AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Reproductive Success of American Kestrels Nesting along an Interstate Highway in Central Iowa

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1993
Authors:Varland, DE, Loughin, TM
Journal:The Wilson Bulletin
Volume:105
Issue:3
Date Published:1993
ISBN Number:00435643
Keywords:Cerchneis, Cerchneis sparverius, Falco, Falco sparverius, Falco tinnunculus, Falconidae, Sturnidae, Sturnus, Sturnus vulgaris, Tinnunculus, Tinnunculus sparverius
Abstract:We studied the reproductive success of American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) nesting in nest boxes attached to the backs of highway signs along Interstate 35 (I-35) in central Iowa, 1988-1992. Nest box occupancy averaged 45.1%. All nest boxes faced either north or south, and there was no significant association between nest box occupancy and nest box orientation. European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) built nests in almost every nest box not occupied by kestrels. Apparent nesting success, the percentage of nests fledging at least one young, averaged 68.9%. There was no significant association between apparent nesting success and nest box orientation. Using the Mayfield method, we detected a significantly lower probability of survival during the incubation stage than during the brood-rearing stage. Clutch size averaged 4.8 over the five years of the study, and mean hatching success was 62.5%. Mean brood size was 3.1, and mean number of young in a brood to fledge was 2.9 (90.9% fledging success). The kestrels in this study had reproductive success similar to that of kestrels nesting in nest boxes in other areas of North America.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/4163321
Short Title:The Wilson Bulletin
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith