A study of the geolocator attachment effects and migration timing of Louisiana waterthrushes and Worm-eating warblers

As migratory bird tracking technologies advance, we can now follow movements of birds throughout a full-annual cycle. These breakthroughs are revealing information that was previously unknown for many species. Using light-level geolocators, my study follows Louisiana Waterthrushes and Worm-eating Warblers from four populations, from 2016 to 2019. The purpose of my research was to examine the potential effects geolocators have on body condition and survival, as well as to describe the migratory speed and duration of the populations. My results suggested that tracking Louisiana Waterthrushes and Worm-eating Warblers with light-level geolocators or other small markers weighing 0.5 g, using proper attachment methods, can be accomplished without deleterious impacts on the condition and survival of the birds, and the data revealed the birds employed a time-minimizing strategy during migration. Lastly, there was a cultural component of the project that connected communities on each end of Neotropical migration through an educational program.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Author dc:creator

• Berz, Eliot

Contributors dc:contributor

• Aborn, David
• Schorr, Mark S. (Mark Steven); Woltmann, Stefan
• College of Arts and Sciences

• Birds--Migration
• Louisiana waterthrush
• Wildlife research--Technique

Licence

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language

English, eng

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/692

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.utc.edu:theses-1868