Estimating raptor nesting success: old and new approaches
Journal of Wildlife Management
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Abstract
Studies of nesting success can be valuable in assessing the status of raptor populations, but differing monitoring protocols can present unique challenges when comparing populations of different species across time or geographic areas. We used large datasets from long-term studies of 3 raptor species to compare estimates of apparent nest success (ANS, the ratio of successful to total number of nesting attempts), Mayfield nesting success, and the logistic-exposure model of nest survival. Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos), prairie falcons (Falco mexicanus), and American kestrels (F. sparverius) differ in their breeding biology and the methods often used to monitor their reproduction. Mayfield and logistic-exposure models generated similar estimates of nesting success with similar levels of precision. Apparent nest success overestimated nesting success and was particularly sensitive to inclusion of nesting attempts discovered late in the nesting season. Thus, the ANS estimator is inappropriate when exact point estimates are required, especially when most raptor pairs cannot be located before or soon after laying eggs. However, ANS may be sufficient to assess long-term trends of species in which nesting attempts are highly detectable.
Suggested Citation
Brown, J.L., Steenhof, K., Kochert, M.N., Bond, L., 2013, Estimating raptor nesting success: old and new approaches: Journal of Wildlife Management, v. 77, no. 5, p. 1067-1074, https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.566.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Estimating raptor nesting success: old and new approaches |
| Series title | Journal of Wildlife Management |
| DOI | 10.1002/jwmg.566 |
| Volume | 77 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Publication Date | June 11, 2013 |
| Year Published | 2013 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Wiley |
| Contributing office(s) | Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center |
| Description | 8 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Journal of Wildlife Management |
| First page | 1067 |
| Last page | 1074 |