The bird population and dynamics study is part of the Long-Term Ecological Research program at the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest. The Forest-Wide Bird Survey data include point count and bird observations from 183 sites across the forest, starting in 2009. With these data researchers are learning more about the mechanisms of bird species distributions across the landscape from year to year and even within a season. Findings suggest that old-growth forests may provide a microclimate buffering against climate warming. See "Old-growth forests may protect some bird species in a warming climate" and the Oregon Field Guide television program, "Old Growth Could Be Key For Native Songbird Species To Beat Climate-Change Heat". To fully understand the ability for old-growth forests to buffer birds from climate change, researchers are catching birds and measuring how physiological condition and species interactions shift throughout the microclimatic gradient at HJ Andrews Experimental Forest. This work will give insights on mechanisms of species distributions and implications for their survival in a changing environment.
Bird Study 2022
Researchers set up and open the mist net, used to safely capture birds
Graduate student Madison Sutton stretches the mist net through an opening in the forest
Researchers set up and stretch out the mist net, used to gently capture birds
Bird decoys are set up near the mist net to lure in curious or territorial birds
Field technician Haley Martens sits quietly to wait for birds to fly into the mist net
A Swainson's Thrush in the mist net
Birds are safely removed from the mist net and are held for data collection and measurements before being released
A tiny aluminium band with a unique ID number is placed on the leg of the bird
A tiny aluminium band with a unique ID number is placed on the leg of the bird
Calipers are used to measure the length of the tarsus, or leg bone
Madison Sutton measures health of the newly banded birds by blowing on the bird's abdomen to measure fat and breeding phenology.
Flight feathers are assessed for wear and tear
The bird is placed into a cotton bag and is weighed
After all measurements, the bird is released, unharmed, into the area where it was captured
The mist net stretches across an opening in the forest
A guage is used to measure the diameter of the leg of a bird and determine the correct band size
Graduate student Madison Sutton (left) and field technician Haley Martens (right) prepare a mist net
A Chestnut-backed Chickadee is placed into a cloth bag and weighed on a scale. This guy weighed about 8 grams. That's like 8 paperclips.
Graduate student Madison Sutton untangles and readies a mist net
A Chestnut-backed Chickadee just before release
Graduate student Madison Sutton installs a mist net
Field technician Haley Martens places bird decoys near the mist net
Field technician Halay Martens (left) and graduate student Madison Sutton (right) at the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest
Decoy birds are placed around the mist net to lure birds into the mist net
Packing up the truck after a day of field work
After the mist net is installed reearchers sit quietly and watch for birds to fly into the net
A Hermit Wabler is captured in the net and gently removed for measurements before being released
Researchers measure the health and breeding status of each netted bird before releasing the birds
Tools of the trade
A ruler is used to measure wing length
Calipers are used to measure the length of the tarsus, or leg bone
Data for each bird is recorded on paper and then entered into a computer
By blowing on the bird's chest researchers can see fat and cloacal development to measure health and breeding phenology
Tail feathers are inspected for wear and tear
Tiny blood samples are taken from the bird and are put through genomic analysis to determine bird health
Data for each bird is recorded on paper and then entered into a computer
After the data on the birds are recorded the birds are released back into the wild, unharmed, and the nets are removed.