scholarly journals Does Vertical Partitioning of Nest Sites Decrease Nest Predation?

The Auk ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 117 (2) ◽  
pp. 409-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonard R. Reitsma ◽  
Christopher J. Whelan
Keyword(s):  
Nest Predation ◽  
Significant Variation ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Coturnix Japonica ◽  
Artificial Nests ◽  
Ground Treatment ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Vertical Partitioning ◽  
Pairwise Differences ◽  
Experimental Treatments

Abstract Partitioning of nest heights among co-occurring species in response to nest predation has been proposed as a process that helps to structure avian species assemblages. In the experiment reported here, we used artificial nests baited with Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica) eggs to test (1) whether both rate and final level of nest predation differed among nests placed at ground, shrub, and tree strata; and (2) whether vertical partitioning of nest sites among the three strata decreased nest predation. Although rates of nest predation increased from ground, to partitioned, to shrub, to tree strata, the only significant pairwise differences were between predation on ground nests versus all other treatments. The proportion of nests depredated at the conclusion of the experiment was lowest for the ground treatment, intermediate for the partitioned treatment, and highest for the shrub and tree treatments. Predation was significantly higher in 1988 than in 1989, and significant variation in predation occurred among five spatial replicates of the experimental treatments. Although the results show different susceptibilities to nest predation according to vegetative stratum, they show only a slight and nonsignificant reduction in nest predation as a consequence of vertical nest-site partitioning.

An experimental approach to understanding the use of mistletoe as a nest substrate for birds: nest predation

2008 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart J. N. Cooney ◽  
David M. Watson
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Predation ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Artificial Nests ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Eucalypt Woodland ◽  
Substrate Variation

Recent research has documented an unprecedented diversity of birds using mistletoes as nest-sites, and a strong preference for nesting in mistletoes has recently been demonstrated for some species. The consequences and underlying reasons for this behaviour have not been evaluated, and it is unclear whether nests in mistletoes confer advantages compared with other available substrates. Nest predation is often cited as the most important factor regulating many bird populations and is thought to influence all aspects of nest-site selection. To evaluate whether nest predation may play a role in the widespread use of mistletoe as a nest-site, we conducted an artificial nest predation experiment in a eucalypt woodland in southern New South Wales, Australia. Artificial nests were modelled on noisy friarbird (Philemon corniculatus: Meliphagidae) nests, baited with a single quail egg and checked after four days. We used logistic regression to model the rate of depredation between plant substrates, and demonstrate that, in this experiment, mistletoe nests experienced a lower proportion of predation than eucalypt nests (51.5% versus 63.8% respectively). This finding suggests that predation may influence the widespread use of mistletoe as a nest-site in a range of habitats and regions. In addition to clarifying priorities for further work on mistletoe nesting, this finding has implications for studies of nest-site selection generally, with researchers encouraged to supplement between-substrate comparisons with direct measurements of within-substrate variation.

scholarly journals Predation risk induces changes in nest-site selection and clutch size in the Siberian jay

2005 ◽  
Vol 273 (1587) ◽  
pp. 701-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sönke Eggers ◽  
Michael Griesser ◽  
Magdalena Nystrand ◽  
Jan Ekman
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Nest Predation ◽  
Life History Theory ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Size Adjustment

Life-history theory predicts that an individual should reduce its reproductive efforts by laying a smaller clutch size when high risk of nest predation reduces the value of current reproduction. Evidence in favour of this ‘nest predation hypothesis’, however, is scarce and based largely on correlative analyses. Here, we manipulated perceived risk of nest predation in the Siberian jay Perisoreus infaustus using playback involving a mixture of calls by corvid nest predators in the vicinity of nest sites. In response to being exposed to this acoustic cue simulating increased risk of nest predation, the jays chose a nest site offering more protective covering and reduced clutch size. This is the first experimental demonstration of clutch size adjustment and nest site selection as a result of phenotypic plasticity in an open nesting passerine reflecting a facultative response to the perceived risk of nest predation.

