Breeding biology and behaviour of a pair of Pacific Bazas Aviceda subcristata in central-coastal Queensland over 10 years

Abstract

Over ten breeding seasons (2007–2008 to 2016–2017) the nesting of a pair of Pacific Bazas Aviceda subcristata on the central Queensland coast was observed, including nest-site selection, nest building, breeding behaviour and success. Nest success was 73%, giving an average of 1.7 ± standard deviation 1.3 young fledged per attempt and 2.5 ± 1.2 raised per year. The breeding season (nest building to fledging) was from mid September to 21 April with a consistent start date from year to year (laying in October, with replacement clutches in November–February). The incubation and nestling periods averaged 32 ± 1 days and 35 ± 1 days, respectively. Nests were positioned in the fork of a tree in a similar general location (within ~3 ha) each year. Several factors contributed to nest-site selection: tree species (mostly eucalypts), height of tree (15.5–21.5 m), height of nest above the ground (12.5–17.0 m), and the use of old nests of other species. New findings included the influence of predation on extending the length of the breeding season, feeding frequency (mean 10.6 minutes between deliveries), types of prey items (phasmatids 81%, tree frogs 19%; n = 63), food preparation, and pre- and post-fledging behaviour.