The University of Saskatchewan, Canada is conducting important research to understand the ecology of the Canada Warbler when it spends its winters in the Columbian Andes. The research is funded in part by Bird Studies Canada.

Canada Warbler Photo: Glenn Bartley

Canada Warbler range map for North America

More than 80% of the Canada Warbler population breeds in Canada during the spring/summer. Since 1970 studies have shown a nearly 75% decline in the population. In 2008 the species was federally recognized as Threatened. The Canada Warbler was added as a species of high conservation concern by the global environmental treaty, United Nations Environment Programme Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals.

In the following 4 minute video researchers from SELVA-Research for Conservation in the Neotropics show the mountains of Colombia. This is where they are studying the importance of Andean forests and shade-grown coffee plantations as habitat.

At the 2013 BirdLife World Congress in Ottawa the Canada Warbler International Conservation Initiative (CWICI) was officially launched with support from Swarovski Optik, a BirdLife Species Champion for the Canada Warbler.

The CWICI research team is investigating the Canada Warbler's specific habitat needs. The researchers are investigating the factors involved in the Canada Warbler's population decline with the aim of identifying targeted actions for the species conservation.

In their investigations the researchers have used the Motus Wildlife Tracking System. The following 2 minute video demonstrates the Motus Wildlife Tracking System.

Currently in its fifth season the Canada Warbler study is nearing completion.

Two working groups have been formed to develop conservation strategies for both the breeding grounds in North America and the wintering grounds in South America. The Canada Warbler's wintering grounds are threatened by the loss and degradation of habitat. But just as important are the threats to the Canada Warbler's northern breeding grounds. The working groups are working together to release a multilingual "full lifecycle" conservation plan hopefully later in 2018.

Like other neotropical migrating birds in trouble, the conservation of the Canada Warbler requires wide support from a network of agencies and organizations over an entire hemisphere.

Sources and Full Articles

International Progress to Conserve Canada Warblers, Bird Studies Canada

Canada Warbler, AllAboutBirds.org

Canada Warbler in the Colombian Andes, SELVA – Research for Conservation in the Neotropics, YouTube video, 3 February 2018

Motus Wildlife Tracking System, Bird Studies Canada, 1 December 2017

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