Rusty Blackbird Habitat Selection and Survivorship during Nesting and Post-Fledging

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

I have only minor comments:

1. Line 18-19. Please give survival rate for males and females.
2. Line 103, 114. It was typical VHF telemetry?
3. Line 113. Please, give more information about bird traping. Did Authors use mist nets?
4. Line 117. Were fledglings smaller than adults? How did you attach transmitters since fledglings probably were growing when they were wearing harnesses.

Author Response

1. Line 18-19. Please give survival rate for males and females. Survival rates for males and females are on line 23
2. Line 103, 114. It was typical VHF telemetry? The Line references seem to be different in my copy of the manuscript for some reason. I added VHF to the first reference of transmitters on line 127
3. Line 113. Please, give more information about bird traping. Did Authors use mist nets? Added a statement that we used mist nets and broadcast calls on line 128 of the document I downloaded from this site.
4. Line 117. Were fledglings smaller than adults? How did you attach transmitters since fledglings probably were growing when they were wearing harnesses. I added that the harness cord was stretchy to permit growth and a line about the transmitter weights being lighter for fledges.

Reviewer 2 Report

The manuscript is a valuable study that contributes to our understanding of the habitat requirements of rusty blackbird and possible reasons for the decline in this species. The paper, giving some recommendations for the protection of rusty blackbird, combines science with practice, which I would like to acknowledge here.
I have no comments or reservations regarding the presentation of the research method, obtained results, and their discussion. The article is written in clear language and is easy to follow.
The paper would gain readability if the authors attached a map (sketch) presenting the research area's location against the background of the region (country). Line 86 and following - elevation should be given in m a.s.l
Line 90 - please show the temperature in degrees Celsius.

Author Response

The paper would gain readability if the authors attached a map (sketch) presenting the research area's location against the background of the region (country).

Attached a background of the USA to Figure 1.

Line 86 and following - elevation should be given in m a.s.l. We added m.a.s.l. to the elevations

Line 90 - please show the temperature in degrees Celsius. converted from F to C throughout.