Shrubsteppe and grassland songbirds are declining faster than any other group of birds in North America and there is evidence that fragmentation by agriculture is decreasing nest success of songbirds in adjacent habitat by changing the nest predator community.  This study will investigate whether vineyards alter the songbird nest predator community in adjacent remnant of shrubsteppe habitat, and if so, whether there is an affect on the distribution and/or productivity of songbirds. 
 
Our research includes the entire avian community, but focuses on Vesper Sparrows as an indicator species. Vesper Sparrows are a regionally common, yet declining species of ground-nesting, grassland songbird.

For more detail on this project click HERE.

David Green
Elly Knight

Nancy Mahony