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AN OESTROGEN-MEDIATED EFFECT OF PHOTOPERIOD ON THE REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOUR OF THE BUDGERIGAR

M.R.C. Unit on the Development and Integration of Behaviour, University Sub-Department of Animal Behaviour, Madingley, Cambridge CB3 8AA

(Received 10th May 1975)

Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) reproductive development is affected by the photoperiod (Putman & Hinde, 1973), and nest-hole entry by the female is accelerated by oestrogen (Hutchison, 1971). In the canary, long photoperiods affect nest-building behaviour, not only by the classical hypothalamus—pituitary—gonad route, but also by influencing the effectiveness of exogenous oestrogen in ovariectomized birds (Steel & Hinde, 1972). The present experiments were designed to assess whether the latter effect occurs also in the budgerigar.

Ovariectomy was performed by suction and cautery under sodium pentobarbitone and ether anaesthesia. After the operation the birds were transferred singly to the experimental cages and kept on an 11 hr light:13 hr dark (11L : 13D) regimen for 2 days. The nest-box entrance was then opened and the birds tested for a further 7