Lake Erie Migratory Bird Research
An automated telemetry tower
We are conducting two important studies in the western basin of Lake Erie on species of conservation concern. Both of these studies seek to fill in important information gaps about the ecology of these species by examining stages of the life cycle that are under-explored. By completing this work we can move the conservation of these populations forward by gaining a greater understanding of their full annual cycle ecology.
Based on long term citizen science data Rusty Blackbirds are believed to be the fastest declining songbird in North America. While much research has focused on elucidating the cause of decline on the breeding and wintering grounds, as of yet no study has examined the basic migratory stopover ecology of this species. Based on the work of the Rusty Blackbird Working Group and citizen scientists that participated in the Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz, western Lake Erie is clearly one of, if not the, most heavily used stopover site in the U.S. Thus we have begun conducting research in Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, and on state lands in both Michigan and Ohio to better understand the habitat needs of this species during migration. We are utilizing nanotags (VHF transmitters that carry an individual identifier), an array of automated telemetry towers (pictured), and hand tracking to quantify foraging and roosting habitat selection, as well as broad scale movements in the region. We are also collecting tissue and fecal samples to determine the origin of birds passing through the region and describe migration diet. This project is being led by Jay Wright, a masters student in our lab, and is also in collaboration with Luke Powell of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center.
Based on long term citizen science data Rusty Blackbirds are believed to be the fastest declining songbird in North America. While much research has focused on elucidating the cause of decline on the breeding and wintering grounds, as of yet no study has examined the basic migratory stopover ecology of this species. Based on the work of the Rusty Blackbird Working Group and citizen scientists that participated in the Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz, western Lake Erie is clearly one of, if not the, most heavily used stopover site in the U.S. Thus we have begun conducting research in Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, and on state lands in both Michigan and Ohio to better understand the habitat needs of this species during migration. We are utilizing nanotags (VHF transmitters that carry an individual identifier), an array of automated telemetry towers (pictured), and hand tracking to quantify foraging and roosting habitat selection, as well as broad scale movements in the region. We are also collecting tissue and fecal samples to determine the origin of birds passing through the region and describe migration diet. This project is being led by Jay Wright, a masters student in our lab, and is also in collaboration with Luke Powell of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center.
A juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron fitted with a nanotag
The Black-crowned Night-heron is a colonial wading bird and a state threatened species in Ohio. The majority of the Ohio population breeds in a single colony on West Sister Island (WSI) with a few smaller colonies elsewhere in the region. The WSI colony declined from 3,000 breeding pairs in 1977 to 387 pairs. However, habitat restoration work on WSI which consisted of cutting large trees to provide brushier nesting sites enabled the population to stabilize to around 500 pairs from 2000 to the present. Paradoxically, WSI may not be an ideal location, given that birds must travel roughly 18mi, round-trip to the shore in order to forage and return with food for their young. This distance may limit the number of foraging trips, and thus the amount of food delivered to young, potentially affecting juvenile growth and, eventually, survival (in the nest and post-fledging). We are conducting a study in collaboration with the Ohio Division of Wildlife to determine the impact of distance from foraging habitat to colony on a little studied stage in their annual cycle, the post-fledging period. We are using the same technology as in the Rusty Blackbird project to determine habitat needs of juvenile herons, and estimate survival rates, both within and between seasons. We will be comparing results from WSI to those from other colonies that are closer to shore such that future restoration efforts can maximize positive impacts on population dynamics.