Upland Nesting of American Bitterns, Marsh Hawks, and Short-Eared Owls

American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) Science Article 4

abstract

Nests of American bitterns lentiginosus) marsh hawks (Circus cyaneus), and short-eared owls (Asio u ually found in wetland habitats. Although large marshes containing dense stands of bulrushes (Scirpus), (Typha) , or other wetland vegetation are favored nesting cover , these birds have also been reported to nest in stands of tall, dense shrubs and grasses on the upland (Bent 1961, 1963; Palmer 1962; Sealy 1967; Stewart 15). During 1968-74, weregularlyfounduplandnests ofthese threespecieswhileconducting duck nesting studies in planted fields of undisturbed grass-legwne cover in the Dakotas (Duebbert and Lokemoen 1976). aUf findings on nest d nsities, hatchingsuccess, site characteristics, clutch sizes, and other ecological factors are presented in this paper.

Harold F. Duebbert and John T. Lokemoen, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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