ABSTRACT The relationship between nest site characteristics and nest success is likely to be important in the conservation management of threatened cavity-nesting birds. The vulnerable eastern Regent Parrot (Polytelis anthopeplus monarchoides) is declining in South Australia, but there is little information on the behavioural ecology of its cavity-nesting habits. The aim of this study was to quantify parental nest visitation behaviour and measure nest site attributes in relation to nesting outcome. We collected data from 25 nests along the Murray River in South Australia, and analysed 608 h of video recording and 67 h of binocular observations. This study provides the first quantitative data on parental care behaviour of the eastern Regent Parrot. The results show (1) parent birds had ~0.5 visits per hour during incubation and ~2 visits per hour during feeding; (2) 16% of nesting cavities were abandoned, 24% usurped, 4% depredated (by lace monitor, Varanus varius), 4% unknown outcome; and (3) canopy cover was 58% at successful nests versus 34% at failed nests. Behavioural monitoring in the field should span at least two hours to capture parental activity at the nest, nesting success was correlated with canopy cover, and nesting failure was mostly explained by usurpation and abandonment.

中文翻译：

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易受伤害的东部摄政鹦鹉（Polytelis anthopeplus normoides）的筑巢地点属性和筑巢结果

摘要 筑巢地点特征与筑巢成功率之间的关系在受威胁的穴居鸟类的保护管理中可能很重要。脆弱的东部摄政鹦鹉（Polytelis anthopeplus normoides）在南澳大利亚正在减少，但关于其窝巢习性的行为生态学的信息很少。本研究的目的是量化父母的巢穴访问行为并测量与筑巢结果相关的巢穴属性。我们从南澳大利亚墨累河沿岸的 25 个巢穴收集数据，并分析了 608 小时的视频记录和 67 小时的双目观察。这项研究提供了东部摄政鹦鹉父母照顾行为的第一个定量数据。结果显示 (1) 亲本鸟类有~0。孵化期间每小时 5 次访问，喂养期间每小时约 2 次访问；(2) 16% 的巢穴被废弃，24% 被篡夺，4% 被掠夺（通过花边监视器，Varanus varius），4% 的结果未知；(3) 成功巢穴的树冠覆盖率为 58%，而失败巢穴的树冠覆盖率为 34%。野外行为监测应至少持续两个小时，以捕捉鸟巢中的父母活动，筑巢成功与冠层覆盖相关，筑巢失败主要由篡夺和遗弃来解释。