Author(s):
Matthew Stephenson, Robert Klaver, Jarad Niemi, Lisa Schulte
Abstract:
This dataset contains data related to grassland passerines nesting in linear patches of reconstructed diverse, native, perennial vegetation. We collected data on 1285 nests of 9 grassland nesting passerine species from 2015-2019 at 11 sites in Iowa, USA to assess habitat quality of prairie strips and other perennial grass-based agricultural conservation practices, as measured by nest density and nest survival. These datasets are suitable for conducting generalized linear mixed modeling of nest detection and nest density and mark-recapture modeling of nest survival.
Funder:
Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, E2015-10; USDA Farm Service Agency, AG-3151-P-14-0065; USDA Farm Service Agency, AG-3151-P-17-0108; USDA NIFA, IOW5423; USDA NIFA, IOW5354; USDA NIFA, IOW3617
Keywords:
Agelaius phoeniceus, Geothlypis trichas, Melospiza melodia, Pooecetes gramineus, Spiza americana, Sturnella magna, edge effects, nest density, nest detection, nest survival, plant diversity, plant preference
Project (Abbreviated name):
STRIPS_Schulte_bird_habitat_quality
Team:
STRIPS
Geographic Location:
Central Iowa. We attempted to census all prairie strips sites within 100 km of Ames, Iowa known to exist in winter 2014.
Families:
Adoxaceae, Amaranthaceae, Anacardiaceae, Apiaceae, Apocynaceae, Astartidae, Asteraceae, Cardinalidae, Certhiidae, Chenopodiaceae, Commelinaceae, Convolvulaceae, Cornaceae, Cupressaceae, Cyperaceae, Equisetaceae, Fabaceae, Fringillidae, Icteridae, Lamiacea
Species:
Abutilon theophrasti, Achillea millefolium, Agelaius phoeniceus, Amaranthus hybridus, Amaranthus tuberculatus, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ambrosia trifida, Ammodramus savannarum, Amorpha canescens, Andropogon gerardi, Apocynum cannabinum, Artemisia frigida,
Data Mirror:
Data Table Column Names and Descriptions
| Table name | Column name | Data type | Units | Column description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| dataset_ALL_density_v2025.3 | distance to water meters log | float | NA | The minimum distance from a plot edge to a permanent water body in meters, log transformed then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean distance was 4.31 log(m) and the standard deviation was 2.45 log(m). |
| dataset_ALL_density_v2025.3 | drought index mean jan aug log | float | NA | The Drought Severity Coverage Index for this site-year January through August, log transformed then centered and scaled. The mean log DSCI was 2.203 and the standard deviation was 1.509. |
| dataset_ALL_density_v2025.3 | feature width at plot meters log | float | NA | The minimum distance from hard habitat edge to hard habitat edge (crop, stream, woodlot; typically crop) measured in a straight line that passes through the nest. Feature width at nest was recorded in meters, log transformed, then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean log width was 3.426 and the standard deviation was 1.056. |
| dataset_ALL_density_v2025.3 | landcover ddw | string | NA | The conservation practice the search plot was located within, defined by vegetation community and landscape position. |
| dataset_ALL_density_v2025.3 | mean cover woody log | float | NA | The mean percent cover of woody species in the vegetation sampling quadrats, log transformed and then centered and scaled. The mean log woody coverage was 0 and the standard deviation was 1.00. |
| dataset_ALL_density_v2025.3 | plot area ha | float | hectare | The area of the search plot in hectares. Plots were designed as 0.1 ha (0.05 ha for terraces), but sometimes had minor errors in layout that resulted in slightly larger or smaller areas. |
| dataset_ALL_density_v2025.3 | plot name | string | NA | A unique identifier for the plot containing the nest that was the subject of the detection trial. |
| dataset_ALL_density_v2025.3 | quadrats mowed percent | float | NA | The percentage of the nine vegetation sampling points in the plot was mowed at some point during the study season, centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean percentage was 0.073 and the standard deviation was 0.251. |
| dataset_ALL_density_v2025.3 | quadrats mowed percent log | float | NA | The percentage of the nine vegetation sampling points in the plot was mowed at some point during the study season, log transformed and then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean log percentage was -2.182 and the standard deviation was 0.483. |
| dataset_ALL_density_v2025.3 | search count | integer | number | The number of times this plot was searched by a pair of observers this year. |
| dataset_ALL_density_v2025.3 | site | string | NA | The farm or prairie the search plot and nest were located within. |
| dataset_ALL_density_v2025.3 | species richness all 5m total log | float | NA | The count of plant species in the search plot in August, log transformed then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean log plant species richness was 3.042 and the standard deviation was 0.497. |
| dataset_ALL_density_v2025.3 | total nests coye | float | number | The count of distinct Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) nests found in this plot in this year during formal structured searches. |
| dataset_ALL_density_v2025.3 | total nests dick | float | number | The count of distinct Dickcissel (Spiza americana) nests found in this plot in this year during formal structured searches. |
