Environmental drivers of autumn migration departure decisions in midcontinental mallards

Background The timing of autumn migration in ducks is influenced by a range of environmental conditions that may elicit individual experiences and responses from individual birds, yet most studies have investigated relationships at the population level. We used data from individual satellite-tracked mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) to model the timing and environmental drivers of autumn migration movements at a continental scale. Methods We combined two sets of location records (2004–2007 and 2010–2011) from satellite-tracked mallards during autumn migration in the Mississippi Flyway, and identified records that indicated the start of long-range (≥ 30 km) southward movements during the migration period. We modeled selection of departure date by individual mallards using a discrete choice model accounting for heterogeneity in individual preferences. We developed candidate models to predict the departure date, conditional on daily mean environmental covariates (i.e. temperature, snow and ice cover, wind conditions, precipitation, cloud cover, and pressure) at a 32 × 32 km resolution. We ranked model performance with the Bayesian Information Criterion. Results Departure was best predicted (60% accuracy) by a “winter conditions” model containing temperature, and depth and duration of snow cover. Models conditional on wind speed, precipitation, pressure variation, and cloud cover received lower support. Number of days of snow cover, recently experienced snow cover (snow days) and current snow cover had the strongest positive effect on departure likelihood, followed by number of experienced days of freezing temperature (frost days) and current low temperature. Distributions of dominant drivers and of correct vs incorrect prediction along the movement tracks indicate that these responses applied throughout the latitudinal range of migration. Among recorded departures, most were driven by snow days (65%) followed by current temperature (30%). Conclusions Our results indicate that among the tested environmental parameters, the dominant environmental driver of departure decision in autumn-migrating mallards was the onset of snow conditions, and secondarily the onset of temperatures close to, or below, the freezing point. Mallards are likely to relocate southwards quickly when faced with snowy conditions, and could use declining temperatures as a more graduated early cue for departure. Our findings provide further insights into the functional response of mallards to weather factors during the migration period that ultimately determine seasonal distributions.

Krasnoyarsky-IV kurgan cemetery of the Great Migration Period

The paper presents the materials of the Great Migration Period from the Omsk Irtysh region, obtained during the excavations of the Krasnoyarsky-IV burial ground. In total, eight burial mounds with 13 burials were examined in 2009 by the expedition of the Omsk State Pedagogical University led by M.A. Grachev. The aim of this work is to determine regional features and chronology of the Krasnoyarsky-IV burial complexes , as well as some details of the historical and cultural development of the local population in the transitional period from the Iron Age to the early Middle Ages. The research methodology is based on comparative and typological analyses of the material complexes, morphological and constructional specifics of the burials, and on anthropological studies, including methods of odontology. According to the results of the study, the chronological interval of the functioning of the necropolis spans the end of the 4th — first decades of the 6th centuries A.D., which corresponds with the appea-rance of the Karym type monuments in the territory of the southern taiga of Western Siberia. The signs of artificial skull deformation, erection of small embankments, cremations, and Eastern-European and Central Asian imports suggest involvement of the Karym population in the epochal historical and cultural processes, as well as contacts with neighboring forest-steppe and southern taiga cultures of the Ural-Siberian region. Characteristics associated with the heritage of the cultures of the Early Iron Age, particularly, the Sargatka and Kulayka Cultures, were noted: orientation of the buried; location of the goods in the grave; ornamental and morphological features of the ware; and specific types of bronze decorations. The symbiosis of innovations and traditions of the previous epoch is partly confirmed by the anthropological characteristics in the ratio of the longitudinal and transverse diameters of the crowns of the permanent lower first molars.

Iron Arrowheads from Objects of the Xianbei Time of the Karban-I Complex (Northern Altai)

The article presents the results of a study of iron arrowheads discovered during excavations of objects of the Xianbei time of the Karban-I funerary complex. This site is located on the left bank of the Katun river, 1.7 km north-west of the Kuyus village, in the Chemal region of the Altai Republic. During the excavation of the Great Migration period burials, a collection of 14 iron arrowheads was discovered at this necropolis. As a result of the classification of these items, one group, one category, one section, two departments, five types of products with several options are distinguished. The analysis of the available materials allows us to assert that the three-bladed tiered arrowheads of types 1a, 2a belong to the Xiongnu military tradition and date back to the 2nd — 5th centuries AD. A specimen with equalsized layers of type 3a can be an early «transitional» to the South Siberian tradition. Iron arrowheads with a geometric feather of asymmetric-rhombic (type 4a) and rhombic (type 5 a) forms without support existed during the Xianbei-Rouran period (2nd — 5th centuries AD).

BLADED WEAPONS FROM GRAVE 16 DATING TO THE MIGRATION PERIOD AT THE DZHURGA-OBA CEMETERY IN THE EASTERN CRIMEA

Описывается погребение - кенотаф № 16 из могильника Джурга-Оба в Восточном Крыму. По найденным в нем вещам (элементы ременной гарнитуры) это погребение датируется второй половиной V - первой половиной VI в. Здесь было обнаружено оружие с прямым однолезвийным клинком, которое можно идентифицировать как скрамасакс. В его конструкции и декоре есть элементы как восточного происхождения (железная гарда), так и западного (накладки на ножны с декором в виде птичьих голов). Погребения со скрамасаксами немногочисленны в Северном Причерноморье и, возможно, отражают сасанидскую воинскую традицию. The paper publishes a cenotaph grave 16 from the Dzhurga-Oba cemetery in the Eastern Crimea. Based on the items retrieved from the grave (belt sets details), the grave is dated to the second half of the 5 - first half of the 6 centuries. Among the finds there is a straight single-edge knife that can be identified as scramasax. Its design and decoration reveal some elements of Oriental origin (iron guard) and Western origin (scabbard plates featuring bird heads as a decoration). The graves with scramasax are not numerous in the North Pontic region, possibly, they reflect a Sasanid military tradition.

