内蒙古达赉湖国家级自然保护区短趾百灵繁殖生态学初报

本文对内蒙古达赉湖国家级自然保护区短趾百灵繁殖生态进行了初步研究,共记录到短趾百灵繁殖巢37个。筑巢期7~10 d。巢外径91.95 mm±3.85 mm(n=37),巢内径53.89 mm±3.29 mm(n=37),巢深43.62 mm±5.36 mm(n=37)。平均窝卵数3.05枚±0.51枚。孵卵期10~12 d。孵化率、离巢率和繁殖成功率分别为83.3%、94.1%和54.1%。雏鸟食性以直翅目昆虫幼虫为主。     

云南云县黑喉山鹪莺繁殖生态初报

2016年3~9月对云南云县中岭岗村(24°15′42″N,100°02′42″E,平均海拔1 650 m)的黑喉山鹪莺(Prinia atrogularis)繁殖生态进行了研究。研究期间共发现42巢,主要位于杂草丛中(n=37)和灌木丛(茶树)中(n=5),筑巢期一般5~6 d,巢材有蜘蛛丝、苔藓植物、茅草花、茅草叶、铁线莲花、竹根须、枯枝、棕丝、干枯草穗等。巢呈球状,中上部侧方开口,巢重为(8.3±1.7)g,巢长为(13.2±0.9)cm,宽为(8.2±0.5)cm,巢口长(4.9±0.7)cm,巢口宽为(4.0±0.5)cm(n=25)。窝卵数为(3.9±0.4)枚(n=21,3~4枚)。卵的底色为白色、淡绿或者淡粉,遍布褐红色斑点,有的在钝端呈环状。卵重为(1.38±0.09)g,卵长为(17.3±0.7)mm,宽为(12.6±0.3)mm,卵体积为(1.4±0.1)cm3(n=65)。孵卵期(13.9±0.9)d(n=5,13~15 d),育雏期为(13.5±1.3)d(n=4,12~15 d)。利用Logistic曲线拟合雏鸟体重及外部器官增长,雏鸟的体重和嘴峰在5日龄左右增长最快,体长、翼长、跗跖在7日龄增长最快。对繁殖时间和地点较近的28巢进行连续观察,其中有7巢成功、21巢失败。造成繁殖失败的主要原因分别是巢捕食(62%)、亲鸟弃巢(14%)、人为破坏(14%)。     

甘肃安西荒漠伯劳的繁殖生态

2010年4～8月在甘肃安西极旱荒漠国家级自然保护区,采用样点法对荒漠伯劳(Lanius isabellinus isabellinus)的繁殖生态进行了研究,采用单因素方差分析(ANVON)对荒漠伯劳卵体积与卵序之间的关系进行了研究,用二元Logistic回归对雏鸟生长曲线进行拟合。结果表明,荒漠伯劳的繁殖时间为4月底至8月初,每巢产卵3～6枚,平均窝卵数为4.67±0.57(n=21),卵体积为(3.14±0.32)cm3(n=95),卵鲜重(3.48±0.20)g(n=20),卵体积随着产卵顺序显著减小(R=-0.427,P=0.021,n=29),其采取的是"窝雏减少"的繁殖策略。雌鸟产首枚卵后即开始孵卵,雄鸟负责情饲及警戒。温度自动记录仪测量平均孵卵温度为(38.19±0.77)℃(n=2),雌鸟在巢率为93.95%。平均孵卵时间为(15.33±0.52)d(n=6)。荒漠伯劳雏鸟留巢期12～15 d,幼鸟离巢后亲鸟继续饲喂幼鸟,整个育雏期最长达31 d。研究地区荒漠伯劳种群的孵卵率为82.50%(n=80),卵成功率为46.25%(n=80),雏鸟离巢率为56.06%(n=66),巢成功率58.62%(n=29)。在2010年环志标记的12对繁殖鸟中只有1对繁殖了第二窝。     

棕背黑头鸫繁殖习性初步观察

2008年和2009年的4～8月,在四川省雅江县帕姆岭对棕背黑头鸫Turdus kessleri的繁殖生态进行了初步观察.该鸟繁殖期在4月下旬至7月上旬,营树上巢,营巢树种为高山栎Quercus aquifolioides和鳞皮冷杉Abies squamata.窝卵数为2~3枚(n=7),平均卵重(7.96±0.03)g(n=8),卵长径(32.7±0.17)mm,短径(21.9±0.13)mm(n=13),雌雄共同孵卵,以雌性为主,孵化期为15~17 d(n=2),孵化率为83.3%(n=18).雌雄共同育雏,以雄性为主,雏鸟出飞后主要在巢周围的林下或灌从活动,这时亲鸟仍会对幼鸟喂食.在同一繁殖季对巢有重复利用的现象.     

