2025 Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference

AUTHORS: Wesley Bollinger, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

ABSTRACT: As road development continues to fragment native landscapes and stifle wildlife movement, there has been increased attention towards maintaining and restoring ecosystem services and habitat connectivity around roadways. Increased use of native plants along roadways can reduce overall maintenance costs, bolster ecosystem services, and broaden migration corridors for numerous species, including birds and pollinators like the Monarch Butterfly.

State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) play a critical role in the balance between development and natural area conservation given their road creation efforts and maintenance of their sizeable land holdings. As most midwestern state DOTs employ native species in their roadside seeding specifications, I provide an overview of these seeding efforts, giving particular attention to states like Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois that include many diverse native seed mixes. I will also present preliminary results from surveys of Illinois and Indiana DOT native seed plots from the last 17 years. This presentation illustrates beneficial techniques for seeding in heavily disturbed, invaded landscapes and provides insight into which native species best establish and persist in these conditions.

AUTHORS: Becky Hansis-O'Neill, University of Missouri - St. Louis
Aimee Dunlap, University of Missouri - St. Louis

ABSTRACT: Aphonopelma hentzi has not been a species of concern for arachnologists in North America. Researchers report high densities at their field sites in the states of Colorado (CO) and Texas (TX) with no major conservation concerns. Central Missouri (MO) represents the most northern and easterly range edge for A. hentzi where they are primarily found in native glade grasslands. We have conducted a population assessment on three such glades over the past two years and discovered very low population densities compared to other researcher sites around the USA. Glades in central MO may represent habitat islands within the edge of A. hentzi’s range. Additionally, MO glades have been degraded over time by changing fire regimes and disturbance by hobby herpetologists. Our research aims to assess these populations over time in terms of density, preferred habitat, genetic health, and effects of disturbance. These tarantulas may be at risk due to a confluence of factors such as range edge effects, illegal collecting, habitat fragmentation, or other unknowns like pesticide exposure or disease. These factors may be causing low population densities, creating an Allee effect where these subpopulations may not easily recover. Small predator biodiversity is likely important for bottom-up maintenance of native vegetation via control of grazing invertebrates like orthopterans. This paper presentation will cover our current work on this project and future directions.

AUTHORS: Cassidy Lathrom, Kansas State University; Dave Haukos, United States Geological Survey; Caroline Skidmore, Kansas State University; Brian Monser, Fort Riley Environmental Division; Derek Moon, Fort Riley Environmental Division

ABSTRACT: We assessed the influence of management actions on the occurrence and density of native bumblebee populations in the Great Plains region. Occurrence, density, and distribution of native bumblebees (Bombus spp.) were assessed relative to landscape characteristics and environmental conditions (e.g., fire, haying, mechanical and herbicide control of invading trees and herbaceous plants) on Fort Riley, Kansas. Multi-scale assessments were used to estimate distribution and density of species-specific Bombus at landscape and unit scales across accessible areas of the study area. Unit scales were categorized by dominant cover type (e.g., natural prairie, go-back land, woodland, cultivated/crop land, water, burned, and hayed). Distance sampling was used to estimate distribution and density of species-specific Bombus at landscape scales across accessible areas of the study area. Site locations within predetermined unit scales were selected using randomized surveys resulting in 151, 500-m transects. We conducted sampling during early summer (May and June) and late summer (July and August). Location of all bumblebees observed along the transect were recorded using a Trimble GPS unit. Package Distance in Program R was used to estimate density of Bombus spp. across Fort Riley, within certain cover types, and by management action. Data were comprised of six species including American (B. pensylvanicus), Southern Plains (B. fraternus), Black and Gold (B. auricomus), Common Eastern (B. impatiens), Brown-Belted (B. griseocollis), and Two Spotted (B. bimaculatus). We estimated 1.30 Bombus/ha (CV = 0.184) and 1.40 Bombus/ha (CV = 0.122) during 2022 and 2023, respectively. These data are the first known estimates of Bombus density in tallgrass prairie and serve as a baseline for future assessments.

