Dissertations / Theses: 'Nesting habits'

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Guerra, Correa Carlos Guillermo. "Life History Biology of the Desert Nesting Seagull Larus modestus." Thesis, North Texas State University, 1987. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc331083/.

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Gray gulls Larus modestus are unique among birds of northern Chile as the only species nesting in the interior Atacama Desert, and the only seagull nesting far (30 - 100 km) from surface water. During breeding-nesting (August - February) gray gulls congregate on the coast of northern Chile where they feed and initiate courtship. As early as August, breeding pairs commute daily to the inner desert to establish nesting territories, round-trip distances of 60-200 Km. During incubation (30 days) and brooding (7 days) adults alternate daily foraging flights to the coast. Afterwards, both adults forage daily for their chick(s) until fledging (ca. 60 days). Foraging flights and thermoregulatory costs during the period of maximal solar radiation, when ground temperatures may reach 61 C in the day and drop to 2 C at night, have selected for adaptations which minimize those costs: tolerance of hypothermia and hyperthermia; dark plumage; low egg-shell water vapor conductance; low standard metabolic rate; elaborate repertory of thermoregulatory behavior which allow adults to take advantage of microclimatic variations in the desert and minimize costs relative to a sympatric congenor, Larus belcheri scheduling foraging flights to take advantage of optimal atmospheric conditions and presence of forage fish (anchovies) close to the surface; scheduling migration to coincide with anchovy production and levels of interspecific competition; and reduced clutch size ( ≤ 2) relative to most seagulls. Periodic El Nino-Southern Oscillations (ENSO), which reduce principal food items of gray gulls, have selected for 'bet hedging" tactic by which L. modestus either ceases reproduction or varies clutch size between one and two, as observed during and after the 1982-83 ENSO. During a typical reproductive season, breeding pairs allocate a minimum of 39 percent of their net metabolized energy (NME) to foraging flights. Including energy content of eggs, females have an overall reproductive effort (RE=reproductive costs/NME) of 35.1 percent of 122,086.8 KJ per year.

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Castro, Mariana Monteiro de. "Ecologia comportamental da mirmecofauna em ambiente hospitalar como subsídios para estratégias de controle." Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 2015. https://repositorio.ufjf.br/jspui/handle/ufjf/98.

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FAPEMIG - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais
Com o processo de urbanização, algumas espécies de formigas encontraram ambiente ideal para a sobrevivência nas cidades. Na área urbana, a ocorrência em hospitais se configura como um risco pelo transporte de micro-organismos patogênicos. Diversas pesquisas sobre o assunto foram conduzidas no Brasil, contudo muitas lacunas ainda permanecem desconhecidas. Com o intuito de preencher parte desse conhecimento, este trabalho buscou ampliar os conhecimentos sobre a ecologia comportamental da mirmecofauna que habita ambientes hospitalares. Este trabalho está formatado em quatro capítulos: (i) o primeiro capítulo teve como objetivo discutir a importância das formigas em ambientes urbanos, destacando o processo de urbanização e sua ocorrência, a importância nas áreas hospitalares e na saúde pública; (ii) o objetivo do segundo capítulo foi realizar um levantamento da literatura sobre formigas em ambiente hospitalar no Brasil nos últimos 20 anos, visando o progresso do conhecimento desta questão através de uma discussão sobre os avanços e prioridades de pesquisa; (iii) e (iv) os capítulos três e quatro trouxeram análises de um conjunto de informações sobre a ecologia e o comportamento da mirmecofauna em ambiente hospitalar, coletada ao longo de dois anos de monitoramento (2012 – 2014) no Hospital Regional João Penido localizado no município de Juiz de Fora – MG, sudeste do Brasil. As amostragens foram realizadas bimestralmente por meio de iscas atrativas não tóxicas nos períodos diurno e noturno e nas áreas interna e externa do hospital. Foram encontrados 10342 indivíduos, pertencentes a 26 espécies de formigas, representando quase a totalidade da fauna esperada para o local. Pheidole susannae Forel, 1886 foi a espécie mais abundante (21,87%) e, juntamente com Tetramorium simillimum (Smith, 1851) foi também a mais constante (100%). O índice de dominância encontrado foi baixo (0,1395), demonstrando não haver dominância de nenhuma espécie. Abundância e riqueza não diferiram entre as estações climáticas, o que representa a estabilidade da mirmecofauna no local. Houve diferença entre a abundância para o período noturno (t= -2,2067; p= 0,038) e também entre riqueza (U= 9,000; p= 0,01) e abundância (U= 70,500; p< 0,0001) das espécies entre as áreas interna e externa. Os setores Casa de Gestante, Recepção e UTI Neonatal se mostraram mais similares em relação à fauna encontrada na área interna e externa. O índice geral de infestação foi de 48,87%, sendo superior no período noturno e na área externa e a espécie P susannae apresentou o maior índice. Foram localizados 25 ninhos em três substratos: fissura em alvenaria (80%), madeira (12%) e tubulação de esgoto (8%). A identificação de maior abundância à noite reforça a ideia de que há grande necessidade dos monitoramentos contemplarem também esse horário, visto que algumas espécies possuem hábitos exclusivamente noturnos. E a infestação no interior do hospital ratifica a preocupação existente com a possibilidade de infecção nosocomial decorrente do transporte de micro-organismos patogênicos. Soma-se a isso, o registro de nidificações no interior do hospital, o que aumenta a preocupação em se estabelecer estratégias alternativas de controle. Com estes resultados, profissionais da área da saúde e que prestam serviços de controle de pragas estarão mais bem norteados para atuar na redução da infestação de formigas nesses ambientes, visto que estratégias de controle mais eficientes poderão ser implementadas.
Along with the urbanization process, some ant species have found in cities an ideal environment. Among these areas, occurrence in hospitals represents risk due to the transport of pathogenic microorganisms. Many research studies have been carried out in Brazil, and still there are many gaps to explore. Intending to fill some lacks on that knowledge, this work studied the behavioral ecology of hospitals‟ ant fauna. This study is formatted into four chapters: (i) the first chapter aimed to discuss the importance of ants in urban environments, highlighting the process of urbanization and its occurrence, the importance in hospital areas and public health; (ii) the objective of the second chapter was to survey the literature on ants in hospitals in Brazil in the last 20 years, aimed at advancing the knowledge of this issue through a discussion of advances and research priorities; (iii) and (iv) the three and four chapters presented analysis of a set of information on the ecology and behavior of the ant fauna in the hospital, collected over two years of monitoring (2012-2014) in a public hospital located in Juiz de Fora, southeastern Brazil. Samples were taken every two months through non-toxic baits attractive day and night periods and the internal and external areas of the hospital. We found 10342 individuals of 26 species of ants, representing almost all the expected fauna to the site. Pheidole susannae Forel, 1886 was the most abundant species (21.87%) and, together with Tetramorium simillimum (Smith, 1851) was also the most constant (100%). The dominance index found was low (0.1395), stating no dominance for any species. Abundance and richness did not differ between seasons, which is the stability of the ant fauna in the area. There were differences between the abundance for the night period (t = -2.2067, p = 0.038) and also between richness (U = 9.000, p = 0.01) and abundance (U = 70.500, p <0.0001) of species between internal and external areas. The sectors “Casa da Gestante, “Recepção” and “UTI Neo Natal” were more similar in terms of fauna found in the internal and external area. The infestation index was 48.87%, higher than at night and in the outdoor area and the species P. susannae had the highest index. We found 25 nests on three substrates: fissure in masonry (80%), wood (12%) and sewer pipe (8%). The finding of greater abundance at nighttime reinforces the need of monitoring in such time, since some species are exclusively nocturnal. The infestation of some species in the inner hospital area confirms the concerns with the possibility of pathogenic microorganism transporting. In addition, the register of nesting inside the hospital increases the need of establishing alternative pest control strategies. Therewith, health professionals and pest control service providers will be better guided to reduce ant infestations in those environments, since better control strategies may be implemented.

