Breeding of the Seychelles magpie robin Copsychus sechellarum and implications for its conservation
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Published source details
Komdeur J. (1996) Breeding of the Seychelles magpie robin Copsychus sechellarum and implications for its conservation. Ibis, 138, 485-498.
Published source details Komdeur J. (1996) Breeding of the Seychelles magpie robin Copsychus sechellarum and implications for its conservation. Ibis, 138, 485-498.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Provide supplementary food for songbirds to increase reproductive success Action Link |
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Provide supplementary food for songbirds to increase reproductive success
A small, controlled before-and-after study on Frégate Island, Seychelles, in 1989-90 (Komdeur 1996), found that Seychelles robins Copsychus sechellarum had significantly higher reproductive success in 1990 when provided with supplementary food, compared to in 1989, when food was not provided (2.0 nestlings/pair and 1.4 independent young/pair in 1990 vs. 0.8 nestlings/pair and 0.2 young/pair in 1989). There was no corresponding change in four control (unfed) territories. Food consisted of 20–25 freshly killed cockroaches, grated coconuts, boiled rice and fish provided twice a week, and an area of 4 m² of soil was broken up in an attempt to facilitate access to natural prey (e.g. worms and beetle larvae). Increases were apparently due to earlier laying dates, more time incubating and nest guarding, higher hatching and provisioning rates, higher chick fledging weight and higher levels of parental care.
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