Yellow-throated Warbler by Michelle Davis
 
 

We sought to understand the patterns, causes, mechanisms, and consequences of migration, with particular attention focused on the biology of migratory birds when they stopover during passage. See Moore, F. R. 2018. Biology of landbird migrants: a stopover perspective. Wilson J. Ornithol. 130: 1-12

Several related aspects of en route ecology received attention over the years (and continue to receive attention through ongoing collaboration), and most of our publications are grouped by topic below:

Analysis of stopover at different spatial scales

Migration is driven by processes that act across multiple spatial and temporal scales. We developed spatially explicit models to ask how patterns of habitat availability (e.g., patch size, shape, distribution) affect migratory birds at the individual and population level of analysis, and we built individual based models to better understand the migrant-habitat relationship during stopover.

Kerlinger, P. H. and F. R. Moore. 1989. Atmospheric Structure and Avian Migration. Pp. 109-142. In: Current Ornithology, Vol. 6 (D. M. Power, ed.). New York, NY: Plenum Press.

Moore, F. R. and T. R. Simons. 1992. Habitat suitability and the stopover ecology of Neotropical passerine migrants. Pp. 345-355. In: Ecology and Conservation of Neotropical Migrant Landbirds. J. Hagan and D. Johnston (Eds.). Washington, D. C., Smithsonian Institution Press.

Moore, F. R., S. A. Gauthreaux, Jr., P. Kerlinger, and T. R. Simons. 1995. Habitat Requirements during Migration: Important Link in the Conservation of Neotropical Landbird Migrants. Pp. 121-144. In: Ecology and Management of Neotropical Migratory Birds. T. Martin and D. Finch (Eds). Oxford University Press. New York, NY.

Kelly, J. F., R. Smith, D. M. Finch, F. R. Moore and Y. Wang. 1999. Influence of summer biogeography on wood warbler stopover abundance. Condor 101: 76-85.

Simons, T. R., S. M. Pearson, and F. R. Moore. 2000. Applications of spatial models to the stopover ecology of trans-gulf migrants. Studies in Avian Biology 20: 4-14.

Moore, F. R., M. S. Woodrey, J. J. Buler, S. Woltmann, T. R. Simons. 2005. Understanding the stopover of migratory birds: A scale dependent approach. Bird Conservation Implementation and Integration in the Americas: Proceedings of the Third International Partners in Flight Conference 2002 (C.J. Ralph and T.D. Rich, eds.). U.S.D.A. Forest Service, GTR-PSW-191, Albany, CA.

Buler, J. J., F. R. Moore, and S. Woltmann. 2007. A multi-scale examination of stopover habitat use by birds. Ecology 88: 1789-1802.

Buler, J. J. and F. R. Moore. 2011. Migrant-Habitat Relationships during stopover along an ecological barrier: extrinsic constraints and conservation implications. J. Ornithology 152 (Suppl 1): S101 - S112.

LaFleur, J., J. Buler, and F. R. Moore. 2016. Geographic position and landscape composition explain regional patterns of migrating landbird distributions during spring stopover along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Landscape Ecology 31: 1697 - 1709.

Buler, J. J., R. Lyon, J. Smolinsky, T. J. Zenzal, and F. R. Moore. 2017. Body mass and wing shape explain variability in broad-scale bird species distributions of migratory passerines along an ecological barrier during stopover. Oecologia 185: 205-212.

Buler, J. J., W. C. Barrow, M. E. Boone, D. K. Dawson, R. H. Diehl, F. R. Moore, L. Randall, T. D. Schreckengost, J. A. Smolinksy. 2018. Linking animals aloft with the terrestrial landscape. In: Aeroecology (P. Chilson, W. F. Frick, J. Kelly, F. Liechti, eds). Springer International Publishing AG.

Habitat suitability and stopover ecology

What is the relationship between intrinsic (within-habitat) and extrinsic (between-habitat) determinants of habitat use during migration? How do migrants select among alternative habitat types? What constrains choice? What cues are used? What are the functional consequences of differential use of en route habitat?

Moore, F. R., P. Kerlinger, and T. E. Simons. 1990. Stopover on a Gulf coast barrier island by spring trans-Gulf migrants. Wilson Bulletin 102: 487-500.

