STOPOVER HOTSPOTS FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS IN NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA

Area of Science:

• Avian ecology
• Conservation biology
• Network analysis

Background:

• Migratory bird stopover sites are crucial for energy replenishment and rest during long-distance movements.
• Limited understanding of population-level drivers and geographic distribution of essential stopover sites hinders effective conservation strategies.
• Protecting stopover sites is critical for maintaining migratory network connectivity and stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reconstruct avian migration networks and identify critical geographic hotspots (stopover sites).
• To analyze high-density population movements of 52 migratory bird species.
• To explore potential alternative stopover sites using geo-functional similarity.

Main Methods:

• Utilized comprehensive eBird observation data spanning three years in North and Central America.
• Applied the PageRank algorithm to analyze high-density population movements of 52 focal migratory bird species.
• Employed a word embedding technique to identify potential alternative stopover sites based on geo-functional similarity.

Main Results:

• Identified three key stopover areas: the Florida peninsula and its inland regions, Central America, and the Puget Sound area.
• Revealed high-density population movements and critical geographic hotspots for migratory birds.
• Characterized geo-functional similarities to pinpoint potential alternative stopover locations.

Conclusions:

• The identified key stopover areas are crucial for migratory bird conservation and management.
• Results provide essential guidance for conservation prioritization and active surveillance of avian pathogens.
• Understanding stopover site importance enhances the long-term sustainability of migratory bird populations.