Nest Site Selection of Chinese Grouse Bonasa sewerzowi at Lianhuashan, Gansu, China

• Published in: Wildlife biology 2007-07, Vol.13 (sp1), p.68-72
• Main Authors: Sun, Yue-Hua, Fang, Yun, Jia, Chen-Xi, Klaus, Siegfried, Swenson, Jon E., Scherzinger, Wolfgang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Betula; Betula utilis; Bonasa sewerzowi; breeding ecology; Chinese grouse; conifers; females; grouse; Lianhuashan; mixed forests; nest site selection; nesting; nesting sites; nests; People's Republic of China; Proceedings; Salix; shrubs; stems; Tetrastes bonasia; Tetrastes sewerzowi; topographic slope; trees
• ISSN: 0909-6396; 1903-220X
• DOI: 10.2981/0909-6396(2007)13[68:NSSOCG]2.0.CO;2

During 1995-2004, we studied the nest site selection of the Chinese grouse Bonasa sewerzowi at Lianhuashan, Gansu, China. Of the 103 nests that we found, 56% were at the base of deciduous trees, mainly willow Salix spp. and birch Betula utilis, and 40% were at the base of coniferous trees. The Chinese grouse favoured northern and eastern slopes with steepness of 0-45°, averaging 15.5 ± 11.2° (SE; N  =  97); 88% of nest sites were on slopes of < 30°. The average cover around the nest was 50.8 ± 20.3% (SE; N  =  86). The degree to which the female was covered at successful nests was 51.4 ± 19.9% (SE; N  =  45), which was not different from that of unsuccessful nests (43.1 ± 19.1% (SE); N  =  17). Chinese grouse preferred to nest in coniferous and coniferous-deciduous mixed forests at sites with fewer trees and denser shrubs, compared with the available vegetation. Females nested on average 154.2 ± 109.0 m (SE; N  =  19) from the previous year's nest. Compared with the hazel grouse B. bonasia, the Chinese grouse showed a greater preference for nesting at the base of trees or stems.