ADULT AND NESTLING BAND RETURNS AND LONG-TERM SURVIVAL MONITORING OF THREE PASSERINE SPECIES
INHABITING THE TITTABAWASSEE RIVER BASIN
Timothy B. Fredricks1, Mike W. Nadeau2, Frouke Vermeulen2, Dustin L. Tazelaar2, Matthew J. Zwiernik1,2
1Department
Abstract
Total concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and
polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) in Tittabawassee River
floodplain soils and sediments collected at study areas (SAs) downstream
of Midland, Michigan, USA, were previously determined to be 10- to 20-fold
greater than those collected at upstream reference areas (RAs). A nest box
trail was established in 2004 to monitor house wren (Troglodytes aedon;
HW), tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor; TS), and eastern bluebird (Sialia
sialis; EB) reproduction in both the RAs and SAs along the Chippewa,
Tittabawassee, and Saginaw rivers.
Nestling survival is commonly
monitored up to “fledge” for passerines but survival after departing the nest
box is rarely monitored. This period naturally has a low survival rate for
fledglings due primarily to starvation or predation. From 2005 through 2009,
adult and nestling passerines were banded while conducting population
health measurements to monitor long-term survival and return rates at the
study sites. Through 2009 over 4,000 individual birds were banded. Not
including recaptures 461, 428, and 170 adult house wrens, tree swallows,
and eastern bluebirds were banded, respectively, while 1655, 1072, and 359
nestlings were banded, respectively. For all species a greater proportion of
adult females were banded compared to males. Forty-three nestlings
returned to breed on site, while 7, 24, and 7 house wren, tree swallow, and
eastern bluebird adults bred on site at least three of the four years. Adult
return rates ranged 15-22%, 32-47%, and 29-30% for house wrens, tree
swallows, and eastern bluebirds, respectively, for the 2006–2009 breeding
seasons.
Incorporating long-term survival monitoring data into the
assessment of ecological risk on the Tittabawassee River will likely lead to
more informed decisions about the potential impact(s) of on-site exposure
and will aid in both the planning and evaluation of effective remedial
actions.
Introduction
o The sediments and floodplain soils of the Tittabawassee River downstream
of Midland MI contain significantly elevated concentrations of two
dibenzofurans.
o As part of a large, site-specific, multi-species, multi-year, multi-line of
evidence study more than 4000 cavity nesting passerine birds were banded
as residents of more than 300 placed bird boxes.
o Information including sex, age, location (nest box) and dates of capture and
recapture were noted for each individual. Clutch size, hatching success,
fledging success, and available tissue contaminant data can also be
associated with nest boxes and specific females.
of Zoology, Center for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
2Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824.
Objective
o Compare adult band return rates and survival for passerines with differing
exposures to PCDFs.
Methods
Results
Table 3. Number of nestlings banded and
number of nestlings returned to area
o Passerines residing downstream of Midland MI (T3-T6) have significantly greater
exposures to dioxin-like compounds than their upstream cohorts (R1-R2)
Table 1. TEQWHO-Avian in eggs and nestlings of house wrens, tree swallows, and eastern
bluebirds collected during 2005-2007 from reference and study areas. Values are
geometric means (ng/kg ww)
Results
Reference areas
Egg residue conc
House wren
Tree swallow
Eastern bluebird
o 2 reference area (R-1, R-2) and 4 exposure area (T-3 to T-6) bird box trails of
30-60 boxes each were placed in 2004
o Boxes were placed proximal to the river and within the 100 year floodplain
o Tissue and dietary contaminant exposure was assessed
o Boxes were monitored daily between 2005-2009 and breeding adults and
nestlings were banded
House
wren
Study areas
R-1
R-2
T-3
T-4
T-5
T-6
10
25
860
360
430
910
Nestling whole body
residue conc
3.4
6.5
290
140
210
300
Egg residue conc
180
280
220
240
2 smpls
220
Tree
swallow
Eastern
bluebird
Number of
nestlings
banded
Number of
nestlings
returned
Reference
areas1
527
4
Study
areas2
1126
5
Reference
areas
364
5
Study areas
708
19
Reference
areas
108
3
Study areas
251
7
1
Nestling whole body
residue conc
25
47
340
320
240
860
Egg residue conc
10
30
150
210
390
510
Nestling whole body
residue conc
2.8
7.6
190
100
No
smpls
690
o Band return rates ranged between 15% and 47% percent depending on species
and area.
o Survival of breeding adults residing in the study area (greater exposure) was
either not different or greater than reference area birds.
Table 2. Number of breeding adults banded by species and by area for the years of 20052008 followed by mean return rates (2006-2009) and yearly survival rate(2006-2009)
Reference areas R-1 and R-2
2 Study areas T-3, T-4, T-5, T-6
Conclusions
o
Study areas had significantly greater exposures of PCDFs
o
Adult band return rates were on the greater end of literature
reported values for all three species.
o
Survival was not different between areas of greater and lesser
exposure for House wrens and Tree swallow adults
o
Predicted survival of Eastern bluebirds was greater in the
exposure area.
Number of
adults banded
%
Return/year
Predicted yearly survival3
(95% confidence interval)
o
PCDF exposure on the Tittabawassee river does not seem to be
adversely effecting adult passerine survival.
Reference areas1
142
22%
77% (59-89)
o
Study areas2
319
15%
67% (54-77)
Considering the low background probability of nestlings
surviving and returning to their natal site to breed; contaminants
exposure does not appear to be affecting post-fledging survival
Reference areas
174
32%
72% (62-80)
Study areas
254
47%
85% (79-90)
Reference areas
79
29%
13% (8-19)
Study areas
91
30%
30% (20-43)
House wren
Tree swallow
Eastern
bluebird
1
Reference areas R-1 and R-2
2 Study areas T-3, T-4, T-5, T-6
3 Predicted using Program MARK, G.C. White (all years combined separately parameterized for
returns and survival)
Funding for this project was provided through an un-restricted grant
from The Dow Chemical Co., Midland, MI.