Nest Usurpation between Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata and Coexisting Bird Species in Nest Boxes in a Secondary Forest, Zuojia Nature Reserve, China

This paper discusses the preliminary results of the first comprehensive survey of the spiders of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (BTNR) in Singapore. Two plots were established in each of the three zones of vegetation, viz., primary forest, old secondary forest, and maturing secondary forest. They were repeatedly sampled over an 18-month period. Sorting of the collection so far suggests that the three vegetation zones harbour rather different spider assemblages. Only ~9% of the total spider fauna recovered was shared by all three zones. The results have also yielded a preliminary picture of dominance, abundance and rarity. Although first intended to obtain a baseline for future quantitative analyses, the survey became a testing ground to modify and refine methodology so as to conduct future quantitative surveys with greater scientific rigour. Taxonomic work on the samples so far shows that the spiders in the BTNR span over 43 families, of which six families are listed for the first time in Singapore. The tally is summarised in an interim checklist of BTNR spiders. The checklist, with a total of 317 entries, shows that there are 158 described species of spiders in BTNR, of which 25 species are new records for Singapore. Another 159 morphospecies are provisionally recognised as distinct species, some of which may be new to science. Our observations during the survey have allowed us to provide a narrative of BTNR spider diversity against a backdrop of their microhabitat specialisation.

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Endemic Cyprus Scops Owl Otus cyprius Readily Breeds in Artificial Nest Boxes

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11061775 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1775

Author(s):

Savvas Iezekiel ◽

Reuven Yosef ◽

Constantinos Themistokleus ◽

Dimitrios E. Bakaloudis ◽

Christos G. Vlachos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Habitat Preferences ◽

Bird Species ◽

Laying Date ◽

Artificial Nests ◽

Breeding Parameters ◽

Island Endemic ◽

Nest Boxes ◽

Ecological Requirements ◽

Old Trees

As is well-known, endemic island bird species are especially vulnerable to extinction from anthropogenic environmental change and reduced fitness compared with mainland taxa. The Cyprus Scops Owl, Otus cyprius, is a recently recognized island endemic species whose ecology and breeding biology have not been studied. It nests mainly in holes in trees and buildings, so the felling of old trees, modern architectural practices, and the renovation of old houses in villages may reduce nest site availability. Its population trend is also unknown. Therefore, to better determine its ecological requirements and habitat preferences we placed nest boxes in rural areas adjacent to the forest, in the forest, and in the ecotone between them, and used breeding success as our indicator of habitat suitability. We found that breeding parameters like laying date, clutch size, length of the incubation period, hatching day, hatching success, and number of nestlings did not differ between the three habitats. Despite the low level of nest box occupancy rate (5–11%) the endemic Cyprus Scops Owl readily breeds in artificial nests. Therefore, although we are unaware of any current threats to the Cyprus Scops Owl, we recommend that its conservation be prioritized, including studies, monitoring, habitat conservation, and the provision of nest boxes.

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The status and conservation of the endemic bird species of São Tomé and Príncipe, West Africa

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s0959270900000629 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

pp. 255-282 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Phil Atkinson ◽

Nic Peet ◽

James Alexander

Keyword(s):

West Africa ◽

Secondary Forest ◽

Bird Species ◽

Primary Forest ◽

Low Density ◽

Red Data Book ◽

Sao Tome And Principe ◽

The Status ◽

Data Book

SummaryFieldwork on the distribution, status and ecology of the endemic bird species of São Tomé and Príncipe was conducted from June to September 1990. The results are here combined with other evidence, notably from recent ICBP-backed fieldwork. Findings largely support existing Red Data Book listings, although Oriolus crassirostris is now found only in remote undisturbed areas at low density, and deserves “Rare” status. Particular achievements of the 1990 fieldwork were the first observations since the 1920s of Bostrychia bocagei, Lanius newtoni and Amaurocichla bocagii, the first two being very rare (one seen of each) and the last patchily common (along streams), records of all three being from either Rio Xufexufe or Rio Ana Chaves or both. Primary forest, mature secondary forest and shade forest are all important to the security of the full avifauna of both islands.

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The First Record of Horned Lark from Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve – A New Record for Bhutan

Bhutan Journal of Natural Resources & Development ◽

10.17102/cnr.2020.56 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 88-90

Author(s):

Gyeltshen Dorji ◽

Sangay Wangchuk ◽

Wangchuk Wangchuk ◽

Sonam Tobgay ◽

Jigme Wangyal

Keyword(s):

New Record ◽

Nature Reserve ◽

Bird Species ◽

First Record ◽

Horned Lark

The Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) even though a widespread songbird species had not been recorded from Bhutan. The bird was observed in Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve in a recent trip to Gakiling, Haa. With this new record, the number of bird species found in Bhutan has increased to 739 species.

