Presentations
A Species Distribution Model to Conserve LeConte’s Sparrow in the Canadian Prairies
Presenter(s): Amy Sutley1, Alana Westwood2
Affiliation(s): 1. Dalhousie University, 2. Dalhousie University
Session: Session 2: Conservation Biology
Time: 2026-10-06 17:10 UTC
Abstract
The population of LeConte’s sparrow (Ammospiza leconteii) is declining across the portion of its breeding range which falls in Western Canada. LeConte’s sparrow has been identified as a priority for conservation assessment and management by Canadian government agencies, but the species is poorly understood in terms of its ecology and distribution. We developed a high-resolution species distribution model (SDM) of LeConte’s sparrow occurrence in the Prairie Ecozone of Canada to investigate the habitat associations and spatial distribution of LeConte’s sparrow and identify candidate areas for land conservation. A maximum entropy (MaxEnt) method was used to predict the probability of occurrence for LeConte’s sparrow. In the presence observations dataset, 2,595 of 8,253 (31%) occurrences may have represented positional uncertainty as they were located on roads and in open bodies of water. As most SDMs rarely correct for fine-scale positional uncertainty, we tested three different correction distances (relocating observations to adjacent habitat). We compared three different models (no relocations; relocations within 30m; relocations within 100m) and found that they performed similarly. Covariates used to predict occurrence included proximity to wetlands, land use, elevation, mean summer precipitation, and a normalized difference vegetation index. Model performance and output was similar across corrections, and we selected the 100m correction to maximize sample size. Probability of occurrence for LeConte’s sparrow showed a strong association with low elevation prairie wetlands and riparian areas, including urban rivers. To develop recommendations for land conservation, we identified seven priority locations where existing protected areas could be expanded to include potential habitat for LeConte’s sparrow. We encourage managers to field-validate and apply our model to inform habitat protection for this species.
An investigation into how Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla) movement and survival in overwintering habitats differs along an urbanization gradient
Presenter(s): Dilan Praat1, Dr David Green2, Dr Elizabeth Gow3
Affiliation(s): 1. Simon Fraser University, 2. Simon Fraser University, 3. Environment and Climate Change Canada
Session: 3MT - Urban Ecology
Time: 2026-10-06 20:44 UTC
Abstract
Urban habitats offer many unique opportunities and challenges to various bird species. With the global land-cover of cities expected to double over the next 25 years, it is crucial to understand how birds are surviving and moving in urban landscapes. Past research on urban settings has focused on the survival and reproductive success of breeding birds. There is significantly less research into the movement and survival of songbirds overwintering in urban areas. This discrepancy is important as many species spend large portions of their life-cycle in there wintering ranges, and this may also be the time when food and predation pressures are at there highest. We studied how Golden-crowned sparrow Zonotrichia atricapilla movement and survival differs from rural parks to urban neighborhoods in Metro-Vancouver. 30 birds were radio-tagged across five sites in the winter of 2025-2026, and an additional 200+ birds were colour-banded across six sites from 2021-2026. We tracked the radio-tagged birds for six weeks to obtain details on fine-scale movements to determine habitat use and home range size, and to ascertain known-fate survival. Reported colour-band resightings were used to estimate broad overwintering Golden-crowned sparrow apparent-survival. We found that areas of increased urbanization had lower rates of known-fate survival and higher rates of unexplained disappearances. Birds initially caught in the proximity of static bird feeders had smaller home ranges than the home ranges of birds that were not caught in close proximity to feeders. Through colour-band resightings, we found that birds overwintering in areas with higher rates of urbanization had lower rates of apparent-survival than those living in rural areas. These findings indicate that while urban habitats are suitable for overwintering Golden-crowned sparrows, these benefits are mitigated by potential survival risks, and more research is needed to understand the mechanics of these relationships.
Assessing Population Trends and Structure of a Cryptic Waterbird Across its Range
Presenter(s): Joe Brosseau1, Joseph Brosseau2
Affiliation(s): 1. Biology MSc Student, University of Saskatchewan, 2. Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan
Session: 3MT - Ecology: Populations
Time: 2026-10-06 20:24 UTC
Abstract
The Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri) is an understudied North American waterbird with an indeterminate population status in potential decline. Compared to other North American Tern species, Forster’s Terns have shorter migrations, staying within North America throughout the annual cycle. The core of the Forster’s Tern breeding range is in interior wetlands of the Prairie Pothole Region, with additional breeding populations ranging across the southern Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of the United States. My research aims to improve our knowledge of Forster’s Tern population structure and movement across the full annual cycle, including determining whether different subspecies exist, as was proposed more than 80 years ago. For this, I have two objectives: 1) assess population trends in relation to environmental covariates with the use of Citizen Science and remotely sensed environmental data, and 2) analyze population structure with the use of a combination of morphological and genetic data collected across their breeding populations. These analyses together will allow for a more complete understanding of Forster’s Terns, providing insight into their population status and structure across the annual cycle and helping determine whether separate populations should be treated as separate “Designatable Units” for the most optimal conservation and management strategies for the species.
Assessing toxic metal contamination and trophic-level transfer in the Deka and Lukosi rivers using fish and predatory birds as bioindicators
Presenter(s): Mavis Gavajena1, 2
Affiliation(s): 1. MSc candidate, Faculty of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Management, Midlands State University
Session: 3MT - Pollution / Ecotoxicology
Time: 2026-10-06 20:36 UTC
Abstract
Freshwater ecosystems are increasingly threatened by contamination from toxic elements such as arsenic, manganese and lead, largely driven by mining, industrial discharge and agricultural activities. These pollutants can persist in aquatic environments, accumulating in sediments and entering food webs, where they pose risks to aquatic organisms and higher trophic levels. In river systems such as the Deka and Lukosi, which are influenced by anthropogenic activities, there is growing concern about the extent of contamination and its ecological implications.
Aquatic organisms, particularly fish, play a critical role in transferring contaminants through trophic interactions, while predatory aquatic birds may serve as effective bioindicators of environmental pollution due to their position at the top of the foodweb. Despite this, limited information exists on the distribution and bioaccumulation of toxic elements within these river systems and their potential magnification across trophic levels.
This study aims to investigate the concentrations of arsenic, manganese and lead in water, sediment and fish within the Deka and Lukosi rivers, and to assess their subsequent bioaccumulation in predatory aquatic birds. We hypothesize that contaminant levels will vary spatially and that bioaccumulation will increase with trophic position, reflecting biomagnification processes.
By linking environmental contamination to biological uptake across multiple trophic levels, this research seeks to provide insight into ecosystem health and the potential risks posed to aquatic biodiversity and avian species, while informing future monitoring and conservation strategies.
Balancing act: ATP supply and demand in torpid ruby-throated hummingbirds
Presenter(s): Amalie Hutchinson1, James Staples2, Chris G Guglielmo3
Affiliation(s): 1. Western University, 2. Western University, 3. Western University
Session: Session 2: Foraging Ecology and Diet
Time: 2026-10-06 15:50 UTC
Abstract
ATP supply by mitochondria and ATP demand by cellular processes is carefully regulated during active periods and during states of metabolic suppression, such as torpor. Torpor is a state of inactivity characterized by decreased metabolic rate (MR) and body temperature that can be spontaneously reversed using endogenously produced heat. To avoid the high cost of thermoregulation at night, hummingbirds use torpor. We searched for a site of metabolic suppression in the flight muscle of torpid ruby-throated hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris). We were the first to investigate mitochondrial dynamics in hummingbirds. OXPHOS was suppressed by ~20% through CI when pyruvate was the metabolic fuel, but no suppression was observed when mitochondria were fueled with a lipid-based substrate. As fat is the main source of energy during torpor, we concluded that, unlike mammalian models of torpor, whole-animal MR suppression does not involve downregulating mitochondria. Next, we investigated ATP demand pathways to determine if inhibiting SERCA or Na+/K+ ATPase drives torpor. SERCA activity did not change, however, the uncoupler sarcolipin was more highly phosphorylated. Phosphorylation inhibits sarcolipin, resulting in decreased ATP demand and heat generation. Na+/K+ ATPase activity decreased by 43% in torpor, a mechanism that could account for a significant proportion of whole-animal MR suppression. Taken together, we suggest that torpid hummingbirds suppress pathways of ATP demand in concert with passive metabolic suppression initiated by adjusting thermoregulation and allowing core body temperature to drop. These findings highlight interesting contrasts between birds and mammals and provide insight into their evolutionary paths to heterothermy.
Beyond habitat amount: Narrow seismic lines fragment habitat for a declining old-forest songbird
Presenter(s): Taylor Hart1, Juan Andrés Martinez Lanfranco2, Alessandro Franceschini3, Erin Bayne4
Affiliation(s): 1. University of Alberta, 2. University of Alberta, 3. University of Alberta, 4. University of Alberta
Session: Session 2: Habitat Use and Breeding Biology
Time: 2026-10-06 19:10 UTC
Abstract
Habitat loss and fragmentation are primary drivers of forest degradation and biodiversity decline, but disentangling their effects is challenging because they co-occur, may interact, and are perceived differently by different species, requiring species-specific definitions and explicit tests for additive and interactive effects. To quantify the effects of these processes on Black-throated Green Warblers (BTNW), a species of conservation concern in Alberta, we developed species-specific definitions of BTNW habitat (80–140 year old mixedwood forest) and fragmentation (edge density). We compared spatial occupancy models with habitat amount only, edge density only, and their additive and interactive effects using three increasingly comprehensive definitions of fragmentation (large polygonal disturbances only; adding wide linear features >8 m; and all anthropogenic disturbances including narrow 2–8 m seismic lines), at three spatial scales (7, 78, and 314 ha). The most comprehensive definition, including seismic lines, provided the best model fit at the 7 and 78 ha scales, indicating BTNW perceive even narrow disturbances as habitat boundaries. Edge density negatively affected occupancy at the two finer scales, but habitat amount became the dominant predictor at the broader 314 ha scale. Our species-specific approach revealed responses that generic classifications would likely obscure, demonstrating that conservation strategies for this species must consider spatial configuration alongside habitat amount. Given the strong negative effects of edge density and major population declines reported for BTNW in Alberta, we urge managers to minimize cumulative edge creation through harvest planning and active seismic line regeneration.
