Coralla,2004, 28(1): !F10 BREEDfNGBIOLOGY OFTHE RED-CAPPED ROBIN goodenovii IN CAPERTEEVALLEY,

VICK] POWYS

"Rocklandl', CleD Davis Road, Caperteevauey, Ncw Souin WaFs 2846

Reteiwd:26 June 2AA2

This paperdescribes rhe breedingbology tor 12 nestingpairs ot Fed-cappedRabirc Petroica qaadenavii lhal werestudled in 12 heclaresoi dry woodlandin CaperleeValley, New South Wales, lrom September2000 lo l4arch2001.Individuals were roliably idenlifed by pumage,song and l€triloryTwenty-nine nesting anempts by 12 pans prcduced12 tledgringsfiom sevennesis (24%nesi successral€). Tsnirory size averaged1.02 h€dares,with nests 35-170 melres apa( m€anheight above ground 4.5 metres.Nests look 2-5 daysio build. hcubalionbegan 2 -4 daysailef the nesiwas compleied. The i.cubaionperiod was approximalely 13-14 days; youngiedged 13 14 daysan€r halchng and were independenl39-40 daysafter f€dgng (agedH weeks). Nesilingsw€r€ t€d on average5.5 limes per hour ov€r 14 days(, = 24 hours).

INTRODUCTION growsio l0 meres as a mulgalike tree and nosL oI lh. 12 hcctarc srudysile conpnsed15 yer old MoiherumbahEarowth p10s ironbark The endemicRed-capped Robin Petroicdsao.lenorii sapliDes.md scalteredmtuE ironbdks wirbsonE 8ra$y.lcdines Tlte occursin all Australianstates except Tasnanir, favouring siudysire is nore videly sutroundedb, soodlxndMdis not comidered lcacir sc.ub and native pine woodland,with breeding recordssouth of 21'S (BlakeISd,1. 1984).The species is rvidespreadand conspicuous but is unde.-represenledin biologicalliterature. Llmited studieshr\c beenmade on R.d cap!.d R.bLni ser. obs.^ed using Sldo\ski E t 20 close- L.rji.e biro.ulas. andl5 r.bi.s rfcr. color-ik.rchedton ield notes captivenesting (George 1950. 1951x. 1951b rnd :n \orrm::r lni D:.:nbrr i.r ongoingreleEnce lndiliduai bnds were Huitoni991). Brced;ngbiologl for rkee r.ins $as 'rudi.d r:j3rlr i.;niiiii !t ilrmljj ,r.suld!.! rbrch did nci chanselrum by Coventry(1988) luajor./.1. (1999r.b)m.asur.d rhe C::.bei r. D.:.rl.r. :.tr:ider.d in combinarion\nh trntory rdd popjLron dcr i) ol b eed tri: rdui! nlufr2g.d al.i r.re sepraledbr no'ins variadonsld lhe nr m"l( P.d-.,ppeoPol . gidL5 plunage ic.ar .l Lhe\h,t. \'ingjtipe. i.tensit) of bl&t andred and and, Ldiednen deoredrrior Jrrg Jn ne.t.ano .!9 . lne siz. oa ih. red bre6t patch. Limited info.mationfor the speci€soccu.s in field guides (Slewart1976; Frith 1984;Simpson 1986; Boles Fenaies vdied with the size and intcmity or drc run-coloured cap, 1988i with rhechnty oldre wlng sintc and with ovenll lonalityofplunage. Schoddeand Tidemann19881 Slater 1989;P\zzey 19971 Oft ddterplumged fenale hal a t,nk spoton de bieaii anda largc Mo.conbe2000). Breeding blology and bebaviourof two rust-colouFdcap Pater s{lller lemalcswnh faint or no nn-colouEd closelyrelated robin species hrs beendetailed by Robinson cap and indntinct *ingitripes weE judged !o be younEcr:(ccorgc (1990a,b)and some comparisons lre madehe.e. 1950obseNed that captive fedates had nol dcvclopcdrosi coloured caps

This paperdctails ibe breedingbiology of 12 pairs of All bo\'. plunagcd nales lrad rusl coloured caps codned to the Red-cappedRobins in adjoining territoriesdxring the foreheadand idtially weE indndnguishiblelron rustcrmcd fenalcs. breedingseasoD 2000 {l at CapedeeValley on the Central Brccdine bchaviou Nas lhe min clue to then sender bro*n nales sdng Tablelandsof New South Wales, and expands on and defendedleritodes, aDd cotulared with temrles. Aftei .orilrnlng flren sender frcn behaviouralobserutions, rh.ic wcrc suffi.icnr Covenlry's(1988) data, adding new informationfor the plunagoditrcrerces h brow! pansb nonitor individualsBDwn nales species.In a concurrentpaper I descdbethe breeding wcn judgedto be les thar two yearsof age lBoles 1988) Plunage behaviou.,vocalizations and plumage lbr tbe same12 pairs of bleedingbrown @les did not clangefrom NovenberuDrl md-to- of Red-cappedRobins refeffed to in this presenistudl late Janury. Moultingboln nalos weretlrc. re sketchedi! larury, lebiuary lnd March lo nonitor plunaee changes(details in Powys (Powys2004). 2004). I\,IETIIODS Pans of Red cappedRobins were givcn a codc name,wilh letteN indicatingthe locaiionand a .un*al i.dicaling suc.esrileneds lor an] onepan eg nestH6'rcfcn to the sixth.est buili by pair H.

