Barn Owl Reproduction: Patterns and Variation near the Limit of the Species' Distribution

Marti, Carl D.

doi:10.2307/1369329

Cited by 40 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Taylor (1994) found wide variation in clutch size both between years and within years in Scotland: years with early laying dates were also years of high clutch sizes and, within years, early laying pairs produced the largest clutches. Marti (1994) also found a seasonal decline in clutch size in Utah. In central Europe (Sch6nfeld & Girbig 1975, Baudvin 1986) and Mali (Wilson et al 1986), clutch size increased at the beginning of the season, peaked in June-July, and then declined.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Breeding ecology of the Barn Owl (Tyto alba) in Valencia (SE Spain)

Martínez

López

1999

J. Ornithol.

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SummaryWe studied the reproductive parameters of a population of Barn Owls (Tyro alba) in Valencia (SE Spain) from 1989 to 1995. About one third of females laid second clutches, but the laying date of first clutches was not different for females laying one or .more than one clutch per year. Also, there were no differences in the laying date of first clutches between years. Clutch size did not vary through the season, nor between the different study years. The main prey brought to the nests was rats, which represented the 62.6% of prey biomass. The modal clutch size was 5 eggs, and larger clutches were infrequent. This clutch size also produced more fledglings per nest than smaller or larger clutch sizes. This coincidence of modal and most productive clutch size is hypothesized to be related to the stability of climate and resource supply in the study area.Key words: diet, laying date, clutch size, breeding success, second clutches Zusammenfassung Brutbiologie der Schleiereule (Tyto alba) bei Valencia (SO-Spanien)Von 1986 bis 1995 untersuchten wir die Brutbiologie einer Population der Schleiereule bei Valencia. Etwa ein Drittel der Weibchen legte eine zweite Brut. Es bestand kein Unterschied im Legezeitpunkt der ersten Brut zwischen Weibchen, die ein-oder mehrmals brfiteten. Der Legezeitpunkt der Erstbrut war yon Jahr zu Jahr sehr ~ihnlich. Innerhalb der Saison wie zwischen den Jahren variierte die Gelegegr6ge kaum. Durchschnittlich wurden ftinf Eier gelegt. Die durchschnittliche Gelegegr6ge war zugleich die relativ produktivste. Dies wird als Ausdruck der im Untersuchugnsgebiet allj~ihrlich recht stabilen Klima-und Ern~ihrungsverhgltnisse interpretiert. Mit 62,6% aller Beutetiere machten Ratten die haupts~ichliche Beute aus, mit der die Jungen gefiittert wurden.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Breeding ecology of the Barn Owl (Tyto alba) in Valencia (SE Spain)

Martínez

López

1999

J. Ornithol.

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“…winter climate; Marti 1994), which affect the female pre-breeding body condition (Taylor 1994;Durant et al 2000). Likewise, the current prey abundance is known to affect the clutch size in Barn Owls (Taylor 1994) as in other raptor species (Newton 1979;Korpimäki 1994;Salamolard et al 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioural and body mass changes before egg laying in the Barn Owl: cues for clutch size determination?

2009

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To investigate laying decision and clutch size determination in indeterminate layers, we analysed in-nest activity (nest presence, and copulation, prey deliveries, and entrance frequencies) and female body mass change, as well as their relation to clutch size variation in five Barn Owl pairs (Tyto alba) nesting in eastern France. Body mass of the female and behaviour [copulation frequency, entrance frequency, and prey delivery to the nest by the male (in number and mass)] were monitored using an automated weighing system and a video camera. There was a consistent change of behaviour and foraging activity among pairs ca. 18 days before laying indicating that the females may be tied to the nest at this time. Barn Owls being indeterminate layers have their clutch size determined at the oviposition of the first egg of the clutch. Window correlation analyses between the clutch size and the female body mass gain indicate that the clutch size might be determined no later than a few days before the laying of the first egg. Our results suggest that female Barn Owls may use the pre-laying period to determine the clutch size using cues such as the male food deliveries (a proxy for male quality).

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“…Taylor (1994) stated that barn owls in Malaysia has three main breeding season; i) January-February, ii) July-September and ii) October-December compared to their continental counterparts with one or two seasons only. Besides that, Marti (1992;1994) reported that the owls rarely produce a second brood to replace failed first clutches but can produce a large clutch in a single brood.…”

Section: Reproductive Success Of Barn Owls In Captivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the 32 days of laying observed, there were five egg laying sessions recorded with an average of 6.2 ± 0.5 clutches size per female. Marti (1994) has described the barn owl (Tyto alba) as having a higher biotic potential and more flexible reproduction than most other owls and ecologically similar birds. Breeding pairs started regular visits to the nest boxes and prepare the bedding with their regurgitated pellets which described the evidence of a breeding season associated with increased weekly prey uptake (Durant et al, 2010).…”

Section: Reproductive Success Of Barn Owls In Captivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Normally, barn owls start nesting at the age of eight months to one year and produced one brood per year (Bunn et al, 1982;Lenton, 1984;Colvin, 1984;Marti, 1992;1994). Barn owls have great variability in clutch sizes ranging from 2-18 eggs (average clutch size of 6.6) lay at intervals of two to three days although longer gaps are sometimes encountered (Lenton, 1984;Taylor, 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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