Skip to main content

European starlings: nestling condition, parasites and green nest material during the breeding season

Kondition der Nestlinge, Parasiten und grünes Nestmaterial im Laufe der Brutsaison von Europäischen Staren

Journal of Ornithology volume 146, pages 365–371 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Male European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) intermingle fresh herbs, preferably species rich in volatile compounds, into their dry nest material. In a field study, we investigated whether these herbs affect the mite and bacteria load of the nests and the condition of the nestlings either directly or via parasite control. We examined the amount of herbs and the number of plant species males carried into their nests, the variation of volatile compounds in the headspace air of the nest boxes and mite/bacteria load of the nests throughout the season. The amount of herb material and the number of plant species, the number of substances emanated by these plants and the infestation of the nests with bacteria and mites (Dermanyssus gallinae) increased with season. In a field experiment, we exchanged natural starling nests with experimental nests with or without herbs. We found that the herbs had no effect on the mites but fewer bacteria were sampled in nests with herbs than in nests without herbs. The body mass of the fledging was not related to the season or the mite/bacteria load of the nests. However, nestlings from nests with herbs fledged with higher body mass than nestlings from nests without herbs. Both bacteria and mite load were related to nestling mortality. In nests containing no herbs, the numbers of fledglings declined significantly with the increasing mite load while the mites had no effect on the number of fledglings in nests with herbs. Thus, the nest herbs counteracted the effect of the mites. In conclusion, it seems that volatile herbs can reduce bacterial but not mite infestation of the starling nests. The positive influence of herbs on nestling growth indicates that herbs either directly (perhaps as immunostimulants) improve the condition of the nestlings and help them cope with the harmful effects of mites, or they provide a nest environment beneficial for the nestlings‘ development by the reduction of germs.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

References

  • Berger S (2002) Warum tragen Starenmännchen frische Kräuter in ihre Nester ein? Diplomarbeit Universität Würzburg

  • Berger S, Disko R, Gwinner H (2003) Bacteria in starling nests. J Ornithol 144:317–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brouwer L, Komdeur J (2004) Green nesting material has a function in mate attraction in the European starling. Anim Behav 67:539–548

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark L (1991a) The nest protection hypothesis: the adaptive use of plant secondary compounds by European starlings. In: Loye JE, Zuk M (eds) Bird-parasite interactions: ecology, evolution, and behaviour. Oxford Ornithology Series, Oxford, pp 205–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark L (1991b) Countering parasites and pathogens. Parasitol Today 6:358–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark L, Mason JR (1985) Use of nest material as insecticidal and anti-pathogenic agents by the European starling. Oecologia 67:169–176

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark L, Mason JR (1987) Olfactory discrimination of plant volatiles by the European starling. Anim Behav 35:227–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark L, Mason JR (1988) Effect of biologically active plants used as nest material and the derived benefit to starling nestlings. Oecologia 77:174–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fauth PT, Krementz DG, Hines JE (1991) Ectoparasitism and the role of green nesting material in the European starling. Oecologia 88:22–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feare CJ (1984) The starling. Oxford University press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Gwinner H (1997) The function of green plants in nests of European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). Behaviour 134:337–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gwinner H (in press) Parasite defense in birds. The role of volatiles. In: Proceedings of the 23rd international IOC. Acta Zool Sinica

  • Gwinner H, Oltrogge M, Trost L, Nienaber U (2000) Green plants in starling nests: effects on nestlings. Anim Behav 59:301–309

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lafuma L, Lambrechts MM, Raymon M (2001) Aromatic plants in bird nests as a protection against blood-sucking flying insects? Behav Processes 56:113–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lambrechts MM, Dos Santos A (2000) Aromatic herbs in Corsican blue tit nests: the ‘Potpourri’ hypothesis. Acta Oecol 21:175–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell MH, Robertson GW (1995) The avian basophilic leucocyte. A review. Worlds Poultry Sci J 51:307–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell MH, Robertson GW, Spence S, Mcorquodale CC (1990) Comparison of hematological values in restricted and ad libitum-fed domestic fowls white blood cells and thrombocytes. Br Poultry Sci 314:881–886

    Google Scholar 

  • Merino S, Potti J (1995) Mites and blowflies decrease growth and survival in nestling pied flycatchers. Oikos 73:95–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petit C, Hossaert-McKey M, Perret P, Blondel J, Lambrechts MM (2002) Blue tits use selected plants and olfaction to maintain an aromatic environment for nestlings. Ecol Lett 5:585–589

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pinxten R, Eens M (1990) Polygyny in the European starling: effect on female reproductive success. Anim Behav 40:1035–1047

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richner H, Oppliger A, Christe P (1993) Effect of an ectoparasite on reproduction in great tits. J Anim Ecol 62:703–710

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodgers JA, Werner AS, Schwikert ST (1988) The use and function of green nest material by wood storks. Wilson Bull 100:411–423

    Google Scholar 

  • Roitt IM, Brostoff J, Male DK (1996) Immunology. Mosby, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Roulin A, Jeanmonod J, Blanc T (1997) Green plant material on common buzzard’s (Buteo buteo) nests during the rearing of chicks. Alauda 65:251–257

    Google Scholar 

  • Sengupta S (1981) Signifance of the use of margosa leaves in the nest of house sparrows passer domesticus. Emu 81:114–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steinegger E, Hänsel R (1988) Lehrbuch der pharmakognosie und phytopharmazie. Springer-Verlag, Berlin

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Widmann O (1922) Extracts from the diary of Otto Widmann. Academy of Science, St. Louis 24:1–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Wimberger P (1984) The use of green plant material in bird nests to avoid ectoparasites. Auk 101:615–618

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Ebo Gwinner contributed in many ways to this study: he assisted in the field, initiated co-operations and guided us through the years of the investigation with many suggestions and enthusiasm. Discussions and questions were possible at all times.

B. Krock, Jena, analysed the head space air samples. W. Jensen, E. Koch and S. Gwinner, developed the air sampling method ingeniously. M. Suchomel gave bacteriological and B. Helm statistical advice. L. Trost performed a great deal of field work. F. Bairlein gave fruitful comments. We are very grateful to all of them.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Rhythms and Behavior, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Von-der-Tann-Strasse 7, 82346, Andechs, Germany

    Helga Gwinner

  2. Department of Experimental Ecology, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89069, Ulm, Germany

    Silke Berger

Authors
  1. Helga Gwinner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Silke Berger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Helga Gwinner.

Additional information

Communicated by F. Bairlein

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gwinner, H., Berger, S. European starlings: nestling condition, parasites and green nest material during the breeding season. J Ornithol 146, 365–371 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-005-0012-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-005-0012-x

Keywords

  • European starlings
  • Nestlings condition
  • Parasites
  • Herbs
  • Season