Study

Greater food availability reduces tarsus asymmetry in nestling blue tits

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Provide supplementary food for songbirds to increase reproductive success

Action Link
Bird Conservation
  1. Provide supplementary food for songbirds to increase reproductive success

    A randomised, replicated and controlled paired study in mixed deciduous forests in the Netherlands in 1999 (Grieco 2003), found that blue tit Parus caeruleus nestlings from eleven nest boxes provided with supplementary food had more even leg lengths than nestlings from eleven control (unfed) nest boxes. There were no differences in leg size between treatments and no data were provided on survival or reproductive success. Supplementary food consisted of mealworm Tenerbio molitor and wax moth Galleria mellonella larvae placed inside the nest boxes and making up one third of the nestlings’ total food. Food was provided from day of hatching until the chicks fledged.

     

Output references
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