An Inquiry Model Prototype: Exploring Hooded Warbler Resilience Dynamics with Brown-Headed Cowbird Brood Parasitism

Thursday, July 16, 2026, 8:00 PM

Session: SOC Poster Session (Virtual 2) (Virtual)

This study employs computational simulation modeling to investigate the dynamics underlying the persistence of Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina) populations despite pronounced brood parasitism of their nests. Brood parasitism perpetrated by Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) exacerbates population declines and complicates conservation challenges for a wide variety of passerine hosts. However, recent findings indicate that at least some populations of Hooded Warblers remain stable and relatively unscathed despite Brown-headed Cowbird brood parasitism. My presentation will describe a generative computational approach for understanding the putative resilience mechanisms that Hooded Warblers may use to escape the population-level consequences of brood parasitism. Additionally, I will present a prototype simulation model that draws on published studies on Brown-Headed Cowbird brood parasitism of Hooded Warbler nests to address the research question: How is it possible to observe the devastating effects of brood parasitism at the individual nest level, yet see Hooded Warblers thrive at the population level? Finally, I will discuss how the simulation model could aid in developing hypotheses and extending evidence-based empirical inquiry to Hooded Warbler populations more broadly, as well as to other, more vulnerable, passerine populations.