Environmentally Relevant Concentrations of DE-71 and HBCD Alter Eggshell Thickness and Reproductive Success of American Kestrels

2009 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 2124-2130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim J. Fernie ◽  
J. Laird Shutt ◽  
Robert J. Letcher ◽  
Ian J. Ritchie ◽  
David M. Bird
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Eggshell Thickness ◽  
American Kestrels

scholarly journals Reproductive Success of American Kestrels: The Role of Prey Abundance and Weather

The Condor ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 102 (4) ◽  
pp. 814-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell D. Dawson ◽  
Gary R. Bortolotti
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Natural Variation ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Prey Abundance ◽  
Offspring Size ◽  
Minimum Threshold ◽  
Provisioning Behavior ◽  
American Kestrels ◽  
Parental Provisioning

Abstract We investigated how natural variation in abundance and availability of the main prey of American Kestrels (Falco sparverius), small mammals, influenced provisioning rates by parents, and offspring size and survival. Provisioning behavior of kestrels was not constrained by the abundance of food in the environment; however, the availability of food, mediated through variation in weather, appeared to significantly influence parental provisioning behavior. Moreover, variation in weather had clear effects on reproductive success because nestlings exposed to inclement weather were smaller and lighter at fledging, and less likely to survive to fledging, compared to nestlings raised during good weather conditions. Prey abundance was not related to offspring size or survival. Our results suggest American Kestrels are limited by the availability, as opposed to abundance, of food on territories. It is likely that during our study, prey abundance was above some minimum threshold necessary to support successful reproduction, and so variation in weather affected reproduction more than variation in prey abundance.

Reproductive performance of American Kestrels laying replacement clutches

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (11) ◽  
pp. 2590-2593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reed Bowman ◽  
David M. Bird
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Falco Sparverius ◽  
Nestling Growth ◽  
Fledging Success ◽  
American Kestrels ◽  
First Clutch ◽  
Second Clutch

Egg dimensions, nestling growth, and reproductive success were compared between first and second clutch nests of American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) to determine the influence of renesting on fledging success. Eggs were removed from 11 nests during 1982–1983. Eight nests served as controls. Most pairs (81.8%) renested on their original territory. We found no significant differences in egg dimensions, fertility, or hatchability between the two groups. Second clutch males (n = 6 clutches) were smaller at hatching than males from first clutches (n = 8 clutches). By day 24 these males (n = 5 clutches) were heavier, with significantly longer manus and antebrachia than first clutch males (n = 3 clutches). However, five of eight first clutch nests fledged all males before day 24. Males remaining in first clutch nests beyond day 24 were lighter with significantly smaller antebrachia by day 18 than males fledging before day 24. This may have biased our comparisons between first and second clutch males. No significant differences in growth were found between female groups. First-clutch progeny fledged significantly younger than second-clutch birds. Males fledged earlier than females in first clutches, but the sexes fledged simultaneously in second clutches.

The Flame Retardant β-1,2-Dibromo-4-(1,2-dibromoethyl)cyclohexane: Fate, Fertility, and Reproductive Success in American Kestrels (Falco sparverius)

2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (15) ◽  
pp. 8440-8447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah C. Marteinson ◽  
Robert J. Letcher ◽  
Laura Graham ◽  
Sarah Kimmins ◽  
Gregg Tomy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Flame Retardant ◽  
Falco Sparverius ◽  
American Kestrels

Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on the Reproductive Success of American Kestrels

2000 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly J. Fernie ◽  
David M. Bird ◽  
Russell D. Dawson ◽  
Paul C. Laguë
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Electromagnetic Fields ◽  
American Kestrels

DDE and reproductive success in some Alberta common terns

1973 ◽  
Vol 51 (10) ◽  
pp. 1081-1086 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Switzer ◽  
Victor Lewin ◽  
Fred H. Wolfe
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Breeding Population ◽  
Sterna Hirundo ◽  
Eggshell Thickness ◽  
Common Terns ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

A study of the relationship of DDE to reproductive success of an inland breeding population of common terns. Sterna hirundo, had been carried out in 1969 and 1970 at Chip Lake, Alberta. Although a continuing decrease of DDE residues in eggs bad occurred, eggshell thickness remained unchanged. In addition, reproductive success markedly increased in 1970; however, the percentage of eggs suffering breakage did not change between years. Low correlations between DDE and eggshell thickness or weight in both years suggest that DDE is unrelated to these eggshell parameters, which in turn are not related to reproductive success in this population.

Influence of forced renesting, seasonal date of laying, and female characteristics on clutch size and egg traits in captive American Kestrels

1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Bird ◽  
Paul C. Laguë
Keyword(s):  
Clutch Size ◽  
Eggshell Thickness ◽  
Falco Sparverius ◽  
Egg Weight ◽  
American Kestrels ◽  
First Clutch ◽  
Egg Traits

Of 78 nesting attempts by captive American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) between 1974 and 1977, 95% successfully renested after removal of the first clutch. Replacement clutches had fewer eggs, longer eggs, and eggs with thicker shells than first clutches. Clutch size, egg length, eggshell thickness, and fresh egg weight declined seasonally. Renesting intervals were shorter in older, experienced layers and clutch size increased by 0.20 eggs with each additional year of age.

The effect of Trichinella pseudospiralis infection on the reproductive success of captive American kestrels (Falco sparverius)

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (10) ◽  
pp. 2123-2125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michèle D. Saumier ◽  
Manfred E. Rau ◽  
David M. Bird
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Falco Sparverius ◽  
Embryo Mortality ◽  
Trichinella Pseudospiralis ◽  
Delayed Onset ◽  
American Kestrels ◽  
Do So

Trichinella pseudospiralis infections reduced the reproductive success of captive American kestrels (Falco sparverius). Infected birds manifested a delayed onset of egg laying (day 31) when compared with uninfected controls (day 23). All control females continued to produce eggs after the first three were removed, but only 66.7% of the infected females managed to do so. Consequently, infected birds produced a mean total of only 4.9 eggs, as compared with 7.1 eggs for the controls. Breakage (29.0%) and embryo mortality (40.0%) were the major sources of egg loss among infected birds. The corresponding losses among control birds were 1.6 and 4.7%, respectively. Consequently, control birds produced an average of 2.1 hatchlings per pair, whereas infected birds produced only 0.6.

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