Investigating Range Change in Subtropical Birds and Possible Links to Global Warming Using A Publicly-Accessible Robotic Camera
- John Callender's Daily Blog about CONE Welder
- Rappole, J.H., G.W. Blacklock, and J. Norwine. 2007. Apparent rapid range change in South Texas birds: Response to climate change? Pp. 133-145 In The changing climate of South Texas 1900-2100: Problems and prospects; impacts and implications (J. Norwine, and K. John, eds.), CREST-RESSACA, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, Texas.
- Birding in Texas
- Checklist of Welder Birds
- Welder Wildlife Refuge Bird List
Motivation
Subtropical birds like the Green Jay, Great Kiskadee, and White-tipped Dove, have recently been observed 60 miles north of their known breeding ranges. Similar sightings by amateur observers suggest that over 70 species of subtropical birds may have shifted northward from their South Texas breeding range (Rappole et al. 2007). Such changes, if documented, would represent a profound alteration in the structure and organization of major biogeographic realms, which could be consistent with warming and drying trends associated with global climate change (Norwine and John 2007).
Goal
To determine if the sightings are: 1) representative of rapid and recent changes in breeding range, or 2) the result of normal bird vagrancy and dispersal.
Location
Near many of the reported sightings, the Welder Wildlife Refuge is comprised of 3,200 hectares of mesquite chaparral, riparian forest, marsh, and pasture along the Aransas River near the northern boundary of the Tamaulipan Biotic Province in South Texas. This region has the highest number of bird species in North America outside of the tropics. Welder has detailed records of its avifauna, as well as many other aspects of its ecological communities, dating back to its establishment in 1954.
Methodology
We will combine standard techniques of field biology with a new class of telerobotic \"observatories\" to intensively study relevant bird species at Welder. We will construct a feeding station and capture and color-band birds for individual recognition. We will apply standard techniques such as color-marking, nest location, and specimen collection. We will install an internet-accessible telerobotic \"observatory\" (Song and Goldberg, 2006).
Observers, using the networked robotic camera, will collect data on bird individuals, pairs, and family groups and their residency over the course of an annual cycle. On-site investigators will supplement this effort with field and laboratory work (e.g., paternity testing) to provide further information on breeding range shift.
Our aim is to engage thousands of citizens from around the world, including students from local and non-local schools, to systematically photograph and collect data on the daily and seasonal occurrence of subtropical birds.
This study is relevant to larger questions regarding the proximate and ultimate causes for such shifts, which may include global effects such as climate change.