Behavior Of Birds Research Articles

Roosting and Breeding Ecology of Birds in Shola Sky Island Forests: A Systematic Review and Analysis

The Shola Sky Island forests, located in the Western Ghats of India, are unique ecosystems renowned for their high elevation, isolated patches of evergreen forests, and rich avian biodiversity. Understanding the roosting and breeding ecology of birds in these forests is essential for their conservation and management. However, a comprehensive synthesis of the existing literature on this topic is lacking. This systematic review aims to fill this knowledge gap by analyzing and summarizing the available research on the roosting and breeding ecology of birds in the Shola Sky Island forests. The review focuses on various aspects of bird ecology, including roosting site selection, roosting strategies, breeding phenology, nest site selection, nesting behaviors, and factors influencing non-roosting and breeding behaviors. The literature search encompasses studies conducted in the Shola Sky Island forests, covering a wide range of bird species and their ecological requirements. Findings from the review highlight the importance of specific habitat characteristics, such as vegetation structure, microclimate, and resource availability, in influencing bird roosting and breeding behaviors. The availability of suitable roosting sites and nesting habitats within the forest plays a crucial role in determining the distribution and abundance of bird species. Factors such as food availability, altitudinal movements, social interactions, and territoriality also impact non-roosting and breeding behaviors in these forests. Furthermore, the review emphasizes the challenges posed by habitat fragmentation, climate change, and human activities to the roosting and breeding ecology of birds in the Shola Sky Island forests. Understanding these threats and their implications for bird populations is essential for effective conservation and management strategies.

The impact of COVID-19 related flight reductions on bird prevalence and behaviour at Manchester Airport, UK, and the implications for airport management

Airport management is a complex and multifarious activity, involving many operators including airlines, retailers and ground handlers, and processes. The presence of wildlife at airports poses a safety risk to aircraft operations and as such managing wildlife hazards is a mandatory legal responsibility. This is important not only from a safety perspective but also from the fact that safety incidents can impact the operational efficiency and the reputation of an airport. Airport operators are required to devise and enact site-specific Wildlife Hazard Management Plans (WHMP) to reduce the risk of aircraft-wildlife interaction under normal airport operating conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, led to an unprecedented reduction in commercial air traffic and the partial or total suspension of flights at some airports. The aim of this paper is to examine the impact of COVID-19 related flight reductions on bird prevalence and behaviour and the potential implications for airport management. Drawing on an empirical dataset of wildlife observations at Manchester Airport, UK, in 2019 and 2020, this paper details the airfield ornithology before and during the pandemic and examines the impact of COVID-19 related flight reductions on bird prevalence and behaviour. The findings reveal variations in the frequency and apparency of individual species as well as changes in the spatial location of bird sightings on the airfield. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for post-pandemic operations and for the formulation of future airport wildlife hazard management policies.

Influence of estradiol diropionate (EDP) on the body growing birds

This scientific article outlines results of using the drug estradiol diropionate (EDP), The effect of the drug on the general condition, behavior, appetite, fatness, egg production, growth and development of birds was studied. Changes in all these directions manifest themselves differently depending on the dose and frequency of administration of the drug.

Tourism on the roof of the world: Socio-ecological impacts of tourism on the Indian Trans-Himalaya

Tourism is a rapidly developing industry in ecologically sensitive remote areas, especially in developing countries. Although a lucrative livelihood alternative, it is often responsible for degrading the environment and stratifying the socio-economic setup, if not managed prudently. We assessed the impact of tourism on ecological integrity and local livelihood in wetlands of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary (CWLS), Indian Trans-Himalaya. Change in behaviour of wetland birds was studied using flight initiation distance (FID) approach to understand the ecological sensitivity of CWLS. We evaluated livelihood contribution of tourism and attitude of local people towards tourism as a futuristic livelihood opportunity using questionnaire-based interviews and focus group discussions. Although traditional communities of CWLS see tourism as a livelihood opportunity; they are still sceptical about its effectiveness and indicated leakage of tourism benefits. People were also dubious about its impact on their socio-cultural and environmental structure. FID estimates have shown level of sensitivity among wetland birds towards presence of tourists. We recommend, site-specific FID based ‘minimum approach distances’ of most sensitive species for delineating buffers around wetlands to ensure no disturbance to waterbirds. Community managed nature-based tourism is suggested to maximise the tourism benefits to local people. Prototypical sustainable tourism activities should be endorsed in the region that can elicit advancement of local economy and efficacy of conservation efforts.

