Conservation of Migratory Animals

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Conservation of Migratory Animals
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What animals migrate?

• Mammals
• Birds
• Butterflies

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What is migration?

• Migration
• A two-way movement, usually based on seasonality

Wintering Area
Breeding Area
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Kinds of Migration

• Latitudinal (north-south)
• 1. Short distance
• Some birds
• Some mammals - bats, some whales
• 2. Long distance (espec. to Neotropics)
• Some bats
• Many species of songbirds, shorebirds,waterfowl,
  hawks

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Kinds of Migration

• Elevational migration
• Movement up and down mountain slopes.
• Examples deer, elk, Mt. Goats, spotted owls,
  some song birds
• Related to weather (espec. snow depth) and food
  conditions

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Groups of Migratory Birds

• Hunted forms
• Waterfowl shorebirds

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Groups of Migratory Birds

• Non-hunted forms
• Songbirds Raptors
• (most-Neotropical migrants)

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How Do We Study Migratory Animals?

• Direct observation
• Capture and mark
• Radar, radio satellite tracking

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How Do We Study Migratory Animals?
Birds

• Direct observation
• Bird watchers
• Wildlife biologists

Bird watchers at Hawk Mt. Bird Sanctuary
(Pennsylvannia)
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An example of a watched migration the
Broad-winged Hawk
A medium-sized hawk from Eastern No. America
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How Do We Study Migratory Animals?
Capture, mark and re-capture
Banding birds
Capturing sea turtles
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How Do We Study Migratory Animals?

• Neotropical migrants

Radar detection of birds arriving near Houston,
TX (images from S.A. Gauthreaux, 1999)
Trans Gulf migrants arriving Apr 25, 0031 GMT
Trans Gulf migrants leaving Apr 25, 0159 GMT
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How Do We Study Migratory Animals Geographical
Positioning System
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What are the issues?

• Neotropical migrants
• trends in numbers

Population trends for the Black White
Warbler from 3 different regions of Eastern US.
And Canada
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What are the issues?

• Neotropical migrants
• loss and fragmentation of nesting habitat
• lower carrying capacity
• reduced reproduction

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What are the issues?

• Neotropical migrants
• loss and fragmentation of nesting habitat
• brood parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds

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What are the issues?

• Neotropical migrants
• loss /change of habitats along migration route
  (stop-over locations)

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What are the issues?

• Neotropical migrants
• winter habitat loss or change

Here is the problem
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Conservation and Migratory Stopover Sites
How Important Are Riparian Corridors ?
Stop-over
Young 1991
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What to Do

• Must be international cooperation
• (Partners in Flight)
• Incentives for developing countries to protect
  migratory wildlife and habitat
• Public education