Data for: Using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to characterize nest site selection in wild Japanese tits (Parus minor)

Selecting a suitable nest site is critical to the survival and
reproduction of birds. Prospecting allows individuals to gather
information on the local quality of potential future breeding
sites, which may help them make the best nest
site selection decision. However, few studies have
focused on the direct links between the prospecting activity of
breeders and subsequent nest site selection. In this study, we
investigated the prospecting pattern of Japanese tits (Parus minor) during
the pre-breeding period of the first breeding attempt and whether nest
site characteristics influence their nest box visiting
behaviour and occupied nest site. We used radio frequency
identification (RFID) to track the movements of Japanese
tits visiting nest boxes and compared nest site characteristics
between visited and unvisited (control) nest boxes, as well as
between visited and occupied nest boxes. We found that Japanese
tits started visiting nest boxes approximately 20 days before
breeding, visited an average of 6 nest boxes and eventually chose the most
visited nest box for breeding activities. Japanese tits were more
likely to
visit nest boxes that had less canopy cover and lower shrub density but a greater total number of surrounding trees and ultimately chose breeding nest boxes with a smaller entrance inclination, in nesting trees with a larger diameter at breast height (DBH) which were surrounded by trees with a larger DBH. Our results suggest that Japanese tits visit several potential breeding sites before choosing breeding nest boxes and that nest site characteristics can influence their prospecting activity and nest site selection.