Territory and Nest-Site Selection of Cerulean Warblers in Eastern Ontario

Abstract We examined habitat selection by breeding Cerulean Warblers (Dendroica cerulea) at three spatial scales in eastern Ontario over three years (1997–1999). Territories were characterized by well-spaced large trees, with high canopies and dense foliage cover at heights between 12–18 m. Nesting habitat additionally was characterized by dense foliage cover above 18 m. The results of our nest-patch (0.04 ha circle around nest) and nest-site (0.01 ha circle) analyses indicate that male Cerulean Warblers may take active roles in nest-site selection when selecting territories. We conclude from our nest-patch and nest-site selection analyses that territories likely contain multiple nest patches and sites and that male Cerulean Warblers may defend areas with multiple nest patches or sites, which may attract females to settle with them. Whether or not Cerulean Warbler females use nest-site availability as a mate- or territory-choice cue remains unknown. We also tested the validity of a commonly made assumption that a random sampling of habitat by researchers is representative of the habitat actually available to birds and found that, in our study area, the assumption was invalid. Taken together, our results point toward the need to maintain sizeable stands of mature, deciduous forest to ensure the persistence of Cerulean Warblers in eastern Ontario. Population characteristics such as lower minimum area requirements and a resilience to habitat disturbance may make that an easier job in eastern Ontario than elsewhere in this species' breeding range.

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Habitat attributes and chestnut-backed chickadee nest site selection in uncut and partial-cut forests

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x06-324 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 37 (7) ◽

pp. 1272-1285 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

C. Lisa Mahon ◽

Kathy Martin ◽

J.D. Steventon

Keyword(s):

Site Selection ◽

Resource Selection ◽

Nest Site ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Nest Site Selection ◽

Large Trees ◽

Poecile Rufescens ◽

The Relationship ◽

Patch Scale ◽

Selection Of

We examined the relationship between habitat attributes and nest-site selection by chestnut-backed chickadees ( Poecile rufescens (Townsend, 1837); hereinafter chickadees) in uncut and partial-cut forests in northwest British Columbia. We described the characteristics of uncut sites and compared them with structurally modified partial-cut sites (mature and old forests). We then compared the use and selection of habitat by chickadees at uncut and partial-cut sites at three spatial scales: (1) the stand (19–24 ha uncut or partial-cut stand), (2) the nest patch (a 0.031 ha patch centered on nest trees), and (3) the nest tree. At the stand scale, we found no correlation between the density of breeding chickadees and the characteristics of uncut and partial-cut sites. At the nest-patch scale, chickadees in uncut and old partial-cut sites selected nest patches with higher densities of broken-top trees compared with available habitat within territories. At the nest-tree scale, chickadees selected nest trees with boring insects and broken tops in uncut and mature partial-cut sites and large trees with boring insects in old partial-cut sites. Our results suggest that chickadees exhibited flexibility in resource selection but also selected resources with similar attributes at the nest-patch and nest-tree scales. Managed stands that maintain a range of tree species and conditions, including live trees with areas of disease, insect attack, and damage, will provide the specific structural attributes used for nesting by weak cavity excavators such as the chickadee.

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Greater Sage-Grouse nest bowls buffer microclimate in a post-megafire landscape although effects on nest survival are marginal

The Condor ◽

10.1093/ornithapp/duaa068 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 123 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Christopher R Anthony ◽

Christian A Hagen ◽

Katie M Dugger ◽

R Dwayne Elmore

Keyword(s):

