Habitat Preference, Migration of Age Groups and Age Ratios of Birds During the Fall Migration

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Authors
Powell, David J.
Issue Date
1975
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
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Abstract
During September and October 1975, 5310 birds were captured in mist nets in two different areas at the Kalamazoo Nature Center in southwestern Michigan. One area was a river-bottom forest and swamp and the other was an upland area surrounding a marsh. The intent was to see if birds in the fall showed a distinct fall migratory preference for one habitat or the other. It was found that the birds preferred the river area by an almost two-to-one margin. The preferences of the individual species ranged from about three-to-one in favor of the marsh (the Slate-colored Junco) to about eleven to one in favor of the river (Myrtle Warbler and Wood Thrush). These findings were related to food sources where possible. The 5370 birds captured had their ages determined when possible. Of the 99 species captured, 16 were captured in sufficient numbers to be reliably aged so as to have their age ratios calculated. The age 2 ratios of adults to immature was calculated and ranged from 11.2% adult in the Tennessee Warbler to 40.4% adult in the American Redstart. A study was also made on the timing of migration to determine whether adults or immatures migrate first or if they migrate simultaneously. Both of these were compared to similar work done at the Powdermill Nature Reserve.
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v, 47 p.
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Kalamazoo College
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