Fall Landbird and Habitat Monitoring on the Southern Tip of the Delmarva
Peninsula
PROGRAM MEETS MARCH 13 at 7:30 pm on Tuesday: ONANCOCK
at the Hermitage, 23610 North St., Onancock, VA
The southern tip of the Delmarva Peninsula is known as an important migratory
bird stopover location along the Atlantic coast for neotropical and temperate
migrants. The Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge (ESVNWR) and
adjacent areas located at the southern tip provide critical stop-over habitats
where millions of birds can rest and feed before resuming their migration.
Shrub habitats supply abundant food and cover and may serve the highest
diversity of avian species; thus, it is important that our management efforts
in these habitats are effective. ESVNWR is managing approximately 225 acres
(27.8%) of its upland habitat in shrub. In 2009 and 2010 ESVNWR partnered with
the Center for Conservation Biology and the Virginia Department of Conservation
and Recreation (VDCR) to examine bird use and habitat characteristics of shrubs
and other early successional habitats for fall migrating birds. Objectives are
to find a useful, relatively
easy protocol to collect baseline data and monitor effects of refuge
management on these habitats. Ms. Denmon will share some preliminary findings
of the project.
by Pamela Denmon, Wildlife Biologist at Eastern Shore Virginia National
Wildlife Refuge
