Introduction
The Cape May warbler (Dendroica tigrina) is a scarce to uncommon breeder in BCR 14. It prefers boreal situations containing mature spruce. It is listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in one or more states in BCR 14.
Habitat Needs
This bird uses open or dense boreal forest. It needs a spruce component, some of which should be taller than the general canopy. It will also use denser stands of spruce, softwood edges, and wet areas of black spruce or second growth softwood. It prefers areas with taller spruce for nesting. One of the major foods is the spruce budworm, and their populations increase during budworm outbreaks.
Its territory size varies. Nesting densities increase during budworm outbreaks.
Habitat Management Practices
When assessing properties for habitat potential, look for strong spruce-fir-producing soils such as Bemis, Cabot, Lyme, Mashpee or Pillsbury among many others.
Silvicultural Practices
- Use uneven-aged management—group selection with groups less than 1 acre.
- Use a 120-year rotation age with entries every 15 to 20 years.
- Let 10 percent of the area in this type age to 150 years before rotating.
- Avoid entry during nesting season—April to June.
- Whole-tree harvest or cut-to-length is preferred.