scholarly journals Win – and stay, but not too long: cavity selection by Boreal Owls to minimize nest predation by Pine Marten

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geir A. Sonerud
Keyword(s):  
Nest Predation ◽  
Site Fidelity ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Pine Marten ◽  
Aegolius Funereus ◽  
Young Males ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Boreal Owl

AbstractSite fidelity after successful nesting and site shift after nest predation (win–stay, lose–shift) is a well-documented adaptation to spatially heterogeneous and temporally auto-correlated predation risk. However, site shift even after a successful nesting (win–shift) may become a better tactic than site fidelity (win–stay), if a successful nest site becomes more risky until the next nesting opportunity, and if new low-risk nest sites regularly appear. Correspondingly, selecting a new non-used nest site may become a better tactic than selecting one previously used successfully by a conspecific. I studied this dynamic by focusing on nest cavities that may be available for many years, and using nest boxes to allow an experimental design. At localities where Boreal Owls (Aegolius funereus) had nested successfully, a dyad of nest boxes was made available each year, one box in the original nest tree and one in a new tree for the season, each containing either old nest material from the successful nesting or new wood shavings. Boreal owls were more likely to select the box in the new tree when more years had elapsed since the successful nesting and since a box was installed in the original nest tree, independent of box content. The pattern of selection differed between young and old individuals for males, but not females. Young males based their selection of nest tree mainly on box content, while old males based it on time elapsed since the successful nesting in the original nest tree and how long a box had been present there. The probability of depredation of Boreal Owl nests by Pine Marten (Martes martes) has previously been found to increase with cavity age and number of nesting seasons elapsed since the previous successful nesting. This pattern of nest predation thus predicted the pattern of nest site selection found.

scholarly journals Artificial nest predation rates vary depending on visibility in the eastern Brazilian Amazon

2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 393-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda Michalski ◽  
Darren Norris
Keyword(s):  
Nest Predation ◽  
Generalized Linear Model ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Artificial Nest ◽  
Artificial Nests ◽  
Eastern Brazil ◽  
Systematic Biases ◽  
Predation Rates

Observational and experimental studies have shown that increased concealment of bird nests reduces nest predation rates. The objective of the present study was to evaluate differences in predation rates between two experimental manipulations of artificial ground nests (i.e., clearing an area around the artificial nest or leaving it as natural as possible), and test whether environmental variables also affected nest predation in an undisturbed area of Amazonian forest in eastern Brazil. A generalized linear model was used to examine the influence of five variables (manipulation type, perpendicular distance from the main trail, total basal area of trees surrounding the nest site, understorey density, and liana quantity) on nest predation rates. Model results, showed that manipulation type was the only variable that significantly affected nest predation rates. Thus, to avoid systematic biases, the influence of nest site manipulation must be taken into consideration when conducting experiments with artificial nests.

scholarly journals Nest-site fidelity and breeding dispersal by Common Tailorbirds in a tropical forest

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Changzhang Feng ◽  
Canchao Yang ◽  
Wei Liang
Keyword(s):  
Nest Predation ◽  
Site Fidelity ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Dispersal Distance ◽  
Breeding Dispersal ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Nest Site Fidelity ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Breeding Attempt ◽  
Dispersal Distances