CapeneeValley is leated on the sesrem slopesof thc crear Dividing lon S.ttcnbci 200010rhe end of Mrch 2001,daily serchesand Ran8€n New Souih Wrles. but is wilhin the CeDtralTallelands obseflalioN were mde al Fndom houa, inidally *nhin 40 hecrarcs geogxphic division. Mean aDrual rainfall is 500 nillimeftes and of conrinuoushabiut but laFr connnedto 12 lreciares,fion which I sunners are onen hot and dry yith low hunidily. Tenpcoturesror colledednore thansoo hoN of data.Male Red-cappedRobils called pior D..cmb€rlo Februa4'i. rhestudy aea avenged32.6oC mdinum and often to nstitrg dd were l@ated auolly. 166'C ninirun. The 12 hecure nudy site (33'075, 150.038)is 15 Distancesbetween 12 adjacenlnesll werepaced, and a compassused *ilooetes elst ot ClpeIleerownship and 380 mfts abovesca tevel !o compib a ncld map. ln mid-Decemberwhen nesl buildirg peakd, Asped n nodnedl wilh slonysoils supportitrg dry woodla.dincluding ll ncst locrlions wilhi! 12 nechres sere mapped(!jg. l) lnd Mothetunbah ,,!{?.io .rcelri, Black CypEs Pi.e Carrlir 4.rnndrt, apprcinaie tedbry size was calcularedfion the nap using gnpb Natrov-leaved hooba.k ,!.abp!,r .rzrl4 T[nbledown Red eun '' paper Tedtoial bounddies qqc jndg€d to be where dispulesbetweeD d.olbara wnh m uode$lorey of Datiyeherbs and gmscs. Molherumbrh neignbouringnales occured Where teftitory bonndarieswere nol 14tutrysr Breeding biology oi h6 F€d.cappedFobin

RESULTS NH1 N ,^ Although I searched40 hectaresof dry woodtand .-..-/..-- adjacentto the study during October-November,Red I site ," -./ cappedRobins bred within 12 hectareswhere Moiher '.. orly ,' umbah was the dominant species,combined with a | north-east aspect. wlere Molherumbah occurred with a ( eer i.. BoNt\.. west aspect,no robin nestswere lbund. Favourednest sites in the study areawere at the edg€of Mothennnbahthickets ratherthan in th€ centre,and usuallyfac€d north €ast, but not always.In spring,flowering Motherumbah supported small caterpillarsthat were usedas food for nestlings,and IVB1 its tangled,twiggy growth gavefledglings someprotection fron swooping birdsof prey. The grassy u.derstorey betweenMotherumbah clumps was extensivelyused for fbragingby the robins, and acacias,ironbarks, red gumsand larger rocks provided srllying perchesclose to the ground. Teffitory establishment From Septemberto March eight rcd-plumagedmales and four brownplumaged males established territories, paired with femal€s,advetis€d and defendedtheir tefritodes.as Figm I Map lh.tukq the 12 hectarestud! tbe ar t0 Decenber 2A00, describedin (Powys2004). wirh ll a..upied nett! and apprctihate teftjtor! bamdones. Anothd o(upied aest, CU is top ngln, of ,Lop l'leon tetitotr si.e .for t l kr.n.rits rar l.A2 he.tares. Unbtukln tiies ituli.ate boundanet In mid-Decenber,the inler-nestdlslance from eachof naftd b, d riwl pni. @d rlaned li es indi.at. 1te eient of.famsing 1l activenesis to the nearestneighbouring active nest ranged liorn 35 10 170 metres,mean 81 netres, (s.d.= 37.6m) (Fig. 1).Tenitory sizefbr 11 tenitoriesi. mid Dccember rveraged1.02 hectares, (s-d. = 0.23 ha-).Territorial boundanes snded with a rivrl pcir, $e exrEri ol ihat tcriro., was less cleu, but wereadjusted when new nests$ere re-sited10 30 melres a dorcd hde on tbe mp (Fig l) indicaEsrhe extenrol foraeing.A from the previousnest, of lvhenpals abandonedLrreir territory 12tt De$ (otr nap) sas posilionedabout 300 nctics fron (henetrest afternest failue. In Ferrruaryparenls with fledglingsexpanded nciChbours oesr bul as no iDtcracrionbeLween those reighbouring pairs malesNas sltie$ed, thisne$ wascxcluded lron mappirg.alculaionj iheLrtenitories ro includetne temtoryof unsuccessful The nean distaD.eber$ccn n6a *6 calculatedlron I I neasurements, of previousiyunoccupied !\est-iacing scrub. each tpEseniiDg th. di{r.ce lo rhe nearen a.av! nen. for e;:il icrnr.ry in mid Decemb€r.\enj |.,c conra.n\ b:in! relo.2r.d !o tctrtorl' size and bouDdari.slor ea.h narr \ari.C iieriii.r.rtJ ircr \;sr st'tEa\D l\iartRIAL Nestst€s eefe check.ddill :nd o..uri;J o.:L \rr: F..r:rr:. r,..r N-esKof Red-cnppedRobins were built in threeor four llJ niDuresto I hou pcnods.rlrh d.;b..nrr u:ortir seat.cab.trr way verticxl or horizontaltree ibrks at heightsof 2 7 20 neltes rion lhe baseoi th. nin k. \o ar.mDr tra: mad! !! metres,mea. height4.5 metres = 1.3 m), ('1 = 29) visorlly confim the presen.eot eses.litn lh. .\.3pri.n of or; neji G.d. (H6) For 23 our oi a rotal ol 29 nesG.:r *as asjuned that siriing (Tablel). Of 29 nests,16 (557.) werc buili in Mother- limaleso! high nes${ere incubarjngegss Dareof laliDBws judecd unbah acacia. 11 (38E) in Narrowleaved Ironbark to be soonaft.r conpletionoi L\o n$r *hen lhe ienale bcgansifting saplings,and two (79,) in Black C,vpressPine. N€sts in otr thetrest Dateof hatchingwasjudg.d ro b! *hen lhe pmnrs began Black Cyp.essPine we.e built agains!lhe main trunk to bitrg food lo thc nest Older ncsrlinsssere visually nonitored wherea doublebranch occurred. All nestswere open cup, throughbi.culas. Estituted daressho$n in bcckes io TableI scre calculatedby addingor subuacdtrgavedgcd known intervals, fton ihe construcledof dry giassand cobweb and occasional shreCs of bark. Nests in Motherumbrh and Narrowleaved Ironbarkhad very hnle lichenor mosson them(nor had Nesl H6 was unusuall,low at 2 n.res heisht,atrd its positionaho allowed the obserlei ro nonitor rhe n€st lron a parrlt con.caled the hosr tee), but nesls in Black CypressPin€ were position6.5 nefes away.Nest conFnh {ere qnickly checkedat nesr studdedwith lichenand moss, thus blending with the host H6 using r snaU hand mnror. on o!€ occasior this .auscd great distres tfee. The nest lining (where seen)was of downy seedsfrom to the fedale and jeopardizednesr safety, but on sir other occasio.s groundherbs, with a final spa$elayer of feaihersand fur. the disturbrncewas niniml. Dunng lhe 14-dayncstlhg penodnesl Nest fabric was stretchyand durable;one nest 16 was obseNed for a loal expanded ol 24 hours, enprising I 3 nor warcfts 1o contain just madc&ily in dlylight hoursbetNecn 0600 2100hous uayliehrSaving lhree activenestlings but eventuallytore Tine Field mres ialli.d Lherimitrg and runber of tee'is aDdif bronghr beforethe youngtledged. Of 29 Dests,only one wasre- by nalc or lc@le p!.enti type and size of ioo{li linjng of renovat of usedd rtu whenit w{s repairedafter a storm.Eight nests iaecaislcsi generalbenavionr, a.d vocalizations. (27E) werebuilt of newmaterial and 12 (417,)were buiit Heightof nes$ was measurcdro lhe neaFsr merc dundg March from recyclednests. For eight nestsit was no! knownif shcn nes* wcn no longeroccupied ihey wereDew or re.ycled(Table 1). v Potr?siAre€ding biology ot tne Red-cpped Robin corclla28(1)

