The Design of Artificial Nestboxes for the Study of Secondary Hole-Nesting Birds: A Review of Methodological Inconsistencies and Potential Biases

Lambrechts, Marcel M.; Adriaensen, Frank; Ardia, Daniel R.; Artemyev, Alexandr; Atiénzar, Francisco Borrás; Bańbura, Jerzy; Barba, Emilio; Bouvier, Jean; Camprodón, Jordi; Cooper, Caren B.; Dawson, Russell D.; Eens, Marcel; Eeva, Tapio; Faivre, Bruno; Garamszegi, László Zsolt; Goodenough, Anne E.; Gosler, Andrew; Grégoire, Arnaud; Griffith, Simon C.; Gustafsson, Lars; Johnson, L. Scott; Kania, Wojciech; Keišs, Oskars; Llambías, Paulo E.; Mainwaring, Mark C.; Mänd, Raivo; Massa, Bruno; Mazgajski, Tomasz D.; Møller, Anders Pape; Moreno, Juan; Naef‐Daenzer, Beat; Nilsson, Jan Ke; Norte, Ana Cláudia; Orell, Markku; Otter, Ken A.; Park, Chan‐Ryul; Perrins, Christopher M.; Pinowski, Jan; Porkert, Jiří; Potti, Jaime; Remeš, Vladimír; Richner, Heinz; Rytkönen, Seppo; Shiao, Ming Tang; Silverin, Bengt; Slagsvold, Tore; Smith, Henrik G.; Sorace, Alberto; Stenning, Martyn J.; Stewart, Ian; Thompson, Charles F.; Tryjanowski, Piotr; Török, János; Noordwijk, Arie J. van; Winkler, David W.; Ziane, Nadia

doi:10.3161/000164510x516047

Cited by 293 publications

(266 citation statements)

References 125 publications

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“…The study sites were supplied with ca. 500 standard wooden nestboxes (200 in the parkland and 300 in the forest) (Lambrechts et al 2010). In every breeding season, the nestboxes are occupied first of all by Blue Tits and Great Tits, but also by Pied Flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) and Nuthatches (Sitta europaea) and, incidentally, by Marsh Tits (Poecile palustris) and Coal Tits (Periparus ater).…”

Section: Methods Study Area Field and Laboratory Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial variation in haemoglobin concentration of nestling Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus): a long-term perspective

et al. 2016

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An understanding of the influences of anthropogenic disturbance and variation in habitat quality on organism condition and breeding success may improve future management and conservation decisions. Some authors consider haemoglobin concentration to be a simple biochemical indicator of bird condition. The main goal of this paper is to examine if the level of haemoglobin displays any consistent pattern of variation across habitats differing in quality. We present results concerning longterm variation in haemoglobin concentration in the blood of about 14-day-old nestling Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) in central Poland in an 11-year period (2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013), in two landscapes (an urban parkland and a deciduous forest). The most important findings of the study are: (1) the concentration of haemoglobin of the nestlings from the same brood tended to be consistently similar, with most variation occurring between broods, (2) mean levels of haemoglobin varied between years, and were correlated with caterpillar abundance peaks in the forest study site, (3) mean haemoglobin concentration was significantly higher in the forest area than in the parkland area, (4) haemoglobin levels were positively correlated with breeding and fledging success. We confirmed that haemoglobin concentration displays a spatio-temporal pattern and that the level of haemoglobin is a reliable condition and habitat quality indicator in nestling Blue Tits in the study populations. Although, strictly speaking, the analysed differences are between two particular sites, we think that they reflect differences between urban and non-urban habitats.

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Section: Methods Study Area Field and Laboratory Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial variation in haemoglobin concentration of nestling Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus): a long-term perspective

et al. 2016

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“…Nest boxes provide conditions strikingly different from tree cavities for the birds nesting in them. Among others, they are of uniform dimensions, situated at a similar height (reviewed in Lambrechts et al 2010), and constructed in a way to minimise predation and nest soaking-the main mortality factors of cavity nesters in natural situations (reviewed in Wesołowski 2011). In consequence, the nesting success of birds using nest boxes is usually very high, much higher than in tree cavities (e.g., Nilsson 1975;East and Perrins 1988;Purcell et al 1997;Mitrus 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It frequently uses nest boxes, to which it appears attracted, and nest box provision can often increase the breeding densities to artificially high levels that are unrecorded in natural situations (reviewed in Glutz von Blotzheim and Bauer 1993;Wesołowski 2011). Partly because of this reason, the Great Tit has become one of the most intensively studied bird species in Europe (1807 papers up to 2010, Lambrechts et al 2010). Although the literature on Great Tit breeding ecology is vast (Glutz von Blotzheim and Bauer 1993), it is based almost exclusively on nest box observations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breeding success of the Great Tit Parus major in relation to attributes of natural nest cavities in a primeval forest