Abstract Background Information pertaining to nest-site fidelity and breeding dispersal over successive years can help to better our understanding of how birds respond to nest predation. Methods By using mist nets and tracking the color banded individuals, we investigated nest-site fidelity and breeding dispersal by Common Tailorbirds (Orthotomus sutorius) throughout a year and between successive years in 2017–2018. Results The present study showed that Common Tailorbirds could produce up to four clutches per breeding season. When multiple broods were produced within a year, breeding pairs remained together, and the nest rebuilding rate was up to 92.2%, with only four cases (7.8%) in which birds reused their old nests. The dispersal distance between the nests during multiple breeding was found to be 10.0 ± 10.5 m, and nest-site fidelity within the same year was 90.0%. By the second year of breeding, 76.2% of individuals remained in the original breeding pairs, while for those that did switch partners, the females remained in the nest from the previous year and paired with new males. The dispersal distance between years was 26.5 ± 41.9 m, and nest-site fidelity between different years was 80.1%. There was no significant difference between within-year and between-year dispersal distances. Moreover, there was no significant difference in the dispersal distance of rebuilt nests between birds that had experienced nest predation and those that had not. Conclusions Our findings suggest that Common Tailorbirds maintain a high degree of fidelity to mates and nest-sites, and nest predation had no significant effect on territorial changes or breeding dispersal distance between each breeding attempt.

scholarly journals Predator Responses to Similarity and Dispersion of Artificial Nest Sites: Implications for the Structure of Boreal Forest Songbird Communities

The Auk ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 118 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila A. Rangen ◽  
Robert G. Clark ◽  
Keith A. Hobson
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Nest Predation ◽  
Species Coexistence ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Territory Size ◽  
Species Assemblages ◽  
Hunting Behavior ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Dispersion Patterns ◽  
Hermit Thrush

AbstractRelatively little is known about the role of predation in shaping patterns of coexistence and nest dispersion of songbird species. It has been hypothesized that predators diversify songbird communities by preying more heavily on individuals and species with greatest similarity in nest-site use. To investigate the importance of predation, we tested how predators responded to assemblages of artificial songbird nests that varied in nest-site placement, vegetation features, and nest dispersion patterns in boreal forest of west-central Alberta, Canada. Variability among nest sites was achieved by deploying wicker nests throughout a gradient of vegetation cover and by deploying nests to simulate two- and three-species assemblages. Two-species assemblages, comprising 20 simulated White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) and 3 simulated Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) nests, and three-species assemblages, comprising 10 simulated White-throated Sparrow, 9 simulated Hermit Thrush, and 4 simulated Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) nests, were deployed in eight replicate plots. We hypothesized that predators would be more adept at locating and depredating (1) nests characterized by similar vegetation features in nest patches; (2) nests of similar appearance or nest guild; and (3) clumped versus randomly distributed nests. Contrary to predictions, predation did not increase as variance in vegetation of nest sites decreased across 16 nest-predation plots, nor did variance in vegetation of successful nests increase as predation level increased across 15 nest-predation plots. The addition of one species' nest type to assemblages did not result in lower predation rates. Predators also did not depredate more clumped nests than randomly distributed nests. Overall, predation did not appear to influence patterns of songbird species coexistence or nest dispersion. Abilities of predators to discriminate among less-similar versus more-similar nest sites and nest-dispersion patterns are probably species-specific; that is probably related to the hunting behavior of predators (i.e. use of olfactory and visual cues) and territory size.

scholarly journals Quail eggs in artificial nests change their coloration when exposed to ambient conditions: implication for studies on nest predation

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11725
Author(s):  
Gustavo Liñan Cembrano ◽  
Macarena Castro ◽  
Juan A. Amat ◽  
Alejandro Perez ◽  
Miguel Ángel Rendón ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nest Predation ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Uv Spectra ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Sensitive Species ◽  
Artificial Nests ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Rapid Changes ◽  
Prospective Assessment

Quail eggs have been widely used in field experiments, mainly to study factors associated with the risk of nest predation. Some shortcomings of using quail eggs in this type of study have been previously addressed (e.g., these eggs might be too big for some predators of eggs of small birds). Here, we show experimental evidence of another shortcoming of the use of these eggs in field experiments. Quail eggs exposed to sunlight rapidly faded in colour after three days, both in the visible and UV spectra, and this change was related to the amount of solar radiation received. This caused changes in the camouflage of the eggs, which may be perceived by predators with different visual systems (dichromatic, trichromatic, and tetrachromatic (for both violet- and UV-sensitive species)). Therefore, the results of field studies of nest predation using quail eggs might be questioned in those cases in which the camouflage has been altered due to the rapid changes in coloration, as this can affect the resulting predation rates. We recommend that researchers planning to use quail eggs should perform a prospective assessment of changes in coloration of eggs exposed to environmental conditions in the nest sites used by the target species.

