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Using Artificial Nests to Study Nest Predation in BIRDS

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Using Artificial Nests to Study Nest Predation in BIRDS r 'I 0 0 oh Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/67/2/105/52223/4451794.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 Using Artificial Nests To Study Nest Predation IN BIRDS JAMES R. BELTHOFF est predationoccurs when either eggs or Why Study Predation on nestlings within nests of birds are destroyedor con- sumed by predators.Because of the loss of their off- Artificial Bird Nests? spring, such behaviorreduces the reproductivesuc- cess of the parent birds, and their lifetime fitness Studies with artificialbird nests are useful for declines. Untold numbers of bird nests are depre- illustratingbasic ecological principles,such as how dated each year, and ecologists and wildlife man- predation occurs differently in different habitats agersare interestedin the factorsthat affectthe like- (Rudnicky& Hunter,1993; Leimgruber,McShea & lihood of nest predationor success. Rappole, 1994), effects of land use changes such as those resulting from habitat fragmentation(Bayne & Hobson, 1997) on predation,and the effects of distance from edge and edge type on predation(i.e., James R. Belthoffis Professorof Biology at Boise State the so-called"edge effects," where predationincreas- University, Boise, Idaho 83725; e-mail: ibeltho@boise es near ecotones [Paton, 1994]). The coevolution state.edu. between predatorsand their prey also is of interest NESTPREDATION INBIRDS 105 to biologists and can be examined with artificial nests. This coevolution sets up an "arms race" between the predatorsand their prey, IN as naturalselection increases the abilitywith which preda- tors detect and captureprey, but selection also improves the prey's capacity to avoid detection (Krebs & Davies, 1993). Because many organ- isms prey on bird nests, including reptiles (e.g., snakes), mammals (ranging in size from small mice to largercarnivores), and many Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/67/2/105/52223/4451794.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 types of birds, there is strong selection on nesting birds to place nests in areas that will elude detection (such as areas with greater cover, in cavities in trees), to distrib- ute nests in spaced rather than clumped distributions, or to cryptically color their eggs. Each of these factors can be examined in studies using artificialbird nests (see Major& Kendal, 1996). In this article,I describe Figure1. simple and effective field Artificialnest containing three eggs made of clay designed to resemblethat of a Brewer'sSparrow exercises that demonstrate duringa study of nest predation. factors affecting predation on bird nests. With instruc- tor guidance, students in stores or their wholesale suppliers, such as high school biology or college-levelbiology, ecology, Howell's Home and Floral (www.howellson- animal behavior,wildlife managementor ornithology line.com; Portland,OR) and resemble those of laboratorycourses can collaborateto design field exper- many small passerinebirds (Figure 1). iments related to nest depredation.Hypotheses about * nest location (ground, shrub, tree branch, cavity) or Plasticinemodeling clay for molding eggs (Van amount of cover,egg number or color, habitat type, or Aken International, Rancho Cucamonga, CA; naturalvs. disturbed environmentscan be formulated multiple colors are available from local craft and examined. I have used these exercises in introduc- stores) in -0.45 kg (1 lb) packages. For small tory animalbehavior and conservationlaboratories but, passerineeggs (e.g., 1-2 cm in length), each pack- with little or no modification,they are suitable for an age makes approximately200-400 eggs. arrayof other courses within the biologicalsciences. * 26-gaugewire for securingnests to substrate * 50 m or 100 m measuring tapes for laying out Materials transectsor measuringheights or other aspects of artificialnests The following materials will be needed for this exercise: * Small plastic vials for transporting depredated eggs to laboratory for follow-up analyses of * Artificialbird nests to resemble those of avian beak and tooth impressions left by predators species in your area. Nests 7-10 cm (3-4 in) in (optional) diameter are commonly available from craft 106 THEAMERICAN BIOLOGY TEACHER, VOLUME 67,NO. 2, FEBRUARY2005 * Dissecting (IOX) microscope for examining desired size. Generally,it is best to secure the artificial tooth and beak markson clay eggs (optional) nests to the particularsubstrate (shrub, tree branch, ground) so wind or the predators themselves do not * Pin flags or plastic flaggingtape to markthe gen- dislodge nests. We use 26-gauge which takes eral location of artificialnests deployed (option- wire, only a moment to weave through the nest material and al). In general, these markersshould be placed around the branchof a shrub or tree. some distancefrom the nests themselvesto avoid cuing predatorsto the nests. * Vinyl gloves for making and deploying nests to Some Factors & Questions of eliminatehuman scent contamination Interest Experimental Design Effects of Different Colored Eggs Egg Construction Do white eggs experience more predation than eggs of differentcolors, including colors that are Eggs of appropriatesize and shape aremolded from more cryptic? the modeling clay by hand (Figure 1). Vinyl gloves are Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/67/2/105/52223/4451794.