What do we know about survival of Common cranes? An elementary introduction with Euring databank

The increase of the western populations of Common cranes (Grus grus) in the last five decades highlights the need to estimate survival rates. According to Euring databank (EDB), the oldest Common crane ever known was 27 years old in year 2017. This lifespan was obtained by means of 24,900 recoveries of 2,124 ringed cranes collected between years 1936 and 2017. Nearly all cranes were ringed and observed in the last 30 years, and therefore the elapsed time was not enough to reach the maximum longevity reported for the species in captivity (43 years, Mitchell 1911). Life expectancy was five years on average after the ring was attached. Here we provide some elementary analyses to calculate the annual apparent survival rate (ϕ = 0.85) and the annual encounter probability (p = 0.45) of Common cranes, as a first step to advance in the knowledge of the species' population dynamics. The great increase of breeding and wintering crane populations in western Europe in the last decades remains largely unexplained.

Contributions to the study of water and semiaquatic birds in the Ramsar Wetland ”lower Prut lakes”

The Republic of Moldova has few wet areas. One of them was designated in the year 2000 with the status of Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar). The ecosystems of lakes and ponds are home to a multitude of bird species. Aquatic and semi-aquatic species make up a major component of the studied sector and consists of 94 species. Thousands of specimens transit the area during spring and autumn migrations; others retreat in the winter to be safe and to feed; the summer guests arrive in the warm period of the year to breed. Out of the total number of aquatic and semi-aquatic birds, 26 species are protected nationally and internationally. During the study period, rare or accidental species were recorded, such as: Bubulcus ibis, Cygnus columbianus, Branta ruficollis, Grus grus, Sterna caspia, Arenaria interpres, Larus ichthyaetus etc.

Hydrology and Cranes (Grus grus) Attraction Partnership in the Management of the Hula Valley—Lake Kinneret Landscape

The Hula Valley in northern Israel was partly covered by swamps and a shallow lake. The entire valley was drained and converted for agricultural cultivation. Later, an additional soil reclamation operation was implemented, including eco-tourism. From the early 1990s, winter migratory cranes have attracted visitors, thus supporting the hydrological management of the entire valley that protects the downstream Lake Kinneret. It was documented that these birds have a minor impact on phosphorus pollution, but severely damaged agricultural crops are protected by mild deportation and daily, short, periodical corn seed feeding.

Irregularly Migratory and Rare Waterbird Species within Two Representative Wetlands from the Central Romania (South-East Transylvania) Based on Long Term Inventory

Waterbird species from the category of rare or irregular migratory, can have faunistical and conservative value, especially locally, but also regionally or nationally. This paper presents the results of long-term avifauna inventories (25 years) from two wetlands of importance for waterbirds, located in southeastern Transylvania, central Romania. 44 species of waterbirds from these phenological categories have been identified, some for the first time at national or regional level (Transylvania), others with a high number of individuals for the reference area or even records for Transylvania. Moreover, at least one of the species has bred sporadically here, as the only place inside the country and the second in Romania (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus), another is possibly breeding for several years (Grus grus).

Distribution and numbers of waterbird species breeding in the city of Wrocław

During the years 2003-2010, the numbers of pairs of waterbird species breeding in the city of Wrocław (293 km2) were assessed. The city is situated in Odra valley, where four smaller rivers join it. The city abandons in oxbows, gravel and sand, and clay pits and other water bodies. In total, 20 waterbird species were recorded as breeding in Wrocław. The most common were Anas platyrhynchos (145-212 pairs), and Fulica atra (70-104 pairs). Relatively common were also the Gallinula chloropus (28-37 pairs), Rallus aquaticus (9-25 pairs) and Cygnus olor (9-11 pairs). For each remaining species less than 10 pairs were recorded. Among rare species, the following were recorded as breeding in Wrocław: Grus grus, Mergus merganser, and Porzana porzana. In the few recent decades, the increase in the number of breeding pairs was recorded for Anas platyrhynchos and Cygnus olor; while a parallel decrease was recorded for Fulica atra, Gallunula chloropus, Chroicocephalus ridibudnus, and Tachybaptus ruficollis. Species such as the Aythya fuligula, Aythya ferrina, grebes, gulls and terns avoid the city. Some of them even ceased to breed (Anas quarquedula, Anas clypeata and Botaurus stellaris). The city plays an important role in protecting water bird species such as Grus grus, Cygnus olor, Porzana porzana and Alcedo atthis.

Circadian preferences of birdwatchers in Poland: do “owls” prefer watching night birds, and “larks” prefer daytime ones?

Birdwatching is a very popular and increasing leisure activity, and the study and observation of birds is more popular in the morning due to the greater activity among birds at that time of day. The aim of our study was to find out whether there was a relationship between the circadian preference of observers and their favourite bird species and whether it was influenced by such factors as professional status, age and gender. In an e-mail survey we asked a total of 433 Polish ornithologists (professionals) or birdwatchers (non-professionals) for their morningness–eveningness preferences (four categories) and favourite (open choice) bird species and received 143 responses. The temporal (circadian) preferences of respondents declined from early morning (35.7%) to evening/nighttime (11.4%). Circadian preference categories differed significantly by age, with early morning respondents significantly older. These preference categories did not differ significantly in terms of response time to the survey invitation or in the percentage of their favourite birds that were categorised as daytime birds. A total of 204 species were identified as favourite birds of which 34 species were mentioned by five or more respondents, with only two, the common crane Grus grus and the Eurasian pygmy owl Glaucidium passerinum mentioned by more than 10% of respondents. The white stork Ciconia ciconia was more popular with professionals than non-professionals and the swift Apus apus less popular. A significant gender × circadian preference interaction was detected for the percentage of favourite birds categorised as daytime birds, with fewer daytime birds among early morning female recorders. The presented results are obviously of a correlative nature, but open the door for further, more advanced study and suggest there may be a need to investigate temporal biases when analysing citizen-based data.