Meeting Abstract
Artificial light pollution (ALP) has the potential to have far-reaching effects on the behavior and success of many species of wildlife. Increased levels of ALP at night can impact nighttime behaviors, including sleep cycles, roosting sites choices, and predator-prey interactions. ALP could enable hunting or foraging at night but may also expose some species to potential predators. Two species that could be impacted by ALP are the eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) and the tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), native insectivorous songbirds that readily breed in human-developed areas. Here we studied how ALP could potentially affect the parental behavior of these species in both an urban park and a rural farm environment, as well as the potential effect had by ALP on nestling health and the overall success of these birds’ nests. We measured late evening and early morning ALP at nest boxes during the breeding season and monitored the nests progress via regular checks. We also recorded parents’ responses to our nest checks, focusing on defensive behaviors such as alarm calls and dives. Analyses of behavioral data are ongoing but ALP readings at both sites were in most cases lower than expected. Therefore, we predict that effects of ALP on the birds at these sites may be less than expected.
