Where do migrating birds go? It’s a critical question when trying to manage bird populations and understand how environmental stressors impact these populations at each stage of the annual cycle. Dr. Keith Hobson and Steve Van Wilgenburg worked with numerous collaborators across both North America and Latin America to answer this question by studying isotopic signatures in feathers and through the use of geolocators.

The whereabouts of migrating birds are largely unknown once they leave their breeding grounds and travel to Latin America. Research was conducted to develop and apply cutting-edge technology to track birds throughout their annual life cycle (breeding, wintering and stopovers). Building on techniques developed by Environment Canada scientists in the 1990s, this research forensically links isotopic signatures in feathers to their place of origin, using continental isotope maps or “isoscapes” based on isotopic patterns in food-webs. 

More recent research has further refined the understanding of bird movements by deploying tiny data loggers known as geolocators on the backs of migrant birds. These loggers record time-stamped day-length measurements, which can be used to calculate latitude and longitude coordinates if the bird is recaptured, typically on the breeding grounds a year later. 

Wildlife scientists in Environment Canada are currently using combinations of isotopes and geolocators to target several high-priority declining species such as barn swallows, and species at risk such as golden-winged warblers. To date, this research has identified important wintering areas in South America for swallows, and in Central and South America for warblers.

Contact: Dr. Keith A. Hobson, 316-975-4102, and Steve Van Wilgenburg, 306-975-5506, Wildlife Research Division, Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate