Hemispheric Connections

The Kittatinny Ridge is a connector. Across its length, it connects states, people, and wildlife to its forests, cliffs, rocky outcrops, and other habitats. depending on the ridge to breed or migrate. Complicating the conservation picture is that for species such as migratory songbirds, their habitat needs extend thousands of miles beyond the ridge to wintering areas in Central and South America.

Seeing the Forest and the Trees

Viewed from the valley, the ridge often appears as a continuous forest. However, variations in geology, aspect, and plant communities provide different conditions to support different species. Aspect, or the direction the ridge slope faces is a primarily influence impacting the amount and intensity of sunlight received, making south and west exposures drier.

The Cerulean Warbler, a 4.5” sky-blue bird favors north and eastern slopes on the ridge and forages in the upper canopies of large trees, especially white oaks and cucumber magnolias. Despite their need for mature trees, they often nest near forest gaps, highlighting the importance of structural diversity within the forest for this SGCN.

Scarlet Tanagers, for which Pennsylvania supports 13% of the breeding population and about 50% of the eastern migratory population, also depend on mature trees, especially oaks to nest and forage. Female Scarlet Tanager are olive-yellow and choose the nest site, often over 50’ above the ground. However, their overall habitat needs are less specific.

What happens underneath the canopy influences the bird community as well. Healthy forests include a diverse understory layer, especially flowering and fruiting shrubs. Aside from their value to pollinators and fruit-eating wildlife, they provide critical nesting structure for SGCN like the Wood Thrush, whose ethereal flute-like song has become less common in recent decades. Pennsylvania supports about 10% of breeding Wood Thrushes in the world.

The decline of the Wood Thrush and other understory species can be attributed, in part, to overabundance of deer. Repeated browse pressure over time eliminates shrubs and wildflowers, reducing insect diversity and cover and leading to a decline and loss of these species. This situation highlights the importance of deer hunting as an essential management tool to protect and maintain wildlife habitat.

What’s the plan?

Each of these three species are conservation priorities in the Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan (Plan), jointly developed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission every ten years. This Plan, approved by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service, is the state’s proactive conservation blueprint for SGCN recovery, including applied research, habitat restoration, and population monitoring, and provides eligibility for federal State Wildlife Grant program funding.

What you can do

Everyone can help conserve Pennsylvania’s wildlife. Adding native wildflowers, vines, shrubs, and trees to your landscape builds a year-round natural buffet for songbirds, including some SGCN. While feeding bird seed is a popular activity, most birds require a steady diet of insect protein to raise their young and native plants host those insects. Learn more about native plants and other ways to make your home more wildlife friendly at Six Things You Can Do For Wildlife | Game Commission | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Learn more about the Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan at Wildlife Action Plan | Game Commission | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and associated Wildlife Action Map at Home | Wildlife Action Map.

Photo credits: Jacob Dingel/PGC