Ravens are a key threat to beach-nesting birds

Rees, JD; Webb, JK; Crowther, MS; Letnic, M

Ravens are a key threat to beach-nesting birds

Rees, JD Webb, JK

Crowther, MS Letnic, M

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Australian Field Ornithology, 2015, 32 (2), pp. 100 - 107
Issue Date:: 2015-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Rees, JD	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Webb, JK https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4822-6829	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Crowther, MS	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Letnic, M	en_US
dc.date.issued	2015-01-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Australian Field Ornithology, 2015, 32 (2), pp. 100 - 107	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1448-0107	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/36032
dc.description.abstract	© Australian Field Ornithology 2015. Depredation of nests by native and introduced predators is contributing to the decline of beach-nesting shorebirds in many parts of Australia. Determining the relative importance of these predators is crucial for designing and implementing appropriate management strategies for shorebird conservation. We deployed and monitored 82 artificial Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus nests, on six beaches within a 140-km stretch of the New South Wales Lower North Coast, to identify the main predators of beach-nesting shorebird nests and their relative importance. After 18 days, 53 (63%) artificial nests were depredated. Australian Ravens Corvus coronoides and Forest Ravens C. tasmanicus were the chief nest-predators, and were responsible for depredating 40 (49%) nests collectively. Comparatively few nests were depredated by European Red Foxes Vulpes vulpes, which depredated 8 (10%) nests. The rate of depredation (nests depredated/2 days) by ravens was greater than the rate of depredation by foxes (P < 0.05). Other predators preyed upon 5 (5%) nests.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Australian Field Ornithology	en_US
dc.title	Ravens are a key threat to beach-nesting birds	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	2	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	32	en_US
utslib.for	0608 Zoology	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	2	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	32	en_US

Abstract:

© Australian Field Ornithology 2015. Depredation of nests by native and introduced predators is contributing to the decline of beach-nesting shorebirds in many parts of Australia. Determining the relative importance of these predators is crucial for designing and implementing appropriate management strategies for shorebird conservation. We deployed and monitored 82 artificial Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus nests, on six beaches within a 140-km stretch of the New South Wales Lower North Coast, to identify the main predators of beach-nesting shorebird nests and their relative importance. After 18 days, 53 (63%) artificial nests were depredated. Australian Ravens Corvus coronoides and Forest Ravens C. tasmanicus were the chief nest-predators, and were responsible for depredating 40 (49%) nests collectively. Comparatively few nests were depredated by European Red Foxes Vulpes vulpes, which depredated 8 (10%) nests. The rate of depredation (nests depredated/2 days) by ravens was greater than the rate of depredation by foxes (P < 0.05). Other predators preyed upon 5 (5%) nests.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/36032