Effects of Landscape Characteristics on Nesting Ecology of Cavity-Nesting Birds
Date
2014-12
Authors
Harrod, Sara
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Abstract
I studied the effects of landscape characteristics on nesting success and nest site selection of native cavity-nesting birds at the Freeman Center, San Marcos, Texas from 2013 to 2014. Forty nest boxes were installed in 2013 and an additional twenty boxes were installed in 2014. Nest checks were conducted twice weekly from February to July of each year. Landscape analyses were conducted using ArcGIS and FRAGSTATS and habitat measurements were collected on site to examine the landscape characteristics surrounding each box. I used the Mayfield Method to estimate nest success of each nesting pair. For each year, Principal Components Analyses (PCA) were conducted to assess characteristics of each nest box, and Canonical Correspondence Analyses (CCA) were conducted to assess relationships between habitat features surrounding nest sites and species nesting success. Four species utilized the nest boxes in 2013, followed by six in 2014. In 2013, Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) (15% occupancy) and Ash-throated Flycatchers (Myiarchus cinerascens) (5% occupancy) were most successful in grassland and shrubland habitats, respectively. Bewick’s Wrens (Thryomanes bewickii) (77.5% occupancy) were generalists; their nesting success showed no association for any habitat variable. Sites of Black-crested Titmice (Baeolophus atricristatus) (12.5% occupancy) nests were associated with areas of little herbaceous or woody horizontal vegetative cover while no difference in landscape characteristics were found between successful and failed nests. In 2014, bluebird (20% occupancy) success and failure were associated with large grassland patches. Flycatcher (11.7% occupancy) success was not associated with any measured habitat variables, while failure occurred in sites with large shrubland patches. Titmouse (38.3% occupancy) success and failure were not correlated with any measured habitat variables, while wren (71.7% occupancy) success was most likely to occur in sites with large woodland patches. To maximize nesting success, wildlife managers utilizing nest boxes to manage for a given species should consider not only habitat types but patch characteristics such as density and area when considering where to erect nest boxes.
Description
Keywords
cavity-nesting birds, birds, nests
Citation
Harrod, S. (2014). Effects of landscape characteristics on nesting ecology of cavity-nesting birds (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.