New Discoveries about Farthest Migrating Warbler

[Cara J]

The blackpoll warbler (Setophaga striata) may be tiny, but its journey during migration is quite extensive. The species has long fascinated biologists interested in migration. A recent tracking study confirmed the birds make phenomenal transoceanic three-day flights while migrating between eastern Canada to its Venezuelan winter grounds and other research concluded that the songbirds have the longest migration route. Meanwhile, in a study recently published in The Auk: Ornithological Advances, researchers studied bird banding records across the northern part of North America to discern patterns of the birds’ fall migration. Lead author of the study Sara Morris, the associate vice president for academic affairs and professor of biology at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, and her colleagues analyzed 22,295 birds banded in North America — data that individuals collected from banding stations and sent in — and a few patterns stood out. They found that western-breeding birds leave their homes in the summer earlier than eastern-breeding birds in order to prepare for their longer journey. The western-breeding birds have to cross west to east before going south across the Atlantic. A fall young blackpoll warbler in Maine. Image Credit: Sara Morris Further, the researchers saw patterns of heavier birds staying along [...]

 

Read more: http://wildlife.org/new-discoveries-about-farthest-migrating-warbler/