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 used to help prevent human scent from being trans- Effects of Egg Number ferredto eggs, as human scent could alter rates of pre- dation. A guide, such as Baicich& Harrison(1997), is Do nests with only one or a few eggs attractfewer helpful for providingdescriptions of eggs for common predatorsand end up successfulmore than nests species in your area. with more eggs? Nest Deployment Effects of Nest Height Artificialnests can be deployed along linear tran- Do nests closer to or on the ground experience sects, such as every 10 m along a 100 m transect,or they greaterpredation than those higher in the shrub can be distributed within replicated study plots of or tree canopy? SCIENCEIN THE REAL WORLD MicrG9besin Action Bring the world of microbes to your classroom! *Classroom Activities *Workshops *Microbiology Techniques *Articles & News *Troubleshooting Tips about Microorganisms Visit our web site for more information: http://www.umsl.edu/-microbes/ NESTPREDATION INBIRDS 107 The color of clay available for making eggs What To Let Them Determine (With Your ~ ~ Supervision) so~~~4, -~ What are the hypotheses (null and alternate) being examined? Birdbeak marks How many nests to deploy Mammalteeth marks and in what configuration How many eggs to place in Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/67/2/105/52223/4451794.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 Figure2. each nest Twoclay eggs that have been disturbed by predators.The egg onthe lefthas teeth marks char- acteristicof a mammaliannest predator, while the egg onthe righthas impressions left by the The criteriaused to deter- beakof a bird.Both types of marksare characteristic of nests that students would categorize as mine whether a nest is suc- depredated. cessful or failed General Effects of Nest Distribution Table1. Procedure Resultsof artificialnest study to test the null hypothesis that Do nests in Our laboratory periods nestsuccess and predation are independent ofnest position clumped distribu- are three hours in duration, tions experience (onthe ground or in the canopy of a sagebrushshrub).Values and this exercise generally greater predation representthe number ofnests in each category. can be completed in two peri- than those that are ods. During the first period, randomlyspaced? NEST FATE students discuss and formu- late specific hypotheses to be Effects of Edge -_ -_m examined and then develop Ground 15 28 the experimentaldesign to be Do nests closer to used, which takes 30-40 min- Shrub 8 36 the edge of a habitat utes. We then visit the field patch experience site, which in our case is greater nredation- about 20 minutes from cam- perhapsbecause of edge effects? pus, to deploy nests. The travel time is also used for modeling the clay eggs, although I usually solicit a few Effects of Predator Type student volunteers to arriveat class approximatelyan Arebirds, mammals,or other groups more likely hour early to help me get this started. Students work to prey on ground nests or nests within other in groups of three to deploy the nests: One student treatmentgroups? This can be assessed through records the data (nest number and location, nest follow-upexamination of marksin clay eggs from height, color or number of eggs, and other factors spe- depredatednests. cific to the hypothesis being examined), another flags the nest locations so that nests can be relocated, and the third secures the nests and places the eggs. Spring What To Tell the Students is the best time for this exercise, as birds are building and tending nests, and presumably their predators How many nests are availablefor their group are accustomed to finding nests at this time, but we The basic approachto deploying nests, such as have conducted the exercise in the fall with success as how to place the eggs within them and how to well. After one week, we inspect the nests for signs secure nests to substrate of predation. 108 THEAMERICAN BIOLOGY TEACHER, VOLUME 67, NO.2, FEBRUARY2005 Collection of Data Students relocateand retrieveeach of the nests and score them as either successful or failed.Although stu- dents may discuss and establishvarious criteria, we con- Meet... sider intactnests, where all eggs
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