Light-level geolocation reveals moderate levels of migratory connectivity for declining and stable populations of Black-throated Blue Warblers (Setophaga caerulescens)

Black-throated blue warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) populations have been declining at the southern edge of the breeding range in North Carolina over the past two decades. Determining the causes of population declines in migratory species requires knowledge of the threats faced throughout the entire annual cycle, necessitating accurate information about the migratory routes and non-breeding areas used by birds. We used light-level geolocators to identify the fall migratory routes and non-breeding distributions of adults breeding at the southern edge of the range in North Carolina (n = 5), where populations are declining, and at the core of the range in New Hampshire (n = 8), where populations are stable. The strength of migratory connectivity was moderate (mean = 0.42). New Hampshire birds used non-breeding areas broadly distributed across the Caribbean, whereas North Carolina birds used a restricted non-breeding area largely in the Dominican Republic. Suitable forest cover declined at a higher rate from 2000 to 2019 in the Dominican Republic than in other Caribbean countries (8.4% vs. 2-4% loss), exposing birds from the trailing edge to significantly higher suitable habitat loss on the non-breeding grounds compared with range-core birds. Birds from the two study populations also exhibited differing migratory routes, with North Carolina birds migrating south through Florida and many New Hampshire birds performing an overwater flight from the Carolinas to the Caribbean. Our results suggest the possibility that, at least for this species, forest loss on the island of Hispaniola could be exacerbating population declines at the southern edge of the breeding range in North Carolina.

Automated summary

The declining population of black-throated blue warblers at the southern edge of their breeding range in North Carolina may be exacerbated by forest loss in the Dominican Republic. The study also found differences in migratory routes and non-breeding areas between populations at the core of the range in New Hampshire and the declining population in North Carolina.