
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Miles, A. J. 
A1  - Madden, J. R. 
T1  - Bower location by the Spotted Bowerbird (<emph type="2">Chlamydera maculata</emph>)
JF  - Emu
JO  - EMU
Y1  - 2002
VL  - 102
IS  - 2
SP  - 187
EP  - 193
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/MU00039 
N2  - This study records the spatial distribution of Spotted Bowerbird (Chlamydera maculata) bowers at a study site in central Queensland, and examines how vegetation characteristics, the location of conspecific's bowers and canopy architecture affect bower location. Bowers were preferentially situated in brigalow regrowth habitat, with a mean (&#177; s.d.) nearest-neighbour distance of 1059 &#177; 516 m. Bowers were evenly spaced within the region of highest bower density (20 bowers), but not within the study area as a whole. Bush canopy above bowers was thicker, attenuated more light, and covered a greater area than that of randomly selected bushes. Bower location within a bush was associated with a narrow range of canopy heights. These results suggest that bower location is primarily determined by large-scale habitat preferences. Secondly, within suitable habitat, bower location is influenced by male-male interactions. At a third, finer scale, choice of bower site is strongly influenced by microhabitat preferences, specifically bush architecture. The possibility that displaying under bushes represents a strategy for minimising aerial predation, and/or enhancing the visual characteristics of display elements, is discussed. 
ER  -