Kuenzi, A. J., F. R. Moore, and T. R. Simons. 1991. Stopover of Neotropical landbird migrants on East Ship Island following trans-Gulf migration. Condor 93: 869-883.

Moore, F. R., S. A. Gauthreaux, Jr., P. Kerlinger, and T. R. Simons. 1995. Habitat Requirements during Migration: Important Link in the Conservation of Neotropical Landbird Migrants. Pp. 121-144. In: Ecology and Management of Neotropical Migratory Birds. T. Martin and D. Finch (Eds). Oxford University Press. New York, NY.

Aborn, D. A. and F. R. Moore. 1997. Pattern of movement by summer tanagers (Piranga rubra) during migratory stopover: a telemetry study. Behaviour 134:1077-1100.

Wang, Y., D. M. Finch, F. R. Moore, and J. F. Kelly. 1998. Stopover ecology and habitat use of migratory Wilson's Warblers. Auk 115: 829-842.

Moore, F. R. and D. Aborn. 2000. Mechanisms of en route habitat selection: How do migrants make habitat decisions during stopover? Studies in Avian Biology 20:34-42.

Simons, T. R., S. M. Pearson, and F. R. Moore. 2000. Applications of spatial models to the stopover ecology of trans-gulf migrants. Studies in Avian Biology 20: 4-14.

Aborn, D. and F. R. Moore. 2004. Activity budgets of summer tanagers during spring migratory stopover. Wilson Bulletin. 116: 64-68.

Wang, Y., J. Chang, F. Moore, L. Su, L. Cui, X. Yang. 2006. Stopover ecology of Red-flanked Bush Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus) at Maoershan, Northeast China. Acta Ecologica Sinica 26: 638 - 646.

Smith, R., F. R. Moore, and C. May. 2007. Stopover habitat along the northern shoreline of Lake Huron, Michigan: Emergent aquatic insects as a food resource for spring migrating landbirds. The Auk 124: 107-121.

Buler, J. J. and F. R. Moore. 2011. Migrant-Habitat Relationships during stopover along an ecological barrier: extrinsic constraints and conservation implications. J. Ornithology 152 (Suppl 1): S101 - S112.

Németh, Z. and F. R. Moore. 2012. Differential spring migration and stopover behavior of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Field Ornithology 83:26-31

Cohen, E. B., F. R. Moore, R. A. Fischer. 2012. Experimental evidence for the interplay of exogenous and endogenous factors on the movement ecology of a migrating songbird. PLoS ONE 10.1371/ journal.pone.0041818

Cohen, E. B., S. M. Pearson, and F. R. Moore. 2014. Effects of landscape composition and configuration on migrating songbirds: inference from an individual-based model. Ecological Applications 24:169-180.

Cohen, E. B., F. R. Moore, R. A. Fischer. 2014. Fuel stores, time of spring, and movement behavior influence stopover duration of Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus. Journal of Ornithology 155: 785 - 792.

Deppe, J. L. M. P. Ward, R. H. Diehl, A. Celis-Murillo, R. T. Bolus, T. J. Zenzal, F. R. Moore, J. A. Smolinsky, L. N. Schofield, D. A. Enstrom, E. H. Paxton, G. Bohrer, T. J. Benson, T. A. Beveroth, R. L. Obringer, D. Delaney, and W. W. Cochran. 2015. Minimizing risk and maximizing success: factors that allow migratory birds to traverse large geographic features. Proceedings National Academy of Sciences 112: E6331-E6338.

Zenzal, T. J. and F. R. Moore. 2016. Stopover biology of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) during autumn migration. Auk: Ornithological Advances 133: 237 - 259.

Lain, E. J., T. J. Zenzal, Jr., F. R. Moore, W. C. Barrow, Jr., and R. H. Diehl. 2017. Songbirds are resilient to hurricane disturbed habitats during spring migration. Journal of Avian Biology 48: 815 - 816.

Schofield, L., Jill L. Deppe, Theodore J. Zenzal, Jr., Michael P. Ward, Robert H. Diehl, Rachel T. Bolus, and Frank R. Moore. 2018. Using automated radio telemetry to quantify activity patterns of songbirds during stopover. Auk: Ornithological Advances 135: 949-963.

