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Re: Yellow-throated Warbler Breeding Locations

From:

Bailey McKay

Reply-To:

Bailey McKay

Date:

Fri, 10 Mar 2006 17:47:09 -0600

Greetings all,
    I must admit that I was taken aback by a recent response to my plea for 
help regarding the locations of breeding Yellow-throated Warbler and feel 
that I should qualify what I am doing. I would first like to make it clear 
that I tried every means possible last field season (and in the process 
wasted the entire season) trying to catch these birds so that I could take 
blood and release them. Although I tried every trick in the book including 
raising the song playbacks, decoys, and nets into the canopy, my capture 
rate was very low (about 1 bird for every 150 field hours) mainly because of 
the height at which this species nests and their non-aggressive attitude to 
song playback and decoys. I weighed the value of this project in terms of 
what it will contribute to science and to the conservation and long-term 
management of this species and decided it would be worth it to remove some 
individuals. These individuals will be singing males and the removal of ~20 
of them from an area the size of Maryland will not, in any way, impact the 
Yellow-throated Warbler population as the remaining males that would not 
normally get to breed this year (mostly young males) will be more than happy 
to take their place. Also, I wanted to assure everyone that I have all the 
necessary permits and will be conducting this research according to the law.
    I must admit that I am proud of the conservation ethic that is steadily 
growing in America and am certainly glad that people would care enough to 
challenge any threat to the birds. I hope, however, that most people realize 
the need for studies such as mine and will continue to help science move 
forward.

Sincerely for the birds,
Bailey McKay

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Catherine Carroll" <>
To: <>
Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 4:49 PM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Yellow-throated Warbler Breeding Locations


> 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
>