Spatial, temporal and individual-based differences in nest-site visits and subsequent reproductive success in wild great tits

The behaviour of individual birds before and during the breeding period may be an important factor determining reproductive success. One commonly observed behaviour during the breeding period in many species is the visitation of multiple potential breeding sites. Much research has attempted to determine the function and consequences of this behaviour, but traditionally studies have been limited to not examining individual-level behaviour, or only considering a small number of individuals. We used automated recording of RFID-tagged birds visiting nestboxes to study a population of 80 great tits (Parus major) making >3500 daily visits across 74 breeding sites, to quantify the frequency, spatial patterning, and temporal occurrence of this behaviour from the pre-breeding period onwards. We argue that (i) the tight spatial clustering of visits, (ii) juveniles visiting more sites than adults, and (iii) males (but not females) continuing to visit other sites even as egg laying at their own...