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Bird Species' Tolerance of Secondary Forest Habitats and Its Effects on Extinction

Conservation Biology ◽

10.1111/j.1523-1739.2004.00336.x-i1 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 1607-1616 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

GRANT M. HARRIS ◽

STUART L. PIMM

Keyword(s):

Secondary Forest ◽

Bird Species ◽

Species Tolerance ◽

Forest Habitats

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Diversidad de aves en fragmentos de bosque seco tropical en paisajes ganaderos del Departamento de Córdoba, Colombia

Revista de Biología Tropical ◽

10.15517/rbt.v65i4.26313 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 65 (4) ◽

pp. 1625

Author(s):

Jose Alejandro Vergara Paternina ◽

Jesús Ballesteros Correa ◽

Carlos González Charrasquiel ◽

Juan C. Linares Arias

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Secondary Forest ◽

Tropical Dry Forest ◽

Bird Species ◽

Sampling Period ◽

Shannon Index ◽

Dry Forest ◽

Tree Cover ◽

Bird Diversity ◽

Secondary Forests

In Colombia the tropical dry forest is one of the most threatened and least known ecosystems; these have been impacted by different transformation processes and habitat fragmentation, which have affected bird conditions and survival. This research evaluated the influence of landscape elements (forest and pastures with different tree covers) on bird diversity in the tropical dry forest of Córdoba, Colombia. The study was developed within an extensive livestock landscape to characterize the avifauna in four habitat types formed by fragments of secondary forests with different tree cover: secondary forest, pastures with high tree cover, pastures with low tree cover and only pastures. The influence of tree cover on bird diversity was evaluated with monthly samplings in 200 m long transects (per habitat), with two observation intervals (6:00 - 9:00 and 15:00-18:00), from September 2011 to May 2012. A total of 6 667 individuals belonging to 180 species and 48 families of birds were registered. The most abundant species were Columbina talpacoti (5.37 %), Brotogeris jugularis (5.14 %), Tyrannus melancholicus (4.81 %) and Bubulcus ibis (4.80 %). The most abundant family was Tyrannidae (16.4 %), followed by Psitacidae (9.0 %) and Columbidae (8.2 %). The family with the highest number of species was Tyrannidae with 28 species, followed by Accipitridae and Icteridae with 10 species each. The greatest species richness was present in the secondary forest habitat, followed by the pastures with high tree cover, and pastures with low cover. The lowest abundance and species richness was found in pastures without tree cover with significant differences between the habitats (Fisher, p <0.05). According to the Shannon index, the diversity of birds was higher in the secondary forests. In contrast, the lowest diversity was found in pastures without tree cover. The greatest species richness occurred in the months of October and November. In the rest of the sampling period, the number of recorded species and individuals showed some stability. The importance of trees presence in extensive livestock areas was evidenced because they help to contain an important diversity of bird species, and they also generate connectivity among fragments of secondary forests in the cattle landscape.

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Nest decoration: birds exploit a fear of feathers to guard their nest from usurpation

Royal Society Open Science ◽

10.1098/rsos.211579 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (11) ◽

Author(s):

Tore Slagsvold ◽

Karen L. Wiebe

Keyword(s):

Tree Swallow ◽

The Novel ◽

Cyanistes Caeruleus ◽

Nest Box ◽

Structural Support ◽

Nest Boxes ◽

Cavity Nesting ◽

In The Wild ◽

Nest Usurpation ◽

Nest Materials

Many species of birds incorporate feathers into their nest as structural support and to insulate the eggs or offspring. Here, we investigated the novel idea that birds reduce the risk of nest usurpation by decorating it with feathers to trigger a fear response in their rivals. We let prospecting birds choose between a dyad of nest-boxes in the wild, both containing some nest materials, but where one had a few white feathers and the other had none. All three species of cavity-nesting birds studied, the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca , the blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus , and the tree swallow Tachycineta bicolor , hesitated to enter boxes with white feathers. A similar avoidance of white feathers was found when the alternative nest-box of a dyad held black feathers. However, the birds readily collected white feathers that we placed in front of their nest-box, showing the fear of such feathers was context-dependent. We suggest that naive prospecting birds may perceive feathers in nests as the result of a predation event, and that owners decorate nests with bright feathers that can be seen from the opening to deter others from entering.

