USGS Bird Science by Flyway—Winter 2026 Highlights
Connecting state agencies and biologists to the breadth of partner-driven science that USGS supports in your flyway.
Across North America, conservation partners manage migratory birds based largely on routes the birds follow as they migrate between breeding and non-breeding areas, known as flyways. The USGS Ecosystem Mission Area regularly collaborates with members of the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central and Pacific Flyway Technical Committees and other partners to deliver trusted and timely information to help natural resource managers address the Nation’s toughest issues affecting migratory birds and the people who depend on them. People who appreciate birds contribute more than \$100 billion in related purchases to the United States economy annually, helping to support 1.4 million jobs and \$90 billion in labor-related income. USGS science plays a key role in informing management and conservation delivery decisions for natural resource agencies, as well as supporting the economic benefits of healthy ecosystems and the outdoor recreation economy, which depends on productive lands and waters abundant with fish and wildlife.
Across Flyways
Atlantic Flyway
Mississippi Flyway
Central Flyway
Pacific Flyway
Game Birds
Disease Surveillance and Banding
USGS and partners evaluated whether collecting biological samples during banding affects survival and recovery of blue-winged teal. Results show no consistent effect on survival, though recovery probabilities varied slightly by sampling method, likely due to sample size. Aligning disease surveillance with banding efforts appears to have minimal demographic impact, but larger studies are needed.
Read the study: Sampling for disease surveillance: Assessing effects on blue-winged teal survival and recovery
Hunter Dynamics and Harvest Management
Adaptive harvest management increasingly incorporates human dimensions. USGS and USFWS developed a dynamic model integrating hunter behavior with waterfowl population dynamics, revealing challenges in stabilizing hunter numbers amid sociocultural shifts. This framework informs decisions balancing ecological and social objectives.
Read the study: Integrating hunter dynamics and waterfowl dynamics to inform harvest management
Wetland Dynamics and Duck Productivity in the Prairie Pothole Region
Research by USGS and the North Dakota Fish and Game Department shows that while pond numbers in the Prairie Pothole Region have increased since the 1970s, their interannual dynamics have declined, signaling ecosystem stabilization. This change is linked to a 44-year decline in duck productivity for ducks breeding in the Prairie Pothole Region, despite recent high abundance. Reduced water-level variability and agricultural land use changes appear to lower brood-rearing habitat quality. Findings underscore the need to consider hydrologic dynamics and land use in conservation planning for this globally important breeding area.
Read the study: Wetland hydrologic dynamics and duck productivity are declining in the Prairie Pothole Region, and they are linked
Migration Modeling for Disease Risk
USGS and partners developed an agent-based modeling framework to simulate annual migration of mallards and northern pintails across the Northern Hemisphere. The model integrates individual energetics, species-specific behavior, and landscape-scale weather and habitat data to predict spatiotemporal distributions. Results show density dependence strongly influences spring migration and breeding distributions, while wind patterns drive fall migration and overwintering locations. These insights improve forecasts of avian influenza spread and inform strategies for biosecurity, climate change adaptation, and spillover risk mitigation.
Read the study: Density dependence and weather drive dabbling duck spatiotemporal distributions and intercontinental migration
Nongame Birds
Avian Influenza and Raptors
Telemetry data from rough-legged hawks revealed a 28% mortality rate from HPAI during the 2022–2023 outbreak. Mortality was concentrated in Central and Atlantic Flyways, underscoring disease risks for raptors and the value of movement data for population assessments.
Read the study: Increased mortality rates caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in a migratory raptor
Whooping Crane Winter Habitat Use
Telemetry data reveal that Eastern Migratory Population cranes use different habitats across northern, central, and southern regions in winter. Southern sites offer higher wetland quality, but many cranes winter farther north, suggesting trade-offs between migration distance and habitat quality. These insights guide habitat conservation priorities for this reintroduced population.
Read the study: Differential habitat use of wintering Whooping Cranes throughout the range of the Eastern Migratory Population
Marine Bird Mortality Tool
USGS and partners developed a practical decision-support tool to standardize mortality assessments during disease outbreaks or environmental events. The tool guides managers through survey options, resource allocation, and reporting procedures, improving the rigor of mortality estimates and informing conservation decisions.
