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Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) are secondary cavity nesters that use natural cavities and artificial nest boxes, the latter of which has been attributed to the recovery of populations across the southeastern US. Continual use of these boxes results in a buildup of bacteria, parasites, and other pathogens. To avoid the accumulation of these deleterious organisms, best management practices include the occasional removal of old nesting material (i.e., wood shavings) and replacement with fresh wood shavings. No studies have been performed on the effects of shaving material on nest box selection, nest success, and bacterial growth. We monitored 142 and 111 nest boxes in Florida and Georgia, USA, respectively, and filled a random sample with aspen or cedar shavings. We then swabbed the surface of 144 and 150 eggs during 2020 and 2021, respectively, to screen for culturable bacteria. We detected no effect of shaving type on nest box selection, nest success, or egg surface bacterial growth. We found 3-8 bacterial colony types (1-123 colony-forming units [CFU]/box) and 1-8 bacterial colony types (3-382 CFU/box) among the Georgia and Florida samples, respectively. We detected no effect from shaving type on Wood Duck reproduction or bacterial growth in the sampled nest boxes. We concluded that both shaving types are suitable nesting materials for box-nesting Wood Duck populations and the continued use of either would be a reasonable decision for managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Avian Conservation & Ecology is the property of Resilience Alliance and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Most populations of the European Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca are decreasing. Different reasons for the decline are discussed, including biotic interactions and climate change. It is evident that many studies have been conducted in populations depending completely on nest boxes, but the influence of this artificial support on population dynamics is not well understood. We investigated the population dynamics of the Pied Flycatcher in the Kottenforst, an old-growth forest in western Germany, using recent data as well as historical records. We also determined the proportion of pairs breeding in nest boxes vs. natural nesting places. Specifically, we quantitatively analysed forest structure around tree holes occupied by the Pied Flycatcher. We found a continuous increase in population size since its establishment in the 1960s, which contrasts with overall long-term population trends in Europe as well as the regional trend. Whereas importance of nest boxes decreased over recent years, the majority of pairs are occupying tree holes for breeding, which are abundant in the richly structured, open old-growth forest. This forest structure seems to be optimal for the Pied Flycatcher since it allows flying insects to be hunted close to the nest. Finally, we discuss how forest structure and age as well as tree hole and insect availability may determine population trends of the Pied Flycatcher and highlight the importance of long-term studies. —Abrahamczyk, S., Grimm, J., Fehn, M. & Stiels, D. (2023). Long-term decoupling of a local population trend of the European Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca from nest box abundance indicates the importance of old-growth forest. Ardeola, 70: 185-200. La mayoría de las poblaciones de papamoscas cerrojillo Ficedula hypoleuca están disminuyendo. Se discuten diferentes razones de este declive, entre ellas las interacciones bióticas y el cambio climático. Es evidente que se han realizado muchos estudios en poblaciones que dependen completamente de las cajas nido, pero no se conoce bien la influencia de este soporte artificial en la dinámica poblacional. Hemos investigado la dinámica poblacional del papamoscas cerrojillo en Kottenforst, un bosque antiguo del oeste de Alemania, utilizando datos recientes y registros históricos. También determinamos la proporción de parejas que crían en cajas nido frente a lugares de nidificación naturales. En concreto, analizamos cuantitativamente la estructura forestal en torno a los huecos de los árboles ocupados por el papamoscas cerrojillo. Encontramos un aumento continuo del tamaño de la población desde su establecimiento en la década de 1960, lo que contrasta con las tendencias poblacionales generales a largo plazo en Europa, así como con la tendencia regional. Mientras que la importancia de las cajas nido ha disminuido en los últimos años, la mayoría de las parejas ocupan agujeros en los árboles para criar, que son abundantes en el bosque antiguo, abierto y ricamente estructurado. Esta estructura forestal parece ser óptima para el papamoscas cerrojillo, ya que permite cazar insectos voladores cerca del nido. Por último, discutimos cómo la estructura y la edad del bosque, así como la disponibilidad de huecos en los árboles y de insectos, pueden determinar las tendencias poblacionales del papamoscas cerrojillo y destacamos la importancia de los estudios a largo plazo.—Abrahamczyk, S., Grimm, J., Fehn, M. y Stiels, D. (2023). La desvinculación a largo plazo entre la tendencia poblacional local del papamoscas cerrojillo Ficedula hypoleuca y la cantidad de cajas nido indica la importancia del bosque maduro. Ardeola, 70: 185-200. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Raptor Research is the property of Raptor Research Foundation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Raptor Research is the property of Raptor Research Foundation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Raptor Research is the property of Raptor Research Foundation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Thermal cameras are being used increasingly in the bird-ringing community and preliminary reports suggest they have a wide range of relevant applications. However, there has been little quantitative assessment of these methods. In this study we tested the use of a thermal imager to assess the occupancy of enclosed nests, using nest-box populations of small passerines. Based on a thermal image of each nest box, observers were able to predict nest-box occupancy with a combined success rate of 85.9%. The observers were able to identify when nest boxes contained a heat source relating to an active nest but unable to differentiate between warm clutches and live broods. The age of the brood significantly influenced the predictions, reflecting the limited ability of young broods to maintain their body temperatures independently. There were no significant effects from potential confounding variables relating to solar exposure, nest-box design or ambient temperature, although these may have accounted for a small number of incorrect predictions. Overall, it was found that thermal imagers provide an effective, non-invasive and efficient method for monitoring nest-box occupancy, with inferences about suitability for other types of enclosed nest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Raptor Research is the property of Raptor Research Foundation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Avian Conservation & Ecology is the property of Resilience Alliance and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Raptor Research is the property of Raptor Research Foundation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Exotic rodents are becoming increasingly popular in industry; however, there is limited empirical evidence to guide husbandry practices. African pygmy dormice (Graphiurus murinus) are typical in this respect. This research aimed to determine the effect of environmental enrichment on the behavior (including stereotypical scratching at the glass walls of the enclosure) and space use of a group of eight African pygmy dormice at Sparsholt College Hampshire, UK. An apple-wood climbing grid and three raised (at various heights above the substrate) woven-wicker nest boxes were provided. Instantaneous scan sampling was used to record 150 hours of nocturnal behavior (19:00–07:00 daily) over five experimental phases (phase 1 baseline; phase 2 climbing grid provided; phase 3 lower nest box provided; phase 4 middle nest box provided; phase 5 higher nest box provided). Space use was determined using the modified Spread of Participation Index. Nest box use was recorded continually. The provision of the climbing grid significantly increased the groups' time spent eating, digging, gnawing, and climbing and significantly decreased stereotypic scratching at glass. It also significantly changed the use of all enclosure zones, with mice utilizing the highest zones as soon as they were accessible. The addition of raised nesting opportunity saw the highest zones of the enclosure become those preferentially used. It also totally diminished stereotypic scratching at glass. The highest nest box was preferentially used and use of terrestrial nest boxes (those placed directly on top of the substrate) reduced significantly when raised alternatives were provided. This study suggests those working with African pygmy dormice should provide an enriched enclosure via "arboreal" opportunity to increase active behaviors and reduce stereotypy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite common use, the efficacy of artificial breeding sites (e.g., nest boxes, bat houses, artificial burrows) as tools for monitoring and managing animals depends on the demography of target populations and availability of natural sites. Yet, the conditions enabling artificial breeding sites to be useful or informative have yet to be articulated. We use a stochastic simulation model to determine situations where artificial breeding sites are either useful or disadvantageous for monitoring and managing animals. Artificial breeding sites are a convenient tool for monitoring animals and therefore occupancy of artificial breeding sites is often used as an index of population levels. However, systematic changes in availability of sites that are not monitored might induce trends in occupancy of monitored sites, a situation rarely considered by monitoring programs. We therefore examine how systematic changes in unmonitored sites could bias inference from trends in the occupancy of monitored sites. Our model also allows us to examine effects on population levels if artificial breeding sites either increase or decrease population vital rates (survival and fecundity). We demonstrate that trends in occupancy of monitored sites are misleading if the number of unmonitored sites changes over time. Further, breeding site fidelity can cause an initial lag in occupancy of newly installed sites that