Water economy in bird nests

Abstract

Nest humidity (\(P_{{\text{H}}_2 {\text{O}}} \)) under an incubating bantam hen was measured at ambient\(P_{{\text{H}}_2 {\text{O}}} \) ranging from 1.3 to 25.0 mmHg. Weight loss of eggs was recorded in clutches of varying size. Nest\(P_{{\text{H}}_2 {\text{O}}} \) and ambient\(P_{{\text{H}}_2 {\text{O}}} \) were also measured in wild incubating willow ptarmigan nests in dry and wet habitats.