Lack of synchrony between breeding in two neighbouring starling [Sturnus vulgaris L.] populations in New Zealand: evidence of no regional effect of the ENSO?

Weather and climatic conditions may impact on many aspects of bird populations, including population size, the timing of breeding and synchrony between these variables in local populations. We examined synchrony in population size and the laying date of two starling Sturnus vulgaris populations 25 km apart, at Ohau and Belmont, in New Zealand. Data were collected in nest-boxes in both study plots from 1970 to 2003. Additionally we investigated possible relationships with a large geographical climate index, the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Starlings at Ohau bred significantly earlier than at Belmont. The difference in the median of year median date of laying the first egg was 3 days. Simultaneously, the percent of nest boxes used by birds was much higher in Ohau (86%, SE = 4.1) than in Belmont (52%, SE = 2.9). However, we did not find a significant relationship between median dates of laying and the percent of nest boxes used by birds in each breeding season in the two populations. Furthermore, we found no influence of ENSO on (potential) synchrony in starlings’ breeding parameters. We suggest that lack of synchrony between two close local populations, both in percentage of occupied nest boxes and time of laying, is due to starlings responding to very local conditions, like food availability. We urge future studies to take advantage of spatially close populations.