REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS OF FOREST-DEPENDENT SONGBIRDS NEAR AN AGRICULTURAL CORRIDOR IN SOUTH-CENTRAL INDIANA

Abstract

Abstract Potential source populations of forest-breeding Neotropical migrant birds may be threatened by anthropogenic changes that increase brood parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) and nest predation in heavily forested breeding areas. In south-central Indiana, corridors of agriculture and rural development, ranging from <50 m to several thousand meters in width, penetrate interior portions of the heavily forested landscape. These corridors provide habitat for cowbirds and nest predators. We monitored breeding success of six species of Neotropical migrants and one resident species near an agricultural corridor and in interior forest. We found that nest survival was lower near the agricultural corridor for most of the species in the nestling stage, but no consistent difference in nest survival was detected during the egg stage. Levels of cowbird parasitism were generally elevated near the agricultural corridor. Estimates of the number of fledglings per nesting attempt indicated that seaso...