Factors Affecting Nest Re-use in the Ruf ous Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis

Abstract

Factors affecting choice of nest type were examined in the Rufous Turtle Dove, Streptopelia orientalis, dividing nest re-use into two types; re-use of a nest previously used by itself and a nest never used by itself before. New nests were used in 47.4% of all breeding attempts, old-not previously used nests in 10.9%, and old-previously used nests in 14.1% (n= 192). Breeding outcomes at each nest type were not significantly different. The dove chose an old nest after a new nest, vice versa, and chose an old-not previously used nest at a long distance from the preceding nest site. The distance of nests in two successive breedings for a pair was longer after an unsuccessful breeding. In two successive breedings at a nest, either member of a pair was the same 37.3%, or both were different 34.8% (n=69) of the time. The preceding breeding success was significantly lower when the users at a nest had changed than when they had not changed. However, no significant difference in the outcome of the next breeding was detected. These results showed that the preceding breeding experiences, such as breeding success and nest type, were important in the choice of the following nest type, though the choice did not affect the following breeding outcome. Since old-previously used nests and old-not previously used nests were chosen after different breeding experiences, it is considered that the Rufous Turtle Dove distinguishes these two types of old nests.