Nesting Season and Reproductive Rates of Cavity Nesting Birds of North Louisiana

Data on cavity and intermediate cavity nesting species of birds of northern Louisiana were collected over seven consecutive nesting seasons extending through July, 1969. More than 1200 active nests of 28 different species of birds were observed. The number of each species represented, clutch size, brood size and related reproductive information is given. Nesting began in February and continued into August. The peak of the nesting season was late April and early May. Although most of the nests were located in the vicinity of Ruston, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, significant numbers were found in other parishes of northern Louisiana. The species represented in this study include every cavity nester known to breed in north Louisiana with the exceptions of the red-cockaded woodpecker (Dendrocopos borealis), white-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis), tree swallow (Iridoprocne bicolor), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) and barn owl (Tyto alba), which, according to Lowery (Louisiana Birds. Louisiana State Univ. Press. 567 pp., 1960), nest or have nested in the state. Cavity nests, as described herein, are those nests completely enclosed except for a rather small entrance to the nest site, whereas, intermediate cavity nests include partially enclosed nests. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Two or three days a week were used to search for, observe and recheck nests from late February through early August in each of the seven nesting seasons. When needed, ladders, tree spikes, ropes and other equipment were used as aids in examining nests. During the 1968-69 nesting season, 100 5 X 5 X 12 in wooden bird boxes, nailed at 6-20 feet in trees in pastures, along edges and in woods, were observed on Louisiana Tech University land near Ruston. In addition, during 1969 in north Louisiana, 60 duck nest boxes were observed at D'Arbonne Lake and Coulee State Wildlife Refuge. Nests were identified primarily by observing the adult bird on or near the nest. Less than 5% of the nests were identified by nest construction or by egg identification. DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA. North Louisiana is within the deciduous forest biome. Mixed hardwoods occur in the moist bottoms and hardwoods with pines occur