Evolution of the Western Palaearctic Passerine Migration Pattern Presentation Style

The scientific knowledge available in many detailed studies needs, from time to time, some generalization that allows to provide a synthesis or at least presentation of certain problem to both, scientific community and wide public interested in the topic. This article presents evolution of the presentation style of spatial course of the passerine migration in the Western Palaearcic. According to developing knowledge in the topic the style of presentation of general migration pattern evolved from a “line–arrow ” style suggesting that the birds use narrow “corridors” to more adequate to the phenomenon “carpet” style with called as “bottle-necks” concentrations being local and temporal effects of existing migratory barriers and guiding lines as maritime coasts, mountains and deserts. These details of migratory flyways are less visible in nocturnal passerine migrants than diurnal movements of both of passerines and gliding big birds. Generally, according to spatial relations between breeding and wintering areas of the bird populations living in Western Palaearctic four main flyways are defined and presented on maps: Western (Atlantic), Central (Apennine), South- Eastern (Balkan) and Eastern (Indian). Their background lies in the post-ice age history of distribution changes of the bird species, but details still evolve.

Jericho (Palestine) Spring 2014 Ornithological and Parasitological Research Results

Work begun in autumn 2013 at a research ringing site near Jericho in the Jordan Valley (Palestine) was continued in spring 2014 (8 March–18 April). Due to a flood, the area was much changed in relation to the autumn habitat distribution. Standard ornithological and ringing work was performed using mist nets. The methods used were in accordance with SEEN (SE European Bird Migration Network) standards, and apart from ringing included some measurements (wing length, tail length, wing formula) and scores (fat determination and body mass), as well as testing of the directional preferences of migrants. The ornithological work was expanded to include parasitological testing, taking into account migrant-helminth relations during migration. Altogether 508 birds from 44 species were ringed and inspected for external signs of infection by Collyriclum faba trematodes (subcutaneous cysts), and an additional 32 dead individuals were collected and dissected. Altogether 168 internal parasites were found. The most common migrants in spring were Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca, Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla and Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida, while the autumn dominants–Masked and Red-backed shrikes (Lanius nubicus and L. collurio) were scarce. In spring a good number of Dead Sea Sparrows Passer moabiticus were caught, but only two introduced Indian Silverbills Lonchura malabarica.

Timing of the Spring Migration of the Song Thrush Turdus Philomelos through Southern Italy

We studied the population trend and movements of the Song Thrush during the winter near the Tyrrhenian coast in the region of Latium, from 2012 to 2014, in order to establish the timing of spring migration. During standardized mist-netting we captured and ringed 431 birds. The data collected indicate that the study area is mainly visited by wintering thrushes with significant year-toyear fluctuations in the number of birds. Based on the information gathered during this study, confirmed by the results of other studies carried out in southern Italy and France, we assume that spring migration starts in Latium between the second and third decade of February.

First Observation of the Yellow-Browed Warbler Phylloscopus Inornatus in Romania

ABSTRACT The Yellow-browed Warbler is a species of the Sylviidae family that breeds in Asia and winters in South East Asia and western Europe. In northern and north-western Europe it is considered one of the most numerous nocturnal migratory species from Siberia. In the southern and eastern part of the continent there are fewer observations of the presence of the species in passage or in winter. On 29 September 2013, during a ringing session in the southern part of the Danube Delta (Romania), we captured a juvenile individual of the Yellow-browed Warbler. This is the first record of the species in Romania.

Methodological Procedure For Pre-Investment Wind Farm Ornithological Monitoring Based On Collision Risk Estimation

ABSTRACT Even though the proportion of wind farm victims compared to general bird species mortality is relatively low, there is necessity to limit direct and indirect losses to the bird populations caused by this kind of human activity. Estimation of threats to the birds resulting from building of wind farms is a very difficult task and it must take into account several constrains. The basic task is to build farms in localities that are the safest to birds. This can be achieved by pre-investment monitoring and direct observations at the spot and then evaluation of potential threats and risks. Field methods typical for the studies on bird populations are usually applied in such monitoring. The procedure described below includes four steps: screening (starts the process and sets preliminary constrains of the location), monitoring (standardised data are collected at the location), estimations of potential collision risk and evaluation of the location. The key parameters determining collision risk of bird species are: (1) the number of individuals utilising the monitored area in different seasons, (2) air space utilization (height and directions of flights), as well as (3) characteristics of the species behaviour. The starting data set contains: species name, number of individuals, height of flight (three layers - below, in, above the rotor), and distance from the observer. The final estimation of the collision index (the most probable number of collisions per turbine a year) is based on (1) estimation of the total number of individuals that use the defined area during a year and (2) estimation of probability that the individual will collide. In the latter (i.e. 2) the most important is that birds can actively avoid passing through the rotor swept (active avoidance rate) and that even birds, which crossed the rotor swept area not necessarily will be killed. Calculations are performed for each species separately and then are summarised to get the farm index as well as season indices. Some values of indices for raptors studied at 76 localities in Poland are given in the table. The final evaluation of the site is made as shown in a parametric analysis table, discussion of cumulative and barrier effects and the discussion of species specific risk to species of high conservation concern.

