Student Program

Since receiving initial seed funding in 2016, the MBO research program has continued to grow, expanding its contributions to avian science. Led by Dr. Barbara Frei in collaboration with Dr. Kyle Elliott from McGill University, MBO has conducted groundbreaking research on migration timing, the discovery of new hybrid warblers, spatial patterns in migration connectivity, blood metabolites as indicators of bird health, feathers for assays of stable isotopes and molt migration in neotropical species.

Since then, the MBO research team has supported ten undergraduate and graduate student theses, further contributing to the advancement of avian science.

Research area

McGill Bird Observatory collaborates with academic and government researchers, as well as university students, across various fields.

Our involvement ranges from sharing banding and observation data to assisting in the sampling process or actively contributing to the development, analysis, and publication of primary research.

Below is a list of peer-reviewed publications authored by our team and students, as well as collaborative studies that have utilized our banding data.

Number of projects per field

  • Molt Migrants
  • Diseases and Parasites
  • Molt and plumage
  • Technical studies
  • Hybrid species
  • Banding data

Publications

  • Poirier, V. 2023. Stopover ecology of two moult migrating passerines: Tennessee warblers (Leiothlypis peregrina) and Swainson’s thrushes (Catharus ustulatus) in a large urban park.
  • Morales, A. 2020. Stopover ecology of moult migrant Swainson’s thrushes «Catharus ustulatus».

  • A. Blanc-Benigeri, McGill University (Honours) “Fecal DNA dietary analyses of moult migrant neotropical

    songbirds during fall migration in an urbanized landscape” with Dr. Kyle Elliott

  • G. Freitag, McGill University (Honours) “Quantifying daily energetic levels for moult migrant songbirds from telemetry data” with Dr. Kyle Elliott
  • M. Lefvert, McGill University (Honours) “Home range and stopover duration of boreal breeding moult migrants” with Dr. Kyle Elliott
  • E. Tranze-drabinia, McGill University (Honours) “Energetics of molt migrants in relation to stopover habitat quality” with Dr. Kyle Elliott
  • J. Depolla, McGill University (Honours) – Spatial analysis to understand how urban tree planting can benefit avian biodiversity and sequester atmospheric carbon on the island of Montreal. with Dr. Kyle Elliott
  • N. Goudreau, McGill University (Honours) – Using historical banding data from the McGill Bird Observatory and the Tadoussac Bird Observatory, to investigating wing length and body mass trends of short- and longdistance migrant passerines. with Dr. Kyle Elliott

  • Blanc-Benigeri, A., Poirier, V., Narango, D., Elliott, K. H., and Frei, B. 2024. Diet of moulting Swainson’s Thrushes (Catharus ustulatus) and Tennessee Warblers (Leiothlypis peregrina) at a stopover site during fall migration measured with fecal DNA metabarcoding. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 9913.
  • Poirier, V., Elliott, K. H., and Frei, B. 2024. Peri-urban forest margins are important stopover sites for moult-migrating songbirds. Journal for Nature Conservation, 77, 126539.
  • Poirier, V., Frei, B., Lefvert, M., Morales, A., and Elliott, K. H. 2023. Moult migrant Tennessee Warblers undergo extensive stopover in peri-urban forests of southern Quebec. Canadian Journal of Zoology.
  • Morales A, Frei B, Mitchell GW, Begin Marchand C, Elliott KH. 2022. Reduced diurnal activity and increased stopover duration by molting Swainson’s Thrushes. Ornithology 139(2): ukab083
  • Junda, J. H., Duval, S., and Gahbauer, M. A. 2020. Use of discrete molting grounds by migrant passerines undergoing prebasic molt in southern Quebec. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 132(1), 72-82.

  • Nip, E.J., B. Frei, and K.H. Elliot. 2018. Seasonal and temporal variation in scaled mass index of Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus). Canadian Field-Naturalist 132(4): 368–377.

  • Jarjour C., B. Frei, and K.H. Elliott. 2017. Associations between sex, age and species-specific climate sensitivity in migration. Animal Migration 4: 23-36.

