Cape Might Warblers (Setophaga tigrina) are a boreal chicken species within the wood-warbler household which have greater than 80% of their breeding vary in Canada together with in locations just like the Moose Cree First Nation’s proposed North French River Watershed Indigenous Protected Space. In Southwestern Pennsylvania, the place Bird Lab runs three chicken banding stations in spring and fall, they’re widespread passage migrants. In different phrases, they don’t breed on this area however fairly go by means of it throughout migration from their breeding grounds within the Boreal Forest to their wintering properties within the Caribbean. As a result of we recaptured this banded Cape Might Warbler, the story about this particular person chicken deepens. The information that we gather is repeated, permitting us to trace refined but vital modifications over time.
Two weeks glided by earlier than we recaptured this particular person! Though the length of stopover time could differ amongst people and is influenced by different environmental components, the habitat right here appears to be appropriate, as evidenced by the chicken’s weight achieve of 4 grams, roughly equal to the load of a nickel. Contemplating that these birds usually have a lean mass of 10g, this improve is outstanding. And certain means the chicken shall be migrating very quickly.
Data like this helps us higher perceive how a lot a given habitat is ready to present meals sources for birds throughout their migratory journeys. Since migration is so energy-intensive, discovering stopover places the place meals is plentiful is essential for these birds’ survival.
All chicken banding is carried out below State and Federal permits by extremely educated people for analysis functions. Information is collected effectively and birds are launched unhurt.
