Radio transmitters did not affect daily nest and chick survival of Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus)
Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
6-1-2018
Abstract
Biologists interested in using radio telemetry to track the movements of birds should concurrently conduct studies to assess potential impacts on study organisms, particularly when monitoring threatened or endangered species. We investigated the effects of traditional and digital very high frequency (VHF) radio transmitters on daily nest survival and chick survival rates of Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) along the Atlantic Coast in 2012, 2013, and 2015. We attached 1.0-1.2 g transmitters to 110 plovers and monitored their 160 nest attempts. We also monitored 221 nest attempts by 161 control pairs with no transmitters. There was no evidence that nest or chick survival differed between tagged and control pairs. Transmitters did not seem to adversely impact Piping Plover daily nest and chick survival and are a valuable tool to monitor movements of this threatened species.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Wilson Journal of Ornithology
Volume
130
Issue
2
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Stantial, Michelle L., Jonathan B. Cohen, Abigail J. Darrah, Kate E. Iaquinto, Pam H. Loring, and Peter W.C. Paton. "Radio transmitters did not affect daily nest and chick survival of Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus)." Wilson Journal of Ornithology 130, 2 (2018). doi: 10.1676/16-214.1.