesting. In Canada, the largest amount of forest cover within the CarolinianZone is found in Norfolk and Elgin counties, which are 25 and 16 per centforested, respectively. Consequently, these two regions support the greatestconcentrations of Acadian Flycatchers and Hooded Warblers in Canada.

Under the national Recovery Action Plan for the two species, six key woodlandcomplexes in southwestern Ontario have been identified as having nationalimportance for the maintenance of one or both species. These large forestcomplexes have been designated for special conservation effort:

1. Lambton County Heritage Forest (Lambton County);

2. Bothwell Forest / Skunk’s Misery and County Line Woods ( MiddlesexCounty and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent);

3. Clear Creek Forest (Municipality of Chatham Kent);

4. Backus Woods, St. Williams Forest, South Walsingham Forest and DeerCreek Valley (Norfolk County);

5. Dundas Valley (Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth); and

6. the Niagara Escarpment Plan area encompassing Short Hills ProvincialPark and the Fonthill area (Niagara Regional Municipality).

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BENEFITS OFOLD-GROWTH FORESTS

Older woodlands, which are disap-pearing rapidly in southern Ontario,have special ecological significance.They often support a greater mix oftree and plant species, and habitatsat different stages of succession, thanyounger woodlands. They also offerthe diversity of habitats requiredby Acadian Flycatchers, HoodedWarblers and a suite of area-sensi-tive forest birds.

Mature forests also bring significanteconomic returns to landowners.Delaying the harvest of 50- to 80-year-old sugar maple trees for another15 years will increase economicreturn by up to 400 per cent, becauseolder trees grow in size and accruesuperior quality and economic value.

TROUBLE AROUNDTHE EDGES

Birds nesting in small woodlandsare more vulnerable to an array ofpredators that thrive along forestedges, such as jays, crows, grackles,squirrels, raccoons, foxes andskunks. These predators are farmore abundant in fragmented land-scapes, with their higher proportionof edge habitat, than in forest-domi-nated landscapes. Fragmented habitatis dominated by fields, pastures,orchards and residential areas.

Large forests also reduce pressurefrom Brown-headed Cowbirds. As“brood parasites,” cowbirds do notbuild their own nests. Instead, theylay their eggs in the nests of otherbirds, which incubate the cowbirdeggs and raise the cowbird hatch-lings as their own. As a result, thehost parents may raise few or noneof their own young. Cowbirds, whichflourish in fragmented landscapes,target the nests of many speciesof songbirds, including AcadianFlycatchers and Hooded Warblers.

The amount of edge habitat can beminimized by protecting large wood-lands, increasing the size of individualforests through re-forestation projects,and avoiding further fragmentationof existing forests.

In addition, by leaving older seedtrees of a variety of species in place,landowners will maintain overallforest stand diversity and healthover the long term.

The Acadian Flycatcher and HoodedWarbler Recovery Team encouragespublic agencies who own or manageCarolinian Canada’s remaining wood-lands to manage these properties asold-growth stands. A strong commit-ment from public landowners willgreatly enhance the survival ofAcadian Flycatchers, HoodedWarblers and other Carolinianspecies with specialized habitatrequirements, and will establishbenchmarks for similar stewardshipby private landowners.

BreedingEvidence in theCarolinian Zone

Current knownbreeding distribu-tion of AcadianFlycatchers andHooded Warblersin Ontario. 1: Acadian

Flycatcher2: Hooded

Warbler

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IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING

Careful planning at all stages of forestmanagement can help to determinefeasible economic objectives, mini-mize environmental damage, andprotect sensitive species and featuresof the site. The Acadian Flycatcherand Hooded Warbler Recovery Teamis available to advise property ownersprior to logging operations. Informationon woodland management in southernOntario can also be obtained fromthe Ontario Ministry of NaturalResources (see Contacts).

GET IT IN WRITING

If you hire a contractor to cut yourwoodlot, be sure to work from awritten contract specifying the man-agement plan you want to use.

SINGLE-TREE SELECTION OPTION

Single-tree selection is the least intru-sive cutting system and likely comesclosest to imitating a natural patternof small-scale forest disturbance. Forthis option, a prescribed selection ofmature or preferred trees are removedat short intervals of 10 or 20 years,leaving a scattered pattern of smallgaps, while also leaving all the majortree components in place to rejuvenatethemselves in a natural pattern. Thelife expectancy of the gaps is relativelyshort because they tend to regeneratequickly, but continued single-treeselection will ensure that new gapsare created. Meanwhile, retention ofmany older growth trees ensures thatessential ecological cycles (includingre-seeding) are maintained.

Good forestry practices can maintain and improve the economic quality ofa forest over a long period without harming the ecological processes thatsustain and develop wildlife habitat. Viable options are available that canbenefit both landowners and area-sensitive species, such as AcadianFlycatchers and Hooded Warblers. Many species will thrive in a carefullymanaged forest, while the woodlot continues to provide long-term incomefor the landowner. Harvesting woodlands wisely builds a significant legacyfor the preservation of our natural heritage, and protects long-term eco-nomic interests for future generations.

