This may be a very stupid question, but I'll ask anyway.  Is anyone  
seriously thinking of assisting Mr. McKay with his project of finding  
breeding Yellow-throated Warblers?  It seems that "taking blood" must  
mean that he will kill the birds.  I emailed Mr. McKay about this and  
I received his response back confirming that he will be killing  
breeding male Yellow-throated Warblers.

Cathy Carroll
Dearborn, MI

On Mar 9, 2006, at 6:32 PM, Bailey McKay wrote:

> Greetings all,
>    I am a graduate student at Auburn University studying geographic  
> variation in the Yellow-throated Warbler for my thesis. Basically,  
> I am collecting samples for a genetic analysis of the differences  
> between populations of this bird across its range. This is  
> important because we can use it to reconstruct the evolutionary  
> history of this species and thus learn how neotropical migrants  
> might speciate. This research is also important in a conservation  
> context because it will help us uncover genetically distinct  
> populations of this bird which is essential for managing its  
> genetic diversity. I will begin collecting in Maryland this spring  
> and am need of sampling locations. I would like to sample from the  
> Delmarva population of Yellow-throated Warbler, which are longer- 
> billed and restricted to pine forests as well as a population of  
> the more widespread form. I have permits to take blood on public  
> lands, so if anyone knows of areas with high densities of singing  
> males (10+ within a few miles) that are on public land (or would be  
> willing to have me on there private land for a morning) please  
> contact me at  Please note that I am only  
> interested in breeding individuals (singing males on territory). I  
> appreciate your help and look forward to hearing from you.
>
> For the birds,
> Bailey McKay
> Auburn, AL
> 
>
> *****************************************
> Bailey McKay
> Biological Sciences
> 331 Funchess Hall
> Auburn University
> Auburn, AL 36849