Results

ADULT AND NESTLING BAND RETURNS AND LONG-TERM SURVIVAL MONITORING OF THREE PASSERINE SPECIES

INHABITING THE TITTABAWASSEE RIVER BASINTimothy B. Fredricks1, Mike W. Nadeau2, Frouke Vermeulen2, Dustin L. Tazelaar2, Matthew J. Zwiernik1,2

1Department of Zoology, Center for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824

2Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824.

Funding for this project was provided through an un-restricted grant

from The Dow Chemical Co., Midland, MI.

o The sediments and floodplain soils of the Tittabawassee River downstream

of Midland MI contain significantly elevated concentrations of two

dibenzofurans.

o As part of a large, site-specific, multi-species, multi-year, multi-line of

evidence study more than 4000 cavity nesting passerine birds were banded

as residents of more than 300 placed bird boxes.

o Information including sex, age, location (nest box) and dates of capture and

recapture were noted for each individual. Clutch size, hatching success,

fledging success, and available tissue contaminant data can also be

associated with nest boxes and specific females.

Total concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and

polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) in Tittabawassee River

floodplain soils and sediments collected at study areas (SAs) downstream

of Midland, Michigan, USA, were previously determined to be 10- to 20-fold

greater than those collected at upstream reference areas (RAs). A nest box

trail was established in 2004 to monitor house wren (Troglodytes aedon;

HW), tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor; TS), and eastern bluebird (Sialia

sialis; EB) reproduction in both the RAs and SAs along the Chippewa,

Tittabawassee, and Saginaw rivers. Nestling survival is commonly

monitored up to “fledge” for passerines but survival after departing the nest

box is rarely monitored. This period naturally has a low survival rate for

fledglings due primarily to starvation or predation. From 2005 through 2009,

adult and nestling passerines were banded while conducting population

health measurements to monitor long-term survival and return rates at the

study sites. Through 2009 over 4,000 individual birds were banded. Not

including recaptures 461, 428, and 170 adult house wrens, tree swallows,

and eastern bluebirds were banded, respectively, while 1655, 1072, and 359

nestlings were banded, respectively. For all species a greater proportion of

adult females were banded compared to males. Forty-three nestlings

returned to breed on site, while 7, 24, and 7 house wren, tree swallow, and

eastern bluebird adults bred on site at least three of the four years. Adult

return rates ranged 15-22%, 32-47%, and 29-30% for house wrens, tree

swallows, and eastern bluebirds, respectively, for the 2006–2009 breeding

seasons. Incorporating long-term survival monitoring data into the

assessment of ecological risk on the Tittabawassee River will likely lead to

more informed decisions about the potential impact(s) of on-site exposure

and will aid in both the planning and evaluation of effective remedial

actions.

o 2 reference area (R-1, R-2) and 4 exposure area (T-3 to T-6) bird box trails of

30-60 boxes each were placed in 2004

o Boxes were placed proximal to the river and within the 100 year floodplain

o Tissue and dietary contaminant exposure was assessed

o Boxes were monitored daily between 2005-2009 and breeding adults and

nestlings were banded

o Compare adult band return rates and survival for passerines with differing

exposures to PCDFs.

Methods

Abstract

Conclusions

Objective

Introduction

Table 1. TEQWHO-Avian in eggs and nestlings of house wrens, tree swallows, and eastern

bluebirds collected during 2005-2007 from reference and study areas. Values are

geometric means (ng/kg ww)

Reference areas Study areas

R-1 R-2 T-3 T-4 T-5 T-6

House wren

Egg residue conc 10 25 860 360 430 910

Nestling whole body

residue conc3.4 6.5 290 140 210 300

Tree swallow

Egg residue conc 180 280 220 240 2 smpls 220

Nestling whole body

residue conc25 47 340 320 240 860

Eastern bluebird

Egg residue conc 10 30 150 210 390 510

Nestling whole body

residue conc2.8 7.6 190 100

No

smpls690

Table 2. Number of breeding adults banded by species and by area for the years of 2005-

2008 followed by mean return rates (2006-2009) and yearly survival rate(2006-2009)

Number of

adults banded

%

Return/year

Predicted yearly survival3

(95% confidence interval)

House wrenReference areas1 142 22% 77% (59-89)

Study areas2 319 15% 67% (54-77)

Tree swallowReference areas 174 32% 72% (62-80)

Study areas 254 47% 85% (79-90)

Eastern

bluebird

Reference areas 79 29% 13% (8-19)

Study areas 91 30% 30% (20-43)

1 Reference areas R-1 and R-22 Study areas T-3, T-4, T-5, T-63 Predicted using Program MARK, G.C. White (all years combined separately parameterized for

returns and survival)

o Study areas had significantly greater exposures of PCDFs

o Adult band return rates were on the greater end of literature reported values for all three species.

o Survival was not different between areas of greater and lesser exposure for House wrens and Tree swallow adults

o Predicted survival of Eastern bluebirds was greater in the exposure area.

o PCDF exposure on the Tittabawassee river does not seem to be adversely effecting adult passerine survival.

o Considering the low background probability of nestlings surviving and returning to their natal site to breed; contaminants exposure does not appear to be affecting post-fledging survival

o Passerines residing downstream of Midland MI (T3-T6) have significantly greater

exposures to dioxin-like compounds than their upstream cohorts (R1-R2)

o Band return rates ranged between 15% and 47% percent depending on species and area.

o Survival of breeding adults residing in the study area (greater exposure) was

either not different or greater than reference area birds.

Number of

nestlings

banded

Number of

nestlings

returned

House

wren

Reference

areas1 527 4

Study

areas2 1126 5

Tree

swallow

Reference

areas364 5

Study areas 708 19

Eastern

bluebird

Reference

areas108 3

Study areas 251 7

Table 3. Number of nestlings banded and

number of nestlings returned to area

1 Reference areas R-1 and R-22 Study areas T-3, T-4, T-5, T-6

Results