📚 The famous “paper”!
Take a look at our scientific articles, the result of our research throughout our professional and academic careers. These works have been published in specialized journals, and best of all, most of them take a pluralistic approach.
(if you cannot download it, contact us and we will send it to you)
2025. Uso de nidos de Myiopsitta monachus por Falco sparverius en el centro de Argentina
Use of Monk Parakeet Nests by American Kestrels in Central Argentina
🪶 Did you know that the American Kestrel (F. sparverius) often uses the communal nests of the Monk (M. monachus) or breeding?
During three breeding seasons in the Caldén forest (La Pampa):
✅ We recorded 74 nesting attempts of American Kestrels in 49 natural cavities.
✅ 74.3% occurred in Monk Parakeet nests, 10.8% in excavated cavities, 9.5% in non-excavated cavities, and 5.4% in Brown Cacholote nests (Pseudoseisura lophotes))
✅ Monk Parakeet nests were reused in 93.8% of the cases; in 87% of these, the parakeets were still occupying other chambers of the same nest.
📈 We found no relationship between cavity reuse and physical characteristics such as orientation, depth, or entrance area.
🌳 Monk Parakeet nests were located both in native trees (mostly caldén) and in artificial structures (poles, antennas).
⚠️ These results suggest that the Monk Parakeet acts as an ecosystem engineer, creating key nesting opportunities for the American Kestrel.
🤝 Cohabitation appears to be tolerated by both species and may involve a facultative mutualism.
📢 This study highlights the importance of interspecific interactions in the nesting ecology of raptors and raises new questions about the benefits and risks associated with the reuse of communal nests.
📖 Link to the article HERE
Authors López FG, Berkunsky I, Rebollo ME & Grande JM
Scientific journal:: Journal of Raptor Research
2025. Un marco para compartir el poder en los equipos de investigación y promover la justicia en la publicación científica
A framework for sharing power in research teams and promoting justice in scientific publication
📚 Did you know that the way we organize authorship and editorial processes can reproduce historical injustices?
Between 2023 and 2025, it was proposed:
✅ A special collection on the ecology and conservation of cavity-nesting birds in the Neotropics
✅ A collective working model based on sociocracy and consent-based decision-making
✅ Equitable processes to define authorship, promote the citation of regional literature, and reflect on epistemic justice
🌎 We were 37 authors, 86% affiliated with institutions in Latin America or the Caribbean.
📊 All first authors were affiliated with institutions in the Neotropics
⚠️ Despite the efforts, structural barriers persisted: the hegemony of English, editorial priorities misaligned with the region, and the historical exclusion of local knowledge and voices
📢 We invite scientific teams to adopt collective, just, and welcoming structures to transform scientific practice from within
📖 Link to the article HERE
Authors: Cockle KL, Cuatianquiz-Lima C, Núñez Montellano MG, Bonaparte EB, Zaffignani D, Juncosa Polzella AS, Radi B, Ferreira-Xavier HD, da Hora JS, Di Sallo FG, Soto-Patiño J, López FG, Zulian V, Miño CI, Pérez M, Norris AR, Schaufler ML & grupo ornitologíaS
Scientific journal: Ornithological Applications
2025. El comercio ilegal de aves silvestres en una red social: un llamado a la acción desde Argentina
The illegal trade of wild birds in a social network: A call for action from Argentina
🦜Did you know that wild birds are being sold illegally on Facebook?
Between 2017 and 2023, we detected:
✅ Over 154,000 users involved
✅ Over 200 active groups in Argentina
✅ 67 species offered for sale
🚨 Including 3 threatened species (IUCN): Yellow Cardinal, Saffron-cowled Blackbird, and Turquoise-fronted Amazon
📉 and 14 species with decreasing populations (IUCN)
⚠️ The illegal trade of birds remains active and visible on social media, despite bans and laws. Over 60% of the groups were public
📢 We call for urgent and coordinated action among authorities, digital platforms, and civil society to stop this environmental crime
📖 Link to the article HERE
Authors López FG, Rebollo ME, Santillán MÁ, Berkunsky I, Copper NW, Tella JL & Grande JM.
