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The Vitelline Warbler (Setophaga vitellina) is an understudied species endemic to a few small islands in the western Caribbean. Little is known beyond its phylogenetic relationship to other New World warblers. We used island-wide surveys and bioacoustic recordings to investigate the distribution, vocalizations, and ecology of S. vitellina across a significant portion of the species’ range on Little Cayman Island. We recorded 417 songs from 91 individuals and analyzed the length, frequency, and shape of various song components. We observed and characterized high variation in the composition and character of songs within the Little Cayman population. We also describe the call of the species and use sound files from across the species’ range to compare vocalizations between islands. Vitelline Warbler abundance is highest in dry forest and dry scrub habitats, suggesting that these habitats are most important for the species. Elaboration of the vocalizations of understudied species like the Vitelline Warbler has the potential to further our understanding of avian evolution and behavior. As much still remains to be learned from this species, action must be taken to protect its critical habitats, especially dry forests, among other conservation measures. 

As the interface between plants and soil, the organic horizon is the foundation of forest ecosystems. Two potential predictors of O-layer properties, vegetation and mineral soil type, are difficult to separate because they typically covary. We conducted a factorial study involving four canopy tree species and two soil types with distinctly different hydrology and topographic position to parse patterns in chemistry and microbiota of the O-layer in a north-temperate deciduous forest. These data were gathered as part of the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study (HBES). The HBES is a collaborative effort at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, which is operated and maintained by the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 

The Vitelline Warbler (Setophaga vitellina) is an understudied species endemic to a few islands in the western Caribbean. Little is known beyond its phylogenetic relationship to other New World warblers. We used island-wide surveys and bioacoustic recordings to investigate the distribution, vocalizations, and ecology of S. vitellina across a significant portion of the species’ range on Little Cayman Island. We recorded 417 songs from 91 individuals and analyzed the length, frequency, and shape of various song components. We observed and characterized high variation in the composition and character of songs. 

During 2016 - 2023, during the bird breeding season, we collected 99,778 files of bioacoustic recordings in and near the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire. Here, we provide a manifest of the sound files. Most files are one-hour recordings collected at 32 kHz and saved in FLAC format (~ 25 MB per file, ~ 13 TB total). Typical recording configuration was 05:00 - 08:00 and 17:30 - 20:30 local time. The full sound files have been saved in three respositories: two copies at Dartmouth College (Ayres lab) and one copy at the Macauley Library, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. The full sound files are available upon request. The file attributes within the manifest include date, start time, and recorder group: e.g., Main, 10ha, Oven, VW, AshBirch, and Ridge. Each recorder group had 5 - 20 recorders at plots separated by >100 m. Coordinates of each recorder are associated with plot names within metadata. The bird species expected to occur in these recordings are those from Holmes et al. (2021). These data were gathered as part of the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study (HBES). The HBES is a collaborative effort at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, which is operated and maintained by the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station. Holmes, R., S. Sillett, and M. Hallworth. 2021. Bird species recorded within the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest and vicinity (1963-2020; updated January 2021). ver 1. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/da6cbb1ed8142d52a9d72762983742d8 (Accessed 2024-10-24).