1. Fledgling Success of Cavity Nesting Species in Relation to Human Activity
Measured as Distance to Parking Lots
Emily E. Rinaldi, Keystone College; Margret I. Hatch, PhD, Penn State Worthington- Scranton; Robert Cook, PhD, Keystone College
Emily E. Rinaldi
Keystone College
Environmental Resource Management
Email: erinaldi@keystone.edu
Contact
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References
A correlative study was done of four different species of cavity nesting birds
observed in Northeastern Pennsylvania over a span of five nesting seasons. The
species were observed at six locations at Lackawanna State Park in Dalton,
Pennsylvania. Locations were chosen based on distance from parking lots which
were the metrics for measuring human disturbance. The core motive for the
experiment was to determine if human activity near the nesting sites affected the
amount of successful fledglings per site. A total of forty-two boxes were used.
The nesting boxes were checked once per week, and a count was taken of eggs,
hatchlings, and fledglings found inside the boxes. The species occupying the
boxes were recorded. The boxes furthest from the parking lots yielded the
highest number of successful fledglings. The conclusion was that human activity
near the nesting sites had a negative effect on the success of the fledglings.
Abstract
Introduction
The boxes in six different locations throughout Lackawanna State park were
observed over a span of five nesting seasons (2010-2014). Within this time frame
four different species of cavity nesting birds were observed. These species
included Tree Swallows Tachycineta bicolor (TRES), House Wrens troglodytes
aedon (HOWR), Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus (BCCD), and
Eastern Bluebirds Sialia sialis (EABL). Wooden nesting boxes (4”x 4” inside
floor) were used. The human disturbance levels of each location were based on
the box distance from main parking lots. Location number one and two were
considered moderate human activity. These locations had an active parking lot
were placed about 50-100 meters from the nesting boxes. Location numbers four
and six were considered high human activity. These locations had a parking lot
within 0-50 meters of the nesting boxes. Locations three and five were low
human activity. At these locations to the nearest parking lots were about 100
meters or more away from the nesting boxes. A hand held Garmin GPS was used
to create way points for every box. After the way points were taken, the GIS
program ArcGIS 10.2 was used to measure location distances from parking lots.
The weekly logs documented the number of eggs, nestlings, fledglings, type of
nest, species occupying the box, and the date the box was checked. The boxes
were checked once per week from late April to Mid August. The boxes were
checked by Emily Rinaldi, Dr. Margret Hatch, Ellie Hyde (2010), Paula Gannon
(2013), Jim Day (2013), and Jon Thomas (2014). The data was processed
through SPSS for statistical data using a T-test (P<0.05).
Methods and Materials
If the intensity of human disturbance is high near bird nesting sites the number of
successful fledglings will be low in that area.
This initial hypothesis was supported with the results of this correlative study. A
negative correlation was found indicating that human disturbance and fledgling
success are distributed in opposite directions. Totals of all four species found in the
boxes were recorded from all five years of data collection. Totals per species were
recorded after five years as well as final totals of combined species. These totals
were separated into groups/locations measured by the intensity of human
disturbance at that site (See Table 1). During the t-test through SPSS results
yielded: [EABL 0.047<0.05], [TRES 0.018<0.05], [HOWR 0.067>0.05], [BCCD
0.180>0.05]. The variables were total species counts vs location measured by
human disturbance. The null hypothesis was H0: µEABL= µTRES = µHOWR = µBCCD. It
was rejected because EABL and TRES results were less that P-value while HOWR
and BCCD were greater than the P-value. Locations 3 and 5 yielded the highest
total success rate while locations 4 and 6 yielded the lowest totals of successful
fledglings (See Chart 1). Locations 3 and 5 were over 100 meters from the nearest
parking lot. Locations 4 and 6 were within 50 meters of the nearest parking lot.
Results/ Discussion
The hypothesis was accepted. The correlative study showed a negative correlation
between the amount of human activity and totals of successful fledglings. Thus
suggesting that human disturbance affects the success of fledglings.
Conclusion
There have been studies done globally to see if urbanization causes birds to
forage differently, breed young in different locations, and all around have an
effect on the success of an animals life. “Many studies have suggested that
human- induced land cover change has cause degradation of habitats and
fluctuations in [many different animal] populations” (Wu 2013). In this study the
focus was to observe if human disturbance around secondary cavity nesting bird
boxes have an effect on the total number of successful fledglings. Relevant
studies have been done on cranes, thrushes, and eiders among other species.
“Disturbance was defined as human activity that could induce a [negative]
reaction from the birds” (Dieval 2011). In a study on Common Eiders in Canada
scientists “categorized the intensity of disturbance for each person observed
along [the] shoreline” where their study was being conducted (Dieval 2011).
During their observations they would record what they experienced the “human
disturbance” doing to cause a changed environment. According to a Chinese
scientist “[black-necked cranes] foraged… where there were few roads…or
other sources of noise disturbance” [Wu 2013]. Wu also observed that when
tourists “swarmed” to the reservoir that became a tourist attraction the birds were
no longer roosting at sites near the reservoir where they had roosted for years
(Wu 2011). Studies on smaller species of birds such as thrushes that are neo-
tropical migrants have been observed to study whether or not human activity
affects where they stop over urban areas during their migration south in the fall
and their migration north in the spring. “Challenges that may reduce foraging
opportunities” may cause changes in stop over patterns (Craves 2009). This may
cause an unsafe drop in body fat that the migrant may need to use for fuel on its
journey to wintering or breeding grounds. Other examples of human disturbance
observed to cause a negative affect on bird habitats is “the extensive trail
systems create frequent human disturbance… [these trails have] shown to
interfere with foraging time” (Craves 2009). Rural areas also may have human
disturbance. For example “cavity nesting birds are dependent on large declining
and dead trees that are frequently removed during partial harvesting. All birds
observed in this experiment are secondary cavity nesting birds which means they
rely on finding hollowed out holes they can claim.
Table 1: Summary of Fledgling Success vs Location Area Chart 1: Distance from Human Disturbance vs. Number of Fledglings by Species
1 2 3 4 5 6
Series1 43 0 3 8 27 31
Series2 27 27 97 14 96 47
Series3 59 18 112 28 0 16
Series4 8 6 0 0 0 0
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
NumberofFledglings
Distance from Human Disturbance
Distance from Human Disturbance vs. Number of
Fledglings
EABL
TRES
HOWR
BCCD
Location 1 Location 2 Location 3 Location 4 Location 5 Location 6
Distance From
Main Parking Lots
Loc. 4 & 6:
0-50 meters
Loc. 1 & 2:
50-100 meters
Loc. 3 & 5:
+100 meters