Habitat Preference, Timing of Migration by Age Groups and Age Ratios and Migration Patterns of Birds During the Fall Migration: A Comparative Analysis
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Authors
Mohney, Jeff
Issue Date
1981
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
During the period August 31 to November 3, 1981, 3122
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 area was a grassy
upland marsh. The purpose of this study was to see if passerines
migrating in the fall showed a distinct preference for one habitat
or the other and to compare the results to those obtained by Powell
in 1975. The birds, it was found, showed a slight preference for
the marsh, which was related to food abundancy and the feeding
program at the Kalamazoo Nature Center. When possible, the birds captured were aged and sexed. Of the 66 species captured, 21 were aged so as to calculate their
age ratios. This was done to determine the timing of migration
(whether adults or young migrate first or if they migrate simultaneously)
and to determine migration patterns. The latter was
compiled with data collected by Ralph (1980).
A study was also done on the populations of passerines
migrating through the Kalamazoo Nature Center, comparing the
data from the fall of 1975 to that of 1981. Except for two
species, all the species captured indicated a drastic decline
in populations.
Description
iii, 29 p.
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo College
License
U.S. copyright laws protect this material. Commercial use or distribution of this material is not permitted without prior written permission of the copyright holder.