Scientific journal: Ornithological Applications
2024. Restauración del hábitat para el Cardenal Amarillo (Gubernatrix cristata) en peligro de extinción: un tratamiento forestal sin afectar a la diversidad de aves en el centro de Argentina
Habitat restoration for the endangered Yellow Cardinal (Gubernatrix cristata): a forest treatment without affecting bird diversity at the center of Argentina
🌳 Did you know it's possible to improve the Yellow Cardinal's habitat without harming other bird species?
Between 2020 and 2022, we evaluated:
✅ A selective mechanical shrub removal treatment to open the understory in Espinal forests (La Pampa)
✅ We used 30 sampling points: 20 in control sites and 10 in treated sites
✅ We conducted fixed-point survey to assess the bird community.
📈 We found that:
✅ Yellow Cardinal abundance was significantly higher in treated sites
📊 Species richness, total abundance, and bird diversity did not differ between treated and control sites
🟡 The Yellow Cardinal is an endangered species, threatened by habitat loss and illegal trafficking
⚠️ Understory opening using machinery proved effective in improving the habitat of this species without affecting the bird community
📢 We recommend considering this type of forest management as a conservation tool, accompanied by long-term monitoring and institutional coordination.
📖 Link to the article HERE
Authors Rebollo ME, Reyes MM, Santillán MÁ, López FG, Galmes MA, Díaz Peñalba P, Luque Romero IM, Bragagnolo LA, Liébana MS & Grande JM
Scientific journal: Journal of Ornithology
2024. Ecología y conservación de las aves que anidan en cavidades en el Neotrópico: avances recientes, direcciones futuras y contribuciones a la ornitología
Ecology and conservation of cavity-nesting birds in the Neotropics: Recent advances, future directions, and contributions to ornithology
🪵 Did you know that over 35% of all cavity-nesting bird species live in the Neotropics?
In this review, we evaluated:
📚 Advances since 2008 in the study of cavity-nesting birds in the Neotropics
✅ Current knowledge on reproductive biology, cavity competition, and types of available cavities
✅ The relevance of non-excavated cavities as a primary nesting resource
✅ The interaction between human communities, forest management, and cavity availability
🔍 We found that:
✅ Most of the cavities used are the result of wood decomposition
🧠 Indigenous and local community knowledge is key to understanding bird–human relationships
🌎 Social, ecological, and cultural factors must be integrated into a socio-ecological systems approach
⚠️ Global lists of cavity-nesting species contain errors for the Neotropics
📦 We propose reviewing those lists, valuing regional naturalist knowledge, and expanding the concept of “nest networks.”
📢 We call for a more inclusive and regionally relevant ornithology—one that incorporates natural history, local knowledge, and diverse field studies
📖 Link to the article HERE
Authors: Bonaparte EB, Cuatianquiz Lima C, Ferreira-Xavier HD, da Hora JS, Di Sallo FG, López FG, Cockle KL & Núñez Montellano MG
Scientific journal: Ornithological Applications
2024. Disponibilidad, características y usuarios potenciales de cavidades arbóreas en el bosque semiárido del centro de Argentina
Tree cavities and cavity users in two caldén forests of Argentina managed as a protected area or for cattle ranching
🌳 Did you know that many birds and mammals depend on tree cavities to survive?
Between 2013 and 2014, we studied two types of Calden forest:
✅ A protected area (Parque Luro Reserve) and a cattle ranch (Estancia La Tapera)
✅ We found 257 cavities in 16 hectares, with an average density of 16.1 cavities/ha
✅ The reserve had 4 times more cavities than the cattle ranch! (19.5 vs. 5.8 cavities/ha)
🕊️ We recorded 44 cavity-using species (35 birds and 9 mammals)
📉 6 species have globally declining populations
⚠️ Livestock grazing and the absence of fire reduce the number of available cavities
🚨 Species that nest or take shelter in cavities could be severely affected if the degradation of these forests continues
📢 We call for the implementation of forest management practices that conserve these critical habitats and promote biodiversity
📖 Link to the article HERE
Authors López FG, Rebollo ME, Bragagnolo LA, Santillán MA, Orozco Valor PM, Pizzarello G, Berkunsky I & Grande JM
Scientific journal: Journal of Arid Environments
2023. Estructura del grupo familiar del Cardenal Amarillo (Gubernatrix cristata) en peligro de extinción
Family group structure of the endangered Yellow Cardinal (Gubernatrix cristata)
👨👩👦 Did you know that some Yellow Cardinal families can include more than two adults?
