Tracking Long-Distance Songbird Migration by Using Geolocators

We mapped migration routes of migratory songbirds to the Neotropics by using light-level geolocators mounted on breeding purple martins (Progne subis) and wood thrushes (Hylocichla mustelina). Wood thrushes from the same breeding population occupied winter territories within a narrow east-west band...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2009-02, Vol.323 (5916), p.896-896
Main Authors: Stutchbury, Bridget J.M, Tarof, Scott A, Done, Tyler, Gow, Elizabeth, Kramer, Patrick M, Tautin, John, Fox, James W, Afanasyev, Vsevolod
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Migration
Animal populations
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Biogeography
Biological and medical sciences
Bird migration
Birds
Breeding
Brevia
Climate change
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects. Techniques
Geodetic position
Habitats
Hylocichla mustelina
Progne subis
Seasonal migration
Songbirds
Songbirds - physiology
Teledetection and vegetation maps
Tracking control systems
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Summary:We mapped migration routes of migratory songbirds to the Neotropics by using light-level geolocators mounted on breeding purple martins (Progne subis) and wood thrushes (Hylocichla mustelina). Wood thrushes from the same breeding population occupied winter territories within a narrow east-west band in Central America, suggesting high connectivity of breeding and wintering populations. Pace of spring migration was rapid (233 to 577 kilometers/day) except for one individual (159 kilometers/day) who took an overland route instead of crossing the Gulf of Mexico. Identifying songbird wintering areas and migration routes is critical for predicting demographic consequences of habitat loss and climate change in tropical regions.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1166664