2012 journal article

NESTING ECOLOGY OF SWAINSON'S WARBLERS IN A SOUTH CAROLINA BOTTOMLAND FOREST

WILSON JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY, 124(4), 728–736.

By: J. Bishop n, J. Gerwin* & R. Lancia n

TL;DR: Logistic exposure models indicate nest success to be most impacted by Brown-headed Cowbird nest parasitism, nest age, and distance to the nearest swamp, as well as unparasitized nests that were younger in age and further from a swamp had the highest daily survival rates. (via Semantic Scholar)
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
13. Climate Action (Web of Science)
14. Life Below Water (Web of Science)
15. Life on Land (Web of Science)
Source: Web Of Science
Added: August 6, 2018

Abstract We studied the nesting ecology of Swainson's Warblers (Limnothylpis swainsonii) in Britton's Neck, South Carolina, USA and found 144 nests of which 78 were active. Nest initiations followed a bimodal distribution. Clutches averaged (± SE) 3.19 ± 0.20 eggs and 2.50 ± 0.33 fledglings per nest. The Mayfield nest success estimate for a 23-day cycle was 50%. Logistic exposure models indicate nest success to be most impacted by Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) nest parasitism, nest age, and distance to the nearest swamp. Unparasitized nests that were younger in age and further from a swamp had the highest daily survival rates. Ten percent of nests were parasitized by Brown-headed Cowbirds with a 26% reduction in Swainson's Warbler hatching and an 89% reduction in fledgling production. Multiple brooding was observed in 21% of 2000 and 2001 Swainson's Warbler nests. Vines, such as greenbrier (Smilax spp.), were the most common substrate used for nesting, although two-thirds of the nests contained cane (Arundinaria tecta and A. gigantea) within a 5-m radius.