THE 2019 EXCAVATIONS OF THE ROMAN PERIOD AND THE MIGRATION PERIOD AT THE YASKOVICHI-1 SETTLEMENT IN THE PRIPYAT POLESIE

В статье представлены результаты исследований 2019 г. на селище Ясковичи-1, открытом в 2017 г. на северной окраине Припятского Полесья. Памятник содержит выразительный горизонт позднеримского периода (рубежа II/III - середины IV в.), сопоставимый с древностями киевской культуры. На примере отдельных фрагментов посуды и вещей прослеживаются связи его жителей с носителями вельбарской культуры. Следующий горизонт памятника - пражской культуры -представлен отдельными находками и немногочисленными фрагментами керамики. Последние соотносятся преимущественно с ранними этапами развития пражского керамического комплекса в Припятском Полесье, не исключая фазы «0» - финала позднеримского времени и начала эпохи Великого переселения народов. The paper presents results of the excavations conducted at the open settlement of Yaskovichi-1 in 2019. The settlement was discovered in 2017 in the northern fringe of the Pripyat Polesie. The site contains a horizon dating to the late Roman period (the turn of the 3 - mid-4 centuries) rich with finds comparable with antiquities of the Kiev culture. Analyzing some fragments of the vessels and other items, the author traces down the links between its residents and the Wielbark population. The subsequent horizon of the site, i.e. that of Prague culture, is represented by individual finds and few fragments of ceramics. The latter are correlated, mostly, with the early development of the Prague ceramic assembly in the Pripyat Polesie, without excluding phase 0, which is the final stage of the Late Roman period and the beginning of the Migration Period.

CHROMOSPHERIC ACTIVITY NATURE OF KIC 6044064

This study presents results obtained from the data of KIC 6044064 (KOI 6652). KIC 6044064 was observed by the Kepler Mission for a total of 1384.254 days. 525 minima times were determined, 264 of which were primary minima and the rest were secondary minima. The OPEA model was derived and its parameters were obtained. On the secondary component, there are two different spot bands latitudinally outstretched, consisting of three spots located with a phase interval of 0.33. The average migration period was found to be 623.063±4.870 days (1.71±0.01 years) for the first spot group, while it was 1125.514±7.305 days (3.08±0.02 years) for the second group. The spectral types of the components seem to be G7V+K9V. Their masses and radii were determined to be 0.86Mʘ and 0.89Rʘ for the primary component and 0.54Mʘ and 0.62Rʘ for the secondary component.

Biklyan’ Settlement of the Initial Stage of the Migration Period in the Lower Kama Region

The article examines the materials of the beginning of the Migration period from the Biklyan’ settlement, located in the Lower Kama region. The area of 100 m2 was excavated in 2018, where a rectangular structure slightly deepened into subsoil loam with a large pit in the central part was revealed. The finds are mainly represented by fragments of ceramics, as well as an iron sickle, spinning whorls, a fragment of a crucible and ceramic objects of unknown purpose. The artifacts from the Biklyan’ settlement have close analogies in the materials of the sites dated to the beginning of the Migration period in the Middle Volga region (3rd–4th centuries CE) and reflect the traditions of several different population groups. The bulk of the ceramics collection is similar to the vessels of the Middle Volga variant of the Kiev culture; there are also fragments that find analogies in the assemblages of the forest-steppe peripheral sites of the Late Sarmatian world and in the simultaneous cultures of the Kama region. Stratigraphic records and radiocarbon dating testify in favor of the relatively short-term functioning of the site in the late 3rd – early 4th centuries.

A 6th–7th century solitary burial of a warrior with his horse at Tiszagyenda

The site of Tiszagyenda-Búszerző dűlő became known during the archaeological and field surveys prior to the construction of the Tiszaroff Dam. The site covered the northern part of a large contiguous Migration Period settlement, the southern extents of which were discovered within the same project.The settlement occupying both banks of the Tisza River's backwater had been inhabited for centuries. The first settlers in the Bronze Age (leaving behind three burials) were followed by the Sarmatians (seven burials), Gepids (nineteen burials), Avars (seven burials) and finally tribes of Hungarian conquerors (81 burials). Besides of the linear graveyards of common people, solitary, richly-furnished graves of the Gepid and the Avar Periods were also found.The solitary grave of an armed man was unearthed on the west bank of the Tisza's backwater. His horse and his dog, cut in half and thrown over the horse, were buried a couple steps away in a separate grave. Grave No. 1660 is of especially outstanding archaeological value. Dated by the solidus of Byzantian Emperor Maurikios Tiberius (582–602), the grave held rich finds decorated with Early Christian symbols. The mounts of the swordbelt and his belt-set refer to Lombard and Merovingian connections. The Gepid-Germanic warrior of Gyenda was buried in the early Avar period after the collapse of the Gepid Kingdom in 567–568, in the first decade of the 7th century.

Is the global decline reflects local declines? A case of the population trend of Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis in Banyuasin Peninsula, South Sumatra, Indonesia

Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis (Linnaeus, 1766) is Endangered species confined in East Asian Australasian Flyway (EAAF) sites. We compiled and summarized all historical numbers of Far Eastern Curlew in Banyuasin Peninsula, South Sumatra, Indonesia. A total of 30 records were documented from 1984 to 2020. The largest number is 2,620 individuals during the migration period in 1988. Unfortunately, the largest number drop to 1,750 individuals in wintering period in 2008, and then drop to 850 individuals in 2019. The numbers indicate that the population decline by up to 62% in the last 35 years (1984 to 2019). It is clear that the global decline of the Far Eastern Curlew also reflects the local population decline in Banyuasin Peninsula.