Abstract

The decline in habitat for neotropical migratory (NM) bird species has become a major conservation issue. A regional prioritization of potential habitat is needed, particularly to identify areas that could maximize conservation benefits. This study identifies and evaluates habitats that support NM birds in the Connecticut River Watershed (CRW) using a landscape-based assessment. Habitat potential for the 25 high priority bird species throughout the CRW was evaluated using a spatial analysis. Generalist species are found throughout the entire watershed because of their ability to use a variety of habitats.  Regional priority areas show western Massachusetts as a hot spot for interior species. The edge/early succession species of birds are sparsely scattered throughout the watershed with the highest densities occurring in the southern part of the watershed in western Massachusetts and the northern part of Connecticut. Priority habitats tend to congregate along the riparian corridors of the river. The regional prioritization identifies the riparian corridor at the border of Massachusetts and Connecticut as the area of highest species richness for edge/early succession species. The second densest occurrence of priority habitat is in the southern part of the watershed in southern Massachusetts and northern Connecticut. The southern half of the watershed in the more heavily developed sections of Massachusetts and Connecticut may provide significant potential habitat for our priority edge/early succession species. Conservation policies could be targeted toward regional clusters with maximum potential habitat.

Key words: GIS, habitat mapping, neotropical birds, migration, kernel density.