Carrion Crow Corvus Corone Breeding In Lubuskie Province, W Poland

In 2013, a clutch of the Carrion Crow Corvus corone was recorded in the Warta Mouth National Park, western Poland. In April and the first half of May a female incubating two and later four eggs was observed. In mid-May the nest was found empty, indicating that the failure occurred during incubation or the early nestling stage. No male was observed until that time. However, two Carrion Crows were recorded near the nest after the breeding failure, which indicates that it was indeed a breeding attempt made by a homogamic (“pure”) Carrion Crow’s pair. This is the first case described for the Lubuskie Province and the second for Poland in the last 200 years.

Nesting Sites Of The Cape Sparrow Passer Melanurus In Maloti/Drakensber, Southern Africa

In Maloti/Drakensberg region, southern Africa, Cape Sparrow locates nests (N=108) mainly in trees (38.9%), shrubs (27.8%) and man-made structures (29.6%). Most occupied trees were exotic (31.6%), while all (27.8%) occupied shrubs were indigenous. A few nests (3.8%) were found in disused weavers’ nests. Nesting sites ranged in height from 1.5 m to 10 m above the ground; on average – 4.2 m (N=52).

Fitness Measures In Female House Sparrows: No Correlation With The Expression Of Two Plumage Ornaments

Male birds often possess conspicuous or colourful plumage traits which are thought to function either in mate choice or as status signals which indicate their competitive ability. Many studies have confirmed that the size or expression of these traits is positively correlated with their success at attracting mates, their social dominance, or their fitness. However, relatively few studies have examined plumage variation in females, likely because it is much less pronounced than in males. We examined whether female plumage is associated with fitness measures in the house sparrow (Passer domesticus). Male house sparrows have a conspicuous throat patch of black feathers that has been correlated with social dominance and fitness, and females also possess a variably-coloured throat patch, although the variation is much more subtle than in males. However, neither the timing of breeding nor reproductive performance was associated with throat patch colouration of female sparrows in any of three continuous study years, nor was it related to female age. The size of the other obvious female plumage trait, the wing bar, also did not predict fitness. We conclude that female plumage variation is not under sexual selection in the house sparrow.

Ambient Temperature And Nest Temperature Variation In Enclosed Nests (Spanish Sparrow) And Open-Cup Nests (Iberian Azure-Winged Magpie)

Temperature plays a central role in the life of birds, especially during egg incubation and nestling thermal brooding. I investigated nest temperature variation relative to ambient temperature during incubation in an enclosed nest-builder species (Spanish sparrow Passer hispaniolensis) and an open-cup nest-builder species (Iberian azure-winged magpie Cyanopica cooki). The data for empty enclosed nests showed that the nest structure acted as a temperature buffer which reduced the impact of night-time temperature variation within the nest. The buffer effect was reduced as ambient temperature increased at dawn. The presence of an adult increased the difference between nest temperature and ambient temperature, and dissociated its variation from the ambient temperature variation. The enclosed nest also retained the body heat released by an adult in the nest. Both effects had a positive effect on the temperature balance in the nest. By contrast, open-cup nest temperature was more affected by the ambient temperature, although it did not affect the egg temperature directly. Thus the absence of an incubating parent would endanger the hatchability in open-cup nests more rapidly than in enclosed nests. The life histories of the investigated species correspond to these findings, i.e. a more pronounced presence of the female in the Iberian azure-winged magpie nests.

Decline Of Jackdaws Corvus Monedula In The City Of Zielona Góra

The aim of the study was to determine the number and distribution of breeding Jackdaws Corvus monedula in different urban habitat types in Zielona Góra in 2012 and to compare the results with those from a 2004 survey. On the seven study areas, the highest density was recorded in Park Tysiąclecia with 6.0 pairs per 10 ha, followed by the plot Słoneczne with 3.5, the Old Town with 1.0 and the plot Winnica with 0.4. On the plots Zacisze, Chynów and Industrial Zone, foraging Jackdaws were noted but we did not find any indication for breeding. From 2004 to 2012, the number of Jackdaws declined on the plots Słoneczne and Old Town. On the plot Winnica the number of breeding pairs remained the same. In Park Tysiąclecia Jackdaws increased from two pairs in 2004 to six pairs in 2012. This increase may have been caused by the settlement of birds formerly breeding in the Old Town where numbers were declining, probably due to the loss of suitable nest sites. The most likely causes for the overall decrease of Jackdaw numbers in Zielona Góra include renovation, modernisation and thermal insulation of buildings in the Old Town and in housing estates, leading to a decline in space available for nesting. Other significant factors are the lack of food sources in the city centre and an increasing degree of urbanisation. Furthermore, the city is surrounded by dense pine monoculture which undoubtedly has a negative influence on the number of Jackdaws.

