ENVIRONMENTAL CORRELATES OF BREEDING IN THE CRESTED CARACARA (CARACARA CHERIWAY).

The authors discuss the results of their study on the influence of weather on the reproduction of Crested Caracara or Caracara cheriway in an agricultural landscape in south-central Florida. Higher rainfall frequency during late summer and early fall lowers productivity and increases nest failure. No significant relationship was found between rainfall proportion and vertebrate diet. It also revealed that Caracaras which build nests earlier in the breeding period had higher nest success and productivity, and had larger clutch sizes.