2025/07/30 by Bridget Re, Sarah M. Karpanty, Elizabeth A. Hunter · 1 voice
Environmental Science · #Avian ecology and behavior #Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics #Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
paper · doi:10.1080/15594491.2025.2535832
openalex publication_date 2025/07/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Saltmarsh Sparrows (Ammospiza caudacuta), a tidal-marsh specialist, face severe population declines due to habitat loss, sea-level rise, and predation. While previous research suggests that predation pressure increases at the southern extent of the species’ breeding range, data on local predator communities remain limited. To address this, we deployed game cameras at 16 Saltmarsh Sparrow nests across four salt marshes on Virginia’s eastern shore, the southern-most extent of their breeding range. Our study provides camera-documented evidence of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) predation on Saltmarsh Sparrow nests. We detected a suspected predation event by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and four other potential nest predators. Additionally, we detected a Willet (Tringa semipalmata) aggressively displacing a nesting female, suggesting interspecific interactions may contribute to nest failure.