22nd Annual Student Research Conference
Effect of Habitat on Nest Success in a Northeast Missouri Bird Community
Amanda H. DeBrot
Dr. Chad Montgomery, Faculty Mentor
Nest success is related to the type of nest built, materials used, and height. Factors affecting nest success include nest destruction and predation. All developmental stages of birds are affected by nest predation. Because of recent trends in growth and development, grasslands and prairies are becoming scarce. Habitat modification and destruction has caused many common birds to be extirpated from historic localities. Common local birds in Northeast Missouri include Black-capped Chickadees, Eastern Bluebirds, House Wrens, and Tree Swallows. Nest success is the successful achievement of hatching and fledging young. The most common nest predators in the study were snakes. At the end of the study, the nest success rates were as follows: Chickadees 75%, Bluebirds 0%, Wrens 9%, and Swallows 100%. The nest success rates of the study provide the needed evidence to determine if precautions, such as snake guards, could reduce the predation pressure on cavity nesting grassland birds.
Keywords: nest success, depredation, birds, habitat
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 10-6
Location: PML
Time: 4:15