A Natural Areas Inventory of the - Kansas Natural Heritage Inventory ...

1996, Freeman et al. 1997).
Available Habitat and Surveys. Breeding habitat in eastern Kansas consists of bottomland
hardwood forest in areas with large trees and a broken canopy (Hands et al. 1989, Hamel 2000).
J. Schukman and W. Busby conducted surveys in 2002 and 2003 using a strip-plot method
(Emlen 1984) as implemented by Schukman (1996). Only one cerulean warbler was detected
during the surveys (Table 3.7). During other 2003 visits to this same old-growth forest, cerulean
warblers were encountered (3 May and 25 May-1 singing male; 9 June-2 singing males).
Breeding season distribution of this species on FLMR is shown in Figure 3.4.
TABLE 3.7. Results of strip-plot surveys for canopy-dwelling warblers in old-growth forest at
FLMR in 2002–2003. Routes are described in Schukman (1996).
Date American redstart northern parula
yellow-throated
warbler
cerulean warbler Route
2002-05-02 44 10 5 0 standard
2002-05-26 38 5 6 0 standard
2003-04-24 1 12 9 0 standard
2003-05-25 38 6 10 1 standard
2003-06-13 Not counted 3 19 0 northern
Potential for Occurrence on FLMR. This presence of this species on FLMR was confirmed.
However, its numbers are low and it may not be present every year. This is the only known,
regular breeding site for this bird in northeast Kansas (KSNHI unpublished data).
Recommendations. Maintenance of the large tracts of mature bottomland forest is essential.
Cerulean warblers are sensitive to forest fragmentation. Extensive logging or disturbance of the
mature bottomland forest probably would eliminate populations from FLMR.
Eastern chipmunk: Tamias striatus (Linnaeus)
Past Records. The eastern chipmunk ranges across much of the eastern U.S., west to extreme
eastern Kansas. This species is known in Kansas counties along the Missouri River, including
Leavenworth (Bee et al. 1981). Brumwell (1951) observed a single animal in oak-hickory forest
in the vicinity of the Sherman Army Airfield. Chipmunks were reported at seven upland sites by
Freeman et al. (1997).
Available Habitat and Surveys. The eastern chipmunk inhabits deciduous forest and forest edge
habitat where fallen logs, rock ledges, rock outcrops, and other structures offers protected sites
for burrows. The White oak-Shagbark hickory Forest on FLMR is well suited to this species.
Chipmunks were observed at a number of sites during this study (Figure 3.5). Most observations
were from upland forest, although chipmunks occur in floodplain forests.
Potential for Occurrence on FLMR. The large number of sightings in recent years contrasts to
NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY OF FT. LEAVENWORTH II 59