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Projects Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas Eastern Whip-poor-will

Eastern Whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus vociferus)

Summary

Status in VT: Decreased by 77% (30 to 7 blocks). Essentially disappeared from Green Mountains, Taconic Mountains, and Northeastern Highlands.
Data from other research: Detected on 7 of 30 routes surveyed in 2005-07.
Conservation status: State rank S2B; SSC; SGCN-H
Other atlases: MD, NY, ON, PA: average decline of 54%
VT’s role in North American range: VT is near the northeastern edge of the range.
Causes of change since first Atlas: Forest maturation and development leading to reduction of edge habitat; predation (e.g., cats, raccoons); decline of large moth populations from pesticides used to control forest pest insect species (?).
Management/Monitoring recommendations: Targeted surveys; continue regional monitoring program; research needed to determine causes of declines, to understand demographics, and to determine whether there are significant threats on the wintering grounds.

First Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas (1976-1981)

Species Account

Second Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas (2003 – 2007)

Change in Distribution

Links

Encyclopedia of Life

All About Birds