ВЛИЯНИЕ ТЕМПЕРАТУРЫ ВОЗДУХА НА НАЧАЛО ГНЕЗДОВОГО ПЕРИОДА У ХИЩНЫХ ПТИЦ В ПАРКЕ «РОЕВ РУЧЕЙ»

Although the 1957 edition of the A.O.U. Check-list records the occasional winter distribution of the Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca) to be as far south as Los Angeles County, a search of the literature reveals only one published record of this species in California since 1916, a bird from near Davis, California, in early January 1967 (Hunter, Calif. Fish and Game 53:213-214). Grinnell and Miller (The Distribution of the Birds of California, Pacific Coast Avifauna No. 27, 1944) summarized earlier Snowy Owl records in the state, and of 17 specific records mentioned, 12 were from either Humboldt or Del Norte counties, two were from Alameda County, and one each from Santa Cruz, Sonoma, and Butte counties, and none more recent than late 1916. If this species has occurred in the state in the past 50 years, as seems likely, the records do not appear to have been published. During early 1967 we were able to obtain observations and (or) reports on several Snowy Owls in California. Archie Mossman of Humboldt State College reported a heavily barred Snowy Owl in a pasture north of Humboldt Bay and approximately three miles west of Arcata, Humboldt County, on the evening of 31 January 1967. It was observed in the same place the next day by several observers, including the authors, but was apparently gone on 2 February when a search of the area failed to reveal it. Two Humboldt State College students reported seeing a white Snowy Owl on the south spit of Humboldt Bay on 2 February, and another student reported a dark bird in the beach dunes west of Arcata on 3 February. The spits and dunes were searched repeatedly in the next few weeks, and Snowy Owls were subsequently observed in a section of large open sand dunes interspersed with small ponds of rain water directly west of Arcata. Between 12 February and 16 April, at least 18 visits were made to this area by either the authors or other competent observers. On 12 February two Snowy Owls, one white, and one barred, were observed. On subsequent visits from one to three owls, one white and two barred, were seen and photographed until 26 March, when the last known observation, of a barred bird, was made by Mrs. Violet Homem of San Francisco. These owls habitually perched on large nearly bare sand dunes 100-400 yards back from the ocean beach and flew parallel to the beach when flushed. In all, they stayed within an area no more than two miles long and one-half mile wide during the times they were under observation. It is possible that some of them may have used other areas at times because all three could not be found on every visit. The white owl seemed particularly elusive. In addition to these records, a Humboldt State College student, Perry Baycroft, reported seeing a white Snowy Owl in the hills approximately four miles southeast of Arcata on 18 February at the same time that a white owl was under observation on the beach. This means that at least four separate Snowy Owls occurred in the vicinity of Arcata during February. So far as we know, the latest date a Snowy Owl was seen in Humboldt County in 1967 was 24 April when California Department of Fish and Game Warden Terry Grosz observed a white Snowy Owl on Table Bluff approximately five miles south of Eureka. Warden Grosz also reported seeing Snowy Owls in northeastern California in April, as follows: 14 April: one bird in white plumage observed onehalf mile north of Wilson Valley, Modoc County. 17 April: one bird in white plumage eating a male Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) on stateline road at Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, Siskiyou County. While he was watching this bird, two additional Snowy Owls, one white, and one barred, flew south across the highway into California, being carried along by very strong northerly winds.

This study presents liver concentrations of trace elements of cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus), common buzzards (Buteo buteo), common kestrels (Falco tinnunculus), and Eurasian eagle owls (Bubo bubo) collected in Korea from 2007 to 2008. Iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in common kestrel juveniles were greater than in other juveniles of birds of prey. Adult cinereous vultures had greater Fe, Pb, and Cd concentrations than in those of other species, but common kestrels had greater Mn and Cu concentrations than in those of other birds of prey. Zinc concentrations in Eurasian eagle owl juveniles and adults were greater than in juveniles and adults of other species, respectively. In common kestrels, Fe, Cu, Pb, and Cd concentrations were significantly greater in adults than in juveniles. In Eurasian eagle owls, only Pb concentrations were greater in adults than in juveniles. Essential elements, such as Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu concentrations, were within the range of other birds of prey studies. Seventeen individual birds of prey (30%) were at a level considered Pb exposed (6-30µg/gdw). This is a greater proportion than reported earlier in herons, egrets, and other birds from Korea. Elevated Pb concentration might be attributed to ingestion of Pb shot and bullet fragments for cinereous vultures and common buzzards, and urbanization for common kestrels. Cadmium concentrations in birds of prey were within the background concentrations (<3µg/gdw) for wild birds.

Avifauna of the Mudeungsan (Mt.) region of Gwangju Metropolitan City

The Avifauna of the Lake Yeongam region and the Surrounding Reclaimed Arable Land

This study established ophthalmic reference values and characterized ocular lesions in two captive populations of boreal owls, including 46 eyes of 23 great grey owls (Strix nebulosa) and 38 eyes from 19 snowy owls (Bubo scandiacus). A complete ophthalmologic exam was conducted, including neuro-ophthalmic reflexes, Schirmer tear test I (STT-I), intraocular pressure (IOP) using rebound tonometry, fluorescein staining, horizontal corneal measurements using Jameson calipers, direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy, and ocular ultrasound biometry. Eyes with an STT of <5 mm/min, outliers, and eyes with severe diseases were excluded from reference value analysis. No statistically significant differences were found between right or left eyes in either species or among individuals in different age groups and sexes. Mean intraocular pressures and Schirmer tear tests were also not statistically significantly different between great grey owls and snowy owls (IOP: 9.6 ± 2.6 mm Hg and 9.1 ± 1.9 mm Hg, respectively, and STT-I: 9.8 ± 2.8 mm/min and 9.8 ± 2.4 mm/min, respectively). However, snowy owls overall had a significantly larger eye than did great grey owls, reflected in corneal diameters (23.4 ± 1 vs. 20.0 ± 0.8 mm, respectively) and sonographic biometry. In both species, the most common ocular lesions included keratitis, cataracts, chorioretinal lesions, and abnormal pecten. Establishment of reference ocular parameters will help wildlife veterinarians and rehabilitators determine an appropriate treatment plan and will aid in correctly identifying the presence of ocular disease.

This work mainly focuses on the study of the status, nourishment and protection of Raptors in the aforesaid area of Catalonia, with a surface area of 486 km 2 , in wich a total of 17 species have been detected, 8 of which are surely nesting, 2 have been more or less recently extinguished, and the rest have been observed in their passing or accidentally. The approximate status of the nesting species is (in pairs): Accipiter gentilis (10- 15), Accipiter nisus (10-15), Buteo buteo (8-12), Hieraaetus fasciatus (3-4), Circaetus ga- Llicus (3-4), Falco peregrinus (3-5), Falco subbuteo (2-3) and Falco tinnunculus (10-15); a diversity of 2.77 bits has been observed in a sample of 140 km 2 . In what concerns their feeding, we may stress the importance of Oryctolagus , consumed by Hieraaetus fasciatus, Buteo buteo , and Accipiter gentilis ; due to the fact of having seen their number reduced through myxomatosis, Oryctolagus seem to have been substituted by Lacerta lepida, Rattus sp. and passeriformes. We may point out the presence of Chiroptera ( Pipistrellus sp.) in the diet of Falco peregrinus and Crustacea ( Nephrops norvegicus ) in F. tinnunculus , the last one being a product of garbage disposal areas; in all the rest, the feeding patterns are similar to the ones found in the rest of Iberia. The problems of preservation of Raptors have no doubt reached their critical point, due to the great quantities of them that are captured, to the destruction of their nests and environment, and to the poisoning they are suffering through phytosanitary products.

Bar patterns on flight feathers of Great Gray Owls (Strix nebulosa) and Snowy Owls (Bubo scandiacus) are variable, and can be used to recognize individual birds. Here I illustrate a method for taking photos of wings of captured owls and describe a way to arrange images of flying birds for comparison with photos of birds in flight or in the hand. I report four examples. First, two Great Gray Owls photographed in flight on different days at the same site were shown to be the same individual, but differed from a dead owl found at that location a month later. Second, I compared eight photographs of wintering Snowy Owls in flight in Saskatchewan and determined that they portrayed seven different owls. Third, I examined photos of breeding male first-year Great Gray Owls at neighboring nest sites and established that they were different birds. Finally, I compared photos of breeding female Great Gray Owls at the same nest site in 2011 and 2013, and determined that they showed two individuals. I suggest that such photography may be used as a tool to census populations of Great Gray Owls and Snowy Owls.

