Nest-site selection by Interior Least Terns and Piping Plovers at managed, off-channel sites along the Central Platte River in Nebraska, USA

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Given the high productivity of Interior Least Terns (Sternula antillarum athalassos) and Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) on constructed off-channel nesting sites along the central Platte River in Nebraska, USA, and the possibility of creating similar habitats at other locations in their breeding range, understanding how these species use off-channel nesting habitats is important. We used data collected along the central Platte River in Nebraska, USA, over a 15-year period (2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015), and a discrete-choice modeling framework to assess the effects of physical site attributes and inter-and intraspecific associations on off-channel nest-site selection by Interior Least Terns and Piping Plovers. We found that Piping Plovers avoided nesting near each other, whereas colonial Interior Least Terns selected nest sites near those of conspecifics. In addition, the relative probability of use for both species was maximized when distance to the nearest predator perch was ≥ 150 m and elevation above the waterline was ≥ 3 m. Probability of use for nesting by Interior Least Terns increased as distance to water increased, whereas the probability of use by Piping Plovers was maximized when distance to water was~50 m. Our results suggest that important features of constructed, off-channel nesting sites for both species should include no potential predator perches within 150 m of nesting habitat and nesting areas at least 3 m above the waterline. Efficient site designs for Interior Least Terns would be circular, maximizing the area of nesting habitat away from the shoreline, whereas an effective site design for Piping Plovers would be more linear, maximizing the area of nesting habitat near the waterline. An efficient site design for both species would be lobate, incorporating centralized nesting habitat for Interior Least Terns and increased access to foraging areas for nesting and brood-rearing Piping Plovers. RESUMEN.Selecci on de sitio de anidaci on por Sternula antillarum y Charadrius melodus en localidades con manejo y fuera del canal a lo largo del tramo central del rio Platte en Nebraska, USA Dada la alta productividad de Sternula antillarum y Charadrius melodus en sitios de anidaci on construidos fuera del canal a lo largo del tramo central del r ıo Platte en Nebraska, USA y la posibilidad de crear h abitats similares en otras localidades en sus rangos de reproducci on, es importante comprender como estas especies usan estos h abitats de anidaci on fuera del canal. Utilizamos informaci on colectada a lo largo del tramo central del r ıo Platte en Nebraska, USA, a lo largo de un periodo de 15 años (2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015) y un marco de modelamiento por selecci on discreta para determinar el efecto de los atributos f ısicos y asociaciones inter e intra-espec ıficas en la selecci on de sitios de anidaci on fuera del canal por Sternula antillarum y Charadrius melodus. Enc...

Snowy Plover Activity in the Central Platte River Valley in May 2019

“…Well above average flows in June and July, peaking at 530 m 3 /s (18,700 f 3 /s) on 11 July 2019, continued to limit available sandbar nesting habitat within the Platte River for Interior Least Terns and Piping Plovers, which are regular breeders regionally that have similar habitat requirements to Snowy Plovers (Kirsch et al 1996, Page et al 2009, Mohlman 2020. In recent years the majority of Interior Least Tern and Piping Plover nesting in the CPRV has occurred at off-channel habitats (e.g., sandpits) managed by conservation organizations specifically as breeding sites (Baasch et al 2017, Mohlman 2020. Notably, unpublished data collected by the Headwater's Corporation (Kearney, NE, USA) indicates that a pair of Snowy Plovers brooded a 3-egg nest for nearly a month (6 June to 3 July) in 2019 about 45 km west of our study site and 2 km north of the main channel of the Platte River at a sandpit site near Newark, Nebraska, before the nesting attempt ultimately failed (K. Mohlman personal communication).…”

Spatial analysis of borrow pits along the Platte River in south-central Nebraska, USA, in 1957 and 2016

“…For example, new aquatic, shoreline, and island habitats created from gravel mining can support high diversity and densities of birds (Milne 1974, Catchpole and Tydeman 1975, Landin and Soots 1978, Giroux 1981, Santoul et al 2004). On the Platte River, borrow pits contribute nesting habitat for federally protected Least Terns and Piping Plovers (Kirsch 1996, LaGrange 2005, Brown et al 2016, and some are actively managed as off-channel nesting sites for conservation (Baasch et al 2017). Borrow pits along the Platte River also provide aquatic habitat for fish, including Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides), and Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) (Lundgren et al 2012); aquatic-terrestrial ecotones used by vertebrates, including amphibians, small mammals, reptiles, and birds (see species list in Lundgren et al 2012); and open water for species like Snow Geese, Mallards, American White Pelicans, egrets, and herons (Landin and Soots 1978, Giroux 1981, Vrtiska and Sullivan 2009.…”

“…Globally, similar types of pits exist as a result of various surface mines created close to the water table (e.g., Milne 1974, Catchpole and Tydeman 1975, Neumann et al 1994, Kondolf et al 2002, Hilldale and Klawon 2005, Řehounková and Prach 2008, Mollema et al 2015, Zhao et al 2016. Although originally excavated for extraction of materials, such as limestone, clay, or sand and gravel, many lakes now serve other purposes after material extraction (Antosch 1984, Matter and Mannan 1988, Baasch et al 2017. For example, numerous pits in the CPRV, as well as other Midwestern states such as Iowa, South Dakota, Colorado, and Kansas, have been transformed into recreation areas often stocked with game fish and are frequently viewed as scenic and recreational improvements (Taub et al 1974, Antosch 1984, Svedarsky and Crawford 1982.…”

O Efeito Da Densidade De Ninhos, Cor Dos Ovos E Estrutura Da Vegetação Na Predação De Ninhos No Cerrado

“…Durante a fase reprodutiva, as aves buscam observar e selecionar as melhores áreas, visando garantir condições ótimas para conseguir nidificar com sucesso, pois nessa época a demanda energética é fundamental para incubar com êxito (CONWAY; MARTIN, 2000;HAFTORN;REINERTSEN, 1985). Fatores como qualidade, quantidade e competição por recursos (BAASCH et al, 2017), densidade de predadores, tipo de vegetação (JAMES;WAMER, 1982), cor do substrato e dos ovos (STEVENS et al, 2017)…”