NONBREEDING BALD EAGLE COMMUNAL AND SOLITARY ROOSTING BEHAVIOR AND ROOST HABITAT ON THE NORTHERN CHESAPEAKE BAY

被引:23
作者
BUEHLER, DA
MERSMANN, TJ
FRASER, JD
SEEGAR, JKD
机构
[1] VIRGINIA POLYTECH INST & STATE UNIV, DEPT FISHERIES & WILDLIFE SCI, BLACKSBURG, VA 24061 USA
[2] USA, CTR CHEM RES DEV & ENGN, ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD 21010 USA
关键词
D O I
10.2307/3809150
中图分类号
Q14 [生态学(生物生态学)];
学科分类号
071012 ; 0713 ;
摘要
We studied roosting behavior and habitat use of nonbreeding bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) on the northern Chesapeake Bay during 1986-89. In summer and winter, 11 and 13 communal roosts, respectively, and many solitary roosts were used simultaneously in the 3,426-km2 study area. Radio-tagged eagles roosted solitarily with differing frequency by season (60, 21, 39, and 44% of 81 eagle nights in summer, fall, winter, and spring, respectively) (P < 0.05). Roost trees, predominantly oaks (Quercus spp.) or yellow poplars (Liriodendron tulipifera), were larger in diameter and provided greater conopy cover than random trees (P < 0.05). Roost sites had snags present more often than did random sites (P < 0.01). Most roosts (86%) were in woodlots > 40 ha, and none were in human-developed habitat. In contrast, only 23% of random sites were in woodlots > 40 ha, and 9% were in developed areas. Roosts were farther from human development than were random sites (P < 0.05); 57% of the roosts were found on public lands, compared to only 20% of the random sites (P < 0.001). Winter roost sites were protected from prevailing northerly winds more often than were summer sites (P < 0.05). We prescribe a 1,360-m-wide shoreline management zone that extends 1,400 m inland to encompass roost sites and provide a buffer from human disturbance.
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页码:273 / 281
页数:9
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