Study

Old nest material in nestboxes of tree swallows: effects on reproductive success

  • Published source details Rendell W. & Verbeek N. (1996) Old nest material in nestboxes of tree swallows: effects on reproductive success. The Condor, 98, 142-152.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Clean nest boxes to increase occupancy or reproductive success

Action Link
Bird Conservation

Provide artificial nesting sites for songbirds

Action Link
Bird Conservation
  1. Clean nest boxes to increase occupancy or reproductive success

    A replicated, controlled study in marshland in 1991-2 in British Columbia, Canada (Rendell & Verbeek 1996), found that tree swallow Tachycineta bicolor reproductive success was not affected by removing old nesting material from nest boxes, removing nesting material and adding a raised ‘floor’ to simulate old nesting material or microwaving old nesting material. In 1992, cleaned birds using cleaned boxes laid and hatched eggs significantly earlier than those using other nest types (first eggs laid on 15th May and hatched on the 2nd June for 37 cleaned boxes vs. 18-20th May and 4-6th June for 68 others). Bird fleas Certaophyllys idius were more numerous in boxes with old nesting material. Use of boxes is discussed in ‘Provide artificial nesting sites’.

     

  2. Provide artificial nesting sites for songbirds

    A replicated study in marshland in 1991-2 in British Columbia, Canada (Rendell & Verbeek 1996), found that tree swallows Tachycineta bicolor occupied 90-100% of 125 nest boxes provided. The effect of cleaning boxes is described in ‘Clean nest boxes to increase occupancy or reproductive success’.

     

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