Nesting Mortality and Habitat Selection by Marsh Wrens

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Abstract
We identified mortality factors for Marsh Wrens (Cistothorus palustris) at two study sites and related them to the choice made by males and females between sites. More nests were successful and more young were fledged at Site 2, which had significantly denser vegetation and deeper water than Site 1. Both males and females settled at Site 2 in densities higher than predicted by chance, although they settled synchronously at the two sites. This suggests that Marsh Wrens select breeding habitat to increase their nesting success.