scholarly journals Birds with multiple homes. The annual cycle of the pallid swift (Apus pallidus brehmorum)

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0259656
Author(s):  
Stewart Finlayson ◽  
Tyson Lee Holmes ◽  
Geraldine Finlayson ◽  
Rhian Guillem ◽  
Charles Perez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Annual Cycle ◽  
Bird Migration ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Evolutionary Strategies ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Sahara Desert ◽  
Single Individual ◽  
Breeding Colony ◽  
Breeding Grounds

We tracked pallid swifts (Apus pallidus brehmorum) from a single breeding colony in Gibraltar over two years. Our results show movement of birds between specific regions within the non-breeding geographical area at specific times of the year. The tracking of a single individual showed remarkable fidelity to the areas visited between years. Furthermore, two pallid swifts tracked over the entire eight-month non-breeding period, while in Africa, gave no indication of coming to land, supporting previous findings of an airborne existence in swifts outside the breeding season. In addition, the crossing of the Sahara Desert to and from breeding grounds is remarkably fast, with one individual crossing it in just over a day. We discuss our findings in the context of bird migration evolutionary strategies.

Seasonal and annual foraging movements of little penguins from Phillip Island, Victoria

1999 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 705 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Collins ◽  
J. M. Cullen ◽  
P. Dann
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Similar Distribution ◽  
Breeding Colony ◽  
Foraging Range ◽  
The North ◽  
Foraging Movements ◽  
North And South

Little penguins, Eudyptula minor, from a breeding colony on Phillip Island, Victoria were radio-tracked at sea during incubation, chick-rearing and non-breeding periods from 1991 to 1993. Their locations, which we have assumed to reflect foraging movements, varied according to season and breeding activities, and there were marked differences from year to year. Duration and distance of trips ranged from single day-trips a few kilometres from Phillip Island, typically during the breeding season, to longer trips outside the breeding season up to 500 km away lasting more than a month, but 95% of all birds located were within 20 km of the coast. In the breeding season foraging trips averaged 4.4 days during incubation compared with 2.1 days when there were chicks in the nest; in the non-breeding period foraging trips took 5.2 days on average. The duration of trips for adults feeding chicks increased with the age of the chicks. Birds from nests on the north and south sides of Phillip Island differed in their use of areas close to the island, but showed a similar distribution on more distant trips. The location of foraging trips is discussed in relation to information on the abundance of prey species of fish within the foraging range of the birds.

scholarly journals Sex-specific migration strategies of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) from Germany

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernd-Ulrich Meyburg ◽  
Dietrich Roepke ◽  
Christiane Meyburg ◽  
Rien E. van Wijk
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Annual Cycle ◽  
The Other ◽  
Pandion Haliaetus ◽  
Migration Strategy ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Breeding Grounds ◽  
Migration Strategies ◽  
Northeastern Germany

AbstractBirds exhibit a wide variety of migration strategies, not only between species, but also within species. Populations might migrate to specific sites outside of the breeding season, but individuals within populations may also exhibit different migration strategies. Young, unexperienced birds may take different routes, visit different sites, and time their annual cycle differently than adults. In turn, within groups of adult birds, there may be a division between the sexes whereby males and females migrate to different sites or, more commonly, at different times. We investigated differences in the migration strategies of male and female ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) from a breeding population in northeastern Germany. An important difference between the sexes was the much earlier leaving of the breeding place by the females compared to the males. The difference in the timing of departure was much more pronounced compared to most other raptor species. The other main difference between the male and female ospreys was the distance that the birds accumulated over the annual cycle, with males generally moving more while at the breeding ground compared with the non-breeding grounds, and the opposite in females. An exception to this observation was two males that migrated to the Iberian Peninsula, that covered longer distances during the non-breeding season. Consequently, individuals accumulated the same distances over the course of an annual cycle, regardless of sex or migration strategy. Unexpectedly, a difference in the timing of the annual cycle between the sexes occurred at the breeding grounds with females leaving 2 to 3 months before the males, long before the young had fledged. Because males migrated much faster and, unlike the females, did not make prolonged stops, their arrival times at the non-breeding grounds were not different. Return migration to the breeding grounds was very similar between the sexes, and even the two males that spent the non-breeding season on the Iberian Peninsula did not arrive before any of the other birds. Thus, a shorter migration distance is not necessarily associated with an advantage with respect to a timely return to the breeding grounds.