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Hudson, Nathan Cole. "Nest success, nesting habitat, & nestling feeding rates of red-headed woodpeckers in east-central Illinois /." View online, 2009. http://repository.eiu.edu/theses/docs/32211131592149.pdf.

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Holt, Rachel Faith Martin Kathy. "Habitat selection, demography, and conservation implications for a cavity-nesting community in a managed landscape." Connect to this title online, 1997. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/tape16/PQDD%5F0003/NQ27952.pdf.

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Zimmerman, Kathryn. "Sustaining biological diversity in managed sub-boreal spruce landscapes residual habitat strategies for cavity nesting species /." Connect to this title online, 1998. http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp03/MQ62505.pdf.

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Groce, Julie Elizabeth. "Habitat associations of cavity-nesting owls in the Sierra Nevada." [College Station, Tex. : Texas A&M University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/ETD-TAMU-3086.

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Losee, Michele J. "Habitat Characteristics and Nesting Ecology of Golden Eagles in Arizona." Antioch University / OhioLINK, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1563035697672681.

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Williams, Gary E. "Relations of nesting behavior, nest predators, and nesting success of wood thrushes (Hylocichla mustelina) to habitat characteristics at multiple scales." Morgantown, W. Va. : [West Virginia University Libraries], 2002. http://etd.wvu.edu/templates/showETD.cfm?recnum=2551.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2002.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xi, 145 p. : ill. (some col.), map (part col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

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Foss, Carol Rolfe. "Nesting Success as an Indicator of Habitat Quality for Forest Songbirds." Fogler Library, University of Maine, 2004. http://www.library.umaine.edu/theses/pdf/FossCR2004.pdf.

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Winter, Maiken. "Effect of habitat fragmentation on grassland-nesting birds in southwestern Missouri /." free to MU campus, to others for purchase, 1998. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/mo/fullcit?p9924945.

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Bakaloudis, Dimitris E. "The ecology of short-toed eagle (Circaetus gallicus, GM.) in dadia-lefkimi-soufli forest complex, Thrace, Greece." Thesis, University of Reading, 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.325211.

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Gonzales, Armand G. "Northern spotted owl nesting habitat on private timber lands in northwest California /." [Arcata, Calif.] : Humboldt State University, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/2148/40.

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Manley, Irene A. "Behaviour and habitat selection of Marbled Murrelets nesting on the Sunshine Coast." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape7/PQDD_0022/MQ51408.pdf.

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Robb, Joseph Russell. "The importance of nesting cavities and brood habitat to wood duck production." Connect to resource, 1986. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view.cgi?acc%5Fnum=osu1260641579.

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Ellis, Kristen Sue. "Habitat Selection and Nesting Ecology of Snowy Plover in the Great Basin." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2013. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/3868.

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Snowy plovers (Charadrius nivosus) are small, ground-nesting shorebirds that are a species of conservation concern throughout North America. Despite increased efforts to understand factors contributing to the decline of snowy plover, little is known about habitat selection and breeding ecology of snowy plover for the large population found in the Great Basin. We tested hypotheses concerning the occupancy and nesting success of snowy plover. First, we identified factors influencing snowy plover nest survival at Great Salt Lake, Utah. We hypothesized that snowy plover would demonstrate differences in nest survival rates across years due to differences in habitat characteristics, predator abundance, human influence, resource availability, and fluctuating water levels. We conducted nest surveys at five sites along the Great Salt Lake to locate new nests or monitor known nests until nest fate was determined. We found 608 nests between 2003, 2005-2010, and 2012. The most common cause of nest failure was predation, followed by weather, abandonment, and trampling. Nest survival estimates ranged from 4.6 -- 46.4% with considerable yearly variation. There was no correlation between researcher activity (visits to nests and trapping of adults) and nest survival. Nests in close proximity to roads had lower survival than nests far from roads. Nests located on barren mudflats also had lower survival than nests in vegetated areas or near debris. We found that nests had a higher probability of survival as they increased in incubation stage. Because nesting areas around the Great Salt Lake host some of the largest concentrations of breeding snowy plover in North America, we suggest that managers consider measures to maintain suitable nesting habitat for snowy plover. Second, we determined factors affecting snowy plover occupancy and detection probabilities in western Utah between 2011 and 2012. We hypothesized that snowy plover would be associated with spring water flows and sparsely vegetated salt flats. We made repeated visits to randomly selected survey plots recording the number of snowy plover adults and habitat characteristics within each plot. We modeled the relationship between snowy plover detection probability and habitat and environmental characteristics. The detection probability was 77% (95% CI = 64 -- 86%) and did not vary by year. There was a positive relationship between ambient temperature and detection probability. Next, we modeled the relationship between snowy plover occupancy and individual habitat characteristics including distance to water, distance to roads, land cover types, and vegetative characteristics. Snowy plover occupancy did not vary by year and was estimated at 12% (95% CI = 7 -- 21%). Occupancy was best predicted by close proximity to water, playa land cover, and minimal shrub cover. We used habitat characteristics that best predicted snowy plover occupancy to generate a predictive habitat model that can help prioritize future snowy plover surveys and guide conservation efforts.

