Breeding ecology of Wandering Tattlers Tringa incana: a study from south-central Alaska
Links
- More Information:
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
Montane-nesting shorebirds are arguably the least studied of the Charadriiformes, owing in part to the remoteness of their breeding areas, low nesting densities, and specialized behaviors. We studied a marked population of the Wandering Tattler Tringa incana, during a three-year period (1997–1999) on nesting grounds in south-central Alaska. Two aspects of our results stand out. First is the previously undescribed preference for tattlers to nest several kilometers removed from pre-nesting feeding areas, mostly in association with both small (kettle) lakes and running water (near small distributaries of major drainages). Second is the apparent use of the study area by cohorts of birds of different breeding status, including (1) local breeders, which defended pre-breeding foraging areas, (2) local non-breeding birds, which remained on the area but were not territorial, and (3) transients that were captured later in the season, but not seen again on the area during the season of capture. We also found that (1) birds tended to nest in clusters despite what appeared to be the ample availability of nesting habitat, (2) they employed an inconspicuous’ nesting strategy whereby neither member of a pair betrayed its presence on the nesting area, and (3) females departed the area during early chick-rearing, leaving males to tend broods.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Breeding ecology of Wandering Tattlers Tringa incana: a study from south-central Alaska |
| Series title | Wader Study Group Bulletin |
| DOI | 10.18194/ws.00016 |
| Volume | 122 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Year Published | 2015 |
| Language | English |
| Contributing office(s) | Alaska Science Center Biology WTEB |
| Description | 16 p. |
| First page | 99 |
| Last page | 114 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Other Geospatial | Turquoise Lake |
| Online Only (Y/N) | N |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |