scholarly journals First confirmed nest of Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) in roadside brush stubble

2020 ◽  
Vol 134 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-155
Author(s):  
Graham H. Sorenson ◽  
Alyssa L. Hollyoake ◽  
David W. Bradley
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Native Grassland ◽  
Numenius Americanus

Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) typically nests in open grass habitat, such as native grassland, hayfields, or cow pasture. In May 2019, we discovered a Long-billed Curlew nest in the dense roadside shrub stubble near Prince George, British Columbia. The shrub stubble substrate for this nest appeared to be taller and denser than adjacent hayfields, which reduced the visibility of the nest site. The eggs in this nest were the first to hatch of the 11 curlew nests we monitored in the area.

scholarly journals Nest site characteristics of cavity-nesting birds on a small island, in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada

2020 ◽  
Vol 133 (4) ◽  
pp. 352-363
Author(s):  
Neil G. Pilgrim ◽  
Joanna L. Smith ◽  
Keith Moore ◽  
Anthony J. Gaston
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Small Island ◽  
Haida Gwaii ◽  
Cavity Nesting ◽  
Site Characteristics ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Brown Creeper

Many studies of cavity-nesting birds in North America are conducted in large continental forests and much less is known about them in island ecosystems. We describe a 29-year study of tree species, nest site characteristics, and fledge dates of cavity-nesting birds on a small island in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia (BC). Seven cavity-nesting bird species were documented on East Limestone Island and 463 nests were found in 173 different trees. Nest trees were significantly taller and had a greater diameter than a random sample of snags. Tree height did not differ among bird species but diameter at breast height was larger for trees used by Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) than for other species. Cavity-nesters selected tree decay classes 2–7 (all dead/near dead [snags]), with 85% in decay class 4 (35%) or 5 (50%), similar to the random snag sample (class 4, 32%; class 5, 42%). Cavity height ranged from 2.6 to 44.9 m and for all species, except Brown Creeper, the mean nest height was >60% of the mean tree height. Nest heights were generally greater than observed elsewhere in BC. Nest cavity orientation was random except for Red-breasted Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus ruber), for which only 13% of the cavity entrances faced southeast. Median fledging dates ranged from 7 June (Chestnut-backed Chickadee [Poecile rufescens]) to 28 June (Northern Flicker [Colaptes auratus]). Estimated median dates of clutch completion were similar for all species. Our results show that large snags provide habitat for a high diversity of cavity-nesting birds on Haida Gwaii.

scholarly journals Nest-Site Reuse Patterns for a Cavity-Nesting Bird Community in Interior British Columbia

The Auk ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 119 (2) ◽  
pp. 391-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. E H. Aitken ◽  
K. L. Wiebe ◽  
K. Martin
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Species Variation ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Nest Cavity ◽  
Cavity Nesting ◽  
Managed Landscapes ◽  
Nest Site Limitation ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Most obligate cavity-nesting birds are considered to be nest-site limited, either by time or energy to excavate or to acquire suitable holes for nesting. We examined rates of nest-cavity reuse for a rich community of cavity-nesting birds in mixed forests in interior British Columbia. Using a sample of 402 cavity-reuse cases over five years, we measured cavity reuse for 20 cavity-nesting bird and mammal species (three guilds), and examined the relationship between nest-cavity reuse and features of cavities, nest trees, and forest stands. Eight percent of used cavities were destroyed between years. Reuse rates were 17% for the cavities of weak excavators such as nuthatches and chickadees, 28% for formerly active woodpecker nests, and 48% for cavities previously used by secondary cavity nesting birds, but there was considerable species variation within all guilds. Nest cavities in aspen that were deep with large entrances had the highest reuse. At the forest stand level, cavities in trees close to edges and in sites with more edge habitat had greater reuse. Reused cavities tended to be occupied in sequential years rather than being inactive for a year. With increasing amounts of managed landscapes, availability of suitable cavities for forest nesting vertebrates is decreasing. Reuse of existing cavities might help mitigate the problem of nest-site limitation.

OF GROUND-BEETLES AND MEN: INTRODUCED SPECIES AND THE SYNANTHROPIC FAUNA OF WESTERN CANADA

1988 ◽  
Vol 120 (S144) ◽  
pp. 151-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. Spence ◽  
D. Hughes Spence
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Introduced Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Ground Beetles ◽  
Carabid Beetles ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Anthropogenic Habitats ◽  
European Origin ◽  
Nursery Stock ◽  
Native Grassland

AbstractAssemblages of carabid beetles occurring in anthropogenic habitats in western Canada include native and introduced species. In this study, about 70% of the native species encountered in anthropogenic habitats have their main centres of abundance in native grassland. Twenty species known from British Columbia are of recent European origin. These species were probably introduced in ballast carried by commercial sailing vessels or in shipments of nursery stock. The species that have successfully colonized western Canada cannot be distinguished from a random sample of the estimated source fauna with respect to either taxonomic distribution or body size. However, all introduced species are characteristic of disturbed and/or anthropogenic habitats in Great Britain and are strictly synanthropic in British Columbia. Where they occurred, introduced species were usually numerically dominant members of anthropogenic assemblages. Both flight and human-assisted transport must be invoked to explain the patterns of range expansion observed for introduced species. Although the presence of introduced species was correlated with reduced diversity of native species, the carabid fauna of western Canada has been generally enriched because only one native species is strictly synanthropic.

Pairing and nest site selection in solitary and yellow-throated vireos with a description of a ritualized nest building display

1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 1163-1169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross D. James
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Pair Formation ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Nest Construction ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Building Activity ◽  
Vireo Solitarius

Solitary (Vireo solitarius) and yellow-throated (Vireo flavifrons) vireos were studied in May and June, in Ontario between 1969 and 1975, and in British Columbia in 1976. Most unmated males search for nest sites and begin to build nests prior to the arrival of females in their territories. Upon the female's arrival, the first displays by the male are precopulatory. Displays involving chasing are seldom seen. Nests started by males, and other suitable nest sites serve as display areas during pair formation. The presence of more than one display site indicates that nests started by males are more important in pairing than as sites for final nests. A nest building display occurs most often and vigorously in the early building period when the male is actively assisting in nest construction. The frequency and duration of the display then wanes along with the male's building activity. The nest building display is not part of the precopulatory display, but has become important in pair formation. The males appear to choose the site for a final nest.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document