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Sawyer, Thomas R. "Habitat use and breeding performance in an inshore foraging seabird, the Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 1999. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.312131.

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Whynot, Denise B. "Nesting habitat and conservation of the northern goshawk, Accipiter gentilis, in Nova Scotia." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp01/MQ37810.pdf.

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Peterson, David L. "Nesting and Habitat Parameters for Selected Raptors in the Desert of Northwestern Utah." DigitalCommons@USU, 1988. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/6462.

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This study examined the effects of habitat parameters, disturbances and predation on the reproductive success of golden eagles (Aguila chrysaetos), ferruginous hawks (Buteo regalis), red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) and prairie falcons (Falco mexicanus) in the desert area southwest of the Great Salt Lake in northwestern Utah. The prairie falcon was the only species examined that had a normal reproductive output during the study years of 1984-1986. The prairie falcon was better able to utilize the avian prey species which were very difficult for the larger and slower raptor species to capture. During the reproductive period prairie falcons used Townsend ground squirrel (Sperrnophilus townsendii) heavily. The golden eagles, ferruginous, and red-tailed hawks were not able to obtain sufficient numbers of their primary prey species, the cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus nuttallii) and black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus), to allow for a normal reproductive output. These prey species were at the low point of their cyclic population pattern. Disturbance to raptors was not an important factor on this remote study area. Predation, primarily terrestrial mammals, did have a negative effect on reproductive success; however, it was not a major consideration due to lack of predator access on most of the cliff nesting sites of the golden eagle, red-tailed hawk, and prairie falcon. Predation appeared to have a greater impact on the ferruginous hawk nesting success as their nest sites were normally accessable to mammalian predators. Raptor nest site exposure was unimportant to nesting raptors. The nest exposure was very similar to the exposure ratio of the available cliff sites.

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Dettmers, Randall P. "Nesting success and habitat preferences of forest-breeding migratory passerines in southeastern Ohio /." The Ohio State University, 1996. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1487942739808004.

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Heiss, Rebecca. "American crow nestling growth and nutritional state vary with habitat." Diss., Online access via UMI:, 2006.

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Hill, Ian Franklin. "Post-nestling mortality and dispersal in Blackbirds and Song Thrushes." Thesis, University of Oxford, 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.298192.

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Figueroa, Omar Antonio. "Nesting habitat selection and habitat associations of juvenile Jabiru storks (Jabiru mycteria) in Belize, Central America implications for conservation /." [Gainesville, Fla.] : University of Florida, 2005. http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/UFE0012000.

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Delahoussaye, Leah M. "Eared Grebe Nesting Ecology and Chronology Along the Great Salt Lake, Utah." DigitalCommons@USU, 2019. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/7524.

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Eared Grebes (Podiceps nigricollis) are migratory birds that build their nests over water and in large groups called colonies. Their typical breeding range is in central southern Canada and northern United States; however, a previously uncertain number of Eared Grebes (grebes) also nest around the Great Salt Lake (GSL), Utah, at the southern edge of their breeding range. Little is known about the habitat requirements for grebe nesting colonies at such low latitudes and if they are different from colonies found elsewhere. My objectives for this research were to determine the status of the grebe nesting population as well as their habitat characteristics along the GSL in freshwater wetlands. I found over 4,280 grebe nests distributed among 35 colonies. Grebes built nests by mounding submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) beginning the first week of June. The results from my habitat study show that grebes prefer to nest in areas with an average water depth of 48 cm, high invertebrate density, and abundant areas of floating SAV. Water depth and vegetation type at colony sites as well as timing of nesting and average number of eggs per nest of GSL colonies differed from colonies located at more northern latitudes. The differences in nesting could be attributed to the need to wait for SAV to grow and form mats on the water’s surface, or a need to wait for their food source to reach harvestable size. After grebes leave their nesting grounds, they stop at the GSL where they prepare for their final migration southward by consuming their fill of brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana). Brine shrimp are tiny invertebrates that are well-adapted to salty environments; they produce hard-walled eggs called cysts which are of great economic value and are commercially harvested from the GSL. I compared cyst viability, which is the percentage of cysts in a condition conducive to hatching, for cysts that had passed through the digestive tract of grebes and cysts samples obtained from the GSL. Only 30% of the cysts that had passed through grebes were viable, whereas 63% of cysts from the GSL were viable.

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Holt, Rachel Faith. "Habitat selection, demography and conservation implications for a cavity-nesting community in a managed landscape." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1997. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/tape16/PQDD_0003/NQ27952.pdf.

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Lane, Vanessa Rae. "Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) Nesting and Brood-Rearing Sagebrush Habitat Characteristics in Montana and Wyoming." Thesis, Montana State University, 2005. http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2005/lane/LaneV0805.pdf.

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Nesting and brood-rearing habitat data for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) near Roundup in central Montana in 2004, Decker in south-central Montana and northern Wyoming in 2003, and Malta in north-central Montana in 2003 was collected. Sage-grouse hens were fitted with radio collars and tracked to nests. Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. wyomingensis Beetle & Young) canopy cover, density, and height for nest vs. random sites and brood vs. random sites were compared to determine if hens were selecting for these parameters. Forb, grass, total herbaceous, and residual cover, grass height, and residual height were also compared. Nest sites near Roundup (53 nest sites), Decker (58), and Malta (45) were measured. Most nest sites near Roundup were in sagebrush (91 %). All nest sites near Decker and Malta were in sagebrush. Only nest sites in sagebrush habitats were analyzed. Nest sites had taller (48 vs. 42 cm, P â‰¤ 0.01) and more productive (60 vs. 46 g of produced forage, P â‰¤ 0.01) nest shrubs than random sites near Roundup. At the Decker study area, nest sites had greater sagebrush cover (22 vs. 14 %, P â‰¤ 0.01), density (1.1 vs. 0.6 shrubs per m2, P â‰¤ 0.01), and taller shrubs within 15 m (52 vs. 42 cm, P â‰¤ 0.01) than random sites. Nest sites had taller shrubs within 15 m of the nest (30 vs. 26 cm, P â‰¤ 0.05) near Malta. Successful and failed nest sites did not differ between the Roundup and Decker study areas. Yearling nest sites had shorter grass than adult sites in Roundup (9 vs. 11 cm, P â‰¤ 0.05). Forty-four brood sites near Roundup and 73 brood sites near Decker were measured. Brood sites were not measured near Malta. Most brood sites near Roundup (71 %) and all near Decker (100 %) were in sagebrush. Only brood sites in sagebrush habitats were analyzed. Vegetation was similar between brood and paired random sites near Roundup. At the Decker study area, brood sites had denser sagebrush (1.1 vs. 0.6 shrubs per m2, P â‰¤ 0.01) than random sites. Adult and yearling hen brood sites did not differ near Roundup. Adult brood sites had greater sagebrush cover (14 vs. 8 %, P â‰¤ 0.05), density (1.0 vs. 0.6 shrubs per m2, P â‰¤ 0.05), and taller shrubs within 15 m (44 vs. 37 cm, P â‰¤ 0.05) than yearling sites near Decker. Brood sites had less shrub cover at 4 weeks than weeks 1 and 2 (10 vs. 16 and 17 %, P â‰¤ 0.01) near Roundup. Sagebrush habitats comprised 97 % (151 of 156) of the total nest sites and 92 % (108 of 117) of all brood locations. Nest sites had 19-22 % sagebrush cover, 26-52 cm sagebrush heights, and total herbaceous cover of 13-33 %. Brood sites had 12-13 % sagebrush cover, 22-43 sagebrush heights, and 14-33 % total herbaceous cover. This study reinforces the importance of sagebrush habitats for nesting and brood-rearing sage-grouse. Management practices which remove this shrub would probably reduce the nesting and brood-rearing success of sage-grouse in central Montana and northern Wyoming.

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Lawler, Joshua J. "Modeling Habitat Attributes of Cavity-Nesting Birds in the Uinta Mountains, Utah: A Hierarchical Approach." DigitalCommons@USU, 1999. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/6570.

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Birds may have the ability to view their environments at a wide range of spatial scales; accordingly, they may make habitat-selection decisions at multiple spatial scales. I investigated the implications of hierarchy theory and a landscape perspective on nestsite selection in cavity-nesting birds in the Uinta Mountains in northeastern Utah. I used · three different approaches to address the concept of a multi-scaled nest-site selection Ill process. First, I conducted an exploratory study in which I investigated nest-site selection at three spatial scales for Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis), Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus), Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), and Mountain Chickadee (Parus gambeli). By conducting a hierarchically structured analysis, I was able to investigate the habitat relationships that might result from a hierarchically organized nest site selection process . I found that the four species were associated with patterns of vegetation at three spatial scales and that these associations combined in such a way as to imply a process of nest-site selection that may be more complex than that posited by the niche-gestalt concept. Second, I conducted an experiment in which I investigated nest-site selection at two spatial scales. I compared the use of four types of aspen stands in a two-by-two factorial design according to within-stand structure and landscape context. Stands were classified as either dense or sparse and as having predominantly meadow or forested edges. To address nest-site selection by secondary cavity nesters , who may be limited by cavity availability, I augmented the natural cavities with nest boxes. I found that birds predominantly nested in sparse stands and in stands with meadow edges. Although only five nest boxes were used for nesting, all five of these boxes were in sparse stands with meadow edges. The third way in which I investigated the process of nest-site selection was to build and test predictive models using associations between birds and landscape patterns. By using landscape patterns to predict habitat, I was able to build models that were easily applied ; predictions could be made without any additional data collection in the field. The models were very accurate for both Red-naped Sapsuckers and Tree Swallows (86- 98% and 53-93% nests correctly predicted, respectively) but were less accurate for Mountain Chickadees and Northern Flickers (33-42% and 19-37%, respectively) .

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Lee, Stephanie L. "Post-fire successional effects on breeding grassland birds in mesquite savanna habitats of the Texas rolling plains." Texas A&M University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/4672.

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North American grasslands and grassland birds have declined drastically due to habitat degradation by fire suppression (i.e., woody encroachment), fragmentation, and conversion to croplands. A better understanding is needed of the relationships among disturbance regimes (e.g., fire), resultant vegetation changes, and grassland bird communities to effectively manage remaining grasslands and grassland birds. I assessed the relationship between post-fire succession, and mean relative abundance and nesting ecology of breeding grassland birds (i.e., nest-site selection and nest success) in mesquite-dominated rangeland of the Texas Rolling Plains, where prescribed fire is used as a tool to manage shrub encroachment. Brush cover, grass cover, and visual obstruction generally increased with post-fire succession, and bare ground decreased with post-fire succession. Species richness, grasshopper sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum), CassinÃ¢ÂÂs sparrows (Aimophila cassinii), and dickcissels (Spiza americana) responded positively to post-fire succession, and lark sparrows (Chondestes grammacus) responded negatively to post-fire succession.; abundance of these avian groups was low on the control sites. During 2004Ã¢ÂÂ2005, 90 grassland bird nests were monitored. I found conflicting results for vegetation parameters important to nest site selection and probability of nest success. For all species except lark sparrows, nest-site location was positively associated with visual obstruction and with grass or forb cover. However, the probability of nest success increased with lower visual obstruction, bare ground cover, or grass cover. Grassland bird abundance, nest-site location, and nest success had differing associations with vegetation variables. These results suggest that to effectively manage remaining grasslands for sustainable breeding grassland bird populations, managers should engage in practices that keep habitat in multiple vegetative successional stages.