  • Hobson, K.A., S.L. Van Wilgenburg, E.H. Dunn, D.J.T. Hussell, P.D. Taylor, and D.M. Collister. 2015. Predicting origins of passerines migrating through Canadian migration monitoring stations using stable-hydrogen isotope analyses of feathers: a new tool for bird conservation. Avian Conservation and Ecology 10(1): 3.

  • Confer J.L., L.L. Kanda, and I. Li. 2014. Northern Saw-whet Owl: regional patterns for fall migration and demographics revealed by banding data. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 126: 305-320.

  • Hudon, J., and R. Mulvihill. 2017. Diet-induced plumage erythrism as a result of the spread of alien shrubs in North America. North American Bird Bander 42: 95-103.

  • Hudon J., D. Derbyshire, S. Leckie, and T. Flinn. 2013. Diet-Induced Plumage Erythrism in Baltimore Orioles as a Result of the Spread of Introduced Shrubs. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 125: 88-96.

  • Wolfe, J., and P. Pyle. 2011. First evidence for eccentric prealternate molt in the Indigo Bunting: possible implications for adaptive molt strategies. Western Birds 42: 257-262.

  • Hudson, M-A., M.A. Gahbauer, S. Leckie, and B. Frei. 2008. Unusually Extensive Preformative Molt in Hatching-year Song Sparrows. North American Bird Bander 33: 1-6.

  • Flinn T., J. Hudon, and D. Derbyshire. 2007. Tricks exotic shrubs do: When Baltimore Orioles stop being orange. Birding 39(5): 62-68.

  • Morales, A., B. Frei, C. Leung, R. Titman, S. Whelan, Z.M. Benowitz-Fredericks, and K. Elliott. 2020. Point-of-care blood analyzers measure the nutritional state of eighteen free-living bird species. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology 240.

  • Mackenzie, S.A., and M.A. Gahbauer. 2014. Guidelines for prioritizing bird safety during high capture events. North American Bird Bander 39: 61-65.

  • Kerr, K.C.R. 2011. Searching for evidence of selection in avian DNA barcodes. Molecular Ecology Resources 11: 1045-1055.

  • Crewe, T.L., J.D. McCracken, P.D. Taylor, D. Lepage, and A.E. Heagy. 2008. The Canadian Migration Monitoring Network-Réseau canadien de surveillance des migrations: Ten-year Report on Monitoring Landbird Population Change. CMMN-RCSM Scientific Technical Report #1. Bird Studies Canada, Port Rowan ON. 69 pp.

  • Brennan, Courtney L., Boulanger, Emily, Duval, Simon, et al. Two cases of a previously undocumented New World warbler hybrid (Setophaga magnolia × S. ruticilla) in eastern North America. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 2020, vol. 132, no 3, p. 537-547.

  • Scott, J. D., McGoey, E., Morales, A., & Pesapane, R. R. 2022. Molecular Detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia odocoilei, Babesia species and Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Songbirds. Journal ISSN, 2766, 2276.
  • Scott, J.D., K.L. Clark, N.M. Coble, and T.R. Ballantyne. 2019. Detection and Transstadial Passage of Babesia Species and Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Ticks Collected from Avian and Mammalian Hosts in Canada. Healthcare 7: 155.
  • Scott, J.D., K.L. Clark, J.E. Foley, J.F. Anderson, B.C. Bierman, and L.A. Durden. 2018. Extensive distribution of the Lyme Disease bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, in multiple tick species parasitizing avian and mammalian hosts across Canada. Healthcare 6: 131.
  • Scott, J.D., K.L. Clark, J.E. Foley, B.C. Bierman, and L.A. Durden. 2018. Far-reaching dispersal of Borrelia burgdorferisensu lato-infected Blacklegged ticks by migratory songbirds in Canada. Healthcare 6: 89.
  • Scott, J.D., and L.A. Durden. 2015. New records of the Lyme disease bacterium in ticks collected from songbirds in central and eastern Canada. International Journal of Acarology 41: 241-249.
  • Scott, J.D., J.F. Anderson, and L.A. Durden. 2012. Widespread dispersal of Borrelia burgdorferi-infected ticks collected from songbirds across Canada. Journal of Parasitology 98: 49-59.
  • Ogden, N.H., L.R. Lindsay, K. Hanincova, K. Barker, M. Bigras-Poulin, D.F. Charron, A. Heagy, C.M. Francis, C.J. O’Callaghan, I. Schwartz, and R.A. Thompson. 2008. Role of migratory birds in introduction and range expansion of Ixodes scapularisticks and of Borrelia burgdorferiand Anaplasma phagocytophilumin Canada. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 74: 1780-1790

