NPWRC :: Effects of Grazing on Nesting by Upland Sandpipers in Southcentral North Dakota

**Table 1.** Mean values of annual nest density (nests per 100 ha), nest success, and exposure days of upland sandpiper nests relative to block (Waterfowl Production Area), treatment, and year, southcentral North Dakota, 1981-87.
Effect	Annual density	Nest success^a		Exposure days
Effect	Annual density	DNSR	Mayfield (%)	Exposure days
*Block*
Erlenbusch	8.2	0.954	30.8	416
Lazy-M	12.6	0.981	61.9	808
Geisler	16.4	0.985	68.5	914
*Treatment*
Control	15.9	0.992	81.8	598
Autumn graze	18.5	0.979	58.8	629
Autumn-and-spring	11.6	0.961	37.0	340
Season-long	8.5	0.982	63.5	304
Spring graze	7.5	0.950	27.7	267
*Year*
1981	21.8	NA^b	NA^b	NA^b
1982	11.2	0.925	14.2	416
1983	9.8	0.970	46.7	391
1984	10.3	0.992	81.8	424
1985	12.0	0.983	65.1	475
1986	9.8	NA^b	NA^b	NA^b
1987	12.0	0.985	68.5	432
^a Measures of nest success are daily nest survival rate (DNSR) and the Mayfield estimator [(DNSR)²⁵ × 100]. ^b Estimates of nest success were not available for 1981 and 1986.

**Table 2.** Comparison of availability and use of vegetation types by nesting upland sandpipers, southcentral North Dakota, 1981-87.
Vegetation type^a	Availability		Use
Vegetation type^a	Hectares	Proportion	Nests	Proportion
Brush/grass	16.4	0.042	1	0.003^b
Forb/grass	15.0	0.039	7	0.020
Grass/brush	43.3	0.112	47	0.137
Grass/forb	311.2	0.806	287	0.839
^a Where a combination of life forms is indicated (i.e., brush/grass) the first covers ≥50% of the area; the second covers <50%. ^b Used less (P < 0.05) than expected.


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Effects of Grazing on Nesting by Upland Sandpipers in Southcentral North Dakota