Distribution of bowers of the Satin Bowerbird at Leura, NSW, with notes of parental care, development and independence of the young

Abstract

Three primary territories owned by old dominant male Satin Bowerbirds were known in the neighbourhood of Leura, NSW. Male 85, which we observed most, disappeared (? died) in 1970, probably after fifteen years' occupation of his bower. Several changes in ownership of bowers occurred at about the time of his disappearance and another male from six kilometres away eventually replaced him and was dominant at his bower. Males take no part in nesting ac- tivities. Thenestling period was about nineteen days in one nest.The female'at that nest fednestlings about six times an hour when the young were about a week old but only three times an hour six days later. On fledging, the young were conducted to a nursery area where they were attended by the female for at least fifty-nine days after fledging. The characteristics of this species seem to agree with those postulated by Gilliard (1963) for arena species.