University of Michigan Biological Station

The University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) was founded in 1909.

Social

The effects of nest visibility and nest crypticness on crow predation of Killdeer nests

TitleThe effects of nest visibility and nest crypticness on crow predation of Killdeer nests
Publication TypeThesis
Year of Publication1990
AuthorsCulbert RA
DegreeMaster of Science
Number of Pages23 pp.
UniversityUniversity of Michigan
CityAnn Arbor, MI
Thesis Typemasters
KeywordsSURVIVAL
Abstract

I examined how Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) nest characteristics affect nest predation by American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) in northern Michigan. Crows depredate 42% of the killdeer nests. Differential survival of nests with respect to patch shape crypticness and nest visibility was documented. Nests with either high patch shape crupticness or low nest visibility accounted for 89% of the nests that hatched.