Changing climate is rapidly accelerating shifts in ecological norms. Migratory waterbirds (i.e., shorebirds, wading birds, and waterfowl) are particularly vulnerable to these changes because of life histories supported by diffuse wetland networks that can expose populations to multiple risks. Our ability to sustain waterbird migration must now more than ever rely on strategies capable of efficiently monitoring and identifying emerging habitat bottlenecks. This talk will highlight efforts to understand climate extremes, from severe drought to atmospheric rivers, and their impacts on waterbirds using GPS-marked white-faced ibis in California and around western North America. Click here to open an interactive tool to track historical and current wetland conditions in the West. 

Patrick Donnelly is a Ph.D. student in the Wildlife Biology Program at the University of Montana and a research scientist for the US Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Program. Patrick leads and conducts partner-based research focused on climate change and waterbird conservation solutions through science developed to increase our understanding of continental wetland networks and emerging ecological bottlenecks impacting avian migration in Western North America.

The program will be presented online at: https://bluejeans.com/237342935/5052