ahn, A., V.R. Using geolocators to track migration of tyrannus flycatchers in South America

JAHN, A.E,; CUETO, V.R.; FOX, J.W.; PINTO LEDEZMA, J.; LEVEY, D.J.; MAMANI, A.M.; MASSON, D.; TUERO, D.

Congreso; North American Ornithological Conference; 2012

Over 250 bird species migrate wholly within South America, many of which spend different parts of their annual cycle in different countries. We attached light-level geolocators to individual migrant flycatchers of the genus Tyrannus in Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia (twelve White-throated Kingbirds, T. albogularis) and Buenos Aires Province, Argentina (five Tropical Kingbirds, T. melancholicus, and forty-two Fork-tailed Flycatchers, T. savana). We recovered data from two White-throated Kingbirds, one Tropical Kingbird, and five Fork-tailed Flycatchers. The White-throated Kingbirds overwintered in the north-central Amazon Basin, on or near the Amazon River, approximately 2000 km from their Bolivian breeding site. The Fork-tailed Flycatchers all overwintered in central Venezuela, and the Tropical Kingbird overwintered in central Colombia. These last two species likely overwintered in the llanos of the Orinoco River Basin of Colombia and Venezuela, approximately 7000 km from their Argentinian breeding site. Combined, these three species migrated through least seven countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela), demonstrating the need for the establishment of international research collaborations among scientists, and the development of international natural resource management planning among conservationists and law-makers across South America.