Effects of logging roads on depredation of artificial ground nests in a forested landscape

We examined depredation of artificial ground nests in relation to logging-road width and distance of nests from logging roads at the Barrens Grouse Habitat Management Area (HMA) in central Pennsylvania from May to July 1994. We also compared predation rates on nests placed at induced edges created by narrow logging roads versus clearcut edges. Of the total nests, 131 (53%) were disturbed during the study. Disturbance was greater (P < 0.001) at nests farther away (<50 m) from roads (57% disturbed) than at nests near (<1 m) roads regardless of width (6-8 m wide: 49%; 15-20 m wide: 45%). Nest fate also was associated with type of induced edge (P = 0.032); nests located at the interface of clearcut plots had higher (P = 0.001) rates of disturbance (84%) than nests associated with other edge types (22-64%). We concluded that predators were not using logging roads as travel corridors or concentrating foraging activities along these linear corridors. Harvest-created edges, such as those along clearcut plots, may increase predator activity, thereby resulting in higher incidences of nest predation along clearcut edges than along logging roads. We caution that investigators should take into account distances of nests to different types of edges when evaluating avian nesting success in managed forested landscapes.