Investigation of the physiological stress response in Eurasian kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) nestlings

Abstract

The main goal of this research was to shed light on the development and the association between the different components of the physiological stress response in Eurasian kestrel nestlings. The nestlings, both males and females found in Hajdú-Bihar County, near Hajdúböszörmény, Hungary. We tested for the effects of stress on/ or due to changes in the body mass of the nestlings as well as for the effects season (date of year). The sex of the individual and body mass were also taken into account. The main focus of this research was to measure the levels of baseline and stress-induced corticosterone released during the handling of nestlings.