Maziarz

Wesołowski²,

Hebda

et al. 2015

J Ornithol

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An overlap in attributes of nest cavities used by Great Tit Parus major across Eurasia suggests similar nest site preferences within the geographical range, although the drivers of these preferences are unclear. To determine whether preferred cavities provide conditions enhancing successful reproduction, we investigated the breeding performance of Great Tits in relation to tree cavity characteristics using data collected during 2008-2011 in primeval conditions (Białowie_ za National Park, Poland). Here, tree cavities are diverse and superabundant but nesting birds are at risk from a variety of predators. According to expectations, nest losses were high (60 % of Great Tit nests failed), mostly due to predation (69 % of nest failures). The risk of nest failure varied with nest cavity attributes. Compared to successful nests, failures were situated higher above the ground and placed closer to the cavity entrance. Very deep cavities with narrow entrances and strong livings walls provided effective protection against larger predators (e.g., martens, woodpeckers), unable to enter the cavity or pull out the contents. Yet, such holes were no barrier for the smallest predators (e.g., Forest Dormouse Dryomys nitedula), which were able to enter any Great Tit nest cavity and destroyed most of the nests. Avoiding small predators would give a selective advantage to the birds, but this seems hardly possible to achieve. We conclude that tree cavities preferred by the tits show a combination of properties which are a compromise for avoiding predation (the strongest selective pressure) and providing the minimum requirements (sufficient nest illumination, microclimate, protection against nest soaking) for development and growth of young.

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“…du Feu 2003). The dimensions of the bespoke nest-boxes in our more successful second trial were similar to those used in Sweden, where an average uptake of approximately 25-30% was achieved in wooden nestboxes with a 74 cm 2 floor area (95 x 78 mm) and 130 mm depth below a 26 mm entrance hole (Nilsson & Smith 1988;Nilsson 1991, Lambrechts et al 2010. These nest-boxes, like ours, were installed in pairs at inter-box distances of up to 10 m, which appears to enhance uptake.…”

mentioning

confidence: 76%

A nestbox trial for British Marsh TitsPoecile palustris

Broughton¹,

Hinsley²

2014

Ringing & Migration

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Two experimental nest-box trials were attempted, which aimed to maximize uptake by Marsh Tits in British woodland. Nest-boxes which more closely approximated the dimensions of natural cavities were used more frequently than standard nest-boxes, but the overall uptake was low. We conclude that nest-boxes are an inefficient method of monitoring Marsh Tits, at least in the British context, and researchers should concentrate efforts on locating and monitoring natural nest-sites.The Marsh Tit is a small (10-12 g) woodland passerine which nests in secondary treecavities (Broughton et al. 2011), and its abundance in Britain declined by 73% from 1967-2011, placing it on the Red List of birds of conservation concern (Baillie et al. 2014). Consequently, monitoring of demographic trends has become more urgent, including breeding success and productivity. However, Marsh Tits are infrequent users of nest-boxes (Perrins 1979), which are the most efficient means of monitoring breeding parameters, particularly for 'citizen science' projects such as the BTO's Nest Record Scheme. The reasons for this low uptake are unknown, but may include nest-box competition from dominant Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus and Great Tits Parus major, a preference for different cavity properties than offered by standard nest-boxes, or microhabitat selection around nest-sites (Broughton et al. 2012). The aim of this paper is to report on two experimental nest-box trials which aimed to use information on territory location, nest placement and natural nest-sites to maximize nest-box uptake by Marsh Tits. If successful methods could be applied more widely, then this would facilitate nest recording and ringing of nestlings for improved population monitoring. Since 2003 we have studied Marsh Tits in the 155 ha Monks Wood National Nature Reserve in Cambridgeshire, eastern England (52° 24' N, 0° 14' W), and neighbouring woods within 5 km, including aspects of nest-site selection and nest placement in natural cavities. Each year at least 80% of the Marsh Tit population was marked with individual combinations of colourrings, all birds were sexed according to behaviour and biometrics, all breeding territories were mapped, and 200 nests were located up to 2014 (see Broughton et al. 2008Broughton et al. , 2011Broughton et al. , 2012 for details). The study woods were largely unmanaged ancient woodland, dominated by Common Ash Fraxinus excelsior, English Oak Quercus robur, Common Hazel Corylus avellana and hawthorns Crataegus spp.. In December 2003 we began a nest-box trial aimed at improving occupation by Marsh Tits, using nest-boxes approximating the standard 'small hole-entrance' design recommended by du Feu (2003). Boxes were erected in pairs at 15 locations in previous Marsh Tit breeding territories, close (< 10 m) to recent nest-sites where possible (five locations), with inter-box distances of 3-5 m to leave a nest-box available for Marsh Tits should one be taken by the dominant and common Blue Tits (Nilsson & Smith 1988). Page 1 of 8Nest-boxes were...

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The Design of Artificial Nestboxes for the Study of Secondary Hole-Nesting Birds: A Review of Methodological Inconsistencies and Potential Biases

Abstract: The design of artificial nestboxes for the study of secondary hole-nesting birds: a review of methodological inconsistencies and potential biases. Acta Ornithol. 45: 1-26.

Cited by 293 publications

References 125 publications

Spatial variation in haemoglobin concentration of nestling Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus): a long-term perspective

Spatial variation in haemoglobin concentration of nestling Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus): a long-term perspective

Breeding success of the Great Tit Parus major in relation to attributes of natural nest cavities in a primeval forest

A nestbox trial for British Marsh TitsPoecile palustris

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