Incubating Upland Goose (Chloephaga picta) differential response to livestock, human and predator nest disturbance

COSSA, N.; FASOLA, M.L.; ROESLER, I.; REBOREDA, J. C.

WILSON JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY

WILSON ORNITHOLOGICAL SOC

Año: 2018 vol. 130 p. 739 - 745

1559-4491

The Upland Goose is a ground-nesting bird that has suffered a notorious population decline in the last 60 years. We monitored Upland Goose nests with camera traps in Santa Cruz province, Argentina, to study nest disturbances that could lead to reduced reproductive success. We studied female behavior following nest disturbance by predators, livestock or humans and compared it with situations of females leaving the nests voluntarily. At least 34% of nests were predated, 92% of them by culpeo (Pseudalopex culpaeus) and grey (Pseudalopex griseus) foxes, while only 29% of the monitored nests were successful. Livestock sniffled, licked, and nuzzled the incubating female and the nest content, and two nests were trampled. Who disturbed the nest but not for how long they disturbed it (type of disturbance) affected off-bout length. The lengths of predator and human off-bouts were similar and higher than those of foraging and livestock off-bouts. In order to boost reproductive success, we recommend predator control on nesting areas discouraging fox from predating nests and livestock exclusion. Nests monitoring protocols should include as few and spaced visits as possible, restricted to a few people. Given the ecological similarities between the Upland Goose and congeners, including the critically endangered Ruddy-Headed Goose, we extend these recommendations to all Chloephaga spp. breeding areas.