Birdcage Research Articles

A Cross-Sectional Survey of Gastrointestinal Parasites in an Ornithological Garden.

Captive birds in collections may be infested with a wide range of parasites. Globally, information on parasitic infections and their health implications in ornithological collections are scarce. In the present study, the prevalence of parasitic infections in an ornithological garden in Tehran was investigated. Samples (n = 109) from various bird species were collected. Direct wet smear, sedimentation, flotation with Sheather's sugar, and modified Ziehl-Neelsen and Giemsa staining were used for parasite screening. Parasites were identified in 57 (52.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 42.9-61.7) samples, with protozoans being the most frequently observed organisms, including Cryptosporidium species, Eimeria species, Isospora species, Trichomonas species, and Histomonas species. Helminths were observed in 29 (26.6%, 95% CI 18.3-34.9) of the samples and included strongyles, Capillaria species, and Raillietina species. Ectoparasites were rarely recovered, but 2 species were identified: the poultry shaft louse (Menopon gallinae) and the fowl tick (Argas persicus). Free-ranging birds were significantly (P < 0.001) more likely to have parasites in their feces than caged birds. Fecal parasitic infections were order dependent and more prevalent in the Anseriformes and Galliformes (P < 0.05). The frequency of gastrointestinal parasites was notable in the investigated collection. In open natural bird gardens, such as in the present study, the probable transmission routes and sources of the parasitic infections are most likely via the free-ranging avian species. It is wise to recommend regular screening of the birds in these gardens to improve preventive control measures. Additionally, parasite genotyping should be considered to clarify our understanding of the epidemiology of zoonotic and nonzoonotic parasites.

A cross-sectional study of avian influenza A virus in Myanmar live bird markets: Detection of a newly introduced H9N2?

Zoonotic influenza surveillance in Myanmar is sparse, despite the risks of introduction of such viruses from neighboring countries that could impact the poultry industry and lead to spillover to humans. In July and August 2019, our multi-institutional partnership conducted a One Health-oriented, cross-sectional surveillance (weekly for 3 weeks) for influenza A and influenza D viruses at the three largest live bird markets in Yangon, Myanmar. The 27 bioaerosols, 90 bird cage swabs, 90 bird oropharyngeals, and 90 human nasopharyngeal samples yielded molecular influenza A detections in 8 bioaerosols (30.0%), 16 bird cages (17.8%), 15 bird oropharyngeals (16.7%), and 1 human nasopharyngeal (1.1%) samples. No influenza D was detected. Seven of the influenza A virus detections were found to be subtype A/H9N2, and one human nasopharyngeal sample was found to be subtype A/H1pdm. Among all IAV-positive samples, three of the A/H9N2-positive samples yielded live viruses from egg culture and their whole genome sequences revealing they belonged to the G9/Y280 lineage of A/H9N2 viruses. Phylogenetic analyses showed that these A/H9N2 sequences clustered separately from A/H9N2 viruses that were previously detected in Myanmar, supporting the notion that A/H9N2 viruses similar to those seen in wider Southeast Asia may have been introduced to Myanmar on multiple occasions. These findings call for increased surveillance efforts in Myanmar to monitor for the introduction of novel influenza viruses in poultry, as well as possible reassortment and zoonotic virus transmission.

Status and distribution of an introduced population of European Goldfinches (Carduelis carduelis) in the western Great Lakes region of North America

Despite the importance of monitoring introduced species, reports of non-native birds are often initially dismissed by observers. This leads to serious information gaps about source localities, founding numbers, and growth and expansion of potential new populations. Here, we report on European Goldfinches in North America between 2001 and 2021, focusing on the western Great Lakes region. We compiled over 7000 records of European Goldfinches from multiple sources; over 3300 records were from the western Great Lakes. This species was initially reported widely in this region, but over time, birds were most consistently reported between Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Chicago, Illinois. They have been breeding in this area continuously since 2003 and the number of reported observations has increased in recent years. From our compiled records, we describe their distribution, breeding status, nesting phenology, and natural food sources. From import records, we provide evidence that the likely primary founding event of this population was release or escape from a cage bird importer in northern Illinois and provide information on possible origins. We briefly discuss possible ecological impacts. We highlight weaknesses in the way data on non-native species are currently collected and how it has impeded our ability to thoroughly reconstruct the recent history of this species in the western Great Lakes region. Formal study is needed on this population of European Goldfinches, including their potentially increasing population and range, ecology, and an evaluation of the potential effects on native ecosystems.

