Induced alloparental care in Common Swifts (Apus apus)
Alloparental care
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17161/eurojecol.v6i2.14586Keywords:
nest-box, rescue, rehabilitation, survivalAbstract
The Common Swift, in spite of being considered to be of Least Concern, is declining in many areas of its breeding range. In several countries nest-box programs have been initiated to counter these declines. In most cases, when nestlings fall out of their nests, they are taken to rehabilitation centres. Raising and caring for Common Swift nestlings is not easy, cheap and usually results in low survival rates. We experimented with introducing the rescued young into existing nests and found that they were readily accepted and all five of the young fledged successfully. We recommend alloparenting as the preferred option when precocial nestlings are rescued and active nests of other pairs are available.
References
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Bize, P., and A. Roulin. (2006). No experimental evidence that sibling competition induces young to switch nests in the colonial Alpine Swift, Apus melba. Animal Behaviour 72:869-873.
Braun, H.-G. (1999). Effects of restoration of old buildings on an urban breeding avifauna: ornitho-ecological studies in Berlin-Kreuzberg. Vogelwelt 120:39 – 51. (In German with English summary).
BTO. (2018). The Breeding Bird Survey 2017. https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/bbs-report-2017.pdf
Cade, T. J., J. H. Enderson, C. G. Thelander and C. M. Whited (eds). (1988). Peregrine Falcon populations: their management and recovery. The Peregrine Fund, Boise, ID, U.S.A.
Crowe, O., Coombes, R. H., Lysaght, L., O'Brian, C., Choudhury, K. R., Walsh, A. J., Wilson, J. H. and O'Halloran, J . (2010). Population trends of widespread breeding birds in the Republic of Ireland 1998–2008. Bird Study 57:267–280.
Eaton, M.A., Brown, A.F., Noble, D.G., Musgrove, A.J., Hearn, R., Aebischer, N.J., Gibbons, D.W., Evans, A. and Gregory, R.D. (2009). Birds of Conservation Concern 3: the population status of birds in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. British Birds 102:296-341.
Gonzalez, J. L., B. Heredia, L. M. Gonzalez, J. C. Alonso. (1986). Adoption of a juvenile by breeding parents in the Spanish Imperial Eagles during the postfledging period. Journal of Raptor Research 20:70-78.
Laurance, W. F. (2010). Habitat destruction: death by a thousand cuts. Pp. 73 – 87 in N. S. Sodhi and P. Ehrlich, eds. Conservation biology for all. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
Ligon, R. A., M. Liu and G. E. Hill. (2009). Adoption by a territorial Passerine. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 121:830-834.
Luniak , M. and Grzeniewski , M. (2011). Nest-boxes for the Common Swift Apus apus – experience from Poland . Ecologia Urbana 23:3–5.
Mcdonald, R. I., Kareiva, P., and Forman, R. T. (2008). The implications of current and future urbanization for global protected areas and biodiversity conservation. Biological Conservation 141:1695–1703.
Newell, D. (2019). A test of the use of artificial nest forms in common swift Apus apus nest boxes in southern England. Conservation Evidence 16:24-26.
Kouba, M., L. Bartos, J. Sindelar, and K. Stastny. (2017). Alloparental care and adoption in Tengmalm's Owl (Aegolius funereus). Journal of Ornithology 158:185-191. DOI 10.1007/s10336-016-1381-z.
Kraaijeveld, K. (2005). Black Swans Cygnus atra adopt related cygnets. Ardea 93:163-169.
Lynas, P., Newton, S.F. and Robinson, J.A. (2007). The status of birds in Ireland: an analysis of conservation concern 2008-2013. Irish Birds 8:149-166.
Pande, S. A., P. A. Pawashe, B. Pednekar, A. Mahabal, R. Yosef. (2004). How long is too long? – a case of fostering nestling Bonelli's Eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus). Journal of Raptor Research 38:381-382.
Riedman, M. L. (1982). The Evolution of Alloparental Care and Adoption in Mammals and Birds. The Quarterly Review of Biology 57:405-435.
Schaub, T., P. J. Meffert and G. Kerth. (2016). Nest-boxes for Common Swifts Apus apus as compensatory measures in the context of building renovation: efficacy and predictors of occupancy. Bird Conservation International (2016) 26:164–176 . doi:10.1017/S0959270914000525.
Stanbury A., Brown A., Eaton M., Aebischer N., Gillings S. Hearn R., Noble D., Stroud D. & Gregory R. (2017). The risk of extinction of Birds in Great Britain. British Birds 110:502–517.
Sudfeldt , C. , Bairlein , F. , Dröschmeister , R. , König , C. , Langgemach , T. and J . Wahl. (2012). Vögel in Deutschland - 2012 . Münster, Germany : Dachverband Deutscher Avifaunisten, Bundesamt für Naturschutz & Länderarbeitsgemeinschaft der Vogelschutzwarten . (In German).
Tella, J. L. M. G. Forero, J. A. Donazar, J. J. Negro and F. Hiraldo. (1997). Non-adaptive adoptions of nestlings in the colonial lesser kestrel: proximate causes and fitness consequences. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 40:253-260.
Tenow, O., T. Fagerstrom and L. Wallin. (2008). Epimeletic behavior in airborne Common Swifts Apus apus: do adults support young in flight? Ornis Svecica 18:96-107.
Tigges, U. (2003). The spatial and temporal behavior of a Common Swift Apus apus colony in Tel Aviv. Sandgrouse 25:49-52.