A Guide to Habitat-FriendlyForest Management

Retaining many large-diameter treesin the forest maintains a permanentcanopy cover, the habitat most benefi-cial for Acadian Flycatchers. At thesame time, the interspersed smallgaps created through single-tree selec-tion will provide alternative habitatthat is ideal for Hooded Warblers.Gaps as small as five metres wide canprovide nesting habitat for these birds.

GROUP-TREE SELECTION OPTION

Group-tree selection creates scatteredcanopy openings that measure abouttwice the height of the tallest trees inthe forest. Small groups of mature orpreferred trees are removed at shortintervals of 10 or 20 years. Thismethod is similar to single-tree selec-tion, but it results in the creation oflarger gaps.

Provided that the operations retainsome tracts of mature and uncutdeciduous forest, well-planned group-tree selection treatments can maintainthe closed canopy conditions favouredby Acadian Flycatchers. In turn, with-in a few years of their creation, theforest gaps begin to regenerate andcan attract Hooded Warblers. Two tothree gaps per hectare provide shrubcover and foraging habitat for nestingHooded Warblers. The warblers mayreturn annually until the saplingsreach more than five metres in heightand begin shading out the thick under-growth, a process that may take12 years or more.

Cross-section of aWell-managed Forest

Old-growth or mature forests that aremanaged wisely contain diversewildlife habitats. This cross-sectionshows a canopy gap created by single-tree selection cutting and a ravine.

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Typical Nesting Habitat in Ontario

1. Acadian Flycatchers nest in steep-sided, wooded creek valleys, mapleswamps, and moist maple-beech forests. / Bill Rayner & Ron Kingswood

2. Hooded Warblers nest in forest gaps within large, mature woodlandsdominated by white oak, red maple, white pine and/or American beech. /Bill Rayner & Ron Kingswood

DIAMETER-LIMIT CUTS MAYLIMIT FUTURE OPTIONS

A diameter-limit cut involves harvest-ing every tree larger than a specifieddiameter. This system severely dimin-ishes the ecological health of thewoodland and reduces opportunitiesfor long-term, sustainable incomefrom future cuts. Landowners areoften left with a low-quality, geneti-cally impaired forest. As well,diameter-limit cuts remove all of theoldest trees and eliminate breedinghabitat for Acadian Flycatchers,Hooded Warblers and other forestbirds that need mature forest habitat.

CUT ROTATION IS ESSENTIAL

Best practices for habitat conserva-tion indicate that only a portion ofthe forest should be cut at any onetime. Rotating cuts ensures thatessential forest bird habitat is main-tained, with areas of the forestproviding closed canopy and olderhabitat for Acadian Flycatchers andother areas providing small canopygaps for Hooded Warblers. At thesame time, periodic rotation cutsensure a sustained income forthe landowner.

MINIMIZE IMPACTS OF LOGGING

To minimize the impacts of loggingon breeding birds, operations must bescheduled outside the nesting season.The best time to log is from Octoberto March, when the ground is eitherfrozen or dry enough to minimize oravoid damage to the forest floor. Plancarefully to keep the size and numberof trails and landings low, which willreduce the number of canopy breaksand help to avoid the spread of inva-sive native and non-native plants.

MAINTAIN THE EDGE

Avoid cutting trees within 20 to30 metres of the forest edges. A densestand of trees around the forest edges,particularly on the southwest-facingside, buffers the forest interior fromthe damaging effects of wind and sun.

It is best to avoid harvesting timberfrom ravines and stream banksbecause subsequent erosion maydiminish stream water quality.

Swamps provide important habitatfor endangered species such asAcadian Flycatchers and ProthonotaryWarblers, and more common speciessuch as Wood Ducks and NorthernWaterthrushes. Swamps and otherwetlands also protect the quality andquantity of water supplies. Preservingwetlands provides environmentalbenefits for humans, birds andother wildlife.

Tax Incentivesfor SustainablyManaged Forests

The Conservation Land Tax IncentiveProgram (CLTIP) and ManagedForest Tax Incentive Program(MFTIP) are provincial governmentproperty tax incentives. Landownerscan receive property tax incentivesfor owning certain environmentallysensitive lands and/or managingthose lands for conservation.Landowners interested in these pro-grams should contact the OntarioMinistry of Natural Resources formore information (see Contacts).

ALTERNATIVES FORLONG-TERM PRESERVATION

There are a variety of conservationoptions available to preserve high-quality forest habitat for AcadianFlycatchers and Hooded Warblers.Conservation easements, for example,can enshrine preservation policies onthe title of the property. Some con-servation groups will lease significanthabitat. Also, the federal EcologicalGifts Program allows landowners todonate ecologically sensitive landto qualified recipients, and receivesignificant tax benefits (see Contacts).