Information acquisition and use

A migrant's fitness is dependent upon the timely and safe acquisition of resources at unfamiliar stopover sites. This requirement poses an interesting and largely overlooked challenge: How do migrants acquire information to reduce risks and uncertainties associated with unfamiliar stopover sites? What is adequate information under the simultaneous constraints of time minimization and energy requirements?

Moore, F. R. and T. E. Osadchuk. 1982. Spatial Memory in a Passerine Migrant. In: Avian Navigation. F. Papi and H. Wallraff (eds). Springer-Verlag: New York. Pp. 319-325.

Moore, F. R. 1990. Prothonotary warblers cross the Gulf of Mexico together. Journal of Field Ornithology. 61: 285-287.

Németh, Z. and F. R. Moore. 2007. Unfamiliar stopover sites and the value of social information during migration. Journal of Ornithology 148: S369 - S376.

Németh, Z. and F. R. Moore. 2012. Differential spring migration and stopover behavior of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Field Ornithology 83:26-31.

Németh, Z., Y. Luo, J. Owen, and F. R. Moore. 2017. Seasonal variation in CREB expression in the hippocampal formation of first year migratory songbirds: Implications for the role of memory during migration. The Auk: Ornithological Advances 134: 146-152.

Schofield, L. N., J. L. Deppe, R. H. Diehl, M. P. Ward, R. T. Bolus, T. J. Zenzal Jr, J. Smolinsky, F. R. Moore. 2018. Occurrence of quiescence in free-ranging migratory songbirds. Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology 72:36.

Acquisition of food

Arguably the most important constraint during migration is to acquire enough food to meet nutritional demands and to do so in a timely fashion. Migratory birds are capable of depositing an inordinate amount of subcutaneous fat to fuel their flights, especially in relation to long flights over inhospitable landscapes/features. How do they do so? How does energetic status affect foraging ecology?

Moore, F. R. and P. A. Simm. 1985. Migratory disposition and choice of diet by the Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata). Auk 102:820-826.

Moore, F. R. and P. A. Simm. 1986. Risk-sensitive foraging by a migratory warbler (Dendroica coronata). Experientia 42:1054-1056.

Moore, F. R. and P. H. Kerlinger. 1987. Stopover and fat deposition by North American Wood-warblers (Parulinae) following spring migration over the Gulf of Mexico. Oecologia 74:47-54.

Loria, D. and F. R. Moore. 1990. Energy demands of migration on red-eyed vireos, Vireo olivaceus. Behavioral Ecology 1: 24-35.

Wang, Y. and F. R. Moore. 1990. "Foot-quivering" as a foraging maneuver among migrating Catharus thrushes. Wilson Bulletin. 102: 542-545.

Moore, F. R. 1992. Ecophysiological and behavioral response to energy demand during migration. Acta XX Congressus Internationalis Ornithologic. Pp. 753-760.

Wang, Y. and F. R. Moore. 1993. Relation between migratory activity and energetic condition among thrushes (Turdinae) following passage across the Gulf of Mexico. Condor 95: 934-943.

Wang, Y. and F. R. Moore. 1997. Spring stopover of intercontinental migratory thrushes along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Auk 114: 263-278.

Holberton, R. L., P. P. Marra, and F. R. Moore. 1999. Endocrine aspects of physiological condition, weather and habitat quality in landbird migrants during the non-breeding period. In: Adams, N.J. Slotow, R.H. (eds). Proceedings 22nd International Ornithological Congress, Durban. Ostrich 69: 847-866.

Wang, Y. and F. R. Moore. 2005. Long-distance bird migrants adjust their foraging behavior in relation to energy stores. Acta Zoologica Sinica 51: 12-23.

Lӧhmus, M. L., F. Sundstrӧm, and F. R. Moore. 2006. Non-invasive corticosterone treatment changes foraging intensity in red-eyed vireos Vireo olivaceus. Journal of Avian Biology 37: 523-526.

En route competition

During stopover, when migrants with similar food requirements and heightened energy demand are locally concentrated in unfamiliar areas, competition for available food resources could reduce the rate at which migrants restore fat deposits. Do migrants depress food resources during stopover? Do migratory birds compete for resources during stopover? What are the consequences of competition during stopover? Social asymmetries often mediate competitive interactions, and subordinate status could be a handicap to the deposition of energy stores. To the extent that social asymmetries determine status, are certain demographic groups disproportionately affected?

