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USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Cowbirds

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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Conservation Implications When The Nest Predators Are Known, Frank Thompson, C.A. Ribic Jan 2012

Conservation Implications When The Nest Predators Are Known, Frank Thompson, C.A. Ribic

USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Conservation and management of passerines has largely focused on habitat manipulation or restoration because the natural communities on which these birds depend have been destroyed and fragmented. However, productivity is another important aspect of avian conservation, and nest predation can be a large source of nesting mortality for passerines. Recent studies using video surveillance to identify nest predators allow researchers to start evaluating what methods could be used to mitigate nest predation to help passerines of conservation concern. From recent studies, we identified latitudinal and habitat-related patterns in the importance of predator groups that depredate passerine nests. We then reviewed …


Predatory Identity Can Explain Nest Predation Patterns, Jennifer L. Reidy, Frank Thompson Jan 2012

Predatory Identity Can Explain Nest Predation Patterns, Jennifer L. Reidy, Frank Thompson

USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Knowledge of dominant predators is necessary to identify predation patterns and mitigate losses to nest predation, especially for endangered songbirds. We monitored songbird nests with time lapse infrared video cameras at Fort Hood Military Reservation, Texas, from 1997 to 2002 and 2005, and in Austin, Texas, during 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2009. Predation was the most common source of nest failure. We identified 13 species of predators during 126 predation events. Snakes were the most frequent nest predator group (n = 48), followed by birds (n = 25), fire ants (n = 22), cowbirds (n = 15), …