Department
Biology
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Abstract
I investigated the use of riparian areas along the North Fork of the Solomon River and Bow Creek on Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge by migrating birds during the spring of 1997. One banding site and two bird census transects were set up along each of the two watercourses. Along these four transects vegetation structure, vegetation distribution and larval insect larval abundance were assessed; behaviors of foraging birds were also recorded. Two census methods, transect and point counts, were used to estimate bird abundance and species composition along the four transects. The results of the two census methods were not statistically different when comparing groups of species with at least 15 observations. Banding data appeared to underestimate both species richness and number of individuals along the two streams. A total of 33 species were caught mist-netting, while 69 and 68 species were observed along transects and point counts respectively. There was no apparent foraging preference by birds for any particular species of tree. The total number of foraging observations were reflective of tree distribution for the five most commonly measured species. Of the 204 foraging observations, 149 occurred in the outer layer of the sampled species of trees, with the majority of these (n= 121) in the upper half of the canopy.
Keywords
Biology
Advisor
G. H. Farley
Date of Award
Spring 1998
Document Type
Thesis - campus only access
Recommended Citation
Sevigny, Michael S., "Foraging Behavior and Habitat Use by Spring Migrants in North-Central Kansas" (1998). Master's Theses. 2716.
DOI: 10.58809/LQLF4567
Available at:
https://scholars.fhsu.edu/theses/2716
Rights
© The Author(s)
Comments
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