Micro-Habitat Characteristics of Mountain Plover Nest Sites

Abstract

This study was conducted on shortgrass prairie in northeast Colorado to determine micro-habitat characteristics of nest sites for mountain plover (Charadrius montanus Townsend). Vegetation and soil surface characteristics were sampled in the spring of 1996-97 at and near 16 nests to identify important micro-habitat characteristics for site selection. We collected data on plant structure and canopy cover near nests in the spring during 2 years. Mean bare ground within a 15 m radius of the nest was 24 percent and bare ground patch size was 29 cm2. Mountain plovers selected nest sites that had short plant structure and a mean visual obstruction reading (VOR) of 0.6 cm. Plant structure (VOR) from 4 m to 15 m was significantly greater than structure at 0 to 2 m from the nest.