A virtual bird’s eye view: Live streaming nest boxes to continue outreach in the era of COVID‐19

The Using Rate of Breeding Birds by Artificial Nest Boxes Type at Orchard Area

The use of artificial nest boxes has led to significant progress in bird conservation and in our understanding of the functional and evolutionary ecology of free-ranging birds that exploit cavities for roosting and reproduction. Nest boxes and their improved accessibility have made it easier to perform comparative and experimental field investigations. However, concerns about the generality and applicability of scientific studies involving birds breeding in nest boxes have been raised because the occupants of boxes may differ from conspecifics occupying other nest sites. Here, we review the existing evidence demonstrating the importance of nest box design to individual life-history traits in three falcon (Falconiformes) and seven owl (Strigiformes) species, as well as the extent to which publications on these birds describe the characteristics of exploited artificial nest boxes in their Methods sections. More than 60% of recent publications did not provide any details on nest box design (e.g. size, shape, material), despite several calls >15 years ago to increase the reporting of such information. We exemplify and discuss how variation in nest box characteristics can affect or confound conclusions from nest box studies and conclude that it is of overall importance to present details of nest box characteristics in scientific publications.

Regulation of agricultural pests managing their natural enemies represents an alternative to chemical pesticides. We assessed the potential of insectivorous birds as pest regulators in woody crops located in central Spain. A total of 417 nest boxes installed in five field study sites (one vineyard, two fruit orchards, and two olive groves) were monitored for use and breeding of insectivorous birds and other species for four consecutive years (2013–2016). At all field sites except the two olive groves, where birds never occupied the nest boxes, predation experiments were conducted with Greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella) sentinel caterpillars, and food consumption by birds was estimated. Nesting of insectivorous birds, chiefly Great tit (Parus major), and sparrows (Passer domesticus and P. montanus) increased over time, averaging 60% per field site in the vineyard and fruit orchards by the fourth year. Use of nest boxes by sparrows and by Garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus) was high at the fruit orchards (70%) and the vineyard (30%), respectively. Micro-habitat characteristics (nest box level) and meso-habitat characteristics (patch level) strongly affected use of nest boxes and bird breeding (i.e. number of laid eggs and produced chicks) in different years. Distance to natural or semi-natural vegetation did not consistently affect bird breeding, nor did we see consistent evidence of competition between adjacent breeding birds. Predation rates of sentinel caterpillars were approximately one-third higher near boxes with nesting birds (31.51 ± 43.13%) than at paired distant areas without nest boxes (22.45% ± 38.58%). Food consumption by insectivorous birds per ha and breeding season were conservatively estimated to range from 0.02 kg in one fruit orchard to 0.15 kg in the vineyard. We conclude that installation of nest boxes in Mediterranean woody crops enhances populations of insectivorous birds that regulate pests, but that the effects are moderate and highly context-dependent.

The timing of breeding in birds has important consequences if food availability varies seasonally. Optimal timing of the most energetically demanding stages of breeding to coincide with peaks in food availability can increase breeding success. Early breeding may be challenging for females producing eggs, but generally birds initiating egg-laying early in the breeding season are more likely to succeed. Initiating egg-laying later may be less costly to females, but raising offspring after the peak in food availability becomes challenging. Balancing these costs and benefits is important for the cooperative breeding Southern Ground-hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri (hereafter ‘Ground-hornbill’), which typically produces only a single clutch of two eggs and fledges a single chick per breeding season. A previous study found that Ground-hornbill groups that lay early in the breeding season are more likely to fledge a chick than later-breeding groups. We investigated factors associated with the timing of breeding such as group size, the type of nest used, rainfall and temperature in a study site supplemented with nest boxes. Ground-hornbills laid eggs from 9 September to 14 November and the average number of days between the first and the last laying date in a season was 48 ± 32 days (range 10–101 days). Larger groups, particularly those using natural nests compared to those using nest boxes, laid later than smaller groups. Egg-laying was delayed under hot, dry spring conditions and laying dates were earlier following above-average spring rainfall.

