Speaker: Silvia Colombo, The University of Melbourne. Current affiliation: Macquarie University.
When: Thursday 12 November, 7.30 pm
Where: See end of post.
Details:
Avian nests are fundamental structures that protect eggs and nestlings from harsh climatic conditions and predators. The role of climatic conditions in shaping nest architecture and how well birds can adjust nest traits remain opaque.
This topic has been studied primarily in species in the northern hemisphere that have shorter breeding seasons with small temperature gradients. Our focal species is the Superb fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus), a multi-brooded Australian passerine that builds domed nests (cup nests with a roof and a side entrance). Our fieldwork was conducted in Campbell Park and in the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra for six breeding seasons (2019-2024).
We tested whether nest traits (such as nest height, entrance diameter, roof thickness) were associated with weather conditions (temperature, solar exposure, and rainfall) experienced by the birds immediately prior to and during nest-building.
We found that higher temperatures were associated with lighter and less dense nests, possibly reducing heat retention. Moreover, high rates of rainfall were linked to bigger entrances, likely facilitating a faster drying process. Our results highlight the flexibility in nest building behaviours of an Australian passerine and that many selective pressures can shape avian nests during the same breeding season.
These results also show that birds can rapidly adjust their incubation environment, something particularly important in a future scenario of warming temperatures.
Where: Seniors Village Hub, North Room. This talk will be online via Microsoft Teams (not ZOOM). You can come to the Hub and watch Silvia’s presentation as a projection and chat to other members
OR
you can watch it at home by requesting a Microsoft Teams link by emailing to
orangefieldnats@gmail.com. You will be sent a link on the afternoon of the talk.
If you haven’t used Teams before you will need to install Microsoft Teams or its browser plugin. It is best to do a test before the meeting and reconnect just before 7.30pm. You will be placed in a ‘waiting room’, and Tony Caine will let you in to the meeting when it starts at 7.30pm.