The use of Passeriformes in the eastern Amazonia of Brazil: culture encourages hunting and profit encourages trade

This study characterized the ethnoornithological knowledge of passerine bird keepers, known locally as criadores or passarinheiros, who capture, train, breed and sell wild species in the eastern Amazonia of Brazil. The data were collected from 62 bird keepers through informal, semi-structured interviews and participant observation. The family Thraupidae was the most captured group, with 23 species used, predominantly of the genus Sporophila. Sporophila angolensis had the highest use value and price. Our findings suggest that conservation strategies should be a priority for Sporophila maximiliani, S. angolenses and Saltator maximus. The Passeriformes are obtained by capturing them from the wild, by captive breeding or in trade. They are trapped and sold locally, in nearby municipalities, and also in more distant locations as far as the border with Suriname, French Guiana and Guyana. On the international market, sale prices can reach USD 5,400 per individual bird. Species with both significant economic value and regional cultural significance are of the greatest importance to the bird keepers. To mitigate the negative effects of this activity, we recommend implementation of environmental education programmes for bird keepers, to improve their capacity to raise awareness about wildlife, and to inform them of the legal processes for bird keeping and for breeding birds in captivity for legal trade. Long-term strategies for bird conservation should also be considered, such as the implementation of ecotourism in protected areas to encourage the practice of birdwatching.

Laser Enrichment Device Stimulates Broiler Laser-Following Behavior While Increasing Individual Bird Locomotion and Pen-Wide Movement

Genetic selection for fast growth rate and high breast muscle yield in modern broilers has unintended effects on animal welfare and behavior, namely in terms of inactivity and leg disorders. We hypothesized that exercise stimulated through environmental enrichment could positively stimulate pen-wide activity and improve bird welfare. The study objectives were to implement a laser enrichment device to motivate active and feeding behaviors throughout the pen. Twelve hundred Ross 708 broilers were randomly assigned to enrichment (LASER; laser enrichment, or CON; no laser enrichment) for 49 d. Seventy focal birds were randomly assigned to 14 video-recorded pens for behavioral analysis, including focal bird home pen behavior and walking distance. Pen-wide activity was also measured during the 4-min laser periods, four times daily, d0–8, and 1 day weekly, wk 1–6. Focal birds were gait scored wk 1–6, and were euthanized on d42 for tibia bone mineral content, density, and bone breaking strength analysis. Time spent active was increased in LASER-enriched birds compared to CON on wk 3–5 by up to 214% (wk 4), and percent of time at the feeder was increased in LASER-enriched birds by 761% on wk 4 (P < 0.05). Peak percent of birds following the laser (LASER-enriched pens only) was observed on d0 (8.52%). Over wk 1–6, peak laser-following behavior was observed on wk 3 (3.07% of birds). Percent of birds moving during laser periods was increased in LASER-enriched pens on d0, 1, 2, 6, 7, and 8, with a percent increase of 68.7% observed on d1 (P < 0.05). Percent of birds moving (laser-following or not) was increased on wk 1, 3, and 4 in LASER-enriched pens, with an increase of 69.7% observed on wk 4 (P < 0.05). No differences were found in tibia measures. These data indicate that laser enrichment stimulated voluntary locomotion through wk 5 and laser-following behavior through wk 6, and that the relatively small percent of birds actively following the laser stimulated pen-wide movement above the level of the CON through wk 4 on study.

The population of Sanderling (Calidris alba) in 2020 Migration on the South Coast of Puger, Getem, Jember

Sanderling (Calidris alba) is a type of shorebird that migrates from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere. Indonesia is a migration route for East Asia-Australasia. The southern coastal area of the Jember Regency, one of the wetlands, especially in East Java, has become an air route and a stopover for shorebirds every year. The research objective was to determine the population of Sanderling (Calidris alba) on the southern coast of Puger and Getem, Jember Regency. Method of collecting encounter rates. Bird watching is carried out in the morning at 06.00-08.00 and in the afternoon at 15.30-17.30. Data recording includes species, number of birds, and other supporting data. Identification using the book by Mac Kinnon et al. (2010) and Bhushan, B., et al. (1993). Tools used for binocular observation, monocular, camera, and GPS. Data analysis used the density index for individual bird species using the formula method (Alikodra, 1990). The results of the study were a total of 445 individuals. Data analysis of Muara Sungai population density was the location with the four other survey locations' highest number.