could be misinterpreted as an increasing population, even when the population has been continuously declining. Importantly, provisioning of artificial breeding sites only benefits populations if breeding sites are limiting or if artificial sites increase vital rates. There are many situations where installation of artificial breeding sites, and their use in monitoring, can have unintended consequences. Managers should therefore not assume that provision of artificial breeding sites will necessarily benefit populations. Further, trends in occupancy of artificial breeding sites should be interpreted in light of potential changes in the availability of unmonitored sites and the potential of lags in occupancy owing to site fidelity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Raptor Research is the property of Raptor Research Foundation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Raptor Research is the property of Raptor Research Foundation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

[Display omitted] • - Mimic application reduced L. dispar and non-target caterpillar biomass and led to a reduction of successful nest boxes (boxes with at least one successfully fledged nestling) during late broods. • - Collapse of former outbreaking L. dispar population impaired the number of successful nest boxes in late broods. • - L. dispar caterpillars in nest boxes did not impact successful breeding in nest boxes. Eruptive population dynamics of forest insect species regularly attract the interest of ecologists but also often evoke debates among stakeholders concerning impacts that outbreaks or pest control activities have on forest communities including insectivorous birds. Lymantria dispar is the most serious native defoliator in mixed oak-broadleaf forests in Central Europe. To investigate the treatment effects of L. dispar density, aerial application of the insecticide Mimic (tebufenozide) and nest box accessibility for L. dispar caterpillars on nest box success of cavity nesting birds, we deployed 352 nest boxes in a full factorial experimental design with 11 replicates. L. dispar density was predicted by egg mass counts made in the year before the study. The accessibility of nest boxes for L. dispar caterpillars was manipulated in all study sites by placing nest boxes on trunks for easy access to caterpillars and on branches for more difficult access. Successful nest boxes (binary metric that combines failed breeding attempt and empty nest box) and nest productivity (number of fledged chicks in successful boxes) were monitored in the peak year of a L. dispar outbreak, during which half of the plots were treated with Mimic, as well as in the following year when L. dispar populations had widely collapsed, and no further treatments were applied. L. dispar and non-target caterpillar biomass was sampled by canopy fogging to quantify prey abundance. Caterpillar biomass was significantly reduced by Mimic in the treatment year and remained low in the post-treatment year. Despite the reduction of caterpillars, our zero-inflation model found no effect of any tested variables on nest box success of the early brood. However, in the late broods the number of successful nest boxes was reduced in Mimic treated plots in the first year by 42%, while unaffected by initial L. dispar density. The number of successful nest boxes in the second year was lower in areas with initially high L. dispar densities and there was a marginal carry-over effect of insecticide treatment. L. dispar caterpillars entered nest boxes on the trunk in higher numbers than boxes on the branch, but nest box position had no effect on nest box success of birds. We conclude that despite its strong negative impact on caterpillar prey, aerial application of Mimic targeting L. dispar caused an increase in the number of failed boxes in late broods in sprayed plots, particularly in the year of application and to some extent in the year after. We presume this delayed effect of Mimic only on late broods to be caused by Mimic-induced caterpillar shortages during first broods leading to an increased parental effort and a subsequent reduced number of second broods. The generally limited impact of Mimic might be explained by the overall extensive availability of alternate prey in oak forests in May during first broods and the ability of tits to increase their parental effort in times of caterpillar shortage. In unsprayed sites, L. dispar densities can create legacies of impact in following years, but caterpillars do not directly affect birds nest box success despite entering cavities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Psittacidae (parrots) have the most threatened species of any bird family in the world. Most parrots are obligate secondary cavity nesters, and can be limited in their breeding success by the availability and quality of nest hollows. However, nesting opportunities for parrots can be increased by provision of artificial nest boxes. The Tambopata Macaw Project has been studying the breeding ecology and natural history of the Scarlet Macaw Ara macao macao in the south-eastern Peruvian Amazon for over 20 years by monitoring natural nest hollows and two types of artificial nest (wooden and PVC). We present data for breeding success in natural and artificial nests over 12 consecutive breeding seasons. The aims of this study were to: (a) determine the nesting requirements and reproductive success of breeding macaws; and, (b) compare the efficacy of the two types of artificial nests and natural nest cavities. Our data showed a high rate of reoccupation of successful nests in consecutive years and that nests in artificial and natural nests had very similar reproductive parameters. Our results indicate that artificial nest types can be used by conservation managers seeking to assist A. macao populations where nest hollows are in short supply, and that artificial nests can contribute important data to natural history studies of species where access to natural nests is limited. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Experiment: conventional thinning reduced bird diversity in Swedish boreal forest. • Understory retention and complete retention plots could retain bird diversity. • The willow tit (Poecile montanus) was especially negatively affected. • Novel BACI indicators for evaluating experiments and Bayesian MSOM were used. • A long-term evaluation of the post thinning development is needed. Current levels of forestry expansion in boreal forests threaten to radically reduce biodiversity. For many forest-dwelling species the threat is not simply because the forest is used for biomass production, but rather how it is used. Retention forestry practices aim to limit impacts on biodiversity during the final felling stage of a forestry cycle. However, the efficiency of such methods in retaining biodiversity have rarely been studied for intermediate forestry stages (e.g., forest thinning) with experimental approaches entirely absent from boreal forests. Therefore, we conducted a before-after control-impact experiment in Sweden to investigate the short-term response in occurrence of individual bird species, guilds, and population trend groups (positive, stable, or negative population trend), as well as the response in nest box occupancy and in the reproductive success of Parus major to three different thinning treatments. The three treatments were i) conventional thinning at the plot and stand scale, (ii) understory retention thinning, where at least 250 spruces with live branches below 2 m above ground are retained per hectare, and (iii) complete retention plots, where the forest was not thinned on ∼1 ha plots within conventionally thinned forest stands. We found that conventional forest thinning was likely the cause for observed declines in bird occurrence, with ∼20% of the species showing clear negative responses. Our results indicate that understory retention thinning with double the retention level as previously suggested and combining conventional thinning with complete retention plots, could largely alleviate the short term negative effects of conventional thinning. This was the case for all guilds, population trend groups and individual bird species, except for Poecile montanus , which responded negatively to complete retention. Among the birds occupying the nest boxes, only Cyanistes caeruleus responded to any of the treatments, with higher nest box occupancy upon understory retention thinning. No thinning treatment affected reproductive success in P. major. Our results clearly show that thinning practices that retain the diversity of forest-dwelling birds are possible. Hence, this study provides a crucial puzzle piece towards more sustainable forestry practices in the boreal region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examined the winter time occupancy of nest boxes in a floodplain forest in the Czech Republic. A decline was found in nest box occupancy throughout the winter when using the contact method while occupancy rates remained constant when using the two non-contact methods. The commonly used direct night checks of nest boxes led to a disturbance to roosting birds and can reportedly lead to biased conclusions with studying winter time roosting behavior in beds. It was also noted that using nest boxes may introduce bias in studies conducted during the non-breeding season.

The article presents a study which examined possible influence of habitat, nest box location and orientation in the occupation rate and breeding success of Barn Owls in a semi-arid environment. It states that more young per breeding attempt are recorded in nest boxes located in crop fields than those located in date plantations. The authors revealed that temperature is an important factor in arid environment as boxes located in the shade and those facing the east or north recorded higher breeding attempts.

The article discusses a study on American Kestrels (Falco sparvarius) using nest boxes at the Kesterson Reservoir in Merced County, California. It states that the research involves radiotagging male kestrels to determine their foraging ranges. It mentions that nest-box use was lower than expected, but kestrels in 60% and 67% of onsite nest boxes that were used successfully fledged chicks in 1997 and 1998. The research shows that the concentrations of selenium (Se) in the blood and eggs of offsite kestrels are similar to those in Kesterson, despite the elevated soil Se concentrations in the area. Furthermore, the radiotagged male kestrels were estimated to forage onsite 58% of the time in 1997 and 53% of the time in 1998, with a distance of 0 to 3.4 kilometers from the nest box.