Moore, F. R. and Y. Wang. 1991. Evidence of food-based competition during migratory stopover. Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology 28: 85-90.

Moore, F. R., S. Mabey, and M. Woodrey. 2003. Priority access to food in migratory birds: age, sex and motivational asymmetries. Pp. 281-292. In: P. Berthold, E. Gwinner & E. Sonnenschein (eds): Avian Migration. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York.

Covino, K. M., S. R. Morris, and F. R. Moore. 2015. Patterns of testosterone in three Nearctic-Neotropical migratory songbirds during spring passage. General and Comparative Endocrinology 224: 186-193

Zenzal, Jr., T. J. and F. R. Moore. 2019. Resource use and defence by ruby-throated hummingbirds during stopover. Behaviour 156: 131-153.

Predation pressure

Predation may constitute a significant hazard to migrants. Do migrants assess risk of predation during stopover? If so, does predator avoidance behavior limit foraging opportunities by restricting habitat use during stopover? How do migrants resolve possibly conflicting demands between predation pressure and acquisition of food? Does a migrant's energetic status influence risk assessment? Migratory 1birds store large quantities of fat to fuel long-distance flight. Increased mass affects flight performance, so fat birds may be more vulnerable to the attacks of aerial predators than lean birds. If so, are fatmigrants more risk sensitive?

Moore, F. R. 1994. Resumption of feeding under risk of predation: Effect of migratory condition. Animal Behaviour 48: 975-977.

Aborn, D. 1994. Correlation between raptor and songbird numbers at a migratory stopover site. Wilson Bull. 106: 150-154.

Cimprich, D. A. and F. R. Moore. 1999. Energetic constraints and predation pressure during stopover. In: Adams, N.J. & Slotow, R.H. (eds). Proceedings 22nd International Ornithological Congress, Durban. Ostrich 69: 834-846.

Woltmann, S. 2001. Habitat use and movements of Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks during Autumn at Ft. Morgan, Alabama. NABB 26: 150-156.

Woltmann, S. and D. Cimprich. 2003. Effects of weather on autumn hawk movements at Ft. Morgan, Alabama. Southeastern Naturalist 2:317-326.

Cimprich, D. A., M. S. Woodrey, and F. R. Moore. 2005. Passerine migrants respond to variation in predation risk during stopover. Animal Behaviour 69: 1173-1179.

Cimprich, D. A. and F. R. Moore. 2006. Fat affects predator-avoidance behavior in Gray Catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis) during migratory stopover. The Auk 124:1069-1076.

Zenzal, T.J., A. C. Fish, T. M. Jones, E. A. Ospina, and F. R. Moore. 2013. Observations of predation and anti-predator behavior of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds during migratory stopover. Southeastern Naturalist 12: N21-N25.

Pathogens, parasites and transmission of infectious diseases

Given the energetic demands of passage, migration is no time to be fighting an infection, whether viral, bacterial or parasitic, yet migratory birds are exposed to a wide array of parasites and pathogens by virtue of their travels. What is the prevalence of infection among migrating birds? Do migrants suffer consequences by virtue of infections? Do migratory birds face a conflict between costs of immune defense and energetic demands? What role do migratory birds play as dispersal agents for infectious diseases? How do parasites and pathogens affect the biology of migratory birds when they stopover to rest and refuel?

Owen, J. C. and F. R. Moore. 2006. Seasonal differences in immunological condition of three species of thrushes. Condor 108: 389-398.

Owen, J., F. Moore, N. Panella, E. Edwards, R. Bru, M. Hughes, N. Komar. 2006. Migrating birds as dispersal vehicles of West Nile virus. Ecohealth 3: 79-85

Garvin, M., F. R. Moore, and C. Szell. 2007. Blood parasites of Neotropical migrant passerine birds after spring trans-Gulf migration: Impact of host body condition. Journal of Parasitology 92: 990-996.

Owen, J. C. and F. R. Moore. 2008. Condition-Dependence of Health and Immune Function of Thrushes during Spring Migration. Canadian Journal of Zoology 86: 638 - 647.

Owen, J. C. and F. R. Moore. 2008. Birds in migratory disposition suppress immune function. Journal of Ethology 26: 383 - 388.

