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29 May 2024 Nest-Site Reuse by the White-Collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris in Rocky Caves in South-Central Cuba
Rosalina Montes, Josabel Belliure, Rubén J. Chamizo
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Abstract

Nesting is a prerequisite for breeding in a wide range of birds, and nest-sites become a key resource ultimately influencing individual fitness. In that context, reuse of nest-sites by breeding pairs has been observed in a variety of bird species. White-collared Swifts Streptoprocne zonaris constitute one example in which reuse of nest-sites from previous reproductive seasons has been reported. In this study we explored this behaviour in the main location of the species in Cuba, the natural area of Topes de Collantes (south-central Cuba), where breeding pairs occupy several natural rocky caves. We also studied nest-sites locations to identify determinants for reuse and followed nest content to quantify nesting success. During a three-year period of study, 82 nests were constructed in 67 nest-sites at three nesting colonies located at the area. Nest-sites were occupied in the four placement-location combinations at the caves: ceiling-hole, ceiling-ledge, wall-hole and wall-ledge, and were located at a height range of 0.90 to 9 m. A total of 31 nest-sites were reused at least once, which implies an incidence of nest-site reuse for the area of 46.3%. Nest-site reuse was related to characteristics of the nest-site location: reused nest-sites were less often observed at the ceiling-ledge combination as well as at the highest locations in the caves. Nesting success was measured as success in producing at least one fledgling, and was higher in reused (87.1%) than in not-reused (59.5%) nest-sites. These results confirm the existence of some benefits of nest-site reuse in the Cuban populations of the White-collared Swift, suggesting that the high quality breeding pairs might detect and select particular nest-sites to guarantee a successful breeding. This study also highlights that conservation of the caves and their natural characteristics at the natural area of Topes de Collantes is key for the Cuban populations of the species.

Rosalina Montes, Josabel Belliure, and Rubén J. Chamizo "Nest-Site Reuse by the White-Collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris in Rocky Caves in South-Central Cuba," Acta Ornithologica 58(2), 145-152, (29 May 2024). https://doi.org/10.3161/00016454AO2023.58.2.002
Received: 1 June 2022; Accepted: 1 November 2023; Published: 29 May 2024
KEYWORDS
cypseloidine swift
nesting success
nest-site reuse
Streptoprocne zonaris
White-collared Swift
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