Tessa Boucher

First Name: 
Tessa
Last Name: 
Boucher
Mentor: 
Dr. James Bednarz
Abstract: 
Painted Buntings (Passerina ciris) are found in suitable Texas habitat during their breeding season from May-August. Their populations have declined due to habitat degradation in parts of their range causing them to be a species of Conservation Concern. They prefer a mix of open prairie with shrubs and small trees. We established two study grids comprising 38 ha with grid points flagged at 50 m intervals in savanna and woodland edge habitat at the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area in Lewisville, TX. We conducted systematic nest searching with 3-6 observers by walking linear transects. Nest searching was repeated in all sections every 1-2 weeks. When nests were found, they were flagged and GPS coordinates were recorded. Occupied nests were checked every 2-4 days to monitor survival. 27 vegetation attributes were measured within 10 m of each nest and a paired random site within 70 m of the nest. We analyzed data collected at 19 nest sites and 19 random sites to determine the habitat attributes that may be selected by Painted Buntings for their nest locations. We found that bunting nest sites had greater average canopy cover (mean = 67.4%) compared to random sites (56.6%). Also, nest sites had more vegetation cover above the ground from 1-2.5 m in height (mean = 53.3%) than random locations (42.8%). Management for a mix of grassland and woodland habitat with about 67% canopy cover and thick understory vegetation cover of 1-2.5 m in height would provide suitable nesting habitat for the Painted Bunting.
Poster: 
Habitat Attributes of Painted Bunting Nest Sites in North Texas