Isolation, Identification and Antibiogram of Cloacal Flora from Apparently Healthy Caged Zoo Birds

Antibiotics are routinely used in animals and birds to prevent and cure bacterial infections. Various multidrug resistance bacteria have been detected in caged zoo birds, however there is a little known about their resistance pattern. In current study we isolated and identified cloacal bacteria from 50 zoo birds and compared their antimicrobial susceptibility. A total of 28 cloacal samples (56%) were found positive for different bacteria by selective culture. The bacteria isolated from different types of caged birds were Escherichia coli (26%), Staphylococcus spp. (8%), Streptococcus spp. (4%) and some unidentified Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (14%). Of these isolates, E. coli was the most frequent isolate. The results of antibiotic sensitivity tests revealed that cefotaxime and sulphadiazine were highly (&gt;60%) resistant to isolated cloacal microflora of zoo birds. However, the antibiotics such as ceftriaxone and amikacin showed moderate to high sensitivity against almost all the bacterial isolates. Of these, co-trimoxazole was found to be consistently highly effective (100%) on all the E. coli isolates. Overall, the results showed that zoo birds can be carrier of multidrug resistant organisms including Escherichia coli.

Radially Extended 3D Birdcage Antenna for MRI With Loop-Type Legs and Connection to the Shield

A novel radially extended 3D birdcage (BC) coil antenna was designed, simulated, and optimized for a cylindrical dielectric phantom at 4.7 T. The 3D birdcage consists of a classical birdcage with additional protrusions toward the inside and connections to the shield. To overcome the huge computational burden of the optimization process using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) method, an in-house method of moment (MoM) code exploiting the symmetry of the structure has been developed. The code produces open-circuit embedded element patterns and makes use of a Schur complement to analyze the effects of passive loads, in the presence of a phantom. The simulation results have been verified with the use of commercial software. The proposed 3D BC coil showed a 34 % improvement in the homogeneity of <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">B</i> <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">+</sup> <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">1</sub> and a 37 % reduction in the peak specific absorption rate (SAR), compared with a conventional BC coil.

Desempenho, qualidade do ovo e índice econômico de poedeiras em diferentes sistemas de criação

ABSTRACT The objective was to evaluate the performance, physical egg quality (weight and gravity), and economic index of laying hens reared in cage and cage-free systems. A total of 312 40-week-old Hy-line brown laying hens were distributed in a fully randomized design, split into two treatments (cage-free and cage) with 12 replicates in each system. We housed 144 birds in galvanized-wire cages (12 birds each) and 168 birds in a cage-free system in boxes with wood shaving bedding (14 birds each). The experiment lasted 112 days and divided into four 28-day periods. Regarding performance, feed intake (g) and feed conversion (g/g) of birds reared in the cage-free system were higher (p&lt;0.0001) than the cage system, but no differences were observed (p&gt;0.05) for the other performance parameters and also for egg quality. As for economic index, egg production in the cage-free system was higher (p&lt;0.0001) than the cage system. In conclusion, birds reared in the cage-free system have higher feed consumption but worse feed conversion, increasing egg production cost compared to caged birds; however, there are no changes in egg production and physical quality.

