Nest Boxes Facilitate Local-Scale Conservation of Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) and Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) in Alberta, Canada

Avian Conservation and Ecology

Garry J Scrimgeour,¹  CynthiaPaszkowski,²  Robert M Corrigan,³ 

[1] Fish and Wildlife Division, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Edmonton, Alberta;Alberta Conservation Association, Edmonton, Alberta;Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta

关键词: Alberta;    bufflehead;    common goldeneye;    nest boxes;    nest box limitation;   

DOI  :  10.5751/ACE-00435-060101

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Resilience Alliance Publications

【 摘 要 】

We tested the general predictions of increased use of nest boxes and positive trends in local populations of Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) and Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) following the large-scale provision of nest boxes in a study area of central Alberta over a 16-year period. Nest boxes were rapidly occupied, primarily by Common Goldeneye and Bufflehead, but also by European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris). After 5 years of deployment, occupancy of large boxes by Common Goldeneye was 82% to 90% and occupancy of small boxes by Bufflehead was 37% to 58%.Based on a single-stage cluster design, experimental closure of nest boxes resulted in significant reductions in numbers of broods and brood sizes produced by Common Goldeneye and Bufflehead.Occurrence and densities of Common Goldeneye and Bufflehead increased significantly across years following nest box deployment at the local scale, but not at the larger regional scale. Provision of nest boxes may represent a viable strategy for increasing breeding populations of these two waterfowl species on landscapes where large trees and natural cavities are uncommon but wetland density is high.

【 授权许可】

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