During the 2020–2021 breeding season in La Pampa:
✅ We conducted 280 surveys in habitats of the Espinal and Monte regions
✅ We recorded 87 individuals: 11 solitary birds, 12 pairs, and 13 family groups
🔍 We also analyzed 1,646 citizen science records from eBird, ArgentiNat, and EcoRegistros
📈 We found that:
✅ Two family groups (8%) were composed of two adult males, one female, and at least one juvenile
📊 This social structure was not recorded in citizen science platforms
🧬 These cases may correspond to cooperative breeding systems or polyandrous groups
🟡 The Yellow Cardinal is an endangered species, severely threatened by habitat loss and illegal trade
⚠️ This family structure may benefit reproductive success, but genetic and behavioral studies are needed to confirm it
📢 We propose considering this social variability in future management plans and exploring the possibility of releasing male groups with a female, within a framework of adaptive management and field monitoring
📖 Link to the article HERE
Authors Rebollo ME, López FG, Lapido R, Bragagnolo LA, Díaz Peñalba P, Reyes MM, Orozco Valor PM, Santillán MA, Galmes MA, Luque Romero IM, Liébana MS & Grande JM
Scientific journal: Avian Biology Research
2023. Ornitología neotropical: reconociendo supuestos históricos, eliminando las barreras sistémicas y reimaginando el futuro
Neotropical ornithology: Reckoning with historical assumptions, removing systemic barriers, and reimagining the future
🌎 Did you know that ornithological science in the Neotropics has historically been shaped from outside the region?
In this paper, we analyze:
📚 Advances in Neotropical ornithology despite patterns of exclusion
✅ Current strengths: local programs, citizen science, Indigenous knowledge, and regional research networks
🧭 The systemic barriers that hinder the advancement of ornithology in the region:
👉 limited funding
👉 exclusion of leadership roles
👉 English hegemony and citation bias
👉 colonial academic structures
🔍 We propose:
✅ Adopting collectively governed and regionally led models
✅ Prioritizing epistemic justice and the active participation of local communities
🤝 Moving beyond parachute science and recognizing the value of knowledge generated in the Global South
⚠️ Ornithology will not advance unless historical inequalities in knowledge production are transformed
📢 We invite a deep and anticolonial transformation of the discipline—one that democratizes scientific agendas and acknowledges the diversity of the Neotropics
📖 Link to the article HERE
Authors: Soares L, Cockle KL, Ruelas Inzunza E, Ibarra JT, Miño CI, Zuluaga S, Bonaccorso E, Ríos-Orjuela JC, Montaño-Centellas FA, Freile JF, López FG, Rebollo ME nd over 80 co-authors from Latin America and the Caribbean
Scientific journal: Ornithological Applications
2022. Biología reproductiva del Coludito Copetón (Leptasthenura platensis) en cajas nido en el centro de Argentina
Reproductive biology of the Tufted Tit-Spinetail (Leptasthenura platensis) in nest boxes in central Argentina.
📦 Did you know that the Tufted Tit-Spinetail can successfully reproduce in artificial nest boxes?
During three breeding seasons in the Calden forest (2010–2013):
✅ We monitored between 82 and 101 boxes per season, every 1 to 3 days.
✅ We analyzed variables such as occupancy, nesting success, clutch size, and sex ratio
📈 Results:
✅ 10.6% of the boxes were occupied by Tufted Tit-Spinetail
✅ The reproductive cycle lasted 33 days, with an incubation period of 14.2 days and a nestling period of 13.6 days.
📊 Average clutch size: 3.41 eggs | Fledglings per successful nest: 2.78
📈 Daily nest survival rate: 98.3% | Nesting success: 56.9%
⚖️ The sex ratio was balanced (15 males, 15 females)
⚠️ Pine and PVC boxes were used more frequently than Calden boxes, indicating that box type influences occupancy
📢 This work expands our knowledge of the natural history of the Tufted Tit-Spinetail and highlights the value of nest boxes as a tool for studying and conserving cavity-using species
📖 Link to the article HERE
Authors Rebollo ME, Bragagnolo LA, Santillán MA, López FG, Orozco-Valor PM, Reyes MM & Grande JM
Scientific journal: El Hornero
2022. Ecología alimentaria de dos papamoscas migratorios australes neotropicales en hábitats con y sin ganado durante la época de cría en el centro de Argentina
Dietary ecology of two migrant flycatchers in habitats with and without cattle during the breeding season in central Argentina
🪰 Did you know that livestock grazing can influence the diet and reproductive success of insectivorous migratory birds?
