@article{choi_fish_moorman_deperno_schillaci_2021, title={Breeding-season Survival, Home-range Size, and Habitat Selection of Female Bachman's Sparrows}, volume={20}, ISSN={["1938-5412"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1656/058.020.0112}, DOI={10.1656/058.020.0112}, abstractNote={Abstract Peucaea aestivalis (Bachman's Sparrow) is a declining songbird endemic to the southeastern US, but lack of basic life-history information for females, including a description of habitat selection, limits effective management. We investigated survival, home-range size, and habitat selection of female Bachman's Sparrows during the breeding season at Fort Bragg Military Installation, NC. We attached radio-transmitters to female sparrows between April and June in 2014–2016 and recorded locations of females every 2–4 days. We estimated seasonal survival and home-range size and, in 2016, we modeled habitat selection of female sparrows within their home range. Estimated breeding-season (90 days) survival (0.941) was greater than a published estimate from South Carolina (0.794), and home-range size (1.48 ha, SE = 0.16) was similar to a published estimate for females and multiple published estimates for male sparrows (min–max = 1–5 ha). Females selected habitat patches with greater woody vegetation and intermediate grass densities than at random locations, suggesting that woody vegetation provides escape and nesting cover for female sparrows. Survival, home-range size, and habitat selection of female Bachman's Sparrows did not differ substantially from males in other studies. Therefore, management focused on male sparrows may concurrently conserve habitat requirements for females.}, number={1}, journal={SOUTHEASTERN NATURALIST}, publisher={BioOne}, author={Choi, Daniel Y. and Fish, Alexander C. and Moorman, Christopher E. and DePerno, Christopher S. and Schillaci, Jessica M.}, year={2021}, month={Mar}, pages={105–116} }
 @article{fish_deperno_schillaci_moorman_2020, title={Fledgling Bachman’s Sparrows in a longleaf pine ecosystem: survival, movements, and habitat selection}, volume={91}, ISSN={0273-8570 1557-9263}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jofo.12345}, DOI={10.1111/jofo.12345}, abstractNote={Fledgling ecology remains understudied for many passerine species, yet information about the fledgling life stage is critical for understanding full-annual life cycles and population recruitment. We examined the survival, habitat selection, and movements of fledgling Bachman’s Sparrows (Peucaea aestivalis) in a longleaf pine-wiregrass (Pinus palustris-Aristida stricta) community managed with frequent prescribed fire. We captured and marked 36 fledglings on the day of fledging and used radio-telemetry to relocate them daily until independence during three breeding seasons (2014–2016). We visually confirmed the status of fledglings as live or dead during daily relocations and determined causes of mortality. We measured vegetation characteristics at fledgling locations and compared them to the characteristics of vegetation at the locations of adult males. We used a Known Fates analysis in Program MARK to estimate fledgling survival, and generalized linear mixed effect models to determine habitat selection. Estimated fledgling survival until independence was 0.31 (SE = 0.08), with most mortality during the first 4 d post-fledging. Fledglings with longer wing chords had higher rates of survival than those with shorter wing chords, possibly due to an increased ability to evade predators. Fledgling movements were restricted primarily to natal territories. Fledgling Bachman’s Sparrows were located in areas with greater woody plant, forb, and grass cover and less bare ground than available in natal territories. Similar to fledglings of other songbirds, understory woody and herbaceous plants appear to provide critical cover for fledgling Bachman’s Sparrows, and maintenance of such cover should receive consideration in management plans for longleaf pine communities. RESUMEN. Volantones de Chingolo de Bachman en un ecosistema de pinos de hoja larga: supervivencia, movimientos y selecci on de h abitat La ecolog ıa de los volantones permanece poco estudiada para muchas especies de paseriformes, sin embargo, la informaci on sobre la etapa volantona de la vida es fundamental para comprender los ciclos de vida anuales completos y el reclutamiento de la poblaci on. Examinamos la supervivencia, la selecci on del h abitat y los movimientos del Chingolo de Bachman (Peucaea aestivalis) en una comunidad de pino hoja larga-pasto alambre (Pinus palustris Aristida stricta) manejada