Read the study: A practical decision tool for marine bird mortality assessments
Game Birds
Hunter Preferences in Southeast
Regional survey data show that hunters from the southern section of the Mississippi Flyway place greater emphasis on harvest numbers and species-specific bag limits, while those in the southern section of the Atlantic Flyway prioritize overall hunting experience and simpler regulations. Both groups reported higher sensitivity to crowding and hunting pressure compared to national averages, influencing participation decisions. These insights help managers tailor engagement strategies and regulatory frameworks to regional preferences under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.
Drone-Based Brood Surveys
Thermal imaging drones improve detection of waterfowl broods in dense wetlands, complementing traditional surveys like the Breeding Population Survey and providing local managers with fine-scale and timely information regarding shifts in brood abundance in the region.
Read the study: Surveying waterfowl broods in wetlands using aerial drones
Nongame Birds
Multispecies Habitat Management
Satellite imagery predicts occupancy for Northern Bobwhite, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, and Bachman’s Sparrow, allowing users to build reliable occupancy models without intensive field-based vegetation surveys. Models from satellite imagery also can inform specific management actions to improve simultaneous management of game and nongame species in pine savannas in Georgia.
Read the study: Satellite imagery can predict bird species occupancy and inform multispecies management in pine savannas
Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow Demographics
A new integrated population model using 30 years of data links sparrow survival and fecundity to hydrology and fire dynamics in the Florida Everglades. Results show juvenile survival peaks at specific hydroperiods, and fecundity improves with stable water levels and longer fire intervals. Findings inform water and fire management strategies critical for recovery of this endangered species.
Read the study: Linking environmental variability to long-term demographic change of an endangered species using integrated population models
Piping Plover and Coastal Restoration
Research explored whether barrier island and headland restoration in Louisiana affected Piping Plover home ranges. Results show minimal changes in home range size across restoration phases, suggesting restoration did not significantly alter habitat use. Further study can help to understand how species of conservation concern respond to coastal restoration efforts.
Read the study: Piping Plover home ranges do not appear to be impacted by restoration of barrier islands and headlands
Game Birds
Great Lakes Mallard Declines
Mallard populations in the Great Lakes have declined by more than 40% since 2000, despite extensive monitoring and management efforts. Integrated population models reveal that reduced productivity and increased non-hunting mortality—not harvest—are the primary drivers of this decline. Productivity loss is linked to habitat changes, including reductions in Conservation Reserve Program acreage, while non-hunting mortality is influenced by environmental factors during spring and summer.
Read the study: Great Lakes mallard population dynamics
Wetland Restoration and Bird Richness
Restored wetlands under the Wetland Reserve Easement program provide critical habitat for diverse bird communities across seasons in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. Research shows that avian species richness varies by vegetation structure and forest type, with tree diameter and habitat heterogeneity playing key roles in different seasons. Seasonal differences in species use underscore the importance of restoration planning to support year-round habitat needs.
Modeling Wetland Resources for Stopover Habitat
USGS and EPA modeled how agricultural drainage modernization and water-quality wetland installations affect spring stopover habitat for migratory waterbirds in Iowa’s Prairie Pothole Region. Results indicate that unmitigated drainage modernization would significantly reduce habitat for dabbling ducks and shorebirds, while constructed wetlands could partially offset these losses and improve water quality. However, wetland installations alone are unlikely to fully compensate for habitat declines, emphasizing the need for integrated conservation and agricultural strategies.
Nongame Birds
Brown Pelican Management
USGS and USFWS developed decision-support models to predict brown pelican nest counts based on island-specific conditions such as geomorphology, predator presence, and nesting habitat availability. These models help managers set realistic conservation targets and evaluate habitat improvement scenarios under uncertainty. By simulating changes in island conditions, managers can prioritize actions that increase nesting success while reducing uncertainty in population outcomes.
Read the study: Decision support tools for brown pelican management in the northern Gulf of America (Gulf of Mexico)
Whooping Crane Winter Habitat
Telemetry data from the Eastern Migratory Population of whooping cranes reveal significant variation in winter habitat use across northern, central, and southern regions. Southern sites offer higher wetland quality and smaller home ranges, but many cranes winter farther north, suggesting trade-offs between migration distance and habitat quality. These insights guide conservation priorities for wetlands across the species’ winter range and inform strategies to support population growth.
