Biologist tracks bird population, behavior using tail feathers
Research seeks to understand the impact of droughts, floods and humans on different species

Many avian researchers track and count birds the old fashion way—catching, tagging and releasing them. However, this method raises several challenges as it is very rare to catch the same bird the following year. A University of Missouri-Columbia scientist is experimenting with a new method of tracking our feathered friends that could give researchers a more accurate account of birds' migration patterns and how birds are affected by droughts, floods and humans, setting the stage for better environmental policies.

"For years, scientists have attempted to catch, release and count birds in an effort to measure the effects of mother nature and humans, but it can be a very tedious process and it's extremely rare when you catch the same bird twice," said John Faaborg, professor of Biological Sciences. "We're developing a process that involves analyzing a tail feather for a specific isotope that tells us where the bird lives. Once we know that, we can check the rainfall levels there to see if droughts can explain the population declines."

The research team is focusing on a water isotope, deuterium, which has a unique signature depending on the region from where it is obtained. Birds store the deuterium in their blood, but it also is stored in their tail feathers. Once a sample of the tail feather is obtained, Faaborg can send it to a lab where it is bombarded with neutrons resulting in the unique radio-signature of deuterium. Specific radioactive signatures indicate an approximate region where the bird lives.

Specifically, Faaborg is studying warblers, small songbirds, not weighing more than the average ketchup packet, that typically are found in the northeastern part of the United States. Obtaining a better understanding of their behavior will help researchers recommend better environmental policies. For example, some bird species thrive when parts of forests are cut down instead of individual trees; others prefer a deep wooded habitat, Faaborg said.

"We've seen an increase in certain types of birds that prefer forests in some of our data, which is probably due to forest recovery in some areas of the northeastern United States ," Faaborg said. "On the other hand, the forest recovery has affected other birds that prefer grasslands in a negative way. These are just some of the natural ebbs and flows, but this new data will give us a more accurate picture of the natural stresses and supports that certain bird species encounter."

Faaborg's research is funded by grants from the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Missouri Department of Conservation. The University of Texas Press recently published his book Saving Migrant Birds, Developing Strategies for the Future.

Additional links:

John Faaborg
Division of Biological Sciences

School of Natural Resources: Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences

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