A Technique for Night Identification of Animals

Abstract

each species present was not made, it appears that nests were largely placed according to availability of cover, and distribution was fairly uniform. In the coulee all principal tree and shrub species that would provide suitable nesting sites were used. Distribution of nests by percentage was as follows: oak, 74.8; green ash, 12.0; hawthorn, 5.7; chokecherry, 4.9; buffaloberry, 0.8; and on the ground, 0.8 per cent. The shelterbelt provided a different variety of woody species. Cottonwood, Siberian peashrub, green ash, and wild plum were not used but they were least important in the make-up of the shelterbelt. Species used were American and Siberian elm, both with 43.5 per cent of the nests, boxelder, with 8.7, and Russian olive with 4.3 per cent. Predators were rather scarce on both areas, as suggested by the high nesting success. Although strong winds struck the areas on several occasions there was little evidence of nest loss from this source. In only two cases is it believed that wind was responsible for destruction of nests.