Habitat-related nest predation effect on the breeding success of the Eurasian treecreeper

Background and Purpose: Diverse Mediterranean wetlands sustain a high diversity of breeding birds. Breeding success of birds nesting on protected wetlands along river Krka is also influenced by predators. The aim of our study was to explore effects of predator pressures on ground nests of strictly protected birds using artificial nest located along environmental gradient. Materials and Methods: In May 2004 in locality Čulišićke bare, by placing out three batches of 25 artificially constructed ground nests in three different habitats: reed bed, marsh and meadow. The nests contained three chicken (real) eggs for the evaluation of nest predation rates, and plasticine (artificial) eggs for predator identification from tooth and bill imprints. Results and Conclusions: The number of nests depredated during one week was highest in wetland habitats: 52% was depredated in the marsh and 32% in the reed bed. However, a much lower damage rate (16%) was experienced in the meadow. The daily survival rate of nests did not differ significantly between the reed bed (0.95) and the marsh (0.91). However, the daily survival rates of nests in the meadow (0.98) was significantly higher (z = 2.49 P = 0.01) than in the marsh, bat no difference was found with comparing with the reed bed. Predators were difficult to determine because plasticine eggs usually disappeared from the nests in the reed bed. In the marsh and the meadow, primary predators were smaller birds, whereas small mammals were also important in the marsh. Nests in which predators succeeded in breaking at least one egg were later destroyed most by Hooded Crows (Corvus cornix). To apply these results for bird protection, the breeding success of certain threatened bird species should be monitored for a longer period.

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Positive association between rat abundance and breeding success of the Critically Endangered Mariana Crow Corvus kubaryi

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s095927091300018x ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 192-200 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

ARJUN AMAR ◽

JACOB A. ESSELSTYN

Keyword(s):

Breeding Success ◽

Nest Predation ◽

Wild Population ◽

Positive Association ◽

Critically Endangered ◽

Mariana Islands ◽

Population Declines ◽

Nest Sites ◽

Plausible Hypothesis ◽

Shared Predator

SummaryDiagnosing the causes of population declines of highly endangered species is vital to ensure that appropriate conservation measures are undertaken. Although experiments can provide critical information on potential causes, these can be time consuming and costly, and so it is important to determine the most plausible hypothesis for such tests. The last wild population of the Critically Endangered Mariana Crow Corvus kubaryi has been declining rapidly on Rota in the Mariana Islands. Because nest predation by introduced rats Rattus spp. has been implicated in the declines of other Pacific island birds, we tested for a correlation between breeding success of Mariana Crows and abundance of rats R. diardii surrounding their nest sites. If rats are a contributing factor in this species’s decline, we predicted that breeding success would be lower in areas where rats were more abundant. In complete contrast to this prediction, we found that breeding success was significantly higher where rats were most abundant, suggesting that rats are unlikely to be a major driving force behind the decline in this species. The positive association between crow breeding success and rat abundance suggests these species may be responding to similar habitat needs or a shared predator. This study illustrates the importance of gathering sufficient knowledge on the ecology of a species prior to undertaking costly, logistically difficult and time consuming experiments.

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Reproductive Success and Nest Predation in the Superb Lyrebird, Menura superba

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr9800271 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 271 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

a Lill

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Success ◽

Breeding Success ◽

Nest Predation ◽

Ground Level ◽

Recruitment Rate ◽

Circumstantial Evidence ◽

Above Ground Level ◽

Breeding Female ◽

Nest Sites ◽

Native Birds

Breeding success and nest predation were analysed in two superb lyrebird populations studied over six years. Egg success was estimated at 11-20%, giving an annual recruitment rate of 0.1-0.2 fledglings per breeding female. Predation accounted for at least 79% of nesting mortality and the risk was greater during the nestling phase. Preferred nest sites were 0.6-1.8 m above ground level on earth banks and in trees but were most susceptible to predation. Circumstantial evidence implicated native birds and introduced mammals as the principal nest predators. The generality and evolutionary implications of these findings are discussed.

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Possible effects of nest predation on the breeding success of Ferruginous Ducks Aythya nyroca

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s0959270906000451 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 309-316 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

JENŐ J. PURGER ◽

LÍDIA A. MÉSZÁROS

Keyword(s):

Wild Boar ◽

Breeding Success ◽

Nest Predation ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Predation Rate ◽

Water Levels ◽

Conservation Area ◽

Artificial Nests ◽

Management Measures ◽

Nesting Sites

To investigate whether nest predation can influence the breeding success of Ferruginous Ducks Aythya nyroca, artificial nests were used in Nagyberek, the strictly protected swamp pond of the Juniper Woodland Nature Conservation Area (Somogy county, south Hungary). Experimentation lasted for 4 weeks, a similar length of time to the incubation period of Ferruginous Ducks. After 1 week, 80% of nests were intact, after 2 weeks only 46%, and after 3 and 4 weeks only 2% remained undamaged. Nest survival rates were not affected by the width of the sedge stands, but as water levels surrounding nests decreased, nests became more accessible to Wild Boar Sus scrofa and other land mammal predators, which increased the rate of predation. Artificially maintaining water levels would not only decrease the predation rate of nests, but would also maintain feeding areas for ducks. Wild Boar were the main cause of clutch loss in this area, and therefore by management measures, such as a reduction in their abundance or attracting them away from potential nesting sites by providing food elsewhere, the breeding success of the Ferruginous Ducks may be further improved.

