Effect of Helpers on the Feeding Rates of Nestlings in the Chestnut-Bellied Starling Spreo pulcher

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Abstract
Feeding rates were determined for over 600 one hour watches at more than 100 nests. Variables that might influence the feeding rates of nestlings, including number of helpers, brood size and age, month and time of nest watch were also determined. Bivariate correlation showed the number of individual feeders on any 1 nest watch to be strongly related to the final complement size. In turn, the number of feeders was highly correlated with nestling feeding rates. The relationship between nestling feeding rate and all other relevant variables was further investigated by stepwise multiple regression. The number of feeders was again most important, explaining nearly 50% of the total variance in nestling feeding rate. The relationship between the number of helpers and reproductive success is discussed. For S. pulcher, more detailed analysis of the causes of reproductive failures are required before the importance of increased feeding rates to reproductive success can be established.