Hello Fellow Birdheads- Its great to see migration finally blossoming (so to speak) in our area. I am a PhD candidate in the Conservation Biology Program at the University of Minnesota studying the stopover ecology of landbirds. I am very interested in hearing fellow birders' observations regarding what tree species migrants are located in during migration. One of the primary hypotheses regarding what constitutes quality stopover habitat during migration is food availability. Some researchers have suggested that particular tree species may be more likely to have higher insect/caterpillar abundance than other species. The mechanism behind this is possibly leaf-bud timing for particular tree species, which has evolved with invertebrates that feed on fresh plant growth. Consequently, these tree species may also be the best suited for a bird looking to refuel during its migration to breeding grounds.
I would appreciate hearing your observations over the next few weeks. It would be great to get a larger snapshot of what's occurring across our landscape. If you would like to send an observation just include the following: date of observation, place (town or other specific place name), species observed, and the tree species where the bird was observed foraging or singing. As for myself, I have been observing several canopy migrants making use of American Elm trees located along Minnehaha Creek. Thanks for your help and good luck birding!! Derric Pennington PhD Candidate Conservation Biology Program University of Minnesota ph: 612-624-4796 [email protected] "I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief... For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free." --Wendell Berry "People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character." --Ralph Waldo Emerson
