THE USE AND FUNCTION OF GREEN NEST MATERIAL BY WOOD STORKS

Abstract

ABSTRACr.-Wood Storks (Mycteria americana) add greenery to their nests prior to egg deposition, and new additions decrease as the nestlings mature and develop self-thermoregulation at 1-2 weeks of age. With time, the accumulated nest greenery becomes coated with guano and matted down to conform to and line the inner surface of the nest. Wood Storks use many plant species to line their nests. We demonstrate that the greenery functions to insulate nest contents in a rather porous, twig structure. Nest greenery probably does not function to repel nest ectoparasites of Wood Storks. Received 5 Oct. 1987, accepted 25 Feb. 1988.