Helping at the Nest by Yearling Mississippi Kites
Journal
Raptor Research
Volume
16
Issue
1 (Spring)
Year
1982
Pages
14-17
Section
Scientific Papers
Online Text
Abstract
Helping at the nest by a yearling Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis) was confirmed at 3 nests and strongly indicated at 15 others from nests studied during 1969-79. Helpers incubated, brooded and, most frequently, defended nests. For this species we believe that nest defense is a significant form of helping because predation on nests is a major source of mortality. Circumstantial evidence suggests that helping increases nest success and possibly benefits helpers, but more study is needed.
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