Ecological factors influencing nest-site selection and colony size in village weavers <em>Ploceus cucullatus</em>

This dataset documents colony size and nest-site characteristics of Village Weavers (Ploceus cucullatus) across different habitat types. The data were collected to investigate the landscape factors influencing the choice of nesting site and colony size in Village Weavers (Ploceus cucullatus) across wild habitats and human settlements on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria. We collected data from 41 colonies to examine how variables such as nesting substrate, nesting tree height, nesting tree size (girth), tree density around the colony, percent canopy cover, distance to accessible water, and habitat influence colony size. The dataset includes measurements of nest-site attributes, habitat features, and colony metrics recorded for each colony observed. It contains variables, the units they were measured in, and any observations needed to examine patterns of nest-site selection and colony structure. The dataset can be reused in studies of avian breeding ecology, habitat selection, and colony dynamics..., Study area:&nbsp;Jos East Local Government Area, Jos Plateau, Nigeria Data collection period: August – November 2017 Approach: Data were collected through direct field measurements of nest sites and colony features. No animals were handled, and all observations were non-invasive. Spatial scale: Variables represent microhabitat, habitat, and colony-level attributes. , # Data from: Ecological factors influencing nest-site selection and colony size in village weavers Ploceus cucullatus ## Dataset description This dataset contains information on the nest-site selection and colony size of Village Weavers (Ploceus cucullatus). Data were collected to understand how ecological factors at spatial scales (microhabitat, mesohabitat, and metahabitat) influence nest-site selection and colony size in Village Weavers. The dataset is provided as a CSV file titled \"Raw_data_Ecological_factors_influencing_nest-site_selection_in_Village_weavers.csv\" and can be opened in any spreadsheet software (e.g., Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc) or imported into data analysis programs such as R, Python, or Excel. ### Variable/column description 1. **date:** Date of observation (dd/mm/yyyy) 2. **site:** Location where the colony was found 3. **colony location:** Habitat classification of the colony (wild vs human settlement) 4. **tree species:** Plant species harbouring th..., ,