Multiple-Day Constancy as an Alternative to Pooling for Estimating Mark-Recapture Stopover Length in Nearctic-Neotropical Migrant Landbirds

Abstract

Abstract Capture-mark-recapture models require estimation of parameters that may be either constant or time-dependent. Open-population models have been adapted for use in estimating stopover duration of migratory songbirds. However, with data collected over an extended period or with relatively few recaptures, small sample sizes may preclude use of fully time-dependent models. Pooling is commonly used to reduce the number of parameters estimated in time-dependent models. In pooling, all captures and recaptures during a specified interval are treated as a single capture event, which results in a loss of information about recaptures within the interval. Additionally, pooling of banding data of migratory songbirds appears to bias stopover-length estimates upwards. An alternative to pooling is use of multiple-day-constancy models. Advantages of this approach include maintenance of all recapture data, simultaneous Akaike’s Information Criterion-based comparison of models using different constancy intervals, and unbiased stopover estimates. Constancia de Múltiples Días como una Alternativa a la Combinación de Datos de Captura-Recaptura para Estimar la Duración de las Paradas de Aves Migrantes Neárticas-Neotropicales Terrestres