The Use Of Nest-Boxes By Two Species Of Sparrows (Passer Domesticus And P. Montanus) With Opposite Trends Of Abundance – The Study In Warsaw

The occupation of nest-boxes by House- and Tree Sparrow in Warsaw was investigated in 2005-2009 and in 2012. Riparian forests, younger and older parks in downtown, and housing estates were included in the study as 4 types of habitats corresponding to the urbanization gradient of Warsaw. 1035 inspections of nest-boxes suitable for both species (type A) were carried out during the breeding period and 345 nest-boxes of other types were inspected after the breeding period. In order to determine the importance of nest-boxes for both species on different plots, obtained data were analyzed using Nest-box Importance Coefficient (NIC). This coefficient describes species-specific rate of occupation of nest-boxes as well as the contribution of the pairs nesting in them. Tree Sparrow occupied a total of 33% of A-type nest-boxes, its densities were positively correlated with the number of nest-boxes, and seasonal differences in occupation rate were low for this species. The NIC and the rate of nest-box occupation for Tree Sparrow decreased along an urbanization gradient. House Sparrow used nest-boxes very rarely, only in older parks and some housing estates. Total rate of nest-box occupation for House Sparrow in studied plots was 4%, and NIC was relatively low. However, locally, installation of nest-boxes limited House Sparrow decline caused by reduced availability of its typical nest sites. Both species used only A-type nest boxes. The rate of nest-box occupation by House Sparrow decreased sharply since 1980s, and opposite trend was observed for Tree Sparrow. These alterations are consistent with the general changes in both species populations in Warsaw in recent decades: decrease in House Sparrow and increase in Tree Sparrow number. The presented results suggest that loss of nest sites may not be the main reason of decrease in House Sparrow population in Warsaw. Additionally, House Sparrow decline leads to increase in nest sites (including nest-boxes) available for Tree Sparrow, what may contribute to the expansion of the latter species.

Changes In Tree Sparrow Passer Montanus Populations From Urban Parks

Studies of local Tree Sparrow Passer montanus populations from urban parks of Polish cities reveal changes in abundance and in nest site selection which differ from data collected from farmland. These changes are not always synchronous among neighbouring cities and parks. Several urban declines are difficult to explain, chiefly when obscured by the changes in the number of artificial nesting sites. One such case was a recorded decline Tree Sparrow and a switch to nesting in buildings observed in the Szczytnicki Park of Wrocław, after colonization by pine martens Martes martes. Judging from this the absence/presence of important predators or nest predators in other urban parks of Polish cities may be an additional factor promoting Tree Sparrow declines. It is suggested that a lack of precise data on the intensity of (mosaic-like in time and space) predation pressure in agricultural and urban landscapes should be considered when explaining the reasons for population changes in other bird species.

What Colour Is That Sparrow? A Case Study: Colour Aberrations In The House Sparrow Passer Domesticus

In this paper 16 distinct, heritable colour aberrations (mutations) in the House Sparrow are described, based on specimens found in museum collections, records of individuals seen in the wild and from bird breeders keeping aberrant coloured sparrows in captivity. Based on the frequency found in the museum specimens Brown is the most common mutation in the House Sparrow, followed by Ino and Albino. Besides the mutations there is also a, presumably, non-heritable aberration called Progressive Greying described. Progressive Greying is in fact by far the most common colour aberration found in the species but was, in the past, always assigned as ‘Partial Albino’ without its real nature being understood. This paper will give some insight in the nature of Progressive Greying.

Seasonal Changes In Group Size And Foraging Activity In An Urban Population Of Magpies (Pica Pica)

We studied seasonal variation in group size and feeding activity in an urban population of Magpies in Zielona Góra, Western Poland. Each month from 1984 to 1987 we counted the species along a 10 km transect across the city and noted the number of single birds, pairs and flocks as well as flock size. In 1999 and 2000 we regularly observed Magpies foraging on the lawns of a park of Zielona Góra and recorded the number of pecks, as a measure for feeding activity. Magpies were most often encountered as single birds in April and May, as pairs in March, and in flocks in August. This pattern is predominantly dictated by the constraints of the breeding season and by reproductive success. The mean flock size was highest in August. Pecking rate showed a minimum in the summer months, with no sex-specific difference. However, males were much more active in foraging during winter, probably due to their larger body size and the respective higher energetic requirements.

Blue Tits Cyanistes Caeruleus And Great Tits Parus Major As Urban Habitat Breeders

The Great Tit Parus major and the Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus are the only Western Palearctic Parids that maintain numerous urban populations as well as forest populations. Because of their evolutionary history both these species are best adapted to different types of deciduous and mixed forests. Ecological conditions in cities are different from those dominating in forests, especially in such aspects as: habitat fragmentation, tree species composition, microclimate, human activity, predators and food conditions. The tits breeding in cities start laying eggs earlier in the season, lay smaller clutches and fledge fewer fledglings of lower quality. Yet urban populations are often relatively stable in numbers. This may result from the fact that survival of winter is higher in cities due to increased availability of food and milder weather.