scholarly journals Do Repugnant Scents Increase Survival of Ground Nests? A Test with Artificial and Natural Duck Nests

2007 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 150
Author(s):  
Vanessa B. Harriman ◽  
Justin A. Pitt ◽  
Serge Larivière
Keyword(s):  
Human Hair ◽  
Nest Predation ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Olfactory Cues ◽  
Artificial Nests ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Mammalian Predators ◽  
High Predation ◽  
Ground Nesting ◽  
Predation Rates

Ground-nesting birds typically experience high predation rates on their nests, often by mammalian predators. As such, researchers and wildlife managers have employed numerous techniques to mitigate nest predation. We investigated the use of scents as repellents to deter predators from both artificial and natural ground nests. Survival rates of artificial nests did not differ among six groups of substances (Wald ?2 df = 5 = 4.53, P < 0.48); however the chronology of predation among groups differed. A commercial Coyote urine based deterrent (DEER-D-TERTM), human hair, and Worcestershire sauce were depredated faster than the control (F4,5 = 40.3, P < 0.001). Nest survival of natural nests differed among those groups tested (Wald ?2 df = 2 = 11.8, P < 0.005); the eight mothball treatment decreased survival (Wald ?2 df = 1 = 11.5, P < 0.005), which indicated that novel smells may attract predators or result in duck nest abandonment when coupled with natural duck scent. Chronologies of predation events among treatment groups were not different for natural nests (F2,3 = 1.9, P = 0.22). These findings indicate an interaction between novel scents and predator olfactory cues.

The importance of grasstrees (Xanthorrhoea preissii) as habitat for mardo (Antechinus flavipes leucogaster) during post-fire recovery

2007 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marnie L. Swinburn ◽  
Patricia A. Fleming ◽  
Michael D. Craig ◽  
Andrew H. Grigg ◽  
Mark J. Garkaklis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fire Management ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Radio Telemetry ◽  
Important Resource ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Single Feature ◽  
Management Policies ◽  
Nesting Resources ◽  
Selection For ◽  
The One

Grasstrees (Xanthorrhoea) are an important structural component of many Australian ecosystems and also an important resource for many fauna species. Grasstrees have distinctive morphologies, with a crown of long thin leaves and skirts, the latter of which are accumulated dead leaves; both are incinerated by fire. This study determined the morphological features of Xanthorrhoea preissii, which change in response to fire from 6 months to 21 years post-burn. In addition, using radio-telemetry and spool-tracking, we determined that grasstrees are utilised as foraging and nesting resources for mardos (Antechinus flavipes leucogaster (Gray, 1841), Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Recently burnt grasstrees (6 months post-burn) appeared not to be used by mardos at all. We found few mardos in these recently burnt sites, and the one individual we managed to track for 126 m utilised only a single grasstree: a 2-m-tall multiple-crowned grasstree that had escaped the fire was used as a nest site. For sites 5 years post-burn, mardos selectively utilised grasstrees with larger crown areas and those with a greater number of crowns compared with a random sample of available trees. At the 14-year post-burn sites, mardos still demonstrated some selection for grasstrees, although no specific single feature could be determined as most significant. We recorded humidity and temperature buffering effects in association with post-burn accumulation of grasstree skirt material and found that even dead grasstree ‘logs’ were an important resource for nests. We conclude that mardos utilise both live and dead grasstrees for foraging and nest sites, possibly owing to the availability of dense cover, a buffered microclimate, and potentially also food resources. Fire-management policies that promote habitat heterogeneity and retain several intact-skirted grasstrees within the landscape are likely to benefit mardos.

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