Observations of air and ground temperatures collected between 1993 and 2004 from Emigrant Pass Geothermal Climate Observatory in northwestern Utah are analyzed to understand the relationship between these two quantities. The influence of surface air temperature (SAT), incident solar radiation, and snow cover on surface ground temperature (SGT) variations are explored. SAT variations explain 94% of the variance in SGT. Incident solar radiation is the primary variable governing the remaining variance misfit and is significantly more important during summer months than winter months. A linear relationship between the ground–air temperature difference (ΔTsgt-sat) and solar radiation exists with a trend of 1.21 K/(100 W m−2); solar radiation accounts for 1.3% of the variance in SGT. The effects of incident solar radiation also account for the 2.47-K average offset in ΔTsgt-sat. During the winter, snow cover plays a role in governing SGT variability, but exerts only a minor influence on the annual tracking of ground and air temperatures at the site, accounting for 0.5% of the variance in SGT. These observations of the tracking of SGT and SAT confirm that borehole temperature changes mimic changes in SAT at frequencies appropriate for climatic reconstructions.

Accipitriformes are diverse in their prey preferences and use their grasping feet for hunting. Little is known about the architectural design of muscles related to grasping among species of different sizes, diets, and foraging behaviors. In the present study, we report quantitative data and analysis of the pelvic musculature of the Japanese sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis), Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), common buzzard (Buteo buteo), northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), and cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus). As expected, mass and architecture of the considered muscles were very different between the cinereous vulture and the four other species. The cinereous vulture allocates more mass and physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA) to the proximally inserted flexor muscles, which indicates the rudimentary grasping ability of the foot and is a myological reflection of its carrion preference. Furthermore, in the cinereous vulture, muscles were built with the lowest architectural index (AI) compared with the other species, and the intrinsic foot muscles were short-fibered, which is disadvantageous for rapid manipulation and foot dexterity. The other four species, as a whole, featured large flexor hallucis longus (FHL) muscles and better development of distally inserted flexors, reflecting their predatory lifestyle. Some differences were also found between the species that consumed birds and those that consumed mammals. The two avivorous species were superior in AI and fiber length of the intrinsic foot muscles which are suitable for good hunting speed and digit flexibility, the prerequisition for hunting agile prey.

Herpesvirus strigis, a new species of the genus Herpesvirus, is a pathogen for several species of owls in the order Srigiformes. Natural infection has been observed in the Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo L.), Long-eared Owl (Asio otus L.) and Snowy Owl (nyctea scandiaca L.) In addition the Little Owl (Athene noctua Scopolic) and Tengmalms Owl (Aegolius funereus L.) was experimentally infected. On the other hand the Tawny Owl (Strix aluco L.) and Barn Owl (Tyto albo Scopoli) proved resistant to a massive experimental infection. Of representatives from nine other orders of birds and mammals, only the Old World Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus L.) was found susceptible to this virus. Distribution of viral antigen in various organs of infected owls, as determined by immunofluorescence and by quantitative virus assay, was in accordance with the occurrence of macroscopic and microscopic lesions.

The relationship between the all-India summer monsoon rainfall and surface/upper air (850, 700, 500 and 200 mb levels) temperatures over the Indian region and its spatial and temporal characteristics have been examined to obtain a useful predictor for the monsoon rainfall. The data series of all-India and subdivisional summer monsoon rainfall and various seasonal air temperatures at 73 surface observatories and 9 radiosonde stations (1951–1980) have been used in the analysis. The Correlation Coefficients (CCs) between all-India monsoon rainfall and seasonal surface air temperatures with different lags relative to the monsoon season indicate a systematic relationship. The CCs between the monsoon rainfall and surface-air temperature of the preceding MAM (pre-monsoon spring) season are positive over many parts of India and highly significant over central and northwestern regions. The average surface air temperature of six stations i.e., Jodhpur, Ahmedabad, Bombay, Indore, Sagar and Akola in this region (Western Central India, WCI) showed a highly significant CC of 0.60 during the period 1951–1980. This relationship is also found to be consistently significant for the period from 1950 to present, though decreasing in magnitude after 1975. WCI MAM surface air temperature has shown significant CCs with the monsoon rainfall over eleven sub-divisions mainly in northwestern India, i.e., north of 15 °N and west of 80 °E. Upper air temperatures of the MAM season at almost all the stations and all levels considered show positive CCs with the subsequent monsoon rainfall. These correlations are significant at some central and north Indian stations for the lower and middle tropospheric temperatures. The simple regression equation developed for the period 1951–1980 isy = − 183.20 + 8.83x, wherey is the all-India monsoon rainfall in cm andx is the WCI average surface air temperature of MAM season in °C. This equation is significant at 0.1% level. The suitability of this parameter for inclusion in a predictive regression model along with five other global and regional parameters has been discussed. Multiple regression analysis for the long-range prediction of monsoon rainfall, using several combinations of these parameters indicates that the improvement of predictive skill considerably depends upon the selection of the predictors.