Diagnosis and treatment of hepatic lipidosis in a 42-year-old gray parrot: A case report

The African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) is among the world's most well-known seed-eating cage birds. A grain-eating diet has been reported to cause liver lipidosis in parrots. Fatty liver syndrome occurs when the liver cannot metabolize and re-secrete processed fatty acids due to excessive dietary fatty acids or lipolysis. The present study involves a 42-year-old African grey parrot with extensive feather pecking in the neck, legs, and chest areas, red color changes in the feathers on the legs, and lethargy. The patient's medical history includes the consumption of sugar, chocolate, and whole grains, which is the main reason for metabolic disorders. A comprehensive evaluation of serum biochemistry, total protein levels, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), triglycerides, and uric acid was conducted on the first visit. Following two weeks of treatment, the bird was again referred to the clinic for clinical pathological evaluation and diagnostic imaging. Different liver medicines, such as herbal antioxidants, vitamins, and amino acid supplements, are prescribed during the treatment process. In addition, the bird's diet was modified. Following the diet and treatment, the blood parameters reached normal limits. The echogenicity of liver tissue was close to normal after the initial observation of feathers regrowing in some areas, as well as blood sample evaluation. A paraclinical test was taken on the bird again after two months of treatment to ensure the disease did not recur. Diligent care, nutritional support, veterinary monitoring, and appropriate medications can improve hepatic lipidosis, but permanent damage may occur. Therefore, it is very critical to quickly diagnose and prevent the recurrence of the illness.

SISTEM CERDAS MONITORING KANDANG KENARI BERBASIS IoT DENGAN ALGORITMA C.45 THINGSPEAK

Kenari birds are one of the singing birds that have a very beautiful voice, the melody and variety of their crooks are very numerous, from there the opportunity arises to try breeding kenari birds because their price also has a high economic value and can be developed into a business that continues to grow. In the making of cages, the temperature of the environment (temperature of the animal cage environment) must also be studied. In addition, the safety of kenari from insect and rat disturbances must also be considered. The room temperature conducive for kenari livestock is between 23 and 27 C°.&#x0D; This study aims to maintain the quality of the temperature of the kenari bird cage to remain well preserved, thereby maintaining the health of the livestock birds. The data is calculated and processed using the DHT11 microcontroller sensor to maintain the temperature and humidity of the cage, the distance sensor for bird feed automatically by looking at the distance of the feeding place, the data is sent to thingspeak and then processed using the C4.5 algorithm and produces an accuracy level of 86%.

A Critical Discourse Analysis of Selected Poems of “Maya Angelou” (“Equality”, “Cage Birds” and Other Poems as Examples)

Language users’ choices of linguistic forms and expressions are usually guided by their thoughts, feelings, attitudes and their stance in the real world. Language, according to CDA, is never neutral and it always has some implications of the world that surrounds us. Critical studies are concerned with scrutinizing power relations, ideological manifestations and hegemony in social practices. The current paper is a critical discourse analysis (CDA) of selected poems of Maya Angelou, who is an African American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist.&nbsp;It sheds light on the figurative language of the poems that are selected randomly for the purpose of analysis. The five selected poems:&nbsp; "Still I Rise, Equality, Caged Bird, On the Pulse of Morning and Phenomenal Woman."&nbsp; are analyzed based on Fairclough’s model of CDA. The study tries to show the implicit figurative language in the poems and identify different figures of speech that have implicit meaning in the poems. It also examines how figurative language is used to enhance the meaning of the poems and communicating the ideas more effectively.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; .&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp

Repeatability and most probable producing ability of egg weight and one-day-old chick weight in Merawang chicken

