Cavity-nesting bird use of nest boxes in vineyards of central-coast California

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Publication Information

Title: Cavity-nesting bird use of nest boxes in vineyards of central-coast California

Author: Mummert, Daniel P.; Baines, Laura; Tietje, William D.

Date: 2002

Source: In: Standiford, Richard B., et al, tech. editor. Proceedings of the Fifth Symposium on Oak Woodlands: Oaks in California's Challenging Landscape. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-184, Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture: 335-340

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Station ID: GTR-PSW-184

Description: Oak woodland habitat is being degraded or replaced by vineyards in many areas of central-coastal California. Oak woodlands are home to many insectivorous, cavity-nesting birds that would be beneficial in and around vineyards. During March to June 2001, we used bluebird nest boxes to study nest box use and productivity of cavity-nesting birds in vineyards versus adjacent oak woodlands. In February 2001, we placed 18 nest boxes 50 m apart in vineyards and in adjacent oak woodland at four woodland/vineyard paired sites in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. During April to June, we visited the sites 10 times for a total of 720 nest box checks. Boxes were used by two species of cavity-nesting birds in vineyards and six species in woodlands. Nest box occupancy, clutch size, and number of nestlings were nearly equal within and outside the vineyards. This study provides preliminary evidence that nest boxes may help mitigate oak woodland habitat loss by vineyard development in central-coastal California.

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Citation

Mummert, Daniel P.; Baines, Laura; Tietje, William D. 2002. Cavity-nesting bird use of nest boxes in vineyards of central-coast California In: Standiford, Richard B., et al, tech. editor. Proceedings of the Fifth Symposium on Oak Woodlands: Oaks in California's Challenging Landscape. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-184, Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture: 335-340.