Beyond occupancy: evaluating whether forestry best management practices support successful reproduction of Endangered Williamson’s Sapsucker
Presenter(s): Tory Hartley-Cox1, Elizabeth Gow2, Emily Choy3
Affiliation(s): 1. PhD Student, McMaster University, 2. Environment and Climate Change Canada, 3. McMaster University
Session: 3MT - Species at Risk
Time: 2026-10-06 20:40 UTC
Abstract
Forest management practices designed to reduce the impacts of logging on wildlife may not always provide the habitat conditions necessary for successful reproduction. In some cases, retained habitat may continue to attract breeding individuals while failing to support reproductive success, potentially creating ecological traps. For the federally Endangered Williamson’s Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus), forestry best management practices (BMPs) have been developed for use in British Columbia. However, these voluntary practices are applied only within the species’ known area of occupancy, and their effectiveness in supporting successful reproduction has never been evaluated. To determine whether current forestry BMPs provide habitat that supports successful reproduction, we are linking nest productivity to habitat characteristics, focusing on nesting and foraging conditions in both managed and unmanaged forests. During the 2025 and 2026 breeding seasons, occupancy surveys were conducted throughout the Princeton and Boundary regions of southern British Columbia to locate breeding territories and active nest cavities. Nest productivity was monitored using repeated visual observations, custom-built cavity cameras, and acoustic recording units to document clutch size, hatching success, fledging success, and nest failure. Habitat assessments quantified nest-tree characteristics, stand structure, and surrounding forest composition across protected forests, retention-harvested stands, and unlogged forests. This project will provide the first direct evaluation of whether current forestry BMPs support the successful reproduction of Williamson’s Sapsucker in Canada. By identifying the nesting and foraging habitat characteristics associated with nest success and failure, the results will help guide future refinements to forestry BMPs and inform recovery planning and long-term conservation of this Endangered species.
Can supplemental feeders be used to study caching behavior? A field study in black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus)
Presenter(s): Ipshita Gayen1, Kimberley Mathot2
Affiliation(s): 1. PhD Student, University of Alberta, 2. University of Alberta; Canada Research Chair, Integrative Ecology
Session: Session 2: Foraging Ecology and Diet
Time: 2026-10-06 15:40 UTC
Abstract
Small parids like black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) rely on caching (i.e. storing food for later use) as a strategy to mitigate starvation risk during winter. Although caching can occur throughout the autumn and winter, it is predicted that most intense period should occur in late summer/early fall, when natural food availability is high, daylength is long, and ambient temperatures are favourable to both meet immediate energetic needs and invest in building up caches. Quantifying caching in free-living birds is time consuming, and thus, relatively few studies have quantified seasonal peaks in caching. Here, we assess if feeders can be used to capture seasonal peaks in caching investment using automated detections of black-capped chickadees fitted with passive integrated transponders to quantify caching in late summer -early fall. From previous studies and theoretical calculations, the number of sunflower seeds required to meet daily energetic requirements at this time of year is estimated to be ~45 seeds, and thus, daily feeder visits in excess of 45 can be inferred to indicate caching. We tested theoretical predictions about seasonal caching peaks, the effect of temperature and differences between sexes. We found that both day in season and temperature play important roles in shaping seasonal caching patterns as predicted, but contrary to theoretical predictions, females invested less in caching than males. Further, the observed seasonal peak in caching using feeders was much shorter compared caching peaks in populations without supplemental food. Our findings demonstrate that feeder-based studies can capture biologically meaningful variation in caching behaviour, with some important caveats, and highlight the combined influence of seasonal and short-term energetic factors on food-caching strategies.
Classification of egg laying, incubation and brood rearing from remotely collected telemetry data
Presenter(s): Ilsa Griebel1, Érika G da Rocha2, Abigail Butler3, Laura R Dykstra4, Cassidy L Waldrep5, John M Coluccy; Patrick K Devers6, Min T Huang7, Tracy A G Rittenhouse8, Joshua C Stiller9, Jacob N Straub10, Mitch D Weegman11
Affiliation(s): 1. University of Saskatchewan, 2. University of Saskatchewan, 3. SUNY Brockport, 4. University of Connecticut, 5. University of Saskatchewan, 6. Ducks Unlimited, Inc, 7. USFS, 8. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, 9. University of Connecticut, 10. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 11. SUNY Brockport, 12. University of Saskatchewan
Session: Session 1: Methods Matter
Time: 2026-10-06 16:50 UTC
Abstract
Knowledge of reproductive attempts and outcomes is imperative for understanding drivers of population growth and learning how individual decisions and environmental conditions explain variation in productivity, but breeding locations in remote areas of the planet can hinder our ability to monitor reproductive attempts using traditional methods. The goal of this study was to develop a data-driven, machine-learning method that identified egg laying, incubation and brood rearing behaviour for two species of dabbling duck, American black ducks (Anas rubripes) and mallards (A. platyrhynchos), to measure reproductive success remotely using Global Positioning System (GPS) and tri-axial acceleration (ACC) data collected by tracking devices. We successfully developed an egg laying/early incubation model (classified as nesting or not), a full-term incubation model (non-incubating, failed incubation attempt or successful incubation attempt) and early (1-15 days post-hatch) and late (16-30 days post-hatch) brood rearing models (combined output as failed or fledged brood), which all had overall accuracies >94%. We applied our method to two large-scale datasets collected in eastern North America on black ducks and mallards and summarized data by species, age and year. We found mallards had greater breeding success than black ducks, due to higher nest propensity and brood fledging success. For each species, after second year females had higher nest propensity, nest success, and brood fledging success than second year females. Our method can be used to understand multiple fine-scale metrics of reproductive success using retrospective analysis of tracking data, should be applicable to most dabbling duck species, and could be adjusted for other taxa equipped with tracking devices that display restricted movements during breeding. Results from this approach allow hypothesis tests of environmental drivers of productivity and evaluations of their contributions to population change.
Colour Preferences in the Selection of Anthropogenic Nesting Materials in European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)
Presenter(s): KC Collings1, Colleen Barber2, Gabrielle Armstrong3, Katelyn Eisner4, Olivia Smith5, Freya Binney6
Affiliation(s): 1. Saint Mary’s University, 2. Saint Mary’s University, 3. Saint Mary’s University, 4. Saint Mary’s University, 5. Saint Mary’s University, 6. Saint Mary’s University
Session: Session 1: Urban Ecology
Time: 2026-10-06 15:30 UTC
Abstract
Urban birds often incorporate anthropogenic materials into their nests. However, the factors that determine material selection remain unclear. Visual cues, such as colour, may influence birds’ choice of nesting material. European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), are a cavity-nesting songbird species observed to incorporate anthropogenic materials into their nests. Males build most of the nest as means to attract a mate and females help finish the construction. Although materials can be selected and added to nests, they can also later be thrown out rather than being further incorporated. This study investigates whether wild starlings exhibit a preference for certain colours of anthropogenic nesting materials. We provided birds with equal opportunity to select ribbons of five different colours (blue, gold, black, silver and white) and quantified both the colours selected from the environment and those incorporated into nests. Preliminary results indicate that certain colours are selected more often than others. Understanding the mechanisms underlying anthropogenic material selection in birds’ nests will improve our understanding of behavioural adaptations in urban environments and better inform conservation strategies.
Diet of Bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) during fall staging
Presenter(s): Charlotte Toner1, Wendy Monk2, Joe Nocera3
Affiliation(s): 1. University of New Brunswick, 2. University of New Brunswick, 3. University of New Brunswick
Session: Session 2: Foraging Ecology and Diet
Time: 2026-10-06 16:30 UTC
Abstract
Agricultural ecosystems present complex trade-offs between human and conservation priorities, especially for migratory or at-risk species whose life cycles depend on managed habitats. Many avian species can provide valuable ecosystem services in agroecosystems, such as pest and weed control, yet these roles are often poorly quantified, especially during energetically demanding periods such as prior to migration. The Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) is a long-distance migratory grassland passerine and species-at-risk with a distinct knowledge gap surrounding its dietary function within ecosystems, as well as its dietary patterns during pre-migratory staging. My study examines Bobolink diet during the post-breeding, pre-migratory staging period of July and August. I collected fecal samples across eight agricultural sites in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Canada. Using DNA metabarcoding of fecal samples, I identified the dietary composition of plants and insects over time, between age groups, and in relation to plant origin and insect pest status. My results indicate that the Bobolink consumes a diverse dietary community of both plants and insects, including weeds and pests. This composition shifted significantly over time as migration approached, and insect dietary composition differed significantly between adults and juveniles. This study provides the first DNA metabarcoding analysis of the Bobolink, as well as the first fine-scale identification of the fall staging diet of the Bobolink. Together, these findings indicate that the Bobolink may contribute ecosystem services within agroecosystems while simultaneously shifting its diet to meet the energetic demands of migratory staging. By contributing to the knowledge of the Bobolink during a potentially limiting period of the life cycle, I hope to improve conservation management techniques by identifying important prey sources and emphasizing the value of this species-at-risk in agricultural ecosystems.
