Updating our knowledge of Purple Martin breeding ecology using nest cameras
Dr. Heather Williams, University of Buffalo
Much of our knowledge about breeding ecology martins (e.g. incubation and provisioning behavior) of purple comes from relatively dated observations of a relatively low number of individuals being observed from outside of nest boxes. The increased availability of nest cameras has revolutionized our ability to document and quantify these naturally cryptic events. We used artificial intelligence-based analyses to quantify incubation attentiveness and provisioning rate in the Purple Martin from nest camera video footage. By linking these behaviors to extrinsic and intrinsic predictors, we found that martins fine tune their incubation attentiveness with respect to temperature, and that provisioning behavior changes through the nestling period.
