| |
Web URL(s): | http://archive.lib.msu.edu/tic/ressum/2009/66.pdf Last checked: 01/23/2017 Requires: PDF Reader |
Publication Type:
| Report |
Author(s): | Stanback, Mark |
Author Affiliation: | Davidson College |
Title: | Brown-headed nuthatch enhancement study |
Section: | Wildlife Links Program Other records with the "Wildlife Links Program" Section
|
Source: | 2009 Turfgrass and Environmental Research Summary. 2009, p. 66. |
Publishing Information: | Far Hills, NJ: United States Golf Association |
# of Pages: | 1 |
Keywords: | TIC Keywords: Aves; Habitat improvement; Nest boxes; Sitta pusilla
|
Abstract/Contents: | Presents a study conducted to "assess the importance of pine density and competition with eastern bluebirds on the spatial distribution of Brown-headed Nuthatch nests." Describes the methods and materials used in the experiment, stating that "nest boxes on six golf courses near Davidson, North Carolina have been monitored since 2001." |
Language: | English |
References: | 0 |
Note: | Reprint appears in The Commonwealth Crier, Winter 2010, p. 11 Pictures, color |
USGA Summary Points: | Brown-headed Nuthatch numbers have declined throughout the Southeast. Their supposed dependence on old growth pine forests - and susceptibility to habitat alteration - is usually blamed for this decline. We offer an alternative hypothesis - that nest site competition with a burgeoning Eastern Bluebird population is also responsible. We monitored nest box use by bluebirds and nuthatches on golf courses and found that pine density had little effect on nest box use by nuthatches. Instead, the exclusion of bluebirds (via smaller entrance holes) was the best predictor of nest box occupation by nuthatches. Brown-headed Nuthatch numbers increased dramatically on three golf courses where bluebirds were excluded from one-third of nest boxes. Control courses had few if any breeding nuthatches over the same period. When bluebird-friendly holes were returned to experimental boxes, bluebirds quickly evicted resident nuthatches. To prevent monopolization of nest boxes by bluebirds, golf courses in the Southeast should provide smaller entrance holes on a subset of their nest boxes. |
| ASA/CSSA/SSSA Citation (Crop Science-Like - may be incomplete): Stanback, M. 2009. Brown-headed nuthatch enhancement study. Turfgrass Environ. Res. Summ. p. 66. |
| Fastlink to access this record outside TGIF: https://tic.msu.edu/tgif/flink?recno=159910 |
| If there are problems with this record, send us feedback about record 159910. |
| Choices for finding the above item: |
| Web URL(s): http://archive.lib.msu.edu/tic/ressum/2009/66.pdf Last checked: 01/23/2017 Requires: PDF Reader |
| MSU catalog number: b3609415 |
| Request through your local library's inter-library loan service (bring or send a copy of this TGIF record) |