A comparative study of honey mesquite woodlands in southern Nevada and their use by phainopeplas and other avian species
A study of four honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana) woodlands located at Moapa, Stewart Valley, Pahrump, and Stump Spring in southern Nevada was conducted to (1) describe the current condition of mesquite woodlands, (2) compare avian community indices among the four sites, and (3) locate breeding Phainopepla populations and determine breeding season, nesting success, and habitat requirements. Groundwater was closest to the surface at Stewart Valley, which contained the oldest and largest tRees Moapa had the greatest avian density and species richness for all species, and greatest species richness for breeding birds. No differences were detected in species diversity for all species and for breeding species only among the four sites. Moapa was the only site that supported a Phainopepla breeding population. Phainopepla selected larger trees with fewer stems and heavy Phoradendron infection for nesting sites, and breeding success was reduced when birds nested lower in the tree and did not build nests within the protection of a Phoradendron clump.
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