Date of breeding of the starling Sturnus vulgaris in New Zealand is related to El Niño Southern Oscillation

Abstract

Weather and climatic conditions may impact on the timing of breeding in birds. We examined changes in the laying date of the starling Sturnus vulgaris at Lower Hutt, New Zealand in the period 1970-2003 and investigated possible relationships with the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Laying dates (expressed both as first and modal dates for the local population) were significantly delayed over the study period, i.e. starlings tended to lay later. The timing of breeding was non-linearly related to ENSO, with early laying associated with both low and high values of ENSO. We suggest that changes in laying dates varied with food availability, which fluctuated according to climatic events. © 2006 Ecological Society of Australia.