Difficulties storing and preserving tyrant flycatcher blood samples used for genetic analyses

We stored blood samples of Eastern Phoebes (Sayornis phoebe) in a lysis buf fer ("QLB") that has been used successfully to preserve blood samples of ma ny other species. We found that although samples from adults were not affec ted greatly, samples of nestling blood stored for more than a few days did not reliably produce the quantity and quality of DNA useful for multi-locus DNA fingerprinting. We also were unable to extract usable DNA from blood s amples collected from Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) nestlings, but o btained usable DNA from blood of Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) nestl ings stored for more than a year. We recommend that any one planning DNA re search with tyrant Bycatchers should conduct their DNA extractions as soon as possible after collection. A pilot study to test methods of storage, pre servation, and extraction may be necessary before beginning a large-scale p roject.