Academic Journal

Removal of old nest material decreases reuse of artificial burrows by burrowing owls

التفاصيل البيبلوغرافية
العنوان: Removal of old nest material decreases reuse of artificial burrows by burrowing owls
المؤلفون: Corey S. Riding, James R. Belthoff
المصدر: Wildlife Society Bulletin, Vol 39, Iss 3, Pp 521-528 (2015)
بيانات النشر: Wiley, 2015.
سنة النشر: 2015
المجموعة: LCC:General. Including nature conservation, geographical distribution
مصطلحات موضوعية: artificial nest, Athene cunicularia hypugaea, ectoparasite, Idaho, nest reuse, old nest material, General. Including nature conservation, geographical distribution, QH1-199.5
الوصف: ABSTRACT Artificial burrows are considered an important management and conservation tool for burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia). This species regularly adorns natural and artificial burrows with mammal dung and other materials, which remain between years so that previous use of a nest site is often obvious. Moreover, ectoparasites (fleas) potentially overwinter in accumulated material and infest subsequent occupants. How evidence of prior use affects burrowing owl nest‐site decisions is not completely understood. We examined potential effects of the presence of old nest material on reuse of nests by burrowing owls in southwestern Idaho, USA, during 2004 and 2005. We manipulated artificial burrows that owls used for nesting in the prior year by; 1) removing material from the entrance, tunnel, and nesting chamber and replacing it with fresh soil; 2) microwaving old nest material to kill ectoparasites before returning it; or 3) removing and returning material without treatment to serve as a control. Relative to removal burrows, odds of burrowing owl reuse of ‘control’ and “microwave” burrows were 3.5 and 3.8 times greater, respectively. Removing ectoparasites by microwaving did not increase odds of reuse relative to control burrows, and fleas were present on nestlings in all 3 treatment groups. Presence of old material may help owls locate specific burrows when returning from migration or may provide physiological and feeding benefits. Thus, cleaning by removal of nest material from previously used artificial burrows may be counterproductive if maximizing reuse of nest sites by burrowing owls is a management objective. © 2015 The Wildlife Society.
نوع الوثيقة: article
وصف الملف: electronic resource
اللغة: English
تدمد: 2328-5540
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/2328-5540
DOI: 10.1002/wsb.552
URL الوصول: https://doaj.org/article/4a23a7114efe400ca418e622b5be71c2
رقم الانضمام: edsdoj.4a23a7114efe400ca418e622b5be71c2
قاعدة البيانات: Directory of Open Access Journals
الوصف
تدمد:23285540
DOI:10.1002/wsb.552