Variation in song: causes and consequences

In our 36 climatized aviaries we keep pairs of great tits under different temperature conditions to investigate how ambient temperature affects the timing of egg laying. This setup gives us the unique opportunity to also look into song behaviour of independent males under standardized conditions. Little is known so far about singing behaviour in great tits. We are able to profit from our computer controlled song recording and to relate the acoustic data to measurements on reproductive development and egg laying that are done in the scope of the PhD project by Sonja Schaper. Our birds have been hand-raised and song tutored in spring 2008.

Possible research questions:

• Do male great tits differ in song learning?
• Does song reflect reproductive development?
• Does temperature affect singing?
• Does singing affect the time of laying?

We offer you:

• Climatized aviairies with computer controlled song recording (Avisoft)
• 36 Pairs of great tits which were song tutored
• Measurement of reproductive development and egg laying under different temperatures

Duration
Spring 2010.

Interested?
Get in touch!

Contact
Marc Naguib, e-mail: m.naguib@nioo.knaw.nl / tel.: +31 (0)26 4791 255 or Sonja Schaper, e-mail: s.schaper@nioo.knaw.nl / tel.: +31 (0)26 4791 248.