wildlifebiology.com
Daniel M. Tompkins
Tompkins, D.M. 1999: Impact of nest-harvesting on the reproductive success of black-nest swiftlets Aerodramus maximus. – Wildl. Biol. 5: 33-36.
Malaysian populations of ‘edible-nest’ swiftlets (Aves: Apodidae) have declined markedly over the last century. These declines are attributed principally to deleterious effects of nest-harvesting on swiftlet reproduction.
The aim of this study was to quantify the impact of nest-harvesting on the reproductive success of the black-nest swiftlet Aerodramus maximus at Gomantong Caves (Sabah), and predict whether sufficient nestlings are allowed to fledge to maintain the population. Experimental nests were harvested at both the beginning and the end of one breeding season. The manipulation had a significant effect; although all harvested nests were subsequently rebuilt they fledged 17% less nestlings than unharvested controls during the breeding season. Also, the time period between eggs and nestlings appearing in nests, and the time period which nestlings spent in the nest, were both significantly longer at experimental nests than at unharvested controls. This implies that nest-harvesting increases the energetic stress of breeding adult swiftlets. Theoretically, however, enough nestlings do fledge from harvested nests at Gomantong Caves to maintain the population
of black-nest swiftlets.
Key words: Apodidae, edible-nest, harvesting, reproduction
Daniel M. Tompkins*, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, U.K.
*Present address: Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, U.K. – e-mail: d.m.tompkins@stir.ac.uk
