MRVAC Presentation: Thursday, May 22 at 7:30 pm
How do Birds Choose a Nest Site?
By Doug Johnson
Scientists as well as laypersons have long thought about the processes that
birds use to select a territory for breeding. Such information is critical for
conservation activities, so that proper habitat can be protected or managed.
It is useful too for birders seeking to find particular species. Historically,
most research on the topic focused on the vegetative and physical
characteristics of the birds' territories, song perches, or nest sites. More
recently, emphasis has shifted to larger scales, involving habitat patch
characteristics and landscape features. In addition, some birds seem to use
the presence or behavior of other birds to select a site. This talk will review
the topic as well as present some new findings, with an emphasis on grassland
birds.
Douglas Johnson is a research statistician and senior scientist with the US
Geological Survey's Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, headquartered in
Jamestown, North Dakota. He also serves as Adjunct Professor in Conservation
Biology and Wildlife Conservation. Doug and his colleagues have conducted a
variety of studies of grassland and wetland birds in North and South Dakota,
Montana, and Minnesota. He currently serves as Associate Editor for The Auk
and Book Review Editor for the Prairie Naturalist.
When: Please join us at 7:00 pm at the Minnesota Valley Unitarian Universalist
Fellowship to socialize over coffee and cookies from 7:00 - 7:30 pm. A brief
business meeting and the featured speaker begin at 7:30 pm. The meeting
concludes at 9:00 pm. MRVAC meetings are free and open to the public.
Where: The Minnesota Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 10715 Zenith Ave
S Bloomington, south of Old Shakopee Road between France Ave and Penn Ave
Steve Weston,
MRVAC Program Chair
sweston2 at comcast.net
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