The reproductive capacity of Monk Parakeets Myiopsitta monachus is higher in their invasive range

Breeding parameters for Monk Parakeets Myiopsitta monachus nesting in Barcelona, Spain, were collected for 651 nests over five breeding seasons. This invasive population has a high reproductive capacity compared with the species in the native range: fledging success was double, the percentage of pairs attempting second broods three times higher and 55% of first-year birds bred compared with almost zero in South America

Heterospecific nest material kleptoparasitism: observations of grey herons, Ardea cinerea, removing material from the nests of monk parakeets, Myiopsitta monachus

Es produeix cleptoparasitisme quan un individu roba material del niu d'un altre individu. Aquí documentem 69 observacions de bernats pescaires, Ardea cinerea, enduent-se material de nius de cotorretes pitgrises, Myiopsitta monachus. Les observacions van coincidir amb l'època de cria dels bernats pescaires a Barcelona. Vam observar el comportament de múltiples individus durant dos anys en nombrosos nius situats en quatre arbres diferents de nidificació de cotorretes pitgrises, la qual cosa  suggereix que el robatori de material de nidificació per part dels bernats pescaires és prevalent en aquesta població. Els grans nius de les cotorretes pitgrises poden constituir una rica font de material de nidificació més fàcil d'obtenir que en altres llocs. Les nostres observacions se sumen al nombre relativament limitat d'informacions sobre cleptoparasitisme de material de nidificació en ocells silvestres i especialment entre heteroespecífics

Heterospecific nest material kleptoparasitism: observations of grey herons, Ardea cinerea, removing material from the nests of monk parakeets, Myiopsitta monachus

Nest material kleptoparasitism occurs when an individual steals material from another individual's nest. Here we document 69 observations of grey herons, Ardea cinerea, removing nest material from the nests of monk parakeets, Myiopsitta monachus. The observations coincided with the breeding season of grey herons in Barcelona. We observed the behaviour by multiple individuals, across two years, at multiple nests in four different monk parakeet nesting trees, suggesting that theft of nesting material by grey herons is prevalent in this population. The large nests of the monk parakeet may present a rich source of nesting material that is less costly to collect than gathering nest material elsewhere. Our observations add to the relatively limited number of reports of nest material kleptoparasitism in wild birds and especially between heterospecifics.Nest material kleptoparasitism occurs when an individual steals material from another individual's nest. Here we document 69 observations of grey herons, Ardea cinerea, removing nest material from the nests of monk parakeets, Myiopsitta monachus. The observations coincided with the breeding season of grey herons in Barcelona. We observed the behaviour by multiple individuals, across two years, at multiple nests in four different monk parakeet nesting trees, suggesting that theft of nesting material by grey herons is prevalent in this population. The large nests of the monk parakeet may present a rich source of nesting material that is less costly to collect than gathering nest material elsewhere. Our observations add to the relatively limited number of reports of nest material kleptoparasitism in wild birds and especially between heterospecifics.Nest material kleptoparasitism occurs when an individual steals material from another individual's nest. Here we document 69 observations of grey herons, Ardea cinerea, removing nest material from the nests of monk parakeets, Myiopsitta monachus. The observations coincided with the breeding season of grey herons in Barcelona. We observed the behaviour by multiple individuals, across two years, at multiple nests in four different monk parakeet nesting trees, suggesting that theft of nesting material by grey herons is prevalent in this population. The large nests of the monk parakeet may present a rich source of nesting material that is less costly to collect than gathering nest material elsewhere. Our observations add to the relatively limited number of reports of nest material kleptoparasitism in wild birds and especially between heterospecifics