Oregon Project
Productivity and foraging ecology of breeding Rusty Blackbirds on the Copper River Delta, Alaska
October 2009 - December 2012
Personnel
- Katie Dugger, Principal Investigator
- David Loomis, Student / Post Doc
Participating Agencies
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game
- USFS Pacific Northwest Research Station
The Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) has been identified as a high priority for conservation because of apparent steep populaton declines observed since the 1960's. Until recently, this species has been poorly studied and much information is lacking regarding basic biology. This study is being conducted on the Gult of Alaska coast (i.e., Copper River Delta) and is part of a multi-site project investigating the basic breeding ecology of this species in Alaska. In addition documenting breeding habitat use and monitoring reproductive success, we are attempting to gain some basic knowledge about the diet of this species while on the breeding ground and how aquatic invertebrate resources in the Delta may impact blackbird productivity.
| Technical Publications | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| Dugger, K.M., and D.M. Loomis. 2012. Productivity and provisioning rates of breeding Rusty Blackbirds in relation to diet on the Copper River Delta, Alaska. Final Technical Report. | June 2012 |
| Theses and Dissertations | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| Loomis, David M. 2013. Reproductive success and foraging ecology of the Rusty Blackbird on the Copper River Delta, Alaska. M.S. Thesis, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 86pp. | May 2013 |