Breeding ecology, population size and nest site preferences of red-billed tropicbirds at St Helena, South Atlantic Ocean

Beard, Annalea, Madeiros Mirra, Renata, Clingham, Elizabeth, Henry, Leeann, Thomas, Robert J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5256-3313 and Hailer, Frank ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2340-1726 2023. Breeding ecology, population size and nest site preferences of red-billed tropicbirds at St Helena, South Atlantic Ocean. Emu - Austral Ornithology 123 (3) , pp. 185-194. 10.1080/01584197.2023.2205595

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Abstract

We describe the population size and breeding ecology of the Red-billed Tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus, a poorly studied pantropical seabird, at St Helena, South Atlantic. The population size of 81–246 pairs and 272–564 individuals identifies the study population as the largest colony of Red-billed Tropicbirds in the South Atlantic, but also an internationally important part of the global population. We estimated the survival from laying to fledging of 158 nests between 2004 and 2017 at only 33%, among the lowest values reported globally for the species. Most nest failures occurred during incubation, with predation identified as the predominant cause of fledging failure. Intervals between breeding attempts were longer after successful nesting attempts than failed attempts. Previous breeding interval and nest cavity fidelity further influenced the interval between breeding attempts, while the presence of replacement clutches did not. Multiple nest site and cavity characteristics were important predictors of cavity use, nest site selection and productivity. Management options for reducing mammalian predators to ensure the long-term viability of this important population at St Helena are discussed.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Biosciences Dentistry
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis
ISSN:	0158-4197
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	4 May 2023
Date of Acceptance:	18 April 2023
Last Modified:	14 May 2024 16:28
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/159176

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