Rusty Blackbird Workshop 15-16 August 2016

Building Science and Synergy to Address a Steeply Declining Species

Location: Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center (SMBC), 2764 Adams Mill Road NW, Washington D.C. For detailed directions to the SMBC, which is located in the “Science Building” at the National Zoo, click here.

Registration: Please register online here

For more information: cfoss@audubon.orgpam.sinclair@canada.ca

Contact in Washington: (516) 313-04-f1v3-$3ven (text or phone)

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Monday August 15th

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8:30-9:00 registration/meet and greet

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Research Update

9:00-9:30              A decade of Rusty Blackbird research: what we have learned so far

Pam Sinclair (Canadian Wildlife Service), Luke Powell (SMBC)

9:30-9:50              To Move or Not to Move: Site fidelity and dispersal in the Rusty Blackbird

Carol Foss, Patti Wohner (New Hampshire Audubon)

9:50-10:10           Breeding habitat and vocal behavior of Rusty Blackbird in Nova Scotia

Cindy Staicer (Dalhousie University)

10:10-10:30         Breeding ecology of Rusty Blackbird in northern Alberta

Erin Bayne (University of Alberta)

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10:30-11:00 coffee break

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11:00-11:20         Migratory connectivity of Rusty Blackbird populations: geolocators and stable isotopes

Luke Powell (Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center), Jim Johnson (USFWS Anchorage)

11:20-11:40         Bird blow flies: benign blood-suckers or RUBL range retraction rascals?

Charlotte Harding, Carol Foss (New Hampshire Audubon)

11:40-12:00         Migration stopover ecology of Rusty Blackbird in Ohio

James Wright, Chris Tonra (Ohio State University)

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12:00-1:00 lunch (on your own at local restaurants)

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1:00-1:30              Group discussion of research results, gaps, and future directions

 

Working Session I: Rusty Blackbird Blitz

1:30-2:00              The Rusty Blackbird Blitz: citizen science results

Brian Evans (Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center)

2:00-4:30              Working Session on use of Blitz results, and further Blitz efforts

Facilitated workshop session

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Tuesday August 16th

Working Session II: Population Model

8:30-9:00              Full annual cycle population model for Rusty Blackbird

Clark Rushing (Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center)

9:00-11:30           Working Session on developing and populating the model

Facilitated workshop session

Research Update and Discussion

11:30-12:00         Migratory connectivity using SNP/DNA: Yellow Warbler and Willow Flycatcher

Rachael Bay (University of California)

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12:00-1:30 lunch (on your own at local restaurants)

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Working Session III: Conservation Strategy

1:30-3:00              Conservation of Rusty Blackbirds: a strategy for action and further research

Facilitated workshop session

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3:00-3:30 coffee break

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Working Session IV: Funding Strategies

3:30-4:30              Funding strategies: Group discussion