Rain may have more influence than temperature on nest abandonment in the Great Tit Parus major

The main aim of this study was to investigate which weather parameter has greater influence on nest abandonment in the Great Tit Parus major, temperature or rain, and to determine during which breeding period nests are the most susceptible to abandonment. Breeding parameters of a nest-box population in Slovenia were monitored over a three year period at two locations in three altitude belts. Weather parameters were measured daily. From 160 first nesting attempts, 35 nests were abandoned. The majority of abandoned nests were found during the incubation period, followed by the first half of the nestling period. The amount of rainfall was more important than temperature in explaining variation in nest abandonment.