Breeding success in relation to nestling physiological stress in Prothonotary Warblers at Hoover Reservoir in Delaware County, Ohio

Abstract

Prothonotary Warblers (Prothonotaria citrea) are a neotropical migratory songbird that inhabit wooded swamp areas and have slowly been declining¬¬ in numbers across their range. Using a population of these birds at Hoover Reservoir in Delaware County, Ohio, we measured the physiological stress levels of nestlings in relation to post-fledging survival and time of year. We collected feathers from recently fledged birds and related corticosterone levels (CORT) to fledge date. We additionally placed radio transmitters on a fledgling from each nest to determine if stress levels are related to post-fledging survival. Using these results, we sought to determine if physiological stress is a mechanism for nestling survival. We interpret results in light of management goals for this Ohio species of conservation concern.