Publication Date

12-1991

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Blaine Ferrell, Herbert Shadowen, Joe Winstead

Degree Program

Department of Biology

Degree Type

Master of Science

Abstract

An Ohio County, Kentucky, population of Tree Swallows utilizing nest boxes located over a strip pit lake on reclaimed Peabody Coal Company land was studied on a weekly basis throughout its breeding season. The season lasted from late April to late July. Dates and/or numbers were recorded regarding nest building, egg laying, clutch size, hatching and fledging success, age of females and adult activity at the nest in order to make comparisons with these data collected in studies of more northern populations. In addition, incubating females were color marked in order to determine if they produced a second clutch. No second clutch was produced by the same female at this site. However, a second group of females did exhibit a late reproductive effort with significant success. Results indicate that the temporal breeding pattern in this southeastern population is different from the pattern observed in the more northern populations. Although the first group of females did not produce two clutches, two distinct nesting cycles were evident and the breeding season was extended in time.

Disciplines

Biology | Life Sciences

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