Owen, J. C., F. R. Moore, A. J. Williams, E. A. Miller, L. C. Wilson, V. Morley, R. N. Abbey-Lee, B. A. Veeneman, B. DeRussey, M. McWhorter, M. C. Garvin. 2010. Test of recrudescence hypothesis for overwintering of West Nile virus. Journal of Medical Entomology 47: 451-457.

Owen, J.C., F.R. Moore, A.J. Williams, L. Stark, E.A. Miller, V. Morley, A. Krohn, M.C. Garvin. 2011. Test of recrudescence hypothesis for overwintering of eastern equine encephalomyelitis. Journal of Medical Entomology 4:896-903

Mukherjee, N., L. Beati, M. Sellers, Laquita Burton, S. Adamson, R. Robbins, F. Moore, and S. Karim. 2014. Importation of exotic ticks and tick-borne spotted fever group rickettsia into the United States by migrating songbirds. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases 5: 127-134.

Lewis, W., F. R. Moore, and S. Wang. 2016. Characterization of the gut microbiota of migratory passerines during stopover along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Avian Biology 47: 1 - 10.

Lewis, W. B., F. R. Moore, and S. Wang. 2017. Changes in the gut microbiota of migratory passerines during stopover after crossing an ecological barrier. The Auk: Ornithological Advances 134: 137 - 145.

Budachetri, B., J. Williams, N. Mukherjee, M. Sellers, F. Moore, and S. Karim. 2017. The microbiome of neotropical ticks parasitizing on passerine migratory birds. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 8: 170 - 173.

Sleep and migration

Most bird species are active during the day and sleep at night, except during migration when the migratory flights of most songbirds occur at night. Do nocturnal migrants experience loss of sleep? If loss of sleep has negative consequences for a migrating bird, does she show compensatory adjustments? Of course, compensatory sleep during the day is not without costs for a migratory bird: Time available for other activities is reduced, which could have consequences in units of time and condition. Maybe migrating birds engage in semi-hemispheric sleep.

Fuchs, T., A. Haney, T. J. Jechura, F. R. Moore, and V. Bingman. 2006. Daytime naps in night-migrating birds: behavioural adaptation to seasonal sleep deprivation in the Swainson's thrush, Catharus ustulatus. Animal Behaviour 72: 951-958.

Fuchs, T., M. Maury, F. Moore, and V. Bingman. 2009. Daytime micro-naps in a nocturnal migrants: An EEG analysis. Biology Letters 5: 77 - 80.

Németh, Zoltan. 2009. Observation of daytime sleep-like behavior in a migratory songbird during stopover. Wilson J. Ornithology 121: 644 - 646.

Covino, K.M., and B. Cooney. 2015. Daytime sleeping behavior observed in a Black-and-White Warbler during spring stopover. Animal Migration 2:44-46.

Age- and sex-specific stopover biology

Idividuals with different levels of migratory experience can be expected to respond differently to the challenges of migration -- differences that may affect survival and reproductive success. Likewise, we have every reason to believe that males and females may adopt different migration strategies.

Moore, F. R. 1984. Age-dependent Variability in the Orientation of Migratory Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis). Auk 101:875-880.

Woodrey, M. and F. R. Moore. 1997. Age-related differences in the stopover of fall landbird migrants on the coast of Alabama. Auk 114: 695-707.

Heise, C. D. and F. R. Moore. 2003. Age-related differences in foraging efficiency, molt, and fat deposition of Gray Catbirds prior to autumn migration. Condor 105: 496-504.

Németh, Z. and F. R. Moore. 2012. Differential spring migration and stopover behavior of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Field Ornithology 83:26-31.

Moore, F. R., K. Covino, W. Lewis, T. J. Zenzal Jr., and T. J. Benson. 2017. Effect of Fuel Deposition Rate on Departure Fuel Load of Migratory Songbirds during Spring Stopover along the Northern Coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Avian Biology 48: 123-132.

Departure: when and what direction

Although free-flying migrants are seldom observed to be disoriented, flight in seemingly inappropriate directions is not an uncommon observation. If migrants do not compensate for displacement or correct for an error in their orientation, the time required to re-gain their migratory pathway may translate into an untimely arrival at their destination, not to mention more time spent coping with en route challenges. Although we have asked how migratory birds integrate sensory information to determine their migratory direction, orientation decisions are made in an ecological context by migrants that vary in their nutritional condition. What factors, both endogenous and exogenous, influence the decision to embark on a long-distance, migratory flight?