Bird damage is a serious problem for many fruit growers. Utilizing nest boxes to attract natural predators of fruit-eating birds is frequently effective in lowering bird damage, as well as increasing fruit marketability. The adoption of a conservation practice, however, depends on a grower’s level of interest. What is the level of interest in nest boxes, and how do growers perceive the influence of natural predators on the farm ecosystem? To answer these questions we conducted an online national survey of cherry and blueberry growers focusing on potential interactions between key farm variables. We found a surprising consistency in perceptions of the functioning of the farm ecosystem and a high level of agreement on how natural predators affect other production factors. Growers typically perceived nest boxes to lower bird damage and pest pressure, and to raise fruit quality and income. They also indicated a significant interest in installing nest boxes, and strong agreement that extension and outreach related to the costs, benefits and timing of implementation of nest boxes would be helpful.

We placed and monitored 2,137 nest boxes to determine how the size of the entrance hole and the box placement influenced nest box selection by secondary cavity-nesting birds and to derive recommendations for the use of nest boxes for management of cavity-nesting birds in forested environments. A total of 566 pairs of seven bird species used the nest boxes from 1997 to 2006, 562 of which were secondary cavity-nesters. Sympatric tits such as varied tits (Parus varius), great tits (P. major), and marsh tits (P. palustris) were common breeding birds in nest boxes, and showed clear preferences for 4.0 cm, 3.5 cm and 3.0 cm nest holes, respectively. Tree sparrows (Passer montanus) and Eurasian nuthatches (Sitta europaea) preferred 4 cm and 3.5 cm holes, respectively. We did not detect selection for the directional orientation for the entrance hole, but the birds appeared to avoid nest boxes that faced steep or gentle upward slopes and those less than 1.8 m from the ground. These results are probably related to avoidance of disturbance and predation. We suggest that diverse species can be supported by the placement of nest boxes with entrance holes of various sizes and that specific species can be targeted by selecting the hole sizes preferred by those species. To attract secondary cavity-nesters, managers should avoid placing nest boxes close to the ground and facing hills. This study also suggests that careful selection and placement of nest boxes is needed to avoid biases in research using nest boxes.

<p style="text-align:justify">Due to the pandemic in many countries, schools were closed in 2020. Therefore, education was suspended, and distance education was started. During the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, teachers gave lessons online in virtual classrooms. In this study, Scale of Attitudes Towards Online Formative Assessment (S-AOFA) for teachers conducting online and distance courses was developed, and the teachers' attitudes were examined with respect to demographic variables. In the study conducted in the mixed-design method, qualitative and quantitative data were collected for the scale development and survey. Data were obtained from 369 teachers (science teacher, mathematics teacher, classroom teacher, and teachers in other fields) working in school in Turkey. S-AOFA was made up of 20 items and two factors as a five-point Likert-type. When the teachers' attitudes towards online formative assessment (AOFA) was examined, it was found that the mean for the factor of "Assessment Systems" was lower than that of the "Assessment Approaches". In addition, the findings revealed that there was no significant difference in the teachers' AOFA in terms of gender and that no significant difference existed in AOFA with respect to the school levels of the teachers (elementary, secondary and high school). Moreover, the results demonstrated that there was a low negative significant relationship between the teachers' AOFA and the number of students in which virtual lessons were given online. Lastly, there was a low level positive significant relationship between the teachers' AOFA and the in-class participation percentages of the students who were taught online in virtual classrooms. S-AOFA could be used by researchers in different studies in future.</p>

Cyber schools have experienced exponential increases in enrollment across the United States in recent years. While research shows the potential for academic equity in cyber schools to educate students who may have faced struggles in a traditional school setting, we lack a clear understanding of the factors that contribute to that potential equity. The purpose of this phenomenological research study was to describe the lived experiences of elementary cyber school teachers to explore their perceptions, conceptualization, development, and implementation of academic equity in their elementary virtual classrooms. This study explored the experiences of four elementary virtual classroom teachers of a single cyber charter school in Southeastern Pennsylvania to grasp the essence of their perceptions, conceptualization, development, and implementation of academic equity in their virtual classroom setting. The data gathered was comprised of semi-structured interviews, observations, and artifact review. First cycle In Vivo coding and second cycle Descriptive coding revealed five emergent themes, producing key findings. Results and interpretations revealed the following: (a) Families seek alternative learning environments for their children in order for students facing challenges in traditional classroom settings to feel safe and supported according to their individual needs; (b) The parent(s)/guardian must be an integral part of the K-5 virtual classroom experience in order for students to engage and fully access the equitable opportunities offered in the virtual classroom; (c) Leveraging relationships between and among students, parents, and faculty is critical in order to maintain engagement of the family and to improve the capacity of the teachers' equitable instruction; (d) Flexibility in schedule and approach is an indispensable component of a successful virtual program in order for teachers to prioritize collaboration and extensive differentiated planning; (e) Differentiating instruction is a necessary part of the planning and delivery of virtual classroom instruction in order to meet the needs of the diverse students. Conclusions rendered insights to the four research questions. Recommendations to enhance and increase equitable access and opportunity in cyber charter schools were included and comprised of the following: (a) recommendations to the Cyber Charter School; (b) recommendations to cyber charter schools overall; and (c) recommendations for practice and recommendations for additional research.