Deterrents intended to mitigate mining effects mostly fail to change nesting behavior of Arctic breeding birds

Deterrents intended to mitigate mining effects mostly fail to change nesting behavior of Arctic breeding birds

Migration pattern of a population of Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) breeding in East Asian tropical region

Birds exhibit a high degree of migratory diversity, which is influenced by various ecological factors and life history strategies. Conducting studies on tropical bird migration, of which research is scarce, and comparing it with temperate birds can enhance our understanding of bird migration behaviour and its underlying mechanisms. In this study, we explored the migration behaviour of a breeding population of the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) in Zhanjiang, southern China, a region located in the northern tropics, using light-level geolocators. From 2021 to 2023, we deployed geolocators on 92 breeding swallows and retrieved geolocators successfully from 23 individuals. These swallows all exhibited migratory behaviour, and wintering on various islands in Southeast Asia. They displayed sex differences in their wintering locations. All males concentrated in Borneo, while females primarily chose Borneo but also dispersed to the Philippines, South China Sea, and Vietnam for wintering. The studied swallow population adopted a seasonal migration pattern of “indirect in autumn, direct in spring”, bypassing the ecological barrier of the South China Sea in autumn and tending to directly cross it in spring migration. Moreover, the distance and duration of autumn migration was significantly longer than those of the spring migration. Compared to temperate Barn Swallows, the Barn Swallow population breeding in Zhanjiang adopts a pattern of “intra-tropical migration” and initiates autumn migration earlier. The formation of their migration pattern may be limited by ecological and physiological factors.

The clutch size, incubation behavior of Reeves's Pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii) and their responses to ambient temperature and precipitation

Weather conditions play a pivotal role in embryo development and parental incubation costs, potentially impacting the clutch size and incubation behavior of birds. Understanding these effects is crucial for bird conservation. Reeves's Pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii) is a threatened species endemic to China, which is characterized by female-only incubation. However, there is a lack of information regarding the impact of weather conditions on clutch size and incubation behavior in this species. Using satellite tracking, we tracked 27 wild female Reeves's Pheasants from 2020 to 2023 in Hubei Province, China. We explored their clutch size and incubation behavior, as well as their responses to ambient temperature and precipitation. Clutch size averaged 7.75 ± 1.36, had an association with average ambient temperature and average daily precipitation during the egg-laying period, and was potentially linked to female breeding attempts. Throughout the incubation period, females took an average of 0.73 ± 0.46 recesses every 24 h, with an average recess duration of 100.80 ± 73.37 min and an average nest attendance of 92.98 ± 5.27%. They showed a unimodal recess pattern in which nest departures peaked primarily between 13:00 and 16:00. Furthermore, females rarely left nests when daily precipitation was high. Recess duration and nest attendance were influenced by the interaction between daily mean ambient temperature and daily precipitation, as well as day of incubation. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between clutch size and recess duration. These results contribute valuable insights into the life-history features of this endangered species.

Development and parentage analysis of SNP markers for Chestnut-vented Nuthatch (Sitta nagaensis) based on ddRAD-seq data

Extra-pair paternity (EPP) is commonly found in socially monogamous birds, especially in small passerine birds, and there are interspecific and intraspecific variations in the extent of EPP. The Chestnut-vented Nuthatch (Sitta nagaensis) is a socially monogamous passerine bird, and verifying whether this species has EPP relies on parentage testing—S. nagaensis is not known to have EPP. In this study, we developed SNP markers of this species that are informative for parentage analysis from double digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq) data. A panel consisting of 50 SNP markers, with a mean heterozygosity of 0.343, was used to resolve 95% of nestlings to fathers. The combined exclusion probabilities for the first parent and second parent were 0.991 and 0.9999, respectively. This panel of SNP markers is a powerful tool for parentage assignments in S. nagaensis. In addition, we found that three offspring (7.9%) from three nests (23.1%) were the result of extra-pair fertilization out of 38 offspring in 13 nests. Our study provided information on parentage analysis that has not been reported before in S. nagaensis. It also supplemented the understudied EPP behavior of birds in Asia, contributing to a general understanding of the EPP behaviors of birds.

