Cross-species survey of brood parasitism by the brown-headed cowbird (Molotthrus ater) within Brunswick
The Brown-Headed Cowbird, Molothrus ater, is one of the most notorious obligatory brood parasites known. They parasitizes over two hundred species of small passerines by invading their nests and laying an egg that the passerines nurture at the expense of their own progeny (Gill 1994). Ms. Rae will conduct a cross-species study examining the effects of M. ater parasitism upon passerine nesting sites around the Brunswick area. She will collect data including species and nesting dates of individuals, occurrences of and responses to parasitism, and success rates of breeding pairs. Analysis of data by species and nesting dates may have possible correlations to parasite responses and breeding successes.
Sources
Gill, Frank B. Ornithology. 2nd ed. New York: W.H. Freedman and Co.,1994.