1980/10/01 by Carol Skowron, Michael D. Kern · 5 citations
Environmental Science · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Avian ecology and behavior #nanoparticles nucleation surface interactions #Atmospheric aerosols and clouds
paper · doi:10.1093/auk/97.4.816
openalex publication_date 1980/10/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/26
Abstract The heat flux (Qn), thermal conductance (h), thermal conductivity coefficients (k), and density (based on light penetration) of 66 nests representing 11 species of North American songbirds are presented. Well-insulated nests have relatively small values of Qn (0.151 to 0.167 W) and h (3.53 to 3.74 W m-2 °C-1). The nest wall is either solid or so dense that it prevents light from penetrating it (0 lux-1). Poorly insulated nests have relatively high values for Qn (0.364 to 0.373 W) and h (9.95 to 12.35 W m-2 °C-1), and are exceedingly porous (0.39 to 0.72 lux-1). Nests with moderate insulation have values of Qn (0.230 to 0.293 W) and h (4.37 to 6.15 W m-2 °C-1) that are intermediate in size. Some of these nests are moderately porous (0.0016 to 0.0054 lux-1); others are not (0.00002 to 0.0013 lux-1). Many facets of the nest (diameter of the entrance; depth, volume, and surface area of the nest cavity; thickness of the nest wall; density of the nest wall) influence Qn and h, but generally weakly. The most important of these is nest density. Values of k for nests range between 52 and 239 x 10-3 W m-1 °C-1, but are usually intermediate between those of animal fur and wood.