In 2001, scientists released beetles to fight an invasive tree. Years later, an endangered bird had lost 94% of its habitat along one western river

The breeding grounds of the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher stretch across thousands of kilometres of rivers and streams in the American Southwest, yet much of its habitat has long been difficult to assess in a consistent way. Thick vegetation, changing river systems and seasonal drought all make monitoring the small migratory bird a complex task. A report from the U.S. Geological Survey offers a broader picture than conservation agencies have had before, bringing together satellite observations to map suitable breeding habitat across the bird's entire range. The work provides land managers with a way to monitor habitat changes over time while also helping them identify areas where emerging threats could have the greatest effect on one of the United States' federally protected endangered bird species.Southwestern Willow Flycatcher breeding habitat and conservationThe Southwestern Willow Flycatcher is a small songbird that depends on dense riverside vegetation for nesting during its breeding season, which generally runs from May until September. It occupies riparian corridors across parts of the southwestern United States, relying on healthy stands of shrubs and trees growing beside ...