Study finds sex bias in bird conservation plans

[Beringia]

https://wildlife.org/study-finds-sex-bias-in-bird-conservation-plans/

After pairing up and raising chicks, males and females of some bird species spend their winter break apart. At the end of their journey to Central or South America, you might find mostly males in one habitat, and females in another. Yet conservation strategies have typically focused on males and overlooked habitats needed by females, according to a new study in the journal Biological Conservation, putting already-declining species in even more peril.

“To counteract the bias in favor of male birds, researchers and conservation planners need to identify and report the sex of birds, model female distributions, and include female habitats in conservation plans,” Bennett said.

Female birds are often harder to find with their muted colors, and both sexes are quieter while on their wintering locations. But making the effort to consider the needs of female birds could pay off in the long run, she said.


This article in Forbes has in-depth coverage of this study.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/grrlscientist/2019/11/15/sex-bias-in-conservation-efforts-further-endangers-rare-birds/#3eb9111033e1


Female Golden-winged Warbler





Male Golden-winged Warbler





Nest: Built by female on the ground at base of shrub or in a tussock of grass or sedge, usually hidden by foliage. Open cup nest constructed of leaves, grapevine bark, and long strips of grass; lined with fine plant material.

Young: Leave nest after 8-9 days, are fed by parents for up to another month. Parents may divide fledglings into two groups, each parent attending only part of brood. 1 brood per year.



http://gwwa.org/ecology.html