Prevalence and pathological investigation of fowl typhoid in commercial poultry farms at the Rajshahi City Corporation area of Bangladesh

The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Fowl typhoid in apparently healthy, sick and dead birds at Rajshahi city corporation area of Bangladesh. A total of 500 birds (50 from each farm) and 30 different organs (liver from 10, ovary from 8, heart from 7, and caecal tonsils from 5) were randomly collected from different commercial poultry farms during the period from January 2018 to December 2018. The prevalence study was performed based on history, clinical signs, symptoms exhibited by the individual bird of a flock during the observation of farms, and illness of birds. The suspected birds were subjected to necropsy examination. During sample collection, clinical signs and gross necropsy changes were recorded very carefully. The collected tissues were fixed, processed, sectioned, stained, and studied light microscopically. The routine histopathological method was used for the detection of tissue-level alterations in Fowl typhoid infected cases. The prevalence of Fowl typhoid in apparently healthy birds of different poultry farms was 8.2%, and 23.33% of organs were involved. Grossly, the liver was enlarged, congested and revealed bronze discoloration with focal necrosis in the surface of the liver. Old raised hemorrhages were found in the caecal tonsils. Congested, deformed, and pedunculated ova were other important findings. Microscopically, the sections of the liver showing multifocal necrosis with infiltration of heterophils and reticulo-endothelial cells. Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.8(2): 201-209, August 2021

Tolerance to Human Presence, a Comparison between Rural and Urban Birds in Southeastern Brazil

Green urban areas such as parks, squares, gardens, and forest fragments present a large diversity of uses and conservation objectives. These spaces provide resources for many species of birds that are confronted with the necessity of living in proximity to humans. It is assumed that bird species that acquire resources in urban environments live in a constant state of fear to guarantee survival and reproduction. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the tolerance of birds with respect to human presence in two distinct conditions, rural areas (low level of human presence) and urban areas (high level of human presence). The fieldwork was conducted in a city in the Southeast region of Brazil, and the methodology used the alert distance and flight initiation measurements based on the approach of an observer to the individual bird being focused. Our results suggest that individuals observed in urban areas rely on shorter alert and escape distances, especially males, adults, and birds that forage in interspecific flocks. We discuss the challenges and strategies with respect to escape characteristics of urban birds, with special focus on the economic escape theory. In general, our results support those from studies conducted in other urban areas in different biogeographic regions, and they will aid in comprehending the impacts caused by the increase in urban areas around the world.

Abundance and nesting sites characteristics of red-headed picathartes Picathartes oreas in Cross River State, Nigeria

This study assessed the abundance and nesting sites characteristics of red-headed picathartes (Picathartes oreas) in protected and unprotected forest in Cross River State, from August 2016 to January 2017. Data were collected through oral interviews, and field observations, using area search and quadrant methods. Data on bird and nest were tested using one-way ANOVA and t-test while tree species diversity indices were calculated using Paleontological Statistics Software Package, version 16. Results revealed that a mean of 38±52 individual bird from six colonies were sighted during the survey. Higher number of 20 (52.63%) individuals from two colonies was recorded in the undisturbed montane rain forest of the Okwangwo Division of the Cross River National Park than the disturbed montane rain forest with 18 (47.37%) individuals from four colonies. A total of 40 (50%; n = 20 each) nests of red-headed picathartes were sighted during the survey around the undisturbed and disturbed montane rain forest respectively. All (100%; n = 40) the nests observed were attached to the south-eastern side of the rocks and all the nests were constructed with mud mixed with grass. Colony Six was on the highest altitude with an elevation of 529 m, followed by colony two with an elevation of 342 m while the lowest elevation was 195 m recorded in colony three. Tree diversity index was higher in the protected forest (3.352; 3.227) than in the unprotected forest (1.846). Characteristic features of Picathartes oreas habitat were rock, hill, valleys and rivers and streams. It was evidenced by the study that Picathartes oreas still nests both in the disturbed and undisturbed forest but the level of disturbance and type of crops grown may have impact on the nesting behaviour. Therefore, anthropogenic activities should be regulated in the area, to ensure the conservation of Picathartes oreas. Keywords: Picathartes oreas; abundance; nesting sites characteristics; unprotected and protected forest.

Noinfectious diseases in industrial poultry farming: histological diagnostics

Under conditions of egg and poultry farming noninfectious diseases are widespread and cause significant economic damage. These diseases can be caused by a variety of etiological factors: the deficiency of the necessary chemical elements, substances or their combination, excessive amount of certain classes of organic substances in feed. Diseases of complex etiology are also recorded, which arise from a combination of unfavorable factors and anatomical and physiological properties of individual bird crosses. Under the influence of unfavorable factors in various organ systems, pathological processes of various nature (dystrophic, necrotic, inflammatory) arise. In this case, the symptoms and pathological changes can be either similar or poorly visible macroscopically. In this regard, the results of histological examination of organs and tissues play an important role in making a presumptive diagnosis. The article introduces the original results of researches on pathomorphological diagnosis of the most widespread diseases in industrial poultry farming of noninfectious etiology: chronic feed borne toxicoses (including mycotoxicoses), hypovitaminosis A, hyposelenosis, amyloidosis, necrosis of the femoral head. The results of examination of spontaneous material stuff. The findings are formulated in the form of histological diagnoses. The attention is focused on the main (pathognomonical) signs of a great value for differential diagnostics of this group of diseases. Various variants of pathomorphological course of the diseases running both in a classical way, and in the form of a pathomorphosis (the variated pathoanatomical and histological lesions against application of vaccines and antibiotics) are considered.

