Author(s): Griffin, G., Morris, J., Rodgers, J. & Snyder, B.
Title: Changes in Wood stork (Mycteria americana) nestling success observed in four Florida bird colonies during the 2004, 2005, and 2006 breeding seasons
Year: 2008
Volume: 54
Pages: 123-130.
Abstract: Concern for the declining population size of the wood stork in the southeastern U.S. compelled federal authorities to list this species as endangered in February 1984. Since this time, efforts have been made to gather productivity data for wood storks nesting in all parts of Florida in hopes of gaining further insight into the trends that drive their fluctuating population size. Weekly surveys were conducted at four east-central Florida bird colonies during the 2004, 2005, and 2006 breeding seasons. Median nestling success decreased significantly at Deseret Ranch (2 to 0 fledglings/nest), Bird Island (1 to 0 fledglings/nest), North Fork (1 to fledglings/nest), and Pelican Island (1 to 0 fledglings/nest) between 2004 and 2005. Median nestling success increased significantly at Deseret Ranch (3 fledglings/nest), North Fork (3 fledglings/nest), and Bird Island (2 fledglings/nest) during the 2006 breeding season. When nest failures were excluded from the analysis, there was no significant difference in median nestling success during 2004 and 2005. Median nestling success observed at Deseret Ranch, North Fork, and Bird Island did, however, differ significantly in 2006 when nest failures were excluded from the analysis. Changes in productivity between years appear to mirror shifts in the hydrology of local foraging habitat.
Keywords: Mycteria americana, wood stork, Florida, productivity, survivorship
Journal: Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae
Journal abbreviation:
ISSN: 1217-8837
Publisher: Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest
Editor(s): Bakonyi, G., Mahunka, S., Papp, L., Báldi, A., Csuzdi, Cs., Forró, L., Andrikovics, S. & Kerekes, J.