Using Spatial Modeling to Evaluate LED Light Intensity and Uniformity in Commercial Broiler Houses during Brooding and Tunnel Conditions

Highlights During brooding, more than 97% of the floor area of new broiler houses was above target light intensity, however, in aged houses less than 0.2% of the floor area was above the target. During tunnel conditions, less than 6% of the floor area met the target light intensity range (0.18–0.22 lx) for both aged and new houses. All floor areas in the fan section exceeded the target light intensity in both aged and new houses in all the farms due to light intrusion from the tunnel fans. Bulbs need to be periodically replaced to meet minimum target levels during brooding and light dimmer adjustments need to be made to meet light intensity targets during tunnel ventilation. Abstract. Commercial broiler companies set specific light intensities and photoperiods during different stages of live production to manage bird behavior and growth and to support health and welfare. However, it is currently unknown how much of the floor area in commercial houses is within the target levels set by companies. Therefore, a field survey of twenty 18.3 × 152.4 m broiler houses on five farms was performed to evaluate in-situ light intensity and uniformity in two house sections during brooding [evaporative pad section (pad) and the middle of the house section (mid)] and three sections during tunnel ventilation [pad, mid, and tunnel exhaust fan section (fan)]. Houses ranged in age from new (never used) to aged (5–8 years old). Light intensity measurements were recorded at 70 locations in each of the house sections (140 per house during brooding; 210 per house during tunnel). For tunnel mode, target light intensity values were categorized into above target (>0.22), within target (0.18–0.22 lx), and below target (<0.18 lx). For brooding mode, target light intensity values were below target (<43 lx) and within target (=43 lx). Geostatistics was used to map and calculate the percentage of floor area above, below, or within target thresholds. During brooding and tunnel conditions, the percent of floor area below target (<43 lx and <0.18 lx, respectively) was higher for aged houses than for new houses in the pad and midsections. All the floor area in the fan section was above target due to light intrusion from operating fans. During tunnel ventilation in the new houses, 4.5%, 6.0%, and 0.0% of the floor area at the pad, center, and fan sections, respectively, were within the 0.18 to 0.22 lx target threshold. However, in the aged houses, only 0.6%, 0.7%, and 0.0% of the floor area at the pad, center, and fan sections, respectively, were within the target range. This research illustrates that the newer houses did a better job at meeting or exceeding target light intensities and that very little of the floor area in new and aged houses during tunnel ventilation was within a 10% threshold of target intensities. Lack of light dimmer adjustment to account for lumen depreciation and accumulation of dust on the bulbs in the aged house most likely led to the lower overall light intensities. Because brood bulbs have a 100% lumen capacity and are not dimmed, a deep cleaning of the bulbs and periodic replacement are recommended if they are not reaching lighting targets. Periodic checking of light intensity is recommended, especially in older houses. Keywords: Broilers, House age, Light intensity, Spatial variation, Target.

Investigating Pest Birds Problems and Potential Solutions in Sawah Ring, Tangkak

In the agricultural sector, especially paddy fields, birds are considered pests when they destroy the paddy plants by eating the grains and reducing crop production. Pest birds are a common problem in agriculture. Nevertheless, studies of the pest birds, particularly on their distribution, ecology, and management, are still scarce in Malaysia. One of the significant pest birds in this case study is the Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio). The objectives of this study are (1) to identify pest birds species (2) to investigate the behaviour of Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) and (3) to provide potential solutions for pest birds problems to local farmers at Sawah Ring, Tangkak. The methods used were direct observation using binoculars, spotter scope, and a digital camera. Besides that, a survey through the distribution of questionnaires and interviews was also conducted among the local people at the study site. Five species of pest birds have been recorded, which are, Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio), Lesser Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna javanica), Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata), Javan Munia (Lonchura leucogastroides) and Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus). From the list, Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio), was identified as the most disturbing pest bird. The occurrence of this species were marked at Block 1, Block 3, Block 15, Block 16, Block 18, and Block 19 at Sawah Ring, Tangkak, and the species' behaviour (resting, nesting, feeding, etc.) was also recorded. In terms of solutions, several methods have been identified to overcome the pest bird problem based on the literature studies, such as physical and chemical repellent, buzzer and mesh networks, and also acoustic tools. Overall, pest birds are a significant problem in the paddy field areas of Sawah Ring, Tangkak. It reduced the quantity and quality of paddy production and caused losses to farmers. Understanding the occurrence and behaviour of pest birds is indeed crucial for better management of these pest bird species.