Moore, F. R. 1977. Geomagnetic disturbance and the orientation of nocturnally migrating birds. Science 196:684-686.

Moore, F. R. 1978. Sunset and the orientation of a nocturnal migrant bird. Nature, Lond. 274:154-156.

Moore, F. R. 1980. Solar cues in the migratory orientation of the savannah sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis. Animal Behaviour 28:684-704.

Moore, F. R. 1982. Reverse Turning and Angle Compensation in a Migratory Passerine, Passerculus sandwichensis. Behavioural Processes 7:259-266.

Moore, F. R. 1982. Sunset and the Orientation of a Nocturnal Bird Migrant: A Mirror Experiment. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 10:153-155.

Moore, F. R. 1986. Sunrise, skylight polarization and the early morning orientation of night migrating warblers. Condor 88:493-498.

Moore, F. R. 1987. Sunset and the orientation behaviour of migratory birds. Biological Reviews 62:65-86.

Moore, F. R. 1987. Moonlight and the migratory orientation of Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis). Ethology 75:155-162.

Moore, F. R. 1990. Evidence for redetermination of migratory direction following wind displacement. Auk 107: 425-428.

Moore, F. R. and D. A. Aborn. 1996. Time of departure by Summer Tanagers (Piranga rubra) from a stopover site following spring trans-Gulf migration. Auk 113: 949-952.

Sandberg, R. and F. R. Moore. 1996. Migratory orientation of red-eyed vireos, Vireo olivaceus, in relation to energetic condition and ecological context. Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology 31:1-10.

Sandberg, R., J. Bäckman, F. R. Moore, and M. Lӧhmus. 2000. Magnetic information calibrates celestial cues during migration. Animal Behaviour 60: 453-460.

Sandberg, R., F. R. Moore, J. Bäckman, and M. Lӧhmus. 2002. Orientation of nocturnally migrating Swainson's Thrush at dawn and dusk: Importance of energetic condition and geomagnetic cues. Auk 119: 201-209.

Lӧhmus, M., R. Sandberg, R. Holberton, and F. R. Moore. 2003. Corticosterone levels in relation to migratory readiness in red-eyed vireos (Vireo olivaceus). Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology 54: 233-239.

Muhiem, R., F. R. Moore, and J. B. Phillips. 2006. Calibration of magnetic and celestial cues in migratory birds - a review of cue-conflict experiments. Journal of Experimental Biology 209:2-17.

Cohen, E.B., F.R. Moore, R.A. Fischer. 2012. Experimental evidence for the interplay of exogenous and endogenous factors on the movement ecology of a migrating songbird. PLoS ONE 10.1371/journal.pone.0041818

Cohen, E. B., F. R. Moore, R. A. Fischer. 2014. Fuel stores, time of spring, and movement behavior influence stopover duration of Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus. Journal of Ornithology 155: 785 - 792.

Smolinsky, J., R. Diehl, T. Radzio, T. Delaney, and F. R. Moore. 2013. Factors influencing the movement biology of migrant songbirds confronted with an ecological barrier. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 67: 2041 - 2051.

Deppe, J. L. M. P. Ward, R. H. Diehl, A. Celis-Murillo, R. T. Bolus, T. J. Zenzal, F. R. Moore, J. A. Smolinsky, L. N. Schofield, D. A. Enstrom, E. H. Paxton, G. Bohrer, T. J. Benson, T. A. Beveroth, R. L. Obringer, D. Delaney, and W. W. Cochran. 2015. Minimizing risk and maximizing success: factors that allow migratory birds to traverse large geographic features. Proceedings National Academy of Sciences 112: E6331-E6338

Zenzal Jr. T.J., F. R. Moore, R. H. Diehl, M. P. Ward, J. L. Deppe. 2018. Migratory hummingbirds make their own rules: the decision to resume migration along a barrier. Anim. Behav. 137:215- 224.

Bolus, R., R. Diehl, F. R. Moore, J. Deppe , M. Ward , J. Smolinsky , T. Zenzal. 2017. Swainson's Thrushes do not show strong wind selectivity prior to crossing the Gulf of Mexico. Scientific Reports. 7:14280.

