Christie, Katie

The Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) is a steeply declining shorebird that breeds across boreal North America. I studied nest survival in Anchorage, Alaska, USA and Churchill, Manitoba, Canada and nest site selection factors in Churchill. Nests were monitored at each site and daily nest survival rates (DSR) were calculated based on a maximum likelihood approach. Overall nest survival was ~63% for Anchorage (lcl–ucl = 0.450–0.773, n=49) and ~28% (lcl–ucl = 0.113–0.481, n=26) for Churchill. Earlier initiation dates, warmer mid-incubation temperatures and lower temperature variability during nesting were linked with higher DSR. I tested nest site selection at territorial and microhabitat scales using multiple logistic regression to compare nest sites with random points. Lesser Yellowlegs selected territories further from water and, at the microhabitat scale, taller shrubs. Projected climate-related shifts in weather and habitat will likely present both benefits and challenges to Lesser Yellowlegs.

Keywords: Lesser Yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes, shorebird, nest survival, nest success, nesting habitat, breeding habitat, boreal, sub-arctic, climate change, Anchorage, Alaska, Churchill, Manitoba

Author Keywords: boreal, breeding habitat, Lesser Yellowlegs, nest survival, shorebird, Tringa flavipes