栗头鹟莺繁殖生态的初步观察

鹟莺属(Seicercus)鸟类的繁殖资料十分缺乏。2015年4~8月,采用录像全程监控的方法,在贵州宽阔水国家级自然保护区,对4巢栗头鹟莺(S.castaniceps)的繁殖过程进行了完整观察。栗头鹟莺的繁殖期主要集中在5~7月,巢址选择专一性较强,均筑巢于公路边的土坎内壁,距路(1.3±1.2)m,巢为球状侧开口,巢材主要为新鲜苔藓及细草根,巢高(2.2±0.6)m,巢宽(10.9±1.5)cm,杯宽(3.3±0.5)cm,巢深(9.5±1.9)cm,杯深(5.5±1.0)cm。窝卵数(4.5±0.6)枚(4~5枚),卵重(0.92±0.04)g,卵长(14.30±0.30)mm,卵宽(11.22±0.23)mm,卵体积(0.92±0.05)mm3(n=18)。亲鸟在产满窝卵后开始孵卵,孵卵期12~13 d,在孵卵中期(第5~9天)亲鸟的孵卵时间开始增加,翻卵次数增多,在孵卵后期(第10~13天)亲鸟的孵卵时间和翻卵次数基本保持不变。育雏期13~14 d。雌、雄共同育雏,雏鸟在3日龄时,体重和跗跖开始显著增长,在7日龄时,增长速度变缓。孵化率为88.9%(16/18),营巢成效为100%,出飞成效为3.3只/巢。     

绿翅鸭繁殖生态初报

2007～2009年在黑龙江中南部地区对绿翅鸭(Anas crecca)繁殖生态习性进行了观察。绿翅鸭在黑龙江属夏候鸟,每年3月末4月初迁来,10月上旬迁离,所观察的4对绿翅鸭居留期约6个月。迁来时成群停留在湖泊及江的冰面上,开江以后散去,繁殖期间,绿翅鸭的配偶关系为一雄一雌,巢址多选择离水域较近的草丛或灌木丛中,所观察的4巢,巢都比较简单,筑巢时间为(5.5±1.0)d(n=4)。巢筑成后的(3.25±0.50)d开始产卵。每窝70～12枚不等,平均(9.80±2.21)枚(n=4)。卵重平均(28.70±0.72)g(n=39),最后一枚卵产出后(2.50±0.577)d(n=4),开始孵卵,孵卵期约为22～26 d不等,平均孵卵期为(24.25±1.17)d(n=4),平均孵化率为79.5%±29.98%。幼鸟为早成鸟,育雏期为(29.75±1.70)d。     

河南董寨赤腹鹰孵卵节律与巢防卫行为

2016和2017年的5月至8月,在河南省董寨国家级自然保护区利用红外相机监控和野外直接观察赤腹鹰(Accipiter soloensis),对其孵卵节律和巢防卫行为进行了研究。为了更好地获得巢防卫数据,我们以人作为入侵者攀爬巢树,观察人停留在巢树上10 min内不同赤腹鹰个体的巢防卫行为。共发现赤腹鹰繁殖巢52个,累计拍摄红外照片661 306张,将15个繁殖巢内的30只个体的巢防卫行为分成了4个等级。研究表明:1)雄鸟的巢防卫等级与雄鸟的日孵卵次数(r=0.751,n=15,P0.01)、雄鸟日孵卵时间(r=0.803,n=15,P0.01)、每日雌雄孵卵总时间(r=0.527,n=15,P0.05)均呈显著正相关,雌鸟的巢防卫等级与雄鸟的日孵卵次数(r=0.717,n=15,P0.01)、雄鸟的日孵卵时间(r=0.619,n=15,P0.05)呈显著正相关(Sperman rank correlation);2)雌鸟巢防卫强度与雄鸟巢防卫强度呈显著正相关(r=0.743,n=15,P0.01);3)亲鸟的平均离巢时间与雄鸟的日孵卵次数(r=﹣0.680,df=11,P0.05)、雄鸟的日孵卵时间(r=﹣0.640,df=11,P0.05)、雌鸟的孵卵次数(r=﹣0.558,df=11,P0.05)、每日雌雄孵卵总时间(r=﹣0.772,df=11,P0.01)均呈负相关。可见,赤腹鹰的巢防卫强度和孵卵投入密切相关,并且配偶间的巢防卫行为存在相似性,可能与配偶选择和学习行为有关。     

