Year: 1994
Type: article
Abstract: Lack of estimates of nesting success and annual survival of North American rails limits our ability to monitor rail populations, regulate harvest levels, and institute recovery programs.We here present Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) and Sora (Porzana carolina) population trends from Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS) throughout North America, estimates of nesting success from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology' s Nest Record Program, and estimates of survival from radio-marked and banded birds in Arizona, 1985-1987.Virginia Rail populations declined 2.2% annually from 1982-1991, and Sora populations declined 3.3% annually from 1966-1991.Annual survival probability of radiomarked and banded Virginia Rails in Arizona was 0.526 2 0.195 and 0.532 & 0.128, respectively.Non-breeding survival probability did not differ between radio-marked Virginia Rails (0.545 2 0.191) and Soras (0.308 * 0.256) in Arizona.All documented mortality occurred between October and March for both Virginia Rails and Soras.Virginia Rail and Sora nesting success was 53%.Despite reproductive success and survival rates adequate for population maintenance, rail populations appear to have declined proportionately with continental wetland loss.Received 24 Sept. 1993,
Language: English
Topic: Avian ecology and behavior
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2164891990