Ecology and Management of Neotropical Migratory Birds: A Synthesis and Review of Critical Issues

Rating:
Summary: Summarize existing research and call for more
Review: This 1995 publication contains 17 chapters reviewing current research of critical issues of the ecology and conservation of neotropical migratory birds. Although the title implies "management", the number of specific management recommendations varies depending upon the author, taxonomic group or geographic area being discussed. In all the chapters, is an overwhelming call for more research.

Tallahassee's own Dr. James and Charles McCulloch, provided a key paper, on the strength of inferences about causes. Often it is easy to blame one source or another for declines, but this paper helps understand the need for "true experiment".

An interesting series is four chapters on temporal perspectives on population limitation, including a discussion of summer versus winter limitation, habitat use in the neoptropics, and habitat requirements during migration. The chapter on insect outbreaks and other perturbations (such as climate) by Rotenberry et al was important perspective, particular here in Florida, where a hurricane can change the vegetative characteristics of an area overnight.

The middle six chapters discuss forest management, and other human effects such as agricultural practices (this chapter was particularly eye opening: with 52% of the land area in the 48 contiguous states).

The final section on landscape scale perspectives, provided problems of management at different scales, from a local clear-cut to continental scale. This perhaps might have been frustrating to the land manager seeking to understand how to manage his 1000 acres, or what to do about the cowbirds that are impacting wood thrush.

There are other threats such as West Nile Virus, exotic species, and perhaps global warming that may become important in the future. Perhaps Faaborg's "Saving migrant birds"... may provide other insights.

Rating:
Summary: Summarize existing research and call for more
Review: This 1995 publication contains 17 chapters reviewing current research of critical issues of the ecology and conservation of neotropical migratory birds. Although the title implies "management", the number of specific management recommendations varies depending upon the author, taxonomic group or geographic area being discussed. In all the chapters, is an overwhelming call for more research.

Tallahassee's own Dr. James and Charles McCulloch, provided a key paper, on the strength of inferences about causes. Often it is easy to blame one source or another for declines, but this paper helps understand the need for "true experiment".

An interesting series is four chapters on temporal perspectives on population limitation, including a discussion of summer versus winter limitation, habitat use in the neoptropics, and habitat requirements during migration. The chapter on insect outbreaks and other perturbations (such as climate) by Rotenberry et al was important perspective, particular here in Florida, where a hurricane can change the vegetative characteristics of an area overnight.

The middle six chapters discuss forest management, and other human effects such as agricultural practices (this chapter was particularly eye opening: with 52% of the land area in the 48 contiguous states).

The final section on landscape scale perspectives, provided problems of management at different scales, from a local clear-cut to continental scale. This perhaps might have been frustrating to the land manager seeking to understand how to manage his 1000 acres, or what to do about the cowbirds that are impacting wood thrush.

There are other threats such as West Nile Virus, exotic species, and perhaps global warming that may become important in the future. Perhaps Faaborg's "Saving migrant birds"... may provide other insights.