TABLE I Table shNihg nw data lor al nesa snrdicdAugust 2000 to Mdch 200r . Oa 29 Deslng af.enpls, o.ly sevcn nesrsprcdusr nodgrings.Esdmred dates re in bmckets. Code = the sequertial Gsls tor eeh pair, e.g. 'H6' = tne 6Lt nest for pan }t tee speci*: M = Modmbaii NI = N@w lealed Itonbart; BCP = Black Cypr.ss Pine Biown,plumg€d nal€s wele ion pajs BB, Ntl, AB, Md MB. R = recycled; Rep = iepaired,

beight Nee or N€si Nest lftubation Young No. ol Nest Storm or Nesi Youne Yonng Cod€ nee (n) r€cycl.d sl! €d comPlete sldred hatch youtrg failed predalor stage fl€dge ird€perd€rt H]M2 N (23Aus) (28Aus) (l sep0 (15 sep, 2 .IIM5 N (10Sep0 (14s€pt) O? selO (1 oc0 1 14 Oct 2l Nov H2 NI 5 R 10 Oct l? Oct p H3M2 R 24 0d (28 Od) I Nov p l{4M4 (9 Nov) 12 Nor 25 Nov cv1 BcP ? ?N (10 Nov) 07 NoY) I Dcc - 14 Da 19Ja! AD1 M6 ?N (13 Nov) (1'7Nov) (20 NoO 4 Dec 2 BONI NI 5 ?N (20 Noy) (24 Nov) (27 Nov) l1 Dec BBlM6 N 19 Nov 24 Nov 23 Nov 11 D4 l+ 'GIM4 ?N O NOV 0 Nov ? 12 NI 5 R 0 Nov <2 Dec SSI BCP 6 ?N 0 Nov 0 Nov ? '| ?- ss2M3 R (26 Nov) 2D€ PPI NI 5 0 Nov ? 28 Nov NHIM5 ?N 26 Nov 4 Dec MAt Nl 4 N 28 Nov 5 Dec - p eEe PP2 N] 4 R 28 Nlv 4 Dec II5M5 8 Dec J3N!5 l1 Dec ABI M 3 13 Dec p JC2Ml (14Dec) PP3 NI 4 l4 Dec egg H6 NI 2 16 D€c 30 De. I Jatr I - l3-t5 Jan 23 Feb MB2M5 16 Dec 1 P egg AD2M6 16 Dec p NH2M3 R llDec 16 Drc 29 Dec z - lzlm 21Feb J4 NI 5 21 Dec 24 Dc. 1 l^n AB2M4 25 Dec 8 Jan l 21 tan 21Feb AD3M5 21 Dec l0 Jar 2 - 22J3 l^n I Md

NEsr BUTLDINGcHRoNoLocY to sevendays old, and for an averaseof five minutes per hour (n = 5 hourt whennesdings were eight to 10 days Femalesalone built the nestswhich rook 2-5 days ro old. The fernale no longer brooded or her young complete.averaging 3.5 days (n = 16). Time f.on nesr Fe€ned whenthey were i 1-13 daysold, but complerionlo lhe s.da of racubblionsa\ :.:1 day\. sheshaded them from per (n = averaging3.1 days(n = 16).(Table l). the hot sun for up to 38 minutes hour 3 hours) 1200-1500hours during mid-January. ECC LAYINC FEEDTNGcHRoNoLocY Twentyfive nestswiih sittingfemales were roo high to visuallyconfirm the presenceof eggs.The conrentsof one NestH6 wasobserved for a lotal of 24 hoursduring the nest.H6. werevisually moniiored with a handminor and 14-dayneslling period. with 1-3 hourwatches made daily thre€eggs were laid in that neston consecutivedays. Egg in daylighthours fron 0600-2100hours Daylight Saving shell colour was very pale greenspeckled with purple Time.The nesl contained three nestlings. OD average more brown to lbrm a darker central band. fe€dswere brought to the nest 0600-1100hours and 1500- 2100hours with l€ssin the middlepart of the day,for both INCUBATION maleand female(Fig.2). As a seneralobse ation,there was also less activity at other nestsstudied, during the Time from the start of incubationto hatching was middle part of the day. Feedinsceased temporarily if a approximately13-14 days (, = 7 nesrs).Ar nest H6 predator('hawk' or goanna)was near.Figure 3 showsa (contentsof which wefe visuallymonito.ed), rhree eggs 0900-t100 hoursfeeding sarnple over 13 days (r = 1l halchedon consecutivedays from 14 days after ihe first houn), wherethe femalebrooded or shadedthe nestlings eggwas laid. Female H incubatedfor shorrperiods of lime for long periodsin days 1-7 (n = 4 hourt, andthe male afterthe first eggwas laid, andfor longerperiods of rime after lhe secondand third eggswere laid. compensa.edby bringing many more feedslo the nestthan the female.In days8 13 (n = ? hours)when the female BROODINC was broodingmuch less,she broughtmore feedsto the nestlingson averagetban the nale, 0900 1100hoors. At nestH6 frorn 0900 1200houls the femle brooded, preened and shaded her youns fot 2442 (mear 33) For nestH6, in days 1-6, feedsper nestlingaveraged minutesper hour (, = 6 hours)when nestlingswere one 4.73 per hour (r = 5 hours).increasing in days7-13 to March,2004 V Potr?s:Br€€ding biology ol the Fed-capp€dBobln

M14 f,, t0

E8 E p6 s+ P2 H0 omo 07000300 0900 1000 1 100 1200 13ao 1400 1500 1600 1700 1300 1900 2000 2100 TII\4EIN HOURS A I\4ALE O FEMALE

FiEve 2. Clen shNin| vaianm 9fJeeding rut6 dccodins to tre tine of da, Jor thrce netlings at n6t 116:nE ]Durblour.fedins patftm n shNn 6 a.anposjte da! A60A 2l0A hou^ Datlight Soli|E Tihe but tuas bav'l on 18 hau6 obsetuatids us sLt .lats (dols 7-13 nt n^t), ||ith at ka$ t haw abetualian f.r eoclt dallitht hou e ept fot 14A0-1504 nours ad 130A2A0A hau.s trh?k enitnatetaE slown. In ohe dnr'tlte,nle brarght 119Jecds, ,k Jetu1e brouchl ll2 Ju^ ud dko bra.dcd Jar 26 hou^ Minuks per haur lor feMt! btuatlins/sla,^ns are nb\n ah .hai, adjuen, ta IaMk sllb.t. Clan slnws a dip in th? feedin! rcte in rhe niddte pad of rhe do., f.r bath tuk ann ftnBle \reathet \d\ iine wrh Iz,rDentufts 16 3l'C. H.urr arc nunded atr 10 tutee hour

