Does the intrusion of an avian nest predator elicit a change in the behaviour of a canopy-nesting passerine?

Behaviour ◽

10.1163/1568539x-bja10078 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-26

Author(s):

Alexander R. Sharp ◽

Kamal Islam

Keyword(s):

Nest Defence ◽

Cyanocitta Cristata ◽

Potential Predator ◽

Reduce Activity ◽

Provisioning Rate ◽

Avian Nest ◽

Cerulean Warblers ◽

Stage 1 ◽

Nest Predator ◽

Nest Predators

Abstract Many studies have shown that nest predators affect their prey indirectly by inducing changes in the behaviour of the prey. Studies suggest that the type and degree of nest defence strategies depends heavily on species, along with nest type and location. One such strategy, nest vigilance, allows individuals to collect information and make informed decisions based on their surroundings. In this study, we simulated the intrusion of a common avian nest predator (blue jay, Cyanocitta cristata) into the territory of nesting cerulean warblers (Setophaga cerulea) and evaluated eight different behavioural variables to determine their response to the nest predator. Female cerulean warblers were more vigilant on their nest when exposed to a potential predator compared to a nest with lower threat of predation. Females exposed to a nest predator increased incubation bout by 109% and brooding bout by 60%. Our data also suggest that male cerulean warblers reduce their provisioning rate during the early nestling stage (−1 feeding/hour) and late nestling stage (−3 feedings/hour), although more data are needed. Modification of incubation bout length and nestling provisioning rate are common strategies employed by songbirds to reduce activity around the nest, by decreasing detection opportunities of visually-oriented nest predators. Currently, the only understanding we have on how cerulean warblers respond to a nest predator is based on observational data. The results of this study provide the first evidence that cerulean warblers are able to identify species that pose a threat to the safety of their nest, and that they modify their behaviour to reduce nest detection by predators. The results of this study provide a better understanding of a relatively unknown aspect of the breeding behaviour of this species. This study is also first to describe how an open-cup, canopy-nesting species responds to an increase in nest predation threat.

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Tests of two functions of alarm calls given by yellow warblers during nest defence

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z03-162 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 81 (10) ◽

pp. 1685-1690 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Sharon A Gill ◽

Spencer G Sealy

Keyword(s):

Molothrus Ater ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Nest Defence ◽

Alarm Calls ◽

Potential Danger ◽

Dendroica Petechia ◽

Yellow Warblers ◽

Avian Nest ◽

Nest Predators

During nest defence, yellow warblers (Dendroica petechia) give "seet" and "chip" calls. Seet calls are given preferentially toward brood parasitic brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) during the yellow warblers' egg-laying period, whereas chip calls are given toward mammalian and avian nest predators throughout the nesting period. In this study, we investigated two possible functions of seet and chip calls during nest defence by playing alarm calls to nesting yellow warblers. We tested whether nest owners give seet and chip calls during defence to alert their offspring and their mates about nest threats and, in the latter case, whether the alarm calls differ in function depending on nesting stage. In response to playbacks, nestlings remained inactive for a significantly longer period when chip calls were played than when seet calls were played. Female yellow warblers returned to their nesting areas more quickly when seet calls were played than when chip calls were played, but pairs were equally likely to return to the nesting area in response to both call types. These findings suggests that both seet and chip calls alert mates but that only chip calls function to alert nestlings of potential danger.

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Plastering mud around the entrance hole affects the estimation of threat levels from nest predators in Eurasian Nuthatches

Avian Research ◽

10.1186/s40657-021-00294-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jiangping Yu ◽

Li Zhang ◽

Guodong Yi ◽

Keqin Zhang ◽

Jiyuan Yao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nest Defence ◽

Hole Size ◽

Red Squirrels ◽

Cavity Nesting ◽

Sitta Europaea ◽

Entrance Hole ◽

Tamias Sibiricus ◽

Threat Levels ◽

Nest Predator ◽

Nest Predators

Abstract Background For cavity-nesting birds, the nest entrance plays an important role in preventing predators from accessing nests. Several species of nuthatches use mud to narrow the entrance of cavities. In theory, the smaller the entrance hole size, the more effective it is against predators; however, few studies have tested whether narrowing the entrance hole size can affect the estimation of threat levels from nest predators in cavity-nesting birds. Methods Using dummy experiments, we tested whether Eurasian Nuthatches (Sitta europaea, narrow the entrance hole of cavities) and Cinereous Tits (Parus cinereus, do not narrow the entrance hole, as a control) perform different nest defence behaviours against Common Chipmunks (Tamias sibiricus, small nest predator) and Red Squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris, larger nest predator). Results Both nuthatches and tits exhibited stronger response behaviours (high dummy response scores) against chipmunks than against squirrels. Compared with tits, nuthatches exhibited more aggressive behaviours to chipmunks, but their responses to squirrels were similar. Conclusions Nest defence behaviours of nuthatches to chipmunks differed from tits, and the results suggested that nuthatches might estimate threat levels of nest predators according to their narrowed entrance-hole size.