Study of Communal Behavior of Black-Winged Stilt with other Bird Species in Selected Wetlands of Kota (Rajasthan)

A comprehensive understanding of bird behaviour is essential for developing and enhancing avian life-history theory content and organizing efficient management and conservation plans. The knowledge of the crucial nesting characteristics and the tactics used by birds throughout their life histories often fluctuate between environments. Despite being seen in small groups, the black-winged stilt has an intriguing social behaviour that demonstrates flexibility. These birds are sociable and will often gather in large groups. But during the breeding season, in particular, their social dynamics shift. They break off from their usual groupings now and either form pairs or congregate in bigger groups. During this time, they display specific behavior with other bird species found in their habitat, especially with those species with which they share their feeding and nesting sites. Their various behaviors can be understood on the basis of continuous study of their vocalization, flapping of wings and body posture. In this context, the communal behavior of Black-winged Stilt has been studied at the wetlands Alniya and Abheda ponds located in Kota.

Transitioning Wintering Shorebirds to Agroecosystem: A Thorough Evaluation of Habitat Selection and Conservation Concern

Habitat fragmentation and degradation in natural wetlands has resulted in declines in the populations of shorebirds in the Indian subcontinent. Shorebirds rely on these wetlands as wintering or stop-over sites along the southern extent of the Central Asian Flyway. Shorebirds are known to utilize agroecosystems as alternate foraging habitats. The suitability of agroecosystems as foraging areas for overwintering migratory shorebirds has not been well studied in the Indian subcontinent. We conducted a comprehensive assessment of published literature and compiled field observations to investigate the importance of inland and coastal agroecosystems for shorebirds in India. We assessed the shorebird populations at natural wetlands: mudflats and mangroves of Kadalundi Vallikkunnu Community Reserve (KVCR) and Puthuvypu sand beach, as well as adjacent agroecosystems on the west coast of India, including Sanketham Wetlands, Manthalakkadavu, Vazhakkad, Elamaram, Kodinhi, and Kooriyad. On the east coast, we assessed the natural wetland habitats of Valinokkam, Point Calimere, and Pichavaram and evaluated inland agroecosystems in regions, such as Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Fifty-three shorebird species utilize diverse agroecosystems from various parts of India. While studies on the use of agroecosystems by shorebirds are limited on the east coast, evidence suggests that major wintering sites are adjacent to paddy fields, fostering substantial shorebird diversity. In Pichavaram, Point Calimere, and Gulf of Mannar regions, 22 shorebird species utilize agroecosystems, including the notable near-threatened Eurasian Curlew. Seventeen of these species are winter arrivals, highlighting the crucial role agroecosystems play as stopover areas. On the west coast, 19 shorebird species appear to utilize agroecosystems in Kooriyad, Manthalakkadavu, Vazhakkad, Sanketham Wetlands, Elamaram, and Kodinhi. Few species use agricultural fields in the north (Jammu and Kashmir). Paddy fields, that are flooded as part of the cropping cycle, support diverse prey species, such as macroinvertebrates, amphibians, and small fish, that could attract and support migratory shorebirds. Agricultural practices like fallowing, flooding, and ploughing could further increase the abundance and accessibility of prey for shorebirds, drawing them in greater numbers. It is crucial to recognize that unsustainable and unethical agricultural methods could detrimentally affect shorebird numbers. The accumulation of pesticide residues and the contamination from heavy metals could also threaten shorebirds. As a result, there is an urgent need for detailed research to better evaluate the importance of agroecosystems in supporting resident or migratory shorebirds. Systematic studies that explain the population dynamics, habitat selection trends, habitat utilization, and the over-summering behavior of the migratory birds at agroecosystems are needed. Implementing sustainable conservation strategies and adopting environmentally friendly agricultural practices are essential to support the rich biodiversity of the region.

Risk of mate selection: Force driving to higher foraging rate in semi urban climate in Himalayan foot hills

Foraging behavior is increasingly seen as an integral component in maintaining connectivity within habitat structure. Daily patterns in the foraging behavior of birds are assumed to balance the counteracting starvation, risks of predation and mate choice in breeding season in song-birds. Present study is the first investigation of the data on foraging patterns assemblage of population of Indian robin (Copshychus fulicatus L.), belongs to Semi-urban climate in Himalayan foothills. Foraging rate were found higher in male Indian robin in breeding season than non-breeding season because they need more energy to sing to attract female in breeding season, while female forage almost equal in both the season. Slight variation were found in foraging rate in morning and evening for both the sexes, evening have little more edges. This study also has significant value to study the effect of increasing urbanization on foraging, as need of recent research of ornithologist for sub- population, sub- species and species conservation.

