Friday, June 01, 2007
Kingfishers Prospect for Territories in Micronesia
USGS wildlife biologists Dylan Kesler and Susan Haig recently published a report describing territorial behavior of the endangered Micronesian kingfishers on the island of Pohnpei. The kingfishers maintain year-round territories either as pairs or cooperative groups, where some birds remain on their parents' territories as non-breeders for extended periods. Birds on cooperative territories had larger home ranges than birds on pair-held territories. Also, despite evidence suggesting that resources were adequate on home territories, some birds "prospected" or made forays into other territories. Results suggest that prospecting by dominant birds may provide covert opportunities for reproduction. Non-dominant birds prospected throughout the year, which may allow them to gather information about new territories before moving to breeding sites. This information is important for the reintroduction of the kingfishers to Guam where they are currently extinct.
Kesler, D.C., Haig, S.M., 2007, Territoriality, prospecting, and dispersal in cooperatively breeding Micronesian kingfishers (Todiramphus cinnamominus reichenbachii): Auk, v. 124, no. 2, p. 381-395. [FullText] Catalog No: 1744
Contact:
Susan
Haig,
FRESC,
541-750-7482,
susan_haig@usgs.gov
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