The article presents a nest-box study in north-central Florida from 1989-1993, which aims to increase the population of Southeastern American Kestrel or Falco sparverius paulus and to assess the impact of artificial nest sites on the population. It states that 388 nest boxes were put up in the area in which 75% of them were placed less than 250 meters away from the roadside transects. Yearly censuses were also carried out to quantify population density in the treatment and control zones. The study concludes that kestrels choose nest boxes in sandhill habitats than in hammock habitats, and nesting attempts in sandhills offer bigger hatching rates and nesting success.

Through deployment of artificial nest boxes, we examined the composition of cavity nest materials used by Northern Flying Squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus) and North American Red Squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) in a secondary hardwood forest of southern Ontario, Canada. We collected 32 nests of known species association and found that 85.7% of G. sabrinus nests and 77.8% of T. hudsonicus nests were constructed almost entirely of shredded bark from Eastern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis). Mean nest depth across all samples was 12.2 cm and showed no significant difference between species or between spring and summer nests. We review the antiparasitic properties of T occidentalis and suggest that the use of shredded cedar bark by G. sabrinus and T hudsonicus to line nest cavities may be a behavioural adaptation, which reduces ectoparasite loads in the nest environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baseline information was collected on a local Eastern Screech-Owl population found in the apple-producing region of Saint-Hilaire and Rougemont, Quebec, as part of a larger study on pesticide exposure conducted between 2000 and 2003. Screech-Owls visited or occupied 41 of 89 nest boxes installed in 12 orchards and 2 control locations. The mean height of occupied nest boxes was 3.83 m (2.00 - 5.80 m). Squirrels, Sciurus and Tamiasciurius sp., and chipmunks, Tamias striatus, Northern Flickers, Colaptes auratus, and wasps were the owls' primary competitors for the boxes. Intact Screech-Owl pellets retrieved from nest boxes (n = 82) had a mean length and width of 3.57 and 1.44 cm, respectively, and weighed a mean of 1.77 g. Screech-Owls in the study area consumed a variety of small mammal, avian, insect and aquatic prey. Of these, Meadow Voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus, were the predominant prey item identified in pellets, and Mourning Doves, Zenaida macroura, were the primary avian prey found in nest boxes. In Canada, the owl's trend status remains largely unknown. The species is currently listed as "Not at Risk", based on an assessment conducted for COSEWIC in 1986. Given that a limited amount of information exists on the natural history and ecology of the species in Quebec, we also generated a map of the owl's distribution in the province, using data from ornithological databases and rehabilitation facilities. Potential risks to the species within the province, particularly pesticide exposure and habitat loss, are briefly addressed and follow-up studies are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented about the nesting behavior of American kestrels.

• Tree hollows carved by chainsaws have potential to restore degraded forest habitat. • Two mammal species were detected more often in carved hollows than in nest boxes. • Tree species differed in their response to carved hollows and inserted faceplates. • Some tree species had relatively rapid growth of bark over faceplates. • Further study of changes in carved hollow condition is required. Constructing hollows or cavities in trees with chainsaws is an emerging approach to manage hollow-dependent species in hollow depleted landscapes. Small-scale experiments are required to refine this approach before implementing on a broad scale. We addressed two questions: i) are chainsaw hollows used by the regionally threatened brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa) and the non-threatened sugar glider (Petaurus notatus) , ii) do chainsaw hollows retain their integrity over time. We paired 45 chainsaw hollows with nest boxes of equivalent internal dimensions in southeastern Australia and inspected these on 20 occasions over 2.5 years. Camera traps revealed phascogales visited some cavities within hours of installation and monthly inspections revealed rapid uptake of these hollows by both target species. Overall, phascogales and sugar gliders used 32% and 84% of the chainsaw hollows respectively, and 21% and 82% of the nest boxes. We used multi-method occupancy to compare detection within the two types of cavities. Detection models that included cavity type had more support than those without. Detection of both species was substantially higher in the chainsaw hollows compared to the nest boxes. Over the 2.5-year monitoring period the faceplates of some chainsaw hollows showed signs of deformity. Callous regrowth over the faceplate was pronounced on some trees suggesting the need for periodic maintenance. Our study confirms the potential of chainsaw hollows to restore habitat for hollow-dependent mammals but highlights periodic maintenance is likely to be a feature of this approach as it is with nest boxes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]