Nest reuse by Pale‐breasted Thrushes reduces the chance of cowbird parasitism and allows earlier initiation of breeding

Abstract

Selection of safe nest sites is a first step toward improving the chances of breeding successfully. Reusing old nests can save time and energy for breeding birds, but nest reuse is rare among open‐cup nesting songbirds and the factors contributing to this behavior and its consequences for reproductive output remain little known. We studied an urban population of Pale‐breasted Thrushes (Turdus leucomelas) in southeastern Brazil to determine whether nest reuse (1) was more likely after a successful nesting attempt both within and between breeding seasons, (2) affected the number of fledglings in the next nesting attempt, (3) reduced the chances of nest parasitism by Shiny Cowbirds (Molothrus bonariensis), and (4) was associated with earlier initiation of nests at the beginning of breeding seasons and shorter re‐nesting intervals within breeding seasons. We monitored 266 nests from 2010 to 2019 and obtained data on 130 re‐nesting events by individually marked birds. Nest reuse was more frequent after successful nesting attempts within breeding seasons. New nests were more likely to be parasitized by cowbirds, which had a negative effect on the number of fledglings per clutch. Reusing nests allowed earlier initiation of breeding at the start of breeding seasons, but did not shorten re‐nesting intervals within seasons. Nest reuse by Pale‐breasted Thrushes followed the win‐stay lose‐switch strategy and corroborated the time‐saving hypothesis. Our results suggest that nest reuse may increase the fitness of Pale‐breasted Thrushes by reducing the likelihood of cowbird parasitism.

Reuse of nests in the Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus: A behavior to save time and energy and to deter nest parasites?

“…This pattern is consistent with the "win-stay, lose-switch" concept (Batisteli et al, 2021;Chalfoun & Martin, 2010). The "win-staylose-switch" strategy can be influenced by environmental changes (Kloskowski, 2021), or it can vary between sexes, e.g., while females display site-fidelity after successful breeding, males display territoryfidelity, or it can happen that only one sex shows site fidelity after successful breeding (Sedgwick, 2004).…”

“…For example, several studies agreed that nest reuse can reduce the time and effort required for nest site selection, and that eggs can be laid earlier than in newly built nests (e.g. Batisteli et al, 2021; Cavitt et al, 1999; Mazgajski, 2007). Despite the higher risks, nest reuse within one season is a common phenomenon in cavity‐nesting passerines such as tits and sparrows (Tomás et al, 2007; Wesołowski, 2006), likely due to limited nesting possibilities (Wiebe, 2011).…”

Nest predation, brood parasitism and the reproductive success of the masked laughingthrush Garrulax perspicillatus in the rural habitat of central China

“…Herzog et al 46 and Mero and Zuljevic 47 ). Birds may use old nests to make an earlier breeding onset (time/energy saving hypothesis; Cavitt et al 48 and Batistali et al 49 ) or reallocate energy into reproduction. 50 However, nest reuse would contribute to the nest parasitism prevalence 51 and nest predation 52,53 since nest predators and parasites may re-check memorised nests.…”

Delayed timing of breeding attempts, but not time lost to nest construction, reduces the annual reproductive output of the Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)

“…For the Pale-breasted Thrush ( Turdus leucomelas ), new nests constructed for second attempts are more likely to be parasitized by Shiny Cowbirds ( Molothrus bonariensis ) than reused nests. 51 Similarly, daily survival rate of second attempts is greater for Vermilion Flycatchers ( Pyrocephalus rubinus ) if they reuse nests rather than build new nests. 15 Ellison 15 suggested that higher nest survival reflected a benefit of saved time in a short breeding season, which could avoid costly phenological mismatches for second attempt brood rearing 64 (but see 37 ).…”

“…In both models we included nest site identity as a random factor to account for repeated sampling of the same pair and location from year to year. 38,46,47 Both models included fixed effects of nest treatment (removal vs. control), first egg laying date, first attempt clutch size, second attempt status (renest vs. double-brood), brood parasitism status of first breeding attempt (parasitized vs nonparasitized, in case brood parasitism caused pairs to abandon first attempt locations 51 ), and year as fixed effects.…”