| dataset_ALL_density_v2025.3 | total nests grass | integer | number | The count of distinct grassland-nesting passerine nests found in this plot in this year during formal structured searches. Species included were American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), Common Yellowthroat, Dickcissel, Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), Meadowlark spp., Red-winged Blackbird, Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis), Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), and Vesper Sparrow. |
| dataset_ALL_density_v2025.3 | total nests mesp | float | number | The count of distinct Meadowlark Species (Sturnella sp.) nests found in this plot in this year during formal structured searches. Eastern and Western meadowlark nests were not distinguished, but singing male Eastern Meadowlarks were far more common at our study sites than Western Meadowlarks. |
| dataset_ALL_density_v2025.3 | total nests rwbl | float | number | The count of distinct Red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) nests found in this plot in this year during formal structured searches. |
| dataset_ALL_density_v2025.3 | total nests vesp | float | number | The count of distinct Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) nests found in this plot in this year during formal structured searches. |
| dataset_ALL_density_v2025.3 | vor final mean log | float | NA | The vegetation density in the search plot in August, measured as visual obstruction on a Robel pole marked with alternating red and white decimeters, viewed from four directions at 1 m height and 5 m distant. VOR was log transformed, centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean VOR was 4.106 log-cm and the standard deviation was 0.483. |
| dataset_ALL_density_v2025.3 | year | float | number | The year this row summarizes. |
| dataset_ALL_plant_preference_v2025.3 | common name | string | NA | A common name for the plant species. If the plant was not identified to the species level, it will end with "Sp." |
| dataset_ALL_plant_preference_v2025.3 | full name | string | NA | The plant species common and scientific names in a single column for display purposes. |
| dataset_ALL_plant_preference_v2025.3 | nativity | string | NA | The nativity of the plant species to central Iowa, USA. |
| dataset_ALL_plant_preference_v2025.3 | nest name | string | NA | A unique name for the nest that was either detected or not detected. The name is formatted as the four-letter ABA species code, the date the nest was first discovered (YYMMDD) and a non-sequential two-digit number to distinguish it from other nests of that species discovered on that day. |
| dataset_ALL_plant_preference_v2025.3 | nest substrate 1 | string | NA | The scientific name for the plant providing the plurality of support for the nest, or concealment for ground nests. |
| dataset_ALL_plant_preference_v2025.3 | nest substrate 2 | string | NA | The scientific name for the plant providing the second-most support for the nest, or concealment for ground nests. |
| dataset_ALL_plant_preference_v2025.3 | nest substrate 3 | string | NA | The scientific name for the plant providing the third-most support for the nest, or concealment for ground nests. |
| dataset_ALL_plant_preference_v2025.3 | nesting guild | string | NA | A general description for the nesting habits of this species. |
| dataset_ALL_plant_preference_v2025.3 | percent cover | integer | percent | The percent of the cover provided by plants in this 1 square meter sampling quadrat covered by this species. Percent covers were visually estimated and should sum to 100. Bare ground or other abiotic cover was ignored, so if the only plant was a small soybean, Glycine max would still be 100%. |
| dataset_ALL_plant_preference_v2025.3 | point mowed | string | NA | Has the point been recently mowed (and thus plant species identification is much harder)? |
| dataset_ALL_plant_preference_v2025.3 | quadrat direction | string | NA | A label distinguishing between the four vegetation sampling quadrats used for each nest. Either located around the nest ("Point") or the compass direction moved from the nest before placing the quadrat 5 m away. |
| dataset_ALL_plant_preference_v2025.3 | quadratID | integer | dimensionless | A unique primary key for this table. |
| dataset_ALL_plant_preference_v2025.3 | scientific name | string | NA | The scientific name for the plant species. May be only genus if the plant was not identified to species. |
| dataset_ALL_plant_preference_v2025.3 | species abbreviation | string | NA | The four-letter American Birding Association code for the bird species. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | AgeD# | integer | number | The age of the nest (days since incubation) at this timestep. Timestep 1 was April 1st. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | AgeDSq# | integer | number | The age of the nest (days since incubation) squared at this timestep. Timestep 1 was April 1st. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | AgeDay1 | integer | number | The age of the nest in days relative to the beginning of the study period (for this study, April 1st). Required to calculate the AgeD time-varying covariate columns. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | Fate | float | dimensionless | An indicator variable for whether a nest failed. 1 = failure; 0 = successful fledging. A key value for analyzing with Program MARK. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | FirstFound | integer | number | The day the nest was first found, counting from April 1st. A key value for analyzing with Program MARK. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | LastChecked | integer | number | The first day the nest was checked and found to no longer be active, counting from April 1st. A key value for analyzing with Program MARK. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | LastPresent | integer | number | The last day the nest was checked and found to be alive and active, counting from April 1st. A key value for analyzing with Program MARK. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | dist tree | float | NA | The distance from the nest to the nearest tree or shrub higher than 1 m, centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean distance to tree was 61.400 meters and the standard deviation was 62.811 meters. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | dist trelg | float | NA | The distance from the nest to the nearest tree or shrub higher than 1 m, log transformed then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean distance to tree was 2.957 log-meters and the standard deviation was 2.373 log-meters. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | dist wat | float | NA | The minimum distance from the nest to a permanent water body in meters, centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean distance was 141.29 meters and the standard deviation was 146.11 meters. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | dist watlg | float | NA | The minimum distance from the nest to a permanent water body in meters, log transformed then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean distance was 4.06 log(m) and the standard deviation was 1.65 log(m). |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | drought | float | NA | The Drought Severity Coverage Index for this site-year January through August, centered and scaled. The mean DSCI was 19.191 and the standard deviation was 19.429. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | droughtlg | float | NA | The Drought Severity Coverage Index for this site-year January through August, log transformed then centered and scaled. The mean log DSCI was 1.992 and the standard deviation was 1.790. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | feat wid | float | NA | The minimum distance from hard habitat edge to hard habitat edge (crop, stream, woodlot; typically crop) measured in a straight line that passes through the nest. Feature width at nest was recorded in meters centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean width was 66.873 meters and the standard deviation was 86.001. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | feat widlg | float | NA | The minimum distance from hard habitat edge to hard habitat edge (crop, stream, woodlot; typically crop) measured in a straight line that passes through the nest. Feature width at nest was recorded in meters, log transformed, then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean log width was 3.631 and the standard deviation was 1.054. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | iButton | float | dimensionless | An indicator variable for whether the nest was monitored with an iButton thermal datalogger. 1 = iButton installed, 0 = no iButton. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | lc ddw | string | NA | The conservation practice the nest was found within, defined by vegetation community and landscape position. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | mow quad | float | NA | The percentage of the four vegetation sampling points surrounding the nest that were mowed prior to the vegetation survey, centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean percentage was 0.114 and the standard deviation was 0.545. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | mow quadlg | float | NA | The percentage of the four vegetation sampling points surrounding the nest that were mowed prior to the vegetation survey, log transformed, then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean log percentage was -2.138 and the standard deviation was 0.683. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | nest name | string | NA | A unique name for the nest that was either detected or not detected. The name is formatted as the four-letter ABA species code, the date the nest was first discovered (YYMMDD) and a non-sequential two-digit number to distinguish it from other nests of that species discovered on that day. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | nestID | integer | dimensionless | A unique primary key for this table. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | outcome | string | NA | A textual description of the outcome category for the nest. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | para | float | dimensionless | An indicator variable for whether the nest ever contained a parasitic Brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) egg or young. 0 = unparasitized, 1 = parasitized. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | rich at | float | NA | The count of plant species within 5 meters of the nest, centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean plant species richness was 14.592 and the standard deviation was 7.855. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | rich at lg | float | NA | The count of plant species within 5 meters of the nest, log transformed then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean log plant species richness was 2.518 and the standard deviation was 0.611. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | site | string | NA | The farm or prairie the search plot and nest were located within. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | species | string | NA | The species that built the nest that was the subject of the detection trial, recorded using four-letter American Birding Association codes. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | vor | float | NA | The vegetation density surrounding the nest, measured as visual obstruction on a Robel pole marked with alternating red and white decimeters, viewed from four directions at 1 m height and 5 m distant. VOR was centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean VOR was 76.196 cm and the standard deviation was 30.515. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | vorlg | float | NA | The vegetation density surrounding the nest, measured as visual obstruction on a Robel pole marked with alternating red and white decimeters, viewed from four directions at 1 m height and 5 m distant. VOR was log transformed, centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean VOR was 4.229 log-cm and the standard deviation was 0.504. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | year | float | number | The year this row summarizes. |
| dataset_DICK_survival_v2025.3 | year day | integer | number | The day of season the nest was first incubated, counting from April 1st. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | AgeD# | integer | number | The age of the nest (days since incubation) at this timestep. Timestep 1 was April 1st. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | AgeDSq# | integer | number | The age of the nest (days since incubation) squared at this timestep. Timestep 1 was April 1st. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | AgeDay1 | integer | number | The age of the nest in days relative to the beginning of the study period (for this study, April 1st). Required to calculate the AgeD time-varying covariate columns. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | Fate | float | dimensionless | An indicator variable for whether a nest failed. 1 = failure; 0 = successful fledging. A key value for analyzing with Program MARK. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | FirstFound | integer | number | The day the nest was first found, counting from April 1st. A key value for analyzing with Program MARK. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | LastChecked | integer | number | The first day the nest was checked and found to no longer be active, counting from April 1st. A key value for analyzing with Program MARK. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | LastPresent | integer | number | The last day the nest was checked and found to be alive and active, counting from April 1st. A key value for analyzing with Program MARK. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | dist tree | float | NA | The distance from the nest to the nearest tree or shrub higher than 1 m, centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean distance to tree was 61.400 meters and the standard deviation was 62.811 meters. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | dist trelg | float | NA | The distance from the nest to the nearest tree or shrub higher than 1 m, log transformed then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean distance to tree was 2.957 log-meters and the standard deviation was 2.373 log-meters. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | dist wat | float | NA | The minimum distance from the nest to a permanent water body in meters, centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean distance was 163.04 meters and the standard deviation was 146.64 meters. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | dist watlg | float | NA | The minimum distance from the nest to a permanent water body in meters, log transformed then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean distance was 4.38 log(m) and the standard deviation was 1.53 log(m). |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | drought | float | NA | The Drought Severity Coverage Index for this site-year January through August, centered and scaled. The mean DSCI was 19.191 and the standard deviation was 19.429. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | droughtlg | float | NA | The Drought Severity Coverage Index for this site-year January through August, log transformed then centered and scaled. The mean log DSCI was 1.992 and the standard deviation was 1.790. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | feat wid | float | NA | The minimum distance from hard habitat edge to hard habitat edge (crop, stream, woodlot; typically crop) measured in a straight line that passes through the nest. Feature width at nest was recorded in meters centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean width was 66.873 meters and the standard deviation was 86.001. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | feat widlg | float | NA | The minimum distance from hard habitat edge to hard habitat edge (crop, stream, woodlot; typically crop) measured in a straight line that passes through the nest. Feature width at nest was recorded in meters, log transformed, then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean log width was 3.631 and the standard deviation was 1.054. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | iButton | float | dimensionless | An indicator variable for whether the nest was monitored with an iButton thermal datalogger. 1 = iButton installed, 0 = no iButton. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | lc ddw | string | NA | The conservation practice the nest was found within, defined by vegetation community and landscape position. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | mow quad | float | NA | The percentage of the four vegetation sampling points surrounding the nest that were mowed prior to the vegetation survey, centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean percentage was 0.114 and the standard deviation was 0.545. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | mow quadlg | float | NA | The percentage of the four vegetation sampling points surrounding the nest that were mowed prior to the vegetation survey, log transformed, then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean log percentage was -2.138 and the standard deviation was 0.683. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | nest name | string | NA | A unique name for the nest that was either detected or not detected. The name is formatted as the four-letter ABA species code, the date the nest was first discovered (YYMMDD) and a non-sequential two-digit number to distinguish it from other nests of that species discovered on that day. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | nestID | integer | dimensionless | A unique primary key for this table. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | outcome | string | NA | A textual description of the outcome category for the nest. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | para | float | dimensionless | An indicator variable for whether the nest ever contained a parasitic Brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) egg or young. 0 = unparasitized, 1 = parasitized. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | rich at | float | NA | The count of plant species within 5 meters of the nest, centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean plant species richness was 14.592 and the standard deviation was 7.855. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | rich at lg | float | NA | The count of plant species within 5 meters of the nest, log transformed then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean log plant species richness was 2.518 and the standard deviation was 0.611. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | site | string | NA | The farm or prairie the search plot and nest were located within. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | species | string | NA | The species that built the nest that was the subject of the detection trial, recorded using four-letter American Birding Association codes. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | vor | float | NA | The vegetation density surrounding the nest, measured as visual obstruction on a Robel pole marked with alternating red and white decimeters, viewed from four directions at 1 m height and 5 m distant. VOR was centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean VOR was 76.196 cm and the standard deviation was 30.515. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | vorlg | float | NA | The vegetation density surrounding the nest, measured as visual obstruction on a Robel pole marked with alternating red and white decimeters, viewed from four directions at 1 m height and 5 m distant. VOR was log transformed, centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean VOR was 4.229 log-cm and the standard deviation was 0.504. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | year | float | number | The year this row summarizes. |
| dataset_GRASS_survival_v2025.3 | year day | integer | number | The day of season the nest was first incubated, counting from April 1st. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | AgeD# | integer | number | The age of the nest (days since incubation) at this timestep. Timestep 1 was April 1st. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | AgeDSq# | integer | number | The age of the nest (days since incubation) squared at this timestep. Timestep 1 was April 1st. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | AgeDay1 | integer | number | The age of the nest in days relative to the beginning of the study period (for this study, April 1st). Required to calculate the AgeD time-varying covariate columns. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | Fate | float | dimensionless | An indicator variable for whether a nest failed. 1 = failure; 0 = successful fledging. A key value for analyzing with Program MARK. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | FirstFound | integer | number | The day the nest was first found, counting from April 1st. A key value for analyzing with Program MARK. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | LastChecked | integer | number | The first day the nest was checked and found to no longer be active, counting from April 1st. A key value for analyzing with Program MARK. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | LastPresent | integer | number | The last day the nest was checked and found to be alive and active, counting from April 1st. A key value for analyzing with Program MARK. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | dist tree | float | NA | The distance from the nest to the nearest tree or shrub higher than 1 m, centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean distance to tree was 61.400 meters and the standard deviation was 62.811 meters. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | dist trelg | float | NA | The distance from the nest to the nearest tree or shrub higher than 1 m, log transformed then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean distance to tree was 2.957 log-meters and the standard deviation was 2.373 log-meters. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | dist wat | float | NA | The minimum distance from the nest to a permanent water body in meters, centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean distance was 141.29 meters and the standard deviation was 146.11 meters. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | dist watlg | float | NA | The minimum distance from the nest to a permanent water body in meters, log transformed then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean distance was 4.06 log(m) and the standard deviation was 1.65 log(m). |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | drought | float | NA | The Drought Severity Coverage Index for this site-year January through August, centered and scaled. The mean DSCI was 19.191 and the standard deviation was 19.429. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | droughtlg | float | NA | The Drought Severity Coverage Index for this site-year January through August, log transformed then centered and scaled. The mean log DSCI was 1.992 and the standard deviation was 1.790. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | feat wid | float | NA | The minimum distance from hard habitat edge to hard habitat edge (crop, stream, woodlot; typically crop) measured in a straight line that passes through the nest. Feature width at nest was recorded in meters centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean width was 66.873 meters and the standard deviation was 86.001. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | feat widlg | float | NA | The minimum distance from hard habitat edge to hard habitat edge (crop, stream, woodlot; typically crop) measured in a straight line that passes through the nest. Feature width at nest was recorded in meters, log transformed, then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean log width was 3.631 and the standard deviation was 1.054. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | iButton | float | dimensionless | An indicator variable for whether the nest was monitored with an iButton thermal datalogger. 1 = iButton installed, 0 = no iButton. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | lc ddw | string | NA | The conservation practice the nest was found within, defined by vegetation community and landscape position. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | mow quad | float | NA | The percentage of the four vegetation sampling points surrounding the nest that were mowed prior to the vegetation survey, centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean percentage was 0.114 and the standard deviation was 0.545. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | mow quadlg | float | NA | The percentage of the four vegetation sampling points surrounding the nest that were mowed prior to the vegetation survey, log transformed, then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean log percentage was -2.138 and the standard deviation was 0.683. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | nest name | string | NA | A unique name for the nest that was either detected or not detected. The name is formatted as the four-letter ABA species code, the date the nest was first discovered (YYMMDD) and a non-sequential two-digit number to distinguish it from other nests of that species discovered on that day. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | nestID | integer | dimensionless | A unique primary key for this table. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | outcome | string | NA | A textual description of the outcome category for the nest. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | para | float | dimensionless | An indicator variable for whether the nest ever contained a parasitic Brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) egg or young. 0 = unparasitized, 1 = parasitized. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | rich at | float | NA | The count of plant species within 5 meters of the nest, centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean plant species richness was 14.592 and the standard deviation was 7.855. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | rich at lg | float | NA | The count of plant species within 5 meters of the nest, log transformed then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean log plant species richness was 2.518 and the standard deviation was 0.611. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | site | string | NA | The farm or prairie the search plot and nest were located within. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | species | string | NA | The species that built the nest that was the subject of the detection trial, recorded using four-letter American Birding Association codes. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | vor | float | NA | The vegetation density surrounding the nest, measured as visual obstruction on a Robel pole marked with alternating red and white decimeters, viewed from four directions at 1 m height and 5 m distant. VOR was centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean VOR was 76.196 cm and the standard deviation was 30.515. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | vorlg | float | NA | The vegetation density surrounding the nest, measured as visual obstruction on a Robel pole marked with alternating red and white decimeters, viewed from four directions at 1 m height and 5 m distant. VOR was log transformed, centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean VOR was 4.229 log-cm and the standard deviation was 0.504. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | year | float | number | The year this row summarizes. |
