Spatio-temporal structure and reproductive success in a Rook (Corvus frugilegus) colony

A study on rook colonies in Hortobágy National Park, Hungary, revealed that while early nesters laid larger clutches and showed breeding synchrony, their reproductive success did not differ from late nesters. However, hatchling survival and offspring number increased with local nest density, suggesting that late nesters benefit from clustering in densely populated areas. The research used spatio-temporal tracking of a 1999 rook colony to analyze nest location choices and breeding timing, showing that rooks exhibit non-random settlement patterns. These findings hint at adaptive strategies in colonial breeding, with potential insights from game theory to further explore the evolutionary significance.

Feró, O., Bán, M., & Barta, Z. (2019). Spatio-temporal structure and reproductive success in a Rook (Corvus frugilegus) colony. Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, 65(1), 31–43. https://doi.org/10.17109/azh.65.1.31.2019