Effects of Research Activity on Piping Plover Nest Predation

Abstract

We examined whether nest monitoring and other research activities influenced rates of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) predation on both natural and artificial piping plover (Charadrius melodus) nests in Massachusetts. The percentage of nests depredated did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between nests where we trapped and banded incubating adults and nests where we did not trap. Nest predation was significantly lower (P 0.05) predation rates compared to artificial nests monitored from a distance. Daily monitoring of piping plover nests is not likely to result in increased fox predation, and it seems to be an acceptable practice; but, nest visits should be conducted in a manner that minimizes disturbance to nesting plovers. Further research should test whether human scent at piping plover nests is a deterrent to red foxes. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 54(3):443-447 For scientific and ethical reasons, researchers must be concerned about the influence their activities may have on nesting success of groundnesting birds and on the behavior of nest predators (Livezey 1980, Nol and Brooks 1982, Galbraith 1987). This concern extends to piping plovers that nest on beaches, dunes, and sand spits along the Atlantic Coast of North America. Because of its threatened status (Dyer et al. 1988), the piping plover is the focus of intensive conservation efforts, including protection of nests from human disturbance, censuses of breeding pairs, monitoring of nest success and productivity, and trapping and banding of incubating adults to determine movement patterns and survival rates. During studies of the population ecology of piping plovers on outer Cape Cod, Massachusett , between 1985 and 1987, predators destroyed 52-81% of all active plover nests at one of our principal study sites. Red foxes were responsible for 71-100% of the nests that were lost to predators at that site each year. These results led us to examine whether our activities attracted predators, particularly red foxes, to plover nests and thus reduced nest success. Our objectives were (1) to examine effects of research activities on fates of both natural and artificial plover nests and (2) to determine if foxes located plover nests by following researcher tracks and scent trails. Financial and logistical support for our study we e provided by the National Park Service, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildli e, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Cape Cod M seum of Natural History, and several private contributors. J. F. Milton monitored artificial nests at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), and M. J. Croonquist monitored red fox movements at Coast Guard Beach. Conversa'Present address: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, P.O. Box 1298, Bangor, ME 04401. This content downloaded from 207.46.13.25 on Mon, 12 Sep 2016 04:05:07 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 444 PLOVER NEST PREDATION * Maclvor et al. J. Wildl. Manage. 54(3):1990 tions with J. J. Hatch stimulated the artificial nest portion of the study. We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of V. A. Rosenberg, E. M. Hoopes, R. C. Humphrey, B. A. Samora, and K. Carlson. We thank R. M. Erwin, A. Hecht, and an anonymous reviewer for their comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript.