ECIMN Present: Warblers, Sparrows, and Thrushes, Oh My!

Bird species are declining worldwide, and understanding their needs is crucial for conservation management. Given that more than 50% of North American birds migrate, there are many knowledge gaps that exist, especially when it comes to understanding stopover habitat selection and migratory routes. Long-term bird banding can help address these gaps while also assessing population trends and responses to environmental change. Because of this, the Phillips Tract Banding Station was started in 2019 and is one of many bird banding stations located across North America, collaborating to answer big questions.

 

Speaker Tara Beveroth is an Avian Ecologist with the Illinois Natural History Survey.  In addition to collaborating on many research projects over her 20+ years with INHS, she also coordinates or co-coordinates multiple citizen science programs, including the Illinois Spring Bird Count, Monitoring of Owls and Nightjars Program, project MOON, and, more recently, the Illinois Breeding Bird Survey.  In 2019, she started a local migratory bird banding station that she operates with the assistance of fellow University of Illinois staff, graduate, and undergraduate students.