A neurological examination is essential for determining the localisation of neurological lesions. However, in avian species, quantitative data regarding the practicability and feasibility of neurological tests are very limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish normative data for the neurological examination of clinically healthy birds of different species. Forty-two domestic and feral pigeons (Columba livia domestica), 42 mute swans (Cygnus olor), 12 common buzzards (Buteo buteo), 24 common kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) and six northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) were examined. All birds underwent a predefined neurological examination. Interobserver variations between three examiners were investigated in 11 pigeons and 11 mute swans. All postural reaction tests, except for the drop and flap reaction in mute swans, provoked a consistent response in pigeons and mute swans, whereas postural reaction tests of the legs in raptors were often not performable. Cranial nerve tests and most of the spinal reflexes revealed variable responses in all birds. The gastrocnemius reflex was not provokable in any bird. Interobserver agreement was almost perfect (Gwet's AC1 coefficient ≥0.81) for 16 of 21 parameters in the examination in pigeons and for 14 of 21 in mute swans. The inclusion of free-ranging birds, which were not used to handling and for which limited information regarding age, history of previous diseases, etc. was available, may have influenced the results. The normative neurological examination data provided in this study will help improve clinicians' interpretation of neurological examinationresults in the respective bird species.

This study examines the relationship between the number of fog days with surface air temperature and with atmospheric circulation as represented by the Arctic Oscillation (AO) and Siberian High (SBH) Pressure index over northern Eurasia during the winters of 1936–1937 to 1989–1990. The results suggest that the number of fog days decreases as surface air temperature increases, the SBH weakens, and the AO strengthens over much of the study region, except for southern European Russia, where fog days may increase with air temperature. The most significant and dominant impact on fog day frequency is surface air temperature, followed by the intensity of the SBH which directly reflects atmospheric stability. The AO has some limited influence on fog frequency over northern European Russia and southwestern Siberia. The combination of air temperature with either SBH or AO index explained, on average, about 30–60% of the variability of winter fog days over Siberia. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society

People are the main reason for the deterioration of indoor air quality (IAQ) due to the continuous physiological metabolism processes in their bodies, including respiration. We present results from an investigation of the influence of indoor air temperature on the concentration of exhaled carbon dioxide (CO2). The investigation was preconditioned by previous findings on the effect of air temperature on human metabolism. However, our literature survey showed a lack of studies on the influence of the indoor air temperature on the exhaled CO2 (or metabolic CO2), which leads to the novelty of our results. Our experiments had two phases: measurement in a university classroom with an installed heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system during regular classes and measurement in a specially designed small climate chamber, where the time variations of the CO2 concentrations, together with some physiological parameters, were measured. Two indoor air temperatures were set: 23 °C and 27 °C. The results obtained and their respective analyses show the strong effect of the two air temperatures on the CO2 concentration due to exhalation. In the classroom, the CO2 concentration at 27 °C was higher by 6.2% than at 23 °C. In the climate chamber, the CO2 concentration at 27 °C was higher by 9.6% than at 23 °C. Physiological parameters (oxygen saturation pressure, pulse rate, end-tidal CO2, and respiration rate) and their dependence on the air temperature were also measured in the climate chamber, establishing an effect of the temperature on the pulse rate.

PM2.5 plays a significant role in urban climate, especially as urban development accelerates. In this study, surface PM2.5, skin temperature, surface air temperature, net longwave radiation, net shortwave radiation, sensible heat flux, and latent heat flux were directly analyzed in Nanchang from 2020 to 2022. The results indicate that PM2.5 in Nanchang is highest during winter and lowest in summer. On an annual scale, surface PM2.5 reduces skin and surface air temperatures at a rate of 0.75 °C/(μg m−3) by decreasing net solar radiation and increasing net longwave radiation at night. Conversely, it increases air temperature by absorbing radiation, leading to a surface inversion. Furthermore, surface PM2.5 influences surface air and skin temperatures by modulating the latent heat fluxes.