营巢植物影响红头长尾山雀的巢被捕食风险

巢址选择对鸟类的巢捕食率具有重要影响,研究鸟类的巢址特征与巢捕食率之间的关系有利于揭示不同巢址特征对鸟类成功繁殖的作用。本研究以2014至2017年在河南董寨国家级自然保护区观察的红头长尾山雀(Aegithalos concinnus)为研究对象,分析了红头长尾山雀在卵期(产卵及孵卵期)(n = 124巢)及育雏期(n = 119巢)被捕食巢和成功巢的日存活率与发现巢的时间和营巢植物种类之间的关系,同时还根据其巢址的总体特征对其巢址安全性进行评级,以探究研究者评估的巢址安全等级对预测巢存活率的有效性。结果显示：在卵期,营巢于竹类植物(如箬竹Indocalamus tessellatus和刚竹属Phyllostachys sp.植物)、茶(Camellia sinensis)、灌草类植物(如蔷薇Rosa spp.和禾本科Gramineae植物)和杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)上的红头长尾山雀巢的日存活率皆显著高于在松柏类植物(如油松Pinus massoniana、侧柏Platycladus orientalis和圆柏Juniperus chinensis)上的巢;在育雏期,营巢于灌草类植物上巢的日存活率显著低于竹类、杉木和茶树上巢的日存活率。卵期巢的日存活率随巢日龄的增加而显著降低,但育雏期巢的日存活率不随巢日龄显著变化。此外,巢的日存活率与发现巢的日期之间没有显著关系,研究者评估为巢址安全等级不同的巢,其日存活率也无显著差异。综上所述,本研究的结果表明,营巢于某些特定植物有助于降低红头长尾山雀面临的巢捕食风险,说明营巢植物种类对鸟类的繁殖成功率具有重要影响。     

河南董寨再引入朱鹮种群的巢址分布特征

为了解再引入朱鹮(Nipponia nippon)种群的分布与扩张情况,本研究对董寨再引入朱鹮野外种群的繁殖巢址进行了调查研究。在2014到2022年间,共调查统计了84个野化放飞朱鹮及其后代的繁殖巢址,使用圆形分布法分析了巢址与放飞点的相对方位和集中程度,并根据全部巢址的空间分布,使用固定核空间方法计算得到巢区(95%巢址所在区域)与核心巢区(50%巢址所在区域)的分布范围和面积。将巢址图层、土地覆盖图层以及数字高程模型叠加,观察朱鹮巢址选择的生境偏好,并使用单样本t检验判断了巢址平均海拔与巢区海拔间的差异。结果显示,繁殖巢址与放飞点平均距离(平均值 ± 标准差)(12.82 ± 14.11)km(n = 84),平均方位角(平均值 ± 标准差)为(138.99 ± 82.44)°(瑞利检验：Z = 10.60,P < 0.01)。核心巢区与巢区面积分别为74.43 km2和549.66 km2。巢址平均海拔(平均值 ± 标准差)(103 ± 43)m,显著低于巢区内平均海拔(t =﹣5.48,df = 83,P < 0.01)。巢址的分布主要位于水稻田和森林的交界区域。逐年繁殖区域分布图显示,繁殖区域基本朝向西北-东南方向扩张,与圆形分布分析结果一致。本研究描述了董寨再引入朱鹮种群繁殖巢址的分布特征与扩张趋势,可以为野外朱鹮潜在繁殖地和栖息地的保护提供参考,优化保护工作中的人力物力资源配置。     

