BREEDING BIOLOGY OF THE EDIBLE-NEST SWIFTLET AERODRAMUS FUCIPHAGUS

摘要: Summary A colony of the Edible-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus fuciphagus nesting in a Chinese shophouse Penang, Peninsular Malaysia, was studied for seven months. Birds bred throughout, but laying concentrated period October to February. Incubation and fledging periods were 23 ± 3 days 43 + 6 days, respectively. Most young hatched during dry season. The normal clutch size two, with many birds second clutches (75%) some third (15-4%) using same nest. Clutch showed no variation order or month. The overall hatching success 69-0 %, most losses caused by eggs falling from Fledging similar broods two (625%) one (59-4%), so that former twice as productive. main loss chicks occurred when they fell nest eaten mammalian predators. There tendency breeding decline successive clutches, not month, being highest November (53-6 %) February (55-6 %). The growth rate single successful similar, except chick more prone fluctuations weight. Some evidence starvation before nest. Diet examined analysis foodballs regurgitated mist-netted adults. Foodballs weighed 0–13-1 08 g and, on average, contained over 500 prey items. arthropods caught Hymenoptera (40-8%), Ephemeroptera (26-4%), Homoptera Diptera (7-7%). Flying ants mayflies contributed weight, although figwasps numerous items. Only December did percentage moulting adult swiftlets fall below 70 %. It appeared simultaneously, 21% had primaries places, suggesting arrested moult. Diurnal activity high dawn exodus dusk inflow birds, there an increase flying out prior inflow. Nest harvesting continued throughout study, marked nests under study left undisturbed.