Nest site characteristics and nest loss of Marsh Grassbird at Zhalong National Nature Reserve, China

Abstract

The Marsh Grassbird Locustella pryeri is an uncommon songbird endemic to East Asia. Suitable nest-site selection can minimize nest loss, especially for open-cup and ground nesting passerines. We located and monitored 66 Marsh Grassbird nests during 2004–2006 in Zhalong National Nature Reserve, northeast China, to identify characteristics of preferred nest sites. Marsh Grassbird nested mainly at sites with dense vegetation cover, high undergrowth and dry standing reed stalks, as well as small shallow ponds or rivers. Nests were more successful when they were placed higher above ground in patches with greater litter thickness. Predation and flooding were the leading causes of nest failure, accounting for at least 33 and 25 % of 24 nests lost, respectively. We advocate retention of some unharvested reed patches and implementation of irrigation strategies that avoid increasing water levels during the breeding period (May–July) of Marsh Grassbirds.

Keywords

Flooding / Japanese Marsh Warbler / Locustella pryeri / Nest site / Predation / Zhalong

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