Nest repair behavior in birds nesting in salt marshes

Studied 5 species of birds nesting in salt marshes in New Jersey to determine their ability to respond to natural and experimental changes in their nests. Laughing gulls and clapper rails nest in the lowest areas of the marsh, common terns nest in intermediate areas, and herring gulls and mallards nest in high marsh areas. Manipulations of nests included wetting nests and differentially removing nest material. Nests were also observed following a high tide. There were differences in nest repair as a function of species and treatments. Laughing gulls and rails significantly repaired nests under most conditions, herring gulls and common terns repaired nests under some conditions, and mallards never repaired their nests. It is concluded that, generally, species are responsive to nest changes as a function of their nesting location in the marsh. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).