Population Management and Recovery of the Endangered Loggerhead Shrike

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Our research will assess the degree to which variation in migratory behavior in Loggerhead Shrike is genetically determined and how it varies due to differences in environmental conditions, including sustained periods of captivity. Data will be obtained from a captive population of Loggerhead Shrike for which known pedigree exists for each individual. Behaviour of captive birds will be digitally imaged and analyzed to quantify the degree of migratory urge displayed by birds differing in age and environmental conditions. Genomic assays of samples obtained from both wild and captive shrikes varying in migratory behaviour will be undertaken. The known pedigree (i.e. relatedness) and genomics assays will be used for quantitative genetic analyses of heritability in traits and to help elucidate the genes involved in the expression of migratory urge. By working within a species, our experimental design will control for differences in dispersal ability inherent among species.