Local Indonesian chicken from Bangka Belitung is known as Merawang. This chicken has dual purposes as a meat and egg producer. The objective of this study was to determine the repeatability and most probable producing ability (MPPA) of Merawang chicken’s egg weight and one-day-old chick (DOC) weight. 72 pullet Merawang chickens were raised in single bird cages and their egg weight was checked at 36-38 and 56-58 weeks. The DOC was weighed after the eggs were hatched. The rptR package and the restricted maximum likelihood (REML) method were utilized to estimate the repeatability. At 36-38 and 56-58 weeks, the average egg weight was 46.435.44 and 52.146.15, respectively. Meanwhile, the average DOC weight at 36-38 and 56-58 weeks were 31.92±4.54 and 35.40±4.36, respectively. The result showed that at 36-38 and 56-58 weeks, the repeatability of egg weight was 0.77±0.05 and 0.69±0.05, whereas the DOC weight was 0.84±0.04 and 0.64±0.07. The average MPPA ranges based on egg and DOC weights were 46.51-52.23 and 31.97-35.52, respectively. The pullets with MPPA above the average were 38.46%-50.72% (egg weight) and 48.94%-56% (DOC weight). The results from this study can be used for selecting the Merawang pullet.

The Energy Value for Broiler Chickens of Heat-Treated and Untreated Amaranth Grain, with and without Enzyme Addition

Amaranth is a pseudocereal which can thrive in conditions of drought and limited inputs. Samples of amaranth grain were subjected to proximate analysis with standard laboratory methods. We conducted two experiments to determine apparent (corrected to zero nitrogen balance) metabolisable energy (AMEn) content of untreated (UAG) and heat-treated (HTAG) amaranth grain for Ross-308 male broiler chicks (35–42 d and BW 2141 ± 10.41 g). In each experiment, 10 assay diets (ADs) were fed to 400 birds in individual metabolism cages in a 2 × 5 factorial design. ADs were obtained by substituting amaranth for the main ingredients in the reference diet (RD). Two levels of enzyme addition (0 and 0.55 g/kg) and five amaranth replacement rates (0, 150, 300, 450 and 600 g/kg) were used, and metabolism trials were conducted using the total excreta collection method. Two regression equations were estimated for UAG, with and without enzyme addition, that determined the AMEn content of UAG as 3264 and 3255 kcal/kg, respectively. For HTAG, the AMEn contents with and without enzyme addition were 3973 and 3828 kcal/kg, respectively. Thus, enzyme addition improved the energy value of UAG and HTAG by 0.28 and 3.8%, respectively. The AMEn value of HTAG was 708 and 573 kcal/kg higher than UAG in diets with and without enzyme addition, respectively. Thus, we conclude that there was more benefit from heat treatment than enzyme addition, but there was a synergistic effect of heat treatment and enzyme inclusion on the metabolisable energy concentration of amaranth in the diets of broilers.

Assessment of Bird Diversity and Abundance in Karra River Basin, Hetauda, Makawanpur

The main objective to carry out this study was to determine seasonal diversity, abundance, and ongoing threats to birds of the Karra river belt, Hetauda, Nepal. This study is based on observation. The bird survey methods and threat assessment techniques were used to analyse the data. A total of 153 bird species were recorded belonging to 15 orders and 38 families. Order Passeriformes was found dominating order with 70 species. Among 153 species, 98 species were residents, 37 species were winter visitors, 17 species were summer visitors, and one species was found, vagrant. One-way ANOVA revealed that there was a significantly different (F = 0.8872, df= 2, P &lt; 0.0422) in bird diversity in three different blocks in two different seasons. The Shannon winner diversity index shows that the winter season (H=1.86) was more diverse than the summer season (H=1.62). The evenness index showed that birds were evenly distributed in the winter season (E=0.8815) and then summer (E=0.8761). Bird species richness was found high (126) in moderately disturbed land use type (block 2) than other supporting intermediate disturbance hypotheses. Out of 153 birds recorded, 26 were common in their relative abundance. Habitat destruction, pollutionin the industrial belt, mining, overfishing, poaching, and keeping of cage birds, and lack of awareness were the major threats to birds around the study area.

Why the caged bird sings in the academy: A decolonial collaborative autoethnography of African American and Puerto Rican faculty and staff in higher education.

Why the caged bird sings in the academy: A decolonial collaborative autoethnography of African American and Puerto Rican faculty and staff in higher education.