Disrupted Nights, Disrupted Minds: Effects of ALAN on What, Where, and When Memory in Black-capped Chickadees
Presenter(s): Aastha Saini1, Scott A MacDougall-Shackleton2
Affiliation(s): 1. Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario; Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, 2. Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario; Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario
Session: 3MT - Behaviour / Behavioural ecology
Time: 2026-10-06 20:00 UTC
Abstract
Daily rhythms of light and dark regulate most biological processes and synchronize our internal physiology with the external environment. Artificial light at night (ALAN) has become a rapidly growing environmental pollutant, disrupting these rhythms. This disruption can adversely impact humans and wildlife, especially by disturbing the sleep-wake cycle, leading to cognitive implications that impact memory consolidation. Our research investigates the impact of ALAN on memory consolidation in black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus), a passerine songbird that relies heavily on spatial memory for winter survival. Previous studies have revealed that black-capped chickadees show what, where, and when memory. For my study, I manipulated the light-dark cycles and monitored the changes in their cognition by performing WWW memory tasks. Initially, the birds searched for sunflower seeds and mealworms in trees in an indoor aviary. Then these birds were allowed to revisit those sites after either short (3 hrs) or long (125 hrs) retention intervals, and their preference for food type was recorded. We hypothesized that birds would prefer mealworms during SRI and seeds during LRI, as the mealworms in LRI were degraded, and also higher light intensity will impair their WWW memory. Preliminary data showed that control birds preferred mealworms in their first four choices for both SRI and LRI, but this was not true for the other two treatments. Further data collection is needed to confirm these trends. By demonstrating that low-intensity light pollution can degrade sleep and memory in a diurnal species, this study highlights the need to reevaluate how artificial lighting affects the cognition and behaviour of wildlife.
Distinguishing migratory stopover patterns across Blackpoll Warbler populations
Presenter(s): Jax Nasimok1, Maggie MacPherson2
Affiliation(s): 1. MSc Student, Trent University, 2. Trent University
Session: Session 1: Migration
Time: 2026-10-06 19:10 UTC
Abstract
Blackpoll Warblers (Setophaga striata; blackpolls) are one of the fastest declining passerines in North America. We lack clarity on which conservation issues are responsible for their documented decline of 92% in the past 50 years. The crosswise long-distance migration pattern of blackpolls is unique among neotropical migrants. From migration theory, we should expect that populations with longer migrations will face higher mortality rates. However, recent research has discovered the opposite. Eastern breeding blackpoll populations migrate the shortest distance and are declining significantly faster than western populations. Here, I extend what we know about blackpoll migration by using the Motus network to determine what habitat blackpolls are using during their southward migration. As part of long-term research on a collaborative research team, Motus tags are being deployed on blackpolls in Alaska, Manitoba, Québec, and Newfoundland. I will present an assessment of migration habitat quality that uses remote sensing data to quantify habitat characteristics surrounding Motus towers that blackpolls from each population pass by during their post-breeding migrations south. Future work will assess how apparent annual survival is correlated with different paces of migration, migration habitat quality, and wintering location from across the blackpoll range. Insights from this research will support regionally targeted conservation actions to improve outcomes for this rapidly declining songbird.
Do black-capped chickadees behave as predicted by optimal sampling models when tracking food availability?
Presenter(s): Megan LaRocque1, Jan Wijmenga2, Kimberley Mathot3
Affiliation(s): 1. University of Alberta, 2. University of Alberta, 3. University of Alberta
Session: Session 2: Foraging Ecology and Diet
Time: 2026-10-06 16:20 UTC
Abstract
Animals face uncertainty in every aspect of their lives. Where is the best territory? Who is the best available mate? When and where will food be available? To mitigate this uncertainty, one strategy organisms can adopt is to ‘sample’; updating their information about the state of territories, mates, and/or resources within their environment. Optimal sampling models ask: what sampling strategy should individuals adopt to maximize their fitness? In a foraging context, we can imagine an individual that encounters a patch that has recently become unprofitable. This individual must then decide how it should behave amidst this uncertainty in food availability. Should it revisit (i.e., sample) this patch later to see if the patch becomes profitable, or should it visit an alternative food patch? If an individual samples the previously encountered unprofitable patch, and the patch remains unprofitable, the individual suffers from sampling error costs. If an individual instead visits an alternative patch, but the initially unprofitable patch is now profitable, the individual misses out on exploiting this now profitable patch and experiences missed opportunity costs. Theory predicts that both sampling error and missed opportunity costs will influence individual sampling frequency. We tested these predictions using feeder visit data from a free-living winter population of black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus). We assessed how chickadee sampling frequency at empty feeders changed as a function of several variables predicted a priori to affect sampling error and/or missed opportunity costs. We found that although some factors influenced sampling frequency as predicted by optimal sampling theory, others did not. I discuss these results and propose explanations for how individual differences in sampling behaviour may influence fitness in our chickadee population.
Does wildfire-driven habitat fragmentation affect the population genetic structure of the Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus?
Presenter(s): Nikeet Pradhan1, Theresa M Burg2
Affiliation(s): 1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, 2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge
Session: Session 2: Habitat Use and Breeding Biology
Time: 2026-10-06 19:20 UTC
Abstract
Wildfire is a crucial primary disturbance in many forest ecosystems; however, anthropogenic climate change has increased its intensity, extent, and severity, drastically altering wildlife habitat and connectivity. These rapid and large-scale disturbances reduce habitat availability and impede dispersal pathways in the landscape. For forest-dependent species, it results in reduced gene flow, decreasing environmental fitness and adaptation. Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) is a resident forest species in North America, with limited dispersal and dependence on forest resources for survival, making it vulnerable to habitat fragmentation. Our study will focus on evaluating the genetic consequences of wildfire-driven habitat fragmentation in the Black-capped Chickadee by comparing genetic diversity, population connectivity, and levels of inbreeding pre- and post-fires. Our study will be conducted in central British Columbia (CBC), which has had a number of wildfire events in the last decade. We will be sampling five different sites relatively close to sites where samples were collected before the wildfire events, and genetically distinct populations were recorded. We will be using restriction-site associated DNA sequencing data to compare genetic patterns pre- and post-fires. Our study will provide a better understanding of how wildfire-induced habitat fragmentation impacts forest-dependent species population connectivity and will help inform targeted post-fire corridor restoration and conservation planning for forest-dependent species.
Estimating exposure to urban landscapes through a full annual cycle in two warbler species with geolocators and Motus
Presenter(s): Nathanya Goudreau1, Kyle Elliott & Barbara Frei2
Affiliation(s): 1. McGill University, 2. McGill University, 3. Environment and Climate Change Canada
Session: 3MT - Urban Ecology
Time: 2026-10-06 20:48 UTC
Abstract
Many migratory bird populations face ongoing declines, driven by various factors including anthropogenic threats such as cat predation, collisions, and pollution. The magnitude of their exposure to some of these threats in urban landscapes across their annual cycle remains poorly understood. We aim to quantify the urban exposure throughout the annual cycle of the urban-tolerant Yellow Warblers (Setophaga petechia) and more urban-avoidant Chestnut-sided Warblers (S. pensylvanica). We predict that a species’ association with urban areas on the breeding grounds is indicative of their exposure during the rest of the annual cycle. To test if Yellow Warblers may be more exposed to urban areas throughout the year, we deployed archival light-level geolocators on breeding birds (n=88), and radio tags on migrating individuals (n=73) in Quebec, Canada. Geolocators and radio tags revealed that Chestnut-sided warblers breeding in southern Quebec migrate along the Eastern coast and winter in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, while Yellow warblers migrate further west and winter in Colombia and Venezuela. We suggest that Chestnut-sided Warblers have the highest urban exposure during migration, and have a more urbanized migratory path than Yellow Warblers, which breed and winter in more anthropogenically disturbed sites than Chestnut-sided Warblers.
Female black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) expand foraging both temporally and spatially to mitigate interference competition
Presenter(s): Elène Haave Audet1, Kimberley Mathot2
Affiliation(s): 1. Université du Québec à Montréal, 2. University of Alberta
Session: Session 2: Foraging Ecology and Diet
Time: 2026-10-06 16:00 UTC
Abstract
Group living provides many potential benefits but can also incur important costs via competition for access to resources. Even in the absence of resource depletion, interference competition can reduce access to resources, and interference competition is not expected to affect all group members equally. In groups with dominance hierarchies, dominant individuals have priority access to resources and are therefore expected to experience lower costs of interference competition compared to subordinate individuals. We observed foraging behaviour in a population of 126 marked black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden, near Edmonton, AB. We assessed the effect of manipulating the number of feeders available with ad libitum food on chickadee feeding territories, which we assumed would affect competition intensity, on total daily feeder visits. As predicted, we found strong evidence of interference competition: reducing feeder availability by 50% reduced average per capita daily visits to feeders in our population by circa 50%. Because chickadee flocks exhibit linear dominance hierarchies, with males being dominant over females, and at least in some populations, adults being dominant over immatures, we also investigated whether there was evidence for sex- and/or age-related differences in the strength of interference competition. We found that reductions in total daily feeder visits under lower manipulated food availability were similar for all age-sex categories, suggesting that females and immatures did not experience higher interference competition despite their subordinate status relative to males and adults. Post-hoc analyses revealed that adult females expanded their foraging area, while immature females increased both the length of their foraging window and their foraging area, when the availability of feeders was reduced. We suggest that these results may indicate that females invest more to mitigate competition and manage unpredictable access to food due to their subordinate status.
Fine dining: Foraging factors affecting ecosystem monitoring using seabirds
Presenter(s): Alana Krug-MacLeod1, Jonas Hentati-Sundberg2, Kyle Elliott3
Affiliation(s): 1. McGill University University, 2. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 3. McGill University University
Session: 3MT - Foraging Ecology and Diet
Time: 2026-10-06 20:28 UTC
Abstract
Seabirds are central place foragers, and can be good indicators of prey distribution in regions such as the Arctic, where direct monitoring of prey is challenging. However, different species of seabirds make specific foraging decisions based on different combinations of factors. For example, in selecting forage locations, common murres have been observed to use both memory (foraging at sites with persistent prey) and local enhancement (foraging where conspecifics are feeding) more than information exchange at the colony. Since forage site characteristics versus colony characteristics are key for common murre foraging choice, our study focussed on at-sea factors potentially affecting foraging seabirds. We monitored thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia) and their prey at and around two Canadian Arctic islands that support different sized thick-billed murre colonies. We attached biologgers to murres’ lower back or tail feathers at the nesting sites and deployed a remotely-monitored, uncrewed sailing vessel (Sailbuoy) equipped with an echosounder to record prey presence along the Sailbuoy’s route. By overlaying GPS-linked accelerometry and hydroacoustic data collected over the same time period, we were able to test the match between thick-billed murres’ foraging effort and the spatial persistence of prey over the breeding season. This information will allow for real world comparison of seabird foraging routes and prey distribution, and reveal more about which factors affect how to use seabirds as indicators to assess the stability of ecosystems that are difficult to monitor directly.