con frecuentes incendios controlados. Capturamos y marcamos 36 volantones el d ıa del abandono del nido y utilizamos radiotelemetr ıa para reubicarlos diariamente hasta la independencia durante tres temporadas de cr ıa (2014–2016). Confirmamos visualmente el estado de los volantones como vivos o muertos durante las reubicaciones diarias y determinamos las causas de mortalidad. Medimos las caracter ısticas de la vegetaci on en las ubicaciones de los volantones y las comparamos con las caracter ısticas de la vegetaci on en las ubicaciones de los machos adultos. Usamos un an alisis de Destinos Conocidos en el Programa MARK para estimar la supervivencia de los volantones, y modelos lineales generalizados de efectos mixtos para determinar la selecci on del h abitat. La supervivencia estimada de los volantones hasta la independencia fue de 0.31 (EE = 0.08), con la mayor mortalidad durante los primeros cuatro d ıas despu es del abandono del nido. Los polluelos con cuerdas alares m as larga ten ıan tasas m as altas de supervivencia que aquellos con cuerdas alarer alas m as cortas, posiblemente debido a una mayor capacidad para evadir a los depredadores. Los movimientos de volantones se restringieron principalmente a los territorios natales. Los volantones de Chingolo de Bachman se ubicaron en areas con mayor cobertura de plantas le~ nosas, hierbas y pastos y menos terreno desnudo que el disponible en los territorios natales. Al igual que los polluelos de otras aves cantoras, las plantas le~ nosas y herb aceas del sotobosque parecen proporcionar una cobertura cr ıtica para los volantones de Chingolo de Bachman, y el mantenimiento de dicha cobertura deber ıa ser considerado en los planes de gesti on para las comunidades de pinos de hoja larga.}, number={4}, journal={Journal of Field Ornithology}, publisher={Resilience Alliance, Inc.}, author={Fish, Alexander C. and DePerno, Christopher S. and Schillaci, Jessica M. and Moorman, Christopher E.}, year={2020}, month={Oct}, pages={354–366} }
 @article{fish_moorman_schillaci_deperno_2019, title={Influence of military training on breeding ecology of Bachman's sparrow}, volume={83}, ISSN={0022-541X}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.21579}, DOI={10.1002/jwmg.21579}, abstractNote={ABSTRACTAnthropogenic disturbance may cause birds to flush and relocate, abandon breeding sites, experience increased nest failure, or fledge fewer young. Ground‐based military activities are of particular concern for ground‐nesting birds because of the increased risk of nest destruction and trampling of vegetation. We investigated how different intensities of disturbance from ground‐based military training affected reproductive ecology of Bachman's sparrow (Peucaea aestivalis) from 2014–2016, on Fort Bragg Military Installation, North Carolina, USA. We designated 2 training intensity regimes and monitored sparrows at 6 observation areas, 3 in high‐intensity training areas (i.e., foot traffic every 1–3 days) and 3 in low‐intensity training (i.e., foot traffic <1 per month) areas. We compared seasonal productivity metrics and daily nest survival between training intensities. Additionally, we compared male sparrow relative abundance and micro‐habitat use between high‐ and low‐intensity training areas. We monitored 106 male territories and located 110 nests opportunistically and by tracking telemetered female sparrows. We used fixed‐radius point counts to estimate relative abundance in each observation area and measured vegetation composition and structure at a subset of 10 locations in each male territory. Seasonal productivity metrics, daily nest survival, relative abundance, and vegetation composition and structure at male locations did not differ between areas with high and low military training intensity. In 2015, 1 sparrow nest was trampled by military personnel, but ≥1 nestling force‐fledged and the nest was considered successful. Bachman's sparrow nesting ecology was not affected by intensity of ground‐based military training activity, likely because activity was sufficiently dispersed across the landscape, even in high‐intensity training areas. We recommend ground‐based training attempts to minimize ground vegetation destruction by dispersing large groups and traversing variable routes when in forested uplands. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.}, number={1}, journal={The Journal of Wildlife Management}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Fish, Alexander C. and Moorman, Christopher E. and Schillaci, Jessica M. and DePerno, Christopher S.}, year={2019}, month={Jan}, pages={72–79} }
