Subject: Re: Robins - fireworks/nest site fidelity
Date: May 11 00:59:32 1997
From: jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca - jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca


Mark wondered -

> All this leads me to wonder which other migratory species display a high
> degree of territory/nest site fidelity.

Actually, you may get a shorter list if you invert the question and ask which
ones do *not* exhibit a high degree of nest site fidelity. I went through my
yard birds and couldn't come up with any that I know of that deliberately
avoid the previous year's nesting site. The only ones that do are the primary
cavity nesters which drill a new one each year. Also, I believe that if a
nest had been depredated the previous year, a bird may find another site. Of
course, it all depends on what you consider a high degree of fidelity. There
are not many that actually build atop last year's nest, hummingbirds being
the most famous in this regard and it isn't even all that common with them.
But most breeding birds return to the same *territory* in which they last
bred.

> And does anyone know if there have
> been any studies done regarding the affects of 4th of July fireworks on late
> nesting or second brooding species?

Hmmm. I wouldn't doubt it. There have been some pretty esoteric studies done
the past several years. I ran into one which tried to determine which was
more disturbing to Spotted Owls - the sound of chain saws or overflying
aircraft. Go figure...

- Jack


Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca