Publications
Kurtin, A.M., Gomez, E., Hussey, N., Noson, A., O'Reilly M., Rhinehart T., Skone, B., Wengappuly B., Boyce A.J. 2025. Conservation Science and Practice (Early View).
Balmer, B.C., Skorupa, J.P., Adams, K.B., Creel, B.M., Hoffman, G.C., Fylling, M.A., Le, S., Martin, J.M, McBride, T.L., Williams, J.T., and Schmidt, T.S. 2025. Tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) demographics and metal(loid) concentrations in egg contents from the Kootenai River basin, Montana nest box colonies. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 197(6), p. 696.
Blake, M.R., Fylling, M.A, Leick, D., Rodriguez, T.M., and Stone, K. 2023. Evaluating two avian monitoring tools for detecting relative abundance of species during autumn migration. Journal of Field Ornithology, 94(3):4.
DeSimone, J.G., Domschot, B.S., Fylling, M.A., Blake, W.M. and Breuner, C.W. 2022. Body mass and triglycerides predict departure of free‐living nomadic pine siskins. Functional Ecology, 00, pp.1-11.
Mancuso, K.A., Fylling, M.A., Bishop, C.A., Hodges, K.E., Lancaster, M.B. and Stone, K.R. 2021. Migration ecology of western gray catbirds. Movement Ecology, 9(1), pp.1-16.
Fylling, M.A., Rodriguez, T.M. and Krzywicki, M.T. 2018. Using Upper Mandible Lining Color to Age Black-capped Chickadees: Is it reliable? North American Bird Bander, 43(2 & 3), pp.58-61.
Housty, W.G., Noson, A., Scoville, G.W., Boulanger, J., Jeo, R.M., Darimont, C.T., and Filardi, C.E. 2014. Grizzly bear monitoring by the Heiltsuk people as a crucible for First Nation conservation practice. Ecology and Society, 19(2).
Hutto, R.L., Flesch, A.D. and Fylling, M.A. 2014. A bird’s-eye view of forest restoration: Do changes reflect success? Forest Ecology and Management, 327, pp.1-9.
Noson, A., Schmitz, R.A., and Miller R.F. 2006. Influence of fire and juniper encroachment on birds in high-elevation sagebrush steppe. Western North American Naturalist, 66(3), pp.343-353.
Recent Reports
Breeding Season Songbird Banding and Nest Box Monitoring at Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site (2024): UMBEL operated a banding station at Grant-Kohrs for our fifth year since remediation took place on the Ranch, and our 14th year overall. We captured 104 birds of 26 species, the highest capture rate and diversity since restoration took place. Several exciting captures this summer season attest further to our expectation that with continued site maturation will follow an increase in both abundance and diversity of species. We also kicked off the pilot season of our large-scale nest box monitoring ecotoxicology project.
: UMBEL monitored breeding birds on the northern floodplain for our thirteenth consecutive year to learn about songbird trends, survival, and productivity. We also banded songbird nestlings for two different nesting studies. Between 2021-2023, we found 118 nests on the northern floodplain that will provide reference for a contaminant study on the Clark Fork River Superfund area. In early August, we installed Tree Swallow nest boxes for a project focused on nesting success and ecotoxicology.
: UMBEL continued deploying Motus tags on grassland birds to complement our research into the breeding ecology of songbirds in the grasslands of the Bitterroot Valley. We tagged three bird species and increased our field effort from 20 tags deployed in 2022 to 50 tags deployed in 2023.
Fall Migration Songbird Banding at MPG Ranch (2022): We have monitored songbird migration in the Bitterroot Valley for 12 consecutive years. In 2022, we captured over 950 birds, deployed 15 nanotags on Swainson's Thrushes, and documented a unique genetic mutation in a Black-capped Chickadee.
: UMBEL is studying songbird reproductive success in managed grasslands on MPG Ranch to evaluate how restoration actions influence breeding birds. We are monitoring the nests of Grasshopper Sparrows, Vesper Sparrows, and Western Meadowlarks.
: While radio-transmitting tags and collaborative Motus tower networks are transforming our understanding of long-distance bird movements, they do not provide accurate locations for mapping localized bird activity. UMBEL is testing whether supplementing Motus detection data with an array of receiving nodes can locate tagged birds more precisely, and shed light on breeding season movements in the steep woody draws of the Bitterroot Valley.
In the News
, Missoulian (2024)
, eBird Montana (2024)