Schofield, L., Jill L. Deppe, Theodore J. Zenzal, Jr., Michael P. Ward, Robert H. Diehl, Rachel T. Bolus, and Frank R. Moore. 2018. Using automated radio telemetry to quantify activity patterns of songbirds during stopover. Auk: Ornithological Advances 135: 949-963.

Ward, M.P., T. J. Benson, J. Deppe, T. J. Zenzal Jr, R. H. Diehl, A. Celis-Murillo, R. Bolus, F. R. Moore. 2018. Estimating apparent survival of songbirds crossing the Gulf of Mexico during autumn migration. Proc. R. Soc. B 285: 20181747.

Connectivity and transition between phases of the annual cycle

How do events during migration affect the occupation of breeding/wintering habitat following migration? What are the consequences of en route events for survival during the "winter" and for reproductive performance during the breeding season? The development and application of new tracking technology is moving us closer to the reconstruction of migratory routes and spatial connectivity across the annual cycle, while reinforcing the knowledge that what transpires during migration is not isolated from other phases of the annual cycle. Integration of information from intrinsic and extrinsic markers can link individuals captured during migration with their destination. In doing so, we learn how far migrants must travel from the stopover site to their breeding area and whether migrants are early or late relative to other birds traveling to the same destination. Stronger inferences can be drawn about stopover behavior and departure decisions (i.e., migration strategies).

Moore, F. R. and M. V. McDonald. 1993. On the possibility that intercontinental landbird migrants copulate en route. Auk 110: 157-160.

Wang, Y. and F. R. Moore. 1994. Flight morphology of migrating thrushes and its relation to energetic condition after passage across the Gulf of Mexico. Auk 111: 683-692.

Sandberg, R. and F. R. Moore. 1996. Fat stores and arrival on the breeding grounds: reproductive consequences for passerine migrants. Oikos 77: 577-581.

Smith, R. J. and F. R. Moore. 2003. Arrival fat and reproductive performance in a long-distance passerine migrant. Oecologia 134:325-331.

Moore, F. R., R. J. Smith, and R. Sandberg. 2005. Stopover ecology of intercontinental migrants: En route problems and consequences for reproductive performance. Pp. 251-261. In: Birds of Two Worlds - the ecology and evolution of migration. R. Greenberg and P. Marra, eds. John Hopkins Press, Baltimore, MD.

Marra, P., C. Francis, R. Mulvihill, and F. R. Moore. 2005. The influence of climate on the timing and rate of spring bird migration. Oecologia 142: 307-315.

Smith, R. J. and F. R. Moore. 2005. Fat stores of American Redstarts (Setophaga ruticilla) arriving at northerly breeding grounds. Journal of Avian Biology 36: 117-126.

Smith, R. and F. R. Moore. 2005. Arrival timing and seasonal reproductive performance in a long-distance migratory landbird. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 57: 231-239.

Hobson, K. A., S. van Wilgenburg, L. I. Wassenaar, F. R. Moore and J. Farrington. 2007. Estimating origins of three species of neotropical migrant songbirds at a gulf Coast stopover region: combining stable isotopes and GIS tools. The Condor 109: 256 - 267.

Langin, K., P. Marra, Z. Németh, F. Moore, T. Kyser, and L. Ratcliffe. 2009. Breeding latitude and timing of spring migration in songbirds crossing the Gulf of Mexico. J. of Avian Biology 40: 309 - 316.

Owen, J. C., M. C. Garvin, and F. R. Moore. 2014. Elevated testosterone advances onset of migratory restlessness in a nearctic-neotropical landbird. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 68: 561-569.

Ruegg, K. C., E. C. Anderson, K. L. Paxton, V. Apkenas, S. Lao, R. B. Siegel, D. F. DeSante, F. R. Moore, and T. B. Smith. 2014. Mapping migration in a songbird using high-resolution genetic markers. Molecular Ecology 23: 5726 - 5739.

Cohen, E.B., Z. Németh, T. J. Zenzal Jr., K. Paxton, R. Diehl, E.H. Paxton, and F.R. Moore. 2015. Spring resource phenology and timing of songbird migration across the Gulf of Mexico. Studies in Avian Biology. Eric Wood and Jherime Kellerman, (eds). CRC Press. Boca Rotan, FL.

