Migratory connectivity of Cerulean Warblers

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Region, intends to make a sole source award of a grant agreement to the University of Tennessee (hereafter the University). Funding for this project is provided under the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 742a-754, and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 2901-2911. The University was selected to receive this award based on a combination of the following criteria: 1) this project is a continuation of activities for which the University has already been funded to fill critical knowledge gaps relative to identifying factors limiting population growth of Cerulean Warblers, and 2) the University���s unique qualifications, in association with its research collaborators, for successfully completing the work described below with regard to capturing Cerulean Warblers and using geolocator technology on these birds. The University has previously been funded to fill critical knowledge gaps for this species by studying the impacts of forest management alternatives on the breeding ecology and nesting success of Cerulean Warblers. This project continues the work to fill knowledge gaps on limiting factors by collecting information on migratory connectivity (including migratory stopover areas) between breeding and wintering populations, which could be influenced by different limiting factors based on geographic differences across their breeding and non-breeding ranges. The University���s staff has been studying this species for more than 15 years and, in conjunction with the research team it has assembled from other organizations, it has an unparalleled record of experience successfully working with this bird, especially with capturing and recapturing individuals, which will be critically important this project.