Oklahoma Natural Areas Registry

Salt Creek Canyon Natural Area, Blaine County

Salt Creek Canyon Project is a cooperative conservation effort of the Oklahoma Natural Areas Registry program, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and The Nature Conservancy. These agencies have pooled their resources to restore habitat for the federally endangered Black-capped vireo (Vireo atricapillus). This small, migratory song-bird is only found in small populations in the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge and on private lands in the Salt Creek Canyon area.

The Black-capped vireo, a federally endangered bird, can be found in small populations in western Oklahoma.

Lost of nesting habitat is one of the primary causes for the endangered status of this species. Invasive eastern red cedars (Juniperus virginiana) create a dense forest that is unsuitable for vireo nesting. Vireo habitat is being restored in the Salt Creek Canyon area by mechanically removing cedars.

A canyon hillside has been cleared of cedars in an attempt to restore the vireo nesting habitat.

Another threat to the vireo is the Brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater), which parasitizes the nests of vireos. The cowbird lays its eggs in the nests of other bird species. The cowbird young are then raised by the other bird species, including the vireo. The Brown-headed cowbird is a threat to several endangered bird species throughout the U.S. To reduce nest parasitism, traps are used at the Salt Creek Canyon area to catch and remove cowbirds.

Large traps are used to catch cowbirds, which parasitize vireo nests.

Six private landowners protect the endangered Black-capped vireo at the Salt Creek Canyon Natural Area. The Nature Conservancy is grateful to these landowners for their cooperation in the restoration work. Their support and participation will help make vireo habitat restoration a success.

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Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation