Influence of begging call playback on behavior of great tit (Parus major) parents

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of begging call playback on the behavior of great tit (Parus major) parents with varying intensities of begging calls played from artificial nest boxes. Mean number of feeding visits by parents did not differ among control and both playback treatments. Mean feeding time was longer in the playback 1 (80 dB) group than in the control (60 dB) or playback 2 (100 dB) groups. The first open-mouthed nestling was more frequently fed than other nestlings in all control and treatments. In this study, parents did not respond to short-term increases in overall begging intensity. Further investigations of nestling begging and parental care behaviors would reveal much about the interaction between great tit parents and nestlings. © Medwell Journals, 2013.