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. By combining large-scale satellite data with habitat modelling, researchers can now identify long-term environmental changes, prioritise restoration efforts and better understand how climate pressures are affecting breeding areas across the species' distribution.
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