We use an experimental approach to evaluate the effectiveness of removing nests of a dominant competitor to create vacant nest boxes for a critically endangered parrot. We compared the number of times that Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans – the dominant competitor at nest boxes) perched at or entered nest boxes intended for Orange‐bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster – the subordinate nest competitor) over three time periods (before, immediately after and one week after experimental nest destruction). In the before period, rates of nest attendance by martins in treatment and control nests were not explained by treatment group. After experimental nest destruction, total attendance at boxes by martins rose to a mean of 6.1 visits over three five‐minute surveys in the treatment group, compared with 3.3 visits at control boxes. Within individual surveys, martins visited treatment boxes 4.4 times per survey one week after nest destruction, compared with only 1.6 visits in the control group. Martins in the treatment group rapidly rebuilt their nests and laid replacement clutches, and within a week, all boxes were reoccupied. Nest destruction did not increase nesting opportunities for the parrot, and increased vigilance of the dominant competitor may in fact reduce nesting opportunities in nearby boxes. Our study suggests that removing martin nests is an ineffective management action for alleviating nest competition for this parrot.

中文翻译：

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橙腹鹦鹉Neophema chrysogaster的干预对减轻巢箱竞争的功效

我们使用一种实验方法来评估去除主要竞争者的巢以为极度濒临灭绝的鹦鹉创建空巢箱的有效性。我们比较了树马丁（Petrochelidon nigricans –巢箱的主要竞争者）栖息或进入用于橙腹鹦鹉（Neophema chrysogaster）的巢箱的次数–下属巢穴竞争者）在三个时间段内（实验性巢穴破坏之前，之后和之后一周）。在前一时期，治疗组和对照组的mart窝出席率均未由治疗组解释。经过实验性巢破坏后，在治疗组进行的三次五分钟调查中，马丁的总出勤率平均提高到6.1次，而对照组的出勤率为3.3次。在单独的调查中，巢破坏后一周，马丁斯每次调查访问了4.4次治疗箱，而对照组只有1.6次。治疗组中的马丁斯迅速重建了巢穴，放下了备用的离合器，一周之内，所有的箱子都被重新占用了。筑巢破坏并没有增加鹦鹉的筑巢机会，实际上，提高竞争优势的竞争对手的警惕性可能会减少附近箱子中的筑巢机会。我们的研究表明，去除马丁巢对减轻这种鹦鹉的巢竞争是无效的管理措施。