Modeling Olive-sided Flycatcher Occupancy in the Northeastern United States
Conference Year
January 2021
Abstract
The Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) is a large flycatcher of boreal forests and wetlands which has experienced significant population declines, especially along the southern edge of their range. As a result, many states in the northeastern United States consider Olive-sided Flycatchers a species of special concern. Despite conservation interest, the cause of declines remains unclear, therefore limiting potential management actions. Previous studies have been undertaken in the northeast to evaluate their populations and habitat relationships, but they have been limited by small sample size. To overcome this issue, we utilized data collected from the citizen science project eBird alongside national land and canopy cover data. These data were then used to model Olive-sided Flycatcher occupancy within the northeastern United States based on available habitat. By identifying habitat associations, we may be able to predict where Olive-sided Flycatchers will be found and the impacts of changes on the landscape, which could be used to inform future studies and management actions.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Allan Strong
Secondary Mentor Name
James Murdoch
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
Rubenstein School of Environmental and Natural Resources
Second Student College
Patrick Leahy Honors College
Program/Major
Wildlife and Fisheries Biology
Primary Research Category
Biological Sciences
Modeling Olive-sided Flycatcher Occupancy in the Northeastern United States
The Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) is a large flycatcher of boreal forests and wetlands which has experienced significant population declines, especially along the southern edge of their range. As a result, many states in the northeastern United States consider Olive-sided Flycatchers a species of special concern. Despite conservation interest, the cause of declines remains unclear, therefore limiting potential management actions. Previous studies have been undertaken in the northeast to evaluate their populations and habitat relationships, but they have been limited by small sample size. To overcome this issue, we utilized data collected from the citizen science project eBird alongside national land and canopy cover data. These data were then used to model Olive-sided Flycatcher occupancy within the northeastern United States based on available habitat. By identifying habitat associations, we may be able to predict where Olive-sided Flycatchers will be found and the impacts of changes on the landscape, which could be used to inform future studies and management actions.