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Nest Defence By Yellow Warblers: Recognition of a Brood Parasite and an Avian Nest Predator

Behaviour ◽

10.1163/156853996x00143 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 133 (3-4) ◽

pp. 263-282 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

Sharon A. Gill ◽

Spencer G. Sealy

Keyword(s):

Brood Parasitism ◽

Nest Defence ◽

Brood Parasite ◽

Yellow Warbler ◽

Nest Protection ◽

Yellow Warblers ◽

Avian Nest ◽

Defensive Behaviours ◽

And Control ◽

Nest Predator

AbstractYellow warblers (Dendroica petechia) were exposed to taxidermic mounts of a brood parasite (brown-headed cowbird, Molothrus ater), avian nest predator (common grackle, Quiscalus quiscula) and control (fox sparrow, Passerella iliaca) during their laying and nestling stages to determine whether nest owners distinguish between the threats of brood parasitism and predation. Yellow warblers responded more intensely to the cowbird at the laying stage, performing two unique behaviours (seet calling and nest-protection behaviour) in response to this threat. By contrast, yellow warbler responses to the grackle were greater at the nestling stage, consisting largely of alarm calls (chip, metallic chip and warble calls). The sparrow model infrequently elicited aggressive behaviour from nest owners at either stage. These responses support the hypothesis that yellow warblers discriminate between threats of brood parasitism and nest predation. Yellow warblers may perform specific behaviours to cowbirds because defensive behaviours used against predators may be incompatible with cowbird deterrence. Female nest owners responded more frequently than males at the laying stage, and more intensely than males at both nesting stages. The distance that females and males approached the models and several aggressive behaviours were positively correlated. The greater responsiveness of females may be because they dominate their mates and because females are more experienced with intruders near the nest.

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Nesting Success and Nest Predators in Forest Fragments: A Study Using Real and Artificial Nests

The Auk ◽

10.1093/auk/117.2.445 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 117 (2) ◽

pp. 445-454 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Liana Zanette ◽

Bert Jenkins

Keyword(s):

Nest Predation ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Fragment Size ◽

Nesting Success ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Artificial Nests ◽

Area Sensitivity ◽

Avian Nest ◽

Nest Predator ◽

Nest Predators

Abstract Area sensitivity in songbirds is commonly attributed to increased nest predation in forest fragments. In 1995 and 1996, we tested whether the nest predators and nesting success of an area-sensitive forest bird, the Eastern Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria australis), varied with fragment size, and we also conducted an artificial nest experiment. The study occurred in two small (55 ha) and two large (>400 ha) forest fragments in a matrix of agricultural land in New South Wales, Australia. Predation accounted for 95% of all failures of 282 robin nests, and the survival of robin nests was negatively correlated with how frequently we observed avian nest predators near nests (i.e. nest-predator activity). Of 461 artificial nests, 84% were depredated, nearly all (99%) by birds. Thus, birds were important predators of nests. The abundance, species richness, and activity of avian nest predators were not related to fragment size. Survival of robin nests averaged 19%; nests in small fragments had a 22% chance of producing at least one fledgling compared with 15% in large fragments, but the difference was not significant. Survival of artificial nests averaged 12% in both small and large fragments. Nest-predator activity accounted for the most variation (68%) in the fate of robin nests, followed by the cumulative density of open-cup nesters (16%). The placement of robin nests had no influence on nest fate. We conclude that nest predation was not area dependent and propose food supply as an alternative hypothesis to explain area sensitivity. We suggest that, rather than being related to fragment size, nest predation increases with decreasing forest cover in a landscape. Increased nest predation in fragmented compared with contiguous landscapes may lower the population viability of songbirds in a region, and hence regional numbers. Therefore, the spatial scale at which fragmentation influences nest predation and songbird populations must be considered carefully.