甘肃莲花山淡眉柳莺的繁殖记录及其孵卵行为

2001年6～7月,在甘肃省莲花山自然保护区记录了淡眉柳莺(Phylloscopus humei)繁殖,研究了其孵卵行为。结果表明,窝卵数为(4.3±0.5)枚(4～5,n=4),卵的大小为(14.0±0.4)mm×(11.2±0.4)mm(n=17)。育雏期为(13.8±0.5)d(13～14,n=4)。孵化期内雌鸟日活动期的平均长度为(833.2±40.0)min,平均每天离巢(46.6±12.2)次(n=27),每次离巢时间为(5.3±2.8)min(n=1435),每次在巢时间为(12.7±7.5)min(n=1409),在巢率为72.4%±11.6%(n=21)。雨天在巢和离巢的时间与晴天有显著差异,晴天在巢率为71.5%±12.1%(n=13),雨天在巢率为75.1%±9.0%(n=8)。在整个孵卵期间所有记录到的卵温平均为31.2℃(49066min内连续记录58879次)。雌鸟每次离巢,卵温平均下降(9.4±3.4)℃(n=1450)。     

越冬地东方白鹳繁殖生物学的初步研究

近年来,陆续在长江中下游越冬地发现东方白鹳(Ciconia boyciana)繁殖个体。为了了解该种在当地的繁殖对策和种群现状,2004-2006年在安庆市望江县武昌湖地区(116°51.15′-116°49.47′E,30°19.53′-30°19.79′N)对东方白鹳的繁殖生物学进行了研究。东方白鹳在当地开始营巢时间不一致,最早为2月5日,而受干扰的繁殖个体则延至5月6日。观察到的巢全在高压线塔上,巢高34.6±0.8m(n=11),巢间距908.8±1039.4m(n=6)。产卵期最早开始于2月11日,最晚6月21日,窝卵数4.2±0.4(4-5)枚(n=6)。育雏期71.0±16.1d(n=3),日育雏5.1±2.6(n=38),雏鸟离巢时间最早6月14日,最晚9月20日。2004和2005年东方白鹳在该地区共营巢8窝,产卵25枚,孵出雏鸟9只,出飞7只。繁殖失败5巢,其中,人工干扰造成4巢失败,高压电击毁1巢。繁殖不同时期,亲鸟的觅食、休息、警戒、取材、翻卵、育雏、交配、在巢、视野外行为时间分配差异显著,而飞翔、行走、理羽、击喙、整巢和其它行为差异不显著。雏鸟在发育的不同时期,觅食、飞翔、休息、整巢、在巢、行走、视野外行为时间分配差异显著,理羽、警戒、击喙和其它行为差异不显著     

甘肃莲花山暗绿柳莺的孵卵行为

2001年5～7月,在甘肃省莲花山自然保护区对暗绿柳莺Phylloscopus trochiloides的孵卵行为进行了初步研究.结果 表明,孵化期内雌鸟日活动期长度平均为(848.5±14.8) min (n=17),每天离巢(16.0±3.0)次(n=15),每次离巢时间为(12.3±5.0) min (n=251),每次在巢时间为(43.6±21.9) min (n=236),在巢率为(78.8±2.4)%.雌鸟在巢时卵温平均为(31.3±3.5)℃ (n=10646),离巢时卵温平均为(26.6±4.8)℃ (n=2876);夜晚的平均卵温为(30.6±3.5)℃ (n=9239).孵卵温度在孵卵期有逐渐上升的趋势.     