| dataset_RWBL_survival_v2025.3 | year day | integer | number | The day of season the nest was first incubated, counting from April 1st. |
| dataset_nest_detection_trials_v2025.3 | detection | float | dimensionless | An indicator variable for the result of the detection trial; 0 = non-detection, 1 = detection. |
| dataset_nest_detection_trials_v2025.3 | distance to water meters log | float | NA | The minimum distance from the nest to a permanent water body in meters, centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean distance was 3.44 log(m) and the standard deviation was 2.72 log(m). |
| dataset_nest_detection_trials_v2025.3 | feature width at plot meters log | float | NA | The minimum distance from hard habitat edge to hard habitat edge (crop, stream, woodlot; typically crop) measured in a straight line that passes through the nest. Feature width at nest was recorded in meters, log transformed, then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean log width was 3.426 and the standard deviation was 1.056. |
| dataset_nest_detection_trials_v2025.3 | landcover ddw | string | NA | The conservation practice the search plot was located within, defined by vegetation community and landscape position. |
| dataset_nest_detection_trials_v2025.3 | minutes since sunrise log | float | NA | Minutes elapsed since sunrise at the time of the plot search, log transformed, then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean log minutes elapsed was 5.058 and the standard deviation was 0.853. |
| dataset_nest_detection_trials_v2025.3 | nest age | float | NA | The number of days since incubation began for this nest, centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean nest_age was 5.144 days and the standard deviation was 6.838 days. |
| dataset_nest_detection_trials_v2025.3 | nest detectionID | integer | dimensionless | A unique primary key for this table. |
| dataset_nest_detection_trials_v2025.3 | nest name | string | NA | A unique name for the nest that was either detected or not detected. The name is formatted as the four-letter ABA species code, the date the nest was first discovered (YYMMDD) and a non-sequential two-digit number to distinguish it from other nests of that species discovered on that day. |
| dataset_nest_detection_trials_v2025.3 | observer prior searches log | float | NA | The count of prior plot searches conducted by the combined pair of searchers, log transformed then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean log prior searches was 6.811 and the standard deviation was 0.710. A measure of nest-searching skill. |
| dataset_nest_detection_trials_v2025.3 | plot name | string | NA | A unique identifier for the plot containing the nest that was the subject of the detection trial. |
| dataset_nest_detection_trials_v2025.3 | plot searchID | integer | dimensionless | A foreign key for the plot search table (not included in this data release). |
| dataset_nest_detection_trials_v2025.3 | precipitation 6 hour mm log | float | NA | Rain total in the six hours preceding the plot search, log transformed then centered and scaled. The mean log millimeters of rain was -1.850 and the standard deviation was 1.203. |
| dataset_nest_detection_trials_v2025.3 | quadrats mowed percent log | float | NA | The percentage of the nine vegetation sampling points in the plot was mowed at some point during the study season, log transformed and then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean log percentage was -2.182 and the standard deviation was 0.483. |
| dataset_nest_detection_trials_v2025.3 | site | string | NA | The farm or prairie the search plot and nest were located within. |
| dataset_nest_detection_trials_v2025.3 | species | string | NA | The species that built the nest that was the subject of the detection trial, recorded using four-letter American Birding Association codes. |
| dataset_nest_detection_trials_v2025.3 | species richness all 5m total log | float | NA | The count of plant species in the search plot in August, log transformed then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean log plant species richness was 3.042 and the standard deviation was 0.497. |
| dataset_nest_detection_trials_v2025.3 | vor final mean log | float | NA | The vegetation density in the search plot in August, measured as visual obstruction on a Robel pole marked with alternating red and white decimeters, viewed from four directions at 1 m height and 5 m distant. VOR was log transformed, centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean VOR was 4.106 log-cm and the standard deviation was 0.483. |
| dataset_nest_detection_trials_v2025.3 | wind ms log | float | NA | The wind speed at the time of the plot search in meters per second, log transformed then centered and scaled across the entire dataset. The mean log windspeed was 1.163 and the standard deviation was 0.604. |