Differences in Depredation by Small Predators Limit the Use of Plasticine and Zebra Finch Eggs in Artificial-Nest Studies

Abstract Small mammals, such as mice and voles, have been implicated as major egg predators of Neotropical migrant passerines by field studies using soft plasticine eggs or the very small eggs of Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata). Nevertheless, the effort required to depredate these commonly used egg surrogates may be less than that required to depredate the larger, thicker-shelled eggs of most passerine species. To compare the depredation of these surrogates to that of the eggs of a mid-sized passerine by a ubiquitous small predator, we exposed dissimilar pairs of plasticine, Zebra Finch, and House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) eggs to captive white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus). Plasticine eggs were marked by mice more than either kind of real egg, and Zebra Finch eggs were breached more often than House Sparrow eggs. We conclude that the use of either plasticine or Zebra Finch eggs may lead to overestimation of the ability or proclivity of small mammals to actually depredate the eggs of most passerines.

Download Full-text

FLICKER RESPONSE CONTOURS FOR THE SPARROW, AND THE THEORY OF THE AVIAN PECTEN

The Journal of General Physiology ◽

10.1085/jgp.27.4.315 ◽

1944 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 315-324 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

W. J. Crozier ◽

Ernst Wolf

Keyword(s):

Zebra Finch ◽

House Sparrow ◽

Passer Domesticus ◽

Rods And Cones ◽

Flicker Response ◽

Analytical Separation

The flicker contour for the house sparrow Passer domesticus is duplex, corresponding to the presence of both rods and cones in the retina. The presence of the pecten brings about changes in the "cone" part of the contour when the light-time in the flash cycle is varied. These changes are of the same sort as those we have already described for the visually simplex zebra finch, and for man provided with an artificial "pecten shadow." The changes are such as to greatly enhance flicker acuity for small dark-times (moving stripe technique). The form of the scotopic part of the duplex contour (also as in the case with man) gives no evidence that rod excitation is specifically influenced by the presence of the pecten. The changing integration of "rod" and "cone" effects as the light-time fraction is altered provides another means of testing the theory used for the analytical separation of the two components of the duplex flicker contour.

Download Full-text

Roosting patterns of House Sparrow Passer domesticus Linn., 1758 (Aves: Passeridae) in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India

Journal of Threatened Taxa ◽

10.11609/jott.6631.13.14.20209-20217 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (14) ◽

pp. 20209-20217

Author(s):

Foram P. Patel ◽

Pravinsang P. Dodia

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

House Sparrow ◽

Passer Domesticus ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Artificial Nest ◽

Major Focus ◽

House Sparrows ◽

Suburban Areas ◽

Nest Sites ◽

The World

The House Sparrow Passer domesticus is widely distributed across the world, and local alarming declines in sparrow populations have prompted studies focused on this species. An understanding of fundamental life history aspects such as roosting patterns is necessary for the development of efficient conservation strategies. This study examined House Sparrow roosting patterns in urban, suburban and rural areas of Bhavnagar during 2017–2018. Potential roosting sites were identified, and peak arrival/ departure times and roosting duration of sparrows were recorded. We found that peak arrival and departure times were correlated with solar timings, indicating a strong influence of photoperiod on sparrow behaviour. Little variation was observed in sparrow arrival and departure times across the urban, suburban and rural gradient. However, arrival duration was significantly larger in urban and suburban areas. This may be due to the restricted availability of suitable patches within these habitats, requiring birds to spend more time foraging. House Sparrows mostly preferred thick vegetation for pre-roosting activities and roosting, and the loss of thick vegetation poses a threat to sparrow populations worldwide. In addition to increasing nesting opportunities by providing artificial nest sites, the importance of retaining appropriate habitats should be a major focus of conservation strategies.

Download Full-text

Three hundred years of House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) persecution in Germany

Archives of Natural History ◽

10.3366/anh.2007.34.2.307 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 307-317 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

J. SEITZ

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

House Sparrow ◽

Bird Species ◽

Passer Domesticus ◽

Second World War ◽

Population Increase ◽

World War ◽

Large Numbers ◽

Urban And Rural Areas ◽

Second World

Modernization of agriculture, economic development and population increase after the end of the Thirty Years' War caused authorities in many parts of Germany to decree the eradication of so-called pest animals, including the House Sparrow. Farmers were given targets, and had to deliver the heads of sparrows in proportion to the size of their farms or pay fines. At the end of the eighteenth century German ornithologists argued against the eradication of the sparrows. During the mid-nineteenth century, C. L. Gloger, the pioneer of bird protection in Germany, emphasized the value of the House Sparrow in controlling insect plagues. Many decrees were abolished because either they had not been obeyed, or had resulted in people protecting sparrows so that they always had enough for their “deliveries”. Surprisingly, various ornithologists, including Ernst Hartert and the most famous German bird conservationist Freiherr Berlepsch, joined in the war against sparrows at the beginning of the twentieth century, because sparrows were regarded as competitors of more useful bird species. After the Second World War, sparrows were poisoned in large numbers. Persecution of sparrows ended in Germany in the 1970s. The long period of persecution had a significant but not long-lasting impact on House Sparrow populations, and therefore cannot be regarded as a factor in the recent decline of this species in urban and rural areas of western and central Europe.

Download Full-text