Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus) Breeding Resource Selection and Nest Survival in Northern New York

Abstract

Expanding understanding of species ecology across different spatial scales, geographic ranges, and behaviors aids in implementing management actions to support populations. The Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus) is a species of conservation concern in New York. Breeding Whip-poor-will research often focuses on auditory occupancy modeling at regional scales, leaving knowledge gaps in aspects like home range structure and selection, non-vocal behaviors, nesting ecology, and smaller-scale resource selection. I investigated Whip-poor-will home range, landcover, and fine-scale resource selection, nest site selection, and daily nest survival within the alvar barren regions of Jefferson County, NY by monitoring individuals with ground-based telemetry during the 2023 and 2024 breeding seasons. Home ranges averaged 19.0 ha. Whip-poor-wills selected home ranges with increased forest edge density and intermediate proportions of upland forest, with peak selection at 49.3% forest. In study properties with more grassland/agriculture, Whip-poor-wills selected home ranges with more shrublands/open barrens. During the day and at night, Whip-poor-wills selected for shrublands and dense forests and avoided developed areas, with little preference for forest type or fine-scale structural characteristics. I also found many Whip-poor-will nests (n = 38) in shrublands and forests, which were always < 2.8 m from a tree stem. Whip-poor-wills in this region selected for nest sites in mixed forest patches with increased basal area and more shrub cover. However, Whip-poor-wills also selected for increased visibility immediately around their nests. All nest patches had deciduous tree cover, but Whip-poor-wills selected more coniferous tree cover up to 47.5%. Whip-poor-wills also selected nest sites with more leaf and needle ground cover, not solely on leaf cover as past accounts suggest. Daily nest survival was good (0.979) but decreased with closer proximity to trees and more leaf and needle ground cover. These results indicate that managing for patchy mosaics of upland forest and shrublands will be beneficial for breeding Whip-poor-will populations by supporting their diurnal, nocturnal, and overall home range activities. Additionally, maintaining mixed forest patches, retaining residual trees in shrublands, and partial shrub removal in possible breeding areas will be beneficial for providing more quality Whip-poor-will nesting habitat.