As urbanization increases, the identification of nest predators becomes important for avian conservation and management of urban wildlife communities. We investigated bird nest predation using artificial nests in urban areas of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province of South Africa, questioning whether urban vervet monkey troops may negatively impact local bird populations. From June 2013 through February 2014 we installed seventy-five artificial nests in 25 private gardens in the Ethekwini and Msunduzi municipalities of KZN. Euplectes spp. nests were used, baited with two quail-sized, hand-made, silicon eggs and monitored by camera traps for 2-weeks in winter, spring and summer respectively. Generally, bird nesting occurs throughout the year in KZN’s subtropical climate, with some avoidance during the autumn season. Therefore, experiments were not conducted during autumn, as fresh nests were not available for use.
Results/Conclusions
Overall the rate of predation on artificial nests was 25% (n = 19), with vervet monkeys Ceropithecus aethiops pygerythrus predating 20% (n = 17) of the nests while domestic cats Felis catus predated 3% (n = 2) of the nests. Nest predation was significantly higher in the winter season, with 79% of depredations occurring in winter (n = 15), 16% in spring (n = 3) and 5% in summer (n = 1), and in areas with less canopy cover. Our results suggest that vervet monkeys may have a negative impact on nesting birds in urban environments, however, in order to assess the rate of predation and investigate avian population declines, experiments on natural nests coupled with information on fledgling success is deemed necessary.