Water depth, vegetation height, and offshore distance are critical factors in nest-site selection for Grey Crowned Crane at Lake Ol' Bolossat, Kenya

Background One important anti‐predator strategy adopted by birds involves nest site selection and timing of breeding. Nest-site selection by marsh-nesting birds often involves nest concealment and water depth as key features influencing nest survival. Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) is an obligate ground nester, which sets it apart from other raptors. The aim of the present study was to identify for the first time possible temporal and habitat factors affecting nest survival in Marsh Harrier. Understanding features which affect nest survival are essential for assessing relevant conservation strategies. Methods To understand the relative contributions of different temporal and habitat variables to brood losses, it is useful to determine the daily survival rate (DSR). We examined 82 Marsh Harrier nests located on fishponds in eastern Poland, where predation is the main cause of nest loss. Six habitat variables were measured for each active nest. DSR was calculated using known-fate models with the RMark package. Results The best-supported model predicted that DSR decreased with nest age and was positively affected by the water depth and the diameter of reed stems, but not by the height or density of vegetation at the nest site. The distances of nests to the fishpond dyke and to open water received no support in the models. The chances of nest survival were lower if a neighbouring nest had been depredated. This result suggests that the Marsh Harrier is more susceptible to mammalian than avian predation and confirms the high level of predator pressure in fishpond habitats.

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Nest site selection for five common birds and their coexistence in an urban habitat

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.508 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 690 ◽

pp. 748-759 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Yuqing Han ◽

Junpeng Bai ◽

Zhen Zhang ◽

Ting Wu ◽

Peng Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Site Selection ◽

Nest Site ◽

Nest Site Selection ◽

Urban Habitat ◽

Selection For ◽

Common Birds

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OPTIMIZING NEST SURVIVAL AND FEMALE SURVIVAL: CONSEQUENCES OF NEST SITE SELECTION FOR CANADA GEESE

The Condor ◽

10.1650/0010-5422(2007)109[769:onsafs]2.0.co;2 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 109 (4) ◽

pp. 769 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

DAVID A. MILLER ◽

JAMES B. GRAND ◽

THOMAS F. FONDELL ◽

R. MICHAEL ANTHONY

Keyword(s):

Site Selection ◽

Nest Site ◽

Nest Survival ◽

Nest Site Selection ◽

Canada Geese ◽

Female Survival ◽

Selection For

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Nest-site selection, reproductive ecology and shifts within core-use areas of Black-necked Cranes at the northern limit of the Tibetan Plateau

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.2939 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. e2939 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Lixun Zhang ◽

Bei An ◽

Meilin Shu ◽

Xiaojun Yang

Keyword(s):

Water Depth ◽

Site Selection ◽

Nest Site ◽

Nest Survival ◽

Habitat Type ◽

Nest Site Selection ◽

Breeding Habitat ◽

Nest Density ◽

Food Density ◽

The Tibetan Plateau

We investigated population dynamics, breeding pairs, breeding habitat selection, nest density, distance between neighboring nests, nest survival, reproductive success, and recruitment rate for Black-necked Cranes (BNC, Grus nigricollis) during 2013–2015 in Yanchiwan National Nature Reserve (YCW), Gansu, China. Numbers of BNC and breeding pairs remained relatively stable at around 140 individuals and 40 pairs. Recruitment rates ranged from 15.7% to 25.8%. The average nest distance was 718.66 ± 430.50 m (2013), 1064.51 ± 323.99 m (2014) and 534.99 ± 195.45 m (2015). Average nest survival rate, hatching success, and breeding success of all 29 nests were 65.56 ± 5.09%, 57.04 ± 6.12% and 32.78% ± 2.55. Water depth, water body area, and distance to land were positively related to nest survival, while disturbance level showed a negative relationship. However, nest site selection of BNC was determined by habitat type, disturbance and water depth. BNC often foraged in mudflats and freshwater marsh but seldom foraged in saline-alkali wet meadows due to food density and quantity in April, the month when BNC choose nest sites. Conservation strategies based on habitats should consider ecological factors that may not be well predicted by nest site selection. Shifts within core-use areas from satellite tracking of BNC demonstrated that maintaining populations demands that conservation areas are large enough to permit breeding BNC changes in space use. Our results are important for conservation management and provide quantitative reproductive data for this species.

