WITHIN-SEASON DISPERSAL, NEST-SITE MODIFICATION, AND PREDATION IN RENESTING HOODED WARBLERS

To test the hypothesis that within-season dispersal and nest-site modi fication (e.g., changes in nest concealment) occur in Hooded Warblers (Wilsonia citrina) as a result of predation of the previous nest, we e xamined differences in nest height, vegetation density surrounding the nest, nest visibility, and distances between first and second nests. The average distance between successful nest sites and renesting sites was significantly greater than the average distance between unsuccess ful nest sites and renesting sites. The concealment variables of renes ting sites were not significantly different from either successful or unsuccessful first nest sites. The probability of success of a Hooded Warbler's renest after predation was the same as the probability of su ccess of all first nests (approximately 50%). Our data suggest that pr edation does not play a role in the selection of renesting sites in Ho oded Warblers. We propose that the greater dispersal of successful fem ales was due to their avoidance of fledglings that remained near the n est with the male.