Date of Award
Spring 5-8-2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science (BS)
Department
Marine Science
College
College of Science
First Advisor
Eric Rosch
Abstract/Description
Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet, SC, USA is considered a “hotspot” for birds, according to the eBird database (eBird, 2020). The park is also visited by approximately 300,000 people, annually (Hobdy, 2019). The causeway at the park is an area of high human and wildlife activity. Here, the differences in desensitization, or lack thereof, of year-round and transient bird species to the stimuli of vehicles and humans were determined. Multiple surveys of the birds at Huntington Beach State Park were conducted from 22nd September, 2019 to 13th June, 2020. Desensitization was quantified by use of a range finder and by observation of behavior. The vast majority of the birds surveyed were desensitized to the stimuli on the causeway. The birds that showed a response to the stimuli continued foraging behavior after the response, which suggests a level of tolerance to the stimuli.
Recommended Citation
Thomas, Sarah, "Ecology of estuarine birds: Differences in desensitization of year-round and transient species" (2021). Honors Theses. 395.
https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/honors-theses/395
Included in
Behavior and Ethology Commons, Biodiversity Commons, Ornithology Commons, Zoology Commons