Breeding details of some common birds in south-eastern Australia

Abstract

Details of laying routine, clutch-size, incubation and nestling periods for eighteen species breeding in south-eastern Australia are given, as far as data are available from Swan Vale. near Glen Innes, NSW, and from records in the RAOU Nest Record Scheme. The data are not complete for any species, but are probably enough to outline several problems. of breeding biology in Australia, to show how inadequately breeding details, even of common birds, are known, and thus to encourage the collection of much more badly needed data. Laying routines of forty-eight hours, lack of variation in mean clutch-size over 5–7 degrees of latitude, small clutch-size in some hole-nesting species, a delayed start to incubation and general uncertainties about incubation and nestling periods are the more important problems discussed.