Returning Home: Movement Strategies of Sub-Andean Birds in a Modified Landscape

Abstract

We documented movement of a long-distant migrant (Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus) and two understory resident species (Chestnut-capped Brush-finch Buarremon brunneinuchus and Streak-capped Treehunter Thripadectes virgaticeps) in a fragmented landscape dominated by a pasture matrix in a SubAndean region of central Colombia. Swainson's Thrush had no detectable difficulties traversing a pasture matrix and returning to the capture site. Chestnut-capped Brush-finch and Streak-capped Treehunter (understory resident species) avoided making lengthy flights and used stepping-stones and nearby corridors to ease their movement. Providing stepping stones such as live fences and isolated trees and maintaining corridors can enhance functional connectivity in regions with fragmented forests, aiding the conservation of bird species.Key words: Colombia, forest fragmentation, landscape matrix, land-use change, radio-telemetry Resumen Documentamos el movimiento de un migrante de larga distancia (Catharus ustulatus) y dos especies residentes de sotobosque (Buarremon brunneinuchus y Thripadectes virgaticeps) en un paisaje fragmentado dominado por una matriz de pastos en la región subandina del centro de Colombia. Catharus ustulatus no tuvo ninguna dificultad detectable en atravesar la matriz de pastos y regresó al sitio de captura. Por otro lado, B. brunneinuchus y T. virgaticeps (las especies residentes de sotobosque) evitaron hacer vuelos prolongados y utilizaron árboles aislados y corredores cercanos para facilitar su movimiento. Implementación de pasaderas como cercas vivas y árboles aislados, y el mantenimiento de corredores puede contribuir a la conservación de aves mediante la mejora de la conectividad funcional en regiones con bosques fragmentados.Palabras clave: Colombia, fragmentación de bosque, matriz del paisaje, uso de suelo, radio-telemetría Mongabay

Historic changes in species composition for a globally unique bird community

“…However, for the 173 specimens collected from pre-1940, 13% were captured in the February-March time period whilst the remainder were collected mainly in July-September and November-January. This is important since Myanmar hosts a diverse winter migrant bird fauna and since inter-seasonal fluctuations in bird composition are known to be on average higher for migratory and nomadic species than for sedentary ones 70,75,76 . However, interestingly, hardly any long-distance migrants were detected in either the pre-1940 or post-2000 datasets so that migration status alone cannot explain the large fluctuations seen in species composition between the two time periods.…”

Oil Palm Plantations Affect Movement Behavior of a Key Member of Mixed-Species Flocks of Forest Birds in Amazonia, Brazil

“…Existing research on the functional connectivity of different vegetation types for tropical forest birds show low willingness of these species to move across pasture (Castellon & Sieving, 2006; Gillies et al., 2011; Gillies & Clair, 2008; Hadley & Betts, 2009; Suarez-Rubio et al., 2015; Volpe et al., 2014). However, to date no studies have examined the functional connectivity of other types of agricultural matrices, such as oil palm plantations, on Neotropical forest birds.…”

“…Many studies have shown that tropical forest birds are reluctant to venture across relatively novel habitats such as pasture (e.g., Suarez-Rubio, Montealegre, Renjifo, & Renner, 2015; Volpe et al., 2014). However, to our knowledge, no studies have examined the propensity of these birds to cross a new and fast growing human-created land cover, large-scale oil palm ( Elaeis guineensis ) plantations.…”

Impacts of tropical forest disturbance on species vital rates

“…Many studies had small sample sizes (e.g., Suarez‐Rubio et al. ) because rare or more elusive species were targeted or study species inhabited inaccessible areas.…”