Harris, Michael P. 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9559-5830; Wanless, Sarah ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2788-4606.
2006
Laying a big egg on a little ledge: does it help a female Common Guillemot if Dad's there?
British Birds, 99.
230-235.
Female Common Guillemots Uria aalge face the challenge of laying a large egg on a cliff ledge, often surrounded by tetchy neighbours. We documented the laying of 754 eggs, during 82% of which the male was present. The presence of the male had no effect on either the short-term survival of the egg or the chances of a chick successfully leaving the colony. Male attendance at laying may be largely fortuitous, resulting from the long periods that he is present for other purposes.
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