Abstract
Whether or not a migratory songbird embarks on a long-distance flight across an ecological barrier is likely a response to a number of endogenous and exogenous factors. During autumn 2008 and 2009, we used automated radio tracking to investigate how energetic condition, age, and weather influenced the departure timing and direction of Swainson’s thrushes (Catharus ustulatus) during migratory stopover along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Most birds left within 1 h after sunset on the evening following capture. Those birds that departed later on the first night or remained longer than 1 day were lean. Birds that carried fat loads sufficient to cross the Gulf of Mexico generally departed in a seasonally appropriate southerly direction, whereas lean birds nearly always flew inland in a northerly direction. We did not detect an effect of age or weather on departures. The decision by lean birds to reorient movement inland may reflect the suitability of the coastal stopover site for deposition of fuel stores and the motivation to seek food among more extensive forested habitat away from the barrier.
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Acknowledgments
We regret the loss of our friend and colleague, Arlo Raim, who relentlessly radio tracked birds and died shortly after the conclusion of this study. Bill Cochran, Jim Cochran, and Tony Borries offered valuable technical support. Mason Cline, Kristin Comolli, Elizabeth Donadio, Erin Gnass, Joanna Hatt, Jennifer Mizen, Nikita Chernetsov, and members of the Migratory Bird Research Group provided important assistance in the field. Blanton Blankenship of Fort Morgan Historic Park and Jereme Phillips and Jackie Isaacs of Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge provided access to habitats along the Fort Morgan peninsula used for netting and radio tracking. The USACERL provided the automated radio telemetry systems for use on this project. This work was supported by the U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (USACERL), The University of Southern Mississippi, Birmingham Audubon Society, and The American Ornithologists’ Union. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
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Communicated by J. A. Graves
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Smolinsky, J.A., Diehl, R.H., Radzio, T.A. et al. Factors influencing the movement biology of migrant songbirds confronted with an ecological barrier. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 67, 2041–2051 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-013-1614-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-013-1614-6