鸟类群落对若尔盖高原湿地退化梯度的响应

鸟类是湿地生态系统重要的一类环境指示生物,研究其群落特征对湿地退化的响应,有助于揭示湿地生态系统结构和功能的变化、探讨对湿地状况进行有效监测和评价的方法。以若尔盖湿地国家级自然保护区花湖、兰州大学高寒草甸与湿地生态系统定位研究站（阿孜站）为研究区域,2018年5、2019年5月采用样线法对区域中4种高原湿地退化梯度,即典型湿地（Ⅰ型）、季节性湿地（Ⅱ型）、中度退化湿地（Ⅲ型）和重度退化湿地（Ⅳ型）的繁殖鸟类群落进行调查研究。研究时段共记录到繁殖鸟类8目14科41种,其中花湖繁殖鸟类39种,阿孜站繁殖鸟类21种。数据分析显示,随着高原湿地退化演替序列,两地的鸟类群落物种数和多样性指数均逐步减小,群落优势度不断增大;Ⅲ型和Ⅳ型群落相似性系数最高,Ⅰ型和Ⅳ型间群落相似性最低,表明鸟类群落随湿地退化发生明显改变,仅与毗邻的退化梯度群落组成相似。研究区域Ⅰ型生境中,水禽类占绝对优势,以红脚鹬（Tringa totanus）为优势种;Ⅱ型中长嘴百灵（Melanocorypha maxima）为群落中优势种;小云雀（Alauda gulgula）和角百灵（Eremophila alpestris）为Ⅲ型群落中的优势种;群落中优势种团为雪雀（Montifringilla spp.）和地山雀（Pseudopodoces humilis）时,标志着湿地已经重度退化（Ⅳ型）。鸟类群落优势种的转变是鸟类营巢环境要求与湿地退化中环境的改变相适应的结果。本研究尝试性的提出如何利用鸟类对高原湿地退化状态进行监测和评价。     

龙凤保护区普通鸬鹚巢特征与巢址选择

巢址选择作为鸟类繁殖的重要环节,是动物生态学关注的热点问题。为探究中等体型湿地鸟类普通鸬鹚的巢址选择偏好及主要影响因子,2019年4—10月运用秩和检验、主成分分析等方法对黑龙江龙凤保护区内普通鸬鹚巢特征、巢址特征、巢址选择进行了分析。结果表明：(1)普通鸬鹚偏好选择巢树乔木相对较矮(P<0.05)、周围灌木相对较矮(P<0.01)、植被盖度较低(P<0.01)、人为干扰距离较远(P<0.01)、距水面距离较远(P<0.05)的区域筑巢;(2)影响普通鸬鹚巢址选择的因子为隐蔽因子(20.634%)、巢稳定因子和干扰因子(27.614%)、植被因子(13.901%)、水因子(5.782%)和巢忠诚度(5.069%)。进一步分析表明：(1)普通鸬鹚倾向选择粗细适中的巢材,巢材来源于优势植被,巢深随纬度增高而增大;(2)巢区植被特征符合普通鸬鹚对能量支配的权衡,巢区粪便对该特征有强化作用。基于上述结果,建议龙凤保护区在巢区内加种高大乔木。     

陕西汉中朱鹮在输电铁塔上的 营巢状况及保护建议

随着高压输电线路的日益增多,鸟类在输电铁塔上的营巢现象日益普遍,其在鸟类保护中的作用以及对输电线路的影响是备受关注的课题。自2018年首次在陕西省汉中市西乡县发现野生朱鹮（Nipponia nippon）在高压输电铁塔上营巢以来,至2020年累计在4个铁塔上统计到7个营巢记录。铁塔巢址通常比树巢更高[（16.3 ± 7.2）m,n = 4],距离干扰源如机动车道[（140 ± 66）m,n = 4]和居民点[（162 ± 95）m,n = 4]较近,距离觅食稻田较远[（235 ± 79）m,n = 4]。铁塔巢址的繁殖生产力为2.3 ± 0.5（n = 6）,显著高于树巢,其原因可能是铁塔巢址较为稳固,不易被大风损毁,且天敌危害较少。由于铁塔巢址周边适于营巢的乔木较多,因而这种异常的营巢现象并非源于天然营巢树木的缺乏。对1只铁塔巢址出生的个体进行了卫星跟踪,表明其第1年的扩散距离为2.0 km,小于树巢出生的个体,而且其活动核心区覆盖了巢址和3条输电线路;第2和第3年的活动核心区分别向外扩散15.5 km和15.3 km,但夏季仍有约1个月的时间返回出生巢址附近。可见这些个体对铁塔和输电线路这种特殊的出生地有较深的印记,今后选择在铁塔上营巢的可能性较高。根据近年来朱鹮在铁塔上的营巢记录和巢址的重复使用情况,我们认为这一异常营巢行为并非偶然个例,今后会有逐年增加的趋势,可能会对电网安全造成潜在风险。2018年的一个铁塔巢址造成输电线路的跳闸后,幼鸟被成功转移至旁边弃用的喜鹊（Pica pica）巢中并顺利出飞,这为类似情况的应对处理提供了可行的参考。此外,建议在野生朱鹮分布区的高压输电铁塔的安全位置安装人工栖架和人工巢筐,既可以满足朱鹮的繁殖需求,又能减少对输电线路的危害。     

