NestBuilding Behaviors and Nest Characteristics of Merops philippinus

Nesting location selection, nestbuilding behaviors and nest characteristics of Blue Tailed Beeeaters(Merops philippinus) were investigated by focal animal sampling method at Lujiang Township by the Nujiang River Valley in Longyang District of Baoshan Municipality, Yunnan Province during April to July of 2007 and during April to June of 2011 respectively. Four nestsites of different populations were observed. The results showed that the nests of Blue Tailed Beeeaters were usually agglomerated in clusters. The central part of the bluffs was preferred for nesting habitat by the early immigrated individuals. The animals began to dig the nesting holes from April 24th of 2011, and the nest building period was about (160±40) days. 66.7% of the nests were built with helper birds. The greater population was inside the same nestsite, the higher proportion of the nests was built with helper birds. Helpers could substantially enhance the excavation progress. The presently used nests were all in straight tunnel type vertical to the cliff, there were elliptical nest rooms in the terminal of the nest holes. The mean diameter of the nest hole entrance was (7.4±1.3) cm (n=124), and the mean depth of the nest holes was (84.3±15.6) cm (n=124). The temperature inside the nest rooms was relatively stable, although the temperature inside the nest hole was greatly different from that of the outside. Rarely there were nesting materials left inside the nest holes.