Studies on the behaviour on the South Ausralian fur seal, Arctocephalus forsteri (Lesson) I. Annual cycle, postures and calls, and adult males during breeding season

1971 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 243 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Stirling
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Annual Cycle ◽  
Reproductive Potential ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
The South ◽  
Breeding Colony ◽  
Conservation Of Energy ◽  
Overall Ratio ◽  
One Year

The behaviour of A. forsteri was studied at the South Neptune Is. in 1969-70. This paper elucidates the annual cycle, describes 20 postures and calls (several for the first time), and discusses the behaviour of adult males during the breeding season. Two factors are essential in a breeding colony: water for cooling on hot days and access routes to higher areas for females and pups during heavy seas. The young were all weaned by one year of age and absent from the island during the breeding season. A rapid increase in numbers of females occurred in early November. Births were recorded from 29 November to 22 January but the peak of pupping occurred about 20-30 December. Mating occurred from early November to late January with a peak at about the beginning of January. Numbers of adult males and females in the breeding colonies decreased sharply by mid-January. The overall ratio of adult males to females was 1 : 6-8. In South Australia some adult male A. forsteri were present on the breeding colony all the year round. Large loosely defined territories were defended in mid- October but permanent territories, for the duration of the breeding season, were not established until the latter half of November. No truly aquatic territories were held. Intertidal reefs and areas without pools of water or access to the sea were held only temporarily. Fighting between adult males was highly ritualized and, although encounters were often intense, serious injuries were rare; 30.9% of 2013 recorded disputes in the breeding colonies were resolved with fighting. In only two of these instances did a third male enter the fray. There were more encounters per hr during the period of territory establishment (November) than during the period of pupping and breeding (mid-December to early January). In 367.16 hr of total documentation of the activity of territorial males it was shown that 91 - 14% of the time was spent either lying (72.32 %) or sitting alert (1 8.81 %). This was contrary to statements in the general literature on polygamous land-breeding seals which inferred that males were constantly active. Males exist on stored energy while defending territories, so that conservation of energy (as demonstrated here) lengthens the period a male can stay ashore and maximizes his reproductive potential. Sixteen males defended territories for a range of 21-54 days with a mean of 36.6 & 9.7 days. Territorial males tried to stop females from leaving their territories but could not do so against their will. No aquatic matings were observed. There was little premating behaviour and the mean duration of 30 complete copulations was 6.56+ 2.19 min. Limited data indicated that males became more efficient with experience. Subordinate males defended temporary territories on the dry rock above the dominant males on permanent sites. During heavy seas the dominant males remained with their territories while the females and pups moved up into the temporary territories. Females appeared non-selective when in oestrus and were mated by the subordinate males during periods of high seas. This results in a much wider range of contribution to the population's gene pool than might be expected from the territorial system.

scholarly journals Female song in the Cyprus Wheatear Oenanthe cypriaca

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Patchett ◽  
Alexander N. G. Kirschel ◽  
Joanna Robins King ◽  
Patrick Styles ◽  
Will Cresswell
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Territorial Defence ◽  
Multiple Functions ◽  
Male Song ◽  
Female Song ◽  
Mate Acquisition

AbstractFemale song is widespread across bird species yet rarely reported. Here, we report the first observations and description of female song in the Cyprus Wheatear Oenanthe cypriaca and compare it to male song through the breeding season. Twenty-five percent of colour-ringed females were observed singing at least once, predominantly in April, compared to 71% of males that continued singing through the breeding period. We suggest that female song may have multiple functions in this species, but it may be especially important in territorial defence and mate acquisition.

scholarly journals Myxomatosis in farmland rabbit populations in England and Wales

1989 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 333-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Ross ◽  
A. M. Tittensor ◽  
A. P. Fox ◽  
M. F. Sanders
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Annual Cycle ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Mortality Factor ◽  
Mass Movements ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Regulatory Effect ◽  
Methods Of Calculation ◽  
Attenuated Virus ◽  
Virus Strains

SUMMARYThe overall pattern and consequences of myxomatosis in wild rabbit populations were studied at three farmland sites in lowland southern England and upland central Wales between 1971 and 1978. When results from all years were combined, the disease showed a clear two-peaked annual cycle, with a main autumn peak between August and January, and a subsidiary spring peak during February to April.Rabbit fleas, the main vectors of myxomatosis in Britain, were present on full-grown rabbits in sufficient numbers for transmission to occur throughout the year, but the observed seasonal pattern of the disease appeared to be influenced by seasonal mass movements of these fleas. However other factors were also important including the timing and success of the main rabbit breeding season, the proportion of rabbits which had recovered from the disease and the timing and extent of autumn rabbit mortality from other causes.Significantly more males than females, and more adults and immatures than juveniles, were observed to be infected by myxomatosis. Only 25–27% of the total populations were seen to be infected during outbreaks. Using two independent methods of calculation, it was estimated that between 47 and 69% of infected rabbits died from the disease (much lower than the expected 90–95% for fully susceptible rabbits with the partly attenuated virus strains that predominated). Thus it was estimated that 12–19% of the total rabbit populations were known to have died directly or indirectly from myxomatosis.Although the effects of myxomatosis were much less than during the 1950s and 1960s, it continued to be an important mortality factor. It may still have a regulatory effect on rabbit numbers, with autumn/winter peaks of disease reducing the numbers of rabbits present at the start of the breeding season.

scholarly journals Rainfall-induced changes in food availability modify the spring departure programme of a migratory bird

2011 ◽  
Vol 278 (1723) ◽  
pp. 3437-3443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin E. Studds ◽  
Peter P. Marra
Keyword(s):  
Migratory Birds ◽  
Marked Change ◽  
Migratory Bird ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Climatic Warming ◽  
Adaptive Responses ◽  
American Redstarts ◽  
Breeding Grounds ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Induced Changes

