I examined the relationship between exotic and native cavity-nesting birds in the Sonoran desert near Tucson, Arizona during 1988 and 1989. I attempted to limit cavity availability in 1989 by plugging cavities that were unused, or used by exotics, in 1988 with rubber test tube stoppers. Numbers of nests of any species did not significantly change between 1988 and 1989. Control plots showed similar results. I found no significant negative correlations between number of nests of European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) and any other cavity-nesting species. Of the cavity characteristics examined, species only differed in size of cavity openings. My data indicate that exotic and native cavity-nesting birds were not competing for nest cavities. An excess of available nest cavities is the probable reason for this lack of competition. Temporal differences in cavity use among species may have helped contribute to the abundance of cavities.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/278158 |
| Date | January 1992 |
| Creators | Bibles, Brent Dean, 1965- |
| Contributors | Mannan, R. W. |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona. |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. |
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