Between 2015 and 2019, we studied:
✅ Two species of flycatchers: the Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) and the Fork-Tailed Fly catcher (Tyrannus savana)
✅ Grazed and ungrazed habitats in the Espinal region (La Pampa)
✅ Diet analysis using fecal samples and prey abundance assessment through sweep transects
📈 We found that:
✅ Both species primarily consumed hymenopterans and coleopterans; the Fork-tailed Flycatcher also consumed orthopterans
✅ Vermilion Flycatchers had lower reproductive success in sites with higher numbers of hemipterans
✅ Fork-tailed Flycatchers showed higher reproductive success in areas with greater coleopteran abundance
⚠️ Prey abundance was higher in the reserve without livestock
🍽️ Both species selected certain prey groups over their environmental availability
📢 Livestock grazing alters food availability and influences the reproduction of these birds. It is essential to consider these effects in conservation planning
📖 Link to the article HERE
Authors Rebollo ME, Jahn AE, Stella CA, Pérez-Rodríguez L, López FG, Sarasola JH & Cereghetti J
Scientific journal: Journal of Arid Environments
2021. Registro más austral del milano tijereta Elanoides forficatus
The most austral record of Swallow tailed kite Elanoides forficatus
🧭 Did you know that the Swallow-tailed Kite was observed farther south than previously known for the species?
📍 On December 23, 2020, we recorded:
✅ A Swallow-tailed Kite flying over grasslands near Pehuen-Có, Buenos Aires Province (38°59’00.4”S, 61°33’06.4”W)
✅ It was attacked by a Chimango CaracaraMilvago chimango) while flying over dunes with scattered trees
📸 We obtained photographic evidence of the event
📈 This record represents:
✅ The southernmost known record for the species worldwide
✅ An extension of its range at least 130 km south of the previous known record (Necochea)
⚠️ This event provides new data on interspecific interactions of the Swallow-tailed Kite and its occasional presence in southern Argentina.
📢 We recommend continuing observation and recording efforts to detect patterns of range expansion, dispersal, or occasional migration in the Pampas region
📖 Link to the article HERE
Authors López FG & Rebollo ME
Scientific journal: Cotinga
2021. Biometría, condición corporal, estado reproductivo y muda de Tyrannus s. savana en el centro de Argentina
Biometrics, body condition, reproductive status, and molt of Tyrannus s. savana in central Argentina
🪶 Did you know that the Fork-tailed Flycatcher shows marked sex differences in size and condition during the breeding season?
During three breeding seasons (2015–2018) in the Pampean Espinal
✅ We captured and banded 96 individuals of Tyrannus s. savana (43 males, 42 females, 11 unsexed)
✅ We measured biometrics, body condition, reproductive status, and molt
✅ Sex was determined by plumage or through molecular methods in the laboratory
📈 Results:
✅ Males were larger than females in weight, wing length, and tail length
✅ Most adults showed low fat accumulation, intermediate muscle development, and minimal plumage wear.
✅ The incubation patch was highly developed in females, while the cloacal protuberance was small in males
🪺 Flight feather molt was generally absent during the breeding season
⚠️ We detected interannual variation in fat accumulation and feather wear, possibly linked to environmental conditions
📉 As the breeding season progressed, adult body weight decreased and development of the incubation patch increased
📢 This study expands our knowledge of a migratory species’ biology and highlights the need to continue monitoring southern populations in the face of climate change
📖 Link to the article HERE
Authors Rebollo ME, Jahn AE, Cereghetti J, Pérez-Rodríguez L & Sarasola JH
Scientific journal: Ornitología Colombiana
2021. La condición corporal del Churrinche (Pyrocephalus rubinus) en reproducción varía entre zonas con y sin ganadería en el centro de Argentina
Body condition of breeding Vermillion Flycatchers (Pyrocephalus rubinus) varies between areas with and without cattle ranching in central Argentina
🪶 Did you know that livestock grazing can affect the physical condition of migratory birds such as the Vermilion Flycatcher?
