Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) use public information for prospecting but not ultimate nest site selection

Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) use public information for prospecting but not ultimate nest site selection | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL Ecology and Evolution This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 12 May 2026 V1 Latest version Share on Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) use public information for prospecting but not ultimate nest site selection Authors : Fatime Jomaa 0009-0006-2455-6793 [email protected] , Cody Pham [email protected] , Eleanor MacDonald [email protected] , Daniel Karp [email protected] [email protected] , and Matthew Johnson [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/authorea.15003220/v1 13 views 6 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract 1. Public information that provides cues about conspecific presence and reproductive success, in addition to information gained through direct environmental sampling, may allow individuals to efficiently assess future breeding site quality. We tested the hypothesis that prospecting Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) use post-breeding public information to select nest sites in agricultural landscapes. We further examined effects of breeder age and local habitat characteristics as well as whether these variables influenced later reproductive success. 2. We installed 200 nest boxes across 10 vineyards in Napa Valley, California USA at the end of the bluebird breeding season. Boxes in five vineyards were assigned an experimental treatment simulating conspecific presence and reproductive success (playback of adult vocalizations and nestling begging, plus old nesting material) or near-treatment (within auditory range of playback), while boxes in five additional vineyards served as unmanipulated controls. Prospecting activity during playback sessions was quantified using video monitoring. Nest box selection, reproductive success, and associated local habitat features were assessed the following breeding season. 3. Prospecting activity was 8.47 times higher at treatment boxes and 2.77 times higher near-treatment boxes relative to control boxes. This response was mediated by local habitat features: visitation was higher at boxes closer to sparse tree patches and treatment effects declined with increasing nearby tree cover. In contrast, nest box occupancy the following year showed no effect of playback treatment and was instead associated with similar habitat variables. Breeder age also did not influence settlement responses to public information, and reproductive success was driven primarily by clutch initiation date rather than age or habitat features. 4. Our results suggest that public information may function as a strong post-breeding recruitment cue but does not directly determine nest site selection in this resident songbird population, where final settlement appears to rely more heavily on direct habitat assessment. Supplementary Material File (ecology & evolution supporting information.docx) ecology & evolution supporting information Download 22.62 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 12 May 2026 Collection Ecology and Evolution Authors Affiliations Fatime Jomaa 0009-0006-2455-6793 [email protected] Cal Poly Humboldt, Arcata, United States, 95521-8222 View all articles by this author Cody Pham [email protected] Cal Poly Humboldt, Arcata, United States, 95521-8222 View all articles by this author Eleanor MacDonald [email protected] Cal Poly Humboldt, Arcata, United States, 95521-8222 View all articles by this author Daniel Karp [email protected] [email protected] Cal Poly Humboldt, Arcata, United States, 95521-8222 View all articles by this author Matthew Johnson [email protected] Cal Poly Humboldt, Arcata, United States, 95521-8222 View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 13 views 6 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Fatime Jomaa, Cody Pham, Eleanor MacDonald, et al. Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) use public information for prospecting but not ultimate nest site selection. Authorea . 12 May 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/authorea.15003220/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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