Fauna of birds of the flown meadows of the Pinega river (Arkhangelsk region)

Исследования, проведенные на лугах северо-востока Архангельской области в долине реки Пинеги, показали изменения фауны и численности некоторых видов птиц, связанные со значительным сокращением или прекращением сельскохозяйственного использования лугов. Следствием стало сокращение численности или отсутствие полевого жаворонка Alauda arvensis и чибиса Vanellus vanellus на некоторых лугах, ранее используемых как выпасы или сенокосы. Исчезновение дубровника Ocyris aureola не связано с прекращением сельскохозяйственного использования лугов. В то же время, в связи с зарастанием лугов древесно-кустарниковой растительностью, относительно высока численность лугового чекана Saxicola rubetra, камышовой овсянки Schoeniclus schoeniclus, пеночки-веснички Phylloscopus trochilus, чечевицы Carpodacus erythrinus, фифи Tringa glareola, большого улита Tringa nebularia и др. Studies conducted in the meadows of the northeast of the Arkhangelsk Region in the valley of the Pinega River, showed changes in the fauna and abundance of some bird species associated with a significant reduction or cessation of the agricultural use of the meadows. The effect was a reduction in the number or absence of the Skylark Alauda arvensis and the Lapwing Vanellus vanellus in some meadows previously used as pastures or hayfields. At the same time, due to the overgrowing of meadows with tree-shrub vegetation, the numbers of Whinchat Saxicola rubetra, Reed Bunting Schoeniclus schoeniclus, Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus, Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus, Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola, and Greenshank Tringa nebularia became relatively high. The disappearance of Yellow-breasted Bunting Ocyris aureola is not related to the termination of the agricultural use of the meadows.

Grassland specialist birds in a managed habitat of north-east Bangladesh

A seven‐month spanned study from November, 2015 to May, 2016 was carried out to investigate the status and fluctuation of grassland dependent birds in a Saccharum‐Imperata patch locating in the northeastern Bangladesh under ownership of a tea‐garden; applying line transects with direct observation and diversity index. A total of 2586 individuals of 110 species was observed, grassland specialists constituted 829 (32%) individuals from 39 (35%) species. Only seven non‐passerine specialists were observed against 32 passerine specialists whereas 19 being resident and 20 wintering species. Of the grassland specialists, 31% turned out as few, 33% fairly common, 21% common and 15% very common. Insectivores and seed‐eaters were dominant feeding guilds over scavengers and omnivores at the site yielding nine categories. Specialists scored the highest value in Shannon’s Index for November (H′sp.nov = 2.81) followed by a steady decline throughout the study period. The largest winter congregation of Yellow‐breasted Bunting and Common Rosefinch in Bangladesh was observed and sighting of Black‐headed Bunting was the fourth national record. The site was found to be supporting breeding population of Golden‐headed Cisticola so far only known to country’s inventory. Despite once supporting about 10 extirpated avian species and still being diverse, adequate information on grasslands is still wanting in Bangladesh. Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 26(2): 175-187, 2017 (July)

Breeding and Demographic Parameters and Range Expansion of the Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus)

Breeding and Demographic Parameters and Range Expansion of the Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) Breeding biology, age structure and other population parameters of the Common Rosefinch, collected on the Courish Spit of the Baltic Sea, are presented. The results are compared with similar population characteristic in different parts of the range. All materials, especially the proportion of breeding yearling males, are discussed in connection with the process of range expansion of the species. The expectation of greater proportion of yearling males in new areas did not proved.