Between 2015 and 2019 in the Pampean Espinal:
✅ We captured and banded 93 Vermilion Flycatchers at three sites: one nature reserve and two cattle ranches
✅ We measured biometrics, body fat, and reproductive traits
✅ We calculated body condition indices and analyzed their relationship with sex, age, date, and habitat type
📈 Results:
✅ Females weighed more and accumulated more fat than males
✅ No differences were found by age, date, or year.
⚠️ The only factor explaining body condition was the site: it was significantly lower at one of the cattle ranches
📢 This study suggests that livestock grazing may affect the physiological condition of the Vermilion Flycatcher. Protected areas appear to offer better conditions for its reproduction
📖 Link to the article HERE
Authors Rebollo ME, Sarasola JH, Jahn AE & Cereghetti J
Scientific journal: Ornitología Neotropical
2021. No es una tendencia global: la latitud no influye en la orientación cardinal de las cavidades excavadas por aves en el hemisferio sur
Latitude does not influence cavity entrance orientation of South American avian excavators
🧭 Did you know that, unlike in the Northern Hemisphere, excavating birds in the south do not orient their cavities based on latitude?
We analyzed:
✅ 1,501 cavities excavated by 25 bird species (mainly woodpeckers)
✅ Data collected across 12 ecoregions from 15°S to 55°S
✅ We applied circular Bayesian mixed models and multi-model analysis.
📈 Results:
✅ No relationship was found between latitude and cavity orientation
📊 Cavity orientations were diverse: 5 ecoregions showed bimodal patterns, 4 unimodal, and 3 uniform
✅ In several cases, the models showed high uncertainty regarding the predominant pattern
⚠️ These results contrast with those from the Northern Hemisphere, where equator-facing patterns are commonly observed
🌎 Local factors (wind, vegetation cover, topography) and oceanic influence may explain the variability observed in South America
📢 We propose reanalyzing Northern Hemisphere patterns using multi-model approaches and considering local environmental variables when studying cavity orientation at a global scale
📖 Link to the article HERE
Authors: Ojeda V, Schaaf A, Altamirano TA, Bonaparte B, Bragagnolo LA, Chazarreta L, Cockle K, Dias R, Di Sallo F, Ibarra JT, Ippi S, Jauregui A, Jiménez JE, Lammertink M, López FG, Núñez Montellano MG, de la Peña M, Rivera L, Vivanco C, Santillán M & Politi N
Scientific journal: Ornithology
2020. Síntesis de la historia ornitológica de la provincia de La Pampa, Argentina
A synthesis of the ornithological history of La Pampa province, Argentina
📜 Did you know that the first records of birds in La Pampa (excluding rock art) date back to the early 19th century?
In this systematic review, we analyzed:
✅ 225 references published between 1806 and 2020
✅ Classified by publication type and topic (ecology, conservation, distribution, methodologies, etc.)
✅ Distributed across four historical periods:
1️⃣ Early contributions (1808–1879)
2️⃣ Traveling naturalists and old-school scientists (1880–1959)
3️⃣ Beginnings of modern science (1960–1999)
4️⃣ New millennium (2000–2020)
📈 Main findings:
✅ Since 2000, there has been an exponential increase in ornithological scientific output in La Pampa
✅ Institutions, methods, and forms of outreach diversified
✅ The category “natural history and ecology” was the most frequent (44% of the publications)
🧠 Participation in citizen science and interinstitutional collaboration also increased
⚠️ The Pampas region has undergone significant environmental changes affecting bird populations
📦 The province has a low percentage of protected areas and faces conservation challenges
📢 This historical synthesis helps us understand how bird studies evolved in La Pampa and outlines a clear path for future research, management, and conservation
📖 Link to the article HERE
Authors López FG, Rebollo ME & Santillán MÁ
Scientific journal: Revista Chilena de Ornitología
2020. Selección del lugar de nidificación y éxito reproductor de dos aves migratorias neotropicales australes en un bosque semiárido: Una comparación de lugares con y sin ganado
Nest-site selection and breeding success of two neotropical austral migrant birds in a semiarid forest: A comparison of sites with and without livestock
🪶 Did you know that livestock grazing can influence the reproductive success of some migratory birds, but not necessarily their nest site selection?