Posters

About EDF

Restoration, research and education to protect migrating birds in l’Ouest-de-l’Ile

Starting in 2022, McGill University was awarded $390,000 from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund (EDF) to undertake a three-year project in partnership with the McGill Bird Observatory and with the support of Bird Protection Quebec.

Objectives

1Restore native habitat for songbirds in the west island by removing invasive species and planting over 1000 native trees and shrubs.

2Research the habitat use and mortality of migratory songbirds in the west island across space and time.

3Engage with the local Montreal community, especially youth, to raise awareness about the importance of urban greenspaces for migratory songbirds.

  1. Restore : The funds helped coordinate the removal of nearly 500 kg of invasive garlic mustard from Macdonald Campus and the McGill Bird Observatory. This aggressive plant outcompetes native vegetation, disrupting habitats that birds and other wildlife rely on.
  2. Research : The funds were used to purchase three new automated telemetry stations (Motus) and radio telemetry nanotags to study the stopover behavior and habitat preferences of two migratory songbird species that rely on the West Island as a key stopover site during their molting period and fall migration.
  3. Educate : A series of informative and visually engaging videos were created for MBO’s YouTube channel, helping children and their parents learn about migratory bird ecology, conservation, and the importance of native plants and greenspaces.

About the grant

The Environmental Damages Fund (EDF) is a specified purpose account administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to direct funds received from fines, court orders and voluntary payments to priority projects that will benefit Canada’s natural environment. The purpose of any contribution to the EDF is to restore the environment and conserve wildlife and habitats in a scientifically sound, cost-effective, and technically feasible way.

MOTUS

The Motus Wildlife Tracking System is an innovative, collaborative research network that uses automated radio telemetry to study the movements of small flying animals, including birds, bats, and insects, over vast distances. Tiny radio transmitters, called nanotags, are attached to the animals, emitting signals detected by a global network of receiving stations. These strategically placed stations track migration routes, stopover sites, and behaviors, providing researchers with valuable data. Motus is a powerful tool for understanding migration patterns, guiding conservation efforts, and promoting international collaboration in wildlife research.

Key Finding

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Highlights

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TEWA: 400
SWTH:
NOCA:

Total tag in 2024 : 100

KEPO Kahnawà:ke Environment Protection Office

KEPO is dedicated to preserving and protecting the natural environment of the Kahnawà:ke territory. Through community engagement, education, and proactive environmental management, KEPO works to safeguard the land, water, and wildlife for future generations. Their initiatives include monitoring environmental health, promoting sustainable practices, and addressing environmental concerns within the community. KEPO plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance and cultural heritage of Kahnawà:ke, ensuring that the environment remains a vibrant and integral part of the community’s way of life. We are very happy to help them with their birds populations !

https://kahnawakeenvironment.com/

Key Finding

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Highlights

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Captures total: 400

Banded total: 100

How Can You Help

Our research is made possible through the generous support of donors, volunteers, and partners. Your donations help keep the McGill Bird Observatory running, allowing us to conduct vital studies on bird migration, stopover behavior, and habitat conservation. Contributions directly fund research equipment, banding efforts, and outreach initiatives.

You can also support our work by volunteering, participating in community science projects, or simply spreading awareness about the importance of bird conservation. Every effort makes a difference in protecting migratory species and their habitats