Effects of Extreme Temperatures on Resource Selection and Nestling Diet of American Kestrels in Agroecosystems

AOS Student Research Grant Seminar

Presenter: Mary Badger, PhD candidate, University of California Davis; 2024 Joseph Grinnell Research Grant winner

Extreme heat driven by climate change poses a growing challenge for birds breeding in agricultural landscapes. This research examines how extreme temperatures and land use interact to shape resource selection, movement, nestling provisioning, and diet in breeding American kestrels. Integrating GPS tracking, nest box monitoring, fine-scale temperature measurements, and environmental DNA allows adult behavior, space use, and nestling diet to be evaluated across varying thermal and landscape conditions.

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