Проблема традиції та новацій жіночої поезії середньовічного Китаю: на прикладі поетичного циклу “Ши про десять розлучень” (“十離詩”) Сюе Тао (薛濤, 768–832)

The article presents the first Ukrainian translation as well as a detailed historical and literary analysis of the cycle Ten partings (“十離詩”) written by Xue Tao (薛濤, 768–832), one of the “Four Greatest Female Shi Poets of the Tang Dynasty” (“唐代四大女詩人”). This cycle can be dated back to 789 or 809. It consists of ten quatrains, one of which is written as “ancient style poetry” gutishi (古體詩) while others are written as “modern style poetry” jintishi (近體詩). A detailed analysis of the cycle has shown that the nine jintishi are not only written according to the strict rules of versification, but also have some identical elements: the balance between a level tone ping (平) and an oblique tone ze (仄), the number of rhymes (韻), compositional structure, etc. The fourth poem “Parrot leaves the cage” (“鸚鵡離籠”) stands out in the cycle. It is not only written in different style (gutishi), but can also be seen as an example of the creation of a new poetic image. Thanks to “Fu on the Parrot” (“鸚鵡賦”) by Mi&nbsp;Heng (禰衡, 173–198) the image of a caged parrot is traditionally considered as a symbol of a gifted man or a poet whose talents lead to the loss of his freedom. But Xue Tao completely reinterprets this image by giving it a new connotation: now the caged parrot is a symbol of a lonely woman imprisoned in the luxurious inner chamber like a bird in a cage. Moreover, this image is ambivalent: it can be interpreted as a caged bird in the inner chamber to entertain a woman as well as a metaphor for a woman herself, who spends almost all her time there as in a cage. The very new interpretation of the parrot was highly appreciated by both contemporaries and successors of Xue Tao: they repeatedly borrowed and used this image not only in shi, but also in the other genres of poetry.

Farm Environmental Enrichments Improve the Welfare of Layer Chicks and Pullets: A Comprehensive Review.

Simple SummaryLayer industries that are still using cage housing systems should encourage the provision of appropriate farm enrichments, especially at an early stage. Farm environmental enrichments such as litter, sand, alfalfa bales, chick papers, pecking stones, pecking strings, perches, slopes, elevated platforms, aviaries and outdoor access reduce feather and skin damage, as well as abdominal fat content. Additionally, they promote the development of the brain and musculoskeletal systems and improve biological function, productivity and product quality with lifelong benefits for hens by continuously exposing them to free access to forage, dust baths and free locomotion. In this review, we summarize several common and effective methods of farm environmental enrichments, including different manipulable materials, structural equipment, and outdoor access, moreover, the competence of the farm staff is a requirement to achieve useful utilization of these farm environmental enrichments that aim to reduce stress and improve the welfare and productivity of layers. Proper farm environmental enrichments benefit the wellbeing of caged birds.Currently, cage housing is regarded as a global mainstream production system for laying hens. However, limited living space and confinement of birds in cages cause welfare and health problems, such as feather pecking, osteoporosis, obesity, and premature aging. Many studies have been conducted to alleviate layer welfare problems by providing farm environmental enrichments such as litter, sand, alfalfa bales, chick papers, pecking stones, pecking strings, perches, slopes, elevated platforms, aviaries and outdoor access with a trend towards complex enrichments. The provision of appropriate enrichments continuously attracts layers towards pecking, foraging, dust bathing, and locomotion, thereby giving lifelong benefits to laying hens. Hence, raising chicks and pullets under such conditions may reduce feather and skin damage, as well as accumulation of abdominal fat, and improve several biological features such as health, productivity, quality products, and docility of laying hens. Therefore, providing enrichment during the first few days of the layer’s life without any interruption is crucial. In addition, due to different farm conditions, environmental enrichment should be managed by well-trained farm staff. For example, in preventing feather pecking among the birds, litter materials for foraging are superior to dust bath materials or new items. However, a limited supply of litter creates competition and challenges among birds. Therefore, providing farm environmental enrichment for layers requires proper handling, especially in commercial layer farms. Hence, improving the welfare of chicks and pullets through optimizing on-farm environmental enrichments is essential for production systems practicing cage housing.

Comparison of Some Behavioural Responses in Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) Raised in Cages Enriched with Coloured LED Lights.

Simple SummaryIn this study, the environment of hand-raised budgerigars in captivity (people’s homes) was simulated. We investigated the effect of coloured LED lights in addition to natural light on the behaviour of the birds. For birds raised by humans, the light in houses is significantly different from the lighting conditions in a bird’s natural habitat. This may lead to behavioural and health problems in birds, adversely affecting their wellbeing. This study investigated how white, blue, yellow, and red LED lights applied at the beginning of the dark cycle of the photoperiod affected the behaviours of budgerigars. The results indicated that when offered the opportunity, the birds chose yellow light. The open field tests (OFT I and II) were used to assess the locomotion and exploratory behaviour of birds. The results of the OFT I test, which was performed with an unfamiliar object, indicated that the group experiencing yellow light was more self-confident. The birds in cages with blue light felt more comfortable and displayed more social behaviour. People will be able to use this new information to improve the living conditions of their pet budgerigars.This study examined the effects of exposure to coloured LED lights on some behavioural responses, food and water consumption, and live weight in budgerigars kept in captivity using behavioural tests to compare different lighting conditions. Budgerigars’ feeding, comfort, social, fear, and resting behaviours and behavioural reactions to a new environment were studied. Twelve male birds were assigned to four groups, with three birds in each group. They were provided with food and water ad libitum in wire cages at 25 ± 2 °C in a room. The study was conducted with 10 h of natural light, 6 h of LED light (white, blue, yellow, and red LED lights), and 8 h of darkness. Their behaviours in the cages were observed. Home cage avoidance (HCA) and two open field tests (OFT) were performed. No difference was observed in the LW and food consumption, but the blue and yellow groups consumed less water. The blue group displayed more comfort and social behaviours. In the HCA test, the red group demonstrated higher reactions. Furthermore, the birds in the yellow group stayed closer to the centre of the platform in the OFT I test, and they chose the compartment simulating their familiar environment in the OFT II test. Consequently, it was concluded that first yellow and then blue lights may be used to prevent stress-related problems for these birds. Our findings could be used to improve the hand-rearing conditions of captive budgerigars.

Escapicisim from Darkness’ in Maya Angelou‘s Why I know the Caged Bird Sings’

Black Literature came into their own as writers during the late 1950s and 1960s. Following the winds of Independence that swept across Africa. Black women writers have made are enormous contribution to the world. Black women are color in Black but they are white as snow in their thoughts and minds. Many of these authors wrote during the Herlen Renaissance , a particularly vital time in African American arts and letters while others have been especially active since the 1970S.In this theirs work the notes of love, loneliness,. Pain sorrow deep silence and escapicism from darkness of Maya Angelou’s ‘I Know why the Cage Bird Sings ‘is well structured.

Occurrence patterns of the endangered Yellow Cardinal Gubernatrix cristata in north-east Argentina: only in savannahs and at sites away from roads

Summary The endangered Yellow Cardinal Gubernatrix cristata is under pressure from habitat loss and from capturing for the cage bird trade. In north-east Argentina it is known to be associated with the Espinal ecoregion, but no information was available on habitat selection within this ecoregion. In Entre Ríos province, Argentina, we first sampled Yellow Cardinal presence in four environments: Espinal savannahs, Espinal open woodlands, riparian woodlands, and agricultural fields. Yellow Cardinals were only detected in savannahs. In a second set of surveys, transects were surveyed at sites with known presence of Yellow Cardinals and were placed within savannahs as well as nearby in open forests of only slightly different physiognomy. Yellow Cardinals were again only detected in savannahs. Tree density, shrub cover and height of herbaceous layer were lower in savannahs than in open woodlands. Ground-foraging Yellow Cardinals in savannahs foraged exclusively in grass patches with short grass of 3˗12 cm height. Such short grass occurred in 75% of spots of savannahs sites, but only in 48% of open woodlands. Savannah sites with Yellow Cardinals were significantly further away from permanent roads than sites without Cardinals, likely a reflection of capture pressure near roads. We recommend establishing additional protected areas with a high proportion of savannah patches and with limited or no road access. The short grass used by foraging Yellow Cardinals requires maintenance through grazing. Rewilding with native herbivores in protected areas is preferable to attain natural herbivory, but during the initial stages of rewilding, cattle and sheep grazing are essential to avoid tree and shrub proliferation in savannahs. The Yellow Cardinal can also persist on private lands with Espinal vegetation under sustainable livestock grazing. Frequent and effective patrolling and road controls are essential to reduce illegal capturing.

