[va-bird] Re: Cicadas and birds

on 4/26/04 5:09 AM, Clapp Roger at Clapp.Roger@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

In one nest where 5 EABLs fledged recently there were the remains of at
least 4, possibly 5 cicada, in the nesting material.  One had its head
missing and the others were either squished or partial.  Mostly the abdomens
seemed intact!
We will be looking more closely the next time.  There certainly are plenty
of cicada in the no. VA area for food.

Barbara Chambers

> Back during the 1996 foray I assembled a number of observations on use of
> cicadas by birds and eventually hope to put together a summary paper listing
> known use and so on.  Cicada irruptions are often accompanied by much
> increased nesting success for birds.  Off the top of my head I think it has
> been shown that it increases productivity in Eastern Bluebirds, Red-winged
> Blackbirds, and cuckoos and doubtless others for which data have not been
> gathered.
> 
> I am interested in not only what is feeding on them, but how they are doing
> it.  Techniques of handling them vary with the size of the bird.  If you
> would be so kind as to post such material during your reports during the
> cicada irruption I would be appreciative.
> 
> Regards
> Roger B. Clapp
> Museum Specialist
> PWRC/USNM
> 
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