The Ringing Site In Jericho (Palestine) – Development Of Bird Migration And Parasitological Research On The Great Rift Valley Flyway

ABSTRACT A new research project near Jericho in the Jordan Valley (Palestine) was launched on 10 September 2013, work continued until October 23rd 2013. Standard ornithological work and bird ringing work was conducted using mist nets situated in an oasis type habitat of Wadi Qelt surrounded by palm plantations. The field methods followed the SEEN (SE European Bird Migration Network) standards that include apart from ringing of captured birds, also several measurements (wing length, tail length, wing formula) and scores (fat load and body mass), as well as the studies on the directional preferences of migrants using round, flat orientation cages. Ornithological research was enhanced by parasitological studies analysing migratory birds (hosts) - helminths relations during migration period of the former. This was a part of complex studies covering the Middle East and north African ringing sites. Altogether 481 individuals of birds representing 59 species were ringed and about 50 were retrapped. The most interesting was relatively high share of Masked and Red-backed shrikes as well as good number of birds of local species as Dead Sea Sparrows and introduced Indian Silverbills.

The Mid-Winter Assemblage And Diversity Of Bird Populations At Patlakhawa Protected Forest, Coochbehar, West Bengal, India

ABSTRACT We compared avian community structure of six contrasting habitat types at Patlakhawa Protected Forest of Dooars of West Bengal. During three weeks of the mid-winter studies 154 bird species representing 41 families were recorded. Of the 154 recorded species, 22 were observed in grasslands, 22 in swamp forest, 46 in riverine forest, 52 at miscellaneous plantation areas, 43 at forest edges and 51 at wetlands. The Shannon-Wiener general diversity indices varied among the habitats and ranged from 2.323 to 3.458. Richness (5.813-11.410), evenness (0.406-0.641) and dominance (0.042-0.128) indices also varied considerably among the study locations. The highest diversity, the lowest dominance and a very high evenness were characteristics of miscellaneous plantations. Grasslands showed highest evenness and considerably high species diversity. The lowest avian evenness and diversity were recorded in wetlands and swamp forests. Insectivorous birds were most numerous (53), followed by carnivorous (40), omnivorous (29) and frugivorous (15) birds. Winter appeared to be the best time for niche occupancy at the Himalayan foothills for assemblages of either winter migrants and visitors or altitudinal and passage migrants, as about 30% of all encountered species were migrants. 96 bird species were observed to occur at any one of these habitat types showing high habitat fidelity. Mixed avian foraging assemblages that varied in species number and compositions were observed and they contain 11 to 17 species. Avifaunal niche diversity and richness in different habitats of Patlakhawa Protected Forest during mid-winter envisaged its importance from conservation point of view.

Biometrics of Non-Breeding Immature Mallards (Anas Platyrhynchos) in North-Eastern Poland

ABSTRACT Jankowiak Ł., Polakowski M. 2011. Biometrics of non-breeding immature Mallards (Anasplatyrhynchos) in north-eastern Poland. Ring 33, 1-2: 47-53. Non-breeding immature Mallards from north-eastern Poland (Północnopodlaska Lowland) were captured and measured (altogether 182 individuals in their 1st year of life). Immature males were significantly larger than females according to all analysed parameters. The length of bill and wing were the most sexually dimorphic traits and the least dimorphic were the total length of bill with head and tarsus length. The results of the present analysis and other studies in different regions of Europe suggest that wing size of Mallards follows Bergmann’s rule, while a bill size - Allen’s rule. Mallards from north-eastern Poland are larger than those from western Europe. We hypothesize that the reason for this is the fact that main population of non-breeding Mallards originates from the larger eastern European population, which is confirmed by some ringing data.

Migration Dynamics and Directional Preferences of Passerine Migrants in Azraq (E Jordan) in Spring 2008

ABSTRACT Stêpniewska K., El-Hallah A., Busse P. 2011. Migration dynamics and directional preferencesof passerine migrants in Azraq (E Jordan) in spring 2008. Ring 33, 1-2: 3-25. Azraq ringing station is located in the Azraq Wetland Reserve in the eastern part of Jordan, on the Eastern Palearctic Flyway. It covers different types of habitat: reedbeds and a dry area with tamarisks (Tamarix sp.) and nitre bushes (Nitraria billardierei). In total, from 18 March till 28 April 2008, we caught 2767 birds from 64 species. Three species dominated distinctly, constituting 58% of total number of caught birds: the Reed Warbler (Acrocephalusscirpaceus) - 570, the Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) - 535 and the Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca) - 488 birds. The catching dynamics reveals the highest numbers of birds in the beginning of the studied period. The total number constantly decreased till 6 April and then subsequently increased. The first high peak of the dynamics at the end of March was due to intensive migration of Chiffchaffs and Lesser Whitethroats. The second one at the end of April was caused by pronounced migration of Reed Warblers and Blackcaps. High numbers of migrants in the beginning and at the end of the catching period reveal that we did not cover the whole migration season in Azraq, so it is necessary to begin the study much earlier and to finish later there. We performed also 1169 directional preferences tests using Busse’s orientation cage, mostly for the Reed Warbler. Directional preferences of tested birds reveal clear dominance of NW headings - towards European breeding grounds. The NE headings towards Asian breeding grounds were also present. There was a low share of reversed headings, especially SE. We suppose that birds showing NW headings could migrate from wintering grounds in Africa across the most southern coasts of the Arabian Peninsula; these flying to the NE seem to have crossed Egypt and then fly along the Arava Valley. Many species presented in this paper, like the Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio), could show loopmigration, flying in spring more eastern than in autumn. High numbers of caught and observed birds, including habitat-specialists like numerous Acrocephalus warblers, reveal that the Azraq Wetland Reserve is a very important place for Palearctic migrants during their migration through desert areas of the Middle-East.