CAN NEST PREDATION EXPLAIN THE TIMING OF THE BREEDING-SEASON AND THE PATTERN OF NEST DISPERSION OF NEW-HOLLAND HONEYEATERS

We tested the following two predictions of the hypotheses that predati on rate may select for nest spacing and winter breeding in New Holland honeyeaters: (a) the level of nest predation should be lower during t he breeding season than outside it, and (b) clumped nests should show a higher predation rate than more dispersed nests. Artificial nests, c ontaining budgerigar and artificial eggs, were set out in four differe nt seasons and in two different configurations: clumped and spaced. Cl umped nests suffered higher predation than spaced nests but there was no seasonal difference in total predation rates. Birds accounted for 6 7% of predation events for which the predator was identified. Among ne sts that were preyed on by birds, there was a highly significant effec t of spacing, indicating that birds were responsible for the higher pr edation on clumped nests. Hence, these results support one prediction of the predator-avoidance hypothesis for territoriality, but do not su pport the notion that winter breeding may have evolved as a strategy t o avoid predation by snakes.