Harpy Eagle Harpia harpyja nest activity patterns: Potential ecotourism and conservation opportunities in the Amazon Forest

Summary Tourism can be a powerful tool for wildlife conservation if well controlled and responsibly managed. Apex predators constitute particularly attractive subjects for tourism, but simultaneously they may generate conflict with local communities. Harpy Eagles Harpia harpyja are the largest eagle species and are highly sought-after by ecotourists. The last stronghold of the Harpy Eagle is the Amazon Forest, which is being deforested for cattle ranching. We tested methods for developing Harpy Eagle ecotourism as a potential tool to harmonize these issues. Using camera traps, we collected data on timing of Harpy Eagle visits to their nests, as well as on probabilities of viewing an eagle. Harpy Eagles can only be seen predictably during the first 12 of the 30–36 month nest cycle. In nests with nestlings (up to 5–7 months), adults are visible on a daily basis, and this period lasts 16.6% of the nesting cycle, demanding a minimum of 13, 17, and 26 nests to have at least one nest with a nestling on 90%, 95% and 99% of the days. After this 5–7 month window, we found that two and 4.16 days spent at nests afforded high probabilities of sighting a fledgling or adult eagle, respectively. Harpy Eagles were mainly active at the beginning and the end of the day. Activity core lasted 6.5 decimal hours for adults, peaking at 10h00, and 7.45 decimal hours for fledged eagles, peaking at 15h00. Our results demonstrate that Harpy Eagles fit several criteria for a viable wildlife attraction: predictable in activity and location, viewable, and diurnal, even though at the same time they are considered a rarity. In a broader perspective, Harpy Eagle tourism shows every indication of being a significant tool for more robust rainforest conservation.

Observations on breeding behaviour of a pair of endangered Egyptian Vultures Neophron percnopterus (Linnaeus, 1758) over three breeding seasons in the plains of Punjab, India

The present study has been conducted to document information on breeding behaviour of Egyptian Vultures Neophrons percnopterus from Punjab. This study is based on 688 hours of video records documenting breeding behaviour of a pair of endangered Egyptian Vultures Neophrons percnopterus occupying the same nesting site over three consecutive breeding seasons from 2015 to 2017. The site is located in the hollow of a ventilation window of the Space Observatory in Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab. During the third breeding period (February to August 2017), the nest activity has been extensively video-recorded in egg laying and incubation period, and chick rearing period using a Dome CCTV Camera. Both parents participated in nest building, and of the total recorded incubation time of 339.39h over 23 days the nest was attended for 199.35 and 139.46h by the female and male respectively, and unattended for 0.58h. The incubation period was 42 to 43 days, and the egg laying/hatching intervals between eggs/chicks was five days. A total of six young ones hatched and fledged from three broods of two eggs each. All chicks survived to fledging and no mortality or siblicide of younger chick occurred due to aggression/starvation by elder chick. The high fledging success rate indicates a healthy habitat and food source in the nesting area.

Breeding biology of the Critically Endangered Tahiti MonarchPomarea nigra, a bird with a low productivity

SummaryWe studied the breeding biology of Tahiti MonarchPomarea nigra, a ‘Critically Endangered’ forest bird endemic to Tahiti (French Polynesia). Nest activity was monitored from 1998 to 2002, and again from 2008 to 2015. During these 12 years, only 2–13 breeding pairs per year produced hatchlings. Egg-laying occurred all year, but usually increased between August and January, peaking around November. Of the 200 nests monitored, 33 (16%) were abandoned shortly after construction, 71 had an egg laid immediately after the nest were completed (34 %) and 96 nests (46 %) had a pre-incubation phase of 18.9 ± 1.9 days (3–62 days;n= 47 nests), during which the birds visited the nest on an irregular basis. Half (49 of 96) of these nests were abandoned before an egg was laid, with incubation subsequently commencing at the remaining nests (n= 47). Although both sexes incubated for an average of 13.6 ± 0.3 days (range 13–15), the female usually spent more time incubating than the male. Only one young per nest was ever observed. The average nestling phase was 15.5 ± 0.7 days (range 13 to 20 days). Parents continue to feed the young after fledging for 74 ± 4.7 days (range 42–174). As with many tropical island endemics, the Tahiti Monarch has low reproductive productivity as indicated by the fact that: 1) only 56% of pairs attempt to lay an egg in any one year, 2) most pairs attempt only one brood per year and 3) the considerable length of the nesting and fledging phases. Because of its low productivity, maximising the reproductive success of the Tahiti Monarch is essential to secure its recovery.

Assessment of reproductive requirements in habitat conservation efforts: a case study on blackside dace (Chrosomus cumberlandensis), a federally listed threatened species

Species conservation efforts often fail to consider specific-species reproductive requirements. This omission is understandable given that collection of such data must focus on individual taxa and is potentially disruptive. However, spawning requirements remain a vital component in long-term conservation efforts. Using blackside dace (Chrosomus cumberlandensis), a federally listed threatened species, we demonstrate how reproductive habitat can be unobtrusively quantified to improve restoration efforts. Reproductive habitat characteristics are unquantified for blackside dace. However, these fish spawn in certain areas, suggesting they have specific reproductive microhabitat requirements. The physical habitat of nests and surrounding areas was characterized by assessing depth, stream flow, and physical structure, which were correlated with nest activity. Flow and depth were the most influential factors in determining nest location and nest activity, respectively, and nest activity was positively correlated with substrate size. These data are a critical component for ongoing habitat restoration and captive breeding efforts for this species, providing the foundation for recreating essential reproductive habitat. Our study emphasizes the importance of understanding a species’ reproductive habitat requirements and ecology to aid habitat restoration efforts for threatened species.

Foraging ecology of the night-active bull ant Myrmecia pyriformis

Here we report on the nocturnal bull ant Myrmecia pyriformis, a species whose activity to and from the nest is mainly restricted to the dawn and dusk twilight respectively. Recent research on M. pyriformis has focussed on its visual system, the timing of activity patterns, and the navigational strategies employed by individuals while foraging. There is, however, a lack of basic ecological information about this species. The present study describes the behaviour and foraging ecology of wild populations of M. pyriformis. We find that most foragers make only one foraging journey per night, leaving the nest at dusk twilight and returning during dawn twilight. Individuals who make multiple trips typically return with prey. We provide evidence that foragers imbibe liquid food while abroad and likely share these resources via trophallaxis once within the nest. Activity during the night varies with moon illumination, and we postulate that this is due to changes in light levels, which influence navigation to and from the nest. This hypothesis is supported by observations of activity during overcast conditions. Finally, we also describe some aspects of colony founding, colony demise and the behaviour of reproductive individuals during the mating season.