Using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to characterize nest site selection in wild Japanese tits Parus minor

Abstract

Selecting a suitable nest site is critical to the survival and reproduction of birds. Prospecting allows individuals to gather information on the local quality of potential future breeding sites, which may help them make the best nest site selection decision. However, few studies have focused on the direct links between the prospecting activity of breeders and subsequent nest site selection. In this study, we investigated the prospecting pattern of Japanese tits Parus minor during the pre‐breeding period of the first breeding attempt and whether nest site characteristics influence their nest box visiting behaviour and occupied nest site. We used radio frequency identification (RFID) to track the movements of Japanese tits visiting nest boxes and compared nest site characteristics between visited and unvisited (control) nest boxes, as well as between visited and occupied nest boxes. We found that Japanese tits started visiting nest boxes approximately 20 days before breeding, visited an average of six nest boxes and eventually chose the most visited nest box for breeding activities. Japanese tits were more likely to visit nest boxes that had less canopy cover and lower shrub density but a greater total number of surrounding trees and ultimately chose breeding nest boxes with a smaller entrance inclination, in nesting trees with a larger diameter at breast height (DBH) which were surrounded by trees with a larger DBH. Our results suggest that Japanese tits visit several potential breeding sites before choosing breeding nest boxes and that nest site characteristics can influence their prospecting activity and nest site selection.

Multi‐dimensional niche differentiation of two sympatric breeding secondary cave‐nesting birds in Northeast China using DNA metabarcoding

“…The first egg-laying date occurs in mid-to late April for the first brood and in late May for the second brood (Li et al, 2013(Li et al, , 2023. In contrast, the Yellow-rumped Flycatcher, a migratory species with a smaller population, usually arrives in our study area in early May (E et al, 2017).…”

“…We measured 13 nest site characteristics (Li et al, 2023) of the nest boxes occupied by tits and flycatchers. The nest height (m) (NH) above ground, the nest tree diameter (cm) at breast height (DBH), and the average diameter (cm) at breast height (ADBH) of 10 trees within a 10 m radius circle centered on the nesting tree were measured using a tape measure.…”

“…We recorded the nest tree species (TS), the number of tree species (NTS), and the number of trees (NT) within a 10 m radius circle centered on the nesting tree and assessed the canopy cover (%) (CC) above the nest tree. The CC was measured by standing 1 m away from the nest tree in each of the four cardinal directions and observing it vertically to assess it (Li et al, 2023). The entrance inclination (EI) of nest boxes was measured by a digital protractor (Weidu Electronics Co., LTD; Wenzhou, China).…”