5.71 feedsper hour (,1= 19 houls).The overallaverage 10.3feeds per nestlingper hour,on day 11, at 070M800 rlunber of feedsper nestlingper houl for days 1-13 was hours.In 13days. for 15hours a day,it is estimated(based 5.5 (n = 24 hours),and ave.aged6.3 feedsper nestling on the known feedingrate) that nest H6 parentswould per hour (, = ll hows) in rhe0900 1100hours rime slot havebrought a total of 3 200 food items to the three (drys l-13). This wascompared to nestNIr. wheretwo nesUrngs. nestlingsaveraged 5.0 feedsper hour each,0900 1100 Parent"io'rging 'ucce'. rateior Douncings^ onein hours(n =,1 hours)(days 4-13). The highestnumber of six auenptsfor femaleH (a = 71 attempts)iand one in feedsper hourbrorght to nes!H6 was31, whichaveraged eightauemprs for maleH (n = 3l attempts). FOOD At nest H6 recognizable food items included grasshopperc.katydids, smrll clc^dasCicadetta l^be&lata 16 and Paurapsaltaencaustica, , bush cockroach, noths,butterflies. cateryillars, , ants, dragonflies and mayflies. La.ge mud were numerousbut were avoidedas a food item. Tenderizedcaterplllars were fed E ro the nesdjngsfor the fint few days.After live daysthe EA nestlingswe.e fed quite Largeitems. whole.The largesl item was a greengrasshopper about five cm long,ted to a l3-day-old nestling.Generally ihe male broughi the /2 la.gestitems 1o nest- Winged wefe alwayspushed headfirst into ihe throatof the young. r 5 6 I 9 r0 12 AGEOF NESTLINGS N DAYS FAECALSACS A ['ALE O FEMALE At nesi H6 faecal sacs were removedat a rate per nestlingranging fron 0.3 per hour when 4 5 days old = hours).gradually Increa.rng Figre 3. Chtrt NestH6: 99ttu-l IA0 hou6 Ddllight Sain! Tine data ,,? I hours.0o001200 Ior (n = Jor thee ,esttin$ ja t3 da! nestliu penod, canponry nak and 10 two per hour when 12 13 days old 3 hours. fenok fudiry nlio. Minuks per hau for feMle bruadn\hhading 0900-1200hours). The feedingparen! would inspectthe ale shaen a" .ha4, adjac.nt 10Jemle rrtnbot. tn dars I 7 nale rearof the nestlingafter giving a food item,and if a fiecal porenr co4peh\tutt lot tow Iee.ltug rate of btuadinEJenale but in sacwas produced, the parentwould collectthe sacin iis d.ys 8 l3 wha Jnale v6 na La\er brcoding she btuugln non f.e^ to nestlinss thaa the nale. Data b6ed an ll haLrs absetuatiohs, and (soinetimeswith a iluttering flight) about weattErfre, hourc rcu ed oIJ lD reaQn hout 20 30 metresbefore dropping il. v Porys.'BreediDgbiology of the Ftsd-c€pp€dFtobin corerla28(1)

