Inter-annual variation in avian phenology and reproductive success in a semiarid agricultural area of central Mexico

Abstract

Knowledge pertaining avian reproductive phenology and life history is important to understand population dynamics under current climate change. Understanding about changes that occur in these dynamics and factors influencing nesting success in modified habitats is also necessary. We studied reproductive phenology and nest characteristics of birds that nest in an agricultural area within an arid region of central Mexico, and evaluated changes in survival and nesting initiation throughout three years having variation in weather patterns. We registered more nests and greater avian reproductive success in years having the highest rainfall. Within years, nest survival increased as nest age advanced and with increasing nest height in some species. We observed lower incidence of nest parasitism in the agroecosystem in relation to those reported for less modified habitats in semiarid environments. We also observed cases of ectoparasitism by dipteran larvae in chicks of two bird species.