Dynamics of depredation on artificial ground nests in habitat managed for ruffed grouse

A study was conducted to test the hypothesis that depredation on artificial ground nests did not differ with plot age, nest location, or time period in an area under intensive ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) management in central Pennsylvania after a third cutting cycle from May-August 1991. The depredation of nests in the third cycle was compared to that observed in the second cycle on the management area. After the third cutting cycle, there was lower rates of depredation. This result was attributed to lower relative abundance of corvids compared to the era between the second and third cycles.