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Project properties |
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| Title | Do helpers-at-the-nest reduce the chance of cuckoo parasitism? |
| Group | Behavioural Ecology |
| Project type | thesis |
| Credits | 30-36 |
| Supervisor(s) | Sjouke Anne Kingma
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| Examiner(s) | Marc Naguib |
| Contact info | sjouke.kingma@wur.nl |
| Begin date | 2020/03/10 |
| End date | 2030/03/10 |
| Description | One commonly proposed benefit of group living of birds is that individuals in groups are better to prevent cuckoos laying an egg in their nest. However, direct study and evidence of this hypothesis is rare. In Eswatini, we study a population of babblers that are commonly parasitized by cuckoos – this study will reveal whether helpers can prevent cuckoo parasitism, for example by using song playback and nest observations. |
| Used skills | Fieldwork, behaviour observations, radio-tracking |
| Requirements | The fieldwork takes place in the savanna of Eswatini in Southern Africa; an adventurous attitude is an advantage: the fieldsite is beautiful but remote and accommodation is basic. |