Location of bumblebee nests is predicted by counts of nest-searching queens

Aerial surveys have been used as a method for surveying boreal-nesting shorebirds, which breed in difficult-to-access terrain; however, the fraction of breeding birds observed from the air is unknown. We investigated rates of detection by conducting simultaneous air and ground surveys for shorebirds at three sites in the boreal forest of the Northwest Territories, Canada, in 2007. Helicopter surveys included both pond-based surveys where the helicopter flew around the perimeter of each wetland and transect-based surveys where observers recorded birds seen on line transects. Ground surveys involved intensive observation, territory mapping and nest searching in 5 km2 of plots over a period of 5-6 weeks. Shorebird densities observed from the helicopter were highest near large bodies of water. No shorebirds were observed over closed forest despite breeding densities on ground surveys being highest in closed forest. Detection rates were very low, varied among species and aerial survey types, and were inconsistent over time. Ground-based observations showed that the shorebirds often did not flush in response to the helicopter passing overhead. Owing to poor rates of detection, we conclude that helicopter surveys are not an appropriate method for surveying breeding shorebirds in boreal habitats, but may have some utility for monitoring birds' use of stop-over locations.

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High-tech or field techs: Radio-telemetry is a cost-effective method for reducing bias in songbird nest searching

The Condor ◽

10.1650/condor-14-124.1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 117 (3) ◽

pp. 386-395 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Sean M. Peterson ◽

Henry M. Streby ◽

Justin A. Lehman ◽

Gunnar R. Kramer ◽

Alex C. Fish ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Radio Telemetry ◽

Cost Effective ◽

High Tech ◽

Cost Effective Method ◽

Nest Searching

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Alternative Nesting Strategies of Polistine Wasps in a Subtropical Locale

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects13010053 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 53

Author(s):

Scott Nacko ◽

Mark A. Hall ◽

Gregg Henderson

Keyword(s):

Warm Season ◽

Social Wasp ◽

Paper Wasps ◽

Early Season ◽

Late Season ◽

Colony Cycle ◽

Phylogenetic Studies ◽

Mischocyttarus Mexicanus ◽

Study Sites ◽

Nest Searching

Phylogenetic studies suggest that historically all paper wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae) in North America have tropical origins, but some species have adapted to survive temperate conditions. Subtropical climates, which are intermediate between temperate and tropical, allow a unique opportunity to study ancestral traits which can be retained or lost within populations, and ultimately elucidate the process of social wasp evolution. We investigated the phenology of paper wasps at study sites in subtropical Baton Rouge, USA, through nest searching and monitoring of nest parameters throughout the warm season (March–October). Across the year, two periods of nest initiation occurred: from March–May (early season nests, i.e., before the summer solstice), and from July–September (late season nests, after the solstice). We observed 240 Polistes nests from six species, of which 50.8% were initiated in early season and 49.2% in late season. In contrast, Mischocyttarus mexicanus rarely built late season nests and had longer early season colony duration than Polistes bellicosus and P. dorsalis, which built more nests in the late season than early. Across all species, late season nests had significantly shorter colony duration (~87.6 days) than early season nests (~166 days), and only P. bellicosus had fewer adults at peak population in late season nests than in early season nests. Results indicate both a bivoltine colony cycle in Polistes of subtropical climates, as well as differences in nesting strategies between genera.

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The pair bond in ptarmigan

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z84-309 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 62 (11) ◽

pp. 2129-2141 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

A. T. Bergerud ◽

D. H. Mossop

Keyword(s):

North American ◽

Pair Bond ◽

Egg Laying ◽

The Arctic ◽

Small Space ◽

Nest Sites ◽

Avian Predators ◽

Space Requirements ◽

Nest Searching

The three North American ptarmigan species are monogamous, whereas the other six North American grouse species are polygynous. In the Arctic there are few nest predators, which means ptarmigan should be prepared to nest nearer each other than polygynous grouse that lose more nests to predators. Hence, ptarmigan females search relatively small prelaying ranges for nest sites. The small space requirements of females allows males to economically defend with territorial behaviour the nesting resource (cover and space) that females will later search and require, and thus the fitness of males is determined by the quality of the nesting resource that he controls which results in selection by females. In the Arctic the open habitat, continuous daylight, and the presence of effective avian predators have resulted in females also selecting conspicuous, vigilant males in a prolonged pair bond. These males deflect predation risk away from females during nest searching and egg laying in all three species and from hens with chicks in willow ptarmigan.

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Drone Nest Searching Applications Using a Thermal Camera

Wildlife Society Bulletin ◽

10.1002/wsb.1211 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Roald Stander ◽

David J. Walker ◽

Frank C. ROHWER ◽

Richard K. Baydack

Keyword(s):

Thermal Camera ◽

Nest Searching

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Egg laying in inappropriate nests by the Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater): acts of parasitism or emergency egg dumping?

The Canadian Field-Naturalist ◽

10.22621/cfn.v129i1.1668 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 129 (1) ◽

pp. 60

Author(s):

Spencer G. Sealy

Keyword(s):

Spatial Data ◽

Host Species ◽

Molothrus Ater ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Fine Scale ◽

Passerine Birds ◽

Electronic Surveillance ◽

Developmental Strategy ◽

Egg Dumping ◽

Nest Searching

The generalist, brood-parasitic Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) has been found to parasitize the nests of about 220 species, mostly passerine birds. Among the thousands of documented cases of parasitism are rare records of egg laying in nests in which the cowbird stands no chance of success, because its diet or developmental strategy are incompatible with those of the “host” species. Forty-four nests of 16 such inappropriate host species are reviewed: 23 nests of nine precocial species (waterbirds and shorebirds) plus 21 nests of seven altricial species (a raptor, doves, cuckoos, a hummingbird, and a woodpecker). Two hypotheses explain inappropriate egg laying. In the “normal laying” hypothesis, Brown-headed Cowbirds may lay dozens of eggs in nests they encounter, including the occasional inappropriate nest. In the “emergency laying” hypothesis, females, on discovering that a selected nest has failed, must lay or “dump” her eggs elsewhere, in nests of inappropriate hosts or already-parasitized nests of regular hosts. Support for either hypothesis will require electronic surveillance of movements of nest-searching and laying Brown-headed Cowbirds to generate fine-scale spatial data that confirm whether parasitism on inappropriate nests occurs at the usual laying time for pre-selected nests (around sunrise) or later in the day if the chosen nest has failed and emergency laying is required.

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