During two breeding seasons (2015–2017) in the Pampean Espinal (La Pampa):
✅ We studied two migratory species: the Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) and the Fork-Tailed Fly catcher (Tyrannus savana)
✅ We compared sites with and without livestock grazing (a reserve and two ranches)
✅ We evaluated nest site selection at micro- and macro-scales, and reproductive success
📈 Results:
✅ The Vermilion Flycatcher selected sites with greater tree cover, while the Fork-tailed Flycatcher chose taller plants with thinner trunks
✅ Reproductive success was low: 12.7% in Vermilion Flycatchers and 28.7% in Fork-tailed Flycatchers.
⚠️ Vermilion Flycatcher reproductive success was lower in grazed sites, while Fork-tailed Flycatcher success did not vary
🌬️ For Fork-tailed Flycatchers, nests oriented east had higher survival, possibly due to protection from strong wind
📢 Although both species use diverse habitats, livestock grazing may reduce Vermilion Flycatcher success, and the structural heterogeneity of nature reserves seems to favor its reproduction
📖 Link to the article HERE
Authors Rebollo ME, Jahn AE, Cereghetti J, Pereyra Fernández SA & Sarasola JH
Scientific journal: Journal of Arid Environments
2018. Primera registro del Loro Barranquero (Cyanoliseus patagonus) anidando en cavidades arbóreas
First report of Burrowing Parrot (Cyanoliseus patagonus) nesting in tree cavities
🌳 Did you know that the Burrowing Parrot, which usually nests in cliffs, has been observed nesting in trees?
During the 2016–2017 breedinf season at Parque Luro (La Pampa):
✅ We documented two nesting attempts in cavities of live Calden trees.
✅ The cavities were located between 3.1 and 5.3 meters high
✅ At one of the nests, we observed three successfully fledged young
📈 This is the first documented record of the species using tree cavities as a nesting substrate
📊 The scarcity of cliffs in the area and the presence of a colony of Blue-crowned Parakeet (Thectocercus acuticaudatus) may have favored this behavior
⚠️ The species showed flexibility in nest site selection, which could have implications for its reproductive ecology in cliff-less environments
📢 This finding suggests that the Burrowing Parakeet could adapt to new breeding substrates and highlights the importance of Calden forests as alternative habitat.
📖 Link to the article HERE
Authors López FG, Grande JM, Berkunsky I, Santillán MA & Rebollo ME
Scientific journal: Ornitología Neotropical
2018. Registros de Halcón Negro Grande en zonas urbanas del noroeste de Argentina
Records of Orange-breasted Falcons in Urban and Suburban Areas of Northwestern Argentina
🏙️ Did you know that a rare raptor for Argentina was observed in urban areas of the northern part of the country?
In 2016, we recorded:
✅ Observaciones regulares de Halcón Negro Grande (Falco deiroleucus) en las localidades de Palma Sola (Jujuy) y San José de Metán (Salta)
✅ The records were made during winter, in urban and peri-urban environments surrounded by crops and remnants of piedmont forest
✅ We observed the birds perched, in flight, and feeding on prey such as pigeons and thrushes
📈 This pattern suggests:
✅ Seasonal altitudinal movements from montane forests to lowland areas during winter
✅ Possible use of urban areas as foraging sites, taking advantage of high prey availability
⚠️ The Orange-breasted Falcon is a rare species typically associated with mature Neotropical forests
🌆 These observations suggest greater ecological flexibility than previously thought
📢 It is necessary to investigate the factors driving these movements and assess the potential risks and opportunities that urban areas present for the species
📖 Link to the article HERE
Authors: Grande JM, Strelkov C & López FG
Scientific journal: Journal of Raptor Research
2017. Parámetros reproductivos de la Loro Hablador (Amazona aestiva) en el bosque seco chaqueño
Reproductive parameters of the Turquoise-fronted Parrot (Amazona aestiva) in the dry Chaco forest
🦜 Did you know that the Blue-fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva) can lay up to 6 eggs and successfully breed in extreme environments of the Chaco?
During five seasons (2002–2006) at the Loro Hablador Provincial Park:
✅ We monitored 98 active nests in a protected dry forest in the Chaco
✅ We estimated clutch size, hatching success, fledging success, and brood reduction
✅ We measured eggs, survival rates, and causes of loss
📈 Results:
✅ Average clutch size: 3.7 eggs | Hatching success: 73% | Fledging success: 88%
✅ Brood reduction was the main cause of chick loss, associated with large and late clutches
📊 On average, each pair produced 0.95 fledglings per season
⚠️ Clutches were highly synchronized, and no replacement attempts were recorded
🌡️ High temperatures could affect incubation and embryo development
🛑 Legal extraction of chicks is conducted at advanced stages, targeting viable individuals, which poses risks to sustainability
📢 This study provides key evidence to review legal harvest models and improve the management of this emblematic species
📖 Link to the article HERE
Authors: Berkunsky I, Segura LN, Ruggera RA, Faegre SIK, Trofino-Falasco C, López FG, Velasco MA, Kacoliris FP, Aramburú RM & Reboreda JC
Scientific journal: Avian Conservation and Ecology
2016. Aportes a la biología reproductiva del Jilguero Dorado (Sicalis flaveola) en cajas-nido de un bosque semiárido del centro de Argentina
Contributions to the breeding biology of the Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola) in nest
boxes in a semi-arid forest in central Argentina
🟡 Did you know that the Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola) can successfully breed in nest boxes placed in dry forests of the Espinal?
During two breeding seasons (2011–2013) in a Calden forest (La Pampa):
✅ We checked 101 nest boxes in 2011/12 and 99 in 2012/13, recording 17 active Saffron Finch nests
✅ We monitored reproductive parameters: clutch size, success, incubation period, and nestling duration
✅ We determined the sex of the nestlings using molecular techniques
📈 Results:
✅ Average clutch size: 4.10 eggs | Incubation: 11.1 days | Nestling period: 14 days
📊 Overall reproductive success: 58.6% | Success per nest: 3.66 nestlings (range: 2–5)
⚖️ Balanced sex ratio: 13 males and 14 females
⚠️ We detected six nestlings with dermatitis caused by mites (Ornithonyssus bursa)
🐭 There was nest predation by rodents (Graomys griseoflavus) and marsupials (Thylamys pallidior)
🦇 We recorded the simultaneous occupation of a nest box by a Southern Yellow Bat (Lasiurus ega)
📢 Despite the low occupancy rate, this study provides valuable data on the reproduction of the Saffron Finch in semi-arid environments and highlights the usefulness of nest boxes as an ecological tool
📖 Link to the article HERE
Authors: Orozco Valor PM, Santillán MA, Bragagnolo LA, Rebollo ME, López FG & Martínez PA
Scientific journal: Revista Chilena de Ornitología
2013. Registros de nidadas de cinco huevos y cinco pichones para el Coludito Copetón (Leptasthenura platensis) en cajas nido, en la provincia de La Pampa, Argentina
Records of five-egg clutches and five nestlings for the Tufted Tit-Spinetail (Leptasthenura platensis) in nest boxes in La Pampa Province, Argentina
🐣 Did you know that the Tufted Tit-Spinetail can successfully raise complete broods of five nestlings in nest boxes?
Between 2005 and 2013, we monitored:
✅ 100 nest boxes installed in a Pampean Calden forest
✅ 58 active nests of Tufted Tit-Spinetail
✅ We identified four five-egg clutches, one of which was completely successful: all five nestlings fledged
📈 Results:
✅ Average occupancy rate: 9.5%
✅ Only 10.8% of complete clutches had five eggs
✅ First documented case of complete reproductive success with five nestlings in a single brood for the species
⚠️ One documented predation case was caused by a White-bellied fat-tailed mouse opossumThylamys pallidior)
📢 These data expand knowledge on the reproductive history of the Tufted Tit-Spinetail and demonstrate the potential of nest boxes to record rare reproductive events in semi-arid environments.
📖 Link to the article HERE
Authors Rebollo ME, Bragagnolo LA, Santillán MA, López FG, Orozco PM & Reyes MM
Scientific journal: Nuestras Aves
