How to translate text using browser tools
1 June 2007 NEST-SITE SELECTION OF ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO
LYNDSAY A. SMITH, ERICA NOL, DAWN M. BURKE, KEN A. ELLIOTT
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (Pheucticus ludovicianus) commonly breed in the deciduous woodlands of southern Ontario, but have become a species of conservation concern due to recent population declines (2% per year in Ontario from 1966 to 2004). We investigated whether habitat alterations may be contributing to these declines through decreases in nest survival at nest and randomly selected sites in 23 woodlots varying in the intensity of partial harvest. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks consistently selected nest sites with more sapling cover, less canopy cover, and a lower surrounding basal area than available. The best supported model of daily nest survival included a measure of nest concealment, with the top 15 models containing nest concealment indicating higher nest survival rates at less concealed nests. Model-averaged estimates produced positive slopes for canopy cover, sapling cover, and nest height indicating higher survival at higher canopy cover, sapling cover, and nest height. Heavy-cutting practices appear to create woodlots that act as ecological traps. These woodlots provide “preferred” nest sites that result in low nest survival probabilities for the Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

LYNDSAY A. SMITH, ERICA NOL, DAWN M. BURKE, and KEN A. ELLIOTT "NEST-SITE SELECTION OF ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO," The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 119(2), 151-161, (1 June 2007). https://doi.org/10.1676/05-063.1
Received: 13 June 2005; Accepted: 1 August 2006; Published: 1 June 2007
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top