Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.k6djh9wnv

These data support analyses presented in:

Rozman, G. & Charter, M. Nest-box supplementation can amplify intraspecific exploitation: RFID reveals frequent nest switching and a negative association with fledging success in barn owls. Journal of Applied Ecology.

Description of the data and file structure

These data were collected during the 2020 and 2021 breeding seasons in the Hula Valley, northern Israel. The study used Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems to investigate nest-switching behavior by fledgling barn owls (Tyto alba) and its association with breeding performance in host broods.

A total of 464 nestlings and 108 adults were PIT-tagged. RFID systems were installed on 50 active nest boxes across two breeding seasons and recorded more than 1.2 million RFID detections.

The associated manuscript, JAPPL-2026-00326.R2, has been accepted for publication in Journal of Applied Ecology.

Files and variables

File: barn_owl_RFID_nest_switching_analysis.csv.xlsx

Description:

This Excel workbook contains the data used for the statistical analyses in the associated manuscript. The workbook contains the following sheets: READ ME, barn_owl_RFID_nest_switching_an, and barn_owl_nest_switching_events.

Sheet: READ ME

This sheet provides a description of the dataset, definitions of key terms, contact information, and citation information. It does not contain data used in the statistical analyses.

Sheet: barn_owl_RFID_nest_switching_an

This sheet contains the primary dataset used for the statistical analyses presented in the manuscript. Each row represents an RFID-monitored nest.

Variables in barn_owl_RFID_nest_switching_an:

• box: Nest-box identifier. Unit: none.
• date: Date associated with the RFID-monitored nest record. Unit: date.
• broodsizeswitcher: Brood size of the natal brood of the nest switcher. Unit: count.
• datenestswicther: Date on which the nest switcher was detected or associated with the nest-switching record. Unit: date.
• upto60days: Indicator or value used to identify the monitoring period when host nestlings were younger than 60 days. Unit: days or binary/data-processing indicator.
• 60dnumbernigthbefore: Number of monitoring nights before the host brood reached 60 days of age. Unit: nights.
• 60dnumbernestswitcherbefore: Number of nest switchers detected before the host brood reached 60 days of age. Unit: count.
• switcherrate: Number of nest switchers detected at the focal nest divided by the number of monitoring nights. Unit: switchers per monitoring night.
• 60da1stdateNight: First date/night included in the monitoring period before the host brood reached 60 days of age. Unit: date/night.
• 60daylastdate: Last date/night included in the monitoring period before the host brood reached 60 days of age. Unit: date/night.
• 60periodnestswicthers: Number of nest switchers detected during the period when host nestlings were younger than 60 days. Unit: count.
• Agehostnestling: Age of the oldest host nestling at the time the nest switcher first appeared. Unit: days.
• Timestation: Total monitoring time for the RFID station or focal nest box during the relevant monitoring period. Unit: seconds.
• broodsize: Number of host nestlings that hatched in the focal nest. Unit: count.
• Numfledglings: Number of host nestlings that survived to fledging in the focal nest. Nest switchers are excluded. Unit: count.
• %fledge: Proportion or percentage of host hatchlings that fledged, calculated as Numfledglings divided by broodsize. Unit: proportion or percentage, depending on formatting in the workbook.
• Layingdate: Laying date of the clutch in the focal nest. Unit: date.
• Julian laying date: Laying date expressed as Julian day. Unit: day of year.
• hatchingdatehostnest: Hatching date of the host brood in the focal nest. Unit: date.
• AUX: Number of detections recorded by the auxiliary RFID antenna. Unit: count.
• MAIN: Number of detections recorded by the main RFID antenna. Unit: count.
• Enter: Number of RFID-detected female nest entries. Unit: count.
• Preypernest: Female provisioning rate, calculated as female RFID-detected nest entries per nestling per night. This variable is an index of female provisioning activity and not a direct measure of prey biomass delivered. Unit: entries per nestling per night.
• TIMEINBOX: Time spent inside the nest box based on RFID detections. Unit: seconds.
• TIMEATBOX: Time spent at the nest box based on RFID detections. Unit: seconds.
• mindistance: Minimum distance between the nest switcher's natal nest and the host nest box visited. Unit: meters.
• Maxdistance: Maximum distance between the nest switcher's natal nest and the host nest box visited. Unit: meters.
• Averagedistance: Average distance between the nest switcher's natal nest and host nest boxes visited. Unit: meters.
• num_fledgling_boxes_500m: Number of active nest boxes containing fledglings within a 500 m radius of the focal nest. Unit: count.
• min_distance_500m: Minimum distance from the focal nest to an active nest box containing fledglings within a 500 m radius. Unit: meters.
• max_distance_500m: Maximum distance from the focal nest to an active nest box containing fledglings within a 500 m radius. Unit: meters.
• num_fledgling_boxes_1km: Number of active nest boxes containing fledglings within a 1 km radius of the focal nest. Unit: count.
• min_distance_km: Minimum distance from the focal nest to an active nest box containing fledglings within a 1 km radius. Unit: meters.
• max_distance_km: Maximum distance from the focal nest to an active nest box containing fledglings within a 1 km radius. Unit: meters.
• num_fledgling_boxes_2km: Number of active nest boxes containing fledglings within a
• 2 km radius of the focal nest. Unit: count.
• min_distance_2km: Minimum distance from the focal nest to an active nest box containing fledglings within a 2 km radius. Unit: meters.
• max_distance_2km: Maximum distance from the focal nest to an active nest box containing fledglings within a 2 km radius. Unit: meters.

Sheet: barn_owl_nest_switching_events

This sheet contains individual nest-switching records derived from RFID monitoring. Each row represents one RFID-detected nest-switching record, where a PIT-tagged fledgling was detected at a non-natal RFID-monitored nest box.

Variables in barn_owl_nest_switching_events:

• Nest.of.Owl: Identifier of the natal nest box of the PIT-tagged owl/nest switcher. Unit: none.
• Band.number: Metal ring/band number or individual identification number of the owl. Unit: none.
• Nest.of.Station: Identifier of the RFID-monitored host nest box where the owl was detected. Unit: none.
• DISTANCE: Distance between the owl's natal nest box and the RFID-monitored host nest box where it was detected. Unit: meters.
• Night: Date or night of the RFID detection/nest-switching event. Unit: date.
• Tag: PIT-tag/RFID identification code of the detected owl. Unit: none.
• Aux: Number of detections recorded by the auxiliary RFID antenna. Unit: count.
• Main: Number of detections recorded by the main RFID antenna. Unit: count.
• Hatching.date_host: Hatching date of the host brood/nestlings in the RFID-monitored host nest. Unit: date.
• Age.oldest.host: Age of the oldest host nestling at the time of the nest-switching event. Unit: days.

Missing values:

Blank cells indicate missing or not applicable values.

Code/software

Statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics version 29.0.2.0. No code files are included with this dataset.

Access information

These data are released under a CC0 waiver through Dryad. The associated article and Dryad dataset citation are provided for reference.