Artificial Nest Predation and Abundance of Birds along an Urban Gradient

Abstract We studied nest predation pressure on birds along an urban gradient in urban parks in three Finnish towns. Artificial ground nests with Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonicus) eggs were depredated more in the urban area than in the adjacent forest area. Within each town, the nest predation rate was higher in the town center than in the less urbanized area of detached houses. Predation rates did not vary from year to year or between study towns. Abundances of generalist avian predators were higher in the town center than in the area of detached houses and in the surrounding forest area. Most of the nests in the town center were destroyed by avian predators. Predation rate of artificial nests in each of the town areas was higher in managed parks than in unmanaged parks, presumably due to the less dense vegetation in the managed than the unmanaged parks. A test involving covering nests revealed that artificial nests covered by adjacent vegetation survived better than nests with less cover. In our study, artificial nest loss reflected the distribution of avian nest predators. Ground nesters were present at lower abundances in areas where concealing vegetation was missing and avian nest predation was high. Apparently, nest predation is one of the several possible mechanism affecting urban bird assemblages.

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Visual cues do not increase artificial nest predation in a Brazilian tropical savanna

Ornithology Research ◽

10.1007/s43388-021-00073-y ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Paulo Victor Resende dos Santos ◽

Ingrid Pinheiro Paschoaletto ◽

Lia Nahomi Kajiki ◽

Mariana de-Carvalho ◽

Samara de Albuquerque Teixeira

Keyword(s):

Nest Predation ◽

Visual Cues ◽

Tropical Savanna ◽

Artificial Nest

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Predation on different-sized quail eggs in an artificial-nest study in western Newfoundland

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z99-076 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 77 (7) ◽

pp. 1170-1173 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Keith P Lewis ◽

William A Montevecchi

Keyword(s):

Japanese Quail ◽

Small Mammals ◽

Nest Predation ◽

Egg Size ◽

Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus ◽

Buffer Strips ◽

Artificial Nest ◽

Red Squirrels ◽

Artificial Nests ◽

Riparian Buffer Strips

In artificial-nest studies, Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica) eggs have been used as surrogates for passerine eggs, although small mammals that prey on passerine eggs may be unable to consume Japanese Quail eggs. To determine the influence of egg size on nest predation in different landscapes on insular Newfoundland, we placed either a Japanese Quail egg or a smaller Chinese Painted Quail (Xexcalfactoris chinensis) egg in artificial ground nests along lakeshore forest edges and along riparian buffer strips. Clay eggs were used to identify nest predators. Levels of predation on nests with Japanese Quail and Chinese Painted Quail eggs were similar. Based on clay eggs, predation was attributed to red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), and we found no evidence that smaller mammals preyed on artificial nests. We conclude that the Japanese Quail egg is acceptable for use in artificial-nest studies in Newfoundland, and we discuss the implications of egg size and small mammals in nest-predation experiments.

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