In farmland areas of western Finland more than four—fifths of breeding birds are migratory species, mostly small passerines. Migrants arrive at their breeding areas later than their main avian predators, European Kestrels (Falco tinnunculus). We provide evidence that avian predators are a major factor modifying the breeding bird assemblage of a large field. The distribution of kestrels (hence, predation) was manipulated using nest boxes, which are the only nesting places in open farmland. We counted birds on nine 25—ha plots in which a kestrel pair bred, and on nine control areas situated > 1000 m from the nearest kestrel nest in large agricultural fields during early summer 1992. We also counted birds on 15 transect lines (length 1000 m, width 100 m) radiating away from kestrel nests. Observations of the hunting behavior of breeding kestrels showed that kestrels mostly captured their prey items < 1000 m from their nest. Breeding bird density was higher on control areas than on areas close to a kestrel nest. In particular, densities of migratory and small birds (body mass < 140 g), which are potential prey of kestrels, were lowest near the predator nests. In contrast, the densities of nonmigratory and large—sized birds (body mass > 140 g) were independent of the presence of kestrel nests. Skylarks (Alauda arvensis), the most abundant migratory species in the study area, bred less often near kestrel nests than farther away. The results of line transect counts corroborated results of area counts. Our conclusion is that predation risk influences habitat selection of small migratory species in open habitats where scarce vegetative cover gives little protection.

We analyze the frequency of occurrence of small mammals recorded in natural cavities and nest boxes in the Białowieża Forest (eastern Poland) and also describe some parameters of tree cavities. A total of 748 cavities and 60 nest boxes in primeval tree stands and 190 nest boxes in managed tree stands were monitored. Both cavities and nest boxes in primeval stands were occupied by mammals less often than nest boxes in managed stands (0.70%, 0.12%, and 1.26%, respectively). The following mammal species were recorded in natural cavities: Eurasian red squirrel ( Sciurus vulgaris L., 1758), forest dormouse ( Dryomys nitedula (Pallas, 1778)), yellow-necked mouse ( Apodemus flavicollis (Melchior, 1834)), and bats (Microchiroptera species). Three mammalian species were recorded in nest boxes: forest dormouse, fat dormouse ( Myoxus glis (L., 1766)), and yellow-necked mouse. The attractiveness of the boxes for mammals increases in managed forests, probably because of a shortage of natural cavities. We suggest that the role of rodents in the breeding ecology of cavity-nesters is underestimated, since studies on natural cavities are rather rare and the species identities of nest predators are most likely poorly recognized. To understand the breeding ecology of birds, ornithologists should study the population dynamics of mammals and the manner in which they use tree cavities and nest boxes.

Several devices have been designed to prevent predation in nest boxes by mammals and birds. Although snakes are one of the most common predators in cavity–nesters, they have always been difficult to deter. Here we tested a method originally designed to avoid predation by tree–climbing mammals. To prevent snakes from climbing trees and predating on nest boxes, we wrapped a transparent acetate sheet of 80 cm high around tree trunks below a sample of 40 nest boxes used by tits. The acetate sheets were secured with duct tape. The remaining nest boxes (N = 74) in the study area were left as controls. The predation rate in the experimental nest boxes was 20 % and 2 % in control boxes. This method can be useful to increase bird breeding success, improving both the effectiveness of resources to obtain scientific data and the breeding success of endangered species.

Several devices have been designed to prevent predation in nest boxes by mammals and birds. Although snakes are one of the most common predators in cavity–nesters, they have always been difficult to deter. Here we tested a method originally designed to avoid predation by tree–climbing mammals. To prevent snakes from climbing trees and predating on nest boxes, we wrapped a transparent acetate sheet of 80 cm high around tree trunks below a sample of 40 nest boxes used by tits. The acetate sheets were secured with duct tape. The remaining nest boxes (N = 74) in the study area were left as controls. The predation rate in the experimental nest boxes was 20 % and 2 % in control boxes. This method can be useful to increase bird breeding success, improving both the effectiveness of resources to obtain scientific data and the breeding success of endangered species.

