HOME RANGE AND HABITAT SELECTION OF COMMON RAVENS DURING THE BREEDING SEASON IN NORTHERN NEVADA |
| Julia C. Brockman; University of Nevada, Reno; julia.brockman@nevada.unr.edu; Peter S. Coates, Pat J. Jackson, John C. Tull, Perry J. Williams, Julia C. Brockman |
| Anthropogenic resource subsidies have contributed to increasing common raven (Corvus corax) abundance across the Great Basin region of the US. Population increases can negatively affect prey species, including greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse). The raven breeding season closely aligns with that of sage-grouse, when sage-grouse eggs are vulnerable to predation. Understanding raven space use and resource selection during this period is crucial to raven population management and conservation of sensitive prey species with phenological overlaps. Our objective was to estimate raven home ranges and quantify resource selection during the raven breeding season (March 1–June 30). We captured ravens at multiple sites across Nevada from 2015–2020 and used autocorrelated kernel density estimates to model home ranges for 20 bird-years. We employed a use-availability design to model selection for roads, power lines, agricultural fields, natural water sources, and topography. The overall average home range size was 3148.3 km2 (range 4.7 km2–8101.9 km2). Model results indicated selection for anthropogenic features within home ranges. Variability in home range size and patterns of selection may have been the result of differences in breeding status, which could lead to varying impacts on sage-grouse populations. Findings are preliminary and provided for timely best science. |
| Habitat Use, Occupancy and Population Trends of Nevada Wildlife | | Student Paper | | InPerson Presentation |
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