Breeding biology of the Gouldian Finch Erythrura gouldiae, an endangered finch of Northern Australia

The breeding biology of the endangered Gouldian Finch Erythrura gouldiae wa s studied at two sites in the Northern Territory over seven breeding season s. Clutch size was 5.2 +/- 1.3; 4.8 +/- 1.5 nestlings fledged from successf ul nests. Clutch size had no influence on egg survival. At least one egg ha tched in 50% of nests and 75% of nests fledged at least one young. Nesting success varied between years, sites and method used to calculate it: Newry 42-56%; Yinberrie 32-48%. Annual productivity (based on nesting success) wa s 1.5 fledglings per bird per season. Egg laying occurred from January to A ugust, depending on the wet season and up to three clutches were recorded i n a season. Only 15-16% of breeding adults bred at the sites in a subsequen t year. Usually, pair bonds were maintained within a season and sometimes t he same hollows were re-used. Over four years 18-25% of nesting hollows wer e sealed by termites. Some hollows were more attractive to birds than other s across years. Trees containing nests were clumped.