Nest cameras do not affect nest survival in a meadow-nesting shorebird

Summary Identifying the fate of birds’ nests and the causes of breeding failure is often crucial for the development of conservation strategies for threatened species. However, collecting these data by repeatedly visiting nests might itself contribute to nest failure or bias. To solve this dilemma, automatic cameras have increasingly been used as a time-efficient means for nest monitoring. Here, we consider whether the use of cameras itself may influence hatching success of nests of the Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa at two long-term study sites in northern Germany. Annually between 2013 and 2019, cameras were used to monitor godwit nests. In 2014 and 2019, nests were randomly equipped with cameras or not, and nest survival checked independently of the cameras. Nest-survival models indicated that survival probabilities varied between years, sites and with time of the season, but were unaffected by the presence of cameras. Even though predation is the main cause of hatching failure in our study system, we conclude that predators did not learn to associate cameras with food either when the cameras were initially installed or after they had been used for several years. Cameras were thus an effective and non-deleterious tool to collect data for conservation in this case. As other bird species may react differently to cameras at their nests, and as other sets of predators may differ in their ability to associate cameras with food, the effect of cameras on breeding success should be carefully monitored when they are used in a new study system.

The diversity, population, ecology and conservation status of waterbirds in the wetland of Bangpu Nature Education Center, Thailand

Chanate W, Wasan D, Pisarut Y, Rungtip S. 2020. The diversity, population, ecology, and conservation status of waterbirds in the wetland of Bangpu Nature Education Center, Thailand. Biodiversitas 21: 3910-3918. Wetlands are a crucial habitat for waterbirds as they provide feeding and breeding sites and increase survival rates during the non-breeding season. This study aimed to update the status of waterbirds in Bangpu Nature Education Center, Samut Prakarn Province, Thailand by evaluating the species diversity and abundance. The ground count survey was conducted at 3 habitats: mangrove forest, mudflat, and bungalow accommodation from March to October 2017. A total of 34 waterbird species classified under 5 orders, 8 families, and 22 genera were observed. The majority of waterbird species (23 species) were found in the mudflat area with the least number (12 species) observed in the bungalow accommodation location. The Shannon-Weiner diversity index (H’) showed that the mudflat area had significantly greater diversity compared with the other sites. The mudflat area also had the greatest species richness (D) (2.89) and species evenness index (E) (0.38), respectively. The Sorensen similarity index (CS) indicated that the greatest similarity in species (66.67%) was found between the mangrove and bungalow areas. A total of 6 residents, 20 migratory species, and 8 species with both resident and migratory populations were found with 4 species classified as abundant, 3 as common, 15 as moderately common, and 12 as uncommon species identified. In addition, the conservation status of waterbirds is becoming increasingly important with 5 near-threatened species (NT) already identified according to IUCN, 2016 and Red Data of Thailand, 2007, consisting of Heteroscelus brevipes, Limosa limosa, Numenius arquata, Mycteria leucocephala and Vanellus cinereus. It is recommended that monitoring the conservation status of the Bangpu wetlands should be continued to maintain waterbird diversity.

Tendance et répartition des limicoles nicheurs du Marais poitevin. Bilan des deux enquêtes 2005-2006 et 2015-2016

Le Marais poitevin est l’une des plus grandes zones humides de France après la Camargue. Connu à l’échelle internationale pour l’accueil des oiseaux d’eau en migration et en hivernage, le Marais poitevin est aussi un site clé à l’échelle nationale pour la reproduction des limicoles. Depuis les années cinquante, le paysage du Marais poitevin a fortement évolué, plus de 47 % de la surface de prairies a été transformée en cultures céréalières. Cette étude fait le bilan des deux dernières enquêtes décennales sur la reproduction de huit limicoles du Marais poitevin 2005-2006 et 2015-2016. En dix ans, les effectifs nicheurs sont à la baisse pour le Vanneau huppé Vanellus vanellus (Linnaeus, 1758) (–9 %), le Chevalier gambette Tringa totanus (Linnaeus, 1758) (–30 %) et la Barge à queue noire Limosa limosa (Linnaeus, 1758) (–45 %). La création de plans d’eau associée aux réfections des digues suite à la tempête Xynthia (2010) a consolidé et favorisé les populations d’Avocette élégante Recurvirostra avosetta Linnaeus, 1758 (+89 %) et dans une moindre mesure celles d’Échasse blanche Himantopus himantopus (Linnaeus, 1758) (+10 %). L’analyse de l’influence des mesures agro-environnementales sur le territoire semble signaler une faible efficacité relative du premier et deuxième niveau pour l’accueil de la nidification d’une partie des espèces de limicoles nicheurs contrairement aux niveaux les plus contraignants, les plus environnementaux, incluant notamment le paramètre « maintien des niveaux d’eau au printemps ». Il est urgent pour l’avenir des limicoles reproducteurs du Marais poitevin que des mesures fortes soient instaurées par la mise en place d’une politique agricole « zone humide » volontaire, visant à maintenir et augmenter fortement les surfaces de prairies avec des niveaux d’eaux plus élevés au printemps.

An assessment of bird communities across Ujjani and its five satellite wetlands in Solapur District of Maharashtra, India

Ujjani wetland is a potential Ramsar site in Maharashtra, India with several satellite wetlands associated with it. The present study contributes to single large or several small habitat conservation theories by assessing wetland bird communities. Aquatic bird communities were assessed using area search and point count methods at Kumbhargaon (Ujjani), Bhadalwadi, Madanwadi, Palasdev, Pimple and Ravangaon wetlands between October 2011 and September2012. These are representative satellite wetlands around Ujjani. One-hundred-and-ten species of wetland birds across 12 orders and 29 families were recorded. Out of these, 66 were resident and 44 were found to be migrants. These birds represent 23% mudflat feeder, 16% upland feeder, 14% marsh feeder, 12% bird of prey, 11% surface feeder and fish eaters, while divers and wet meadow feeders were represented with 8.5% and 5% of the species, respectively. Among the birds recorded, Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus, Common Pochard Aythya farina, and Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga belong to the Vulnerable category; while Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata, Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster, Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa, Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus, Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor, Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala, River Tern Sterna aurantia, and Great Thick-knee Esacus recurvirostris represent Near Threatened category on the IUCN Red List. The presence of these bird species underlines the importance and conservation priorities of a major as well as smaller satellite wetlands. Anthropogenic activities such as cattle grazing, fishing, sand and soil mining, land encroachment, urban development and tourism were observed as some of the threats to this wetland ecosystem as well as bird communities.