Climatic warming has intensified selection for earlier reproduction in many organisms, but potential constraints imposed by climate change outside the breeding period have received little attention. Migratory birds provide an ideal model for exploring such constraints because they face warming temperatures on temperate breeding grounds and declining rainfall on many tropical non-breeding areas. Here, we use longitudinal data on spring departure dates of American redstarts ( Setophaga ruticilla ) to show that annual variation in tropical rainfall and food resources are associated with marked change in the timing of spring departure of the same individuals among years. This finding challenges the idea that photoperiod alone regulates the onset of migration, providing evidence that intensifying drought in the tropical winter could hinder adaptive responses to climatic warming in the temperate zone.

scholarly journals Mercury and Stable Isotopes in Feathers Of Audouin's Gulls as Indicators of Feeding Habits and Migratory Connectivity

The Condor ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 268-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carola Sanpera ◽  
Xavier Ruiz ◽  
Rocío Moreno ◽  
Lluís Jover ◽  
Susan Waldron
Keyword(s):  
Trophic Ecology ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Migratory Connectivity ◽  
Migration Patterns ◽  
Isotopic Signatures ◽  
Breeding Populations ◽  
Breeding Grounds ◽  
Wintering Areas

Abstract To better understand migratory connectivity between breeding and nonbreeding populations, we analyzed mercury (Hg) and stable isotope signatures of nitrogen (δ15N), carbon (δ13C), and sulfur (δ34S) in Audouin's Gulls (Larus audouinii) breeding in two different colonies, the Ebro Delta (northeastern Spain) and the Chafarinas Islands (southwestern Mediterranean). Although abundant information is available on the biology and trophic ecology of this gull's breeding populations, little is known about migration patterns, distribution in winter, or conditions faced during the nonbreeding period. Analyses were carried out on first primary feathers, grown during the summer while gulls are on the breeding grounds, and mantle feathers, grown during the winter. Different isotopic signatures (δ15N, δ13C, and δ34S) in summer (primary) feathers from each area agree with the observed differences in diet between the two colonies. In winter (mantle) feathers, isotopic signatures did not differ, consistent with a common wintering ground and common diet, although the lack of isotopic basemaps in marine systems precludes assignment to a geographical area of reference. Future research is needed to relate isotopic signatures and Hg values in mantle feathers to trophic ecology in wintering areas. Results for Hg indicate that the excretory role played by primary feathers precludes their use as indicators of trophic ecology.

Orientation-cage experiments with the European Quail during the breeding season and autumn migration

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (6) ◽  
pp. 887-894 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.D. Rodríguez-Teijeiro ◽  
A. Barroso ◽  
S. Gallego ◽  
M. Puigcerver ◽  
D. Vinyoles
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Sexual Behaviour ◽  
Autumn Migration ◽  
Controlled Experiments ◽  
Coturnix Coturnix ◽  
Preferred Direction ◽  
Breeding Grounds ◽  
Suitable Habitats ◽  
Migratory Period

The directional movements of the male European Quail, Coturnix coturnix (L., 1758), during the breeding season and autumn migration were studied using Emlen orientation cages. The characteristics and evolution of the habitat in which males were captured and the sexual behaviour shown at capture indicate that these birds move in search of mating partners rather than of suitable habitats. These displacements are known as “gypsy movements” but are better described, as argued in this paper, as “movements in search of females”. A majority of caged birds (59%) showed a preferred direction (α = 238.5°), which coincided almost exactly with that observed in recoveries of ringed birds during autumn migration (α = 251.3°) but not with results from cage experiments during the same migratory period (α = 187.8°). Therefore, we conclude that displacements of the male European Quail, as shown in ringing recoveries, are much more influenced by “movements in search of females” than by migration. These movements are clearly towards the southwest, the males taking short flights towards suitable breeding grounds and driven by river-course habitats. In addition, we confirm that Emlen funnels are suitable for controlled experiments on the orientation of males in demes of European Quail.

Reproduction of the Rabbit, Oryctolagus cunniculus (L.), on Macquarie Island, Subantarctic

1978 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 317 ◽  
Author(s):  
IJ Skira
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Annual Cycle ◽  
First Year ◽  
Corpora Lutea ◽  
Macquarie Island ◽  
Pregnant Females

The reproduction of rabbits on Macquarie I. was studied from December 1973 to February 1975. The breeding season extended from late August 1974 to mid-March 1975; both sexes showed an annual cycle in development and regression of the gonads. Between mid-October and mid-November 92% of females sampled were pregnant; during this period the maximum numbers of corpora lutea and embryos were 8.55 and 6.50 per female respectively. Few resorptions occurred although the number of pregnant females that resorbed increased as the breeding season progressed. Of all rabbit kittens produced in the 1974-75 breeding season, 64% were born by mid-December 1974. Female rabbits in their first year of breeding bore the greatest number of kittens; natality decreased as females aged.

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