The challenge of conducting an electronic environment for remote mathematics education is a condition for finding effective methods, forms, approaches, and platforms for a successful learning process. One of the solutions for the implementation of a „virtual lesson“ in mathematics is the cloud environment of GeoGebra. The article discusses various aspects of the application of the online platform GeoGebra in mathematics education: creating interactive worksheets, virtual classrooms, online boards, tools for classroom management, monitoring, and evaluation of student achievement. The attitudes of mathematics teachers about the use of GeoGebra online applications in math lessons are researched and analyzed.

Metataxonomic studies have underpinned a vast understanding of microbial communities residing within livestock gastrointestinal tracts, albeit studies have often not been combined to provide a global census. Consequently, in this study we characterised the overall and common ‘core’ chicken microbiota associated with the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), whilst assessing the effects of GIT site, bird breed, age and geographical location on the GIT resident microbes using metataxonomic data compiled from studies completed across the world. Specifically, bacterial 16S ribosomal DNA sequences from GIT samples associated with various breeds, differing in age, GIT sites (caecum, faeces, ileum and jejunum) and geographical location were obtained from the Sequence Read Archive and analysed using the MGnify pipeline. Metataxonomic profiles produced across the 602 datasets illustrated the presence of 3 phyla, 25 families and 30 genera, of which core genera (defined by presence in over 90% of datasets) belonged to Lactobacillus, Faecalibacterium, Butyricicoccus, Eisenbergiella, Subdoligranulum, Oscillibacter, Clostridium & Blautia. PERMANOVA analysis also showed that GIT site, bird breed, age and geographical location all had a significant effect on GIT microbial diversity, regardless of dietary factors, which were not considered in this study. On a genus level, Faecalibacterium was most abundant in the caeca, Lactobacillus was most abundant in the faeces, ileum and jejunum, with the data showing that the caeca and faeces were most diverse. AIL F8 progeny, Ross 308 and Cobb 500 breeds GIT bacteria were dominated by Lactobacillus, and Eisenbergiella, Megamonas and Bacteroides were most abundant amongst Sasso-T451A and Tibetan chicken breeds. Microbial communities within each GIT site develop with age, from a Lactobacillus and Streptococcus dominated community during the earlier stages of growth, towards a Faecalibacterium, Eisenbergiella, Bacteroides, Megamonas, and Lactobacillus dominated community during the later stages of life. Geographical locations, and thus environmental effectors, also impacted upon gastrointestinal tract microbiota, with Canadian and European datasets being dominated by Lactobacillus, whilst UK and Chinese datasets were dominated by Eisenbergiella and Bacteroides respectively. This study aids in defining what ‘normal’ is within poultry gastrointestinal tract microbiota globally, which is imperative to enhancing the microbiome for productive and environmental improvements.

According to life history theory, adult mortality during the breeding season may have an important influence on the evolution of several aspects of breeding ecology in birds, yet few studies have tried to quantify such mortality. We studied disappearance of Pied Flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) during four breeding seasons in a woodland area in Norway provided with nest boxes. The main cause of disappearance was probably predation by the European Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus). Disappearance was nonsignificantly higher in females (10% per season, n = 305) than in males (7% per season, n = 269). Female disappearance peaked during egg—laying (0.53% per day), but was also high during the nest—building (0.42% per day) and nestling (0.36% per day) stages. It was low during incubation (0.05% per day), probably because less time was spent outside the nest. Low risk of predation during incubation may help to explain why female body mass remains high during this stage of breeding but drops soon after hatching. Females with selected flight feathers experimentally removed to simulate molt suffered a much higher disappearance per season (24%, n = 109) than did control females (10%, n = 305). This may help to explain why breeding and molt usually are temporally segregated activities in birds. Variation in female body mass and size (wing length, tarsus length), age, previous breeding experience, mating date, laying date, clutch size, and mating status could not account for the variation found in female disappearance. Disappearance was lower in males than in females during the nest—building period, despite the more conspicuous plumage color of males. This may be explained by the fact that only the female builds the nest. We suggest that risk of predation is an important constraint on sexual selection of male plumage color in species in which males take part in nest building.