Paxton, K. and F. R. Moore. 2015. Carry-over effects of winter habitat quality on en route timing and condition of a migratory passerine during spring migration. Journal of Avian Biology 46: 195 - 206.

Johnston, R. A., K. L. Paxton, F. R. Moore, R.K. Wayne, and T.B. Smith. 2016. Seasonal gene expression in a migratory songbird. Molecular Ecology 25: 5680 - 5691.

Covino, K. M., J. Jawor, J. F. Kelly, and F. R. Moore. 2017. Overlapping life-history stages in migrating songbirds: Variation in circulating testosterone and testosterone production capacity. Journal of Ornithology 158: 203-212.

Ruegg, K. C., E. C. Anderson, R. J. Harrigan, K. L. Paxton, J. F. Kelly, F. R. Moore, and T. B. Smith. 2017. Genetic assignment with isotopes and habitat suitability (GAIAH), a migratory bird case study. Methods Ecol. Evol. 8 (doi: 10.1111/2041-210X.12800).

Paxton, K. and F. R. Moore. 2017. Connecting the dots: Stopover strategies of an intercontinental migratory songbird in the context of the annual cycle. Ecology and Evolution 7: 6716-6728.

Zenzal, T. J. Jr, A. J. Contina, J. F. Kelly, F. R. Moore. 2018. Temporal migration patterns between natal locations of ruby-throated hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) and their Gulf Coast stopover site. Movement Ecology 6:2.

Covino, K., J. Jawor, S. Morris, and F. R. Moore. 2018. Sex-specific hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis sensitivity in migrating songbirds. Hormones and Behavior 97:112 - 120.

Conservation, migratory birds, and anthropogenic impacts

Consider anthropogenic habitat fragmentation, climate change, introduction of exotic species - impacts that highlight causal links in both directions between movement of migratory birds and environmental change. If we draw from diverse fields, including the social sciences, economics, science education, and communication, we can understand the interactions between natural systems and human influences and build a foundation upon which to develop effective and innovative strategies for environmental problem solving and conservation.

Moore, F. R. and T. R. Simons. 1992. Habitat suitability and the stopover ecology of Neotropical passerine migrants. Pp. 345-355. In: Ecology and Conservation of Neotropical Migrant Landbirds. J. Hagan and D. Johnston (Eds.). Washington, D. C., Smithsonian Institution Press.

Moore, F. R., S. A. Gauthreaux, Jr., P. Kerlinger, and T. R. Simons. 1995. Habitat Requirements during Migration: Important Link in the Conservation of Neotropical Landbird Migrants. Pp. 121-144. In: Ecology and Management of Neotropical Migratory Birds. T. Martin and D. Finch (Eds). Oxford University Press. New York, NY.

Moore, F. R. [editor]. 2000. Stopover Ecology of Neartic-Neotropical Landbird Migrants: Habitat Relations and Conservation Implications. Studies in Avian Biology No. 20. 133 Pp.

Glowinski, S. 2008. Bird-watching, ecotourism, and economic development: a review of the evidence. Applied Research in Economic Development 5(3):65-77.

Buler, J. J. and F. R. Moore. 2011. Migrant-Habitat Relationships during stopover along an ecological barrier: extrinsic constraints and conservation implications. J. Ornithology 152 (Suppl 1): S101 - S112.

Glowinksi, S. L. and F. R. Moore. 2014. The Role of Recreational Motivation in the Birding Participation-Environmental Concern Relationship, Human Dimensions of Wildlife 19: 219-233

Cohen, E. B., W. C. Barrow, Jr., J. J. Buler, J. L. Deppe, A. Farnsworth, P. P. Marra, S. R. McWilliams, D. W. Mehlman, R. R. Wilson, M. S. Woodrey, and F. R. Moore. 2017. How do en route events around the Gulf of Mexico influence migratory landbird populations? The Condor: Ornithological Applications 119: 327 - 343.

Ward, M.P., T. J. Benson, J. Deppe, T. J. Zenzal Jr, R. H. Diehl, A. Celis-Murillo, R. Bolus, F. R. Moore. 2018. Estimating apparent survival of songbirds crossing the Gulf of Mexico during autumn migration. Proc. R. Soc. B 285: 20181747.

Last modified: 04 April 2019
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