ADVANCED

1. ADVANCED LEC 17 University of Rio Grande Donald P. Althoff, Ph.D. ORNITHOLOGY Reproduction Part II Reference Chapters 12 - 17

2. Which comes first…the egg or the nest? • Thus far, have covered what the “laid” egg consists of… • …but now how we got the egg being ready to be laid • For those species that actually prepare a “nest”, they typically do so as the breeding/courtship process. This includes two phases: a) _________________= where b) _________________= what

3. Nest Site Selection • Many species are very selective. They spend days finding the “spot”. For many species we’ve been able to quantity the apparent factors that result in placement. These include: a) _________________—both at the macro and micro levels (including species & density) b) _________________ c) ___________________________ d) _________________ e) __________—if above ground f) __________ (edge, interior, “scale-dependent”) g) _____________________________ e) etc.

4. Nest Site Selection…con’t • Some species take little time to select a nest site. For example, some species of waterfowl may do what is referred to as “________ _________”. They simply use someone else’s nest. Ex. Wood ducks, redhead ducks, canvasbacks, ruddy ducks • Many cavity nesters (i.e., _____________________ ) spend “no” time in nest preparation once cavity is identified…that is “excavating the hole” ↑ Wood duck “nest” in wood duck box…with over 25 eggs

5. Nest Building • Sex that chooses site: may be the Male, may be the Female…may be both. ___________, though, it is the Female. • Some species, like the marsh wren, it is the male that establishes the territory and builds several nests vs. • Some species, like the red-winged blackbird that only establishes the territory and therefore is dictating the general location of nests but not the specific site of the nest.

6. Nest Building…con’t • Some species: both sexes help build (ex. _________ –the lightning bird) or use old nests (ospreys, hawks) • ____________: male gets the sticks, the female weaves them in. • ____________: female gathers nest material, them male builds the nest

7. burrowing owl Nest Types • Buried underground • Substrate • Cavity (both primary and secondary) • Elevated ovenbird prothonotary warbler red-eyed vireo

8. Nests: Buried Underground • Megapods (primitive family of gallinaneous birds) bury their eggs either by covering them in sand or covering them with vegetation • ___________: Nest first lined with “rotting” compost. Then covered with sand. ____ keeps nest temp at 330C (91.40F). Puts head into vegetation, sticks tongue out, and takes temp! --long incubation period --young are precoccial sand decaying veg soil

9. Substrate Nests: ___ nesting material • Nighthawks, whip-poor-wills (on rock, on “random” leaves) • Tropical birds—lay eggs on ground • Skimmers • Numerous shorebirds

10. Substrate Nests: Nest material present • “Dry”—ducks gather nesting material by ____________ from eventual nest site—do not gather and/or carry material…and line with feathers (example: pintail) • Some galliforms and swans also do this

11. Substrate Nests: Nest material present…con’t • ____________—meadowlarks, grasshopper sparrows • Often well-hidden…adult flies close to nest…then ‘walks’ the last few feet to it

12. Substrate Nests: Nest material present…con’t • Floating nests—grebes, canvasbacks & redheads, ruddy ducks, some terns and loons (semi-floating) western grebe common loon

13. Cavity Nests • _______ cavities: rough-winged swallows, kingfishers • _______ cavities: a) _________—tree nesting ducks (wood ducks, mergansers, buffleheads) b) _________ = excavated—woodpeckers c) __________ = already excavated— chickadees,nuthatches, wrens, martins, owls

14. Cavity Nests: Red-cockaded Woodpecker • A species that is a _______________ • Construct their own cavities… usually taking ___________________. • Have ___________ • Key design feature: _________ around cavity causing tree to _______…which discourages snakes

15. Cavity Nests: Red-cockaded Woodpecker • __________________…so much attention has been given to protecting habitat (80+ year pine stands—mostly longleaf pine) • Have figured out “construction” details…so making some artificial cavities http://www.talltimbers.org/ve-artificial-cavities.html -- video 33+ minutes

16. Elevated Nests • ___ nesting material a) fairy tern: depression in tree branch b) palm swift: glues eggs to leaves, usually palm leaves (uses saliva)

17. African palm swift

18. Elevated Nests…con’t • Nesting material a) __________: mourning doves, herons, cuckoos b) __________: opening at top; globular 4 types: _____________—supported from below _____________—supported from the side _____________—supported from side and rim _____________—supported from top

19. Elevated Nest: STATANT American robin

20. Elevated Nest: ADHERENT Barn swallows Elevated Nest: PENSILE Cliff swallows

21. Elevated Nest: PENDULOUS Weaver finch Baltimore oriole

22. Elevated Nests… weaver finches • Can tie ______________—and instinctive behavior pattern (see Gill Fig 15-9, p444) • Pendulous nest has these advantages a) “___________” adaptation b) may be “_________” adaptation

23. Weaver finches: step-by-step construction Egg chamber Roof Ring Entrance Antechamber

24. Other Nest Types/Forms • Colonial nests: social weaver from African savannah. 5-10 ft wide nests. Each bird with its own nest opening (like an apartment complex) • Community nests: all females lay eggs in same nest. Example: ostriches

25. Cape cobra at a social weaver nest complex !

26. Hornbills Nest in tree cavities. After clutch is laid, ________ goes inside. Male then fills in opening with mud, leaving vertical slit opening just wide enough for his/her bill to fit through. She stays insides during _____________________________…he feeds everyone through the slit