Nest-sites, breeding failure, and causes of non-breeding in a population of British marsh tits Poecile palustris
Broughton, Richard K. 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6838-9628; Hill, Ross A.; Bellamy, Paul E.; Hinsley, Shelley A..
2011
Nest-sites, breeding failure, and causes of non-breeding in a population of British marsh tits Poecile palustris.
Bird Study, 58 (3).
229-237.
10.1080/00063657.2011.582641
Abstract/Summary
Capsule: Choice of nest-site appeared flexible and the rate of breeding failure was low, but some birds did not reach the nesting stage. Aims: To analyse nest-site selection and its effect on nest predation and establish the rate of breeding failure. Methods: We used vegetation sample plots to assess the nest-site resource and established the fate of birds in 153 territories and 134 nests over seven years. The fate of 30 nests from neighbouring woods was also determined. Results: Most nests were situated 0–4 m high in knotholes in live, medium-sized Common Ash trees. Overall, birds in 12.4% of occupied spring territories did not reach the nesting stage, primarily because of an absence of females, and 16.4% of nests in the same population were not successful. The nest failure rate was 18.4% across a wider population, which included neighbouring woods, primarily because of nest predation. Conclusion: Marsh Tits were flexible in their choice of nest-site with low rates of nest competition and predation. Nest failure is unlikely to be a significant factor in the decline of British Marsh Tits but failure to reach the nesting stage may be an additional pressure.
| Item Type: | Publication - Article |
|---|---|
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | 10.1080/00063657.2011.582641 |
| Programmes: | CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biodiversity > BD Topic 2 - Ecological Processes in the Environment > BD - 2.4 - Estimate the impact of the main drivers and pressures on biodiversity ... |
| UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas: | Pywell |
| ISSN: | 0006-3657 |
| Additional Keywords: | marsh tit, nest, predation, Poecile palustris |
| NORA Subject Terms: | Ecology and Environment |
| Related URLs: | |
| Date made live: | 01 Aug 2011 16:03 +0 (UTC) |
| URI: | https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/14803 |
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