Reproductive success of songbirds and waterfowl in native mixed-grass pasture and planted grasslands used for pasture and hay

Davis, Stephen K.; Ludlow, Sarah M.; McMaster, Damien

doi:10.1650/condor-16-16.1

Cited by 21 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…A similar tradeoff was not apparent for passerines. Our data also support the contention that passerines are influenced by landscape and habitat configurations differently than waterfowl (Koper and Schmiegelow , Davis et al ). Our results suggest ducks should not be used as surrogates for passerines in northern mixed‐grass prairie when making management decisions.…”

Section: Management Implicationssupporting

confidence: 89%

Contrasting nest survival patterns for ducks and songbirds in northern mixed‐grass prairie

et al. 2017

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Management actions intended to protect or improve habitat for ducks may benefit grassland‐nesting passerines, but scant information is available to explore this assumption. During 1998–2003, we examined nest survival of ducks and songbirds to determine whether effects of prescribed fire and other habitat features (e.g., shrub cover and distance to habitat edges) were similar for ducks and passerines breeding in North Dakota. We used the logistic‐exposure method to estimate survival of duck and songbird nests (n = 3,171). We used an information‐theoretic approach to identify factors that most influenced nest survival. Patterns of nest survival were markedly different between taxonomic groups. For ducks, nest survival was greater during the first postfire nesting season (daily survival rate [DSR] = 0.957, 85% CI = 0.951–0.963), relative to later postfire nesting seasons (DSR = 0.946, 85% CI = 0.942–0.950). Furthermore duck nest survival and nest densities were inversely related. Duck nest survival also was greater as shrub cover decreased and as distance from cropland and wetland edges increased. Passerines had lower nest survival during the first postfire nesting season (DSR = 0.934, 85% CI = 0.924–0.944), when densities also were low compared to subsequent postfire nesting seasons (DSR = 0.947, 85% CI = 0.944–0.950). Parasitism by brown‐headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) reduced passerine nest survival and this effect was more pronounced during the first postfire nesting season compared to subsequent nesting seasons. Passerine nest survival was greater as shrub cover decreased and perhaps for more concealed nests. Duck and songbird nest survival rates were not correlated during this study and for associated studies that examined additional variables using the same dataset, suggesting that different mechanisms influenced their survival. Based on our results, ducks should not be considered direct surrogates for passerines when predicting effects of prescribed fire, shrub cover, and habitat edges on nest survival. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.

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Section: Management Implicationssupporting

confidence: 89%

Contrasting nest survival patterns for ducks and songbirds in northern mixed‐grass prairie

et al. 2017

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“…By counting 3‐ × 3‐m grids with tall woody cover, we better characterized the scattered distribution of small (to 0.001 ha) patches of such cover within 100 m of sparrow nests; methods used by Kerns et al () likely did not account for these small patches. An understanding of nest predation is required to comprehend patterns of nest survival because most grassland passerine nests fail as a result of predation (e.g., Davis , Kerns et al , Davis et al ). In prairie‐parkland 100 km east of our study area, survival of vesper sparrow and clay‐colored sparrow nests increased with proximity to woodland edge, mainly because principal nest predators, especially thirteen‐lined ground squirrels ( Ictidomys tridecemlineatus ) were less common near woodland edges than in prairie interiors (Grant et al ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Survival of nests of clay‐colored sparrow at Des Lacs NWR may be reduced where patches of tall shrubs and trees are widespread; conversely, their survival might increase when such woody cover is reduced by fire. We could not find a similar relationship for Savannah sparrow probably because this sparrow appeared to avoid nesting near woody vegetation, at least when compared to clay‐colored sparrow; as such, nest predators and risk of predation among nests of the 2 species likely differ (Davis et al ). Research is needed that incorporates experimental approaches and assessments of shorter term effects of fire on nest survival of grassland passerines (i.e., during the first postfire breeding season) and considers other species of grassland birds, given that ours was a local study from which limited inferences can be drawn.…”

Section: Management Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Sparrow nest survival in relation to prescribed fire and woody plant invasion in a northern mixed‐grass prairie

et al. 2017

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Prescribed fire is used to reverse invasion by woody vegetation on grasslands, but managers often are uncertain whether influences of shrub and tree reduction outweigh potential effects of fire on nest survival of grassland birds. During the 2001–2003 breeding seasons, we examined relationships of prescribed fire and woody vegetation to nest survival of clay‐colored sparrow (Spizella pallida) and Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) in mixed‐grass prairie at Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern North Dakota, USA. We assessed relationships of nest survival to 1) recent fire history, in terms of number of breeding seasons (2, 3, or 4–5) since the last prescribed fire, and 2) prevalence of trees and tall (>1.5 m) shrubs in the landscape and of low (≤1.5 m) shrubs within 5 m of nests. Nest survival of both species exhibited distinct patterns related to age of the nest and day of year, but bore no relationship to fire history. Survival of clay‐colored sparrow nests declined as the amount of trees and tall shrubs within 100 m increased, but we found no relationship to suggest nest parasitism by brown‐headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) as an underlying mechanism. We found little evidence linking nest survival of Savannah sparrow to woody vegetation. Our results suggest that fire can be used to restore northern mixed‐grass prairies without adversely affecting nest survival of ≥2 widespread passerine species. Survival of nests of clay‐colored sparrow may increase when tall woody cover is reduced by fire. Our data lend support to the use of fire for reducing scattered patches of tall woody cover to enhance survival of nests of ≥1 grassland bird species in northern mixed‐grass prairies, but further study is needed that incorporates experimental approaches and assessments of shorter term effects of fire on survival of nests of grassland passerines. © 2017 This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

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“…Habitat characteristics can have consequences for productivity and survival (Misenhelter and Rotenberry 2000, Davis 2005, Fisher and Davis 2011, Davis et al 2016). In addition, because primary productivity, and therefore vegetation structure, in grasslands has been positively associated with previous seasonal precipitation (Sala et al 1988, Mowll et al 2015, climate may have both direct and indirect impacts on avian populations as well as productivity and survival (Morrison and Bolger 2002, Skagen and Yackel Adams 2012,Öberg et al 2015, Gorzo et al 2016.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations of wintering birds with habitat in semidesert and plains grasslands in Arizona

Ruth

Stanley

Gordon

2014

The Southwestern Naturalist

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Reproductive success of songbirds and waterfowl in native mixed-grass pasture and planted grasslands used for pasture and hay

Cited by 21 publications

References 52 publications

Contrasting nest survival patterns for ducks and songbirds in northern mixed‐grass prairie

Contrasting nest survival patterns for ducks and songbirds in northern mixed‐grass prairie

Sparrow nest survival in relation to prescribed fire and woody plant invasion in a northern mixed‐grass prairie

Associations of wintering birds with habitat in semidesert and plains grasslands in Arizona

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