The effects of artificial light on nesting and feeding behaviors in eastern bluebirds and tree swallows


SOCIETY FOR INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
2021 VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING (VAM)
January 3 – Febuary 28, 2021

Meeting Abstract


1-8  Sat Jan 2  The effects of artificial light on nesting and feeding behaviors in eastern bluebirds and tree swallows Utt, DJ*; Foltz, SL; Radford University, Radford, VA; Radford University, Radford, VA dutt1@radford.edu

Artificial light at night has been shown in numerous studies to impact the behavior of several species of wildlife across a wide variety of taxa. Research performed in the past has shown that animals living in environments where levels of artificial light are higher use that light to their advantage, hunting and foraging more often at night. Research has also shown that artificial light at night is harmful to many species as well, disrupting circadian rhythms and potentially increasing predation risk. In this project, we sought to understand the effects had by artificial light on nesting and foraging behaviors in the eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) and the tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor). We measured light levels at all boxes three times and monitored box occupancy and observed parental feeding visits to nestlings at sunset between June and August 2020. Statistical analyses are on-going, but we hypothesized that nestboxes with higher levels of artificial light around them were used less frequently than boxes that remained in the dark. We also predict that birds living in boxes exposed to higher levels of artificial light will feed more frequently and/or longer after sunset than those in darker boxes.

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