AUTHORS: Craig Maier, Tallgrass Prairie and Oak Savanna Fire Science Consortium; Carol Baldwin, Great Plains Fire Science Exchange

ABSTRACT: Prescribed burning is critical to managing many wildlife habitats in North America, and the need for trained individuals is growing due to greater investment in wildfire risk mitigation and prescribed fire. Often students and early career professionals would like to add prescribed burning to their skill set, but are unaware of the training opportunities available or which would be most suitable for their career path. Prescribed burn training can occur through academic classes, online and in-person training for federal certification, state Extension trainings with and without certification, prescribed burning cooperatives and associations, and other opportunities. An overview of training requirements and types of trainings available can help wildlife managers meet personal and career goals. Examples of incorporating training into institutional settings will provide models for those looking to begin offering trainings at the college level.

AUTHORS: Alison Little, University of Illinois Chicago

ABSTRACT: The solar industry is responding to demand for a clean energy future. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) forecasts that the solar industry is expected to nearly triple cumulative solar deployment by 2028. At the same time, insect pollinators are in decline throughout North America. Species and habitat losses are resulting in listing consideration and petitions for once-common species like monarch butterflies and several bumble bee species. Co-located pollinator vegetation at solar facilities is recognized as an opportunity to support habitat needed by declining insect populations.

How can large-scale projects incorporate pollinator plantings at solar facilities? What ecological and performance benefits can be realized from pollinator plantings? How do developers and owners weigh the costs and challenges of maintaining pollinator vegetation and determine the effects it has on power generation, community acceptance, and operations? The Pollinator Habitat Aligned with Solar Energy (PHASE) project is a four-year research project that aims to answer these questions and better support the solar industry in successfully implementing co-located plantings. This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office.

In collaboration with industry and technical professionals, the PHASE team has developed methodology to evaluate the impacts of plantings on both biodiversity and facility operations. This includes the diversity of plant and insect communities, pollinator services being provided by the site, and the effects of pollinator vegetation on panel temperature and efficiency. The PHASE team has used this data to develop a newly finalized toolset designed to support solar industry decision-making on pollinator vegetation. The four tools include a Pollinator Planting Implementation Manual, a Cost Comparison Tool, a Seed Selection Tool, and Habitat Assessment Module Guidance.

In this presentation, attendees will learn about brief research updates on solar pollinator plantings, learn where to access the PHASE toolset, and the tool applications.

AUTHORS:  Joseph B. Deas, U.S. Geological Survey, Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station;
Desi Robertson-Thompson, U.S. Geological Survey, Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center;
Ralph Grundel, U.S. Geological Survey, Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station

ABSTRACT:  Oak savannas are among the most imperiled habitats worldwide, characterized by their unique structure and biodiversity. These ecosystems have experienced significant decline due to habitat conversion and altered disturbance regimes. To understand the impact of these changes on butterfly diversity, we conducted extensive surveys in 1998/1999 and 2023 across 17-25 sites in Midwestern oak savannas, representing a gradient of canopy cover. Our study aimed to assess butterfly abundance and species composition, alongside additional environmental variables that might influence the relationship between butterfly diversity and canopy cover. We collected data on various environmental factors, including flower abundance, composition, and fire frequency, to determine their predictive value for butterfly presence/absence and to identify key environmental predictors. By comparing data from different time periods, we evaluated how the relationship between butterfly diversity and canopy cover has changed and whether these patterns were influenced by temporal or spatial changes in environmental conditions. Preliminary analyses suggest that the relationship between canopy cover and species richness is influenced by the frequency of historic fires, plant diversity, and local climate. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering multiple environmental factors when assessing biodiversity in oak savannas and highlight the need for ongoing conservation efforts to preserve these critical habitats.

