Can Nest Predation Explain the Timing of the Breeding Season and the Pattern of Nest Dispersion of New Holland Honeyeaters?

• Published in: Oikos 1994-04, Vol.69 (3), p.364-372
• Main Authors: Major, R. E., Pyke, G. H., Christy, M. T., Gowing, G., Hill, R. S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal nesting; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Autoecology; Aves; Aviculture; Biological and medical sciences; Bird nesting; Breeding; Breeding seasons; Eggs; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heathlands; Phylidonyris novaehollandiae; Predation; Predators; Snakes; Vertebrata
• ISSN: 0030-1299; 1600-0706
• DOI: 10.2307/3545849

We tested the following two predictions of the hypotheses that predation rate may select for nest spacing and winter breeding in New Holland honeyeaters: (a) the level of nest predation should be lower during the breeding season than outside it, and (b) clumped nests should show a higher predation rate than more dispersed nests. Artificial nests, containing budgerigar and artificial eggs, were set out in four different seasons and in two different configurations: clumped and spaced. Clumped nests suffered higher predation than spaced nests but there was no seasonal difference in total predation rates. Birds accounted for 67% of predation events for which the predator was identified. Among nests that were preyed on by birds, there was a highly significant effect of spacing, indicating that birds were responsible for the higher predation on clumped nests. Hence, these results support one prediction of the predator-avoidance hypothesis for territoriality, but do not support the notion that winter breeding may have evolved as a strategy to avoid predation by snakes.