Nest Site Selection in Monk Parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) in Florida

Authors: BURGER J.¹; GOCHFELD M.²

Source: Bird Behavior, Volume 13, Number 2, 2000 , pp. 99-105(7)

Publisher: Cognizant Communication Corporation

Abstract:

Monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) have been expanding their range in Europe and North America. We examined their nest site selection in two colonies in South Florida to test the hypothesis that they select specific size and species of tree for their nests, and place the nest and its opening away from the prevailing winds from the Atlantic Ocean. They selected nest trees as a function of species and size of the tree. All of the nests at Miami Springs were in punk trees (Melaleuca quinquenervia), and all the nests in Bryant Park were in coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) trees, even though there were a variety of other trees present. At both colonies they nested in taller trees than were generally available. At Bryant Park they nested in trees that had significantly larger diameter-at-breast-height than the trees that were available, although this was not the case at Miami Springs. The nests were either among the coconuts or at the distal ends of the Melaleuca branches, and away from the prevailing winds. We suggest that the location of nests reflects selection for strong, large trees, and the relative smallness of the nests in comparison with those in their native South America may partially reflect pressures from high storm winds.

Keywords: Monk parakeet Myiopsitta monachus Nest site select

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: *Division of Life Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8082 2: †Environmental and Community Medicine, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854

Publication date: 2000-01-01

• Bird Behavior is an international and interdisciplinary journal that publishes high-quality, original research on descriptive and experimental analyses of species-typical avian behavior, including the areas of ethology, behavioral ecology, comparative psychology, and behavioral neuroscience.

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• In this Subject: Zoology
• By this author: BURGER J. ;  GOCHFELD M.

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