Conservation of North American migratory birds: insights from developments in tracking technologies

Conservation of North American migratory birds requires information about their movements and regulating factors throughout the annual cycle. Over the past 10 or more years, improvements in tracking technology and quantitative approaches to assessing resulting data have yielded advances in understanding many aspects of North American bird migration with relevance to conservation. To date, much of the synthesis of this information has focused on describing patterns and drivers of migration without directly addressing how these advances can inform migratory bird conservation. We begin by describing broad patterns of migration behavior observed in North American birds and briefly summarize the technological advances that have characterized different eras of bird migration research that have provided data relevant to conservation. We then illustrate how data derived from migration studies can inform conservation strategies, including addressing regulating factors outside the breeding period for North American migratory birds, and highlight how different types of migration data have shaped conservation of three well-studied species. Lastly, we discuss critical knowledge gaps and future directions for research needed to better inform North American migratory bird conservation. In particular, we highlight how further technological developments could contribute to the development of effective conservation action in the context of climate change. We also recommend that future research and conservation efforts incorporate means of evaluating the success of conservation actions that target North American migratory birds outside the breeding period.