Allegheny Plateau
(Area - 12,261,100 ha)
Description - The Allegheny Plateau covers much of west-central
Pennsylvania, the southern tier of New York to the base of the Adirondack Mt., and a
portion of northeast Ohio. This area consists primarily of extensively forested uplands,
including the Catskill Mountains in NY, Pocono Mountains in PA, and Allegheny National
Forest in both states. This is a transitional area dominated by oak-hickory forests
towards the south and beech-maple forests towards the north. White pine and hemlocks also
are an important component of the forests, more so historically. Small but important
patches of spruce-fir forest occur on the Catskill High Peaks and at a few sites in
northeastern PA. Several major river valleys dissect the highlands, and the Finger Lakes
of central NY drain the northern portion of the physiographic area towards Lake Ontario.
Roughly 70% of this area is forested today, with agriculture dominating primarily at lower
elevations in western New York, the Susquehanna River valley, and in Ohio.
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Conservation recommendations and needs - This area has experienced an increase in forest cover in recent decades. Changing age-structure of the forest, due to succession and past forestry practices, appears to have negative effects on high-priority forest birds, however. Reduction of forest understory and regeneration due to overpopulation of white-tailed deer, as well as forest-health problems caused by insect and disease outbreaks, also represent major conservation issues for forest birds. The relatively large proportion of forest land in public (mostly state) ownership presents an important opportunity for implementing conservation objectives. In particular, identification and protection of important sites for breeding Cerulean Warblers should be a high priority. Abandonment of agriculture, especially dairy farming, may continue to provide temporary habitat for shrub-nesting birds, but threatens the continued existence of healthy populations of grassland species. Active management for Henslow's Sparrow and Golden-winged Warblers, where feasible, should be high priorities, especially on reclaimed strip mine sites. It is ironic that the strip mines that once devastated vast areas of forest are of incredible value to birds once abandoned, but are of least value if allowed to grow back into forest. If maintained as grass, they support Henslow’s Sparrow, and if kept in early successional shrubs they support Golden-winged Warblers, but there is no single condition that will support both birds. An additional priority is the identification and study of remaining sites where Golden-winged Warblers may persist in sympatry with expanding Blue-winged Warblers. In the high peaks habitats that support the southernmost populations of Bicknell's Thush, ski-area development and other recreational activities are current threats. Strict protection of important sites for Bicknell's Thrush should be sought. Specific conservation recommendations for this physiographic area include:
• determine range of suitable habitats and identify present breeding sites for Golden-winged Warbler in this region;
• identify and designate Bird Conservation Areas (BCA), within which long-term sustainability of priority forest bird populations is a primary management objective;
• identify present-day concentrations of Cerulean Warbler within the region; determine protection status and specific threats at these sites;
• identify most important sites for Henslow’s Sparrow and determine range of suitable habitat conditions; manage sites on public lands to maintain suitable conditions if necessary;
• identify, and either acquire, manage or restore additional grasslands > 50 ha with potential to support Henslow’s Sparrow or Upland Sandpiper.
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