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Zimmerman, Kathi. "Sustaining biological diversity in managed sub-boreal spruce landscapes, residual habitat strategies for cavity nesting species." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp03/MQ62505.pdf.

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Roos, Staffan. "Nest predation processes and farmland birds : habitat selection and population dynamics of predators and prey /." Uppsala : Dept. of Conservation Biology, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences, 2004. http://epsilon.slu.se/s301.pdf.

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Smith, Rebecca D. M. "Raptor assemblage, abundance, nesting ecology, and habitat characteristics under intensive forest management in the central Appalachian Mountains." Morgantown, W. Va. : [West Virginia University Libraries], 2003. http://etd.wvu.edu/templates/showETD.cfm?recnum=3013.

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Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2003.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xii, 106 p. : col. ill., col. maps. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

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Moore, William Franklin. "Survival, nesting success, and habitat selection of wild turkey populations in the upper coastal plain of South Carolina." Connect to this title online, 2006. http://etd.lib.clemson.edu/documents/1175184876/.

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Murphy, Shannon Eileen. "Purple martin, Progne subis, in San Luis Obispo County riparian habitat : presence, persistence, nesting, brooding and reproductive success /." Click here to view, 2009. http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/biosp/1/.

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Zehnder, Rebekah J. "GIS-Based Model of Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) Nesting Habitat in Indiana on a Landscape Scale." Miami University / OhioLINK, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1335497222.

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Stephens, Jaime L. "A comparison of bird abundance and nesting in harvest units, habitat islands, and mature coniferous forests in southwestern Oregon /." View full-text version online through Southern Oregon Digital Archives, 2005. http://soda.sou.edu/awdata/050801c1.pdf.

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Thesis (M.S.)--Southern Oregon University, 2005.
"A thesis submitted to ... Southern Oregon University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science ..." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 70-73). Also available via Internet as PDF file through Southern Oregon Digital Archives: http://soda.sou.edu. Search Bioregion Collection.

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Spohr, Shelley M. "Variables Influencing Nest Success of Eastern Wild Turkeys in Connecticut: Nesting Habitat, Home Range-Scale Fragmentation, and Nest Attentiveness." Fogler Library, University of Maine, 2001. http://www.library.umaine.edu/theses/pdf/SpohrSM2001.pdf.

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King, Janet Christine. "Red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus) distribution, productivity, parasite intensity and nesting habitat on Marinette County Forest in northeast Wisconsin /." Link for full text, 2008. http://epapers.uwsp.edu/thesis/2008/King.pdf.

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Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stevens Point, 2008.
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree Master of Science (Wildlife), College of Natural Resources. Includes bibliographical references.

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Malan, G., E. Strydom, S. Schulz, and G. Avery. "Diet of nesting African Crowned Eagles Stephanoaetus coronatus in emerging and forest–savanna habitats in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa." Taylor &Francis, 2016. http://encore.tut.ac.za/iii/cpro/DigitalItemViewPage.external?sp=1002006.

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Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the species composition of prey caught in the forest, savanna and emerging habitats in which African Crowned Eagles Stephanoaetus coronatus breed in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. At the 17 nest sites, the remains of 195 prey individuals were collected. The five dominant prey species caught were Rock Hyrax Procavia capensis, Vervet Monkey Chlorocebus pygerythrus, Blue Duiker Philantomba monticola, Greater Canerat Thryonomys swinderianus and Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus. All of these species respond positively to urban expansion. Only eagles that nested inside protected areas were recorded preying on domestic animals. In terms of biomass, Bushbuck was one of the dominant taxa, and the remains of an estimated 28.8 kg Bushbuck ram was found under a nest. The surprisingly high proportion of Rock Hyraxes and low proportion of Vervet Monkeys caught in emerging habitat may indicate that African Crowned Eagles nesting in this habitat are adapting to a more specialised feeding strategy compared with those nesting in habitats that are more natural. Future studies should investigate how and why prey proliferates in emerging habitats and examine the association between land uses and the diet of African Crowned Eagles.

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Peterson, Stephen L. "Legacy Effects of Habitat Degradation by Lesser Snow Geese on Ground-Nesting Savannah Sparrows along the Hudson Bay Lowlands." DigitalCommons@USU, 2013. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/1455.

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Increased growth of the mid-continent population of Lesser Snow Geese (LSGO) has led to the degradation of coastal salt marsh and sedge meadow habitats across Canadian Arctic and sub-Arctic ecosystems. It is believed that a human-induced trophic cascade caused by agricultural habitat modification along migratory routes and wintering grounds has contributed to the increase in LSGO numbers, which has resulted in the alteration of habitat quality and connectivity along northern breeding and stopover sites used by various avian species. This habitat degradation has been shown to decrease the presence and temporal persistence of ground-nesting passerine and shorebird species at a local level and may lead to decreases of Arctic / sub-Arctic breeding avian species across landscapes that LSGO utilize and degrade. In 1999, four paired study plots were established, and used in conjunction with a single study plot from 1976, in order to measure the composition of habitat parameters (barren ground extent; graminoid and shrub cover) and to estimate the number of avian nests found in these plots. Using this historical data along with our findings from 2010 and 2011, our main objectives were to: 1) document the change in the aforementioned habitat parameters over time; 2) estimate the local nesting occupancy rates of the common Savannah Sparrow (SAVS), a robust and adaptable ground nester; and 3) determine which habitat variables are indicative of the rates of change and occurrence of nesting by SAVS within the study plots. By using ANOVA, linear mixed effects, and multi-state occupancy models, results suggest that an increase in barren ground, decreases in shrub and graminoid cover, and a loss of connectivity between suitable nesting patches has led to a 10% (λ = 0.90) annual decline in the probability that SAVS nesting occurred across the study plots from 1999 to 2010. These model results may be used to estimate long-term trends in persistence of breeding SAVS and other similar ground-nesting avian species that share habitats with LSGO along Arctic and sub-Arctic ecosystems. (93 pages)

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Stephens, Scott Eugene. "The influence of landscape characteristics on duck nesting success in the Missouri Coteau Region of North Dakota." Diss., Montana State University, 2003. http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2003/stephens/StephensS03.pdf.

