Repository logo
 

Effects of birdwatchers on sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) behavior at spring stopover sites in the San Luis Valley, Colorado

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorWilkins, Kate, author
dc.contributor.authorMoore, John, advisor
dc.contributor.authorBowser, Gillian, advisor
dc.contributor.authorAngeloni, Lisa, committee member
dc.contributor.authorPejchar, Liba, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2007-01-03T08:40:49Z
dc.date.available2007-01-03T08:40:49Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstractHuman recreational activities can disturb wildlife by causing animals to alter feeding patterns, or change feeding locations. Migratory birds in particular can be susceptible to disturbance since they have limited time for resting, feeding and courtship along their migratory routes. Sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) are an iconic and charismatic species that stop in Colorado's San Luis Valley during each spring and fall migration, which has led to an annual spring bird watching festival at the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. The goal of this research was to understand how birdwatchers drawn by the festival affect the behavior of sandhill cranes in this important migration stopover site. For the purposes of this research, "birdwatchers" are defined as any person present in the pullouts where we conducted observations of crane behavior. The behavior of sandhill cranes was observed using focal animal sampling techniques during March 2010 and 2011 at sites both on and off the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. The number of birdwatchers at a particular site did not affect the time cranes spent in vigilance postures; however, cranes spent more time vigilant on the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge than on privately owned lands, where there were fewer observers. Overall, the results of this study suggest that the birdwatchers during the festival had minimal impact on sandhill crane behavior on the refuge, including open lands managed as agricultural fields. The results of this research can inform adaptive management approaches to balance bird watching opportunities and the needs of charismatic migratory species.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediummasters theses
dc.identifierWilkins_colostate_0053N_11532.pdf
dc.identifierETDF2012400462ECOL
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10217/75300
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2000-2019
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectbird behavior
dc.subjectrisk-disturbance hypothesis
dc.subjecthuman disturbance to wildlife
dc.titleEffects of birdwatchers on sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) behavior at spring stopover sites in the San Luis Valley, Colorado
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineEcology
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (M.S.)

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Wilkins_colostate_0053N_11532.pdf
Size:
313.33 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download

Collections

2000-2019
Theses and Dissertations