AUTHORS: Becky Hansis-O'Neill, University of Missouri - St. Louis; Aimee Sue Dunlap, University of Missouri - St. Louis

ABSTRACT: The tarantula, Aphonopelma hentzi has not been a species of concern for arachnologists in North America. In Missouri, A. hentzi tend to inhabit glade habitats. Glades have been affected by changing fire regimes resulting in the proliferation of red cedar in some areas. Red cedar contributes to habitat degradation, making glades less favorable for glade specialist species. Small predators like lizards, and possibly arachnids, can reduce damage to native plants by controlling herbivorous insect populations. The effects of tarantulas on ecosystems they inhabit has not been well studied but they may be important for controlling herbivorous insects. Therefore, tarantulas may be important for maintaining glade habitats in addition to their intrinsic and cultural value. In three central Missouri glades, we have found A. hentzi populations that appear to be much smaller than we expected given population densities in other parts of North America. Partnering with the Missouri Department of Conservation, we have monitored these populations for the past three summers and will be adding new sites in the coming field season to understand if small populations are a widespread phenomenon in Missouri glades. We believe these tarantula populations are likely at risk from habitat fragmentation and degradation, edge of range effects, and illegal collecting. In addition to population monitoring, we have been working on monitoring habitat disturbance, natural history, population genetics, and wild tarantula welfare.

AUTHORS: Jerod Huebner, Missouri Prairie Foundation

ABSTRACT: Highlight recent remnant prairie acquisitions by MPF. In the last 9 years, MPF has increased its landholdings from 21 sites ~2500 acres to 35 sites totaling over 4500 acres. Much of this is high quality remnant prairie with adjacent reconstructions and restorations. MPF has targeted rare prairie types most recently, acquiring one loess hill prairie and three sand prairies.

AUTHORS: Nathan J. Proudman, Illinois Natural History Survey at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Maximilian L. Allen, Illinois Natural History Survey at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

ABSTRACT: The ability of animals to plasticly adjust their diel activity has important implications for their persistence and the structure of food webs. While many studies have examined diel activity in mammals, few have compared multiple abiotic, biotic, and anthropogenic variables to determine what factors have the strongest effects on sympatric species within a system. Understanding the bounds of variation in behavior is vital to accurately determine the effects of environmental stressors on the diel activity of wildlife. We quantified shifts in diel activity among nine sympatric mammal species using camera traps across Illinois. We found biotic variables to be responsible for the greatest average shifts in diel activity across all mammal species (Δ=16.8%). Domestic cats (Felis catus; Δ=25.7%), red foxes (Vulpes vulpes; Δ=25.2%), bobcats (Lynx rufus; Δ=20.7%), and striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis; Δ=19.3%) exhibited the most behavioral plasticity of our focal species, suggesting contrasting behavioral strategies to the variables we tested. Decreased diurnal activity in more open habitat types by multiple species likely reflects the anthropogenic fear effects in the human-dominated landscape of Illinois, while urban environments may act as spatio-temporal refuges from coyotes (Canis latrans) for subordinate mesocarnivores. Our study shows that a broad range of factors contribute to variation in mammal diel activity, which can in turn affect the predatory and competitive pressures among sympatric species, with the potential for cascading effects across multiple trophic levels. Our study provides a robust baseline for the diel variation in mammal activity, allowing for more accurate assessments of their behavior.

AUTHORS: Wendy Dorman, University of Illinios Urbana Champaign
Michael P. Ward, University of Illinios Urbana Champaign
Kirk Stodola, Illinois Natural History Survey

ABSTRACT: While many studies state that they expect birds in North America to shift their ranges north, little attention has been paid to which species will move and the mechanism by which ranges shift. Extralimital occurrences involve individuals occurring outside of their species’ core breeding distribution. The probability of extralimital occurrences may be used to infer the potential of a species to expand their range, while the location of extralimital occurrences could indicate potential areas where the range may expand. Combining eBird data, spatial modeling, and pattern analysis, I investigated range plasticity via extralimital occurrences of migrants north of their breeding distributions in the Midwest. Using dynamic occupancy modeling we predicted the likelihood of a given species to expand its range into particular areas and examined the relationship between predicted colonization and realized range shifts. We will discuss the potential for these metrics to be incorporated into an index of range plasticity.

