Effective Variables in Nest Site Selection by Crested Lark (Galeridacristata) in Marvar Area, Yazd Province

Nesting areas by Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) were studied in 10000 hectares of Marvar hunting stop area in Yazd Province in 1394. 

Habitat variables such as plant species, height, and plant cover percentage, as well as distance to the closest plant patches, water resources, fields, roads and the number of terrestrial insect dens in the presence areas were measured and compared with those of the absence areas.

The results showed that the mean of total vegetation percentage around the nests; the percentage of Artemisia sp vegetation, and its height; the percentage and height of Astragalus sp,peganum sp vegetation; the percentage and height of Alhagi sp vegetation; and the mean number of terrestrial insect dens were meaningfully higher in the presence points than those of the control areas (P<0.05). Furthermore, the distance to the nearest water source in the nesting areas was meaningfully lower than that in the control areas (P<0.001). This bird selects the points with high vegetation and higher number of insect dens near water for nesting. Logistic Regression test showed that the vegetation was the most important influencing parameter in nest-site selection by crested lark in the study area.

Higher vegetation in the camouflage of the bird and a high number of insect cavities and proximity to water sources help the bird to survive longer.