– Recent population declines have prompted the International Union for the Conservation of Nature to list Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea: Parulidae) as a Vulnerable species. It is believed that this decline may be related to habitat loss through its entire range, mainly due to deforestation and degradation of its habitats. In response, members of El Grupo Ceruleo, a subcommittee of the Cerulean Warbler Technical Group that addresses wintering ground issues faced by the species, developed a predictive model of wintering habitat for Cerulean Warblers throughout the northern and central Andes. From 2006-2010, we conducted field surveys in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru to validate the winter habitat model. In this paper, we share new insights into the distribution of Cerulean Warblers and preview recent analyses of the ability of the habitat model to predict wintering range. First, our data show that Cerulean Warblers occupy a broader altitudinal range than previously thought. Second, wintering Cerulean Warblers utilize a wider variety of habitat types than formerly believed, including different successional stages and intensively-managed agroecosystems. Third, the species shows a strong association with mixed-species flocks, composed mostly of resident bird species. Collectively, these findings have important implications for conservation efforts in the Andes.

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Advancing our understanding of the non-breeding distribution of Cerulean Warbler ( Setophaga cerulea ) in the Andes

/pdf/modeling-the-south-american-range-of-the-cerulean-warbler-2o34epiw6h.pdf

Modeling the South American range of the cerulean warbler

– Effective conservation for species of concern requires interchange and collaboration among conservationists and stakeholders. The Cerulean Warbler Technical Group (CWTG) is a consortium of biologists and managers from government agencies, non-governmental organizations, academia, and industry, who are dedicated to finding pro-active, science-based solutions for conservation of the Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea). Formed in the United States in 2001, CWTG’s scope soon broadened to address the species’ ecology and conservation on both the breeding and non-breeding ranges, in partnership with biologists from South and Central America. In 2004, CWTG launched the Cerulean Warbler Conservation Initiative, a set of activities aimed at addressing information and conservation needs for the species. These include (1) studies in the core breeding range to assess Cerulean Warbler response to forest management practices and to identify mined lands that could be reforested to benefit the species, (2) ecological and demographic studies on the winter range, and (3) surveys of Cerulean Warbler distribution on the breeding and winter ranges and during migration. A rangewide conservation action plan has been completed, along with a more detailed conservation plan for the non-breeding range. CWTG and partners now move forward with on-the-ground conservation, while still addressing unmet information needs.

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Cerulean warbler technical group: coordinating international research and conservation

Foraging ecology provides insight into species requirements and focus conservation efforts. We studied foraging ecology of the Neotropical migrant Cerulean warbler (Setophaga cerulea) during the winter season in coffee agroforestry ecosystems of the Central and Western Cordillera of the Andes in Colombia. Our findings show that this species is an active foliage gleaner. Cerulean Warbler primarily gleans prey off the upper surface on green leaves and flowers. It frequents shrubs and medium-high trees and forage most often in subcanopy and understory using the outer strata. There were sex differences in the foraging height. Frequently, Cerulean Warbler was encountered in pairs or small groups rather than join in mixed bird flocks. Additionally we documentedteh social behavior and competitive interaction with Setophaga fusca and S. castanea.

Foraging ecology of the cerulean warbler (setoph- aga cerulea) in andean agroforestry ecosystems

– When El Grupo Cerúleo, a sub-committee of the Cerulean Warbler Technical Group, was formed in 2002, the task of elucidating the nonbreeding distribution, ecology and behavior of the Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea) was large, our understanding of habitat needs was limited, there was fear that little suitable habitat existed, and conservation partnerships within Latin America and between North, South, and Middle America were few and far between. Our continuing efforts have led to a network of partners in the numerous countries through which the species passes or spends up to 7-8 months in winter and a new

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Passing the baton of action from research to conservation implementation for Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea)

– Vital to the work of the Cerulean Warbler Technical Group has been the collaboration among members to evaluate population status and coordinate planning for future activities, principally in conservation implementation. Two plans have been produced, one a general strategy for the conservation and management of the species over its entire range, and a more restricted plan for conservation of non-breeding populations, their landscapes, and the economic vitality of the local communities. In the process several notable conservation implementation successes have been achieved affecting nearly 355,701 ha affecting as much as 2% of the species non-breeding range and benefiting an estimated 35,570 Cerulean Warblers on their non-breeding range in South America. We recommend increased coordination among stakeholders to enable the replication and scaling up of conservation actions on an additional 4.4 million ha, which will help achieve the stated goal of doubling the population to 1,000,000 individuals. Also, we urge the scientific community to engage in research at conservation project sites to contribute vital monitoring and biological information to adapt conservation strategies.

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Lina Daza

Papers

Conservation planning and accomplishments for protection of Cerulean Warbler ( Setophaga cerulea ) nonbreeding habitat