Start of dawn singing as related to physical environmental variables in an alpine environment

Birds often have a peak of singing activity at dawn, and the timing of dawn song is species-specific. However, the start of singing at dawn may also depend on environmental factors. We investigated the effects of different environmental variables on the start of dawn singing in six common songbird species in the woodlands of the Swiss National Park. Moon phase, aspect, temperature and road noise had the most consistent effects across species: dawn singing started earlier after brighter and warmer nights, on more east-exposed slopes, and in areas with more road noise. On average, birds started to sing 2.8 min earlier in areas with high road noise level compared to areas without road noise, and 4.7 min earlier in east-exposed slopes compared to west-exposed slopes. Further, birds started to sing on average 5.0 min earlier after full moon compared to new moon nights, 1.2 min earlier after warmer compared to colder nights, and 2.5 min earlier at 2200 m than at 1500 m a.s.l. The effects of date were more species-specific: Alpine Tits started to sing on average 4.9 min later at the end compared to the beginning of the study period, whilst Song Thrushes started to sing 9.0 min earlier. Our findings are in line with the results of previous studies on the effects of road noise, nocturnal light, and partly on temperature. Our study shows that variation in environmental variables may influence the start of dawn singing in different ways, and that anthropogenic factors like road noise can affect bird behaviour even in a highly protected area.

ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ МЕТОДУ РОЮ ЧАСТОК В ОПТИМІЗАЦІЙНИХ ЗАДАЧАХ ЕНЕРГЕТИКИ

The article considers the application of the particle swarm method in energy domain. The problem of effective load distribution of energy-generating capacities under the conditions of minimum fuel consumption is one of those that arises most often. The economic expediency of the operation of one or another power plant at the appropriate capacity determines the distribution of generating capacities in the power system. It is no secret that power units of thermal power plants, which were built in different time periods, differ in their cost characteristics. This makes it necessary to find optimal configurations of the power system, in which the relevant energy objects are involved. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is a computational optimization method inspired by the social behavior of birds in a flock or fish in a shoal. This method was first proposed by Kennedy and Eberhart in 1995. In PSO, a population of possible solutions, called particles, moves through the search space according to a set of mathematical rules. The motion of each particle affects its own bestknown position and the global best-known position of the entire population. The basic idea is that each particle adjusts its position based on its own experience and that of the entire swarm. This correction takes place with the help of two main components: 1. Cognitive component (personal best result): The particle remembers the best solution it found before. 2. Social component (global best result): A particle also takes into account the best solution found by any other particle in the swarm. These components are used to update the particle's velocity and position iteratively, with the goal of converging to an optimal solution. PSO is widely used in various optimization problems, including engineering design, robotics, finance, and data analysis. It is known for its simplicity, ease of implementation, and ability to solve non-linear, non-convex optimization problems. However, like any optimization algorithm, its performance can be sensitive to the parameters and the nature of the problem to be solved. The article solves a typical problem of distributing the total load between two thermal power plants under the conditions of minimum fuel consumption. The obtained values of the solutions confirm commonly known the statements about the achievement of adequate indicators in the range from 10 to 30 particles, in our case - 20.Analyzing the obtained results, one can see that the objective function changes almost linearly from the very beginning until the 30th iteration, after which the improvement in the result is almost imperceptible. The main reason is that at this moment the result of the algorithm is as close as possible to the reference value, namely 250. That is, in fact, it can be considered that the solution comes at the 31st iteration. Carrying out a comparison with the solution of such a problem using the genetic algorithm from the previous work, it can be seen that when solving such a problem, the algorithms demonstrate similar performance with comparable accuracy of the result. From the above studies, it can be concluded that evolutionary algorithms can be used to solve similar energy problems.

Response to K. Ohkawara et al.: Anting behavior in birds: the behavioral patterns and the interactions with ants in the subgenus Dendrolasius of the genus Lasius

Response to K. Ohkawara et al.: Anting behavior in birds: the behavioral patterns and the interactions with ants in the subgenus Dendrolasius of the genus Lasius