Motifs of ‘Jebak Puyuh’ in Kg. Bunohan, Tumpat, Kelantan

Local craft has unique aesthetic value such as our unique heritage 'Jebak Puyuh'. It is a trap device for trapping quail and it looks like a semi-circular bird cage. This study aims to identify the motifs found in 'Jebak Puyuh', in which the Malay motifs are known to be inspired by nature and surroundings. This research has been achieved through qualitative methods and using the theory of Zakaria Ali. 'Jebak Puyuh' is one of the great pieces of Malay's artistic works. Malaysians today should appreciate the existence of 'Jebak Puyuh' so that its continuity can be told to future generations. Keywords: Aesthetic; crafts; heritage; motifs eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2022. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning &amp; Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v7iSI7%20(Special%20Issue).3771

Effects of Housing System on Anxiety, Chronic Stress, Fear, and Immune Function in Bovan Brown Laying Hens.

Simple SummaryThe objectives of this study were to determine if housing Bovan brown laying hens in conventional cages or enriched floor pens impacted novel physiological and behavioral markers for animal welfare and whether we can use these markers to assess animal welfare. We found that birds that were housed in conventional cages showed increased tonic immobility durations (indication of fearfulness), decreased fecal Immunoglobulin A (indicator of immune function), and increased feather corticosterone concentrations (indicator of chronic stress) compared to hens that were housed in enriched pens. These results indicate that caged birds are more stressed, have reduced immune function, and are more fearful than birds that are housed in pens. In contrast to expectations, we found that caged hens showed a shorter latency to feed during attention bias testing, indicating reduced anxiety compared to birds from pens. Overall, we found that conventional cages generally impacted animal welfare negatively, with the exception of anxiety. In addition, the results suggest that the chosen novel markers for animal welfare show appropriate contrast between long-term housing systems for laying hens. Yet, additional work needs to be done before these measures can be used more broadly.The scientific community needs objective measures to appropriately assess animal welfare. The study objective was to assess the impact of housing system on novel physiological and behavioral measurements of animal welfare for laying hens, including secretory and plasma Immunoglobulin (IgA; immune function), feather corticosterone (chronic stress), and attention bias testing (ABT; anxiety), in addition to the well-validated tonic immobility test (TI; fearfulness). To test this, 184 Bovan brown hens were housed in 28 conventional cages (3 birds/cage) and 4 enriched pens (25 birds/pen). Feces, blood, and feathers were collected 4 times between week 22 and 43 to quantify secretory and plasma IgA and feather corticosterone concentrations. TI tests and ABT were performed once. Hens that were from cages tended to show longer TI, had increased feather corticosterone, and decreased secretory IgA at 22 weeks of age. The caged hens fed quicker, and more hens fed during the ABT compared to the penned hens. Hens that were in conventional cages showed somewhat poorer welfare outcomes than the hens in enriched pens, as indicated by increased chronic stress, decreased immune function at 22 weeks of age but no other ages, somewhat increased fear, but reduced anxiety. Overall, these novel markers show some appropriate contrast between housing treatments and may be useful in an animal welfare assessment context for laying hens. More research is needed to confirm these findings.