ABSTRACT SPECIES COMPOSITION, RELATIVE ABUNDANCE, AND HABITAT OCCURRENCE OF NEOTROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRDS OVERWINTERING IN DOMINICA, WEST INDIES by Heather N. Roades With declines in the populations of many Neotropical migratory birds, it is increasingly necessary to understand their complete life cycle specifically during the overwintering period. Research on overwintering Neotropical migrants is sparse for the Lesser Antilles including the island of Dominica. Species composition, relative abundance, and habitat occurrence of Neotropical migratory birds overwintering in two habitats in Dominica was documented during December 2008 and January 2009. Mist-nets were used to determine species composition and relative abundance. Migrants were only detected at one location, Cabrits National Park. Two species of Neotropical migrants were captured, American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) and Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis), accounting for 8% of the total birds captured. This research provides a base-line for future study of Neotropical migrants in Dominica and highlights Dominica’s conservation potential. SPECIES COMPOSITION, RELATIVE ABUNDANCE, AND HABITAT OCCURRENCE OF NEOTROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRDS OVERWINTERING IN DOMINICA, WEST INDIES A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Miami University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Department of Geography by Heather Nicole Roades Miami University Oxford, Ohio 2012 Advisor___________________________ Dr. William H. Renwick Reader____________________________ Dr. David E. Russell Reader____________________________ Ms. Robbyn J. F. Abbitt Table of Contents List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. iii List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ iv Acknowledgements ..........................................................................................................................v Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................1 Chapter 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ...............................................................................................3 What is a Neotropical Migratory Bird? .............................................................................. 3 Migration..............................................................................................................................3 Evidence of Population Declines .........................................................................................5 Research Needs ....................................................................................................................7 Neotropical Migratory Birds in the Caribbean ....................................................................8 American Redstart ...................................................................................................9 Northern Waterthrush ............................................................................................10 Resident Species of Dominica ...........................................................................................11 New Ways to Study Migratory Birds.................................................................................11 Chapter 3. METHODS...................................................................................................................13 Research Location ..............................................................................................................13 Research Sites ....................................................................................................................14 Cabrits National Park .............................................................................................15 Archbold Tropical Research and Education Center (ATREC) ..............................18 Mist-netting and Banding ..................................................................................................20 Chapter 4. RESULTS.....................................................................................................................21 Cabrits National Park .........................................................................................................22 Migrants Captured at Cabrits .................................................................................22 Residents Captured at Cabrits ................................................................................23 Archbold Tropical Research and Education Center (ATREC) ..........................................23 Migrants Captured at ATREC ...............................................................................24 ii Residents Captured at ATREC ..............................................................................24 Chapter 5. DISCUSSION ..............................................................................................................28 Migrants in Dominica ........................................................................................................28 American Redstart .................................................................................................29 Northern Waterthrush ............................................................................................30 Residents of Dominica .......................................................................................................31 Research Limitations .........................................................................................................32 Future Research .................................................................................................................33 Conservation ......................................................................................................................33 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................36 REFERENCES ..............................................................................................................................37 iii List of Tables Table 1. Banding dates and number of banding days by location .................................................20 Table 2. Total birds banded by species and location .....................................................................21 Table 3. Total birds captured by species and location ...................................................................22 Table 4. Neotropical migrant species and number of individuals captured at Cabrits National Park ....................................................................................................................23 Table 5. Resident species and number of individuals captured at Cabrits National Park ............23 Table 6. Resident species and number of individuals captured at ATREC ..................................24 Table 7. Species captured only at Cabrits National Park ..............................................................25 Table 8. Species captured only at ATREC ...................................................................................25 Table 9. Species codes for captured species .................................................................................25 Table 10. Relative abundance by species and location .................................................................27 iv List of Figures Figure 1. “Connectivity between breeding and wintering populations of Black-throated Blue Warblers, as indicated by analyses of stable isotope values in feathers (Rubenstein et al. 2002). The pattern suggests that individuals from the northern portion of the breeding range migrate to and winter in the western Greater Antilles (mainly Cuba and Jamaica), while those breeding in the more southern Appalachian Mountains winter mostly in the more easterly Antilles (Hispaniola, Puerto Rico). Results from Rubenstein et al. (2002).” (From Holmes 2007. Based on Rubenstein et al. 2002) ....................................4 Figure 2. “Thirty-seven-year trend in numbers of breeding birds occupying a 10-ha study area in northern hardwood forest at Hubbard Brook, New Hampshire, USA, 1969-2005. Numbers are totals for all species (males plus females) for permanent residents, short- distance migrants, long-distance (Neotropical) migrants and all species combined.”(From Holmes 2007) ......................................................................................5 Figure 3. Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea), BBS Trend Map, 1966 – 2003 (From Sauer et al. 2008) ............................................................................................................................6 Figure 4. Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor) BBS Trend Map, 1966 – 2003 (From Sauer et al. 2008) .................................................................................................................................6 Figure 5. American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla), ASY male. Photo by H. Roades .....................9 Figure 6. Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis). Photo by H. Roades .......................10 Figure 7. The Caribbean with Dominica highlighted ....................................................................12 Figure 8. The Lesser Antilles. Puerto Rico is not part of the Lesser Antilles .............................13 Figure 9.