Artificial nest experiment reveals inter-guild facilitation in duck nest predation

Abstract

Predation is the most important factor limiting Northern Hemisphere duck nest survival. While most avian nest predators take only eggs, mammalian predators also pose mortality risks to incubating ducks. Partial depredation of duck clutches elevates subsequent nest desertion probability, especially where eggshells provide evidence of the depredation event. Avian predators tend to consume egg contents at the nest, which may not intrinsically pose a risk to hens, but leave egg remains. This begs the question: does primary avian depredation of duck eggs actively facilitate nest visits by secondary mammalian predators, with potential survival consequences for the remaining clutch, but also sitting hens? We created 335 artificial duck nests in Finland and Denmark during 2017–2019 and monitored them for seven days using wildlife cameras to test whether initial avian predators breaking the eggs facilitated visits by secondary mammalian predators in various duck breeding habitats. Visitation rates of mammalian predators likely to take duck hens increased significantly after avian egg depredation events that involved egg breakage, although rates differed between habitats. Most common mammalian nest visitors at nests depredated by avian predators were red fox (Vulpes vulpes), followed by two alien species, raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and American mink (Neovison vison). Although we should be prudent about extrapolating conclusions from artificial experiment to real duck nests, our results strongly suggest inter-guild facilitation between avian and mammalian predators at duck nest sites. We suggest that by breaking the eggs, avian predators may offer olfactory, visual or other cues for secondary predators. Nest visits by mammalian predators could potentially increase egg depredation risk, but also elevate mortality risks for incubating females, dependent upon prevailing predator guilds.