Site Selection ◽

Nest Site ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Nest Success ◽

Nest Survival ◽

Nest Site Selection ◽

Bare Ground ◽

Sage Grouse ◽

Burned Areas ◽

Visual Obstruction

Abstract Temperature at fine spatial scales is an important driver of nest site selection for many avian species during the breeding season and can influence nest success. Sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) communities have areas with high levels of vegetation heterogeneity and high thermal variation; however, fire removes vegetation that provides protection from predators and extreme environmental conditions. To examine the influence of microclimates on Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) nest site selection and nest success in a fire-affected landscape, we measured black bulb temperature (Tbb) and vegetation attributes (e.g., visual obstruction) at 3 spatial scales (i.e. nest bowl, microsite, and landscape) in unburned and burned areas. Nest bowls exhibited greater buffering of Tbb than both nearby microsites and the broader landscape. Notably, nest bowls were warmer in cold temperatures, and cooler in hot temperatures, than nearby microsites and the broader landscape, regardless of burn stage. Nest survival (NS) was higher for nests in unburned areas compared to nests in burned areas (unburned NS = 0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.33–0.54; burned NS = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.10–0.46). The amount of bare ground was negatively associated with NS, but effects diminished as the amount of bare ground reached low levels. Shrub height and visual obstruction were positively associated with NS during the entire study period, whereas minimum Tbb had a weaker effect. Our findings demonstrate that thermoregulatory selection by Greater Sage-Grouse at nest sites had marginal effects on their NS. However, given that increases in vegetation structure (e.g., shrub height) provide thermal refuge and increase NS, vegetation remnants or regeneration in a post-fire landscape could be critical to Greater Sage-Grouse nesting ecology.

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Marbled Murrelet nest site selection at three fine spatial scales

Avian Conservation and Ecology ◽

10.5751/ace-01883-160204 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Thomas E. Hamer ◽

Kim Nelson ◽

Jay Jones ◽

Jake Verschuyl

Keyword(s):

Site Selection ◽

Nest Site ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Nest Site Selection ◽

Marbled Murrelet

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The importance of using the proper methodology and spatial scale in the study of habitat selection by birds

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z97-813 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 75 (11) ◽

pp. 1835-1844 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Stanislav Pribil ◽

Jaroslav Picman

Keyword(s):

Spatial Scale ◽

Deep Water ◽

Site Selection ◽

Nest Site ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Nest Site Selection ◽

Habitat Characteristics ◽

Nest Sites ◽

Site Preferences ◽

Univariate Analyses

Nest-site preferences of birds have traditionally been inferred from correlations between reproductive success and various habitat attributes. Because there are several problems associated with this method, we examined preferences by comparing characteristics of actual nest sites with those of sites available to females at the time of their settlement. We examined these preferences on two spatial scales using the marsh-nesting Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus). On the broad spatial scale, univariate analyses established that female settlement was nonrandom with respect to four of five habitat characteristics. However, a multivariate analysis revealed that females settled nonrandomly only with respect to water depth (they preferred areas located in deep water). The other characteristics, including cattail density, were not important. On the narrow spatial scale, females preferred sites located in dense cattail clumps that were surrounded by unusually sparse cattail vegetation. The preference of female redwings for deep-water areas was not detected in an earlier study conducted in the same marsh using the traditional method. In addition, if we were to have examined female preferences on the broad scale only, we would have failed to recognize the importance of cattail density in nest-site selection. The results of this study demonstrate the importance of examining nest-site selection using an appropriate method and multiple spatial scales.

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The effects of selective logging on nest-site selection and productivity of hooded warblers (Wilsonia citrina) in Canada

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z02-039 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 80 (4) ◽

pp. 644-654 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Rebecca M Whittam ◽

Jon D McCracken ◽

Charles M Francis ◽

Mary E Gartshore

Keyword(s):

Site Selection ◽

Nest Site ◽

Basal Area ◽

Nest Site Selection ◽

Selective Logging ◽

Ground Vegetation ◽

Managed Forest ◽

Wilsonia Citrina ◽

Large Trees ◽

Hooded Warblers

We examined nest-site selection by hooded warblers (Wilsonia citrina) in two forests differing in composition (extensive pine plantation versus largely deciduous) and management (recent selective logging versus minimal logging). We measured habitat at 52 nests and 66 controls in one forest and 57 nests and 41 controls in the second. Nests had denser ground vegetation, fewer tree stems, less basal area due to small trees and greater basal area due to large trees than controls in both forests. In the managed forest with extensive pine plantations, hooded warblers were in coniferous and logged stands more often than expected by chance, nests had more stumps and greater canopy height than controls, and 91% (52/57) of all nests were found in gaps, 84% of which were created by harvest. Gap age was 6.2 ± 0.9 years (mean ± SE) in 1999, and 7.6 ± 0.6 years in 2000. In the managed forest, 52% of 24 nests were parasitized in 1999 and 39% of 33 nests were parasitized in 2000. The daily survival rate was 0.936 ± 0.019 in 1999 and 0.944 ± 0.014 in 2000. Successful nests did not differ from unsuccessful nests in any habitat variable. To benefit hooded warblers, forest managers should mimic natural gap creation by using selective logging to create gaps no larger than 0.05 ha, and should leave a residual basal area of mature trees (>38 cm diameter at breast height) of at least 12 m2/ha.

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