盐城滨海海堤林中黑尾蜡嘴雀和黑卷尾的巢址选择与生态位

繁殖期鸟类的巢址选择受到很多因素的影响。许多雀形目鸟类选择在树上营巢,但开阔的沿海地区通常缺乏成片的自然林地,人工种植的廊道状海堤林则成为多种雀形目鸟类的营巢地。2018年4-8月在江苏省大丰麋鹿国家级自然保护区境内的海堤林中,对繁殖鸟类巢的分布及两种优势繁殖鸟类---黑尾蜡嘴雀(Eophona migratoria)和黑卷尾(Dicrurus macrocercus)的巢址选择进行了研究,分析了两种鸟类的生态位重叠情况。结果表明:海堤林生境中共发现10种繁殖鸟的127个巢,鸟巢多数位于5 m以上的空间;影响黑尾蜡嘴雀巢址选择的主要因素是巢树和灌木等,巢位置、乔木和安全等因素是次要因素(前5主分量累计贡献率为71.9%);影响黑卷尾巢址选择的主要是巢树因素和灌木因素,巢向、乔木因子是次要因素(前5主分量累计贡献率78.0%);在巢址生态位分化上:两种鸟类的巢向(Utest,Z=-3.013,P<0.01)、巢高(Utest,Z=-6.718,P<0.01)、巢位置(Utest,Z=-5.402,P<0.01)、隐蔽性(Utest,Z=-4.081,P<0.01)选择上存在极显著的差异,两者在这些因子存在生态位分化;两种鸟类在12个巢址因子选择上的生态位重叠值都较大(最小值为0.500,最大值为0.998),存在激烈的种间竞争;在滨海地区,海堤林是依赖树木筑巢繁殖鸟类的重要栖息地,需要加强保护与管理。     

陕西红碱淖同域分布遗鸥与棕头鸥巢址选择比较

2009—2011年4—7月在陕西红碱淖对同域分布的遗鸥和棕头鸥巢参数特征、巢群空间分布和巢址生境选择进行了对比分析。结果表明:巢外径、巢深、巢高等参数均存在显著差异,这主要是与营巢生境和巢址空间分布上有关;从巢群空间分布上来看,两者均选择于湖心岛上营巢繁殖,巢群呈斑块状分布,但彼此没有混巢现象,有时甚至通过压缩种间巢间距来达到共存,由于遗鸥繁殖群体数量占优势,遗鸥总是占据最佳的巢域,棕头鸥巢群通常被排挤至湖心岛边缘部分;在巢址生境选择上,植被类型、植被高度、植被盖度、巢离水面高度和巢距最近水边距离均存在显著差异。这表明两者巢址生境选择上具有特异性,这种特异性使得巢址生境选择上存在生态位差异,促成了遗鸥和棕头鸥能在同一湖心岛上营巢繁殖因素之一。     

大杜鹃对家燕的巢寄生

了解杜鹃(Cuculus spp.)对不同宿主鸟类的巢寄生,是研究杜鹃与其宿主之间协同进化的重要基础资料。大杜鹃(Cuculus canorus)和家燕(Hirundo rustica)分布遍及全国,且为同域分布,但两者之间的寄生现象尚未有过系统调查。2012年和2014年4~8月,对繁殖于吉林市昌邑区桦皮厂镇(34°58′44.18″N,126°13′26.83″E,海拔184 m)和海南岛的家燕种群进行调查,结果表明,吉林市昌邑区桦皮厂镇家燕种群的寄生率为2.4%(1/42),而在海南岛所调查的1 719个家燕巢未发现杜鹃寄生现象。同时在网络上搜集家燕巢寄生的报道案例,共记录到13巢家燕被大杜鹃寄生繁殖,均发生在北方的家燕种群。     

