By determining how habitat conditions surrounding bird nests influence reproductive output, we can make more informed management decisions regarding what actions may help reverse population declines.

Using a sample of over 4000 nests from 33 sites in Illinois, Dr. Scott Chiavacci, Ecologist with the Science and Decisions Center and U.S. Geological Survey, explores the differences in shrub-nesting bird productivity (reproductive success rates and young produced) as a function of the landscape composition surrounding nests.

In addition, he examines how such composition impacts nest predation by dominant nest predators and discuss the potential role the forest preserve network in the greater Chicago region might play in the conservation of declining Illinois breeding birds.

Check out the flyer here