我国东北地区发现姬鼩鼱分布

2014年在黑龙江省横道河子地区(44°48′44″N,129°02′04″E,海拔约740 m)采集到1只鼩鼱(标本编号为CH5)。2015年在内蒙古自治区达赉湖地区(48°37′20″N,117°53′17″E,海拔约720 m)采集2只鼩鼱(标本编号为DE7和DE12)。这些新获标本经鉴定为姬鼩鼱(Sorex minutissimus)。《小鼩鼱(食虫目:鼩鼱科)辽宁省新纪录》文中的标本(080910,090920)经重新鉴定也为姬鼩鼱。利用mt DNA的Cyt b基因全序列构建系统进化树,结果揭示,小鼩鼱聚为一支,姬鼩鼱聚为另一支,新获标本(CH5、DE7、DE12)和待厘定标本(080910、090920)都聚在姬鼩鼱一支,进一步支持形态学鉴定结果。2015年采集的姬鼩鼱为内蒙古自治区新纪录,而《小鼩鼱(食虫目:鼩鼱科)辽宁省新纪录》文中的小鼩鼱(Sorex minutus)(标本号:080910,090920)更正为辽宁省姬鼩鼱新纪录。     

Unusual incubation rhythms the Spotted Barbtail, Premnoplex brunnescens

The Spotted Barbtail (Premnoplex brunnescens) inhabits the understory of humid montane forests in Central and South America. Apart from basic information on eggs and nest form, little has been published on its breeding ecology. Using temperature sensors in nest cups, I have collected data on the diurnal patterns of egg-coverage from three nests in eastern Ecuador and reveal a remarkable incubation rhythm. After providing near-constant coverage during the morning, adults leave the eggs unattended for most of the afternoon, returning to the nest only in the late afternoon. The mean duration (±standard deviation) of this period of absence, across the entire incubation period at three nests, was 6.4 ± 1.9 h. These results are discussed in relation to their physiological and ecological significance.     

Aspects of the breeding ecology and behaviors of the Bar-tailed Lark (Ammomanes cinctura) from Ha’il region in north of Saudi Arabia

The Bar-tailed Lark (Ammomanes cinctura) breeds in desert and semi-desert areas of the Saharo-Sindian region, from north-west Africa through the arid plains of the Arabian Peninsula to the Sind. Despite having a wide distribution, little information is available on the breeding ecology of this species. This study was conducted in a desert in the north of Saudi Arabia, where the daytime ambient temperature may exceed 40 °C. In contrast, the night ambient temperature may reach less than 10 °C in late spring and early summer. The objectives of this study were to collect some baseline data on some aspects of the breeding ecology of this species and to record the nest attendance behavior. The study found that Bar-tailed Larks preferred to nest under shrub trunks, which may camouflage both nests and incubating parents against predators and protect eggs, nestlings and incubating parents from hostile weather conditions. Moreover, nest attendance was high, as Bar-tailed Lark parents incubated their eggs 95.97 ± 2.62% over the entire day, and they seemed to maintain the eggs at temperatures around 23–33 °C. In addition, they incubated more at night than during the daytime. Temperatures under the shrubs at night fell below 21 °C, thus parents increased the nest attendance to warm the eggs and prevent the embryos from exposure to lethal temperatures.     

Function of egg punctures by Shiny Cowbirds in parasitized and nonparasitized Creamy‐bellied Thrush nests

ABSTRACT Avian brood parasites usually remove or puncture host eggs. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the function of these behaviors. Removing or puncturing host eggs may enhance the efficiency of incubation of cowbird eggs (incubation‐efficiency hypothesis) or reduce competition for food between cowbird and host chicks in parasitized nests (competition‐reduction hypothesis) and, in nonparasitized nests, may force hosts to renest and provide cowbirds with new opportunities for parasitism when nests are too advanced to be parasitized (nest‐predation hypothesis). Puncturing eggs may also allow cowbirds to assess the development of host eggs and use this information to decide whether to parasitize a nest (test‐incubation hypothesis). From 1999 to 2002, we tested these hypotheses using a population of Creamy‐bellied Thrushes (Turdus amaurochalinus) in Argentina that was heavily parasitized by Shiny Cowbirds (Molothrus bonariensis). We found that 56 of 94 Creamy‐bellied Thrush nests (60%) found during nest building or egg laying were parasitized by Shiny Cowbirds, and the mean number of cowbird eggs per parasitized nest was 1.6 ± 0.1 (N= 54 nests). At least one thrush egg was punctured in 71% (40/56) of parasitized nests, and 42% (16/38) of nonparasitized nests. We found that cowbird hatching success did not differ among nests where zero, one, or two thrush eggs were punctured and that the proportion of egg punctures associated with parasitism decreased as incubation progressed. Thus, our results do not support the incubation‐efficiency, nest‐predation, or test‐incubation hypotheses. However, the survival of cowbird chicks in our study was negatively associated with the number of thrush chicks. Thus, our results support the competition‐reduction hypothesis, with Shiny Cowbirds reducing competition between their young and host chicks by puncturing host eggs in parasitized nests.     

