Out of sight but not out of mind: corvids prey extensively on eggs of burrow-nesting penguins
Kasun B. Ekanayake A C , Duncan R. Sutherland B , Peter Dann B and Michael A. Weston A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Deakin University, Geelong, Australia. School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, (Burwood Campus). 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Vic. 3125, Australia.
B Research Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Cowes, Vic. 3922, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: kbekanay@deakin.edu.au
Wildlife Research 42(6) 509-517 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR15108
Submitted: 18 May 2015 Accepted: 14 September 2015 Published: 28 October 2015
Abstract
Context: Egg depredation is a major cause of reproductive failure among birds and can drive population declines. In this study we investigate predatory behaviour of a corvid (little raven; Corvus mellori) that has only recently emerged, leading to widespread and intense depredation of eggs of a burrow-nesting seabird (little penguin; Eudyptula minor).
Aims: The main objective of this study was to measure the rate of penguin egg depredation by ravens to determine potential threat severity. We also examined whether penguin burrow characteristics were associated with the risk of egg depredation. Ravens generally employ two modes of predatory behaviour when attacking penguin nests; thus we examined whether burrow characteristics were associated with these modes of attack.
Methods: Remote-sensing cameras were deployed on penguin burrows to determine egg predation rates. Burrow measurements, including burrow entrance and tunnel characteristics, were measured at the time of camera deployment.
Key results: Overall, clutches in 61% of monitored burrows (n = 203) were depredated by ravens, the only predator detected by camera traps. Analysis of burrow characteristics revealed two distinct types of burrows, only one of which was associated with egg depredation by ravens. Clutches depredated by ravens had burrows with wider and higher entrances, thinner soil or vegetation layer above the egg chamber, shorter and curved tunnels and greater areas of bare ground and whitewash near entrances. In addition, 86% were covered by bower spinach (Tetragonia implexicoma), through which ravens could excavate. Ravens used two modes to access the eggs: they attacked through the entrance (25% of burrow attacks, n = 124); or dug a hole through the burrow roof (75% of attacks, n = 124). Burrows that were subject to attack through the entrance had significantly shorter tunnels than burrows accessed through the roof.
Conclusions: The high rates of clutch loss recorded here highlight the need for population viability analysis of penguins to assess the effect of egg predation on population growth rates.
Implications: The subterranean foraging niche of a corvid described here may have implications for burrow-nesting species worldwide because many corvid populations are increasing, and they exhibit great capacity to adopt new foraging strategies to exploit novel prey.
Additional keywords: egg predator, burrow-nest, camera trap, Corvus mellori, Eudyptula minor, foraging niche.
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