Camp Robinson Bird Survey Results

Bachman’s Sparrows

Beginning in late April 1999, we searched Camp Robinson for Bachman’s Sparrows and their habitat.  We recorded 44 detections of sparrows.  Many of these detections were of the same individuals – there were probably 15 or so singing birds during the study.  Some of these birds were present throughout the study.  Others were only seen once or twice.  We also found 2 nests and 2 groups of fledglings, showing that Camp Robinson is used for breeding by sparrows.  Based on the continued presence of singing males at several locations, we estimate that 7-9 pairs attempted to breed in 1999.

All but one sparrow was found in old fields with a grassy understory and a few scattered trees.  The exception was found singing in a small opening in a planting of pines.  We measured several characteristics of the vegetation at spots where sparrows were found and made comparisons to vegetation at random spots in open fields.  For the most part, the vegetation was similar, but there were fewer shrubs in sparrow habitat.  

This old field edge contained a Bachman's Sparrow nest

Northern Bobwhites

As we did for the other species of concern, we searched for Northern Bobwhites and their habitat beginning in late April.  We recorded 149 detections.  As with sparrows, many individuals were detected multiple times.   

We found bobwhites in a variety of habitats, but they were most common in and near old fields.  We measured vegetation characteristics at locations where we found bobwhites and then made comparisons to vegetation at random spots in old fields.  At bobwhite locations, there were greater amounts of canopy cover and shrubs and less ground cover and ground vegetation density.  

Ted surveys a Northern Bobwhite transect

 Brown-headed Cowbirds and Nest Parasitism

We recorded the locations of Brown-headed Cowbirds beginning in late April.  We recorded 145 locations.  Unlike the other species we studied, cowbirds were widespread on Camp Robinson and were found in almost all areas and habitats we visited.  However, they appeared to be most numerous in old fields.  

We found and monitored 46 nests of potential cowbird host species.  Most of the nests were located in old fields.  We found 6 nests (13 percent) that were parasitized by cowbirds, but of those 6 nests, the host bird accepted the egg in only 2 cases.  Host birds usually abandoned the nest when a cowbird laid an egg in it.  Of course, cowbirds may have parasitized nests more frequently; however, finding a nest after it has been abandoned is very difficult.  Also, we would not know if a nest was parasitized if the host ejected the cowbird’s egg.   

The top and bottom eggs in this Kentucky Warbler nest were laid by cowbirds	Three host eggs and one cowbird egg ultimately hatched, but the nest was later destroyed by a mammalian predator

Compared to cowbird parasitism, nest predation was a much more frequent cause of nest failure.  Nineteen of the 46 nests were depredated, and an equal number successfully fledged young.   In many cases of predation, the nest structure was not disturbed, suggesting that the major nest predators were snakes – mammals such as raccoons tend to pull the nest down.  

Loggerhead Shrikes and Cerulean Warblers

During our searches for Loggerhead Shrikes and Cerulean Warblers, we located only 2 shrikes and 1 warbler, and all birds were seen only once in April and May. The individuals we found were probably still migrating.  These species are probably not breeding on Camp Robinson.   

List of Birds, Reptiles, Mammals, and Butterflies observed at Camp Robinson