Date of Graduation

2002

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

Committee Chair

James T. Anderson

Abstract

Islands on the Ohio River contain valuable habitats that are unique and irreplaceable on a national or ecoregion basis. Aquatic habitats connected with the islands and their back channels (areas where commercial traffic is prohibited) provide quality habitats for bottomland hardwood wildlife; however, quantitative data on the importance of these areas are lacking. The objectives of this study were to: 1) compare breeding bird abundance and quality of habitat for cavity-nesting birds between back channel and navigational channel sides of islands, and 2) analyze the effects of nest box placement on cavity-nesting bird-use on the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge, WV. The back channel side ( x = 19.93 cavities/50-m radius plot, SE = 2.48) contained more cavities than the navigational side ( x = 11.58 cavities/50-m radius plot, SE = 1.73) (P < 0.001), so it appears the back channel side is more important for cavity-nesting birds. Cavity-nesting bird abundance (P = 0.180), however, was similar between the back channel and navigational sides. In 2000, bird abundance (P = 0.007) was lower on the back channel side, while bird diversity (P = 0.025) was higher on the back channel side in 2001. Bird species building moss nests in nest boxes appear to select nest sites based on total area of nest boxes visible (F = 5.59, P = 0.023) and orientation of the nest box (F = 6.52, P = 0.014). Total area of nest boxes visible also affected the placement of House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) nests (F = 12.91, P < 0.001) and total wren nests (F = 4.82, P = 0.033). Management should concentrate on restoration of bottomland hardwoods and protection against erosion of the islands.

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