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Return rates of nest-box breeding Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca to their breeding site in subalpine birch forest in Swedish Lapland, during 1965–2018

Ornis Svecica ◽

10.34080/os.v29.20019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 ◽

pp. 53-68

Author(s):

N Erik I Nyholm

Keyword(s):

Breeding Season ◽

Breeding Success ◽

Nest Predation ◽

Breeding Site ◽

Ficedula Hypoleuca ◽

Return Rate ◽

Significant Part ◽

Northern Sweden ◽

Return Rates ◽

Local Factors

Return rates of 4,178 female and 1,565 male breeding Pied Flycatchers ringed in 1965–2017 were studied near the species’ upper elevation and climatic limit in northern Sweden. Female return rate was 7.5% in the season subsequent to the first breeding season. Having returned once, 37% continued to return the next three seasons. Corresponding return rates of males were 27% and 39%. Female return rate decreased with more than 30% during the study period whereas that of males did not decrease. This difference was probably due to increased mortality during the non-breeding season that selectively struck females after the 1970s. Local factors affected return rates in both sexes. Return rate was positively correlated with breeding success in females but negatively in males, whereas it was correlated with nest-predation in the opposite way. Predation by mustelids accounted for a significant part of female return rate. Females that had returned once were continuously faithful to the former breeding site. Males showed faithfulness only after having returned twice.

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Distribution and Breeding Success of Pallid Swifts, Apus pallidus, on Mediterranean Islands: Nest Predation by the Roof Rat, Rattus rattus, and Nest Site Quality

Oikos ◽

10.2307/3546518 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 80 (1) ◽

pp. 78 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Aura Penloup ◽

Jean-Louis Martin ◽

Gérard Gory ◽

Daniel Brunstein ◽

Vincent Bretagnolle ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breeding Success ◽

Nest Predation ◽

Nest Site ◽

Rattus Rattus ◽

Site Quality ◽

Mediterranean Islands

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Breeding success of Cacicus haemorrhous (Linnaeus) (Aves: Icteridae) in different environments in an Atlantic Forest reserve in Southeast Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Zoologia ◽

10.1590/s0101-81752008000200002 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 165-171 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Charles Duca ◽

Miguel Ângelo Marini

Keyword(s):

Breeding Season ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Breeding Success ◽

Nest Predation ◽

Nest Survival ◽

Nest Failure ◽

Forest Reserve ◽

Lower Survival ◽

Southeast Brazil ◽

Colonial Birds

Several factors, including the site where the colony was established and number of active nests can influence directly or indirectly the breeding success of colonial birds. The red-rumped cacique, Cacicus haemorrhous (Linnaeus, 1766), is a passerine (Icteridae) that breeds in colonies in different environments. The objective of this study was to evaluate the breeding success of red-rumped cacique in relation to three environments (lake edge, forest and swamp) in which colonies were established in an Atlantic Forest reserve in southeast Brazil. Seven colonies from the three environments were monitored during the breeding season of 2001. Overall probability of nest survival was 40.5%. We found that colonies established in the swamp presented higher nest survival than the others and the ones in the lake edge had lower survival. Nest predation was the most important cause of nest failure, representing 46.5% of all nest losses. Other failure causes were abandonment and fall of nests, representing 6.6% and 6.1% of the losses, respectively. Red-rumped cacique had higher success breeding in colonies located in the swamp.

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Alien predation in wetlands – the Raccoon Dog and water birds breeding success

BALTIC FORESTRY ◽

10.46490/vol25iss2pp228 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 228-237 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Petri Nummi ◽

Veli-Matti Vaananen ◽

Antti-Juhani Pekkarinen ◽

Visa Eronen ◽

Markku Mikkola-Roos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breeding Success ◽

Nest Predation ◽

Nyctereutes Procyonoides ◽

Raccoon Dog ◽

Artificial Nests ◽

Predation Experiment ◽

Hunting Bag ◽

Fulica Atra ◽

The Impact ◽

Raccoon Dogs

Alien predators are known to potentially strongly affect their prey populations. We studied the impact of raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) on waterbird breeding success in eight semi-urban wetlands in Finland. We manipulated raccoon dog density in two wetlands by removing individuals (2002 protection year, 2003 and 2004 removal years). We additionally performed nest predation experiments. We monitored raccoon dog density, estimated hunting bag size and observed waterbird breeding success. Our hypothesis predicts that the omnivorous raccoon dog plays a role in waterbird breeding success by depredating nests. Our experiments shown that the raccoon dog hunting bag in eutrophic wetlands may be large, as we removed 8.6–20.0 animals per km2. Both our nest predation experiment and field data indicated that raccoon dogs affect the breeding success of waterbirds. We found a significant relationship between raccoon dog density index and predation rate of the artificial nests, but not between red fox (Vulpes vulpes) density and predation on artificial nests. We did not find an association between raccoon dog abundance and the breeding success of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and great crested grebes (Podiceps cristatus). However, our study shows that birds species with different breeding strategies – e.g. great crested grebe, mute swan (Cygnus olor), mallard, Eurasian wigeon (Mareca penelope), coot (Fulica atra), lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) and marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) – when considered together showed higher breeding success both in 2003 and 2004 when compared to breeding success before removal. There was, however, variation in how strongly the species responded to raccoon dog removal. Our results indicate that the removal of alien raccoon dogs can be an important tool in wetland management. Keywords: ducks, invasive species, lapwing, nest predation experiment, Nyctereutes procyonoides, predator removal

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Climate change and breeding success: decline of the capercaillie in Scotland

Journal of Animal Ecology ◽

10.1046/j.1365-2656.2001.00473.x ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 70 (1) ◽

pp. 47-61 ◽

Cited By ~ 86

Author(s):

Robert Moss ◽

James Oswald ◽

David Baines

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Breeding Success

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