Nest Management Increase Breeding Success in an Endangered Grassland Bird

ADRIÁN S. DIGIACOMO; FLORENCIA M. PUCHETA; INÉS M. PEREDA

Conferencia Virtual

Conferencia; North American Ornithological Conference; 2020

American Ornithological Society, Association of Field Ornithologists, Society of Canadian Ornithologists & Wilson Ornithological Society

The Saffron-cowled Blackbird (SCB, Xanthopsar flavus) is an endangered passerine of the grasslands of southern South America. In Argentina, habitat loss restricted the species into only two small populations that are isolated from each other and are not protected. In 2015, we launched a project aimed to increase its breeding success through intensive nest management. We study whether enclosures could be installed around the nests of SCB without causing parental desertion, and whether protected nests could successfully exclude nest predators and increase nesting success. During three breeding seasons, we installed shade-cloths enclosures in 107 incubating nests, and metal mesh enclosures in 98 nests during nestling stage. Adult acceptance of the enclosures was monitored by direct observation, while nest predator?s activity was monitored with camera traps. We recommend the gradual mounting of enclosures during the morning, together its enrichment with surrounding vegetation that facilitates parental entrance and allows them to better accept protections. The enclosures, both during incubation and nestling stages, significantly lowered the nest?s predation rate (χ2=13.83, p