Effects of leg flags on nest survival of four species of Arctic‐breeding shorebirds

Emily L. Weiser; Richard B. Lanctot; Stephen C. Brown; H. River Gates; Rebecca L. Bentzen; Megan L. Boldenow; Jenny A. Cunningham; Andrew C. Doll; Tyrone F. Donnelly; Willow B. English; Samantha E. Franks; Kristen Grond; Patrick Herzog; Brooke L. Hill; Steve J. Kendall; Eunbi Kwon; David B. Lank; Joseph R. Liebezeit; Jennie Rausch; Sarah T. Saalfeld; Audrey R. Taylor; David H. Ward; Paul F. Wood; Brett K. Sandercock

doi:10.1111/jofo.12264

Effects of leg flags on nest survival of four species of Arctic‐breeding shorebirds

Journal of Field Ornithology

By: Emily L. Weiser, Richard B. Lanctot, Stephen C. Brown, H. River Gates, Rebecca L. Bentzen, Megan L. Boldenow, Jenny A. Cunningham, Andrew C. Doll, Tyrone F. Donnelly, Willow B. English, Samantha E. Franks, Kristen Grond, Patrick Herzog, Brooke L. Hill, Steve J. Kendall, Eunbi Kwon, David B. Lank, Joseph R. Liebezeit, Jennie Rausch, Sarah T. Saalfeld, Audrey R. Taylor, David H. Ward, Paul F. Wood, and Brett K. Sandercock

https://doi.org/10.1111/jofo.12264

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Abstract

Marking wild birds is an integral part of many field studies. However, if marks affect the vital rates or behavior of marked individuals, any conclusions reached by a study might be biased relative to the general population. Leg bands have rarely been found to have negative effects on birds and are frequently used to mark individuals. Leg flags, which are larger, heavier, and might produce more drag than bands, are commonly used on shorebirds and can help improve resighting rates. However, no one to date has assessed the possible effects of leg flags on the demographic performance of shorebirds. At seven sites in Arctic Alaska and western Canada, we marked individuals and monitored nest survival of four species of Arctic‐breeding shorebirds, including Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla), Western Sandpipers (C. mauri), Red‐necked Phalaropes (Phalaropus lobatus), and Red Phalaropes (P. fulicarius). We used a daily nest survival model in a Bayesian framework to test for effects of leg flags, relative to birds with only bands, on daily survival rates of 1952 nests. We found no evidence of a difference in nest survival between birds with flags and those with only bands. Our results suggest, therefore, that leg flags have little effect on the nest success of Arctic‐breeding sandpipers and phalaropes. Additional studies are needed, however, to evaluate the possible effects of flags on shorebirds that use other habitats and on survival rates of adults and chicks.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Effects of leg flags on nest survival of four species of Arctic‐breeding shorebirds
Series title	Journal of Field Ornithology
DOI	10.1111/jofo.12264
Volume	89
Issue	3
Year Published	2018
Language	English
Publisher	Wiley
Contributing office(s)	Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
Description	11 p.
First page	287
Last page	297
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page