Roosting Behavior of Waterbirds at Ruhuna University Premises in Sri Lanka

Communal roosting is a habit of many waterbirds. Although it is a common behavioural pattern, only a few documentary records are available in Sri Lanka. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the roosting behaviour of waterbirds at Ruhuna University Premises, Sri Lanka. The study was conducted from November 2020 to February 2021 covering 20 field visits. During field visits, the abundance of waterbirds, their arrival time, intra-species, and inter-species interactions were observed. The responses of roosting waterbirds to human disturbances and occasional visitors to roosting sites were also recorded. The waterbirds roosted on a single Sonneratia caseolaris tree, located at the waterbody closer to the bank. Eleven species of waterbirds were identified, and the Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis) were prominent (93%). The diversity and species abundance gradually increased during the study period. The highest species richness (11) and diversity (H- 0.8832) were recorded in February. The roosting behavior of birds has been altered by human disturbances. The waterbirds co-existed on the roosting site with inter- and intra-species associations while maintaining hierarchical levels (different height levels of the tree). Sixteen species of occasional visitors were recorded, and they left the site with the arrival of regular waterbirds.

Prey choice in insectivorous steppe passerines: New insights from DNA metabarcoding

Food availability plays a key role affecting almost every aspect of bird ecology, including bird population, distribution, reproduction, and behavior. Understanding the functional relationship between prey availability and insectivorous birds’ diet is important in the current scenario of habitat loss and declining of insect and bird populations. We used a fecal metabarcoding approach coupled with prey availability sampling (arthropod abundance and biomass) to test for evidence of selective foraging in a shrub-steppe passerine assemblage over the 2017–2019 breeding seasons in semi-natural steppes of central Spain. The results showed that the six bird species selected specific arthropod taxa. Heteroptera, Orthoptera, Araneae, Lepidoptera and some Coleoptera families were the main selected prey taxa, while Formicidae appeared to be avoided, suggesting that shrub-steppe passerines tend to select prey items providing essential nutrients and energy during the breeding season, while poor quality ones are neglected. Our findings highlight the utility of metabarcoding dietary data to assess prey selection patterns in insectivorous passerines and provide valuable information for the development of conservation and management programs to ensure the long-term availability of crucial food resources for shrub-steppe birds and other insectivores.

Farmers’ Perception of Indigenous Seasonal Forecast Indicators in North Central Burkina Faso

West African Sahel is one of the most exposed areas to the adverse effects of climate variability in the world. All agricultural production systems are affected. However, farmers use indigenous knowledge that enable them to make short, medium, and long-term seasonal predictions in order to adapt their agricultural calendar to these climatic risks. In the North Central region of Burkina Faso, this knowledge is not well documented. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the indigenous indicators of seasonal forecasts and analyze factors affecting their reliability. Surveys were carried out in focus group discussions with 204 farmers in 10 localities across the region. Results showed that farmers use meteorological (cold, heat, wind, clouds, rainfall distribution), biological (food plants phenology, migratory bird behaviour, occurrence of insects), astronomical (sun, moon, stars), religious or magical indicators to predict the coming rainy season. The intensity and duration of the cold period, heat intensity and the formation of dark cloud (April-May) are signs of an early start of the rainy season (or a wet season). Likewise, the abundant leafing, flowering and fruiting of Vitellaria paradoxa, Lannea microcarpa, Lannea acida, Adansonia digitata and Tamarindus indica (April-May) predict a wet rainy season, while abundant fruiting of Sclerocarya birrea indicates a drought. The arrival period (May-June) of migratory birds heralds a start of the season. Nowadays, climate change, the degradation of plant resources and increasing human pressure are affecting the reliability of these indigenous seasonal forecast indicators in the North Central region of Burkina Faso.

Responses of birds to observers holding popguns: Hunting history influences escape behavior of urban birds.

Human activities affect bird behavior both directly and indirectly. Birds constantly regulate their behavior in response to human disturbance. Gun hunting, a major directional disturbance, puts enormous selection pressure on birds. In China, gun bans have been in place for nearly 30 years, and little hunting using guns occurs in modern cities. However, little attention has been paid to whether a history of hunting still affects the behavioral adaptations of urban birds. In this study, we compared the flight initiation distance (FID) of the Eurasian tree sparrow Passer montanus, Azure-winged magpie Cyanopica cyanus, Common hoopoe Upupa epops and Eurasian magpie Pica pica in the presence of observers with or without popguns. The Eurasian tree sparrow, Azure-winged magpie, and Eurasian magpie effectively recognized the difference between the observers, and perceived the armed observer as a greater threat, exhibiting earlier escape behavior, but this phenomenon was not found in the Common hoopoe. The different expressions in FID of experimental bird species in China cities may be affected by the different levels of recognition of hunting pressure due to different hunting histories.