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Arboreal aperitifs: Space use and activity of a major songbird nest predator in a tropical Thailand forest

10.1101/2021.02.09.430242 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Anji D’souza ◽

George Gale ◽

Benjamin Michael Marshall ◽

Daphawan Khamcha ◽

Surachit Waengsothorn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Brownian Bridge ◽

Radio Telemetry ◽

Space Use ◽

Evergreen Forest ◽

Boiga Irregularis ◽

Forest Fragment ◽

Predator Species ◽

Avian Nest ◽

Nest Predator ◽

Nesting Season

ABSTRACTPredator-prey interactions are fundamental drivers of population dynamics, yet rarely are both predator and prey species simultaneously studied. Despite being significant, widespread avian nest predators, research on the ecology of Southeast Asian snakes in relation to birds remains scarce. The green cat snake (Boiga cyanea) is a primary nest predator, responsible for ≈24% of forest songbird depredation in Northeast Thailand. We explored both diurnal and nocturnal movements of 14 (5 male, 9 female) adult B. cyanea with radio-telemetry for an average of 68 ± 16 days per individual, between 21 October 2017 and 8 June 2019 in the dry evergreen forest of the Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve (SBR). We quantified area of space use (ha) and activity through motion variance (Ϭm2) during the study period using dynamic Brownian bridge movement models, and linked our findings to a simultaneously-run avian nest monitoring study, initiated in 2013 within the same forest fragment. On average, movements, space use and activity differed between males and females, and between the avian nesting and non-nesting seasons. Males moved 51.37 m/day farther than females. They used areas 15.09 ha larger than females, and their activity was 3.91 Ϭm2 higher than that of females. In general, individuals moved 50.30 m/day farther during the nesting season than the non-nesting season. The snakes used areas 9.84 ha larger during the nesting season than the non-nesting season, and their activity during the nesting season was 3.24 Ϭm2 higher than that during the non-nesting season. All individuals were exclusively nocturnal, moving throughout the night, and often descending from higher diurnal refugia (>2 m) to forage closer to the ground after sunset. Boiga cyanea activity followed a similar trend to that of the recorded nest depredations at SBR. Our study links snake activity to nest depredations in SBR. Our openly-available data may yield further insight when combined with other major avian nest predator species like the congeneric invasive brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) on the island of Guam.

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Methodological problems in studies of avian nest defence

Animal Behaviour ◽

10.1016/s0003-3472(86)80125-7 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 561-566 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

Richard L. Knight ◽

Stanley A. Temple

Keyword(s):

Nest Defence ◽

Methodological Problems ◽

Avian Nest

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Galagos as avian nest predators in South Africa

Primates ◽

10.1007/s10329-016-0559-6 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 57 (4) ◽

pp. 455-458 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Derek Engelbrecht

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Avian Nest ◽

Nest Predators

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Avian nest defence behaviour: assessment in relation to predator distance and type, and nest height

Animal Behaviour ◽

10.1016/j.anbehav.2004.06.003 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 69 (2) ◽

pp. 307-313 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

Sonia Kleindorfer ◽

Birgit Fessl ◽

Herbert Hoi

Keyword(s):

Nest Defence ◽

Defence Behaviour ◽

Nest Height ◽

Avian Nest

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Monogamy in the European Starling

Behaviour ◽

10.1163/156853992x00633 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 120 (3-4) ◽

pp. 262-285 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Innes Cuthill ◽

Jonathan Wright

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Nest Defence ◽

Female Size ◽

European Starlings ◽

Male And Female ◽

Female Body Size ◽

Relative Contribution ◽

Provisioning Rate ◽

Male Display

AbstractRecent theoretical and experimental studies appear to provide a comprehensive explanation for the evolutionary, and short-term, stability of biparental care in birds. However, much of the intraspecific variation in the absolute and relative contribution by the male and female remains to be explained. Most studies of the natural variation across pairs reveal positive correlations between the level of male and female nest defence or brood provisioning, but some species show negative relations, or between-season variability in the direction of the relationship. This study examines the determinants of male and female provisioning rate in monogamous European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), in terms of the patterns of male display, pairing patterns, laying phenology and clutch attributes. There was assortative pairing by body size and, controlling for female body size, larger males attracted relatively fecund mates. Males that sang relatively more, controlling for these body size effects, were paired with females that laid earlier. Female nest provisioning rates to experimentally standardized broods were positively correlated with female size, but male provisioning rates were unrelated to either song or any other attributes of themselves or their mates.

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