若尔盖湿地保护区黑颈鹤巢期及影响因子

对鸟类巢期的研究不仅可以丰富鸟类繁殖生物学资料,也可为理解和研究鸟类的生态适应与进化提供重要线索和依据。2013—2014年3月份至7月份,在若尔盖湿地保护区及周边对55对繁殖黑颈鹤的营巢时长进行了研究,调查结果显示:黑颈鹤的营巢时长在0.5—40 d之间,平均巢期为(6.7±9.3)d;在其营造的4种巢型中,巢期长短依次为:泥堆巢草堆巢草墩巢岛地巢,且差异性极显著(P0.001),巢期与巢型显著相关(r=0.728);在其营巢的3种巢址生境中,巢期长短依次为:湖泊生境沼泽生境河流生境,且差异性极显著(P0.001),巢期与巢址生境显著相关(r=0.315);从不同营巢月份看,巢期长短依次为:4月份巢5月份巢6月份巢,且差异性极显著(P0.01),巢期与筑巢月份显著相关(r=0.664);巢期与巢体积大小具有显著相关性(r=0.856),即营巢时间越长巢体积越大。黑颈鹤的营巢时间长短主要受营巢生境、月份和做巢类型的影响。     

青藏高原胡兀鹫与巢域中峭壁生境营巢鸟类的种间互动关系初探

胡兀鹫(Gypaetus barbatus)是峭壁生境营巢鸟类,其领域是关系到繁殖与生存的必需资源。2010~2013年,在青藏高原4个省区中的7个胡兀鹫繁殖地进行了调查,结合1990~1993年的调查资料,用直接观察法记录了12个胡兀鹫繁殖巢域(距巢址500 m范围内)中的峭壁生境营巢繁殖鸟类,并初步评估了这些鸟类与胡兀鹫的种间关系。结果表明,巢区中观察到其体型可引起胡兀鹫警觉反应的鸟类计有23种,营巢繁殖的有11种。繁殖鸟类中猛禽有高山兀鹫(Gyps himalayensis)、猎隼(Felco cherrug)、金雕(Aquila chrysaetos)、大鵟(Buteo hemilasius)、长耳鸮(Asio otus)5种,鸦科鸟类有红嘴山鸦(Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)、黄嘴山鸦(P.graculus)和大嘴乌鸦(Corvus macrorhynchos)3种。前述23种可引起胡兀鹫警觉反应的鸟类在胡兀鹫巢域中被记录到的活动行为频次为1 298次·只,观察到12种鸟与胡兀鹫发生种间互动行为,频次合计65次,其中鸦科鸟类与胡兀鹫发生的种间互动行为频次最高(34次)。观察到胡兀鹫驱赶巢域内的捕猎金雕导致其放弃猎物的行为。对种间关系的初步评估结论为:(1)毗邻高山兀鹫繁殖巢的胡兀鹫,表现出同种繁殖对之间巢间距明显缩短的现象,其巢间距由35.84 km(25.10~47.30 km,n=6个巢)缩短至7.39 km(6.22~8.58 km,n=5个巢);(2)在胡兀鹫巢域中营巢繁殖的猎隼,其同种间巢间距缩短至150~360 m(n=4个巢);(3)由于高山兀鹫在当地传统文化习俗中的重要地位,胡兀鹫与其毗邻营巢,可以在很大程度上降低人类直接干扰活动对其繁殖成功率的不利影响;(4)在人为干扰活动或其他原因导致胡兀鹫亲鸟离巢的情况下,鸦科鸟类和捕食性猛禽(尤其是猎隼)的存在,在很大程度上增加了胡兀鹫卵和幼雏被天敌掠食的可能性;(5)胡兀鹫育雏早期需要获取肉含量高的食物(体型较小的死亡动物),在胡兀鹫巢域或附近区域营巢的捕食性猛禽所遗落的猎物,很可能具有一定程度的补充作用。     