Heat tolerance in temperate birds: predicting their vulnerability to climate change
Presenter(s): Nathan Bernier1, Anand Sachin2, François Vézina3
Affiliation(s): 1. BSc Student, Université du Québec à Rimouski, 2. Université du Québec à Rimouski, 3. Université du Québec à Rimouski
Session: 3MT - Physiology
Time: 2026-10-06 20:32 UTC
Abstract
Temperate regions are known for their short, cool spring and summer during which birds breed and must forage intensely over days to provision their offspring. Such high levels of activities increase the heat generation, which the birds must effectively dissipate to maintain their activity. However, climate warming is projected to substantially increase temperatures during the breeding period, which may cause heat stress in birds and force them to reduce their activity and thereby negatively impact nestling quality. Currently, most studies measuring the avian mechanistic responses to heat stress are from arid and desert regions, while very few studies exist on those mechanisms in birds inhabiting colder regions. As climate change increases the likelihood of extreme heat events, avian responses to higher ambient temperatures must be studied in temperate regions. In this study, we aim to measure heat dissipation capacity of pine siskins (Spinus pinus), a small resident passerine distributed across North America. During autumn 2026, we plan to measure maximum thermal conductance and heat tolerance traits i.e. evaporative heat loss, resting metabolic rate, body temperature in captive siskins while exposing them to gradually increasing temperature in a metabolic chambers. Maximum thermal conductance (Cmax), which represents the highest capacity of the bird to dissipate heat without expending additional energy, will be calculated from the body temperature, ambient temperature, oxygen consumption and water vapor loss prior to the onset of panting. Once Cmax and maximum evaporative heat dissipation capacity are quantified, we can feed them into theorical model such as the Thermoregulatory polygon. This model will allow us to predict ambient temperatures which may cause heat stress and reduce nestling provisioning, which are crucial informations to understand the effects of climate warming on temperate birds.
If you call them, will they come? Using playback to increase detectability of Canada Warbler in Northwestern Ontario
Presenter(s): Vianney Cupiche1, Geovanni Balam2, Brian McLaren3
Affiliation(s): 1. Intercultural Mayan University of Quintana Roo, 2. Independent bioloogist, 3. Lakehead University
Session: Session 1: Methods Matter
Time: 2026-10-06 16:20 UTC
Abstract
Playback is commonly used to survey birds, as it is an efficient method for censusing elusive species by increasing their detection probability. However, in Ontario Breeding Atlas surveys, playback surveys are not recommended. Then, Canada Warbler Cardellina canadensis (CAWA). Within our study region, Northwestern Ontario, this species has been historically understudied and underestimated due to low accessibility, but also because these birds are small, hard to see, and spend little time during the breeding season. However, CAWA is also known as a species that is attracted by social cues; previous studies suggested CAWA uses social cues (acoustic) for habitat choices. For these reasons, my hypothesis is that the use of playback songs/calls rather than only silent point counts will increase its detection. Through our experiment, we attempted to provide a valid insight into a more effective playback method for surveying our target species. During the breeding seasons of 2021, 2022, and 2023, I implemented a bird survey protocol using a silent period followed by playback song/calls and registered the detection of the species with and without the playback. I found that in about 70% of the cases, the bird was detected mainly after playing the songs/calls. In addition, I found that the species approached but were silent in unharvested areas, whereas in post-harvest areas they used to approach singing and/or respond with territorial calls. These results suggest that using playback protocols in bird surveys will increase the likelihood of Canada Warbler detections, especially in unharvested areas, leading to more accurate population estimates.
Impact of ambient temperature on nestling success in a Nova Scotian population of European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) over two decades
Presenter(s): Janine Mombourquette1, Colleen Barber2
Affiliation(s): 1. Saint Mary’s University, 2. Saint Mary’s University
Session: Session 2: Conservation Biology
Time: 2026-10-06 17:30 UTC
Abstract
Birds in North America are facing steep population declines. This trend has been attributed to several anthropogenic factors, and climate change is at the forefront. Many multi-brooded species now breed earlier and have prolonged breeding seasons, extending into the hotter summer months. As a result, nestlings may face increased overheating, reductions in condition, and increased mortality. Temperature effects vary by geographic location, making localized studies necessary to understand impacts on species within a region. European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), an urban-thriving passerine, are declining in North America. Starlings are double-brooded, with their breeding season occurring from April-July in eastern Canada. Using a wild, nest box breeding population of European Starlings in Halifax, Nova Scotia, we examined nestling condition and fledging success over two decades (2007-2026) and their relation to rising temperatures in our region. We predicted that nestling condition and fledging success would decrease over time as annual temperatures increase. We also predicted that late brood nestlings would be in poorer overall condition and have lower fledge success rates compared to those in early broods. Our long-term study will provide insight into how a bird species in Nova Scotia is responding to climate change.
Inbreeding leads to decreased egg success hatching in cooperatively breeding Pukeko
Presenter(s): Quinlan Mann1, Mann Quinlan2, Luo Brooke3, Mugarura Abby4, Quinn James5
Affiliation(s): 1. PhD candidate, McMaster University
Session: Session 1: Breeding Biology
Time: 2026-10-06 17:50 UTC
Abstract
Inbreeding is the mating of two closely related individuals. Inbred offspring are more likely to receive multiple copies of the same alleles. This may lead to the expression of recessive alleles, and reductions in success. Studies of many wild bird species have shown that inbreeding can lead to decreased fitness. Pukeko are noteworthy in that they regularly engage in inbreeding in parts of their range, despite the expected fitness consequences. They are also unique in that they engage in joint-laying; a breeding system with multiple females laying eggs in a shared nest. As such, we expect that each clutch will contain some eggs that are from consanguineous pairings, and some that are not. Our study aimed to explore the consequences of inbreeding in this species. We hypothesized that we would see decreased success of inbred chicks compared to outbred ones and therefore predicted that inbred chicks would fail to hatch more often when compared to outbred ones. We performed breeding bird surveys in Tawharanui Regional Park, Auckland, New Zealand where they are known to inbreed. Once we identified breeding groups and their nests, we collected blood samples from all chicks that hatched, and tissue samples from all eggs with a developed embryo that failed to hatch. We extracted DNA from samples, then genotyped all chicks using established microsatellites for the species to calculate inbreeding coefficients. We used a generalized mixed model to determine whether inbreeding coefficient impacted the probability that a chick will hatch. We found that inbred chicks were less likely to hatch than their outbred nest mates. This shows that there are decreases in fitness that occur from the frequent inbreeding, in spite of which the Pukeko persist. This warrants future work to study other aspects of their inbreeding, and whether inbreeding impacts their fitness in other ways.
Is it a mixedwood? Spatially-explicit responses to gradients in forest structure and composition in three boreal bird species
Presenter(s): Leonard Patterson1, Brendan Casey2, Erin Bayne3
Affiliation(s): 1. University of Alberta, 2. Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, 3. University of Alberta
Session: Session 2: Habitat Use and Breeding Biology
Time: 2026-10-06 19:00 UTC
Abstract
Conventional definitions of boreal mixedwood forests are based solely on tree species composition, define species composition at a relatively coarse grain, and do not explicitly address spatial scale. Such definitions may oversimplify forest characteristics that are selected for by birds, potentially biasing past attempts to identify mixedwood habitat associations. To address this knowledge gap, we used a spatially-explicit approach to understand how three boreal bird species respond to continuous gradients in deciduous-coniferous composition, the spatial configuration of coniferous trees, and forest age within mixedwood forests in Alberta, Canada. We used a boosted regression tree model to assess the influence of these habitat characteristics across multiple spatial extents (150 m, 500 m, 1000 m) and grain sizes (5 m and 30 m) on bird relative abundance. Spatial configuration was the strongest predictor for all three species. Black-throated green warbler (Setophaga virens) and bay-breasted warbler (Setophaga castanea) responded most strongly to fine-grain, local (150 m) configuration, with abundance peaking in intimately mixed stands. Tennessee warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) responded most strongly to configuration at the broadest extent (1000 m), also favoring intimate mixtures. The proportion of conifer and forest age consistently emerged as the second and third most important predictors, respectively. Predicted abundance on synthetic landscapes showed consistently higher abundance (~ 4-10 times higher) in intimate versus segregated mixedwoods. Our results demonstrate that species-specific and spatially-explicit mixedwood definitions that include conifer spatial configuration better capture bird habitat use than composition alone. Preserving or restoring intimate mixtures of coniferous and deciduous tree species at fine spatial scales may be particularly beneficial for our focal species.
Linking incubation behavior of Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) to the timing of breeding
Presenter(s): Emilie Knighton1, Rodger Titman2, Nicolas Lecomte3, Mark Mallory and Shawn Craik4
Affiliation(s): 1. PhD Student, Université Sainte-Anne, 2. Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University University, 3. Département de biologie, Université de Moncton, 4. Department of Biology, Acadia University, 5. Département des sciences, Université Sainte-Anne
Session: Session 1: Breeding Biology
Time: 2026-10-06 17:20 UTC
Abstract
Incubating birds are expected to balance their energetic demands with thermal requirements of developing embryos. We explored whether clutch sizes were linked to nest attendance patterns in Red-breasted Mergansers (Mergus serrator), a sea duck in which conspecific brood parasitism is common, and females are solely responsible for incubation. We used nest temperature data to determine incubation period lengths, incubation constancy, and daily frequency and duration of incubation recesses by females at 15 successful nests. Maximum clutch sizes during incubation ranged from 6 to 19 eggs and the five largest clutches were parasitized by conspecifics. Clutch size was a poor predictor of incubation parameters, but mergansers initiating incubation later in the season had 3.6 d shorter incubation periods. We hypothesize that particularly warm nest temperatures later in the season (late July-early Aug) minimized daily variation in egg temperatures, thereby leading to shorter incubation periods for late-nesting females.
Longer-distance migrations are not associated with higher productivity in a declining, aerial insectivore, Purple Martin (Progne subis).
Presenter(s): Vinuri Mendis1, Joe Siegrist2, Kevin Fraser3
Affiliation(s): 1. University of Manitoba, 2. Purple Martin Conservation Association, 3. University of Manitoba
Session: Session 1: Migration
Time: 2026-10-06 19:30 UTC
Abstract
Longer-distance migrations by neotropical birds are expected to be associated with higher energy costs and lower survival, but may be compensated for by more food, longer daylengths, and fewer predators at more northern latitudes, resulting in higher productivity to offset the costs. However, there have been few empirical tests of these patterns and new conditions with climate change may limit the benefits of long-distance migration. We investigated the association between migration distance and nest productivity by using a rare, 30-year dataset (1995 – 2024) of over 100,000 nest monitoring records of the eastern subspecies of purple martin (Progne subis subis), spanning their entire North American breeding range (25–54° N). We analyzed the variation in clutch size and three measures of nest success across breeding latitude (where the most northern breeders migrate the furthest). We found strong latitudinal patterns of clutch size and nest success, where the most northern and southern breeders had the highest clutch sizes and fledged the most young, with intermediate latitudes showing lower productivity. Overall, these results contrast predictions that longer-distance migrations are compensated for by higher productivity at more northern latitudes. Further, regions with lower nest success in our study align with patterns of population decline in this species, suggesting a connection between productivity and population trends in this declining aerial insectivore. These findings overall highlight the importance of considering both spatial and temporal variation when determining the effects of migration distance on reproductive success and may help to explain steeper population declines in migratory songbirds.
Migratory stopover habitat use of songbirds in a highly urbanized green space
Presenter(s): Linda Nong1, Barbara Frei2, Kyle Elliott3
Affiliation(s): 1. MSc Student, McGill University University, 2. Environment and Climate Change Canada, 3. McGill University University
Session: Session 1: Urban Ecology
Time: 2026-10-06 15:40 UTC
Abstract
Urban development continues to replace natural landscapes as human populations grow, and urban landscapes are a matrix of novel resources and threats to birds. Cities are often built along migratory routes and migrating birds are further attracted to these regions by artificial light at night. Previous research has demonstrated that migrating songbirds commonly stopover in or near cities, yet there is limited information on their fine-scale habitat use during stopovers in urban green spaces. Conserving and managing these spaces is critical to provide habitat for birds during this energetically stressful period of their annual cycle. Our overall objective is to quantify stopover duration, habitat use, and diet selection of boreal-breeding passerines in a 108-ha multi-use urban park in Montreal, Canada by tagging, radio-tracking, and collecting fecal samples from birds during the post-breeding migratory period. Preliminary results from a pilot season at this park suggest that stopover lengths (9.6 ± 7.3 days, n=24) and temporary home range sizes (9.05 ± 8.75 -ha; 95% KDE, n=9) are highly variable among our eight focal species. Future analyses will include resource selection functions to quantify fine-scale habitat use and fecal DNA metabarcoding to compare diets of birds at the urban park with a nearby peri-urban site. This work is done in collaboration with local municipal land managers with the goal of providing advice on urban green space management for migratory bird conservation.
Modernization of Bicknell’s thrush (Catharus bicknelli) survey methods using PAM with audio-classification algorithms
Presenter(s): Alexandre Ethier1, Junior Tremblay2, Marc Mazerolle3
Affiliation(s): 1. MSc student, Forest sciences, Université Laval, 2. PhD, Researcher, Environment and Climate Change Canada and affiliated professor, Université Laval, 3. Professor and researcher, Université Laval
Session: 3MT - Bioacoustics
Time: 2026-10-06 20:04 UTC
Abstract
As the need to monitor living species increases, traditional wildlife survey methods are often replaced by more efficient and less costly alternatives. Passive Acoustic Monitoring (hereafter PAM) has gained popularity in wildlife studies and is described as the gathering of acoustic data from sound-producing species virtually anywhere, at any time of day. Although this method offers crucial insights on wildlife ecology, PAM generates a large volume of data, which can be tedious since expertise and extensive effort are required to manually validate data. However, recent advances in bioacoustics allow scientists to pair PAM with audio-classification algorithms that are trained to recognize species-specific vocalizations, thereby reducing cost and resources needed. This benefits the monitoring of focal species with little-known ecology or cryptic behavior and helps expand the spatial and temporal footprint of species surveys. This is the case for the Bicknell’s thrush (Catharus bicknelli), an endangered boreal forest-dwelling bird in Canada. Most of its breeding territory is found in Québec’s highlands, at 800 m and above, in dense, regenerated balsam fir (Abies balsamea) stands. Since 2013, a mandatory survey of Bicknell’s thrush has been required to assess impact of future development projects on targeted habitat. As pressure on the species’ habitat is increasing, there is a need to adequately monitor and protect populations through more informed management mitigation measures. The main objective was to develop a standardized PAM methodology with audio-classification algorithms to efficiently process Bicknell’s thrush acoustic data on breeding grounds. The use of resulting protocol and recommendations is intended to standardize impact-assessment methods across Québec on one of the most elusive bird species in Canada. We surveyed Bicknell’s thrush in known breeding sites over four years to test and evaluate the performance of our proposed methods with different open-source algorithms.
Nest reuse by Least Flycatchers
Presenter(s): Emelie Dykstra1, Geoff Holroyd2
Affiliation(s): 1. Beaverhill Bird Observatory
Session: Session 1: Breeding Biology
Time: 2026-10-06 17:10 UTC
Abstract
Least Flycatchers are the most common nesting species in the aspen-balsam forest of the Beaverhill Natural Area in central Alberta. In 2022 Myrthe Van Brempt et al found that Least Flycatchers produce more eggs and young than elsewhere, have very high nest success, and have the highest breeding density in North America. Subsequently, they determined a shift to earlier autumn migration. Recently, we determined that nests were surviving the winter and being reused by Least Flycatchers. This talk will discuss the frequency and timing of nest reuse, and apparent benefits and possible risks of this unusual behavior. Nest reuse does not appear to be implicated in shift to earlier migration.
Nest site selection of urban Spotted Towhees (Pipilo maculatus): Evidence of an ecological trap or predator shield?
Presenter(s): Triana Hohn1, David Green2, Elizabeth Gow3
Affiliation(s): 1. Simon Fraser University, 2. Simon Fraser University, 3. Environment and Climate Change Canada
Session: Session 1: Urban Ecology
Time: 2026-10-06 15:50 UTC
Abstract
An ecological trap occurs when an animal shows a preference for a habitat that ultimately has negative fitness consequences. Birds nesting in urban areas may be particularly vulnerable to ecological traps. Alternatively, some parts of urban areas may act as shields, when human presence function as a deterrent to some common nest predators. Open-cup, ground-nesting birds are considered susceptible to disturbance from human recreation and predation by urban predators. Urban breeding Spotted Towhees (Pipilo maculatus) often nest in dense and shrubby habitat along edges, thus are a good study system to test for ecological traps. In urban areas, these edges often border walkways which may alter disturbance or predation risk due to human activity. From 2022-2025 we found and monitored 407 Spotted Towhee nests across five greenspaces of varying degree of urbanization within Metro Vancouver, British Columbia. We examined how daily nest survival and reproductive success are impacted by natural and anthropogenic factors across multiple spatial scales ranging from the level of nest sites to the entire urban greenspace. We also tested whether nesting decisions of Spotted Towhees breeding in urban greenspaces create an ecological trap or provide a shield from predation. We found that nest survival and the number of fledglings produced were both affected by weather and probability of nest survival increased with increasing degree of urbanization. We showed that Spotted Towhees preferably nest close to anthropogenic edges, like paths, but found that these edges are not functioning as a trap for towhees during the nesting stage because the distance to edge did not significantly impact nest survival or number of fledglings produced. Our findings support the hypothesis that human dominated environments benefit some native species, potentially through a shield phenomenon, highlighting the potential role urban environments can have for bird conservation.
Nest-site selection by Hudsonian Godwits (Limosa haemastica) in the Hudson Bay Lowlands, Ontario
Presenter(s): Abbey Lewis1, Glen Brown2
Affiliation(s): 1. MSc Student, Trent University, 2. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Session: Session 2: Habitat Use and Breeding Biology
Time: 2026-10-06 19:40 UTC
Abstract
Climate change is expected to alter habitat suitability and increase predation risk for the federally Threatened Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) on their breeding grounds in the Hudson Bay Lowlands (HBL). Godwits have declined substantially in abundance over recent decades, but knowledge gaps regarding nesting requirements and habitat use limit conservation planning in Ontario. Our research aims to fill those gaps and investigate how variation in resource availability and predation risk on the landscape influences nest-site selection. As cryptic nesters, we expected Godwits to select for features that enhanced concealment and reduced predation risk; so, selecting for greater vegetation height, shrub cover, and distance from features like tundra ridges and trees. We collected high-resolution drone imagery covering a 70 m x 70 m area centered on fifteen Godwit nests in Polar Bear Provincial Park, Ontario from 2023 – 2025. Using that imagery, we generated land classification maps characterizing the habitat at each nest. We then tested for differences in habitat features and vegetation heights across spatial scales and between used (nest) and available sites. Findings revealed selection for nests with significantly taller vegetation within 1m2 compared to broader spatial scales and surrounding available habitat. Across all spatial scales, nests consistently featured dry graminoid fen, graminoid hummocks, and shrubs, and were rarely or never near exposed ground, flooded fen, water, trees, or ridges. Wet graminoid fen was selected against at the immediate nest site but included in the broader territory. Findings align with previous work on Alaskan and Manitoban breeding grounds, but contrastingly, no Godwits in this study nested near open water. Overall, this research provides insight into fine-scale nest-site selection by Hudsonian Godwits and suggests they may lose habitat suitability in the HBL as the boreal treeline expands northward into graminoid fen.
Seed dispersal potential of Canadian migratory songbirds
Presenter(s): Tamara Sturch1, Matt Fuirst and Kevin Fraser2
Affiliation(s): 1. University of Manitoba, 2. Birds Canada, 3. University of Manitoba
Session: Session 2: Foraging Ecology and Diet
Time: 2026-10-06 16:40 UTC
Abstract
Globally approximately 50% of woody plants rely on some form of animal mediated seed dispersal. Birds are one of the most important groups of seed dispersers due to their diversity in diet and their ability to move seeds. Movement of plants via birds has important implications for community structure and function as they can facilitate range expansions and genetic rescue for native and non-native plants. As landscape fragmentation increases and climate change advances, plant-bird interactions will have increasing significance for the adaption of plants. We are investigating the seed dispersal potential of Canadian migratory songbirds by comparing spring and fall movement of seeds, determining the potential for long distance dispersal of seeds by birds during migratory flights, and quantifying the viability of seeds dispersed by birds. We are using a combination of fecal samples collected from three migration monitoring stations in Ontario and Manitoba and stomach content analysis of window killed migratory birds collected by the Fatal Light Awareness Program in Toronto, to identify and quantify plant seeds carried by different bird species over the two migratory seasons. We assessed seed viability through tetrazolium and germination tests. Results to date indicate that 37% of fecal samples obtained from birds intercepted during migration at Long Point Bird Observatory in fall 2025, and 22% of stomach contents obtained from birds killed during fall and spring migration in Toronto 2024 contained plant seeds, including species in the genera Cornus, Juniperus, Parthenocissus, Rhamnus, Viburnum, and Vitis. Avian dispersers of plant seeds included Cedar Waxwing, Catharus thrushes, American Robin, Red-eyed Vireo, and White-throated Sparrow. These preliminary findings suggest that migratory birds may commonly move plant seeds during their migrations, shaping communities of native and non-native plants in Canada.
Short-term survival of mallards following external transmitter attachment
Presenter(s): Cassidy Waldrep1, Madeline Ward2, John Coluccy3, Joshua Stiller4, Jacob Straub5, Nathaniel Huck6, Ted Barney7, Abigail Butler8, Austin Damminger9, Shawn Meyer10, Theodore Nichols11, Daria Sparks12, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources13, Mathieu Tétreault14, Mitch Weegman15
Affiliation(s): 1. University of Saskatchewan, 2. University of Saskatchewan, 3. Ducks Unlimited, Inc, 4. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 5. SUNY Brockport, 6. Pennsylvania Game Commission, 7. Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 8. SUNY Brockport, 9. New Jersey Fish and Wildlife, 10. Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 11. New Jersey Fish and Wildlife, 12. SUNY Brockport, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, 13. Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 14. University of Saskatchewan
Session: Session 1: Methods Matter
Time: 2026-10-06 16:30 UTC
Abstract
Estimating survival across different life-cycle stages is essential for contextualizing population patterns, developing species-specific conservation plans, and determining when data should be censored. This is particularly critical for migratory animals, such as waterfowl, as they experience diverse environmental conditions throughout their life. Capturing waterfowl for external transmitter attachment allows researchers to collect abundant movement and behavioural data across spatial and temporal gradients, but can expose birds to additional stress due to prolonged handling, sometimes leading to mortality. To determine if a data-censoring period is necessary and to understand the effects of the project’s capture and device attachment on mallard survival, we estimated the post-release survival of 1,263 tagged female mallards banded as part of the Eastern Mallard Project. We investigated the effects of individual bander, age, body mass, and temperature over a 15-day post-capture period using a Bayesian known-fate logistic exposure model. We found that mallards had a period survival rate of 0.97, with the greatest mortality during the first two days after capture and during extended exposure to cold temperatures, regardless of body mass or age. The majority of banders had negligible effects on daily survival, yet 12% had negative effects compared to the grand mean. We recommend that practitioners consider incorporating as few banders as feasible to deploy tracking devices for a given study design and spatial scale of deployments, because we anticipate that greater experience and consistency are easier to achieve with fewer people. Our results demonstrate the importance of contextualizing post-release survival in large tracking device projects, as environmental stressors and banding practices vary.
Shout, shout, let it all out: Examining amplitude as a factor of negative-assortative mating in white-throated sparrows
Presenter(s): Kyle Fisher1, Jennifer Foote2
Affiliation(s): 1. Algoma University, 2. Algoma University
Session: 3MT - Bioacoustics
Time: 2026-10-06 20:08 UTC
Abstract
Song is a crucial aspect of sexual selection in songbirds, and is often an indicator of male quality. Song amplitude is a dynamic trait that birds can vary within and among songs. However, how song amplitude variation within songs reflects song quality has not been well examined. White-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) genetic morphs (tan or white-striped) differ in their vocal behaviour but share the same two song types (up songs ascend in frequency between notes while down songs descend in frequency). Tan-striped males are preferred as mates yet sing less often than white-striped males. Thus, it is likely that differing structural components of song by morph may contribute to mate choice. Song amplitude has not been studied with respect to negative-assortative mating patterns in white-throated sparrows, nor has it been compared among up and down songs. We recorded song amplitude of white-throated sparrows using a field-portable recorder in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, in the 2025 breeding season. We measured absolute amplitude of the whole song, as well as both absolute and relative amplitude of each note using bioacoustics software. We found that morphs did not differ significantly in absolute or relative amplitude of notes. However, we demonstrate that up songs increase in amplitude across the song, while down songs decrease in amplitude across the song. White-striped males singing up songs had higher mean and minimum song amplitude than those who sang down songs. Tan-striped males did not differ in amplitude for either song type. Our preliminary work suggests that song amplitude may be a feature that receivers could use to assess morph of mates or rivals.
Single-photon LiDAR shows promise for boreal bird habitat modelling in Ontario
Presenter(s): Wren Coxson1, Jake Pott2, Baoxin Hu3, Stephen Mayor4, Jennifer Foote5
Affiliation(s): 1. Algoma University, 2. York University, 3. York University, 4. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Algoma University, 5. Algoma University
Session: Session 1: Methods Matter
Time: 2026-10-06 16:40 UTC
Abstract
Forest structural diversity has enabled the evolution and coexistence of diverse songbird communities in the boreal. Declines in many species have been tied to forest degradation, but we still lack a nuanced understanding of how fine scale habitat changes translate to landscape scale population impacts. Airborne laser scanning using LiDAR is quickly emerging as a tool for making this connection. Ontario has recently collected scans province-wide, using newly developed single-photon LiDAR (SPL) technology to produce a denser LiDAR dataset than is available elsewhere in Canada. Using a passive acoustic monitoring dataset from Mushkegowuk Cree territory in boreal northeast Ontario, I am completing the first multi-species test of SPL for wildlife habitat modelling. I predict that species-specific, niche-focused metrics derived from SPL data will allow more accurate species distribution modelling than has previously been possible, with some limitations imposed by lower canopy penetration of SPL than traditional LiDAR. For 91 study plots, I have calculated a set of standardized SPL habitat metrics across a range of spatial scales. By calculating single-species, single-metric response curves at each spatial scale for focal species with diverse habitat requirements, I have taken the first steps toward developing and testing niche-focused SPL metrics for boreal songbird modeling. Preliminary results show good predictive power of many test metrics for species using tree trunk and upper canopy niches, with species-specific differences in response to individual metrics that make biological sense. For shrub and forest floor associated species, few metrics have significant predictive power, but there still appear to be avenues for developing effective niche-focused metrics. This paves the way for comparisons of species distribution models using field data, basic SPL habitat metrics, and more refined niche-focused metrics.
Smells like brood parasitism: a field experiment testing Northern Yellow Warbler responses to Brown-headed Cowbird odour at the nest
Presenter(s): David Burghardt1, Leanne Grieves2
Affiliation(s): 1. University of Saskatchewan, 2. University of Saskatchewan
Session: Session 1: Breeding Biology
Time: 2026-10-06 17:30 UTC
Abstract
Brood parasitism is when an individual lays their eggs in another’s nest, imposing the costs of raising those offspring on the parasitized individual (the host). In North America, northern yellow warblers (Setophaga aestiva) are frequently parasitized by brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater), which decreases their breeding success. Northern yellow warblers have evolved defensive behaviours in response to cowbird visual and acoustic cues, but whether they use olfactory cues is unknown. My study addressed this research gap by testing how female cowbird odour impacts egg ejection and nest abandonment in these hosts. I applied preen oil from female cowbirds (threat odour) and female yellow-rumped warblers (Setophaga coronata, non-threat odour), and a no odour control to unparasitized yellow warbler nests during egg laying. I recorded host responses to these odours using trail cameras at the nest. Overall, nests treated with the threat and non-threat heterospecific odours elicited greater responsiveness to the area of treatment than controls. Hosts more frequently inspected the odour treated rim of the nest, oriented themselves toward the treatment location, and checked the status of their eggs. Although no instances of nest abandonment or egg ejection were observed, the increased behavioural responses to both heterospecific odours suggests that yellow warblers may be capable of recognizing foreign odour at the nest. These results provide evidence that olfactory cues may contribute information that the host can use in combination with visual and auditory to respond and defend against intruders at the nest.
Song and parental care: good dads sing simple songs
Presenter(s): Sarah Dobney1, Hayley Spina2, Ryan Norris3, Heather Williams4, Stephanie Doucet5, Daniel Mennill6
Affiliation(s): 1. University of Windsor, 2. University of Guelph, 3. University of Guelph, 4. Williams College, 5. University of Windsor, 6. University of Windsor
Session: Session 1: Breeding Biology
Time: 2026-10-06 17:40 UTC
Abstract
Elaborate bird songs are important for mate choice in many species. Song features may provide information about male parental behaviour or genetic quality. Using a field-based study of Savannah Sparrows in eastern Canada, we explored the relationship between male song and male parental behaviour. We measured male song rate and song structural features from audio recordings. We measured male provisioning rate from video recordings at nest sites. We found that male provisioning rate varied with song complexity: males who produced more introductory notes fed offspring less often. Given this relationship, we suggest that females may use male song to infer male parental behaviour when choosing a breeding partner. Upcoming genetic analysis of paternity will allow us to assess whether this relationship also influences genetic parentage. Investigating how male song features relate to parental care and female choice will improve our understanding of how reproductive behaviour is shaped by selection.
