Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) Occupancy in the Context of Fire in Mississippi and Alabama, USA

• DOI: 10.1675/063.040.0202
• Publication Date: 2017-06-26T09:47:15Z
• Authors: Kelly M. Morris; Mark S. Woodrey; Scott G. Hereford; Eric C. Soehren; Tara J. Conkling; Scott A. Rush
• Keywords: Occupancy; Overwintering

The Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) is a migratory bird with many aspects of its ecology poorly understood. objective this study was to examine effects fire, vegetation structure, and landscape variables on site occupancy detection probabilities for Rails overwintering in coastal pine savannas Mississippi Alabama. Between December April, 2012–2013, dragline surveys were conducted at three conservation areas: two Jackson County, Mississippi, one Mobile Alabama, USA. Site 0.81 ± 0.06 (SD) 0.79 0.09 (SD). related negatively time since indicating fire provides conditions attractive throughout the area. use wetland fire-maintained habitats within during winter, coupled continued loss open grasslands inadequate management fire-dependent savanna southeastern USA highlights need prioritize effective herbaceous-dominated ecosystems.