Effects of livestock farming on birds of rural areas in Europe

In the last decades, profound modifications of agricultural practices occurred in Europe, including the introduction of modern livestock farming. These modifications negatively affected the fauna of rural areas, as indicated by the large demographic declines suffered by several populations of birds typical of these habitats. The impact of agricultural practices on bird populations has been widely investigated, while the effect of livestock farming has seldom been assessed. To fill this gap, we carried out a quantitative meta-analysis of the existing scientific literature and evaluated the size of the effects of livestock farming on birds of rural areas in Europe. We only found 26 papers on this topic, from which 72 effect sizes could be estimated. The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) was the species on which most studies focused. Livestock farming positively influenced presence and distribution of barn swallows in breeding habitats, while it did not significantly affect reproduction of this species. Effects on other bird species typical of rural habitats were non-significant. The positive effect on the insectivorous barn swallow might be mediated by the enhanced insect abundance where livestock is reared. In addition, habitat features typical of rural settings where livestock is reared (e.g. cattle-sheds or large hayfields) positively affected barn swallows independently of actual presence of livestock at a setting. Presence of livestock at rural setting therefore seems beneficial to barn swallows, but not significantly to other bird species typical of rural habitats. The effect of livestock farming on birds of rural habitats has been under-investigated to date.     

Barn swallows prefer to nest at sites hidden from neighboring nests within a loose colony

Some loosely colonial species scatter their nests within a colony. Most studies on mechanisms that generate such scattered nests within a colony have primarily focused on the measurement of distance related to the intensity of interactions among conspecific neighbors. However, these interactions can change not only with distance between nests but also with other factors. In particular, whether the nest is hidden from neighbors can strongly affect the intensity of interaction for birds that usually use sight for communication. To show the possible benefit of nesting at sites hidden from neighboring nests, we studied the nest arrangements and settlement patterns within a barn swallow colony. We tested whether the swallows prefer nesting at sites hidden from neighboring nests in cattle barns that are often used as colony sites by the swallows in Japan. We found that the sides of ceiling beams hidden from neighbors were preferred as nesting sites. A randomization test suggested that the rectangular sections occupied by swallows were not spaced out within a colony. The results suggested that the swallows preferred nesting sites hidden from their neighbors and did not space out their nests within a colony. This paper also refutes intraspecific brood parasitism as a plausible function of this behavior.     

Opportunistic Predation of Wild Turkey Nests by Wild Pigs

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa; i.e., feral hogs, feral swine) are considered an invasive species in the United States. Where they occur, they damage agricultural crops and wildlife habitat. Wild pigs also depredate native wildlife, particularly ground-nesting bird species during nesting season. In areas inhabited by wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo), nest destruction caused by wild pigs may affect recruitment. There is debate whether wild pigs actively seek ground-nesting bird nests or depredate them opportunistically. To address this debate, in 2016 we examined the movements of wild pigs relative to artificial wild turkey nests (i.e., control [no artificial nests], moderate density [12.5–25 nests/km²], and high density [25–50 nests/km²]) throughout the nesting season (i.e., early, peak, and late) in south-central Texas, USA. We found no evidence that wild pigs learned to seek and depredate wild turkey nests relative to nest density or nesting periods. Despite wild pigs being important nest predators, depredation was not a functional response to a pulsed food resource and can only be associated with overlapping densities of wild pigs and nests. Protecting reproductive success of wild turkeys will require reducing wild pig densities in nesting habitat prior to nesting season. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.     

A comparative study of insect abundance and reproductive success of barn swallows Hirundo rustica in two urban habitats

Few studies have quantified the relative reproductive success of passerines in urban habitats. I studied food availability and reproductive success of barn swallows Hirundo rustica in two urban habitats during 2012–2015. Barn swallows breeding in the town center experienced lower insect densities than those in the town periphery. Lower food availability resulted in reduced feeding rates per capita, lower nestling body mass, longer nestling periods, longer inter‐clutch intervals, fewer first and second brood fledglings and a lower total number of fledglings produced during the breeding season in comparison to barn swallows breeding in the town periphery. I hypothesize that the lower intra‐specific competition for nest sites and fitness advantages linked to the solitary breeding in urban habitats balanced the apparent costs of reproduction in more urbanized habitats.     

Do alien predators pose a particular risk to duck nests in Northern Europe? Results from an artificial nest experiment

Several alien predator species have spread widely in Europe during the last five decades and pose a potential enhanced risk to native nesting ducks and their eggs. Because predation is an important factor limiting Northern Hemisphere duck nest survival, we ask the question, do alien species increase the nest loss risk to ground nesting ducks? We created 418 artificial duck nests in low densities around inland waters in Finland and Denmark during 2017–2019 and monitored them for seven days after construction using wildlife cameras to record whether alien species visit and prey on the nests more often than native species. We sampled various duck breeding habitats from eutrophic agricultural lakes and wetlands to oligotrophic lakes and urban environments. The results differed between habitats and the two countries, which likely reflect the local population densities of the predator species. The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), an alien species, was the most common mammalian nest visitor in all habitats and its occurrence reduced nest survival. Only in wetland habitats was the native red fox (Vulpes vulpes) an equally common nest visitor, where another alien species, the American mink (Neovison vison), also occurred among nest visitors. Although cautious about concluding too much from visitations to artificial nests, these results imply that duck breeding habitats in Northern Europe already support abundant and effective alien nest predators, whose relative frequency of visitation to artificial nests suggest that they potentially add to the nest predation risk to ducks over native predators.

     

Cavity use and breeding biology of endangered Bahama Swallows (Tachycineta cyaneoviridis): implications for conservation

Bird populations, especially on islands, have declined or gone extinct due to overhunting, habitat loss and fragmentation, and adverse effects of the introduction of non-native species. Bahama Swallows (Tachycineta cyaneoviridis), endangered secondary cavity nesters that breed on only three islands in the northern Bahamas, are an island species with a declining population, but the causes of this decline are unknown. During four breeding seasons on Great Abaco Island (2014–2017), we identified cavity-nesting resources used by breeding swallows in native pine forest and other habitats, and estimated phenology and breeding parameters from a subset of nests. Bahama Swallows nest in cavities in a variety of structures, but rely most on woodpecker-excavated cavities in pine snags and utility poles. Swallows nesting in cavities in pine snags had higher fledging success (92%) than those nesting in cavities in utility poles (50–62%), which were concentrated in non-pine habitat that may expose swallows to predation and increased competition for nest cavities from other species. The high reproductive success of Bahama Swallows nesting in the pine forest indicates that the decline in population cannot be attributed to poor productivity on southern Great Abaco. However, our results suggest that the dependence of Bahama Swallows on cavities excavated by Hairy Woodpeckers (Dryobates villosus) for nesting sites may be a factor in their decline, and highlight the potential importance of the protection and management of pine forests in future efforts to ensure the survival of Bahama Swallows.     

Are urban habitats ecological traps for a native songbird? Season‐long productivity,apparent survival,and site fidelity in urban and rural habitats

The northern mockingbird Mimus polyglottos is a native species that is more abundant in urban than non‐urban habitats (i.e. an urban‐positive species). Abundance alone, however, is not an accurate index of habitat quality because urban habitats could represent ecological traps (attractive sink habitat) for urban‐positive species. We compared mockingbird nesting productivity, apparent survival, and decision rules governing site fidelity in urban and rural habitats. If the higher abundance of mockingbirds in urban habitats is driven by higher quality urban habitat, then we predicted that productivity of urban mockingbirds would exceed the estimated source‐sink threshold and productivity of non‐urban mockingbirds. If, on the other hand, urban habitats act as ecological traps, productivity would be lower in urban habitats and would fall below the estimated source‐sink threshold. Productivity of urban pairs exceeded that of non‐urban pairs and more than offset estimated adult mortality, which makes urban habitat a likely source habitat. Apparent adult survival was higher in urban habitats than in non‐urban habitats, although this could be driven by dispersal more than mortality. Decision rules also appeared to differ between urban and non‐urban populations. Females in urban habitats with successful nests were more likely to return than those with unsuccessful nests, whereas return rates of females in nonurban habitats were unrelated to nesting success and may be more related to nesting habitat availability. We conclude that urban habitats do not act as ecological traps that lure mockingbirds into sink habitat and that increased breeding productivity contributes to their success in urban habitats.     