Evaluation of the consumption of two integral diets for psittacines in captivity in a wildlife rescue unit

Objective: To evaluate the consumption of nutrients intake in a traditional and aproposed diet for parrots in captivity.Design / methodology / approach: The study took place at Pachuca de Soto,Hidalgo, Mexico. Twelve parrots were assessed in captivity. The traditional diet(TD) provided to the birds was evaluated and a proposed diet (PD) was thealternative. The consumption and the amount of waste of each diet were recordedfor five weeks. PD formula contained fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Data wereanalyzed with the Student's t-test at p< 0.5 significance.Results: TD lacked homogeneity in the ingredients offered during the five weeksevaluation. There were significant differences in the consumption between the two 2 evaluated diets. The individual bird consumption was 349 g for TD and 314 g forPD. The TD was 41.87% fruits and 58.12% vegetables. The PD diet includedseeds supplements. From the second to the fifth week of the evaluation PD hadless waste.Limitations of the study: The age, weight, sex and excreta collection from theparrots were not registered due to restriction rules in the conservation area.Findings / conclusions: The PD offered the requirements that parrots need. It isnecessary to train technical personnel on diet preparation. Feeding frequenciesand food diversity stimulated consumption and waste decreased, improving thenutritional balance of the birds in captivity.

Elevation Correlates With Significant Changes in Relative Abundance in Hummingbird Fecal Microbiota, but Composition Changes Little

The microbial communities living on and in vertebrate hosts have myriad effects on their hosts, potentially including fitness and speciation. Microbiomes are influenced by both intrinsic (from the host) and extrinsic (from the environment) factors, but the relative contributions of each are unknown for most non-model species. Abiotic environmental factors can influence the microbiome directly but it is less clear how abiotic gradients shape microbiome communities in the wild. Here, we captured eight wild Anna’s hummingbirds from three different elevations along their elevational distribution in California and moved them directly to a middle (“Within Range”) elevation. After some time at this elevation, the birds were moved in captivity to an “Above Range” elevation, and two birds were later moved back to the Within Range elevation. Fecal and food samples were collected longitudinally and the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene analyzed. The most abundant phyla in all samples were Fusobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria. Individual Bird ID explained the greatest amount of microbiome variation at 27.5%, signifying some amount of stability in the Anna’s hummingbird fecal microbiome. Sample elevation explained 19.6% (p = 0.001) of the variation using weighted UniFrac, but only 2.0% (p = 0.047) using unweighted UniFrac, implying a change in abundance of bacterial lineages in the microbiome but not in the presence or absence of the microbes. Additionally, Fusobacteria were 7.0x more abundant in the Above Range elevation samples while Firmicutes were 0.3x lower. A thorough understanding of how the environment can shape the microbiome may assist in conservation efforts and a general understanding of host-microbiome relationships in an era of rapid and global environmental change.

Sugar water feeding practices are associated with bird species composition in urban backyards

Feeding backyard birds with sugar water is increasingly popular in urban areas, but it has poorly understood effects on bird assemblages. In New Zealand, ca. 20% of households engaged in feeding wild birds use sugar water, often in an attempt to attract native, nectarivorous birds. Developing best practices for sugar water feeding could be a powerful tool for attracting these species in urban areas. However, it is currently unclear whether these feeders actually support native species, and, if so, which feeding practices are most effective in increasing visitation. We surveyed New Zealanders who provide sugar water to birds about their feeding practices via an online questionnaire. The aim of our research was to understand existing practices and their effect on attracting native species, as well as the motivations and social factors behind urban sugar water bird feeding. Our results show that this practice is popular throughout the country with the majority of households successful in attracting native nectarivorous species to their gardens. Sugar water feeder type had the largest effect on reported species richness at feeders in comparison to other factors (e.g. sugar concentration). Feeders specifically designed for nectarivorous birds, namely the Tui Nectar Feeder™, are more successful at attracting natives in comparison to other commonly used feeder types. Thus, individual householder decisions around feeder use can have important consequences for bird species composition in urban gardens. Future research is needed to understand the consequences of sugar water feeding for bird communities and individual bird health.