Reproductive Correlates of Breeding‐Site Fidelity in Bobolinks (Dolichonyx Oryzivorus)

Abstract

To investigate the relationship between reproductive success (RS) and breeding—site fidelity in a transequatorial migrant, we studied two populations of marked Bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) in upstate New York during 1982—1985. At these sites, 44% of the males and 25% of the females resident in one year returned in one or more subsequent years. There were more nests built, eggs laid, eggs hatched, and young fledged in territories of returning males in this polygynous species than in territories of males that did not return in subsequent years (P < .04). For females that returned, the number of eggs hatched, young fledged, young fledged on last nest attempt, and young fledged per egg laid were higher than for females that did not return (P < .02). Discriminant function analysis and data from 1982—1984 were used to predict correctly the return behavior of 30 to 42 individuals (sexes combined) in 1985, based on their reproductive success (RS) in 1984 (P < .01). Using data on RS and return rate for all years, the best single—variable model for males based on the number of young fledged from each territory classified correctly 59 of 85 individuals (69%) as returning or not (P < .005). The best single—variable model for females based on the number of yound fledged on their last nest attempt classified correctly 61 of 86 individuals (71%; P < .005). Using all data for 1982—1985, sex—specific models that included only whether an individual fledged one or more young classified correctly the same proportion as the best single—variable models above. However, among males that fledged one or more young, those that returned had fledged significantly more young the previous year than those that did not return (P < 0.5). Not all individuals that failed to return were dead, because five individuals that did not return to our study sites were captured in a subsequent year at another site. We concluded that male and female Bobolinks used information on their breeding success in one year to influence their choice of breeding site in the next year.

Nest and nest-site reuse within and between breeding seasons by three neotropical flycatchers (Tyrannidae)

“…It is hypothesized that the reuse of nesting site is related to previous successful nesting attempts in the same site, a behavior that would be favored by natural selection (Blancher and Robertson, 1985;Gavin and Bollinger, 1988;Gauthier, 1990), and is supported by empirical evidence (Harvey et al, 1979;Hepp andKennamer, 1992, Thorstrom et al, 2001;Styrsky, 2005). In our study, however, reuse of nest sites was not related to the fate of previous nesting attempts at that site.…”

“…This is contrary to the positive association between the reuse of nesting sites and the success of the previous breeding attempt described for various other species (Harvey et al, 1979;Blancher and Robertson, 1985;Gavin and Bollinger, 1988;Gauthier, 1990;Hepp and Kennamer, 1992). Alternative explanations for this lack of relationship may include scarcity or high overall quality of available nesting sites.…”

Breeding territory fidelity in a partial migrant, the American dipper Cinclus mexicanus

“…Previous reproductive success has frequently been shown to influence the breeding dispersal decisions of many birds (Gavin and Bollinger 1988, Bollinger and Gavin 1989, Haas 1998, Hoover 2003. We demonstrated that female breeding territory fidelity was sensitive to prior reproductive success.…”

Territory settlement and site fidelity in Reed BuntingsEmberiza schoeniclus

“…The likelihood of high competition in males, as well as the higher mortality in females, seems to be an important factor affecting both territory settlement in the year of ringing and fidelity probability in subsequent years. On the other hand, in a few bird species reproductive outcome did not affect the likelihood of return in successive years (Gavin & Bollinger 1988, Haig & Oring 1988, Payne & Payne 1993, Pyle et al 2001, Shutler & Clark 2003, Hallworth et al 2008.…”