Abstract
We report on occupancy rates and nesting success of European storm-petrels Hydrobates pelagicus breeding in artificial nest-boxes for five years. Plastic nest-boxes were installed inside two natural caves on the island of Benidorm (western Mediterranean), where breeding colonies of the species occur. The location of nest-boxes was (a) over exposed natural nests or (b) at sites without nests, but usually close to them. Nest-boxes were visited during the breeding season following installation, when only nest-boxes over old nests were occupied. Occupancy rates in both types of nest-box increased gradually year after year, reaching 29% in the fifth year. Nesting success of pairs breeding inside boxes was higher than nesting success of pairs breeding at natural sites.
Highlights
The European storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus breeds widely along the European Atlantic coast and throughout the Mediterranean sea, where the subspecies H. p. melitensis has been described (Hémery and DElbee, 1985; Bretagnolle, 1992; see Bretagnolle and Zotier, 1998)
This study presents data on occupancy levels and nesting success in nest-boxes installed in two stormpetrel colonies on Benidorm Island
“New” are nest boxes placed on sites without old nests, and “old” refer to boxes placed on top of former nests
Summary
The European storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus breeds widely along the European Atlantic coast and throughout the Mediterranean sea, where the subspecies H. p. melitensis has been described (Hémery and DElbee, 1985; Bretagnolle, 1992; see Bretagnolle and Zotier, 1998). Melitensis has been described (Hémery and DElbee, 1985; Bretagnolle, 1992; see Bretagnolle and Zotier, 1998). This subspecies is legally protected (Blanco and González, 1992), and con*Received February 28, 2002. European storm-petrels are confined to islets, following human colonisation of the main islands and the introduction of predators (Thibault et al., 1996; Martin et al 2000). The shortage of adequate nest cavities may affect the local breeding population (Ramos et al, 1997) and breeding site may be one of the limiting factors for storm petrels. Nest-boxes or artificial burrows have been used in several storm-petrel colonies (Allan, 1962; Bolton, 1994, 1996; Ramos et al, 1997). Success has been achieved in re-establishing Oceanodroma leucorhoa on islands off the north-eastern United
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