Spatiotemporal variation in foraging behaviour and diet of breeding black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)
Presenter(s): Elora Edon1, Arnaud Tarroux2, Signe Christensen-Dalsgaard3, Manuel Ballesteros 4, Eeva Soininen5
Affiliation(s): 1. The Arctic University of Norway, UiT, 2. Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, 3. Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, 4. Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, 5. The Arctic University of Norway, Climate-ecological Observatory for Arctic Tundra
Session: Session 2: Foraging Ecology and Diet
Time: 2026-10-06 15:30 UTC
Abstract
Seabirds are experiencing global population declines, driven by multiple pressures including climate change and human activities. The black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) is no exception to this trend and is currently classified as endangered on the Norwegian Red List. Therefore, understanding the patterns of seasonal distribution and foraging behaviour is a crucial step towards a better knowledge of the ecology and foraging strategies of this species. In this study, I explored the drivers shaping habitat selection in kittiwakes during the breeding season on Anda island, northern Norway. I used 12-year GPS tracking and reproductive rate data and combined them with information on diet based on 5 years of regurgitation samples collected from instrumented birds. The results showed that kittiwakes primarily used coastal habitats but relied on oceanic habitats as an alternative foraging habitat. Although the use of those two habitats varied substantially among years, kittiwakes appeared to track similar environmental niches rather than a fixed preferred habitat. However, greater reliance on oceanic habitats was associated with lower reproductive success, suggesting that increased use of distant offshore habitats may involve reproductive costs. Kittiwakes therefore appear to respond to a highly dynamic marine environment by adjusting their foraging behaviour. Taking this flexibility into consideration in conservation measures may help protect the habitats and prey resources needed to reduce further population decline.
Spring Migration Strategies and Carryover Effects on Reproductive Success in Branta canadensis interior
Presenter(s): Laura Wallace1, Glen Brown2, Rodney Brook3
Affiliation(s): 1. Trent University, 2. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 3. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Session: Session 1: Migration
Time: 2026-10-06 19:20 UTC
Abstract
Arrival timing on breeding grounds is closely tied to reproductive success in migratory waterfowl. Better understanding of spring migration characteristics and carryover effects on annual productivity is needed to inform sustainable harvest management. Updated assessments of these population dynamics are notably important to guide harvest management decisions of the declining Southern Hudson Bay (SHB) population of Canada geese (Branta canadensis interior). Canada geese are the most harvested goose species across eastern North America, and SHB Canada geese are both culturally important and a key resource for subsistence hunters in Ontario’s northern communities. We investigated spring migration strategies of SHB Canada geese to assess how environmental conditions influence arrival timing and subsequent nesting success. From 2022–2025, we deployed 151 Ornitela GPS–GSM neck collar transmitters on adult breeding females, generating high-resolution movement data throughout the annual cycle. Using linear mixed effects models, we evaluated how snowmelt and temperature influence migration characteristics, and how those characteristics relate to nest success. Migration timing varied substantially among individuals, with arrivals to breeding areas ranging from mid-April to early May. Preliminary results indicate that regional snowmelt and temperature strongly influence the number and duration of migratory stopovers. Canada geese typically follow the snowline closely during spring migration, and some individuals arrived ahead of snowmelt and staged at lower latitudes until conditions improved. Importantly, later-arriving individuals exhibited lower nesting success, suggesting that delayed arrival may reduce reproductive performance. Our findings clarify spring migration strategies of the Southern Hudson Bay Population of Canada geese and highlight the importance of timely arrival for breeding success. Early arrival may benefit geese as spring phenology advances under climate change, yet mismatches between arrival timing and local environmental conditions could still affect productivity.
Testing models of optimal caching: does intensity of feeder use change diurnal foraging patterns in black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus)
Presenter(s): Mechelle Goulart1, Ipshita Gayen2, Nathan Hobbs3, Kimberley Mathot4
Affiliation(s): 1. University of Alberta, 2. University of Alberta, 3. University of Alberta, 4. University of Alberta
Session: Session 2: Foraging Ecology and Diet
Time: 2026-10-06 16:50 UTC
Abstract
Many birds collect and store food for later use, called caching. Theoretical models predict that caching effort will be concentrated in a single peak during the day, though the precise timing of that peak depends on multiple factors. We studied diurnal patterns of feeder use in a population of 50 individually marked black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) in late summer. We used total daily feeder visits (1 visit ≈ 1 sunflower seed) as a proxy for caching intensity because daily feeder visits (range 11 – 339 feeder visits per bird per day) often exceeded required intake of about 45 sunflower seeds for chickadees at this time of year, consistent with a range of caching effort. Overall, chickadees exhibited bimodal foraging patterns. Further, we found that chickadees increased absolute feeder use throughout the entire day to accommodate increases in total daily feeder visits, as opposed to the single peak predicted by theoretical models of caching. Post-hoc analyses revealed that this population-level effect was driven by individual differences; some chickadees increased morning feeder visits with increasing total daily feeder visits, while others increased midday or end-of-day feeder visits. Future work should investigate drivers of these individual differences, including the role of interference competition.
The Bird Who Cried Wolf: Hudsonian Whimbrels as Sentinel Alarm Callers in the Canadian Subarctic
Presenter(s): Mark Duchene1, Paul Smith2, Janet Ng3, Maggie MacPherson4, Erica Nol5
Affiliation(s): 1. Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, 2. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, 3. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Regina, Saskatchewan, 4. Department of Biology, Trent University, 5. Department of Biology, Trent University
Session: Session 2: Habitat Use and Breeding Biology
Time: 2026-10-06 19:30 UTC
Abstract
Aggressive behaviours, including alarm calling and predator mobbing, are frequently used by nesting birds to deter predators and improve reproductive success. These behaviours also provide opportunities for nearby nesting birds of other species to eavesdrop and glean information about predator threats, thereby reducing their nest predation risk. In the subarctic, whimbrels (Numenius spp.) frequently engage in aggressive alarm calling that may reduce nest predation risk and improve reproductive success of nearby nesting shorebirds. This has been suggested in Europe between Bar-tailed Godwits (Limosa lapponica) and Eurasian Whimbrels (N. phaeopus), where godwits choose their nest sites after whimbrels do and place them closer to whimbrels than expected by chance, possibly for protection. However, the influence of whimbrels on the incubation behaviour of nearby shorebirds has not been documented. Furthermore, nesting associations remain unexplored for other whimbrel species, such as the Hudsonian Whimbrel (N. hudsonicus) in North America. My research tests whether Hudsonian Whimbrel alarm calls affect the incubation behaviours of two co-occurring shorebirds, Short-billed Dowitchers (Limnodromus griseus) and Dunlins (Calidris alpina) in fen ecosystems near Churchill, Manitoba. To do so, I video-recorded incubating individuals during playback experiments featuring a randomized sequence of: 1) Hudsonian Whimbrel alarm calls, 2) Short-billed Dowitcher alarm calls, 3) Dunlin alarm calls, and 4) a sympatric frog chorus control (Boreal Chorus Frog, Pseudacris maculata; and Wood Frog, Lithobates sylvaticus), each separated by a 10-minute latency period. Fieldwork occurred in the summer of 2026, with results to be presented. As Hudsonian Whimbrels rapidly decline, this study may demonstrate their importance in shaping shorebird antipredator strategies and nest success in the Canadian subarctic. Doing so would provide justification to uplist their conservation status, consequently benefitting their entire shorebird nesting community.
The Global Urban Bird Survey
Presenter(s): Paul J Preston1, Islamiat Abidemi Raji2, Daniel J Mennill3, Paul R Martin4, Lynn B Martin5, Alex M Syingi6, Massamba Thiam7, Guiherme Serpa8, Frances Bonier9
Affiliation(s): 1. Queen’s University, 2. Cornell University, 3. University of Windsor, 4. Queen’s University, 5. University of South Florida, 6. National Museum of Kenya, 7. Universite Cheikh Anta Diop, 8. Serpa Birding, 9. Queen’s University
Session: Session 1: Urban Ecology
Time: 2026-10-06 16:00 UTC
Abstract
Birds are a vital component of urban biodiversity worldwide, yet accurately measuring their abundance and diversity is challenging because most survey methods are not designed for dense urban environments. Surveys are often limited to green spaces, wealthier neighborhoods and high-income countries, hindering our understanding of how birds use all urban habitats. We developed and evaluated the Global Urban Bird Survey, an inclusive method for surveying urban birds across diverse city environments. Local experts trained and coordinated community members, who conducted repeated surveys using acoustic monitors in five cities between 2022 and 2024: Dakar, Nairobi, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, and Toronto. Survey locations were selected via a stratified block-randomized design within city cores, ensuring unbiased coverage across habitats. We compared the performance of the Global Urban Bird Survey with eBird, a widely used community science platform, to assess species richness, occurrence, and spatial coverage. eBird detected significantly higher mean species richness than the Global Urban Bird Survey in Dakar, Nairobi, Paris, and Rio de Janeiro, while no significant difference was observed in Toronto. However, eBird’s spatial coverage was substantially lower than that of the Global Urban Bird Survey, particularly in low-income cities. The Global Urban Bird Survey provides a robust, scalable approach to monitoring urban avian biodiversity across a range of habitats and socioeconomic contexts. Broader, more representative sampling of urban environments is critical for understanding global patterns of biodiversity. Community-based acoustic monitoring complements existing citizen science efforts, offering a tool for inclusive conservation planning and informed urban biodiversity management worldwide
The Road to Winter: Linking Departure, Settlement, and Selection in Greater Sage-Grouse
Presenter(s): Jordan Reynolds1, Dr Brad Fedy2
Affiliation(s): 1. University of Waterloo
Session: Session 1: Migration
Time: 2026-10-06 19:00 UTC
Abstract
Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) winter habitat is typically delineated from where birds are found, treating occupancy as a single outcome rather than the product of nested decisions made at different scales. We decomposed overwintering into its components: when birds departed, where they could have settled, where they did settle, and what they used once settled. We tracked 43 greater sage-grouse in northeastern Wyoming from 2017 – 2022, defining each individual’s departure-to-settlement transition from net squared displacement changepoints rather than fixed calendar dates. Realized winter ranges were compared against potential ranges along each bird’s own trajectory, then against the broader study area (second order), and GPS fixes against availability within each bird’s range (third order), with collinear covariates screened a priori and candidate models ranked by AICc with k-fold cross-validation. Winter range placement was best explained by eastness, terrain ruggedness, topographic position, vegetation height, and sagebrush cover. Where greater sage-grouse avoided rugged terrain and selected for areas with higher vegetation cover and height (e.g., sagebrush and shrubs). Selection for taller, denser sagebrush at the scale of range placement suggests birds commit to areas where shrub structure is likely to remain exposed above snowpack across an entire winter, rather than locating such cover opportunistically once settled. Avoidance of rugged terrain is consistent with both the energetic cost of movement through snow and the tendency of broken terrain to accumulate drifts.
