Reproduction represents one of the most critical and energetically demanding stages in the life cycle of birds. During the breeding period, individuals must optimize their behaviour and resource allocation to successfully attract mates, defend territories, and rear offspring. In colonial species, these processes are further influenced by social dynamics, including competition, and synchronization among breeders. By combining long-term monitoring of individually marked birds with behavioural and physiological data, we aim to understand how intrinsic factors (such as age, sex, and experience) and extrinsic drivers (including habitat quality, food availability, and climatic chage) shape reproductive strategies and success. Moreover, we investigate how parental investment and breeding timing influence survival and future fitness, thereby contributing to a deeper comprehension of how life-history trade-offs evolve in colonial species.
BREEDING BIOLOGY
