Effects of a Localized Food Source and Nest Density on Success of Artificial Ground Nests (Graduate Project)

Research Team: David Jones (Graduate Student), Dr. L. Michael Conner (Associate Scientist) and Dr. Bob Warren (University of Georgia)

Nest predation can hinder management attempts to increase avian recruitment. Because nest predation may be affected by food availability and nest density, we evaluated the effects of the presence of a localized food source and nest density on nest success of artificial ground nests. We monitored the fate of 744 artificial ground nests in the Southern Coastal Plain of Georgia, USA, from May to August 1999. Presence of food and nest density interacted (P = 0.042) to affect nest success; therefore, we examined main effects based on the interaction means. Nest success was lower at 7 of 9 nest density classes when a localized food source was present. In the absence of a localized food source, nest success was inversely related (P = 0.0012) to nest density, but when localized food was present, there was no relationship (P = 0.361) between nest density and nest success. High predation rates associated with a localized food source and a lack of a nest density effect during food-supplemented periods suggested that effects of nest density on nest success were over-shadowed by the localized food source. Moreover, the localized food source affected nest success for ≥ 255 m; the maximum distance a nest was placed from a feeder. Whereas some researchers have suggested that providing a localized food source near nesting habitat might help reduce predation on ground nests, our results indicate that this management technique might be detrimental to nest success.

Additional Information:

Jones, D. D., L. M. Conner, R. J. Warren, and G. O. Ware. Effects of a localized food source and nest density on success of artificial ground nests. In review. Journal of Wildlife Management.

Funded by: The Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center, The University of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources