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Article: Nesting success of Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) using nest boxes in vineyard and oak-savannah habitats of California.
- Article from:
- The Wilson Journal of Ornithology
- Article date:
- December 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Wilson Ornithological Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The loss of oak woodland habitat to vineyard expansion is a growing concern in California (Zack 2002). More than 100 bird species breed in California's oak woodlands (Verner 1980), making the loss and degradation of this habitat particularly problematic. In San Luis Obispo County, California, land used for viticulture increased from 4,008 to 10,851 ha between 1996 and 2000 (Mummert et al. 2002). Conservationists generally view vineyards as sub-optimal habitat for birds due to the potential impacts of pesticides and herbicides, habitat fragmentation, attraction of nonnative bird species and predators, loss of wildlife shelter and forage, and changes to the native plant ...