Influence of forest road on breeding of tits in artificial nest boxes

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the influence of forest road on breeding of tits in artificial nest boxes in deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests in the Gwanak Arboretum (37° 25′ 05′' N, 126° 56′ 85″ E) of Seoul National University, Anyang, Korea from November 2002 to June 2003. Three tits species, varied tit (Parus varius), marsh tit (P. palustris) and great tit (P. major), breeding in artificial nest boxes were investigated on number of breeding pairs, cultch size, and egg measurement. Resuls showed that the breeding pairs of varied tit was more in 75–150 m area than in 0–75m area from forest road for all the three study sites, and the clutch size and egg measurements (weight, Major axis and Minor axis) of varied tit was also higher in the area of 75–150 m than in the area of 0–75 m, while no differences in number of breeding pairs and clutch size were found for, marsh tit and great tit between the two areas. Egg measurement of great tit was also higher in forest interior area than in forest edge area. It is concluded that varied tit were most significantly influenced by forest road, followed by great tit, whereas marsh tit were not influenced by forest road. Artificial nest box is roved to be good for cavity nester in disturbed areas by human activities. Supply of artificial nest can help population protection and management of bird species.