AUTHORS:

ABSTRACT: Chuck-will's-widows are a declining crepuscular nightjar that breeds across eastern North America. They are among the largest nightjars, primarily sustaining themselves on insects. Despite their overall decline, their presence at Fort Cavazos during breeding seasons appears consistent and widespread. However, limited research has been conducted on this species at Fort Cavazos, prompting an investigation into their distribution and habitat preferences. To address this gap, fieldwork has been undertaken utilizing various methodologies. Point counts, microhabitat measurements, and GIS LiDAR technology have been used to find the reasons behind their presence at Fort Cavazos. Despite the base being subject to constant disturbance, fragmentation, and localized droughts, Chuck-will's-widows persist in the area, suggesting potential habitat suitability amidst challenging conditions. Data collected from two field seasons (Spring 2023 and 2024) along with four years of point count data (Spring 2021-2024) will be analyzed to discern patterns in their distribution and habitat preferences. Additionally, insect availability in the habitat of Chuck-will's-widow is being assessed through insect traps, aiming to correlate their presence with specific insect populations. By examining habitat characteristics, insect availability, and the species' distribution patterns, this research seeks to determine whether Chuck-will's-widows exhibit preferences for particular habitats or specific insect prey. An analysis of CWWI diet is also being conducted through metabarcoding fecal samples to be able to compare insect availability with chosen prey. Such insights are critical for understanding the factors influencing their presence at Fort Cavazos and for informing conservation strategies to mitigate the decline of this species in other areas.

AUTHORS: Ellen M. Audia, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Katherine M. Buckman, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Brent S. Pease, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Clayton K. Nielsen, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

ABSTRACT: Bobcats (Lynx rufus) in the midwestern U.S. experienced dramatic population declines throughout the 1900s due to overharvest and agricultural expansion. Increased protection allowed bobcats to recolonize the agriculturally dominated, fragmented landscape of north-central Illinois, where they are likely using and selecting habitat differently than bobcats in less fragmented landscapes. We evaluated home range size, second order (i.e., home range) habitat selection, and dispersal of 28 bobcats in north-central Illinois during 2022-2024. Mean annual home range size of males was 166.1 ± 99.2 km2 (SD throughout, n = 11) and larger (P = 0.01) than that of females (89.5 ± 119.4 km2, n = 8). Mean annual home range size of juveniles was 273.5 ± 125.3 km2 (n = 4) and larger (P < 0.01) than that of adults (96.6 ± 75.3 km2, n = 15). Home range sizes were similar (P = 0.4) between the kitten-rearing (138.1 ± 155.1 km2, n = 14) and breeding seasons (111.0 ± 102.5 km2, n = 18). Consistent with previous research, bobcats selected for forest cover over other land cover types; locations closer to forest edges, streams, and waterbodies; and locations farther from roads. Mean dispersal distance of 7 juveniles was 65.9 ± 42.4 km and similar to other midwestern populations, with 4 males and 1 female dispersing north, and 2 males dispersing southeast. Home range size differences between sexes, ages, and seasons were generally consistent with other studies; however, home ranges were larger than those of other populations suggesting bobcat space requirements may be greater in this fragmented landscape. The selection of forest cover and locations closer to forest edges and streams indicates that riparian forests along the Illinois river provide important habitat for bobcats and may have helped facilitate their recolonization of this region.

AUTHORS: Nadine Pershyn, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Clay Nielsen, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Nicole Gorman, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Abby Weber, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; and Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

ABSTRACT: Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) populations have declined throughout the midwestern U.S. without clear causation. Despite this decline, until recently minimal research has been conducted in the region to gain insight into the ecological needs of a vulnerable population. We evaluated gray fox second order habitat selection to determine which habitats are best suited to supporting gray foxes in southern Illinois and similar landscapes throughout the region. Gray foxes were trapped during November-March 2022-2024 using padded foothold traps and fitted with GPS collars programmed to take locations every 2 hr. Using more than 11,000 GPS locations from 10 gray foxes (5 ad F, 4 ad M, 1 ju M), we used a 2nd order resource selection function (RSF) to analyze habitat selection relative to vegetation cover (e.g., forest, grassland, crop, shrub, barren), distance to forest-grassland edges, distance to forest-crop edges, human development, distance to secondary roads, and elevation. We also investigated the impact of relative probability of use (RPU) across the landscape of coyotes (Canis latrans) and bobcats (Lynx rufus), using GPS locations also collected across southern Illinois. Gray foxes selected most strongly for developed areas, grasslands, and forest, and preferred areas closer to forest-grassland edge and farther from forest-crop edges and secondary roads. Our results support previous research that shows interspersed forest and grassland is important gray fox habitat. Gray foxes avoided areas with high coyote RPU but were not impacted by bobcat RPU. Coyotes are intraguild predators of gray foxes, and may contribute to mortality, which could be why gray foxes avoided them. Bobcats have similar habitat requirements and prey as gray foxes, which could explain the lack of response. Our study provides novel insight into habitat selection of a species of concern and sheds light on intraguild carnivore interactions.