Read the study: Differential habitat use of wintering Whooping Cranes throughout the range of the Eastern Migratory Population
Game Birds
Mottled Duck Survival and Movements
Research on the western Gulf Coast mottled duck population shows survival varies by sex and environmental conditions, with females exhibiting lower survival rates. Fall precipitation strongly influences survival, while harvest probabilities differ by age and sex, with juvenile males generally having highest harvest probability, followed by juvenile females, adult males, and adult females. Movement patterns indicate higher post-summer dispersal from Texas to Louisiana, influenced by distance to the state border and winter precipitation.
Read the study: Factors associated with survival, recovery, and movements in the western Gulf Coast population of mottled ducks
Sandhill Crane Foraging Patterns
Greater and Lesser Sandhill Cranes in Colorado’s San Luis Valley select barley fields and other grains during migration, with preferences influenced by roost distance and tillage intensity. Cranes forage closer to roosts early in autumn but shift farther as resources decline, while spring abundance peaks in barley and pasture fields mid-season. These results guide agricultural practices to maintain high-quality stopover habitat for cranes during migration.
Nongame Birds
Whooping Crane Drought Response
Research on whooping crane migration highlights the importance of hydrologically diverse wetland complexes as climate refugia. Findings inform international conservation goals by emphasizing active protection and management of wetlands to maintain migration corridors under increasing drought risk. These strategies aim to ensure species resilience to climate change and habitat loss.
Read the study: A network of refugia: Whooping Crane drought response informs international habitat conservation goals
Piping Plover Connectivity
Movement data reveal high connectivity and similar annual survival among breeding areas in the northern Great Plains, challenging assumptions that these piping plovers function as a metapopulation. Breeding dispersal probabilities are temporally variable, high, and unbalanced at both spatial scales examined. Dispersal decisions are influenced by nest success and storm events, with individuals more likely to move after nest failure. These findings have significant implications for recovery strategies and habitat management for this listed species.
Read the study: Not all spatially structured populations are metapopulations: Re-examining paradigms for a threatened shorebird
Game Birds
Black Brant Migration Shift
Research examined the effects of a major migration change in Pacific black brant, which since the 1980s have shifted wintering grounds northward from Mexico to Alaska—a reduction of about 4,500 km in migration distance. Despite this dramatic shift, nesting phenology and nest success remained unchanged, suggesting that shorter migration does not necessarily improve reproductive outcomes. These findings indicate that climate-driven distribution changes may not offset population declines and highlight the need for continued monitoring of black brant demographic responses under future climate scenarios.
Snow Goose Population Dynamics
Integrated population models reveal that productivity and immigration, rather than adult survival, drive population growth of lesser snow geese in the Pacific Flyway. Climate factors such as early snowmelt and warm, rainy weather strongly influence productivity, while density-dependent effects regulate population size.
Read the study: Environmental drivers of productivity explain population patterns of an Arctic-nesting goose across a half-century
Nongame Birds
Bald Eagle Recovery and Management
Population viability analysis of Arizona’s bald eagle population shows continued nest protection programs are critical for sustaining growth. Breeding sites with nestwatchers stationed at active nests to mitigate human disturbance had 28% higher reproductive output, and future management scenarios without this program predicted abundance declines. Findings emphasize that ongoing management may be necessary even after delisting to maintain population viability.
Read the study: Evaluating the effects of nest management on a recovering raptor using integrated population modeling
California Condor Nest Success via Telemetry
USGS and partners developed a modeling approach using telemetry data to predict nest success for California condors, reducing the need for intensive field monitoring. The model accurately classified nest outcomes and scaled individual success to population-level estimates, improving management efficiency for this critically endangered species.
