Pine plantations as a breeding habitat for a hole-nesting bird species crested tit (Parus cristatus) in southern Spain

This paper examines the influence of recent pine plantations (Pinus pinea and P. pinaster) in southern Spain on the abundance and breeding success of the crested tit (Parus cristatus) in nest boxes erected in a 40-year-old pine plantation with those obtained in a neighboring area of original Mediterranean vegetation. The crested tit was consistently more abundant in the pine plantation than in original Mediterranean vegetation over the 2 years studied. Moreover, since during the breeding season nest-box occupation in the holm-oak forest was negligible (four nest boxes in 3 years), breeding success was analyzed only in the pine plantation. The breeding-success parameters considered (clutch size, eggs hatched, egg volume, fledglings raised and fledgling weight) were analyzed as a function of seasonality (early versus late clutches) and nest location (peripheral versus internal) in a regular grid of nest boxes. No significant differences were recorded as a function of either attribute for any of these parameters, with the exception of fledgling weight, which was significantly higher in peripheral nests. The results of this study highlight the importance of including nest boxes as an integral part of pine plantation management in Spain to preserve crested tit populations.