Nestling chrcnology eventswere witnessedduring rhe studyperiod. A Black- The nestling period was 12-14 days (n = 4 nesrs)(Table faced Cuckoo,shrike Cr.acina novaehollandiaemay h^ve laken eggsfrom one nest (it perched 1).The numbe.of nestlingsper nesrwas berween one and was seen nearthe nest thiee.mean 1.6 (n = 12 nesrs).Ar nestH6, rhreeyoung with somethingin its beakand the nestwas rebuilt ar a new site fledged oler ihree days, from 14 days a{ter the firit egg th€ following day). Collared Spanowhawk Accipiter had hatched;two young fledged within hours or one cirthocephalurand nestingBrown coshawk Accipitel regularly patrolled mother, the thi.d rwo days later.All tbree fledged between fasciatus the srudy area 1100 1300hours. esp€ciallya! dawn and dusk. Other possibieavian predators seenin the studyarea (per Major er al. 1999! aDdpers. obs.)were AustralianHobby Falco lon|ipdnis, Brown Falcon Falco be,ieola, r'xo nesting pairs of pied The time frorn fledging to irdependencewas 33-.10 days, CurrawongSrrcpe.d Laughing Kookaburra mean17.4 dd)s ,r - 7 8.acrlina. fledgftngst.Age ar independence. Dacelo nolaeguineae, Olive-backed O(iole Oriolus posr-harching.wds 47 -51 day.rb.7-7.5 !reeks). mean 50.4 sagittatus,Gtey ButcherbirdCra.rtc&r toryuatus,Grcy days(7.2 weekt (|1= 7 fledglings). Shrike-thrush Colluricincla larnani.a, Auslralian Raven Conus corcnoides,Aljstt^lirn Ma€pie Grmnofiina tibicen, andWhite-browed Babblet Ponatostomus superciliosur. In During SeptenberDecember, 29 nestswere complered February 2000 1\ goanna Vannus rarirr rook nesrlings andof these22 (?6%)failed eilher at rhe egs or nesrung from a nest (pers.obs.) and dwing ihe study period several stage (Table l). Nests rhat succeededin producing goirnnaswere seennear nests. fledglings included five of 17 nesis in Motheru.nbah, and Five speciesof cuckoothar are known to lay in Red- one of two nesrsin Black Cypresspine, bui only one of cappedRobin nestswere presenr in the srudyarea. The ten nestsin NarrowleavedIronbark. Horizontally and robins alwaysreacted aggressively row ds cuckoos,but no venically forked siresfared equalty, and nestsbetween tlvo cuckoonestlings were seen in Red cappedRobin nests. and sevenmetes in heightsucceeded, so nesrheight and angle did not appearro be relevantro nesrsuccess. In In late January2001 temperaturesreached 45'C during September,Octobetrwo of three nests succeeded:in a week-longheatwave, but eighr recenrlyfledged young Novernberall three nesrsfailed; in Decenber,17 nests swvived. Earlier in January three nestlingssurvived failedand one succeeded; in JaDua.y.four out of five nests daytimetemperatures that reached44oC. A sittingfemale succeeded.Nests built eitherearly or tate in the bfeeding was injured during a squall and her nestlingslosr (rhe seasonwere mo.e successful rhan those builr in Novernber lbmalewas seenthe fbllowingday with fearhersmissing andDecember from the back of the neck). A newly,fledgedbird was rnislaidby ils parentsfor a day following a squallbur (mean) Therewere 2.1 nestanemp{s (range t-6) perpair, survived(pa.ents and young becameseparated and loud for the 12 pairsof Red,cappedRobins- Three of rhe four cicadacalls obscued contact catts). brown-plumagedrnales were apparenrty ferrile after pairing with femalesand nesting.One brown pair fledged!\vo DISCUSSION )oung.anolher pdr fledgedone loung: rwo nesrtings ot a rhrrdparr $ere lostduring J squall.tggs of .he tourlh b.ownpair weretwice depredated proven and ror ferriie. Majot et al. (r999b) measuredpopulation densiiy for 196 The overall nest successrate (nesrs that producedfledglings maleRed-capped Robins near Forbes iD centralNew South per nestattempt) was per 24 cenr,and wasslighrly higher Wales.and found moremales per hectare(0.86) i. Iarge in bmwn (287,) males rhanin colo'rredmates (22%), but remnantstlan in small linear remnants(0.35), with coloured produced males morefledglings per pair.Brown populationdjstribution in largewoodland remrants being malesproduced a meanof 0.75fledglings (ranse 0_2) pe. eventyspr€ad despite a high degreeof.variarion in habiral pair, colouredmales produced a nean of l.t2 fledglings characlerisaics.The presentstudy measuredindividual (.ange 0-5) per pair. comparedwith the overallmean of lenitorysize rather than population density, and found thar 1.0fledglings Gange 0 5) perpair As a measureof multi- a breedingpopulaiion of 12 pairsof Red-cappedRobins broodedness,only rwo of 12 pairs re-nestedafter a was clusteredin a specifichabitat rype within a much successfulnest (Table l); pair H fledged two young in tare larger woodlandarea. For comparativepurposes, rhere wer€ September,then afler four unsuccessfulattempls, fledged 0.02 malesper hectareb/:!ed on the initial 40 hectare threemore young from a sixth rcst in mid-January.pai. J search.or 0.90males per hectarebased on the 12 hecrare fledged one young mid-Oclober, followed by three studysite. unsuccesstulattempts. Coventry (1988) measuredterritory size for three Nest thrcats anl predatats adjacentterritories of Red cappedRobins near Cooma in southemNew SouthWalesi two were 0.5 hectareseach, Of the 22 nestsrhar faiied, srormdanage caused three and a third was0.25 hectares,which compareswith a mean failuresbut depredationwas the probablecause of failure territorysize of 1.02hectares (n = 1l) for ihis study.At for 16 (55 ) of the 29 nesrattempts (Table t). Nestlings Nimmitabel in the SouthernTablelands of New Sourh lessthan one week old vanish€dfrom four nests.Assuming Wa.les,Robinson (1990b) found a meanbreeding season rharsirting females on highnesls were incubaung eggs. l2 territorysize of 3.2 hectaresfor ScarlerRobins p;rrricd nestsfailed with eggsprobably depredar€d.No depredation nulticolot ^ d 1.7 hectaresfor Flane Robinsp"t'oica Mard, 2004 U Fcn 6j