EFFECTS OF RESEARCH ACTIVITY ON PIPING PLOVER NEST PREDATION

Examined whether nest monitoring and other research activities influenced rates of red fox Vulpes vulpes predation on Charadrius melodus nests in Massachusetts. The percentage of nests depredated did not differ significantly between nests where the authors trapped and banded incubating adults and nests where they did not trap. Nest predation was significantly lower for nests monitored from distances of <3 m compared to nests monitored from 3-15 m. Foxes did not follow researcher tracks to nests. Close approach and handling of eggs in artificial plover nests did not produce significantly higher predation rates compared to artificial nests monitored from a distance. -from Authors