Read the study: Modeling individual-level and population-level nest success of California Condors from movement data
Explore More
Wetland hydrologic dynamics and duck productivity are declining in the Prairie Pothole Region, and they are linked Wetland hydrologic dynamics and duck productivity are declining in the Prairie Pothole Region, and they are linked
Integrating hunter dynamics and waterfowl dynamics to inform harvest management Integrating hunter dynamics and waterfowl dynamics to inform harvest management
Density dependence and weather drive dabbling duck spatiotemporal distributions and intercontinental migration Density dependence and weather drive dabbling duck spatiotemporal distributions and intercontinental migration
Differential habitat use of wintering Whooping Cranes throughout the range of the Eastern Migratory Population Differential habitat use of wintering Whooping Cranes throughout the range of the Eastern Migratory Population
Satellite imagery can predict bird species occupancy and inform multispecies management in pine savannas Satellite imagery can predict bird species occupancy and inform multispecies management in pine savannas
Linking environmental variability to long-term demographic change of an endangered species using integrated population models Linking environmental variability to long-term demographic change of an endangered species using integrated population models
North American Waterfowl Management Plan survey regional profile—Southeast region North American Waterfowl Management Plan survey regional profile—Southeast region
Piping Plover home ranges do not appear to be impacted by restoration of barrier islands and headlands Piping Plover home ranges do not appear to be impacted by restoration of barrier islands and headlands
A practical decision tool for marine bird mortality assessments A practical decision tool for marine bird mortality assessments
Sampling for disease surveillance: Assessing effects on blue-winged teal survival and recovery Sampling for disease surveillance: Assessing effects on blue-winged teal survival and recovery
Surveying waterfowl broods in wetlands using aerial drones Surveying waterfowl broods in wetlands using aerial drones
Connecting state agencies and biologists to the breadth of partner-driven science that USGS supports in your flyway.
Across North America, conservation partners manage migratory birds based largely on routes the birds follow as they migrate between breeding and non-breeding areas, known as flyways. The USGS Ecosystem Mission Area regularly collaborates with members of the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central and Pacific Flyway Technical Committees and other partners to deliver trusted and timely information to help natural resource managers address the Nation’s toughest issues affecting migratory birds and the people who depend on them. People who appreciate birds contribute more than \$100 billion in related purchases to the United States economy annually, helping to support 1.4 million jobs and \$90 billion in labor-related income. USGS science plays a key role in informing management and conservation delivery decisions for natural resource agencies, as well as supporting the economic benefits of healthy ecosystems and the outdoor recreation economy, which depends on productive lands and waters abundant with fish and wildlife.
Across Flyways
Atlantic Flyway
Mississippi Flyway
Central Flyway
Pacific Flyway
Game Birds
Disease Surveillance and Banding
USGS and partners evaluated whether collecting biological samples during banding affects survival and recovery of blue-winged teal. Results show no consistent effect on survival, though recovery probabilities varied slightly by sampling method, likely due to sample size. Aligning disease surveillance with banding efforts appears to have minimal demographic impact, but larger studies are needed.
Read the study: Sampling for disease surveillance: Assessing effects on blue-winged teal survival and recovery
Hunter Dynamics and Harvest Management
Adaptive harvest management increasingly incorporates human dimensions. USGS and USFWS developed a dynamic model integrating hunter behavior with waterfowl population dynamics, revealing challenges in stabilizing hunter numbers amid sociocultural shifts. This framework informs decisions balancing ecological and social objectives.
Read the study: Integrating hunter dynamics and waterfowl dynamics to inform harvest management
Wetland Dynamics and Duck Productivity in the Prairie Pothole Region
Research by USGS and the North Dakota Fish and Game Department shows that while pond numbers in the Prairie Pothole Region have increased since the 1970s, their interannual dynamics have declined, signaling ecosystem stabilization. This change is linked to a 44-year decline in duck productivity for ducks breeding in the Prairie Pothole Region, despite recent high abundance. Reduced water-level variability and agricultural land use changes appear to lower brood-rearing habitat quality. Findings underscore the need to consider hydrologic dynamics and land use in conservation planning for this globally important breeding area.
Read the study: Wetland hydrologic dynamics and duck productivity are declining in the Prairie Pothole Region, and they are linked
Migration Modeling for Disease Risk
USGS and partners developed an agent-based modeling framework to simulate annual migration of mallards and northern pintails across the Northern Hemisphere. The model integrates individual energetics, species-specific behavior, and landscape-scale weather and habitat data to predict spatiotemporal distributions. Results show density dependence strongly influences spring migration and breeding distributions, while wind patterns drive fall migration and overwintering locations. These insights improve forecasts of avian influenza spread and inform strategies for biosecurity, climate change adaptation, and spillover risk mitigation.
Read the study: Density dependence and weather drive dabbling duck spatiotemporal distributions and intercontinental migration
Nongame Birds
Avian Influenza and Raptors
Telemetry data from rough-legged hawks revealed a 28% mortality rate from HPAI during the 2022–2023 outbreak. Mortality was concentrated in Central and Atlantic Flyways, underscoring disease risks for raptors and the value of movement data for population assessments.
