Examining inter-regional and intra-seasonal differences in wintering waterfowl landscape associations among Pacific and Atlantic flyways
Matthew J. Hardy, Christopher K. Williams, Brian S. Ladman, Maurice E. Pitesky, Cory T. Overton, Michael L. Casazza, Elliott Matchett, Diann Prosser, Jeffrey J. Buler
2025, Journal of Avian Biology (2025)
The Central Valley of California (CVC) and Mid-Atlantic (MA) in the U.S. are both critical sites for nationwide food security, and many waterfowl species annually, especially during the winter, providing feeding and roosting locations for a variety of species. Mapping waterfowl distributions, using NEXRAD, may aid in the adaptive management...
Great Lakes mallard population dynamics
Benjamin Z. Luukkonen, Scott R. Winterstein, Daniel B. Hayes, Drew Nathan Fowler, Gregory J. Soulliere, John M. Coluccy, Amy A. Shipley, John Simpson, Brendan Shirkey, Jason M. Winiarski, Benjamin J. O’Neal, Barbara A. Avers, Gerald R. Urquhart, Philip Lavretsky
2025, Journal of Wildlife Management (89)
Breeding mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) populations in the Great Lakes region (Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, USA) declined by >40% between 2000–2022 based on abundance data collected during spring aerial surveys. Mallards are an important waterfowl species in this region, where an estimated 60–80% of the mallard harvest is composed of locally banded...
Sampling for disease surveillance: Assessing effects on blue-winged teal survival and recovery
Rose J. Swift, Todd W. Arnold, Deborah L. Carter, Paul K. Link, Rebecca L. Poulson, David E. Stallknecht, Aaron T. Pearse
2025, Journal of Wildlife Management (89)
Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in wild animals highlight the need for disease surveillance in wild birds to improve our understanding of their role as reservoirs and dispersers, and potential threats to domestic poultry and wild bird populations. Surveillance for avian influenza varies in its approach, objectives, and...
The underlying causes of differential migration: Assumptions, hypotheses, and predictions
N Paprocki, Courtney J. Conway
2025, Biological Reviews (100) 764-789
Mechanisms governing the migratory decisions of birds have long fascinated ecologists and sparked considerable debate. Identifying factors responsible for variation in migration distance, also known as differential migration, has been a popular approach to understanding the mechanisms underlying migratory behaviour more generally. However, research progress has been slowed by the...
Forest bird population status on Saipan, a small oceanic island
Trevor Bak, Steve Mullin, Emilie Kohler, Bradley A. Eichelberger, Richard J. Camp
2025, Global Ecology and Conservation (56)
Tropical oceanic islands are critical biodiversity hotspots where population monitoring can help to determine the status and trends of rare and endangered species. Saipan is the second largest island in the Mariana Islands and contains many endemic and range-restricted bird species. Surveys of forest birds were conducted on Saipan using...
Predation of Lost River and Shortnose suckers by piscivorous colonial waterbirds in the Upper Klamath Basin: An analysis of predation effects during 2021–2023
Nathan B Banet, Quinn Payton, Allen Evans, Rachael Katelyn Paul-Wilson, Jacob Richard Krause, Brian S. Hayes, Erin Marie Benham
2025, Report
Previously published research indicated that predation by piscivorous colonial waterbirds in the Upper Klamath Basin was a source of mortality for Lost River suckers (Deltistes luxatus) and Shortnose suckers (Chasmistes brevirostris), including mortality of Sucker Assisted Rearing Program (SARP) fish. Avian predation on recently released Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in...
Weather events influence survival and recruitment of Coereba flaveola (Bananaquit) in the Caribbean
Clint W. Boal, Brent D. Bibles
2025, Ornithology (142)
The West Indies is considered a biodiversity hotspot and a priority for ecological conservation efforts. Understanding how environmental conditions influence the survival of resident avifauna is an important information need given the predicted increases in drought and the frequency and intensity of severe storms in the region. Throughout much of...
Developing a range-wide sampling framework for endangered species: A case study with light-footed Ridgway’s rail
Bryan S. Stevens, Courtney J. Conway, Kimberley A. Sawyer, Lauren Kershek, Giselle Block, Sandra E. Hamilton, Rebecca Kolstrom
2025, Biodiversity and Conservation (33) 3703-3726
Monitoring provides the foundation for evaluating recovery of endangered species, yet many species lack monitoring programs designed to integrate a species’ unique attributes, specific monitoring objectives, and principles of statistical sampling theory. We developed a framework for monitoring and assessment of endangered light-footed Ridgway’s rails (Rallus obsoletus levipes) across their...
Identifying mismatches between conservation area networks and vulnerable populations using spatial randomization
Laura A. Nunes, Christine Ribic, Benjamin Zuckerberg
2025, Ecology and Evolution (11) 16006-16020
Grassland birds are among the most globally threatened bird groups due to substantial degradation of native grassland habitats. However, the current network of grassland conservation areas may not be adequate for halting population declines and biodiversity loss. Here, we evaluate a network of grassland conservation areas within...