Relationship between nectar production and seasonal patterns of density and nesting of resident honeyeaters in heathland near Sydney

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Abstract
Some individual honeyeaters were repeatedly seen near the same location over at least a 2 day period and were considered resident in the present study. Such resident honeyeaters (mostly New Holland and White‐cheeked Honeyeaters) were present on the heathland study areas from about February until about October. Production of nectar energy is negligible prior to April and low after October. It is hypothesized that the density of residents is determined by their ability to obtain energy in nearby habitats while establishing nesting sites in the heathland in February and March. Nesting tended to occur between April and July when there was sufficient production of nectar‐energy.