ABSTRACT The migratory population of the king rail ( Rallus elegans ) has declined dramatically during past 40 years, emphasizing need to identify habitat requirements this species help guide conservation efforts. To assess distribution and use rails along Illinois Upper Mississippi valleys, USA, we conducted repeated call‐broadcast surveys at 83 locations in 2006 114 2007 distributed among 21 study sites. We detected 12 survey 14 2007, illustrating limited region. found concentrated...

Attendants of Neotropical mixed-species flocks are hypothesized to benefit primarily by gaining protection from predators, while potential costs have received little attention. The Wedge-billed Woodcreeper (Glyphorynchus spirurus) frequently joins understory but also often forages alone. We that, because the significant vertical component its foraging behavior, primary cost flock-following might be a decrease in efficiency associated with conforming flock movement patterns. compared behavior...

Understanding causes of nest loss is critical for the management endangered bird populations. Available methods estimating probabilities to competing sources do not allow random effects and covariation among sources, there are few data simulation or goodness‐of‐fit ( GOF ) tests such models. We developed a Bayesian multinomial extension widely used logistic exposure LE survival model which can incorporate multiple fixed‐effect covariates each category. investigated performance this...

The Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) and the Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) are secretive marsh bird species that breed in Illinois Upper Mississippi River Valleys. Marsh surveys were conducted on public private wetlands this region during breeding seasons of 2006 2007. Detection probability () site occupancy estimated for each separately year. Candidate models including sampling habitat covariates compared using AICc to determine what variables had greatest influence . Average...

Abstract Diagnosing unsuccessful population outcomes for endangered species requires understanding relationships among vital rates, ecological conditions, and management variables, including unintended consequences of actions. The federally threatened Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) has remained below recovery goals, despite intensive management, the use nest exclosures to protect eggs from predation. We studied factors actions affecting success, survival, site fidelity, dispersal New...

Stantial, M. L., J. B. Cohen, A. Darrah, S. L. Farrell and Maslo. 2021. The effect of top predator removal on the distribution a mesocarnivore nest survival an endangered shorebird. Avian Conservation Ecology. 16(1):8. https://doi.org/10.5751/ACE-01806-160108

Most studies of King Rail (Rallus elegans) have investigated habitat use during the nesting season, while few comparisons been made between and brood-rearing seasons. Rails were located season in Missouri using repeated surveys with call playback, systematic searches for broods conducted season. adults at twelve points 2006 14 2007, five each year. Water depth was measured dominant cover type determined randomly sampled 5-m plots within used unused habitats. Logistic regression models fitted...

Abstract Recent restrictions on uranium mining within the Grand Canyon watershed have drawn attention to scientific data gaps in evaluating possible effects of ore extraction human populations as well wildlife communities area. Tissue contaminant concentrations, one most basic requirements determine exposure, are not available for biota from any historical or active mines region. The Uranium Mine is under development, providing a unique opportunity characterize concentrations and other trace...

Abstract Coastal birds that rely on sandy beaches for breeding are vulnerable to catastrophic flooding events resulting from tropical cyclones. The effects of storm surge annual productivity depend the propensity and success renesting attempts post-storm. From 2017 2021, I investigated Least Tern (Sternula antillarum) productivity, probability, nest chick survival after storms Mississippi’s Gulf Mexico Coast. Tropical cyclones made landfall during peak period in 3 these years, complete...

Improving our understanding of the effects research activities on breeding birds is critical for proper study implementation. Effects likely vary as a function field methods, species, habitat, and predator community, with few larger or predictable patterns. We investigated game camera use adult capture daily nest survival 41 Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus) 61 Wilson's (C. wilsonia) nests in coastal Mississippi from 2018–2022. also compared presence between at site neophilic Fish Crows...

Bird flocks are characteristic of environments worldwide, and there is a rich literature investigating the purported costs benefits for attendant species. Few studies, however, have investigated potential sources individual variation in flocking behavior. We hypothesized that propensity would vary among individuals as function intrinsic, environmental, social characteristics, well flock-joining opportunities home range size number present. tracked wedge-billed woodcreepers ( Glyphorynchus...

Biologists interested in using radio telemetry to track the movements of birds should concurrently conduct studies assess potential impacts on study organisms, particularly when monitoring threatened or endangered species. We investigated effects traditional and digital very high frequency (VHF) transmitters daily nest survival chick rates Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) along Atlantic Coast 2012, 2013, 2015. attached 1.0–1.2 g 110 plovers monitored their 160 attempts. also 221 attempts...

Abstract Disturbance from human activity can cause reduced productivity of coastal birds that nest on sandy beaches. A common method to protect disturbance is the use signs and fencing close off a section beach used for breeding. This management action requires public compliance might require enforcement, such as in volunteer stewards stationed at protected colonies provide education enforcement. I assessed effectiveness active stewardship conservation measure nesting Least Terns (Sternula...

ABSTRACT Predation of nests and young is one the limiting factors in conservation birds; understanding environmental covariates predator distribution can assist with decisions regarding best management strategies to reduce predation risk. The habitat beach‐nesting birds often reshaped by storms ways that may affect nest predation, such as flattening vegetated dunes where mammals hunt, but human beaches tries prevent effects on landscape unknown implications for distributions. Moreover,...

ABSTRACT Wire cages (exclosures) that exclude nest predators are regularly used for management of federally threatened and endangered populations piping plovers ( Charadrius melodus ) similar species. However, recent evidence apparent abandonment related to exclosure use is indicative adult mortality has led concern about the technique. We developed a decision support tool named PiperEx uses site‐specific nest‐fate data inform stochastic population projection model predict growth rate at...

First posted January 8, 2016 For additional information, contact: SBSC staff, Southwest Biological Science CenterU.S. Geological Survey2255 N. Gemini DriveFlagstaff, AZ 86001http://sbsc.wr.usgs.gov/ Charles van Riper III ST Research Ecologist - Emeritus USGS/Southwest Center 520 North Park Avenue University of Arizona Tucson, 85719 ph (520) 670-6671 ext 267 The U.S. Government created the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (Kofa NWR) in 1939 response to a citizen campaign improve desert bighorn...

The northern Gulf of Mexico has been the focus many coastal habitat restoration projects in wake new funding streams stemming from settlement 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill litigation. One such project was creation New Round Island (RNDI) Mississippi, a 86 ha island created using dredge material 2017. design incorporated novel U‐shaped sand berm with multiple interconnected containment sells. In this study we sought to document changes relative abundance various bird species. We conducted...

Abstract Anthropogenic disturbance has been demonstrated to affect the behavior of beach‐nesting birds, yet energetic consequences recreational activities have received less attention. Because precocial chicks are often displaced as a result events, lower access food may lead fitness. We studied influence site characteristics and human on behavior, habitat use, growth rate, survival piping plover in New Jersey, portion Atlantic Coast population that continues demonstrate poor demographic...

Artificial nesting substrates have been added around the world for many cavity-nesting bird species, but this has not undertaken as extensively crevice-nesting birds. The Western Cordilleran Flycatcher (<em>Empidonax difficilis occidentalis</em>) is a migratory, flycatcher that nest-site limited, breeding in higher elevation riparian habitats throughout intermountain western North America. We tested effectiveness of multiple artificial platform types would accept nesting, and then utilizing...