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Factors Affecting Nest Success of Colonial Nesting Waterbirds in Southwest Louisiana

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Abstract

Subsidence and accelerated sea level rise impact nesting area availability and flood probabilities of breeding islands for colonial nesting waterbirds. In 2017 and 2018, we monitored 855 nests of four species of colonial nesting waterbirds on Rabbit Island, LA, to determine factors affecting nest and chick success. Based on logistic exposure models of nests, tricolored herons had the greatest likelihood of survival to hatch (mean (95% confidence interval)) (77% (65.9–83.1%)), followed by brown pelicans (70% (59.9–98.5%)), roseate spoonbills (70% (38.9–83.8%)), and Forster’s terns (12% (10.7–12.2%)). Likelihood of survival to fledge was highest for tricolored herons (32% (12.8–40.7%)), followed by brown pelicans (28% (19.5–28.6%)), roseate spoonbills (47% (43.7–53.3%)), and Forster’s terns (0% (0.005–0.01%)). Nesting strategy and nest timing impacted survival rate; however, the effect depended on timing of inundation events as the timing of inundation events varied across years. Flooding was the primary cause of nest failure for most species. In 2003–2012, rapid expansion in brown pelican colony numbers and significant chick production occurred at Rabbit Island, but hydrologic records indicate no island inundation occurred during the breeding season from the beginning of the hydrologic record (2006) through 2011. Thus, our results contrast with those of previous studies conducted under different hydrologic conditions and demonstrate the challenges of short-term studies informing coastal restoration in a system that is influenced by multi-year to multi-decadal climatic cycles.

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Acknowledgements

We thank M. McFarland, S. Buller, W. Kroschel, E. Bonczek, and others for their valuable help in the field. J. A. Nyman provided many useful comments on early drafts of this paper. All activities were performed in accordance with LSU Agricultural Center IACUC protocol A2017-03. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the US Government.

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This research was funded by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LSU Agricultural Center, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA

    Karis Ritenour & Michael D. Kaller

  2. Current Affiliation: Manomet, P.O. Box 1770, Manomet, MA, 02345, USA

    Karis Ritenour

  3. U.S. Geological Survey, Louisiana Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA

    Sammy L. King

  4. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, 5476 Grand Chenier Hwy, Grand Chenier, LA, 70643, USA

    Samantha Collins

  5. Present address: The Wetlands Institute, 1075 Stone Harbor Blvd, Stone Harbor, NJ, 08247, USA

    Samantha Collins

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  1. Karis Ritenour
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Correspondence to Sammy L. King.

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Communicated by James Lovvorn

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Ritenour, K., King, S.L., Collins, S. et al. Factors Affecting Nest Success of Colonial Nesting Waterbirds in Southwest Louisiana. Estuaries and Coasts 45, 897–912 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-021-00993-4

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