Nest-Site Relationships among Cavity-Nesting Birds of Riparian and Snowpocket Aspen Woodlands in the Northwestern Great Basin

Dobkin, David S.; Rich, Adam C.; Pretare, Jennifer A.; Pyle, William Henry

doi:10.2307/1369178

Cited by 120 publications

(85 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…In addition, cavity-nesting birds employ exclusionary strategy of territorialism (Wesolowski 1989). For instance, Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) are known to constrain Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolour) to smaller nest sizes and remote nest sites from woodlands (Dobkin et al 1995). In another example, woodhoopoes defend their core territorial areas where suitable cavities for roosting and breeding are found from competitor species (Du Plessis 1992;Du Plessis, Simmons & Radford 2007).…”

Section: Conservation Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nest sites selection by sympatric cavity-nesting birds in miombo woodlands

Nyirenda

Chewe²,

Chisha‐Kasumu

et al. 2016

Koedoe

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Deforestation and habitat fragmentation have long been known as drivers of wildlife depletion but information on their specific impacts on cavity-nesting birds in the miombo woodlands has been lacking. A comparative study of disturbed and undisturbed sites was conducted in miombo woodlands of Zambia to assess impacts of environmental stressors on birds. Foot patrols were employed to locate, identify and count host trees and cavities for cavity-nesting birds on twenty 200 m × 200 m sample plots. Undisturbed forests had three times more cavities (the nesting sites for birds), while there were 24.6% fewer abandoned cavities in undisturbed forests than in disturbed forests. The rate of cavity abandonment was about twice as high in human-dominated forests compared to undisturbed forests (61.3% c.f. 31.9%). Cavity-nesting birds preferred larger (> 36.0 cm diameter at breast height) and taller (> 5.0 m) trees for nest placement, especially in human-dominated forests. A number of cavity-nesting birds preferred Brachystegia spiciformis (zebrawood), Julbernadia paniculata (munsa), Parinari curatellifolia (mobola-plum) and Uapaca kirkiana (mahobohobo) as host trees to 14 other miombo tree species. Arnot’s Chat (Myrmecocichla arnoti) had a wider selection of host trees for cavity-nesting than the other 40 cavity-nesting birds in the study areas. Anthropogenic activities such as uncontrolled firewood collection, wild fires, logging, and land clearing for agriculture negatively influenced wood abundance and diversity, with potential implications for persistence of cavity-nesting birds. The negative impacts of anthropogenic activities could be counteracted by conservation strategies such as implementation of sound forest policies, integrative land use practices, sustainable livelihood security and stakeholders’ awareness of the need to safeguard forest-dependent avifauna.Conservation implications: This comparative study unravels specific anthropogenic impacts on the cavity-nesting birds in the miombo woodlands, which would be relevant for designing and implementing targeted biodiversity conservation interventions against negative local environmental values and attitudes that support rural development on the expense of conservation of biodiversity such as birds.

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Section: Conservation Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nest sites selection by sympatric cavity-nesting birds in miombo woodlands

Nyirenda

Chewe²,

Chisha‐Kasumu

et al. 2016

Koedoe

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“…In the United States, the nest niche of the introduced European Starling and House Sparrow Passer domesticus overlapped with native Bluebirds Sialia spp., and caused great decline of their populations (Erskine & McLaren 1976, Sedgwick 1997. The competition with the Starling also limited the Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor to smaller holes and nest sites farther from woodland edges (Rendell & Robertson 1989, Dobkin et al 1995. The aggressiveness of the Starling could exert selection on other species to shift their nesting phenology and behaviour (Koenig 2003).…”

Section: Niche Overlap and Role Of Competitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nest-site Characteristics of Hole-Nesting Birds in a Primeval Boreal Forest of Mongolia

Bai¹,

Wichmann²,

Mühlenberg³

2005

Acta Ornithologica

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“…In upper midwestern oak forests, secondary cavity-dwelling wildlife like the Great-crested Flycatcher, Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor), House Wren (Troglodytes aedon), White-breasted Nuthatch, Barred Owl, and Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans) all use old woodpecker holes for nesting. Studies have shown that lack of suitable nest sites is a limiting factor for many species of cavity-nesting birds (Cunningham et al 1980;Zarnowitz and Manuwal 1985;Dobkin et al 1995).…”

Section: Management Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research on woodpecker nest site selection in the western United States is most extensive (McClelland and Frissel 1975;Bull and Meslow 1977;Scott 1978;Scott et al 1978;Mannan et al 1980;Scott et al 1980;Scott and Oldemeyer 1983;Winternitz and Cahn 1983;Raphael and White 1984;Zarnowitz and Manuwal 1985;Sedgewick andKnopf 1986, 1990;Li and Martin 1991;Schreiber and deCalesta 1992;Dobkin et al 1995).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Woodpecker Nest Tree Characteristics in Upper Midwestern Oak Forests

Giese

Cuthbert

2005

Can Field Nat

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Characteristics of woodpecker nest trees have been widely studied in some regions of North America. However, there is little research from the Upper Midwest. Forest managers need information on woodpecker nest tree characteristics so they can recommend leaving during harvest trees that meet the needs of cavity-dwelling wildlife. Information specific to the Upper Midwest is especially important given that declines in several species of cavity nesting birds have been predicted by an environmental analysis of timber harvest in Minnesota. Our purpose was to identify attributes of nest trees used by primary cavity-nesting birds. We compared nest trees to unused trees and examined differences in nest trees among woodpecker species. We found 166 active woodpecker nests in upper midwestern oak forests in 1997 and 1998. For each nest tree, we recorded height, diameter, status, and aspects of tree decay. We also measured four potential nest trees (non-nest trees, within size requirements of cavity-nesting birds, with at least 2 indicators of heartwood decay) closest to each active nest tree. Additionally, we recorded these measurements for 137 randomly selected potential nest trees. Using paired t-tests and chi-square analysis, we found each woodpecker species had a unique set of characteristics that separated nest trees from potential nest trees. Using an extension of the McNemar test for related samples, we found woodpeckers as a group used trees that were larger, both in diameter and height, more often elm (Ulmus americana, U. rubra) or aspen (Populus tremuloides, P. grandidentata), more likely to have old cavities present, and with more decay indicators than adjacent potential nest trees. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) differed from the other woodpecker species by nesting in living Trembling Aspens (Populus tremuloides) with intact tops, complete bark cover, and heartwood fungus. Diameters of nest trees differed significantly among woodpecker species, but unlike findings from other studies, the height of nest hole and nest tree did not. Woodpecker nest entrances faced south or southeast significantly more often than by chance alone, even when excluding leaning trees. This study suggests that generic forest management for all woodpecker species may not be adequate because individual species have specific nest tree requirements. Management recommendations for cavity-nesting birds need to be tailored to meet the needs of a diversity of species.

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Nest-Site Relationships among Cavity-Nesting Birds of Riparian and Snowpocket Aspen Woodlands in the Northwestern Great Basin

Cited by 120 publications

References 38 publications

Nest sites selection by sympatric cavity-nesting birds in miombo woodlands

Nest sites selection by sympatric cavity-nesting birds in miombo woodlands

Nest-site Characteristics of Hole-Nesting Birds in a Primeval Boreal Forest of Mongolia

Woodpecker Nest Tree Characteristics in Upper Midwestern Oak Forests

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