[birdky] Carolina wren mating strategies

Hi,
I'm a graduate student at Western Kentucky University who is studying Carolina 
wrens and their mating strategy. Most of our songbirds form pair bonds every 
spring and attempt to raise a clutch or two of young together. Scientists used 
to think that those pair bonds were monogamous and that within each breeding 
season the birds were faithful to their mate. However, within the past decade 
or two, scientists have realized that in reality there is alot of cheating 
going on with most species. Carolina wrens are one of the few exceptions. DNA 
testing has shown that Carolina wrens are both socially and genetically 
monogamous -- in other words they don't cheat.

I'm interested in studying why Carolina wrens don't cheat. If almost every 
other species cheats then that tends to indicate that there must be an 
advantage for birds to cheat on their mates. So what's different about Carolina 
wrens? Why is something that is apparently beneficial to almost every other 
species of songbird, not beneficial to Carolina wrens? Why are they truly 
monogamous when most songbirds only appear to be? Those are the types of 
questions that I'm interested in studying. My thesis research will be looking 
at two possible answers to those questions.

If possible, I would like to conduct my research using "backyard" wrens in 
Warren, Simpson, and Barren counties. By the end of August, I plan to capture 
and color band 15 pairs of Carolina wrens. Over the next year I will be 
conducting monthly behavioral observations of each pair of wrens. I will also 
be asking the backyard owners to conduct what I call "opportunistic 
observations." Basically, if you happen to see the birds, then I'll ask you to 
record what they are doing, who they are with, where they are in your backyard, 
just simple stuff like that. Those observations will be done whenever it is 
convenient to you and you happen to see the birds, so there won't be a huge 
time commitment on your part. However, if you want to do lots of opportunistic 
observations -- wonderful! The more data I have, the more complete of a picture 
I can get of what the wrens are doing and why they may be doing that. If you 
don't have time to do many opportunistic observations, that's fine too. I know 
we've all got busy schedules and other time commitments. That's why I'll be 
doing the monthly observations.

If you have a pair of Carolina wrens living in your yard that you might be 
willing to let me study or you are interested in learning more about my 
research, please contact me off list. I'll be happy to answer any questions 
that you have. Thanks in advance for your help.

Happy birding and have a great day!
Shannon Trimboli
Franklin, KY (Simpson County)
WKU graduate student
shannontrimboli@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
shannon.trimboli@xxxxxxx

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