Cliff nesting

Cliff nesting is the use of cliff ledges and crevices as sites for laying eggs and raising young. It is common among birds whose nests benefit from steep, difficult-to-reach terrain.

Nest site selection: The process by which animals choose locations for building nests and raising offspring. Cliff-nesting birds select ledges for shelter, stability, and limited access by predators.
Peregrine falcon: A widespread falcon known for high-speed dives and breeding on cliffs and tall structures. Its cliff ledges provide elevated nesting sites close to hunting grounds.
Reproductive success: The number of offspring an organism produces that survive to reproduce. Ledge safety and weather exposure can affect how many cliff-nesting young survive.
Ground-nesting bird: A bird that lays eggs and raises young on the ground rather than in an elevated nest. Ground nests avoid ledge constraints but are more accessible to many terrestrial predators.
Anti-predator adaptation: A behavioral, anatomical, or physiological trait that reduces an animal’s risk of being killed by predators. Steep nesting sites can deter predators that reach nests on the ground or in trees.
Northern fulmar: A North Atlantic seabird that nests on coastal cliffs and spends much of its life at sea. It lays its single egg on an exposed ledge, often in large colonies.
Human disturbance: Changes in animal behavior or habitat caused by people’s presence or activity. Climbers and visitors can cause adults to abandon nests or expose eggs and chicks.
Tree nesting: The use of trees as sites for constructing nests and raising young. Tree nests offer elevated cover, unlike the exposed rock surfaces used by cliff nesters.
Seabird colony: A group of seabirds that nests in close proximity, often in a dense aggregation. Many cliff-nesting seabirds place nests in colonies along shared cliff faces.
Common murre: A diving seabird that lays a single egg directly on narrow cliff ledges. Its crowded cliff colonies demonstrate nesting without a constructed nest.

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