Abstract
Miniaturized light-level geolocators are becoming increasingly popular devices for the study of avian migration. However, the effects of these devices on birds’ flight behaviour, and hence fitness components, are poorly known. We investigated the effect of miniaturized geolocators on flight performance of the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), which may be especially susceptible to geolocator deployment as it is a small (~20 g), aerially insectivorous, long-distance migratory species. We tested whether miniaturized geolocators (~3.5 % of body mass) affected short-term flight performance traits of breeding males by comparing flight manoeuvrability, velocity and acceleration of geolocator-equipped versus control (handled only) birds in flight tunnels. We used a robust experimental design wherein the within-individual change in flight performance was compared between geolocator-equipped birds (after allowing for a period of acclimation) and control birds (that were also tested twice). We found no statistically significant evidence that short-term flight performance traits were affected by geolocator deployment. Here we discuss the implications of our findings for the deployment of geolocators in studies of migratory behaviour of small birds.
Highlights
The development of miniaturized tracking devices has revolutionized the study of bird migration ecology, life-history strategies and conservation biology, as it has given researchers previously unattainable possibilities for investigating bird movements across broad spatial and temporal scales (Robinson et al 2009; Bridge et al 2011; Guilford et al 2011)
We investigated the effect of miniaturized geolocators on flight performance of the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), which may be especially susceptible to geolocator deployment as it is a small (*20 g), aerially insectivorous, long-distance migratory species
We found no statistically significant evidence that short-term flight performance traits were affected by geolocator deployment
Summary
The development of miniaturized tracking devices has revolutionized the study of bird migration ecology, life-history strategies and conservation biology, as it has given researchers previously unattainable possibilities for investigating bird movements across broad spatial and temporal scales (Robinson et al 2009; Bridge et al 2011; Guilford et al 2011). Geolocators record light levels over time, thereby allowing researchers to estimate the global position of the bird with an accuracy on the order of 102–103 km. Thanks to their small size and weight, geolocators have already been used to identify migration routes (including staging areas) and wintering areas of a number of small birds (up to 50 g) that are too small to carry satellite- or GPS/GSM-assisted tags (Stutchbury et al 2009; Akesson et al 2012; Fraser et al 2012; Schmaljohann et al 2012a, b; Stach et al 2012; Salewski et al 2013; Hobson et al 2015; Liechti et al 2015). Conservation and scientific implications, the deployment of such devices should be associated to the assessment of their impact on birds (e.g. Arlt et al 2013; Scandolara et al 2014; Peterson et al 2015)
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