We conducted a study in 2016 and 2017 on prairie warblers (Setophaga discolor), using geolocators to examine their migration and wintering locations. Our main objective was to track migrating prairie warblers from Massachusetts and New York to obtain novel data on wintering locations, migratory routes and schedules. A secondary objective was to examine relationships between birds’ wintering habitat (using stable isotopes) and migratory schedules. Lastly, since prairie warblers are one of the smallest and lightest bird species to carry geolocators, we also examined the effects of the geolocators on prairie warblers’ return rates.
Program Report: Examining Migration and Seasonal Interactions of Prairie Warblers Using Geolocators and Stable Isotope Analysis