Nests and nesting behavior of Golden Swallow (Tachycineta euchrysea) in abandoned bauxite mines in the Dominican Republic

Abstract

Little information is available on nesting of Golden Swallow (Tachycineta euchrysea), a threatened species that occurs only on the island of Hispaniola. We report on six nests discovered and monitored in abandoned bauxite mines in the Sierra de Bahoruco of the Dominican Republic. Nests were in cavities of the vertical walls of these pit mines. Clutch sizes consisted of 2-4 eggs and the nestling stage last ed between 21 and 24 days with both parents provisioning the brood. Three of the six nests were depredated by introduced mammals. We compare our observations of Golden Swallow nesting success to nesting studies of congeneric swallows and emphasize the potential conservation importance of a nest box placement and monitoring program on Hispaniola.