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THE POSSIBILITY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF BIRD WATCHING AS A SPECIFIC FORM OF TOURISM IN THE DELIBLATO SANDS - CASE STUDY

TEME ◽

10.22190/teme180305029k ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 475

Author(s):

Živana R Krejić ◽

Snežana Milićević ◽

Katarina Plećić ◽

Dragana Babić

Keyword(s):

Nature Reserve ◽

Bird Species ◽

Specific Form ◽

Nature Reserves ◽

Main Task ◽

Underdeveloped Countries ◽

Point Of Interest ◽

Bird Watching ◽

Business Entities

During 2017, the Society for bird protection in Serbia has organized free trips for domestic tourists in the protected nature reserves in northern Serbia. Their main task was to educate tourists about rare bird species in Serbia and explore the possibility for the development of bird watching, as a specific form of tourism. Since these forms of tourism are not sufficiently developed on Serbian travel market, the main aim of this paper is to examine the motives of tourists who are taking trips. Results of the research should determine the manner in which domestic tourists, in economically underdeveloped countries like Serbia, are related to natural values and whether it is possible that specific forms of tourism become point of interest for domestic tourists and part of the tour operators offer.The aim of the paper is to present the opinions of a group of 54 tourists who visited The Special Nature Reserve Deliblato sands in June 2017 for the education and observation of rare species of birds. Research has shown that the dominant motives of tourists were related to their need for physical activity, recreation and leisure, rather than observing and photographing rare birds. The results of the survey of the descriptive statistics show that the majority of the respondents believe that the observation of birds and sustainable tourism in the Nature Reserve of the Deliblato sands will only experience its development.Research results can be useful to business entities in tourism with the aim of forming a tourist offer for domestic and foreign tourists as well as individuals, with the aim of developing awareness of the importance and importance of protected nature reserves and their preservation in the future. This is the not first study, but one of the pioneer research to examine the motives of traveling by domestic tourists in terms of specific forms of tourism development in Serbia.

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Hydraulic Simulation of Waterbird Habitat Reconstruction

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/201910104001 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 101 ◽

pp. 04001

Author(s):

W P Huang ◽

C Y Ku ◽

L K Chien ◽

C J Ye

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Nature Reserve ◽

Bird Species ◽

Salt Ponds ◽

Hydraulic Simulation ◽

Hydrodynamic Simulations ◽

Hydrodynamic Response ◽

Reconstruction Project ◽

Bird Species Diversity ◽

Water Depths

Cigu wetland consists of industrial salt ponds and lagoon is situated at the coast in the southwestern of Taiwan which is demarcated as Coastal Nature Reserve. The salt ponds experienced declines in bird species diversity and population compared with those within the lagoon area due to the deeper water depths. Different kinds of measures to alter water depths of salt ponds by filling soil are proposed. The hydrodynamic simulations were conducted for studying the hydrodynamic response to proposed reconstruction alternatives. The potential waterbird abundance was then estimated for the alternative recommendation. The methodology proposed in this study can reduce the risk of unexpected results by implementing the reconstruction project directly.

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An Experimental Test of Snake Skin Use to Deter Nest Predation

The Condor ◽

10.1093/condor/108.4.963 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 108 (4) ◽

pp. 963-965

Author(s):

Elizabeth C. Medlin ◽

Thomas S. Risch

Keyword(s):

Bird Species ◽

Elaphe Obsoleta ◽

Glaucomys Volans ◽

Artificial Nests ◽

Nest Boxes ◽

Adaptive Explanation ◽

Mammalian Predators ◽

Nesting Material ◽

Rat Snake ◽

Southern Flying Squirrel

Abstract Abstract Some bird species utilize snake skins as nesting material, possibly to decrease predation. We constructed 60 artificial nests simulating the nests of Great Crested Flycatchers (Myiarchus crinitus) in nest boxes to test the prediction that snake skins deter nest predators. Twenty of the boxes lacked rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta) skins (control), 20 had a single skin in the nest, and 20 had a skin in the nest and another displayed outside the box. Five of the control boxes were depredated (20%), while none of the experimental boxes were depredated. Our results supported our prediction that use of snake skins would deter mammalian predators, particularly the southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans). Although our results suggest a potential adaptive explanation for this behavior, our design did not allow us to address the degree of olfactory or visual detection by the squirrels, and left other potential explanations untested.

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