Read the study: Increased mortality rates caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in a migratory raptor
Whooping Crane Winter Habitat Use
Telemetry data reveal that Eastern Migratory Population cranes use different habitats across northern, central, and southern regions in winter. Southern sites offer higher wetland quality, but many cranes winter farther north, suggesting trade-offs between migration distance and habitat quality. These insights guide habitat conservation priorities for this reintroduced population.
Read the study: Differential habitat use of wintering Whooping Cranes throughout the range of the Eastern Migratory Population
Marine Bird Mortality Tool
USGS and partners developed a practical decision-support tool to standardize mortality assessments during disease outbreaks or environmental events. The tool guides managers through survey options, resource allocation, and reporting procedures, improving the rigor of mortality estimates and informing conservation decisions.
Read the study: A practical decision tool for marine bird mortality assessments
Game Birds
Hunter Preferences in Southeast
Regional survey data show that hunters from the southern section of the Mississippi Flyway place greater emphasis on harvest numbers and species-specific bag limits, while those in the southern section of the Atlantic Flyway prioritize overall hunting experience and simpler regulations. Both groups reported higher sensitivity to crowding and hunting pressure compared to national averages, influencing participation decisions. These insights help managers tailor engagement strategies and regulatory frameworks to regional preferences under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.
Drone-Based Brood Surveys
Thermal imaging drones improve detection of waterfowl broods in dense wetlands, complementing traditional surveys like the Breeding Population Survey and providing local managers with fine-scale and timely information regarding shifts in brood abundance in the region.
Read the study: Surveying waterfowl broods in wetlands using aerial drones
Nongame Birds
Multispecies Habitat Management
Satellite imagery predicts occupancy for Northern Bobwhite, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, and Bachman’s Sparrow, allowing users to build reliable occupancy models without intensive field-based vegetation surveys. Models from satellite imagery also can inform specific management actions to improve simultaneous management of game and nongame species in pine savannas in Georgia.
Read the study: Satellite imagery can predict bird species occupancy and inform multispecies management in pine savannas
Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow Demographics
A new integrated population model using 30 years of data links sparrow survival and fecundity to hydrology and fire dynamics in the Florida Everglades. Results show juvenile survival peaks at specific hydroperiods, and fecundity improves with stable water levels and longer fire intervals. Findings inform water and fire management strategies critical for recovery of this endangered species.
Read the study: Linking environmental variability to long-term demographic change of an endangered species using integrated population models
Piping Plover and Coastal Restoration
Research explored whether barrier island and headland restoration in Louisiana affected Piping Plover home ranges. Results show minimal changes in home range size across restoration phases, suggesting restoration did not significantly alter habitat use. Further study can help to understand how species of conservation concern respond to coastal restoration efforts.
Read the study: Piping Plover home ranges do not appear to be impacted by restoration of barrier islands and headlands
Game Birds
Great Lakes Mallard Declines
Mallard populations in the Great Lakes have declined by more than 40% since 2000, despite extensive monitoring and management efforts. Integrated population models reveal that reduced productivity and increased non-hunting mortality—not harvest—are the primary drivers of this decline. Productivity loss is linked to habitat changes, including reductions in Conservation Reserve Program acreage, while non-hunting mortality is influenced by environmental factors during spring and summer.
Read the study: Great Lakes mallard population dynamics
Wetland Restoration and Bird Richness
Restored wetlands under the Wetland Reserve Easement program provide critical habitat for diverse bird communities across seasons in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. Research shows that avian species richness varies by vegetation structure and forest type, with tree diameter and habitat heterogeneity playing key roles in different seasons. Seasonal differences in species use underscore the importance of restoration planning to support year-round habitat needs.
Modeling Wetland Resources for Stopover Habitat
USGS and EPA modeled how agricultural drainage modernization and water-quality wetland installations affect spring stopover habitat for migratory waterbirds in Iowa’s Prairie Pothole Region. Results indicate that unmitigated drainage modernization would significantly reduce habitat for dabbling ducks and shorebirds, while constructed wetlands could partially offset these losses and improve water quality. However, wetland installations alone are unlikely to fully compensate for habitat declines, emphasizing the need for integrated conservation and agricultural strategies.
Nongame Birds
Brown Pelican Management
USGS and USFWS developed decision-support models to predict brown pelican nest counts based on island-specific conditions such as geomorphology, predator presence, and nesting habitat availability. These models help managers set realistic conservation targets and evaluate habitat improvement scenarios under uncertainty. By simulating changes in island conditions, managers can prioritize actions that increase nesting success while reducing uncertainty in population outcomes.