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Woolaver, Lance Gerard. "Habitat and artificial shelter use by American eider, Somateria mollissima dresseri (Sharpe) nesting on the eastern shore of Nova Scotia." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1997. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp04/mq23705.pdf.

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Berndt, Jessie. "Martial eagles and the national power grid in South Africa: the implications of pylon-nesting for conservation management." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15583.

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Includes bibliographical references
Many large, sparsely distributed raptors are threatened by a host of anthropogenic factors, while a minority may actually benefit from some aspects of development and environmental change. Clarity on the size and trajectory of such populations is essential for effective conservation management, but can be difficult to achieve. One solution is to use multivariate habitat association models to derive critical estimates of distribution and abundance. The South African population of Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus is currently estimated at < 800 adult birds , with the bulk of the known population believed to be residing in the larger protected areas. However, Martial Eagles also build nests on pylons that support high voltage transmission lines running through the largely treeless, semiarid landscapes of the Karoo. The main aim of this study was to develop a better understanding of the environmental factors that influence Martial Eagle territory densities and locations along South African transmission lines, and thereby estimate the size of this population and its relative importance to the national conservation status of this globally threatened species. I used habitat association models to d escribe Martial Eagle territory density in relation to eight environmental covariates. Models were first fitted to eagle territory data for the central Karoo regions, collected and pooled over the period 2002 - 2006, and then applied to predict the number of pairs present on each of three adjacent sections of unsurveyed line (northern, southern and eastern lines) . Once these model predictions were verified by a series of aerial and ground surveys, I fitted the models to all the known Martial Eagle territory records for the transmission network and extrapolated from these back to the rest of the network using the fitted relationships. Ultimately, the models predicted 52 additional Martial Eagle territories on the remaining transmission network with a confidence interval ranging from 38 to 67 (based on models that explained up to 39 % of the total variance in terms of only two explanatory terms – rainfall and the proportion of cultivated land). I then examined the role of territoriality and social structure in the eagle population in determining the location and dispersion of pylon nests. To do this I used the location of active nests from the original central Karoo data and a similar number of randomly selected points. I then asked whether I could predict the nest locations from each of the eight environmental covariates and distance to its nearest conspecific active nest or its nearest nest of any other large eagle species. Using a logistic generalised linear model with regression splines for distance to nearest other nest, I found that Martial Eagles strongly avoid proximity to conspecific nests (mean distance to conspecific nest = 28.2 km, range 2.5 - 167.1 km, n = 306). This result shows that minimum spacing should be considered in predicting the distribution of eagles on unsurveyed transmission lines. Lastly, I further investigated the geographical extent of pylon nesting in South African Martial Eagles, with particular focus on variation in the frequency of this behaviour in relation to biome - scale variation in the availability of trees as natural nest sites. To do this, I related Martial Eagle reporting rates generated by citizen - science bird atlas data to the density of transmission lines and biome types across South Africa. While these analyses yielded some suggestive results, such as significant positive and negative relationships between reporting rates and line density in the Desert (P = 0.02) versus the Savanna (P < 0.001) biomes respectively, data sparseness in arid areas and a generally low detection probability limited the conclusiveness of these results. The refined habitat association models developed in this study predict that the South African transmission grid supports 130 - 159 breeding pairs of Martial Eagle. This figure has never been estimated or calculated before, and suggests that 36 % of the national breeding population could reside largely in the commercial ranchland and nest on man - made structures. This result, which is at odds with the generally held belief that the Martial Eagle is increasingly confined to large protected areas, has significant implications for the thinking around the conservation management of this globally threatened species.

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Norris, Andrea Rose. "The responses of two cavity-nesting species to changes in habitat conditions and nest web community dynamics in interior British Columbia." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/31909.

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Populations of small-bodied cavity nesters may be regulated by density dependence, interspecific interactions within the community and resource availability. My objectives were to determine how changes in community interactions and habitat conditions affected mountain chickadees and red-breasted nuthatches at the local, regional and nest-patch scales. I used point count surveys and vegetation surveys from 27 forest stands to examine how population densities of mountain chickadees and red-breasted nuthatches varied with: densities of black-capped chickadees, downy woodpeckers, red-naped sapsuckers and red squirrels; densities of aspen, beetle-infected lodgepole pine trees, and all trees; and proportion of edge habitat (naturally fragmented or harvested), at the stand and study area levels from 1997-2006. For mountain chickadees, populations increased following years of high densities of nuthatches and sapsuckers and low densities of squirrels (predators) but were strongly density dependent where densities of sapsuckers and squirrels were high, and at forest edges. For red-breasted nuthatches, populations increased with recent beetle-infected pine tree density and following years of high densities of downy woodpeckers, and decreased after low densities of downy woodpeckers and high densities of black-capped chickadees. I used vegetation surveys of 231 nests and available habitat to examine nuthatch nest-patch selection. As the beetle outbreak progressed, nuthatches selected nest-patches with significantly fewer suitable nest trees and significantly more beetle-infected pine trees. The impacts of a large-scale natural disturbance event had cascading effects on the community and subsequent cavity-nester populations. Thus beetle-management activities should include long-term monitoring programs to examine temporal variability in resources and the effects on community dynamics in order to manage for chickadee and nuthatch populations.
Forestry, Faculty of
Graduate

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Grant, Murray C. "The breeding ecology of whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) in Shetland : with particular reference to the effects of agricultural improvement of heathland nesting habitats." Thesis, Durham University, 1989. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/6502/.

