The use of snake slough as nest material by birds is considered an adaptive behavior to avoid nest predation. Here, we conducted predation experiments to test the hypothesis that the snake slough in nests of crested mynas (Acridotheres cristatellus) had anti-predatory effects. We put snake slough and white-rumped munia (Lonchura striata) eggs in the nest boxes to compare egg predation by Swinhoe’s striped squirrels (Tamiops swinhoei), one of the main predators of cavity-nesting birds. In addition, we conducted experiments to examine if Swinhoe’s striped squirrels identified the snake sloughs in the nest by vision or olfaction, and if the length of snake sloughs has effect on the predation rate. Our results showed that in the anti-predatory experiment, the egg predation rate (on days 3, 6) and the predation rate at which the squirrels first arrived the nest box were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group. In the olfaction experiment, there was no significant difference in both the predation rate (on days 1, 3, 6) and the predation rate at which the squirrels first arrived the nest box between the two groups. In the vision experiment, the predation rate at which the squirrels first arrived the nest box was significantly lower in the experimental group (hung snake slough) than in the control group (hung cotton strip). In the slough length experiment, the length of snake slough did not have a significant effect on the predation rate. These results suggest that the snake sloughs in bird nests can effectively deter nest predators, mainly via visual effect. Our study provided strong experimental evidence for the hypothesis that snake slough in birds’ nests acts as a nest predator deterrent.

鸟类使用蛇蜕作为巢穴材料被认为是一种避免巢穴捕食的适应性行为。在这里，我们进行了捕食实验，以检验在凤头八哥( Acridotheres cristatellus ) 的巢穴中的蛇蜕具有抗捕食作用的假设。我们将蛇蜕和白腰松鼠（Lonchura striata）卵放入巢箱中，以比较斯温霍条纹松鼠（Tamiops swinhoei ）对卵的捕食)，洞筑巢鸟类的主要捕食者之一。此外，我们还进行了实验，以检查 Swinhoe 的条纹​​松鼠是否通过视觉或嗅觉识别巢中的蛇蜕，以及蛇蜕的长度是否对捕食率有影响。我们的结果表明，在抗捕食实验中，实验组的卵捕食率（第3、6天）和松鼠首次到达巢箱的捕食率显着低于对照组。在嗅觉实验中，两组之间的捕食率（第1、3、6天）和松鼠首次到达巢箱的捕食率均无显着差异。在视觉实验中，实验组（挂蛇蜕）的松鼠首次到达巢箱的捕食率明显低于对照组（挂棉条）。在蜕皮长度实验中，蛇蜕的长度对捕食率没有显着影响。这些结果表明，鸟巢中的蛇蜕可以有效地阻止巢内捕食者，主要是通过视觉效果。我们的研究为鸟巢中的蛇蜕起到威慑巢穴捕食者的作用的假设提供了强有力的实验证据。主要是通过视觉效果。我们的研究为鸟巢中的蛇蜕起到威慑巢穴捕食者的作用的假设提供了强有力的实验证据。主要是通过视觉效果。我们的研究为鸟巢中的蛇蜕起到威慑巢穴捕食者的作用的假设提供了强有力的实验证据。