Flight Paths and Pit Stops: Understanding Lesser Yellowlegs' Migration Dynamics

Presenter

Anna Katharine Courtemanche

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Nathan Senner, Department of Environmental Conservation, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 1, 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A42, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 3 (A41-A60) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Understanding avian migratory behaviors is crucial for conservation amidst escalating environmental threats. I focus on the migratory patterns of the Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes), a shorebird experiencing an alarming population decline of 70% since the 1970s. Analyzing GPS tracking data from six breeding populations spanning Alaska and Canada, I explored the dynamics of their southbound migration through a critical stopover site: the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR), located in mid-continental North America. My study investigates how different populations of Lesser Yellowlegs use the PPR spatially and temporally to elucidate the unique and shared threats they face during an important portion of their migration.

To dissect individual birds' spatial patterns within the PPR and reveal variations in their range of use, I built continuous-time movement models to create home-range estimations. Then, I conducted a population-level analysis of these home ranges to uncover variations in distribution and occupancy between groups. Finally, I constructed schedules for each bird and population to shed light on arrival and departure dynamics among individuals and populations.

This integrated spatiotemporal analysis provides insight into Lesser Yellowlegs' dependence on the PPR, a large region going through rapid environmental change. By unraveling patterns at both the individual and population levels, my research contributes to the understanding of the relative risk faced by migratory shorebirds in the face of habitat loss, climate change, and anthropogenic disturbance. Ultimately, this study underscores the urgency for holistic conservation strategies to safeguard critical habitats and ensure the resilience of long-distance avian migrants.

Keywords

Lesser Yellowlegs, Migration, Avian Ecology, Conservation, GPS Tracking

Research Area

Environmental Science and Sustainability

SIMILAR ABSTRACTS (BY KEYWORD)