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The effect of re-seeding of heathland on the breeding ecology of whimbrel in Shetland was studied from 1986-1988, on five study sites located on the islands of Unst and Fetlar. A total of 36-45 pairs bred on these study sites in each year, and a large proportion of the breeding adults were individually colour ringed. Heathland was the main nesting habitat for whimbrel. Established pastures and areas ploughed or harrowed before re-seeding were avoided as nesting habitats, but some pairs nested on areas subjected only to surface re-seeding. Avoidance of ploughed or harrowed re-seeds was associated with changes in vegetation composition and structure, and such re-seeds lacked attributes important in the selection of nest-sites by whimbrel. Habitat change was less marked in surface re-seeds. Ploughed or harrowed re-seeds were used extensively as feeding habitat by adults during the pre-laying period, and evidence was obtained to indicate that re-seeding improved feeding conditions for adults. Measures of breeding success were positively correlated with egg volume, and negatively correlated with laying date. However, the improved feeding conditions on re-seeds for females prior to laying were unlikely to have provided major benefits for breeding success via effects on either egg volume or laying date. Approximately 30% of all broods studied used re-seeds at some stage prior to fledging. Although some broods did show preferences for this habitat, there was little evidence that this was associated with either, decreasing the risk of predation on chicks, or improving chick food supply. The survival of chicks to fledging did not vary according to the habitat-use of broods. Both nesting densities and productivity varied between study sites. The possibility that areas of heathland differ in their suitability as breeding habitat for whimbrel is considered, and the implications of this in assessing the effects of re-seeding heathland are discussed. Over the study period the overall production of fledglings from study sites was probably in excess of that required to balance adult mortality. This result is consistent with the current increase of the whimbrel population in Shetland.

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Johnson, Luanne PhD. "The Behavioral Ecology and Population Characteristics of Striped Skunks Inhabiting Piper Plover Nesting Beaches on the Island of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts." Antioch University / OhioLINK, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1463581942.

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Newberry, Gretchen N. "Habitat Associations, Nest Success and Nest Microclimate of Rooftop Nesting Common Nighthawks (Chordeiles minor) in the Agriculturally Dominant Landscape of Southeastern South Dakota." Thesis, University of South Dakota, 2018. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10831355.

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Natural nesting habitat for Common Nighthawks (Chordeiles minor ) in the Northern Prairie region of North America is in decline due to row-crop conversion. Other nesting habitats used by nighthawks in this region includes flat, gravel rooftops, but such rooftop habitat is scheduled to be replaced by other materials within the next 20 years. These changes present substantial challenges to population persistence for nighthawks in this region.

This study used point counts and land cover analysis at 396 points in two study areas in southeastern South Dakota, northeastern Nebraska and northwestern Iowa to document that nighthawk presence is positively associated with flat, gravel rooftops and heterogeneous land cover and negatively associated with row crops in agriculturally dominated landscapes.

In addition to land cover change challenges, continuing trends toward increasing summer temperatures, decreasing cloud cover and increasing humidity might make rooftops unsuitable for nest habitat. Mean daily minimum, average and maximum operative temperatures (T_e) recorded at rooftop nest sites in 2016-2017 were 26.3, 31.7, and 36.3 °C, respectively, with a 71.1 °C overall maximum T_e. I monitored 50 rooftop nests during 2015-2017 in southeastern South Dakota. Like many nightjars, 7- to 14-day old nighthawk chicks are extremely heat tolerant. Evaporative water loss rates rapidly increased at temperatures above 44.1 °C in humid conditions (i.e. up to 16 °C dew point), and chicks had similar evaporative water loss rates at 51°C (2.44 g H₂0 h^-1) to adult nightjars. However, baseline corticosterone levels increased in chicks acutely exposed to high ambient temperatures, suggesting that these temperatures were stressful. In addition, low hatching (0.252) and fledging (0.262) success rates, similar to those for other declining nighthawk populations, and a negative association between ambient temperature and hatching success, suggest that future microclimate trends may make rooftops an unsuitable nesting habitat.

This study recommends conservation of grasslands and heterogeneous landscapes of row crops and grazed pastures to promote nighthawk occurrence in the region where row crops dominate. In addition, provision of urban ecoroofs, with gravel patches, as alternative nesting habitats in agriculturally dominated landscapes will also be important for maintaining populations of this declining aerial insectivore species.

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Evans, Luke James. "Assessing the impacts of habitat fragmentation and subsequent anthropogenic expansion on the behavioural, nesting and population ecology of the estuarine crocodile, Crocodylus porosus." Thesis, Cardiff University, 2016. http://orca.cf.ac.uk/90075/.

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The project sought to examine the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on the ecology and population genetics of the estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). Additionally, the role played by humans in this anthropogenically-altered landscape was examined. Through the utilisation of a host of technologies, some previously established, some completely novel in crocodilian research, a new insight into how the landscape is utilised by these cryptic predators was developed. This project represents a first detailed look at Sabah’s crocodilian population, as well as being the first active crocodile research carried out in Sabah’s longest river. Male crocodiles were found to adhere to one of two behavioural strategies, territorial and nomadic, mirroring findings of Campbell et al. (2013). Territory sizes were, however, found to be smaller than those described in Australia, this was attributed to increased prey availability and ecosystem productivity. Only two females were tagged and appeared to also display differences in behavioural strategy. However, due to the small sample size, further work is required to confirm this. Both males and females were found to avoid barriers and were unwilling to pass beyond the barrier, despite no physical obstruction. Nests were detectable aerially through the use of drones and medium-large scale surveys shown to be feasible. Nests were found to all display a number of similarities in terms of habitat characteristics, allowing for refined modelling of survey locations. This allows for a larger survey area to be completed given a limited number of flights, highlighting its cost effectiveness versus traditional methods of nest surveying. Genetic analysis suggested that there was no evidence of a genetic bottleneck following the population recovery that has occurred over the last 30 years. Geographically indistinct haplogroups were discovered, as well as limited levels of inbreeding. The project also indicated that the population studied had undergone a population expansion that seems to have coincided with the onset of the last ice age and is likely attributable to changes in climate.

