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Merline Roth, Stephanie Michler, Ueli Schaffner, Kurt Mohler

Einfluss von Nestreinigungsmethoden auf Kolonien der Mehlschwalbe Delichon urbicum

2023

120

232–245

Key words
(von 1994 bis 2006 vergeben)

Schlagwort_Vogelart
(wissenschaftlich)

Delichon urbicum

Schlagwort_Vogelart
(deutsch)

Mehlschwalbe

deutsch

Abhandlung

Impact of nest-cleaning methods on colonies of House Martins Delichon urbicum. – House Martins are often supported with artificial nests in urban areas. However, breeding success in artificial nests is thought to depend on whether and how these nests are cleaned. Studies on other bird species showed a negative impact of ectoparasites on their host birds and their breeding success. We investigated the influence of different nest-cleaning methods on breeding parameters and on the return rate to the breeding site at a total of four House Martin colonies in the canton of Basel-Landschaft. Artificial nests were cleaned using three different methods: In the control group only the nest contents were removed, in a second group they were cleaned with brushes, and in a third group an insect spray was additionally applied. The type of cleaning had a small and statistically rather unclear effect on the breeding parameters (clutch size, hatching success, brood success, fledging success). However, there was a tendency that cleaning with a brush and the simultaneous use of insect spray had a positive influence on the breeding parameters. We found a clear positive influence of the combined cleaning method with respect to the return rate of adult birds in the next breeding season. Overall, the results underline the importance of regular cleaning of artificial nests to reduce parasite loads – this could be a prerequisite for House Martins to successfully breed in artificial nests in the long term.