TO CALIFORNIA, BRAZIL, AND BACK:
GPS-tracking of Oregon Vesper Sparrow and Western Purple Martin
Sarah Rockwell, PhD, Senior Research Biologist
Thursday January 8th, 7 pm via Zoom
Or at Temple Beth Hatfiloh
Zoom registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/gl1KKqqSR4-rgFYwCEqZFw
One of the biggest challenges in identifying ways to help migratory birds is not knowing where they are for most of the year. Archival GPS tags light enough to place on small songbirds have been available for about a decade, and they are revolutionizing our understanding of bird migration and migratory connectivity. Klamath Bird Observatory, along with partners, is using lightweight archival GPS tags to track the migratory routes and overwintering locations of both Oregon Vesper Sparrow and Western Purple Martin, two imperiled subspecies unique to the western U.S. These are the first studies of their kind with these subspecies – the first to track them with GPS technology year-round! The birds have returned with fascinating information, revealing new discoveries about their incredible journeys, including unexpected lengthy fall stopovers – and for the martins, winters on the beach in southeastern Brazil. In this talk, Sarah will share photos and maps from the research, and give a peek into the amazing window we now have into what our Western Purple Martins and Oregon Vesper Sparrows are up to after they leave Oregon.
Dr. Sarah Rockwell is a Senior Research Biologist at Klamath Bird Observatory, where she manages several research programs studying the ecology of bird species of conservation concern, and monitoring avian response to riparian, oak, and coniferous forest restoration. Sarah joined KBO in 2013 after completing her Ph.D. at the University of Maryland and Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, where she studied the ecology of the then-endangered Kirtland’s Warbler in her home state of Michigan. She earned her B.A. in Biology in 2002 from Kalamazoo College, where she fell in love with birds during her study abroad experience in Ecuador. She lives in Ashland, OR, with her husband and 5-yr-old daughter.
There are two ways to enjoy this program. You can come to Temple Beth Hatfiloh (201 8th Ave. SE, Olympia) to watch the program on the large screen as well as enjoy the company of others OR you can register above to watch from home via Zoom. Zoom will start at 7 pm and those coming to the Temple can arrive for social time at 6:30 pm.
