Nest site characteristics of the Critically Endangered Bahama Oriole (Icterus northropi)
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Date
2020-12-15
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Citation of Original Publication
Yancy, B.M., J.M. Antalffy, M.G. Rowley, C.N. McKoy, D.C. Stonko, L.E. Rolle, J.L. Christhilf, S.B. Johnson, S. Cant-Woodside, and K.E. Omland (2020), Nest site characteristics of the Critically Endangered Bahama Oriole (Icterus northropi), Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 33:95–103, https://jco.birdscaribbean.org/index.php/jco/article/view/1242
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Attribution 3.0 Unported
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Abstract
The Bahama Oriole (Icterus northropi) is a Critically Endangered species restricted to Andros in The Bahamas. Previous research suggested that the Bahama Oriole nested almost exclusively in coconut palms (Cocos nucifera) in developed habitats. In 2016, however, the Bahama Oriole was documented nesting in remote pine forests for the first time. Our goals were to document where orioles nest in pine forests and to characterize nest site vegetation to determine if orioles show a preference for specific habitat characteristics. Here, we document 12 pine forest nests: six nests in understory Key thatch palms (Leucothrinax morrisii) and six nests in Caribbean pines (Pinus caribaea). For each nest tree, we measured the tree height, tree diameter, and nest height. We also took measurements of habitat characteristics in 10-m and 100-m radius plots around the nest and compared these measurements to control plots. Orioles nested in a range of pine forest habitats. However, on average, Bahama Orioles nested in pine forests with more tall thatch palms (> 2 m tall) in the understory compared to control plots. They also tended to nest in the tallest thatch palms in the understory. The findings from this study further support the importance of protecting Bahamian pine forests on Andros.