Preference for covered nest sites and breeding success in Kelp Gulls

YORIO, P.; BERTELLOTTI, M.; QUINTANA, F.

Marine Ornithology

Año: 1995 vol. 23 p. 121 - 128

Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus preferences for covered nest sites and breeding success as a functionof vegetation cover were quantified at Punta León, Argentina, during 1990 and 1991. KelpGulls showed a strong preference for nest sites which were covered or close to vegetation cover.Hatching success in nests with and without cover was similar. Similarly, hatching success andchick survival to five days of age were similar in nests with live and dead vegetation cover. Theprobability of raising at least one chick was higher for pairs in covered nests. However, eventhough breeding success was higher for covered than for exposed nests, differences betweencategories were significant only during 1990. Breeding success was significantly higher in nestswith live cover and in nests from territories with vegetation cover. Heat stress and distance tocover appear to be the most important factors implicated in the observed differences.