Unique Presentation Identifier:
P30
Program Type
Graduate
Faculty Advisor
Douglas G. Barron
Document Type
Poster
Location
Face-to-face
Start Date
29-4-2025 11:30 AM
Abstract
Habitat alteration and climate change are expected to increase the range, abundance, and season length of ectoparasites and the pathogens they carry. This is particularly concerning for nestling birds that are relatively naked and immobile, making them vulnerable to attacks by biting flies such as blackflies and mosquitoes. Despite the ubiquity of biting flies and the challenges they pose to nestlings, studies investigating their association with breeding birds remain rare. To address this, we propose a series of observational and experimental field studies with Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) to investigate the attraction of biting flies to active nests across all stages, their impacts on nestlings, and potential deterrent methods. Our objectives are to: (1) determine whether biting flies are attracted to active bird nests (by comparing flies trapped at occupied vs empty nests), (2) assess whether fly attraction varies across nest stages (by comparing flies trapped across incubation and nestling stages), (3) evaluate a novel method of using impregnated cattle ear tags to deter biting flies without the risk of topical pesticide exposure (by comparing flies trapped at control, sprayed, and tagged nests), (4) and quantify the effects of biting flies on nestlings (by comparing nestling growth, disease prevalence, and survival at control vs treated nests). This research will advance our understanding of host-parasite dynamics and inform practical strategies to reduce parasite pressures on wild birds.
Recommended Citation
Bollinger, Ella Grace, "Influence of Biting Flies on the Growth and Condition of Nestling Eastern Bluebirds" (2025). ATU Student Research Symposium. 47.
https://orc.library.atu.edu/atu_rs/2025/2025/47
Included in
Influence of Biting Flies on the Growth and Condition of Nestling Eastern Bluebirds
Face-to-face
Habitat alteration and climate change are expected to increase the range, abundance, and season length of ectoparasites and the pathogens they carry. This is particularly concerning for nestling birds that are relatively naked and immobile, making them vulnerable to attacks by biting flies such as blackflies and mosquitoes. Despite the ubiquity of biting flies and the challenges they pose to nestlings, studies investigating their association with breeding birds remain rare. To address this, we propose a series of observational and experimental field studies with Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) to investigate the attraction of biting flies to active nests across all stages, their impacts on nestlings, and potential deterrent methods. Our objectives are to: (1) determine whether biting flies are attracted to active bird nests (by comparing flies trapped at occupied vs empty nests), (2) assess whether fly attraction varies across nest stages (by comparing flies trapped across incubation and nestling stages), (3) evaluate a novel method of using impregnated cattle ear tags to deter biting flies without the risk of topical pesticide exposure (by comparing flies trapped at control, sprayed, and tagged nests), (4) and quantify the effects of biting flies on nestlings (by comparing nestling growth, disease prevalence, and survival at control vs treated nests). This research will advance our understanding of host-parasite dynamics and inform practical strategies to reduce parasite pressures on wild birds.