北热带石灰岩地区红耳鹎的繁殖生态和巢址选择

热带鸟类的生活史进化策略与温带鸟类的不同,而迄今国内对热带鸟类的研究却非常缺乏,红耳鹎(Pycnonotus jocosus)在我国北热带地区分布广泛,是较为理想的研究对象。2010年至2014年春夏季,对北热带石灰岩地区红耳鹎的繁殖生态和巢址选择进行了研究。采用系统搜寻法并根据亲鸟行为寻巢,应用方差分析和主成分分析对相关数据进行处理。结果显示,红耳鹎的产卵期集中在4月中旬至5月下旬,喜筑巢于灌木和人工种植的苹婆(Sterculia nobilis)树。平均窝卵数为(3.4±0.5)枚(3~4枚),卵重(2.59±0.29)g,卵大小(21.10±1.73)mm×(15.35±1.50)mm(n=31)。总的繁殖成功率为36.16%,繁殖失败的主要原因是天敌捕食、弃巢和人为干扰。一年繁殖一次和较低的繁殖成功率是研究地的红耳鹎有较大窝卵数的主要原因。红耳鹎在巢址选择时主要考虑避雨因子、避敌因子和灌木因子。     

Effects of down collection on incubation temperature, nesting behaviour and hatching success of common eiders (Somateria mollissima) in west Iceland

Incubating common eiders (Somateria mollissima) insulate their nests with down to maintain desirable heat and humidity for their eggs. Eiderdown has been collected by Icelandic farmers for centuries, and down is replaced by hay during collection. This study determined whether down collecting affected the female eiders or their hatching success. We compared the following variables between down and hay nests: incubation temperature in the nest, incubation constancy, recess frequency, recess duration, egg rotation and hatching success of the clutch. Temperature data loggers recorded nest temperatures from 3 June to 9 July 2006 in nests insulated with down (n = 12) and hay (n = 12). The mean incubation temperatures, 31.5 and 30.7°C, in down and hay nests, or the maximum and minimum temperatures, did not differ between nest types where hatching succeeded. Cooling rates in down, on average 0.34°C/min and hay nests 0.44°C/min, were similar during incubation recesses. Females left their nests 0–4 times every 24 h regardless of nest type, for a mean duration of 45 and 47.5 min in down and hay nests, respectively. The mean frequency of egg rotation, 13.9 and 15.3 times every 24 h, was similar between down and hay nests, respectively. Hatching success adjusted for clutch size was similar, 0.60 and 0.67 in down and hay nests. These findings indicate that nest down is not a critical factor for the incubating eider. Because of high effect sizes for cooling rate and hatching success, we hesitate to conclude that absolutely no effects exist. However, we conclude that delaying down collection until just before eggs hatch will minimize any possible effect of down collection on females.     

Nocturnal incubation recess and flushing behavior by duck hens

Incubating birds must balance the needs of their developing embryos with their own physiological needs, and many birds accomplish this by taking periodic breaks from incubation. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and gadwall (Mareca strepera) hens typically take incubation recesses in the early morning and late afternoon, but recesses can also take place at night. We examined nocturnal incubation recess behavior for mallard and gadwall hens nesting in Suisun Marsh, California, USA, using iButton temperature dataloggers and continuous video monitoring at nests. Fourteen percent of all detected incubation recesses (N = 13,708) were nocturnal and took place on 20% of nest‐days (N = 8,668). Video monitoring showed that hens covered their eggs with down feathers when they initiated a nocturnal recess themselves as they would a diurnal recess, but they left the eggs uncovered in 94% of the nocturnal recesses in which predators appeared at nests. Thus, determining whether or not eggs were left uncovered during a recess can provide strong indication whether the recess was initiated by the hen (eggs covered) or a predator (eggs uncovered). Because nest temperature decreased more rapidly when eggs were left uncovered versus covered, we were able to characterize eggs during nocturnal incubation recesses as covered or uncovered using nest temperature data. Overall, we predicted that 75% of nocturnal recesses were hen‐initiated recesses (eggs covered) whereas 25% of nocturnal recesses were predator‐initiated recesses (eggs uncovered). Of the predator‐initiated nocturnal recesses, 56% were accompanied by evidence of depredation at the nest during the subsequent nest monitoring visit. Hen‐initiated nocturnal recesses began later in the night (closer to morning) and were shorter than predator‐initiated nocturnal recesses. Our results indicate that nocturnal incubation recesses occur regularly (14% of all recesses) and, similar to diurnal recesses, most nocturnal recesses (75%) are initiated by the hen rather than an approaching predator.     

