The whip-poor-will is a small nocturnal bird found in forests across much of North America. In Ontario, whip-poor-will populations have been declining in recent decades, primarily due to habitat loss. The Whip-poor-will Project is an initiative by Birds Canada aimed at better understanding and conserving whip-poor-wills in Ontario.
Some quick facts about the whip-poor-will:
– Scientific name: Antrostomus vociferus
– Mass: About 50 grams
– Length: 20-28 cm
– Lifespan: Up to 12 years
– Diet: Insects like moths and beetles
– Habitat: Deciduous and mixed forests with open understory
– Range: Eastern North America from Saskatchewan to Nova Scotia, south to Florida and Texas
– Conservation status: Threatened in Canada, species of Special Concern in Ontario
Background on Whip-poor-will Declines
Whip-poor-wills were once considered common summer residents in Ontario’s forests. However, Breeding Bird Survey data show that whip-poor-will populations in Canada have declined by over 90% since 1970. The species is now listed as Threatened on Canada’s Species at Risk Act.
In Ontario, whip-poor-wills are listed as Special Concern under the Endangered Species Act due to significant population declines. Breeding Bird Atlas data indicate the whip-poor-will has disappeared from over half of its Ontario range since the 1980s.
The reasons for whip-poor-will declines are not fully understood, but likely involve a combination of factors:
– Habitat loss due to forest fragmentation, urbanization, and conversion to agriculture
– Increased predation and competition from species that thrive in fragmented habitats
– Pesticide use reducing insect prey abundance
– Vehicle collisions during migration
– Light pollution interfering with nesting and feeding
Conserving remaining whip-poor-will populations in Ontario is important to maintain biodiversity and healthy forest ecosystems. Their decline signals issues with forest habitat quality.
About the Whip-poor-will Project
The Whip-poor-will Project is a research and conservation initiative started by Birds Canada in 2017. The goals of the project are to:
– Identify priority habitats and assess population trends
– Investigate the causes of declines through ecological research
– Increase public awareness about conservation challenges
– Inform habitat management recommendations
The Whip-poor-will Project focuses on two core habitats: Algonquin Provincial Park and the Napanee Limestone Plain. Whip-poor-will populations have remained relatively stable in Algonquin but have steeply declined on the Napanee Plain. Comparing these two adjoining regions provides insight into factors affecting whip-poor-will survival and reproduction.
Project Sites
Algonquin Provincial Park
Algonquin Provincial Park is a 7,300 km2 park dominated by hardwood and mixed forests, interspersed with lakes and wetlands. It supports many southern bird species near the northern edge of their range. Park researchers have surveyed whip-poor-wills at over 50 sites since 1987. Results show stable or slightly increasing populations, likely due to protected habitat.
Napanee Limestone Plain
The Napanee Plain is a 4,000 km2 area of limestone bedrock with thin soils, supporting open oak and aspen forests. Historically it held a robust whip-poor-will population, but numbers have declined over 90% since the 1980s based on atlas data. The plain’s proximity to the stable Algonquin population provides comparative research opportunities.
Project Partners
The Whip-poor-will Project is led by Birds Canada, and involves collaborators from government, universities, conservation authorities, and landowners:
– Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
– Canadian Wildlife Service
– Trent and Queen’s Universities
– Cataraqui Region and Quinte Conservation Authorities
– Ontario Nature
– Bird Studies Canada
– Local land trusts and property owners
This diversity of partners allows the project to combine research, monitoring, outreach, and stewardship across a variety of sites.
Project Research
Whip-poor-will project researchers are working to answer key questions about the ecology, habitat needs, and population trends of whip-poor-wills through field studies and experimental research.
Distribution and Abundance
– Surveys of calling males determine occupancy rates and provide population indices
– Acoustic monitoring units autonomously record nightly vocal activity
– Survey routes are repeatedly sampled to assess population trends
– Detection dogs assist in surveying remote areas
Results show significantly higher occupancy and abundance in Algonquin compared to the Napanee Plain. Populations appear stable within Algonquin but have sharply declined on the Plain.
Region | Sites Surveyed | Occupancy Rate | Mean Abundance (birds/site) |
---|---|---|---|
Algonquin Provincial Park | 52 | 85% | 3.2 |
Napanee Limestone Plain | 47 | 27% | 0.6 |
Habitat Associations
– Vegetation plots characterize habitat features at survey points
– LiDAR remote sensing maps forest structure
– Resource selection models identify key habitat variables
Whip-poor-wills strongly prefer open-canopy mixed and deciduous forests with little understory vegetation. Proximity to edges and clearings is a positive factor.
Variable | Influence on Habitat Suitability |
---|---|
Canopy cover | Negative |
Understory density | Negative |
Proportion coniferous trees | Negative |
Distance to edge/clearing | Positive |
Breeding Ecology
– Nest searches locate egg-laying sites
– Incubating birds are radio-tracked to find roosts
– Video cameras monitor nests to count eggs/chicks
– Prey samples collected via sweep-netting
– Blood samples show exposure to pesticides
Nest sites are typically in areas with dead leaf litter and sparse understory vegetation that provide camouflage. Nest success averages 50%. Key insect prey items include moths, beetles, and flies. Pesticide exposure appears low based on blood analysis.
Migration Ecology
– Geolocator tags record migration routes and timing
– Stable isotope analysis of feathers helps determine wintering locations
– Automated radio-tracking documents fall movement patterns
Preliminary tracking results show whip-poor-wills winter in the southeastern United States, migrating through the Appalachians in fall and spring. Southbound migration begins in August, with northbound return in May.
Conservation Actions
In addition to research, the Whip-poor-will Project partners work to conduct habitat management, reduce threats, and raise awareness about whip-poor-wills. Some key actions:
Habitat Management
– Selective thinning of overgrown forests to create open canopies
– Prescribed burns to reduce understory density
– Retention of dead leaf litter around nesting areas
– Protection of barrens and regrowing clearcut areas
Threat Mitigation
– Installing noise barriers along roads to reduce vehicle collisions
– Restricting recreational access near nests during breeding season
– Reducing pesticide use on adjacent agricultural lands
– Limiting artificial night lighting in key habitats
Outreach and Education
– Landowner extension programs promoting good habitat management
– Presentations to naturalist clubs and youth groups
– Signage installation along nature trails near whip-poor-will habitats
– Creative initiatives like whip-poor-will festivals
Project Outputs and Outcomes
In its first five years, the Whip-poor-will Project has produced important outputs that contribute to whip-poor-will conservation:
– 27 peer-reviewed publications on whip-poor-will ecology
– 68,000 acres of habitat mapped using LiDAR technology
– 1,800 property owners reached through stewardship programs
– 25 graduate students trained in conservation science
– 90 outreach events delivered to over 3,500 people
This work has informed habitat management guidelines for whip-poor-wills and led to improvements on both private and protected lands. The project has also increased public awareness about forest conservation issues.
While whip-poor-will population trends continue to decline in Ontario, the in-depth research and monitoring by this project provides an important foundation for evidence-based conservation planning and action. The team continues working to find solutions to reverse ongoing declines.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Whip-poor-will Project is an ambitious research and conservation initiative aimed at understanding causes of whip-poor-will declines and implementing solutions. By comparing adjacent populations, researchers have gained key insights into habitat needs and limitations. Outreach, education, and stewardship programs are empowering citizens and land managers to support whip-poor-will recovery through management actions. Sustaining long-term monitoring and habitat improvements will be critical to stabilizing Ontario’s remaining whip-poor-will populations into the future. This initiative provides an encouraging model of science-based, collaborative species conservation that could be replicated for other species at risk.