The black-throated green warbler, while found in much 

 younger vegetation elsewhere in Hyde County, occurs in its 

 greatest densities in mature swamp forests where conifers 

 such as bald cypress, Atlantic white cedar and loblolly 

 pine are an important component of the canopy; this warbler 

 is also common in pure white cedar stands. It is a very 

 local breeder in the Coastal Plain of North Carolina (Parnell, 

 1977) . 



Two other generally uncommon to rare nesting species 

 in the Coastal Plain are Swainson's and worm-eating warblers 

 (Potter, et al., 1980); both are fairly common throughout 

 the swamp forests of the Alligator River natural area. 

 Swainson's warbler prefers shrub thickets, often sweet 

 pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia ) , within mature swamp forest 

 stands having a closed canopy; it was not recorded in pure 

 white cedar stands. Worm-eating warblers are less habitat- 

 specific, occurring in mature swamp growth, pure cedar stands 

 and second-growth scrub. 



Our Hyde County observations on habitat and relative 

 abundance during the 1982 breeding season agree closely 

 with Meanley's (1979) conclusions based on field work 

 during eight consecutive breeding seasons from 1966 to 

 1973 in similar habitats in the Dismal Swamp, centered 

 about 70 miles to the northwest. Meanley notes the 

 abundance of the black-throated green warbler in the 

 Dismal Swamp. He also points out the scarcity of Ken- 

 tucky warblers (three in eight seasons) and black-and-white 

 warblers; we found none of either species during the nesting 

 season. In his study area he found Swainson's warbler slightly 

 more common than we did in Hyde, but considered the worm-eating 

 warbler a notably rare breeder, whereas it is fairly common 

 in the natural area. 



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