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1 May 2009 Nesting Success of Grassland Birds in Shinnery Oak Communities Treated with Tebuthiuron and Grazing in Eastern New Mexico
Lindsay A. Smythe, David A. Haukos*
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Abstract

Sand shinnery oak (Quercus havardii) communities, a major component of grassland habitat of birds in eastern New Mexico, frequently are managed with livestock grazing and herbicide application for control of shrubs. We examined nest density, nest-site selection, and daily rate of survival of nests of grassland birds among four combinations of treatments with tebuthiuron (0.75 kg/ha) and a short-duration, rotational-grazing system being used to restore sand shinnery oak communities in eastern New Mexico. During breeding seasons 2004 and 2005, we searched 4-ha subplots in four tebuthiuron-grazing-combination replicates for nests, measured vertical and overhead cover at each nest site and an associated random point, and estimated daily rate of survival of nests using program MARK. Density of nests was similar among all treatments but greater in 2005 than 2004. Although vertical cover differed among treatments and between years, it did not affect selection or success of nest sites. Overhead cover also differed among treatments and between years. Birds selected nest sites with greater overhead cover but this did not influence success of nest, which was low in all treatments. During incubation, daily survival of nests was greater in untreated plots; however, during the nestling period, daily survival of nests was greater in tebuthiuron-treated plots. Neither tebuthiuron nor grazing treatment appeared to adversely affect density of nests of grassland birds or success for the species studied, but the low daily rate of survival of nests in this community bears further investigation.

Lindsay A. Smythe and David A. Haukos* "Nesting Success of Grassland Birds in Shinnery Oak Communities Treated with Tebuthiuron and Grazing in Eastern New Mexico," The Southwestern Naturalist 54(2), 136-145, (1 May 2009). https://doi.org/10.1894/MH-30.1
Received: 4 December 2006; Accepted: 1 September 2008; Published: 1 May 2009
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