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Lye, Gillian C. "Nesting ecology, management and population genetics of bumblebees : an integrated approach to the conservation of an endangered pollinator taxon." Thesis, University of Stirling, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/2086.

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Bumblebees have shown both long and short-term declines throughout their range. These declines may be attributed to a range of factors including changes in land use, alterations in climatic conditions and species introductions. However, management strategies for bumblebee conservation often focus on provision of summer forage resources and other factors are frequently overlooked. Provision of spring forage and nesting sites for bumblebee queens are rarely considered, though colony foundation and early colony growth are two of the most sensitive stages in bumblebee life history. Here, the efficacy of certain agri-environment prescriptions for providing spring forage and nest sites for bumblebees is assessed, highlighting a need for specific schemes targeted towards the provision of these vital resources in the rural environment. The nesting ecology of bumblebees is poorly understood because wild colonies are difficult to locate. However, a greater knowledge of the colony-level effects of environmental change is crucial to understanding bumblebee declines. Attracting bumblebee queens to nest in artificial domiciles could provide a valuable tool for studying colony-level responses. However, domicile trials and the findings of a literature review presented here demonstrate that this approach may be largely impractical for use in the UK. Conversely, a nationwide public bumblebee nest survey produced numerous data regarding nest site preferences among bumblebee species and also demonstrated that citizen science may also provide a sensitive method for detecting declines in currently common bumblebee species. An understanding of the ecology of species interactions and coexistence can provide valuable insights into factors that may influence declines. Data presented here suggest that coexistence between some bumblebee species may be maintained by resource partitioning based on diel activity patterns that are linked to species-specific environmental tolerances. If this is the case, the potential role of climate change in bumblebee declines may be severely underestimated. There is also increasing evidence that genetic factors may play a role in bumblebee losses, accelerating declines of small, fragmented populations as a result of reduction in genetic diversity and inbreeding depression. Here, the feasibility of reintroducing British B. subterraneus (now extinct in the UK) from New Zealand into England is assessed using population genetic techniques. The findings suggest that the population history of B. subterraneus in New Zealand has resulted in a dramatic loss of genetic diversity and high genetic divergence from the original UK population, suggesting that it may not be a suitable for use in the reintroduction attempt. This work draws together some understudied aspects of bumblebee ecology with a particular focus on nest site requirements, availability of spring forage, mechanisms of avoidance of inter-specific competition and population genetic processes. The potential role of these in bumblebee declines is considered and new data relevant to the conservation of these important species is presented. It is hoped that this work will inform future management strategies for bumblebee conservation, highlight areas in need of further study and provide a sound starting point for future research in these areas.

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Wilburn, John D. "Potential Silvicultural Effects on Bald Eagle Nesting Substrate and Economic Yields at a Navy Installation in the Chesapeake Bay: An Approach Using the Forest Vegetation Simulator and Mahalanobis Distance." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/76946.

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In the interest of maintaining lands to fully support the military mission, Department of Defense (DOD) installations must manage competing objectives under constraints related to mission operations, regulation and compliance requirements, and budget reductions. Silviculture offers promise for ecosystem management while providing financial means through the sale of forest products. This study used forest inventory and bald eagle nest site data to investigate the potential effects of silviculture on bald eagle nesting habitat at Naval Support Facility Indian Head. Mahalanobis distance was used to define and classify preferred nesting substrate. Silviculture was simulated using the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) to assess forest nesting substrate, economic yields and the tradeoffs between these two objectives. An alternative substrate model based on cumulative distribution functions (CDFs) and Boolean logic allowed evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the Mahalanobis distance method. The Mahalanobis distance model provided greater relative fit to the sample of nest sites compared to the CDF model but had lower discriminating power between presence and absence data. Simulation results indicate that top performing silvicultural treatments resulted in greater substrate availability compared to no-action over equal time periods. Uneven-age management was shown as the best system for providing nesting substrate as well as favorable economic yields in hardwood stands. Results also stress the importance of thinning in providing future nesting substrate and maintaining preferred substrate late in the rotation. Economic and habitat tradeoffs varied by treatment, suggesting that optimum prescriptions could be identified to provide for both objectives and minimize tradeoffs.
Master of Science

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Cancellieri, Sarah A. "An Experimental Investigation of Nest Reuse and Nest Site Selection in an Open-Cup Nesting Passerine." Thesis, Portland State University, 2013. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1536931.

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Eastern Kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus) breed from coast to coast in North America and build open-cup nests in trees. They have been extensively studied across most of their range and have only on occasion been documented to reuse a nest from a previous season. However, at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR), located in southeastern Oregon, ~10 % of female Eastern Kingbirds reuse old nests of mainly American Robins (Turdus migratorius ). In an attempt to address why nest reuse is so common at MNWR, I used artificial nests to evaluate two hypotheses as to why nest reuse is common in this breeding population. The first hypothesis states that Eastern Kingbirds reuse nests to save time and/or energy (TES) and the second one states nest reuse occurs because there is a shortage of suitable nest sites (NSS). I was able to reject the TES hypothesis because artificial nests provided no apparent reproductive benefits to Eastern Kingbirds, except that if a nest had failed it took less time to lay a replacement clutch after an initial failure if an artificial nest was used instead of building a new nest. A more reasonable explanation is that Eastern Kingbirds face a limited availability of suitable nest sites. With this in mind, I took vegetation measurements to address the hypothesis that Eastern Kingbirds make adaptive choices when selecting a nest site, in which case they would choose sites that increase their probability of breeding successfully. Successful nests, both natural and artificial, were placed higher in a tree and on a steeper angled nest branch than their failed counterparts. Those findings suggest that Eastern Kingbirds make adaptive choices when selecting a nest site.

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Zaleski, Sara J. "Environmental Influences on Avian Presence in Roadside Ditches in an Agricultural Landscape." Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1435251239.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Nesting habits'

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