Open edges expose the forest togreater risk of windthrow, drought,disease, pesticides, and invasive plants.

KEEP AN UNDISTURBEDFOREST CORE

Consider leaving a permanent,unlogged core area in the centre ofthe forest as an old-growth reserve.Older-growth or mature forest habitatsupports many plant and animalspecies that are absent or uncommonin young forests. Older-growth standscan satisfy the habitat requirementsof both Acadian Flycatchers andHooded Warblers because theyprovide extensive closed canopyareas, along with a mosaic of gapscreated by natural tree falls.

Enlarge andreconnect existingwoodlands

The amount of forest interior habitatcan be increased, sometimes signifi-cantly, by reforesting fields and otherlarge openings within woodlands,restoring marginal farmland aroundwoodland edges, and reconnectingisolated woodlands. Strategic refor-estation can have important, lastingecological benefits for area-sensitiveand forest-interior species.

Protect valley-lands and swamps

Woodlands bordering streams andravines provide important habitatfor Acadian Flycatchers and otherforest birds, particularly in regionswhere little other forest cover exists.Protect ravine woodlands from ero-sion and disruption by leaving atleast a 10 metre buffer of trees onthe tableland along the top of theravine slope. Degraded slopes andvalleys can be restored by naturalor planned regeneration.

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Thanks to thelandowners

Many landowners throughoutOntario’s Carolinian Zone protectsignificant woodland habitat. Withouttheir past and continuing steward-ship, the region would experiencegreater depletion of species such asAcadian Flycatchers and HoodedWarblers that are dependent onmature forest habitat. Numerouslandowners also allow access to theirlands for wildlife and forest research.Their generous co-operation andcontributions to conservation aredeeply appreciated.

RecommendedReading

Ontario Ministry of NaturalResources. 2000.A silvicultural guide to managingsouthern Ontario forests. Queen’sPrinter for Ontario. Toronto, Ontario.

(Available from Ontario Ministryof Natural ResourcesTel: 1-800-667-1940)

Acknowledgments: This pamphlet and the work of the Acadian Flycatcher and Hooded WarblerRecovery Team have been supported by the following sponsors and partners: Canadian WildlifeService – Ontario Region, Environment Canada’s Habitat Stewardship Program, OntarioMinistry of Natural Resources, Bird Studies Canada, Endangered Species Recovery Fund,Natural Heritage Information Centre, Long Point Foundation for Conservation, andthe Long Point Region Conservation Authority. Thanks also To Mike Cadman, Dawn Burke,Mary Gartshore, Ken Elliott, Dave Martin, Jon McCracken, Jim Oliver, Don Sutherland,Bridget Stutchbury and Allen Woodliffe for their help in producing this fact sheet.

This fact sheet was printed on Rolland Opaque paper, made with 20 per cent post-consumerrecycled waste, and printed with vegetable-based inks.

© Bird Studies Canada, 2001

Authors: Lyle Friesen and Mark Stabb

Editors: Julie Suzanne Pollock, Helen Mason and Jon McCracken

Design & Layout: Neglia Design Inc., Toronto

Contacts

Acadian Flycatcher and HoodedWarbler Recovery TeamCanadian Wildlife Service,Ontario RegionRoom 211, Blackwood HallUniversity of GuelphGuelph, Ontario N1G 2W1Tel: 519 826-2094E-mail: mcadman@uoguelph.ca

Bird Studies CanadaP.O. Box 160Port Rowan, Ontario N0E 1M0Tel: 519 586-3531E-mail: generalinfo@bsc-eoc.orgWebsite: www.bsc-eoc.org

Committee on the Status ofEndangered Species in Canada(COSEWIC) and Recovery ofNationally Endangered WildlifeCommittee (RENEW) SecretariatCanadian Wildlife ServiceEnvironment CanadaOttawa, Ontario K1A 0H3Tel: 819 997-4991• COSEWIC Website:

www.cosewic.gc.ca/cosewic• RENEW Website:

www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/sar/efforts

Species at Risk Recovery andStewardship ProgramCanadian Wildlife Service49 Camelot DriveNepean, Ontario K1A 0H3Tel: 613-952-2417E-mail: Robert.Wenting@ec.gc.ca

Ecological Gifts Program Canadian Wildlife Service,Ontario RegionEnvironment Canada4905 Dufferin StreetDownsview, Ontario M3H 5T4Tel: 416 739-4286Fax: 416 739-5845Website: www.on.ec.gc.ca/ecogifts

Ontario Ministry ofNatural Resources P.O. Box 7000300 Water StreetPeterborough, Ontario K9J 8M5Natural ResourcesInformation CentreTel: 1-800-667-1940Website: www.mnr.gov.on.ca• Conservation Land Tax

Incentive Program (CLTIP):www.mnr.gov.on.ca/mnr/cltip/index.html

• Managed Forest TaxIncentive Program (MFTIP):www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/forests/mftip/home.htm