Distribution patterns of breeding nests in the colonial-breeding Azure-winged Magpie Cyanopica cyanus

ABSTRACT

Capsule

Distribution patterns of the breeding nests of the Azure-winged Magpie can help to understand spatial and temporal changes in core use areas throughout the breeding range.

Aims

We investigated the spatial and temporal patterns of nest locations in the breeding colony, to determine the effect of breeding experience and timing on the nest location of Azure-winged Magpies.

Methods

We collected data on the nest locations of Azure-winged Magpies in a breeding colony and analysed them to identify patterns in nest location. We estimated the nest distribution range through a kernel density analysis, using a geographic information system.

Results

The size and location of the core use area of the breeding population changed in the following breeding season when the previous year's reproductive success rate was low. We also observed changes in the size and location of the core-use area in relation to the timing of breeding.

Conclusion

Inter-annual change of the core use area was associated with the timing of breeding and the population's breeding experience.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to members of the animal ecology laboratory at Kyung Hee University for help with the field work, and to the residents of Jin Jung-ri for allowing access to their private property.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (2020R1H1A1004788).