A comparison of the breeding ecology of a secondary cavity nesting bird, the Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), in nest boxes and natural cavities

Abstract

Several studies concerned with mate choice, reproductive performance, and life history strategies have been conducted with secondary cavity nesting birds breeding in nest boxes. Although the need for comparative studies has been recognized, populations breeding in nest boxes often have not been compared with those breeding in natural cavities. We compared the ecology of Tree Swallows breeding in nest boxes and natural cavities to determine if nest box populations of Tree Swallows are accurate models of natural populations. Two nest site characteristics, nest site dispersion and cavity height, were similar for birds in both nesting environments. Greater cavity entrance area at natural cavities resulted in increased interspecific competition in natural populations, involving larger competitors, more species, and a greater abundance of each species. Clutch size was smaller in natural cavities compared with nest boxes, likely because floor area was smaller in natural cavities. Fledging success did not differ between populations. Disproportionately more after-second-year females bred in nest boxes, and more second-year females bred in natural cavities, as estimated by a model of Tree Swallow survivorship. Tree Swallows settle at nest boxes before natural cavities in our study area, perhaps as a result of the greater potential for reproductive success and reduced interspecific competition in the nest boxes as opposed to natural cavities. For some aspects of the ecology of secondary cavity nesters, nest boxes do not provide an accurate representation of natural populations. Therefore, evolutionary interpretations of nest box studies should be compared with observations of birds in natural environments.

Breeding Success and Timing of the Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaNesting in Natural Holes and Nest-Boxes in the Białowieża Forest, Poland

“…Berndt & Winkel 1967). Lower rate of older Tree Swallows Tachycineta bicolor breeding in natural holes compared to nest-boxes was also shown (Robertson & Rendell 1990). I did not age birds in this study, but in BNP there exists a high surplus of nest holes (Walankiewicz 1991).…”

“…Only Robertson & Rendell (1990) showed an opposite situation for the Tree Swallow. In central Sweden, in natural holes considered as less safe than nest-boxes, predators robbed 23-57% of Pied Flycatcher broods (compared to 15-64% in this study), while only 0-18% (29-85% in this study) in nest-boxes (Nilsson 1984, Alatalo et al 1991.…”

“…Nilsson 1975, van Balen et al 1982, Alatalo et al 1990. Only a few papers showed no significant differences between natural holes and nest-boxes (Robertson & Rendell 1990, Mitrus 2003.…”

Breeding success of the Great Tit Parus major in relation to attributes of natural nest cavities in a primeval forest

“…As shown previously, knowledge of the breeding ecology of cavity nesters would be biased if based on nest box studies alone (e.g., van Balen et al 1982;Robertson and Rendell 1990;Purcell et al 1997;Czeszczewik et al 1999;Mitrus 2003;Wesołowski 2011). Nest boxes provide conditions strikingly different from tree cavities for the birds nesting in them.…”

Artificial burrows with basal chambers are preferred by pygmy bluetongue lizards, Tiliqua adelaidensis

“…Artificial refuges such as nesting boxes for 35 birds and bats, are now widely used in conservation management (Goldingay and reduced by anthropogenic activity (Gibbons and Lindenmayer, 2002). Consideration of 38 the relative quality of nesting boxes and natural cavities for birds (Lindenmayer et al,39 2009; Robertson and Rendell, 1990), has stimulated research on how varying structure ). An implication is that the design that individuals consistently choose in trials,…”