Avian Biodiversity of Fall Migrants in the New Jersey Meadowlands

Samuel Gunther

Co-Presenters: Individual Presentation

College: Hennings College of Science Mathematics and Technology

Major: BS.BIO/ENVIR

Faculty Research Mentor: O'Connor, Cailin  

Abstract:

Long-term data collection at bird banding stations documents avian biodiversity, migration, and population changes at landscape scales and helps to inform conservation and land management decisions. This research project assessed seasonal biodiversity of fall migratory birds at two sites in the New Jersey Meadowlands: a saltmarsh and a capped landfill. During the fall 2025 migration season from mid-August through early November, banding efforts were conducted over 30 sessions with 1,579 individual birds representing 59 species banded, including five species not encountered at the station previously. Additionally, radio-tracking nanotags were deployed on catbirds and several species of warblers and thrushes to track routes and success of their fall migrations after having stopped over to refuel in the Meadowlands with most birds successfully completing their migration. These data provide evidence that these historically contaminated, urban sites are important stopover locations for many species of birds and should be preserved for their use.