COVER STORY: SCIENCE
THE act of reproduction is the biological process whereby two individuals mate and pass on genetic material in order to create offspring that are genetically and morphologically similar in appearance. In many groups of animals, this can be a simple process, but in birds the behaviours involved can be highly complex: from finding a mate, through courtship rituals and nest-building to rearing the young.
There are many factors that are instrumental in breeding. The most important are food availability; suitable nest-sites; nesting material; territory; and competition from other males/females.