Nest site taphonomy of colonial ground-nesting birds at Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge, Montana

Nesting localities of extant birds and reptiles may provide taphonomic models for interpreting nesting sites of ancient archosaurs. Here we describe assemblages of nesting gulls (Larus delawarensis and L. californicus), American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), and double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus). Seventy nests yielded 2752 skeletal elements and 2308 eggshells. Most material was located inside the nest for gulls and...