a miniature electrical heating mat in the nest cup. The effects of experimental
heating of clutches of Starling Sturnus vulgariseggs were measured by using
a datalogger which recorded temperatures sensed by a thermistor installed on top
of the clutch and recording nest success for the first (manipulated) and second
(unmanipulated) breeding attempts (Reid et al. 1999). The thermistor allowed
the duration of absences of the incubating female to be recorded. Experimental
females spent less time away from the nest than controls, fledged significantly
more young from their first attempt, and were more likely to hatch all the eggs
from their second attempt than controls. Experimental warming probably
allowed the females to save resources during incubation in the first attempt and to
reallocate these to chick care of the first brood and incubation of their second
clutches, leading to improved breeding performance (Reid et al. 2000).
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