2020 Rusty Blackbird Breeding Season

Article by Carol Foss

Thanks to the hard work and determination of field technician Levi Burford, we were able to complete a modified Rusty Blackbird field season in 2020. He surveyed more than 60 areas of suitable habitat, documented activity at 40 sites, and confirmed fledging from 17 nests, an impressive achievement for a single pair of boots on the ground!

Particularly notable was the location of four individuals that received nanotags in 2019 and returned to nest in 2020. One of these individuals was never detected at any Motus receiving stations during fall or spring migration, but arrived safely back on the breeding grounds and nested about a third of a mile from her 2019 nest site.

Collectively, the eight other nanotagged individuals were detected by 18 receiving stations in seven states from Connecticut to Georgia, four on both spring and fall migrations and four on fall migration only. Five of 12 nests were infested with one of two bird blow fly species. While one nest contained 34 puparia, the other nests had fewer than 10.

We are grateful to our cooperating landowners, Seven Islands Land Company, Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, Wagner Forest Management, and Weyerhauser (formerly Plum Creek); and to the Conservation Biology Research Fund at the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, and Wagner Forest Management for continuing support of this work.

Photos right (top to bottom):

1: This tagged female Rusty Blackbird was detected once during fall migration and spent nine days in the vicinity of a Motus receiving station on the way back north. She built her nest this year less than 200 ft. from her 2019 nest site. Photo by Levi Burford, 5/16/20.

2: Female Rusty Blackbird with a beak full of nesting material. Photo by Levi Burford.

3: This Rusty Blackbird nest is in a typical location, on intertwined branches of two young spruces. Photo by Levi Burford.

4: Just about every year we find one nest in a tangle of dead branches like this one. Photo by Levi Burford.

5: This nest in a small speckled alder is the first Rusty Blackbird nest we have found in a hardwood in 10 years of research! Photo by Levi Burford