A comparison of the Characteristics and Fate of Barrow's Goldeneye and Bufflehead Nests in Nest Boxes and Natural Cavities

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Date
2002Author
Evans, M.R.
Lank, D.B.
Boyd, W.S.
Cooke, F.
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Abstract. Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) and Bufflehead (B. albeola) are
cavity-nesting waterfowl that have received considerable attention in studies using nest
boxes, but little is known about their nesting ecology in natural cavities. We found larger
clutch size, lower nesting success, and different major predators for Barrow's Goldeneyes
nesting in boxes versus those nesting in natural cavities, but few differences for Bufflehead.
These differencesa re attributedt o the location and physical differencesb etween Barrow's
Goldeneyen est boxes and naturalc avities that affect theirc onspicuousnesst o predatorsa nd
conspecific nest-parasitizingfe males. Goldeneyeb oxes were concentratedin highly visible
locations such as trees at water or forest edge. Natural cavity nests, on the other hand, were
often abandoned Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) cavities, which were more dispersed
throughout the forest interior and concealed under dense canopy cover. Bufflehead
natural cavity nests were typically closer to edges, which may account for their similarity
with boxes. We conclude that in some respects, studies of Barrow's Goldeneye that use nest
boxes may not be representativeo f birds nesting in naturalc avities, whereast hose of Bufflehead
are more likely to be so.