Communal nesting under climate change: fitness consequences of higher incubation temperatures for a nocturnal lizard

Communal nesting lizards may be vulnerable to climate warming, particularly if air temperatures regulate nest temperatures. In southeastern Australia, velvet geckos Oedura lesueurii lay eggs communally inside rock crevices. We investigated whether increases in air temperatures could elevate nest temperatures, and if so, how this could influence hatching phenotypes, survival, and population dynamics. In natural nests, maximum daily air temperature influenced mean and maximum daily nest temperatures, implying that nest temperatures will increase under climate warming. To determine whether hotter nests influence hatchling phenotypes, we incubated eggs under two fluctuating temperature regimes to mimic current ‘cold’ nests (mean = 23.2 °C, range 10–33 °C) and future ‘hot’ nests (27.0 °C, 14–37 °C). ‘Hot’ incubation temperatures produced smaller hatchlings than did cold temperature incubation. We released individually marked hatchlings into the wild in 2014 and 2015, and monitored their survival over 10 months. In 2014 and 2015, hot‐incubated hatchlings had higher annual mortality (99%, 97%) than cold‐incubated (11%, 58%) or wild‐born hatchlings (78%, 22%). To determine future trajectories of velvet gecko populations under climate warming, we ran population viability analyses in Vortex and varied annual rates of hatchling mortality within the range 78– 96%. Hatchling mortality strongly influenced the probability of extinction and the mean time to extinction. When hatchling mortality was >86%, populations had a higher probability of extinction (PE: range 0.52– 1.0) with mean times to extinction of 18–44 years. Whether future changes in hatchling survival translate into reduced population viability will depend on the ability of females to modify their nest‐site choices. Over the period 1992–2015, females used the same communal nests annually, suggesting that there may be little plasticity in maternal nest‐site selection. The impacts of climate change may therefore be especially severe on communal nesting species, particularly if such species occupy thermally challenging environments.     

Buildings promote higher incubation temperatures and reduce nest attentiveness in a Neotropical thrush

Incubation is an energetically costly parental task of breeding birds. Incubating parents respond to environmental variation and nest‐site features to adjust the balance between the time spent incubating (i.e. nest attentiveness) and foraging to supply their own needs. Non‐natural nesting substrates such as human buildings impose new environmental contexts that may affect time allocation of incubating birds but this topic remains little studied. Here, we tested whether nesting substrate type (buildings vs. trees) affects the temperature inside the incubation chamber (hereafter ‘nest temperature’) in the Pale‐breasted Thrush Turdus leucomelas, either during ‘day’ (with incubation recesses) or ‘night’ periods (representing uninterrupted female presence at the nest). We also tested whether nesting substrate type affects the incubation time budget using air temperature and the day of the incubation cycle as covariates. Nest temperature, when controlled for microhabitat temperature, was higher at night and in nests in buildings but did not differ between daytime and night for nests in buildings, indicating that buildings partially compensate for incubation recesses by females with regard to nest temperature stability. Females from nests placed in buildings exhibited lower nest attentiveness (the overall percentage of time spent incubating) and had longer bouts off the nest. Higher air temperatures were significantly correlated with shorter bouts on the nest and longer bouts off the nest, but without affecting nest attentiveness. We suggest that the longer bouts off the nest taken by females of nests in buildings is a consequence of higher nest temperatures promoted by man‐made structures around these nests. Use of buildings as nesting substrate may therefore increase parental fitness due to a relaxed incubation budget, and potentially drive the evolution of incubation behaviour in certain urban bird populations.