Prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 11

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Existing Protection or Other Status Designations

The Prothonotary Warbler is presently regulated as an Endangered species under Canada’s Species at Risk Act and by Ontario’s Endangered Species Act. General protection is also afforded through the Migratory Birds Convention Act. In addition, regulations and policies, which promote protection of its breeding habitat in Ontario, benefit the species. For example, the Natural Heritage component of Ontario’s Provincial Policy Statement supports conservation measures for Significant Wetlands, Significant Woodlands, Significant Wildlife Habitat, and Significant Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest – all areas where Prothonotary Warblers are liable to occur – and provides protection for significant habitat of Threatened or Endangered species. In addition, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has produced silvicultural guidelines for managing forests in southern Ontario that are relevant to protection of Prothonotary Warbler habitat (OMNR 2000). Finally, the majority of the breeding population now remaining in Ontario occurs on public, protected lands (see Habitat Protection/Ownership).

Within the Partners In Flight (PIF) North American Landbird Conservation Plan (Rich et al. 2003), the Prothonotary Warbler is regarded as one of 100 species on the continental “Watch List” (the list of species of greatest continental conservation concern), primarily because of its high degree of habitat specificity at all times of the year and its continental downward trend. Although it is still common and widespread in the southeastern U.S. and is currently ranked as G5 by NatureServe (2005), there is concern about its status in the northern portion of its range (Table 2).