Research Paper ABSTRACT Climate change is having a disproportionate impact on the Arctic. For Arctic breeding birds, basic knowledge of their annual cycle, specifically the timing, route, and movement behavior of migration, is needed to understand when and where populations may experience threats. We used a combination of geolocators and stable isotope analysis to identify route and timing of migration in Smith’s Longspurs (Calcarius pictus) that breed in Alaska’s Brooks Range. We trapped males on their breeding grounds from 2011 to 2014 and collected head feathers for stable isotopes of hydr ..read more

Research Paper ABSTRACT Nest survival drives population demographics of most avian species. Researchers and managers have focused studies on investigating nest success in association with climate, land use change (e.g., agriculture), and predators in the Prairie and Arctic biomes. The Boreal Forest is also an important breeding area for ducks and it has undergone rapid land use change caused by industrial development (e.g., oil and gas; forestry). However, duck nesting ecology has received little attention in this biome. Therefore, we investigated nest survival of upland nesting ducks in the ..read more

Research Paper ABSTRACT Species distribution modeling is important for predicting species responses to environmental change, but model accuracy can be limited by a lack of data in remote areas. Hierarchically stratified surveys (cluster sampling) offer an efficient approach to sampling in remote areas, but an appropriate balance is needed between cost efficiency and statistical independence. The cost-effectiveness of cluster sampling likely varies with temporal sampling intensity (e.g., single vs. multiple repeat samples) due to differences in spatial autocorrelation. Our aim was to assess th ..read more

Research Paper ABSTRACT Documenting the breeding habitat and distribution of migratory songbirds is essential for accurately assessing their conservation status. The “sagebrush” subspecies of the Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri breweri) breeds in greatest abundance in sagebrush-dominated (Artemisia spp.) shrublands of western North America, and the “timberline” subspecies (S. b. taverneri) breeds in shrubs or krummholz at or above the tree line in mountain ranges from Alaska to Montana. Brewer’s Sparrows have also been reported at alpine sites in summer in mountain ranges across the wester ..read more

Research Paper ABSTRACT Effective conservation planning for species of concern requires long-term monitoring data that can accurately estimate population trends. Supplemental or alternative methods for estimating population trends are necessary for species that are poorly sampled by traditional breeding bird survey methods. Counts of migrating birds are commonly used to assess raptor population trends and could be useful for additional taxa that migrate diurnally and are difficult to monitor during the breeding season. In North America, the Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) is challenging t ..read more

Research Paper ABSTRACT Urbanization can influence many environmental factors that can affect the condition, immunity, and gut microbiota of birds. Over the past several decades, the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador have experienced increasing human activity, which has led to recent changes in the morphology, gut microbiota, and immunity of Darwin’s finches. However, these traits have not been characterized before the exponential growth of human population size and tourist visitation rates, i.e., before 2009. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of land use on the fecal microbiota ..read more

Research Paper ABSTRACT Beach habitat is increasingly degraded and disturbed, and many species of Larids (gulls, terns, and skimmers) have adapted to nesting on gravel rooftops. In the southeastern United States, the most common rooftop nester is the Least Tern (Sternula antillarum), and rooftop tern colonies are generally as productive as beach colonies. One problem with rooftop nesting is that chicks often fall from the roofs and will likely die if not rescued. Fallen chicks can be taken to wildlife rehabilitators and if they survive, be released on their own, but they will not receive the ..read more

Research Paper ABSTRACT The Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) is a relatively understudied shrubland-associated species that has experienced sustained population declines in portions of its breeding range. Detailed evaluations of Blue-winged Warbler breeding season habitat requirements are needed to inform ongoing and future conservation efforts and, ultimately, stem population declines. Here, we use radio telemetry, field-measured vegetation data, and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) to assess Blue-winged Warbler breeding season space use and habitat selection in southwest Pennsy ..read more

Research Paper ABSTRACT The Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) is a tree-nesting seabird found along the Pacific coast of North America whose forest nesting habitat has dramatically declined over the last century. Mapping the remaining nesting habitat is a core step in the conservation of this species at risk. Fine-scale mapping efforts are expected to be enhanced by airborne laser scanning (ALS) data (an application of lidar technology), which provides quantitative measures of forest structure. We present an ALS-informed model for Marbled Murrelet nesting habitat in British Columbia ..read more

Research Paper ABSTRACT Estimating vital rates of avian species is important to understand population dynamics and develop potential conservation strategies that target rates for management. Avian species have reduced potential for high annual fecundity in alpine ecosystems due to a short breeding window and harsh weather conditions. We located nests from Southern White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura altipetens) across six study sites in the Southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado to estimate daily nest survival from 2013–2017. We used a known-fate hierarchical nest survival model and fit sev ..read more