Predation of a Wintering Migratory Songbird by Introduced Rats: Can Nocturnal Roosting Behavior Serve as Predator Avoidance?

摘要: Abstract. Many studies have demonstrated the deleterious effects of introduced predators on resident populations island birds, but few quantified their effect survival and space-use behavior migratory species. We used radio telemetry to investigate winter roosting patterns Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) at two sites in Dominican Republic. Depredation by rats was only cause mortality among 53 radio-tagged individuals monitored between January March over multiple years; five (9%) marked were depredated. Predator trapping revealed presence both black rat (Rattus rattus) Norway (R. norvegicus) that density higher broadleaf cloud forest than nearby pine forest. Some thrushes exclusively during day roosted night adjacent habitat. suggest exert predation pressure wintering Republic t...