
%0 Journal Article
%A Tarburton, Michael K. 
%T The breeding biology of the Mountain Swiftlet, <emph type="2">Aerodramus</emph> <emph type="2">hirundinaceus</emph>, in Irian Jaya
%J Emu
%D 2003/06/30
%V 103
%N 2
%P 177-182
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/MU00081
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/MU00081 
%X This, the first study of the breeding biology of the Mountain Swiftlet, Aerodramus hirundinaceus, was undertaken in the Twin Falls Cave at 2120 m near Tembagapura in Irian Jaya on the island of New Guinea. The cave was only 70 m long, but contained up to 32 nests, which were mostly built of foliose lichens and a little saliva, and rested on ledges on the walls of the cave. Two nests were touching but the others were up to 185 cm apart; this is a large distance for swiftlets and may be caused by lethal pressures from ticks. The nests averaged 65 &#215; 64 &#215; 10.9 mm internal dimensions with external heights of 58&#8211;210 mm. The breeding season was at its lowest in April&#8211;May when no nests (1994) and one nest (1993) was occupied and at its height between October and December when 21&#8211;24 nests were occupied. The clutch is one, weighing 2.00 g, which is ~20% of average adult weight, and is incubated by both parents. Replacement of lost eggs or young took a minimum of 6&#8211;43 days and a maximum of 13&#8211;64 days. Adults moulted while breeding. Fledging occurred in 67&#8211;74 days. Nestlings were fed 1&#8211;8 times a day, with parents never remaining at the nest for more than 5 minutes. Hatching success rate was 77% and the fledging success rate was 61%. 