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Waterfowls habitat modeling: Simulation of nest site selection for the migratory Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) in the Nakdong estuary

Ecological Modelling ◽

10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2011.05.032 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 222 (17) ◽

pp. 3149-3156 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Kwang-Seuk Jeong ◽

Ji-Deok Jang ◽

Dong-Kyun Kim ◽

Gea-Jae Joo

Keyword(s):

Site Selection ◽

Nest Site ◽

Nest Site Selection ◽

Habitat Modeling ◽

Modeling Simulation ◽

Selection For

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Selection for protection from insolation results in the visual isolation of Yellow-eyed Penguin Megadyptes antipodes nests

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s0959270914000082 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 192-206 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

RYAN D. CLARK ◽

RENAUD MATHIEU ◽

PHILIP J. SEDDON

Keyword(s):

Site Selection ◽

Habitat Restoration ◽

Nest Site ◽

Nest Site Selection ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Habitat Features ◽

Nest Sites ◽

Rare And Endangered ◽

The Mean ◽

Selection For

SummaryThe concealed and widely dispersed nests of the rare and endangered Yellow-eyed Penguin Megadyptes antipodes, or “hoiho”, have been considered to reflect an essential requirement for the visual isolation of nest sites from conspecifics. However, this may be a consequence of selection for habitat features that provide protection from insolation, thereby minimising the risk of heat stress. To help improve the understanding of hoiho nesting requirements and the effectiveness of habitat restoration, we aimed to determine whether visual isolation from conspecifics or protection from insolation is the primary driver of hoiho nest site selection. We compared the mean maximum distance of visibility and the mean percentage insolation cover of active nests with randomly sampled unused sites in flax Phormium tenax and Hebe elliptica coastal scrub at Boulder Beach, and in coastal forest at Hinahina Cove, New Zealand, 2006–2007. Results of univariate tests and the evaluation of logistic regression models suggested that the amount of insolation cover was more important than visibility for hoiho nest site selection, particularly in flax and scrub. In addition, Spearman's correlations indicated that decreasing insolation cover significantly increased the visibility of nests in the forest habitat, and had a similar effect on inter-nest distance in flax. We infer that hoiho nest site selection and distribution are influenced primarily by the location and density of micro-habitat features (particularly within 1 m of the ground) that provide optimal protection from insolation, possibly along with other important features such as a firm backing structure. Strong selection for these features results in the typical but non-essential visual isolation of nest sites from conspecifics. Restoration of nesting habitats with a relatively high density and diversity of vegetation and solid structures within 1 m of the ground may eventually provide an optimal availability and quality of suitable nest sites.

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Nest site selection by Hypsiboas faber(Anura, Hylidae) in Southern Brazil

Iheringia Série Zoologia ◽

10.1590/1678-476620151054453460 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 105 (4) ◽

pp. 453-460 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

André L. Luza ◽

Eliane R. da Silva ◽

Daniela M. Failace ◽

Patrick Colombo

Keyword(s):

Site Selection ◽

Nest Site ◽

Nest Site Selection ◽

Nest Building ◽

Habitat Characteristics ◽

Breeding Period ◽

Subtropical Climate ◽

Southern Brazil ◽

Habitat Factors ◽

Selection For

ABSTRACT Male gladiator frogs of Hypsiboas Wagler, 1830 build nests on available substrate surrounding ponds and streams where female spawn eggs during the breeding period. Although gladiator frogs seem to show plasticity in the way they construct their nests, there is no study reporting if these species present preferences about microhabitat conditions for nest-building (mainly under subtropical climate). Predation pressure and environmental conditions have been considered major processes shaping the great diversity of reproductive strategies performed by amphibians, but microhabitat conditions should explain where to build a nest as well as how nest looks. This study aimed to test nest site selection for nest-building by Hypsiboas faber(Wied-Neuwied, 1821), determining which factors are related to nest site selection and nest features. The survey was conducted at margins of two permanent ponds in Southern Brazil. Habitat factors were evaluated in 18 plots with nest and 18 plots in the surrounding without nest (control), describing vegetation structure and heterogeneity, and substrate characteristics. Water temperature was measured inside the nest and in its adjacency. Nest features assessed were area, depth and temperature. Habitat characteristics differed between plots with and without nest. Microhabitat selected for nest-building was characterized by great vegetation cover and height, as well as shallower water and lower cover of organic matter in suspension than in plots without nest. Differences between temperature inside nest and in its adjacency were not observed. No relationship between nest features and habitat descriptors was evidenced. Results revealed that Hypsiboas faber does not build nests anywhere. Males seem to prefer more protected habitats, probably avoiding predation, invasion of conspecific males and inclement weather. Lack of differences between temperature inside- and outside-nest suggest that nest do not improve this condition for eggs and tadpole development. Nest architecture was not related to habitat characteristics, which may be determined by other factors, as nest checking by females before amplexus. Nest site selection should increase offspring survival as well the breeding success of Hypsiboas faber.

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