Western Bluebird
Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) are cavity-nesting songbirds that have dramatically rebounded in several parts of western North America thanks to extensive nestbox programs, including the long-term Putah Creek Nestbox Highway. Despite their conservation success, little is known about the species’ population genomic structure or how distinct regional populations are connected. This project aims to identify genetic clusters, dispersal/migratory corridors, and potential barriers to movement across North America. These insights will help conservation partners strategically position nestboxes to sustain genetic diversity and promote natural gene flow. The resulting genoscape will provide the first comprehensive genomic framework for Western Bluebirds and serve as a model for linking population genomics to applied avian conservation.
Team:
Carlos Esperanza, the Genomic Variation Laboratory, Davis, CA
Amanda Kindel, Maggie Bourda, UC Davis Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology, Davis, CA
Catherine Dale, Matthew Reudink, Birds Canada
Gary Slater, Stephanie Augustine, Ecostudies Institute, Olympia, WA
Mike Neal, Snowden Wildlife Sanctuary, McCall, ID
Nic Korte, Colorado Field Ornithologists, Grand Junction, CO
Georgette Howington, Lee Pauser, Lesley Handa, California Bluebird Recovery Program, CA
Bill Wallace, Southern California Bluebird Club, Orange County, CA
Ravinder Sehgal, San Francisco State University, CA
Katie LaBarbera, SFBBO, CA
If you are interested in collecting or donating Western Bluebird samples from any location across its range, particularly during the breeding season, please contact Carlos Esperanza to learn more!