ABSTRACT
DISSERTATION/THESIS/RESEARCH PAPER/CREATIVE PROJECT: Cerulean
Warbler Initial Response to Silviculture in Southern Indiana
STUDENT: Kyle Kaminski
DEGREE: Master of Science
COLLEGE: Sciences and Humanities
DATE: May, 2010
PAGES: 70
The Cerulean Warbler is a small migratory that is currently considered a species of
special concern. Cerulean Warbler response to two types of silvicultural treatments in southern
Indiana was assessed by comparing relative abundance and territory data collected during the
two years prior to tree harvest to data collected one year immediately following the harvest.
ArcGIS was then used to identify spatial attributes of territories that appeared to be important to
the species. Lastly, a method of sampling canopy openings by using a Global Positioning System
(GPS) unit was introduced. The results suggest that Cerulean Warblers were not negatively
affected by the harvest and that moderate prescribed silviculture treatments that create small
canopy openings can benefit the species.