Breedingblology ol th€ Bed-capp€dBobin p ho e ni c e a, wherc tErjlioties were defendedinterspecifi cally Further studies are needed to confum that Red-capped as well as intraspecifically. Robins consistently bring more feeds to the nest, per nesding, thar Scarlet and Flame Robins. It was not clear why the n€s.ling feeding pattern in this Coventry (1988) m€asuredaverage nest height for Red- presentstudy decrersedin the middle part of the day (Fig. = cappedRobins ne3r Cooma at 3.6 metres(n 1l). This 2), but heat and overheadsun were probablythe main compares with an average nest height of 4.5 metes contributing factors and the behaviour is probably typical = (n 29) for the Red-cappedRobins in this study.The for Ausaralianpasserines with open nests. Nest H6 was nonherly aspectnoted by Coventry was also favoured by more exposedto mid-day sun than nest NH2, but the mid- Red-cappedRobins in this study. day 'siesta'seemed to apply to both nests.The highly Coventy (1988) found that tbree Red-cappedRobin vadablerate for the feeding of nesdingsthmughout the day nests near Cooma averaged8.0 days to complete, while indicatesa poiential difficulty in obtainingmeaningful Schoddeand Tidema.n (1988)reported 8-10 days,but figures fton small sampl€s. Caperte€Valley nests(n = 16) took only 2 5 days to complete. perhaps indicating more suitable weather conditions and nest material. Dry weatber was George(1950 1951) describedRed-capped Robin youllg advantageousto nest constructioniin prolonged wet in captivity reaching independencetwo weeks after conditions when cobweb was scarcea female begana nest fledging(they ate mealwornsfrom a tray)i Hutton(1991) with no binding,and the nestmaterial soor blew away.A noted that young in captivity reachedindependence 3-4 alderclimate and tbe extensiver€.ycling of nestmaterial weeks after fledging. Coventry (1988) observedRed- predominantly with grass conslruction may have cappedRobin parentstending their fledglings for at least conaributedto the shorter averagebuilding time of nests two weeks,while Schoddeand Tidem"nn (1988) reported in this study. Nests for Flame and ScarletRobins at three weeks.Red cappedRobin fledglingsin Cape ee Nimmilabeltook 6-7 days (n = (Robinson to build 14) Valley were fed by their parents for 5-6 weeks alter 1990a). fledging, while also self-fo.aging 1-2 weeksafter fledging. lncubation and nestlins periods suggestinga longer learning period and/or more difficuit foraging conditionsin non-captivebirds. Flame Robin Hutton(1991) observed an incubationperiod of 10-12 fledglings were fed for at leait five weeksafter leaving the days for Red-cappedRobins in captivity where the female nestGobinson 1990b). began incubation the day after the first egg was laid. Ar nestH6 in this study (wherenest contents were visually monitored) three eggs hatchedon consecutivedays 14-16 Coventry(1988) found a nestsuccess rate of 63 percent days atler the first egg was laid. Coventry(1988) measured (n = 8) for Red cappedRobins near Cooma.Robinson incubation periods for tbree clutchesi each took 14 days (1990a)ar Nimrnitabelfound rhat oDly 25 per cent of to hatch. More data would be neededto explain why producei per caplive birds may hay€ a shorte. incubation period. Flame Robin clutches fledglings, and l0 cent of ScarletRobin clutch€s produc€d fledglings, (largely due For captivebirds Hutton (1991)noted that hatchingto to depr€dationof eggs and nestlings),compded to an fledgingtook 14 15 days.Covenrry (1988) observed five averag€nest successlate for twelv€ Australianopen-nesting broods where the nestling period averaging12.5 days passerinespecies of 30.6 per cent-This compareswitb a (range 11-16 days). At nest H6, three young fledged 24 per cent nestsuccess rate for the Red-cappedRobins 14-16 days atur ihe first egg had hatched,and tbe nestling in this study. period averaged12-14 days for four nestsin this study. Robinsonturther found that fledglings per pair ofFlame Robinsper seasonwas 1.20(n = 36 pairs),and fledglings per ptir of SczrlerRobrn" pe- se,'on wds0.14 fn = 21 gave Coventry no feeding data for Red-cappedRobin pairc),while Coventry (1988) found a rateof 1.2fledglings present nestlings.In the study, nestH6 averaged16.5 feeds perpair (, = 3) for Red-cappedRobins near Cooma. This per hourbrought to a nestwith threenes.lings during days compareswiih 1.0 fledglingsper pair per seasonfor the l-14 (r = 24 hourt. As general a observalion,more feeds 12pairs ofRed cappedRobins in this study.Hutron (1991) per hour were brought to neststhat containedtwo or three founda higherfledgling success rate per seasonfor nestlings,than to nests nuch that containedonly one nestling. Red-cappedRobins in captivity;one pair producedsev€n In a comparisonof rwo nesrs0900-1100 bours,nore feeds fledglingsfrom six nestattempts where five attemptswere were brought per hour to a nest that contained three successful.The mostsuccessful pair in this presentstudy nes.iings(mean 18.9 fe€ds per hour. u = l1 houls),than to (pair H) p.oducedfive fledglingsfrom six nestauempts a nestthat contaircdtwo nestlings(mean 10.0 feeds per whereonly two attemptswere successtul. hour, n = 4 houls). Robinson (1990a)tabled feeding rates for Scarletand FlameRobins for days 1-18, which averaged Robinson(1990a) found that 32 Flame Robin pairs 9.2 feedsper hour (, = 31) for ScarletRobins, and 12.1 averaged2.03 nest attemptsper season,and 22 Scarlet feeds per hour (n = 8s) for Flane Robins, presunably per Robin pairs averaged2.64 nest attempts per seasonOoth nest of 2 3 nestlings.In a study on ScarlerRobins at had a range of 1-5), which compareswith 2.41 nest Coona, Coventry (1989) found that (presumed2 3) attemptsper season(range l-6) for the 12 pairsof Red- nesdingsreceived 3.sl ferds per nestper hou (n = 8 hourt. cappedRobins in this study. Robinsonalso compared 10 v PohF: Breedinsbiolosy ol the Fed-cappedBobin corella28(1) nesting successrates for three Europeanflycatcher species studieson depredationand specifichabitat requirements with two Australian robin species,and found large wouldalso be useful. differences.European flycatchers laid only one large clutch per seasonand sufiered less nest depredation.Robinson ACKNOWI-EDCMENTS found that Flame and ScarletRobins, like other smail I Nish lo thdk Syd Cunjs for reading d€ ttrst &aft of this paper insectivorousbirds in ,laid manysmall clutches The natrusciipl was inprovcd by colmeds provided by lan R@ley, per seasonin a probableevolutionary adaptation ro a high Richrd Noske, an anorymoN refe.ee ad Dor Frantlir rate of nest depredation.In the presentstudy, the high nomberof nestingattempts per pair of Red cappedRobins REFERXNCES supportsRobinson's fi ndings. Boles,Walter E. (1988). The Robinsand llycatch€s of Australia'. Nest predatorsof Flame and ScarletRobiDs identified by (ADgus and RoberrsonrSydney.) Blakers,M., Davis, s. J. J. F and Reillt P N. (1984). fie Allas of Robinson (r990a) were Grey Shriketh.ush, Pied Astralia! Bids'. (RAOU dd Melboune Univeaily Prc$.) Cunaworg.Eastem Brown Snake and Tiger Snake. Major Cove.try, P (1988).Notes or the BreedingBehaviour of tbc Red- et dt (1999a)used an;ficial nestsand eggsin a studyof .apped Robia Peroica soo'1ehotii. Aue. Bir.! tlainer l2t m9-216. nest depredationof Red-cappedRobins near Forbes, and CovenqI, P (1989). Nores oo rhe scdlet Robir. ,16r. aird rr/di.tur 13: found a 34 per cenl nest depredationIate. with predators 68-{9. Fritl\ H. J. (Ed) (1969).'Birds in &e Astralian Hieh Courry'. (Reed: being Grey Shrike-thrush,crey Butcherbird.Australian Raven,Apostlebird Struth led cinerca,Pied Butcherbird George,F. (1950).Thc Red CappedRobin, Pait 1. .4!r, .4vi.rr!@, Cmctbus nigmgulatis, At)stralianMagpie, Pied Cunawong, Grey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis, and ceorge,F. (1951a).Tne Red CappedRobin, PaJt 2. ,,1!y.Ati.l,zrd, Rufous Whistler. There lvas a higher rate oi nest George,F' (195rb).The Red CappedRobin. Part 3.,46t. Ari.!l&/,, depr€dationin this presentstudy (55%) comparedto Mav. Major's study, but no nest predatorswere positivety Eultor, R. O99l). AnslraliatrSoftbill Mamgenent'. (Sinsil lrre$ Ily identified. Major, R., ChJistie,F., GowiDs, G. and Ivhon. T. O999a). Elemied rates A higher nest failure rate fo. Red cappedRobins in rhis of prdation on anidcial nesrs itr line{ strips of nabitat J Frd study in December compared to January suggests OminoL 70. 351i64. Majoi, R., Christie,F, Gowing,G., Ivisoq T (1999b).Aee sltnctue Decemberdepredation by nesaingbirds-of-prey. Cunawongs and deftity of ed capped rcbin populations vary wilh habitat size and larger bhds-of'prey had finished nesting by January. aa.! shtpe. J. AppLie.l E.ol. 361 90l40a. Large cicadaswere plentiful in late Decemberand January Morconbe, M. (2000). lield Cnide to Australiatr Dnds'. (Stve ?aish and may have providedan alternativefood sourceior Publlshing:Brisbane.) predatorybirds, and loud cicadacalls in Januarymay have Pizzey,c. andKnigbt, F (199?). lield Cuideto theBnds ofAsralia . (Harps Collins,Sydney.) canoufiagedbegging calls from the young. The rnore open Powys, V (2004). BEeding bchrliou voulizatioN and plumge of the and hawk-accessiblecanopy of NanowleavedIronbarks Red cappedRobin P.t r.a a,adcdit in C2lertee valler, NeN Sonth may havebeen the reasonfor their higher nest failure rate, N^ es. Coreltu 2a: 1Lr9. comparedto the more enclos€dcanopy for Motherumbal Robinson.D (1990a) The Nesnng Ecology of symparric Paroi.a nulticolor ^fi Fltme Robin P /to.,i.ga populalons in opcn cuc,lypl foEst. ta! 90: 40 52. Rowley and Russell(1991) and Rowley et al. (1991) Robi.so., D. (1990b).The social organisarionof the Scdlet Robin Pettuba hulticolor ad Flane Robi. P plrcti.?z in soutneastem showedthat multibroodednessin smallpasserine species Alstraliar a conpdson betweer sedentaryand nigralory flycrtches was detemined not by the overall numberof nest attempts lbk l32t 18-94. in any one season,but by whether or not pairs re-nested RNle, L and Russell,E. (1991).Denognpny of PaseriDesin the 'Bnd follorvinga successfulnest. The high numberof nesting tempedre soulhcm benisphere. h Populatior studies, attemptsfor the 12 pairs of Red-cappedRobins Relemrce to conseNatio! ud mnagement . (Eds C. M. Per.iDs,J. in this D. Lebrero. and C. t. M. Hnons.) Pp. 22-24. (Oiford: Orfod present study may have been largely a responseto nest depredation,but two pairs (H and J) did re nest aft€r Rowley,I., Brooter,M and Rsseu. E. (1991).The br€edingbiology succ€ssfullyfledging young. Hutton (1991) described five of llle Splendid Fajry uen ttalutur spLende$: lh€ sigdncance of successiulnest attempas in oneseason for a pair of captive nurtipre brmds EnL 9lt 197-22] Schodde,R. and Tidenanl. S. C. (Eds.) 0988). Recdefs Dig*t Red-cappedRobins protectedfrom predators,clearly conplete Book ofAusraUanBi.ds', (2.d.dition). (ReadersDigcstl indicating the capacityfor nulti-broodednessfor this speciesin the wild. Robinson(1990a) found that one,third Simpsotr.K. (Ed.) (1986). Field Cuide 10 the Birds of anstralia'. of Flame Robin pans laid secondclutches in the same (Mking O'Neill: Melboume.) seasonif their first clutchwas Sl.rer, P. (1989). Tb€ Slater Field Guide 10 AusFalian Bndi. successful,but that noneof (Laosdowne: Sydney.) the successfulScarlet Robin pairs did the sane Stewart,F. (1976).Rcd cappedRobitr. ltr 'R€adert DigeslConpl€le Book of Ausralian Bidt, (lsl edition).(Ed. ri. L Fritlr.)Pp. 360 This papercovers only one breedingseason but gives (Rcaders Dig€st Sy.lney.) nestingbiology datr that could be comparedwith future studieson Red-caDDedRobins in other areas.Further