AUTHORS: Lauren C. Scopel, Illinois Natural History Survey; T.J. Benson, Illinois Natural History Survey; Maximilian L. Allen, Illinois Natural History Survey; Kirk W. Stodola, Illinois Natural History Survey

ABSTRACT: Wildlife face increasing threats from a variety of anthropogenic sources, yet wildlife research, monitoring, and conservation funding is increasingly at risk. Wildlife managers thus face pressure to become more efficient, reducing time available for long-term survey efforts. One potential way to complement existing surveys is the use of publicly available federal or citizen science data. We integrated data from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), and eBird to analyze the distribution of Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) and Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) in Illinois between 2010-2022. We used dynamic occupancy models and Bayesian methods to track long-term changes for each species, while also examining potential bias in sampling design for each survey type. Bobwhite and pheasant occupancy declined over the 13-year period and were negatively associated with urban land cover. Of the three surveys, IDNR had the greatest detection rates for both species, whereas eBird detection rates were lowest, especially for bobwhite. eBird data, unlike the other data sources, also showed a bias in sampling effort, where users preferentially surveyed urban and wetland areas relative to their occurrence in the state. Our results indicate that intensive monitoring should continue for gamebirds in Illinois, given their ongoing declines. BBS and eBird data can complement high-quality IDNR data, but eBird data especially need additional treatment during analysis to ensure more accurate occupancy estimates.

AUTHORS: Sarah W. Kendrick, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Nicholas J. Bayly, SELVA: Investigación para la Conservación en el Neotropico; Ernesto M. Carman, SELVA; María de la Paz Irola-Angulo, SELVA; Yuly Caideco-Ortiz, SELVA; Stuart Mackenzie, Birds Canada

ABSTRACT: Many migratory landbird species are in steep decline and research to co-produced research to identify limiting factors and address threats across the full annual cycle for targeted recovery remains vital. Funding conservation efforts and research is another challenge for many that requires thinking outside the box. Recent tracking projects across the Western Hemisphere with international bird-conservation partners have been crowdfunded by Missouri birding organizations. Funding support was matched by state and federal agencies to fill knowledge gaps for declining songbird species of conservation concern across the Midwest and eastern U.S., including Golden-winged Warbler and Wood Thrush. Motus-tracking projects have allowed for new data on migration timing and departure dates, migratory routes, and survival at different periods of the full annual cycle. The Range-wide Wood Thrush Motus-tracking Project has engaged over 60 partners across 25 U.S. states and 7 countries via state agencies and international partners, resulting in the largest Motus-tagging project to date across the species’ full annual range. By utilizing the Motus network and leveraging funding and collaboration through partner projects including non-traditional, or often overlooked, audiences, we can build a stronger study design, ownership of the work, greater probability of conservation actions using the findings, and sense of community across the hemisphere for our shared migratory birds.

AUTHORS: Michael E. Egan, Southern Illinois University; Abigail M. Weber, Southern Illinois University; Nicole T. Gorman, Southern Illinois University; Michael W. Eichholz, Southern Illinois University; Daniel Skinner, Illinois Department of Natural Resources; Peter E. Schlichting, Illinois Department of Natural Resources; and Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau, Southern Illinois University

ABSTRACT: Behavioral responses of prey to predation risk have ecological impacts that can be as great as the direct mortality mediated through behaviors including behavioral state changes and spatial avoidance. Theory suggests that prey choose between these behaviors by pairing responses to risks based on the hunting mode of the prey (hunting mode hypothesis), but prey may ignore hunting mode to prioritize responding to the most lethal predators (lethality hypothesis). Furthermore, prey may respond to the spatial distribution of these risks (risky places hypothesis) or respond only during the periods of highest risk (risky times hypothesis).We test these hypotheses using data from 40 female and 29 male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and two mesopredators (coyotes, Canis latrans and bobcats, Lynx rufus) fitted with GPS collars and human sources of mortality (hunting, roads, human modification).We used hidden Markov models (HMM) to determine whether each covariate impacted the probability of transitioning between behavioral states and step selection functions (SSF) to determine whether deer spatially avoided each covariate. Additionally, we evaluated whether these patterns varied daily and seasonally. Generally, deer changed behavioral state in response to both mesopredators, consistently shifting to slower movement states, but avoided human modification. Spatial responses to human modification varied depending on the time of day. Deer selected for human modification during daylight hours but avoided human modification during the crepuscular and nighttime periods. Space use was most strongly related to more lethal humans, providing support for the lethality hypothesis. Despite prioritizing humans, mesopredators impacted deer behavioral state, suggesting that mesopredators still have important impacts on prey behavior. Finally, temporal patterns of avoidance align with other studies that indicate avoidance of predators is time-dependent while further highlighting the complex push-pull relationship of human modified areas on wildlife.

AUTHORS: Justin J. Remmers, Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Sarah Mayhew, Michigan Department of Natural Resources; Kirk Stodola, Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Maximilian L. Allen, Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

ABSTRACT: Furbearer management plans often rely on population models to estimate the abundance and demographic trends of managed species. Fishers (Pekania pennanti), a medium-sized carnivore distributed across Canada and the northern United States, experienced population declines, extirpations, and range contractions in the early 1900s due to habitat loss, predator control, and overharvest by trappers. After being granted legal protections, fisher populations have expanded and recolonized parts of their historic range, enabling some states to allow limited harvest of the species. In particular, Michigan has had limited harvest of fishers in the Upper Peninsula for 30 years; however, the current abundance of fishers is unknown. To address this, we are developing a state-space model using age-at-harvest data to assess the current population status of fishers in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (93,600 km2). We are investigating the influence of different sex- and age-specific life history traits (i.e., harvest season survival, non-harvest season, mean litter size) to determine how these traits affect the overall population size and where effort should be placed to increase precision of estimates. This work will be useful in predicting population changes and informing future harvest management of fishers. Based on preliminary analysis of current age-at-harvest data, juvenile fishers appear to be more susceptible to harvest and exhibit lower annual survival rates compared to adults. Given that female fishers undergo delayed implantation and will not give birth until their second year, high levels of juvenile and yearling harvest may be more impactful on fisher demographics, especially when compared to other furbearing species.

AUTHORS: Kristen M. Heath-Acre, Sarah W. Kendrick, Nicholas J. Bayly

ABSTRACT: The Motus Wildlife Tracking System is an international, collaborative network of automated telemetry towers that help track the movements of wildlife for conservation research. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) established its first Motus receiver in 2018; since then, MDC has expanded its network to 40 stations across the state and plans to grow further. The initial goal was to create “digital fences” statewide to capture large scale movements of tagged migratory birds to fill knowledge gaps in the full annual cycles of birds of conservation concern. In the past 5 years, the Missouri Motus Network has detected 48 species of birds and has become a leader for Motus in the Midwest and the Mississippi Flyway. The Missouri Department of Conservation has also established partnerships with state, federal, and non-governmental agencies as well as international partners to tag, track, and investigate the survival, movements, migration timing, and stopover habitat of several species of migratory birds that breed or migrate through Missouri annually, including the rapidly declining Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea). Investigation into Cerulean Warbler winter survival and habitat use has revealed that Cerulean Warblers make within season winter movements, have differing habitat preference between males and females, and have relatively high overwinter survival. These data can be used to direct further research and inform full life cycle models. In addition to monitoring movements at regional and hemispheric scales, MDC has leveraged the Motus network to track and analyze local movements and survival of a reintroduced population of Brown-headed Nuthatches (Sitta pusilla) in the Missouri Ozark Highlands. Results from these analyses can help conservation partners better target management actions to protect and reverse declines of at-risk species at both local and hemispheric scales.