Low Kirtland’s Warbler fledgling survival in Wisconsin plantations relative to Michigan plantations

The Kirtland’s Warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii) is a formerly endangered habitat specialist that breeds mainly in young jack pine (Pinus banksiana) forests in northern Lower Michigan, USA. The species is conservation-reliant and depends on habitat management. Management actions have primarily focused on creating jack pine plantations, but the species also breeds in red pine (Pinus resinosa) plantations in central Wisconsin, USA. However, the plantations were not intended as breeding habitat and have suboptimal pine densities. While nesting success is similar between low-density red pine plantations and optimal jack pine habitat, it is not clear if low-density red pine plantations support high fledging survival. If high-quality nesting and post-fledging habitat are not synonymous, fledgling survival and breeding population recruitment may be low. We characterized survival, habitat use, and movement patterns of dependent Kirtland’s Warbler fledglings in Wisconsin red pine plantations and co..., These data were collected using through radio-telemetry and field vegetation sampling in Adams County, Wisconsin. Fledgling Kirtland's Warblers were radio-tagged and radio-tracked daily. Vegetation data was collected at fledgling locations and areas not used by fledglings. Fledgling survival was modeled using logistic exposure models and Mayfield survival estimation. Habitat use was modeled using logistic regression. All analyses were conducted in the R Statistical Environment to produce a manuscript accepted for publication by Ornithological Applications.,