The incidence of American swallow bugs (Oeciacus vicarius) in barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) colonies in northeast Texas

The American swallow bug (Oeciacus vicarius) is an important ectoparasite of cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) and is known to harbor several types of arbovirus. A recent study in northeast Texas suggested that O. vicarius might occur in barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) at rates much higher than previously thought. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which barn swallows in northeast Texas are parasitized by O. vicarius and how well this parasite is adapting to this novel host. A sample of 498 nests at 54 colonies was inspected for O. vicarius. Forty colonies (74.1%) were infected, while 310 nests (62.2%) were infected. Large colonies were more likely to be infected than small colonies. Colonies that also contained cliff swallows were more likely to be infected than colonies without cliff swallows. Infection levels in barn swallow nests were comparable to those reported for cliff swallows, though age and sex class ratios differed. Demographic changes among swallow species, including range expansions, increased colony sizes, and more frequent interspecific nesting associations have likely facilitated the movement of O. vicarius from the cliff swallow into a novel host, the barn swallow.     

Coastal saltpans are a good alternative breeding habitat for Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus when umbrella species are present

The loss and degradation of natural habitats in coastal areas worldwide has adversely affected many waterbird species, changing their breeding distribution and reducing their productivity. Anthropogenic habitats such as saltpans can provide alternative or complementary habitats for waterbirds and mitigate the increasing human impact on natural coastal habitats. Unvegetated linear paths between salt ponds are used by ground‐nesting waterbird species to breed but their linear structure may facilitate the detection of nests by predators. This negative effect may, however, be counterbalanced by the advantages of breeding in mixed colonies. To evaluate the importance and the risks of breeding in saltpans we used the Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus breeding in coastal saltpans of southern Portugal as a model species. Specifically, we assessed the role of nest‐site characteristics, predation and nesting proximity to species with aggressive antipredator behaviour (black‐winged stilt Himantopus himantopus) on their breeding success. Kentish plovers selected nest‐sites on the edges of paths, with about 20% of water around the nest, and a mean visibility of more than 72%; however nest‐site characteristics were not correlated with nesting success. Predation was the main cause of nest loss in saltpans (42%); carrion crows Corvus corone were responsible for most daylight nest predation (58%) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes; 73%) for night predation. An 8‐yr monitoring plan of a Kentish plover population showed a linear increase in their breeding success as their breeding season increasingly overlapped with that of the black‐winged stilt. An experiment with artificial nests showed a significant increase in the number of exposure days (7 to 12) when these nests were within close distance of black‐winged stilt nests. Overall, our results showed that saltpans are an important alternative breeding habitat for the Kentish plover, especially for the maintenance of mixed species colonies.     

Long-billed curlew nest site selection and success in the Intermountain West

Grassland birds have experienced steeper population declines between 1966 and 2015 than any other bird group on the North American continent, and migratory grassland birds may face threats in all stages of their annual cycle. The grassland-associated long-billed curlew (Numenius americanus) is experiencing population declines in regional and local portions of their North American breeding range. The nesting period is an important portion of the annual cycle when curlews may face demographic rate limitations from a suite of threats including predators and anthropogenic disturbance. We compared nest sites to random sites within breeding territories to examine nest site selection, and modeled correlates of nesting success for 128 curlew nests at 5 Intermountain West sites. Nest sites were 6 times more likely than random sites to be situated adjacent to existing cowpies. Additionally, curlews selected nest sites with shorter vegetation, and less bare ground, grass, and shrub cover than at random sites within their territories. Nest success varied widely among sites and ranged from 12% to 40% in a season with a mean of 27% for all nests during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Higher nest success probability was associated with higher curlew densities in the area, greater percent cover of conspicuous objects (cowpies, rocks) near the nest, and higher densities of black-billed magpies (Pica hudsonia) and American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) at the site. We also found increased probability of nesting success with increased distance from a nest to the nearest potential perch in that territory. Given the central role of working lands to curlews in much of the Intermountain West, understanding limitations to nesting success in these diverse landscapes is necessary to guide adaptive management strategies in increasingly human-modified habitats. We suggest some grazing and irrigation practices already provide suitable nesting conditions for curlews, and others may require only minor temporal shifts to improve compatibility. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.