Westray, G., and T. Partridge (2010). The Common Swift Population in the UK is Suffering a Serious Decline but Veterinary Nurses can help! Veterinary Nursing Journal. www.swift-conservation.org/SwiftFirstAid.html.
Wisenden, B. D. (1999). Alloparental care in fishes. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 9:45-70.
Bize, P., and A. Roulin. (2006). No experimental evidence that sibling competition induces young to switch nests in the colonial Alpine Swift, Apus melba. Animal Behaviour 72:869-873.
Braun, H.-G. (1999). Effects of restoration of old buildings on an urban breeding avifauna: ornitho-ecological studies in Berlin-Kreuzberg. Vogelwelt 120:39 – 51. (In German with English summary).
BTO. (2018). The Breeding Bird Survey 2017. https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/bbs-report-2017.pdf
Cade, T. J., J. H. Enderson, C. G. Thelander and C. M. Whited (eds). (1988). Peregrine Falcon populations: their management and recovery. The Peregrine Fund, Boise, ID, U.S.A.
Crowe, O., Coombes, R. H., Lysaght, L., O'Brian, C., Choudhury, K. R., Walsh, A. J., Wilson, J. H. and O'Halloran, J . (2010). Population trends of widespread breeding birds in the Republic of Ireland 1998–2008. Bird Study 57:267–280.
Eaton, M.A., Brown, A.F., Noble, D.G., Musgrove, A.J., Hearn, R., Aebischer, N.J., Gibbons, D.W., Evans, A. and Gregory, R.D. (2009). Birds of Conservation Concern 3: the population status of birds in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. British Birds 102:296-341.
Gonzalez, J. L., B. Heredia, L. M. Gonzalez, J. C. Alonso. (1986). Adoption of a juvenile by breeding parents in the Spanish Imperial Eagles during the postfledging period. Journal of Raptor Research 20:70-78.
Laurance, W. F. (2010). Habitat destruction: death by a thousand cuts. Pp. 73 – 87 in N. S. Sodhi and P. Ehrlich, eds. Conservation biology for all. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
Ligon, R. A., M. Liu and G. E. Hill. (2009). Adoption by a territorial Passerine. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 121:830-834.
Luniak , M. and Grzeniewski , M. (2011). Nest-boxes for the Common Swift Apus apus – experience from Poland . Ecologia Urbana 23:3–5.
Mcdonald, R. I., Kareiva, P., and Forman, R. T. (2008). The implications of current and future urbanization for global protected areas and biodiversity conservation. Biological Conservation 141:1695–1703.
Newell, D. (2019). A test of the use of artificial nest forms in common swift Apus apus nest boxes in southern England. Conservation Evidence 16:24-26.
Kouba, M., L. Bartos, J. Sindelar, and K. Stastny. (2017). Alloparental care and adoption in Tengmalm's Owl (Aegolius funereus). Journal of Ornithology 158:185-191. DOI 10.1007/s10336-016-1381-z.
Kraaijeveld, K. (2005). Black Swans Cygnus atra adopt related cygnets. Ardea 93:163-169.
Lynas, P., Newton, S.F. and Robinson, J.A. (2007). The status of birds in Ireland: an analysis of conservation concern 2008-2013. Irish Birds 8:149-166.
Pande, S. A., P. A. Pawashe, B. Pednekar, A. Mahabal, R. Yosef. (2004). How long is too long? – a case of fostering nestling Bonelli's Eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus). Journal of Raptor Research 38:381-382.
Riedman, M. L. (1982). The Evolution of Alloparental Care and Adoption in Mammals and Birds. The Quarterly Review of Biology 57:405-435.
Schaub, T., P. J. Meffert and G. Kerth. (2016). Nest-boxes for Common Swifts Apus apus as compensatory measures in the context of building renovation: efficacy and predictors of occupancy. Bird Conservation International (2016) 26:164–176 . doi:10.1017/S0959270914000525.
Stanbury A., Brown A., Eaton M., Aebischer N., Gillings S. Hearn R., Noble D., Stroud D. & Gregory R. (2017). The risk of extinction of Birds in Great Britain. British Birds 110:502–517.
Sudfeldt , C. , Bairlein , F. , Dröschmeister , R. , König , C. , Langgemach , T. and J . Wahl. (2012). Vögel in Deutschland - 2012 . Münster, Germany : Dachverband Deutscher Avifaunisten, Bundesamt für Naturschutz & Länderarbeitsgemeinschaft der Vogelschutzwarten . (In German).
Tella, J. L. M. G. Forero, J. A. Donazar, J. J. Negro and F. Hiraldo. (1997). Non-adaptive adoptions of nestlings in the colonial lesser kestrel: proximate causes and fitness consequences. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 40:253-260.
Tenow, O., T. Fagerstrom and L. Wallin. (2008). Epimeletic behavior in airborne Common Swifts Apus apus: do adults support young in flight? Ornis Svecica 18:96-107.
Tigges, U. (2003). The spatial and temporal behavior of a Common Swift Apus apus colony in Tel Aviv. Sandgrouse 25:49-52.
Westray, G., and T. Partridge (2010). The Common Swift Population in the UK is Suffering a Serious Decline but Veterinary Nurses can help! Veterinary Nursing Journal. www.swift-conservation.org/SwiftFirstAid.html.
Wisenden, B. D. (1999). Alloparental care in fishes. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 9:45-70.
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2020-11-18
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How to Cite
Hahn, A., & Yosef, R. (2020). Induced alloparental care in Common Swifts (Apus apus): Alloparental care. European Journal of Ecology, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.17161/eurojecol.v6i2.14586
