Abstract
We examined basic breeding biology, as well as the effects of parental sex, brood size, nestling age, and nest habitat on foraging distances and parental food delivery rates of snow buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis) on Devon Island, NT, Canada, in the summers of 2003–2006. Clutch sizes and initiation dates were similar to those found in previous studies, although nest density was much higher. Feeding rates and foraging distances of buntings differed depending on the size and age of the brood, but were similar between nest habitats. Unlike in earlier studies, we found that male buntings made fewer feeding visits, but traveled longer distances to forage for food than females. Whether these differences between the sexes relate to reducing competition for prey, or to differing sex roles in parental care due to the poorly insulated nest cavities of this species, remains to be determined.
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Acknowledgments
We thank J. Akearok, R. Bryan, D. Copplestone, B. Walters and J. McConnell for assistance with aspects of the project, and especially to D. Edwards, A. Fontaine, and R. Ludkin for data collection in 2003–2005. Two anonymous referees and D.J.T. Hussell provided insightful reviews of the paper. This research was made possible by financial or logistic support from Environment Canada (CWS), Natural Resources Canada (PCSP), and Trent University.
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Falconer, C.M., Mallory, M.L. & Nol, E. Breeding biology and provisioning of nestling snow buntings in the Canadian High Arctic. Polar Biol 31, 483–489 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-007-0374-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-007-0374-z