Peregrine Falcon Site Occupancy along Delmarva Peninsula, VA (2006-2009)

We monitored the breeding activity of peregrine falcons along the seaside of the Delmarva Peninsula (2006-2009) to determine their influence on the distribution of foraging red knots along the Virginia barrier islands.  Twelve breeding territories were used during the study period.  Both activity status and productivity varied across sites.  Activity status was used to examine the influence of peregrines on the distribution of foraging red knots relative to peregrine eyries.  This database contains the results of survey efforts (2006-2009).

Methods
We determined the number of nesting pairs, productivity, and nesting success of peregrine falcons breeding along the seaside of the Delmarva Peninsula in Virginia by regular monitoring.  The Delmarva Peninsula study area considered here includes the barrier island lagoon system from the Virginia-Maryland boundary south to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.  Artificial structures have been established within this study area specifically for use by breeding peregrines.  Nesting structures were surveyed early in the breeding season (March) to determine occupancy by falcons.  We monitored sites determined to be occupied during a given year an additional 2-5 times from March through July to document breeding activity, to band young, and to document fledging success. For our purposes here, we considered a breeding territory to be active if a pair of adult peregrines was resident during the breeding season.

本研究于2006-2009年间对德尔马瓦半岛（Delmarva Peninsula）沿岸的游隼（peregrine falcon）繁殖活动开展监测，以探究其对弗吉尼亚障壁岛（Virginia barrier islands）沿线、紧邻游隼巢址（eyrie）的觅食红腹滨鹬（red knots）分布的影响。研究期间共涉及12个繁殖领地。不同样地的繁殖活动状态与繁殖生产力均存在差异。本研究以繁殖活动状态为指标，分析游隼活动对上述区域觅食红腹滨鹬分布的影响。本数据集包含2006-2009年的野外调查结果。

研究方法
本研究通过定期监测，对弗吉尼亚州德尔马瓦半岛沿岸繁殖的游隼的繁殖对数量、繁殖生产力及繁殖成功率进行统计。本次研究的德尔马瓦半岛研究区域涵盖从弗吉尼亚-马里兰州界向南至切萨皮克湾（Chesapeake Bay）口的障壁岛潟湖系统。该研究区域内已专门设置人工巢箱，供繁殖期游隼使用。研究人员于繁殖季早期（3月）对巢箱开展调查，以确认是否有游隼占领巢址。对于某一年度确定已被占领的巢址，研究人员于3月至7月期间额外开展2-5次监测，以记录繁殖活动、为幼鸟佩戴脚环，并记录其出飞成功率。本研究将繁殖领地处于活跃状态的判定标准设定为：繁殖季内有一对成年游隼定居于该领地。