Read the study: Decision support tools for brown pelican management in the northern Gulf of America (Gulf of Mexico)
Whooping Crane Winter Habitat
Telemetry data from the Eastern Migratory Population of whooping cranes reveal significant variation in winter habitat use across northern, central, and southern regions. Southern sites offer higher wetland quality and smaller home ranges, but many cranes winter farther north, suggesting trade-offs between migration distance and habitat quality. These insights guide conservation priorities for wetlands across the species’ winter range and inform strategies to support population growth.
Read the study: Differential habitat use of wintering Whooping Cranes throughout the range of the Eastern Migratory Population
Game Birds
Mottled Duck Survival and Movements
Research on the western Gulf Coast mottled duck population shows survival varies by sex and environmental conditions, with females exhibiting lower survival rates. Fall precipitation strongly influences survival, while harvest probabilities differ by age and sex, with juvenile males generally having highest harvest probability, followed by juvenile females, adult males, and adult females. Movement patterns indicate higher post-summer dispersal from Texas to Louisiana, influenced by distance to the state border and winter precipitation.
Read the study: Factors associated with survival, recovery, and movements in the western Gulf Coast population of mottled ducks
Sandhill Crane Foraging Patterns
Greater and Lesser Sandhill Cranes in Colorado’s San Luis Valley select barley fields and other grains during migration, with preferences influenced by roost distance and tillage intensity. Cranes forage closer to roosts early in autumn but shift farther as resources decline, while spring abundance peaks in barley and pasture fields mid-season. These results guide agricultural practices to maintain high-quality stopover habitat for cranes during migration.
Nongame Birds
Whooping Crane Drought Response
Research on whooping crane migration highlights the importance of hydrologically diverse wetland complexes as climate refugia. Findings inform international conservation goals by emphasizing active protection and management of wetlands to maintain migration corridors under increasing drought risk. These strategies aim to ensure species resilience to climate change and habitat loss.
Read the study: A network of refugia: Whooping Crane drought response informs international habitat conservation goals
Piping Plover Connectivity
Movement data reveal high connectivity and similar annual survival among breeding areas in the northern Great Plains, challenging assumptions that these piping plovers function as a metapopulation. Breeding dispersal probabilities are temporally variable, high, and unbalanced at both spatial scales examined. Dispersal decisions are influenced by nest success and storm events, with individuals more likely to move after nest failure. These findings have significant implications for recovery strategies and habitat management for this listed species.
Read the study: Not all spatially structured populations are metapopulations: Re-examining paradigms for a threatened shorebird
Game Birds
Black Brant Migration Shift
Research examined the effects of a major migration change in Pacific black brant, which since the 1980s have shifted wintering grounds northward from Mexico to Alaska—a reduction of about 4,500 km in migration distance. Despite this dramatic shift, nesting phenology and nest success remained unchanged, suggesting that shorter migration does not necessarily improve reproductive outcomes. These findings indicate that climate-driven distribution changes may not offset population declines and highlight the need for continued monitoring of black brant demographic responses under future climate scenarios.
Snow Goose Population Dynamics
Integrated population models reveal that productivity and immigration, rather than adult survival, drive population growth of lesser snow geese in the Pacific Flyway. Climate factors such as early snowmelt and warm, rainy weather strongly influence productivity, while density-dependent effects regulate population size.
Read the study: Environmental drivers of productivity explain population patterns of an Arctic-nesting goose across a half-century
Nongame Birds
Bald Eagle Recovery and Management
Population viability analysis of Arizona’s bald eagle population shows continued nest protection programs are critical for sustaining growth. Breeding sites with nestwatchers stationed at active nests to mitigate human disturbance had 28% higher reproductive output, and future management scenarios without this program predicted abundance declines. Findings emphasize that ongoing management may be necessary even after delisting to maintain population viability.
Read the study: Evaluating the effects of nest management on a recovering raptor using integrated population modeling
California Condor Nest Success via Telemetry
USGS and partners developed a modeling approach using telemetry data to predict nest success for California condors, reducing the need for intensive field monitoring. The model accurately classified nest outcomes and scaled individual success to population-level estimates, improving management efficiency for this critically endangered species.
Read the study: Modeling individual-level and population-level nest success of California Condors from movement data