Patterns of Cavity-Entrance Orientation by Gilded Flickers (Colaptes chrysoides) in Cardón Cactus

Abstract

We studied patterns of cavity placement and orientation by the Gilded Flicker (Colaptes chrysoides) in the card6n cactus (Pachycereus pringlei) of Mexico, a columnar cactus characterized by a complex branching pattern. Overall, Gilded Flicker cavity entrances were oriented significantly toward the north-northwest, and they tended to face away from the rest of the cactus structure. There were more cavities proportional to the number of arms in the northwest quadrant, and these cavities had the strongest tendency to be oriented to the northwest and to face away from other arms. Cavities in the northeast quadrant were oriented slightly east of north, maintaining a strong pattern of orientation away from other cactus arms. Southwest quadrant cavity orientations were similar to those in the northwest quadrant but deviated from the trend of facing directly away from the bulk of the cactus structure. The fewest cavities proportional to number of arms were in the southeast quadrant, and these showed no significant orientations, instead having the greatest variation in directional orientation as well as orientation with respect to other cactus arms.

Nestbox orientation: a species-specific influence on occupation and breeding success in woodland passerines

“…Directional preference in primary cavity-nesting species (species that excavate their own cavity) can be directly inferred (Zwartjes & Nordell 1998). However, secondary cavity-nesting species (those that use natural or previously excavated cavities) are influenced by the availability of existing cavities.…”

Climate and nest opening orientation in Furnarius rufus (Furnariidae)

“…In such cases, the factors determining the pattern of nest opening orientation are wind and rainfall (CONNER, 1975;INOUYE, 1976;RAPHAEL, 1985;MEZQUIDA, 2004). Also, habitat characteristics around nest such as a matrix of distinct physiognomies or tree branch arrangement (e. g. inclination) can influence the direction in which birds will positionate the nest entrance (VIÑUELA & SUNYER, 1992;ZWARTJES & NORDELL, 1998;THOGMARTIN, 1999). This relationship between nesting behavior and environmental characteristics is often observed for species from regions with stressing seasonal climatic changes, such as temperate species.…”

Urban Environment Use by Speckled (Columba Guinea) and Feral (Columba Livia) Pigeons on the University of South Africa’s Muckleneuk Campus

“…Pigeons making use of ledges on the north and south facing sides of the OR Tambo building indicated a preference for the southern aspect during autumn (X 2 (df = 1, n = 52) = 16.95, p < 0.0001) and summer (X 2 (df = 1, n = 52) = 6.02, p = 0.014), contrary to numerous avian studies which documented a northerly site selection (Leonard, 1998;Kőrtner and Geiser, 1999;Ontiveros, 1999;Fisher et al, 2004). Studies demonstrate that the primary motivation for a northerly aspect preference is energetic considerations (Walsberg, 1986;Zwartjies and Nordell, 1998;Antczak, 2010). Yet during the coldest season, when the warmer northerly side would minimise heat loss and thermoregulation costs, pigeons did not indicate a significant preference X 2 (df = 1, n = 52) = 0.26, p = 0.610).…”