Occupancy rates and nesting success of European storm-petrels breeding inside artificial nest-boxes
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Published source details
De León A. & Mínguez E. (2003) Occupancy rates and nesting success of European storm-petrels breeding inside artificial nest-boxes. Scientia Marina, 109-112.
Published source details De León A. & Mínguez E. (2003) Occupancy rates and nesting success of European storm-petrels breeding inside artificial nest-boxes. Scientia Marina, 109-112.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Provide artificial nesting sites for burrow-nesting seabirds Action Link |
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Provide artificial nesting sites for burrow-nesting seabirds
A controlled before-and-after study in 1997-2001 in two sea caves near Benidorm, Spain (de Leon & Minguez 2003), found that European storm petrels Hydrobates pelagicus nesting in artificial nest boxes had significantly higher nesting success than petrels in natural nests, except in the year boxes were provided (36-49% for 803 natural nests vs. 40-75% for 72 occupied nest boxes). Occupancy rates increased over time (6% of 86 boxes in 1997 to 29% of 83 in 2001) and were higher in a cave not illuminated at night by city lights and for boxes placed over old nest sites. There was no decrease in the number of petrels at natural nesting sites over the study, so the birds in nest boxes probably represented new breeders. Nest boxes were 25 x 12 cm PVC boxes with drainage holes, lined with sand and fitted with a small tunnel preventing access by gulls.
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