The use of Nestboxes by Roosting Birds during the Non-Breeding Season: A Review of the Costs and Benefits

[摘要] Theadvantagesanddisadvantagesofbreedinginnestboxesarewellknown,whilstthemeritsofroostinginnestboxesduringthenon-breedingseasonremainpoorlyunderstood.HereIreviewtheadvantagesanddisadvantagesofusingnestboxesasroostingsitesduringthenon-breedingseason.Themainadvantageofnestboxesisthattheyincreasethenumberofcavitiesavailableforroostingandbirdsgainconsiderablethermalbenefitsandenergysavings,whencomparedtocongenersroostingoutsideofcavities.However,themaindisadvantageisthatroostingbirdsarewidelytargetedbydetrimentalectoparasites,andbirdsactivelyavoidnestboxeswhereectoparasitesareabundant.Meanwhile,thereisinsufficientevidencetomakeanyfirmconclusionsastowhetherroostinginnestboxesincreasesordecreasespredationriskandthisisanarea,whichwarrantsfurtherresearch.Consequently,thereisagreatdealofvariationinthequalityofindividualnestboxesasroostingsites,andinterspecificcompetitionresultsinlargerandmoredominantspeciesroostinginpreferrednestboxes.Insummary,thisreviewemphasisestheimportanceofnestboxestoroostingbirdsduringthenon-breedingseason.

[学科分类] 动物科学

[关键词] Interspecific Competition