PARENT SESSION
Contributed Oral Session 36: Late Breaking and Newsworthy Research: Distribution; Disturbance
Monday, August 8, 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM, Meeting Room 524 C, Level 5, Palais des congrès de Montréal

Multiple scale analysis informs habitat management for the endangered Sierra Madre Sparrow.

Cabrera-García, Leonardo^*,1, Seutin, Gilles², ¹ McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada² Parks Canada, Hull, Quebec, Canada

ABSTRACT- Understanding nest site preferences at different spatial scales is crucial for the development of effective conservation initiatives for birds. We examined nest site conditions and nesting success in the endangered Sierra Madre Sparrow (Xenospiza baileyi) at three biologically relevant scales: nest-supporting plant, habitat patch (100 m²), and landscape (50m-radius circles). We evaluated habitat characteristics and nesting success through standard techniques and compared nesting (n=31) against random sites. Data were analyzed by uni-multivariate statistics and logistic regression models. Sierra Madre Sparrows prefered habitat conditions that increase nest concealment at all scales. At the plant scale, tall Festuca lugens plants that had a high ground cover score and basal diameter were favored. At the patch scale, nesting sites had taller vegetation and higher coverage of bunchgrasses than random sites. At landscape scale, the sparrow prefered mature grassland patches (i.e., 3+ yr without fire) located far from agricultural fields. We only found variables at the patch scale to significantly covary with nesting success: less young were produced from nests in more open habitats covered with shorter grasses and showing higher evidence of grazing. From this we derived habitat management recommendations relevant to each spatial scale that were shared with local stakeholders.

Key words: Xenospiza baileyi, Nest site selection, Multiple scales, Valley of Mexico