 @article{winiarski_fish_moorman_carpenter_deperno_schillaci_2017, title={Nest-site selection and nest survival of Bachman's Sparrows in two longleaf pine communities}, volume={119}, ISSN={["1938-5129"]}, DOI={10.1650/condor-16-220.1}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) ecosystems of the southeastern United States have experienced high rates of habitat loss and fragmentation, coinciding with dramatic population declines of a variety of taxa that inhabit the system. The Bachman's Sparrow (Peucaea aestivalis), a species closely associated with fire-maintained longleaf pine communities, is listed as a species of conservation concern across its entire range. Bachman's Sparrow breeding biology may provide valuable insights into population declines and inform restoration and management of remnant longleaf pine forest, but the species' secretive nesting habits have received little attention. We located 132 Bachman's Sparrow nests in the Coastal Plain and Sandhills physiographic regions of North Carolina, USA, during 2014–2015, and modeled nest-site selection and nest survival as a function of vegetation characteristics, burn history, temporal factors, and landscape-level habitat amount. There were distinct differences in nest-site selection between regions, with Bachman's Sparrows in the Coastal Plain region selecting greater woody vegetation density and lower grass density at nest sites than at non-nest locations. In contrast, sparrows selected nest sites with intermediate grass density and higher tree basal area in the Sandhills region. Despite clear patterns of nest-site selection, we detected no predictors of nest survival in the Sandhills, and nest survival varied only with date in the Coastal Plain. Daily survival rates were similar between regions, and were consistent with published studies from the species' core range where declines are less severe. Overall, our results indicate that creating and maintaining community-specific vegetation characteristics through the application of frequent prescribed fire should increase the amount of nesting cover for Bachman's Sparrows.}, number={3}, journal={CONDOR}, author={Winiarski, Jason M. and Fish, Alexander C. and Moorman, Christopher E. and Carpenter, John P. and DePerno, Christopher S. and Schillaci, Jessica M.}, year={2017}, month={Aug}, pages={361–374} }
 @article{peterson_streby_lehman_kramer_fish_andersen_2015, title={High-tech or field techs: Radio-telemetry is a cost-effective method for reducing bias in songbird nest searching}, volume={117}, ISSN={["1938-5129"]}, DOI={10.1650/condor-14-124.1}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT We compared the efficacy of standard nest-searching methods with finding nests via radio-tagged birds to assess how search technique influenced our determination of nest-site characteristics and nest success for Golden-winged Warblers (Vermivora chrysoptera). We also evaluated the cost-effectiveness of using radio-tagged birds to find nests. Using standard nest-searching techniques for 3 populations, we found 111 nests in locations with habitat characteristics similar to those described in previous studies: edges between forest and relatively open areas of early successional vegetation or shrubby wetlands, with 43% within 5 m of forest edge. The 83 nests found using telemetry were about half as likely (23%) to be within 5 m of forest edge. We spent little time searching >25 m into forest because published reports state that Golden-winged Warblers do not nest there. However, 14 nests found using telemetry (18%) were >25 m into forest. We modeled nest success using nest-searching method, nest age, and distance to forest edge as explanatory variables. Nest-searching method explained nest success better than nest age alone; we estimated that nests found using telemetry were 10% more likely to fledge young than nests found using standard nest-searching methods. Although radio-telemetry was more expensive than standard nest searching, the cost-effectiveness of both methods differed depending on searcher experience, amount of equipment owned, and bird population density. Our results demonstrate that telemetry can be an effective method for reducing bias in Golden-winged Warbler nest samples, can be cost competitive with standard nest-searching methods in some situations, and is likely to be a useful approach for finding nests of other forest-nesting songbirds.}, number={3}, journal={CONDOR}, author={Peterson, Sean M. and Streby, Henry M. and Lehman, Justin A. and Kramer, Gunnar R. and Fish, Alex C. and Andersen, David E.}, year={2015}, month={Aug}, pages={386–395} }