Palila restoration: time allocation of nesting palila: a video study

Author:

Laut, Megan E. et al.

Title:

Palila restoration: time allocation of nesting palila: a video study

Year:

2006

Subject:

Palila Loxioides bailleui Birds Mauna Kea Birds monitoring palila

Summary:

A video study was initiated to quantify nesting behavior of palila (Loxioides baillieu ) adults and to document causes of nest failure. The palila is an endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper whose current range is restricted to 5% of its original habitat on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Palila are non-territorial, monogamous breeders that have adult male helpers at 30-50% of nests. In this male-biased population (1:1.8), males typically begin breeding at 3 years and females at 2 years. Breeding can occur any time of year, but the breeding season usually extends from March to September, with a peak number of nests in June. The nesting cycle averages 41 days from first egg to fledging. Eggs hatch at 16 days and chicks fledge at approx. 25 days. Females often renest after nest failure and sometimes after successfully rearing a brood. Clutches consist of 2 to 3 eggs; of those, 56% of eggs hatch and 70% (x = 1.07 per nest) of chicks fledge. Causes of nest failure are predation by introduced mammals (cats and rats), abandonment, hatch failure, death in the nest, and rain storms. Population: wide breeding effort is greatly decreased in years of drought. Chicks are cared for up to 3 months after fledging, usually by a male.

Date:

Dec. 2006

Collection:

Monographs