Thirty-seven years of change in an Arctic tundra bird community on Qikiqtaruk–Herschel Island, Yukon
Presenter(s): Maya Wade1, Isla Myers-Smith2, Cameron Eckert3, Richard Gordon4, Qikiqtaruk Territorial Park Rangers5
Affiliation(s): 1. University of British Columbia Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, 2. University of British Columbia, 3. Yukon Parks, 4. Yukon Parks, 5. Yukon Parks
Session: Session 2: Conservation Biology
Time: 2026-10-06 17:40 UTC
Abstract
Climate warming is driving the expansion of woody shrubs across the Arctic tundra, reshaping habitats critical to over 200 bird species. Shrub expansion is already altering avian ranges, behaviours, and population dynamics, yet the magnitude of these effects and the diversity of species affected remain unclear. We examined whether the breeding bird community on Qikiqtaruk–Herschel Island, Yukon, has changed over the past 37 years and whether these changes are associated with increasing tundra greenness. Using 37 years (1990–2026) of annual June breeding bird surveys conducted by Yukon Parks, we tested for long-term changes in community composition using multivariate statistical analyses. We found that the tundra bird community composition shifted significantly and was largely driven by species turnover. Species richness and Shannon diversity exhibited small but significant positive trends over the study period. Several shrub-associated species such as American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) and Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) have increased, while many open-tundra-nesting species like Baird’s Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) and Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) have decreased. Environmental vector fitting identified maximum annual NDVI, a proxy for tundra greenness that reflects vegetation change such as shrub expansion, as the strongest predictor of these compositional shifts. These findings support the hypothesis that climate-driven vegetation change is contributing to the long-term restructuring of tundra bird communities, with potential consequences for the persistence of open-tundra specialist species.
Tracking nocturnal migration through flight calls: Insights from Motus Audio, a Canada-wide acoustic monitoring system
Presenter(s): Madison Bygrove1, Natalie Emerick2, Dan Mennill3
Affiliation(s): 1. University of Windsor, 2. University of Windsor, 3. University of Windsor
Session: 3MT - Bioacoustics
Time: 2026-10-06 20:12 UTC
Abstract
Many migratory birds produce short nocturnal flight calls while traveling at night, providing species-specific acoustic signals that offer a powerful, non-invasive method for monitoring migration. Despite their growing use in migration research, the geographic and temporal patterns in flight call activity remain poorly understood. In this project, we investigate how nocturnal flight call activity in migratory birds varies among major flyways across Canada. We established a Canada-wide acoustic monitoring network—the Motus Audio Network—comprising 100 custom-built autonomous recording units deployed across diverse habitats and migratory regions from coast to coast. We collected nightly recordings during spring and fall migration and identified flight calls using Nighthawk, a machine-learning algorithm that identifies nocturnal flight calls to the species or species-group level. The Motus Audio Network enables near-real-time monitoring of migration patterns across geographic scales that would be nearly impossible to achieve through traditional surveys alone. At 100 sites spanning from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland, we quantified the timing and magnitude of peak flight call activity during spring 2026 across four major migratory flyways. We predicted that each migratory flyway would show distinct peaks in migration timing, reflected by increases in flight call activity. Our research provides the first country-wide acoustic quantification of migration timing at a continental scale while providing species-specific insights into nocturnal migration. A deeper understanding of flight call patterns improves our ability to accurately predict migratory movements, identify high-risk areas, and inform conservation strategies aimed at reducing threats to nocturnally migrating birds in Canada.
Unforeseen effects of invasive birds on native birds after the simulated removal of mammalian nest predators in New Zealand
Presenter(s): Erin Bolger1, Paul Martin2, James Briskie3
Affiliation(s): 1. University of Saskatchewan, 2. Queen’s University, 3. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
Session: Session 2: Conservation Biology
Time: 2026-10-06 17:20 UTC
Abstract
Invasive predators are a major threat to native species on islands. Predator removal programs have been successfully implemented on many small islands to protect native species; however, the removal of invasive predators can have unforeseen negative effects on native species, mediated by other non-target invasive species. Identifying these indirect effects is important to maximize the effectiveness of predator removals. New Zealand is planning a country-wide predator removal program to conserve native species being threatened by invasive mammalian predators. However, predator removals are also expected to benefit invasive bird species that compete with native species. Life history data suggest the proliferation of invasive birds in response to island-wide predator removals, further endangering the native species. While previous localized predator removals in New Zealand suggested that the effects of invasive birds did not impact the success of predator removals for native birds, we found that on an island-wide scale, these effects are likely to be important. We tested for indirect effects from invasive birds on native birds using simulations that incorporated life-history and spatially explicit data, which allowed us to simulate the effects of different treatments on populations in a landscape. Our results suggest that island-wide predator removals will benefit native bird populations, but that these benefits are diminished by indirect effects mediated by invasive birds. Thus, we suggest that New Zealand plan to incorporate strategies to mitigate effects from invasive birds so that the success of the predator removal will be maximized for native species. Our simulation provides a modelling tool for predicting indirect interactions in an ecosystem and has the potential to be used as an invasive species management tool in the future.
Using community science methods to assess predictors of urban avian species richness in Dakar, Senegal
Presenter(s): Lily Naaman1, Paul JE Preston2, Islamiat Abidemi Raji & Lab of Ornithology3, Cornell University4, Daniel J Mennill5, Paul R Martin6, Lynn B Martin7, Guiherme A Serpa8, Massamba Thiam9, Alex M Syingi10, Frances Bonier11
Affiliation(s): 1. BSc student, McMaster University, 2. Department of Biology, Queen’s University, 3. Department of Biology, Queen’s University & Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, 4. Department of Biology, University of Windsor, 5. Department of Biology, Queen’s University, 6. Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, 7. Serpa Birding, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 8. Universite Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal, 9. National Museum of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya, 10. Department of Biology, Queen’s University
Session: 3MT - Citizen Science
Time: 2026-10-06 20:20 UTC
Abstract
Community science methods have the capacity to expand our knowledge of biodiversity by bridging barriers to research in economically marginalized regions, both globally and locally. The Global Urban Bird Survey (GUBS) collected audio and video recordings at randomized survey points distributed across the urban core of five cities around the world, including Dakar, Senegal. Although many studies have evaluated biodiversity in cities, primarily urban greenspaces, GUBS provides a more representative sample of avian species richness across all habitats in a city, providing important data on biodiversity in economically disadvantaged an underrepresented areas. We used the GUBS data from Dakar to assess relationships between green ground cover, human activity levels, and avian species richness, gauging the potential of using low-tech community science methods for these analyses. In addition to previously completed acoustic analysis to identify species richness at each survey point, we enlisted community members to rank green ground cover and human activity levels in 35 videos across the city of Dakar. We found that increased green ground cover and decreased human activity levels were associated with increased avian species richness. These preliminary findings provide evidence that predictors of bird biodiversity in Dakar city hold consistent patterns across diverse neighborhoods, even with the use of low-tech community science methods, paralleling previous evidence of positive effects of greenspace and negative effects of human activity on urban biodiversity. Given these findings, we are expanding the study to three of the other GUBS cities: Toronto (Canada), Nairobi (Kenya), and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), to determine if the relationships we found in Dakar are consistent across these diverse cities. Overall, this study demonstrates the utility of low-tech approaches to evaluate the effects of features of the urban landscape that might limit or support biodiversity in cities.
Vocal mimicry is widespread in tropical Seedeaters
Presenter(s): Nelsy Niño Rodríguez1, María Paula Sierra Oscar Laverde R2, Daniel J Mennill3
Affiliation(s): 1. Department of Biology, University of Windsor, 2. Departamento de Biología, Escuela de Ciencias e Ingeniería, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia, 3. Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Bogotá, Colombia, 4. Department of Biology, University of Windsor
Session: 3MT - Bioacoustics
Time: 2026-10-06 20:16 UTC
Abstract
Vocal mimicry occurs across diverse bird families, yet its ecological and evolutionary significance remains poorly understood. Although there are many well-documented examples of mimicry in temperate-zone birds, we know remarkably little about vocal mimicry in the tropics. The genus Sporophila comprises 41 species of small, seed-eating finches known as “Seedeaters”. To date, vocal mimicry has been reported in seven of these 41 species. Given the lack of detailed studies of the South American avifauna, we can anticipate that mimicry is more widespread and that many examples remain to be described. To assess the extent of vocal mimicry in the Sporophila genus, we retrieved sound recordings from two major sound libraries. We scanned all high-quality recordings to assess the presence of vocal mimicry and the percentage of recordings containing mimicry for each species. We mapped vocal mimicry onto a Thraupidae family phylogenetic hypothesis made from a time-calibrated global avian phylogeny. We pruned the tree to include all species of the Sporophila genus and six outgroup species to calibrate the tree. Our results reveal that mimicry is more widespread than previously recognized in this genus, suggesting an important role of vocal mimicry in this poorly studied genus.