Bird nest orientation and local temperature: an analysis over three decades.

Abstract

Different studies around the world have shown that the orientation of birds' nests depends on local climate variables such as temperature, wind, and rainfall (e.g. Facemire et al. 1990, Wiebe 2001, Burton 2007, Hartman and Oring, 2003, Landler et al. 2014, Schaaf et al. 2018). These local climate variables, in particular temperature, may cause variations in nest orientation between different geographical areas. For example, in temperate regions, bird species that build enclosed nests tend to orient their nests towards the sun to increase the temperature inside the nests. On the other hand, in tropical regions, the nest entrances are directed away from the sun to avoid heating (Wiebe 2001, Burton 2007, Schaaf et al. 2018). In this way, birds achieve thermal conditions more conducive to incubation and offspring growth (McGowan et al. 2004, Mainwaring et al. 2014).