Bird Hunting Research Articles

Examining conservation compliance with randomized response technique analyses.

Understanding violations of laws or social norms designed to protect natural resources from overexploitation is a priority for conservation research and management. Because direct questioning about stigmatized behaviors can produce biased responses, researchers have adopted more complex, indirect questioning techniques. The randomized response technique (RRT) is one of the most powerful indirect survey methods, yet analyses of these data require sophisticated statistical models. To date, there has been limited user-friendly software to analyze RRT data, particularly for models that combine information from multiple RRT questions. We developed an R package, zapstRR (ZoologicAl Package for RRT) that provides functions for 3 RRT models that can be applied to single or multiple RRT questions. With these functions, researchers can estimate the prevalence of conservation noncompliance, determine the number of violations by individuals, perform regressions for univariate and multivariate RRT data, and correct prevalence estimates for evasive-response bias. We illustrate the use of these estimators for RRT data through an examination of 2 case studies: illegal bird hunting where the interview consisted of a standard RRT question design and a novel implementation designed to offer further anonymity to respondents and reveal the impact of educational interventions on illegal bushmeat consumption. The case studies demonstrate how the models can work in tandem to uncover distinct patterns within RRT data sets. The case studies also show how several assumptions are central to the application of the multivariate models.

Мисливські водоплавні птахи водосховища "Відсічне" (Житомирська область)

Водосховище "Відсічне" на 16 км простягається уздовж р. Тетерів – від с. Побитівка до с. Дениші Житомирського району. Воно потребує очищення, що може істотно вплинути на структуру його рослинного і тваринного світу. За мету роботи поставлено вивчення структури населення мисливських водоплавних птахів та розроблення заходів з їх охорони. Загалом тут зафіксовано 25 видів мисливських водоплавних птахів, із яких 11 – гніздових, 12 – пролітних і 2 – зимуючих. Найбільш представленими є Гусеподібні птахи, за якими йдуть Норцеподібні та Журавлеподібні. За відносною чисельністю переважають рідкісні види птахів (11 таксонів), потім – звичайні (8 видів). У весняно-міграційний період переважають крижень, свищ, червоноголова чернь та лиска; у гніздовий – крижень, лиска та водяна курочка; в осінньо-міграційний – крижень, червоноголова чернь, свищ та лиска. Найбільшим різноманіттям та чисельністю водоплавних птахів, особливо у гніздовий період, відрізняються витоки водотоків. Поряд із цим, їх рослинність затримує змиви ґрунтових частин, що сприяє зменшенню замулення водосховища. Окрім цього, тут тримаються ондатри, кабани та інші види. Після розчищення водосховища такі ділянки важливо залишати недоторканими, у природному стані. З метою покращення умов проживання мисливських водоплавних птахів, доцільно провести біотехнічні заходи. До таких біотехнічних заходів можна віднести влаштування гніздівель для крижня, нерозня, лебедя-шипуна, розширюють свій ареал гоголь та інші дупло-гніздові птахи. Як експеримент, можна було б уздовж водосховища вивісити штучні гніздівлі для дупло-гніздових водоплавних птахів.

The importance of artificial wetlands for birds: A case study from Cyprus.

The degradation of natural wetlands has significant effects on the ecosystem services they provide and the biodiversity they sustain. Under certain conditions, these negative effects can be mitigated by the presence of artificial wetlands. However, the conservation value of artificial wetlands needs to be explored further. In addition, it is unclear how certain anthropogenic variables, such as road networks and hunting reserves (i.e., areas where hunting of birds is prohibited) affect biodiversity in both artificial and natural wetlands. Here, we use data from thirteen artificial and six natural wetlands in Cyprus, to assess their similarities in bird species diversity and composition, and to quantify the relationship between species diversity and the density of road networks, hunting reserves, wetland size, and wetland depth. We found that while on average natural wetlands have more species and support higher abundances, certain artificial wetlands have the potential to support similarly diverse communities. Overall, regardless of the type, larger wetlands, with shallower waters tend to be more biodiverse. The same is true for wetlands surrounded by a higher percentage of hunting reserves and a lower density of road networks, albeit the effect of road networks was weaker. We conclude, from our results, that although the conservation value of natural wetlands is higher, artificial wetlands have the potential to play a complimentary role in the conservation of bird communities, assuming those wetlands have the right characteristics (e.g., in terms of size and depth) and assuming that the disturbances resulting from high-impact human-activities (e.g., hunting) are minimized.

Giardia and Cryptosporidium antibody prevalence and correlates of exposure among Alaska residents, 2007-2008.

Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. are common intestinal protozoa that can cause diarrhoeal disease. Although cases of infection with Giardia and Cryptosporidium have been reported in Alaska, the seroprevalence and correlates of exposure to these parasites have not been characterised. We conducted a seroprevalence survey among 887 residents of Alaska, including sport hunters, wildlife biologists, subsistence bird hunters and their families and non-exposed persons. We tested serum using a multiplex bead assay to evaluate antibodies to the Giardia duodenalis variant-specific surface protein conserved structural regions and to the Cryptosporidium parvum 17- and 27-kDa antigens. Approximately one third of participants in each group had evidence of exposure to Cryptosporidium. Prevalence of Giardia antibody was highest among subsistence hunters and their families (30%), among whom positivity was associated with lack of community access to in-home running water (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.28) or collecting rain, ice, or snow to use as drinking water (aPR 1.09, 95% CI 1.01-1.18). Improving in-home water access for entire communities could decrease the risk of exposure to Giardia.

Community Composition and Threats Status of Ornithofauna of Bakhira Bird Sanctuary: A Wetland Ecosystem

Understanding the diversity and structure of bird communities is indispensable to delineate the importance of regional or local landscapes for avian conservation. The aim of the present study was to appraise community composition and threat status of avifauna of Bakhira Bird Sanctuary. The various species of birds were identified by using key references. During the study period 84 species of birds were identified. Maximum 15 species of birds were found to be belonging to order Anseriformes followed by minimum 2 species in Bucerotiformes and Gruiformes. We have enlisted 22 species of wetland birds in family Anatidae. However, only 1 species has been recognized in 11 different families. The documentation of the residential status of avifauna showed that 47 resident species (R), 28 migrant species (M) and 9 as resident migrant species (RM). According to the IUCN based categorization, maximum 86.90% species were recorded as least concerned (LC), followed by 1.19% endangered (EN), 4.76% near threatened (NT) and 7.14% vulnerable (VU). Guild based classification uncovered that maximum (44) birds were carnivorous and minimum (1) piscivorous. The result of our study concluded that Bakhira Bird Sanctuary is facing huge anthropogenic threats which include trapping and hunting of birds, habitat destruction by soil erosion, sedimentation and extension of crop fields, water pollution and eutrophication.

Quantifying the scale and socioeconomic drivers of bird hunting in Central African forest communities

Global biodiversity is threatened by unsustainable exploitation for subsistence and commerce, and tropical forests are facing a hunting crisis. In Central African forests, hunting pressure has been quantified by monitoring changes in the abundance of affected species and by studying wild meat consumption, trade and hunter behaviour. However, a proportion of offtake is also discarded as bycatch or consumed by hunters when working, which can be overlooked by these methods. For example, remains of hornbills and raptors are found regularly in hunting camps but relatively few birds are consumed in households or traded in markets. Hornbill and raptor populations are sensitive to small increases in mortality because of their low intrinsic population growth rates, however, the scale and socioeconomic drivers of the cryptic hunting pressure affecting these species have not been quantified. We used direct and indirect questioning and mixed-effects models to quantify the socioeconomic predictors, scale and seasonality of illegal bird hunting and consumption in Littoral Region, Cameroon. We predicted that younger, unemployed men with low educational attainment (i.e. hunters) would consume birds more often than other demographics, and that relative offtake would be higher than expected based on results from village and market-based studies. We found that birds were primarily hunted and consumed by unemployed men during the dry season but, in contrast to expectations, we found that hunting prevalence increased with educational attainment. Within unemployed men educated to primary level (240 of 675 respondents in 19 villages), we estimated an average of 29 hornbills and eight raptors (compared with 19 pangolins) were consumed per month during the study period (Feb–Jun 2015) in a catchment of c.1135km2. We conclude that large forest birds face greater hunting pressure than previously recognised, and birds are a regular source of protein for men during unemployment. Offtake levels may be unsustainable for some raptors and hornbills based on life history traits but in the absence of sufficient baseline ecological and population data we recommend that a social-ecological modeling approach is used in future to quantify hunting sustainability.

Interactive impacts of by-catch take and elite consumption of illegal wildlife

Harvesting, consumption and trade of forest meat are key causes of biodiversity loss. Successful mitigation programs are proving difficult to design, in part because anthropogenic pressures are treated as internationally uniform. Despite illegal hunting being a key conservation issue in the Pacific Islands, there is a paucity of research. Here, we examine the dynamics of hunting of birds and determine how these contribute to biodiversity loss on the islands of Samoa. We focus on the interactive effects of hunting on two key seed dispersing bird species: the Pacific pigeon (Ducula pacifica) and the critically endangered Manumea or tooth-billed pigeon (Didunculus strigiristris). We interviewed hunters, vendors and consumers and analyzed household consumption. Results suggest that over 22,000 pigeons were consumed per year and this is by primarily the richest people across the country. Indeed, the wealthiest 10% of households consumed 43% of all wild pigeon meat, and the wealthiest 40% of households consumed 80% of all pigeons. The Manumea was shot by 33% (n = 30) of the surveyed hunters while pursuing the Pacific pigeon. Results raise serious conservation concerns, as pigeon hunting is likely to be a key factor contributing to the decline of the Manumea and critical forest seed dispersers in general. Our results show that wild meat consumption can lead to non-targeted pressure on bycatch species. Wild meat harvesting and consumption is a key issue leading to species declines and extinctions in the tropics. It is critical that this issue receives the appropriate attention and is addressed in the Pacific if species and forests are to be maintained.

Have birds ever mattered? An evaluation of the contribution of avian species to the archaeozoological record of Belgium (Iron Age to recent times)

This preliminary study aims to document general trends in the representation of bird remains in anthropogenic contexts from Belgian archaeological sites. A large dataset is analysed, consisting of 186 faunal assemblages from 79 different sites. The contexts included vary in terms of their taphonomic nature (refuse layers, latrines, pits, etc.) and date, ranging from the Iron Age to the modern period. The characteristics of the study area and the dataset as a whole are described, with a focus on identification rates, past and present avian taxonomic diversity, and relative abundance of bird remains compared with domestic mammal remains. The impact of recovery methods (sieving or hand collecting) on these various aspects is also evaluated. A taxonomic analysis describes the diversity and abundance of the different groups of species that are encountered and shows which habitats were preferentially exploited for the hunting of wild birds. The study shows that there is significant taxonomic diversity across the dataset. However, this diversity is not necessarily present in each separate archaeological context, as the number of remains identified by taxon is generally low. Some species or groups of species are ubiquitous and dominant, in particular domestic fowl. Although this analysis is broad and exploratory, it is believed that it will serve as a sound methodological basis for future, more detailed studies focusing on the role that birds played in past human societies during specific chronological periods.

Survey and Assessment of the Human Activities in Chingurmi Duguma Sector of Chad Basin National Park, North – Eastern Nigeria

This study was conducted on the survey and assessment of the human activities in Chingurmi Duguma sector of Chad Basin National Park, north – eastern Nigeria. Primary and secondary sources of information were used. Data were collected by using compound structured open and ended questionnaires, served in 12 villages’ communities on 10 selected individuals in each village, totaling 120 respondents and a separate questionnaire on 15 park officials. The data collected were analysed statistically. Eight well known national parks located within the eight states in Nigeria, their locations, area land marks with percentage of each park occupied were stated. Surveyed and identified different 15 fauna and 26 Flora species at interval of every 5 km from point A to E in the sector. 69% males and 31% females of the respondents were involved, 41 above years old were 44 the highest (37%), and least were 31 – 35 and 36 – 40 years old (18%) each involved actively in human activities, 80% were enlightened on the relevance of the park to the surrounding village communities, 31% were educated on the risk of farming in the park, 47% of the respondents were 6 – 10 years leaving in surrounding the park, relationship between the park officials and the communities were 67%, 33% benefit from the resources of the sector, 20% for communication gab, 75% said wildlife (animals) appears in the night, 33% for day time. 50% usually go into the park for grazing/ poaching and hunting, 25%t for hunting of birds, 23% agreed on felling trees, 100% of park officials agreed to have seen people tempering with the resources in the park, and 42% agreed on poaching and hunting of animals resources in the Chingurmi Duguma sector of the park. Findings reveal that the park is being tempered with and that the human activities are on the high side. It is advised that the government should come to its aid.

Облік мисливської фауни у форматі статзвітності «2-тп – мисливство»: особливості, переваги, недоліки

Users of hunting grounds keep a primary track of the numbers and hunting of game animals and birds. The procedure for keeping records of game animals and the volumes of hunting are established by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine in agreement with the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine. In the hunting sector, the reporting form is "Game management" (No. 2-tp hunting). The report consists of four sections: the area of hunting grounds and the number of personnel; costs of running and income from game management; animal numbers, dispersal, and hunting of game animals; captive breeding of game animals. The annual inventory of game animals and birds provides long-term and systematic monitoring of populations, allows to assess the state of populations of the main game species, to analyse environmental factors that affect the abundance of game animals, to predict the development of faunistic situation in hunting grounds, to plan biotechnical activities and to organise sustainable use of game fauna. In order to obtain objective primary materials on the abundance of game animals and birds, there is a need to improve the counting process and census methods, to improve the skills of observers (spotters), and to introduce resource-saving methods for estimations of game fauna resources.

The traditional hunting on Greater Green Leafbird (Chloropsis sonnerati) in East Java: A vulnerable situation for vulnerable bird

Greater Green Leafbird (GGL) Chloropsis sonnerati is one of the favorite songbird in Indonesia and live harmoniously among local people. However the increasing human needs creates a vulnerable situation, both to socio-economic and bird sustainability. This study aims to reveal the GGL tradi-tional hunting method in two villages within the national park. In addition, this study also aims to reveal the trading plot from the initial supply to the local traders and the fluctuation of GGL population in their natural habitat. We conducted two approaches: an explorative interview on bird traders in Malang, Jember, and Banyuwangi, and a deep interview on the national park rangers, society, and bird hunters. Local people generally use two methods for GGL hunting. Pikat method, was used to catch specific birds that mostly live on trees. The other method, net method, was not widely used by the traditional hunter. Population of GGL was considered as abundant in the past, when the demand was low and the hunting activity only conducted seasonally using pulot method. The high of demand, modernization of method, and regeneration of hunters shifted the sustainable harvest into exploitation. During 2001-2003, the trend of hunting began to decline the GGL population in nature.

The traditional hunting on Greater Green Leafbird (Chloropsis sonnerati) in East Java: A vulnerable situation for vulnerable bird

Greater Green Leafbird (GGL) Chloropsis sonnerati is one of the favorite songbird in Indonesia and live harmoniously among local people. However the increasing human needs creates a vulnerable situation, both to socio-economic and bird sustainability. This study aims to reveal the GGL tradi-tional hunting method in two villages within the national park. In addition, this study also aims to reveal the trading plot from the initial supply to the local traders and the fluctuation of GGL population in their natural habitat. We conducted two approaches: an explorative interview on bird traders in Malang, Jember, and Banyuwangi, and a deep interview on the national park rangers, society, and bird hunters. Local people generally use two methods for GGL hunting. Pikat method, was used to catch specific birds that mostly live on trees. The other method, net method, was not widely used by the traditional hunter. Population of GGL was considered as abundant in the past, when the demand was low and the hunting activity only conducted seasonally using pulot method. The high of demand, modernization of method, and regeneration of hunters shifted the sustainable harvest into exploitation. During 2001-2003, the trend of hunting began to decline the GGL population in nature.

Hunting strategies employed by bird hunters with economic pursuit in the city of Guiyang, Southwest China

Understanding hunter motivations and strategies is of particular importance in regions fraught with wildlife hunting, due to the critical hunter’s role in linking wildlife supply and consumption. However, such information is extremely scarce in China despite the worrisome situation of wildlife hunting. This study documents the techniques, motivations and hunting frequencies of bird hunters who have economic interests in the city of Guiyang, Southwest China, where numerous wild birds have been observed in trade. The data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires given to 50 hunters in a public market between March and July 2015. At least 9 kinds of tools and 10 kinds of techniques have been employed in local bird hunting practices. Up to eight factors have stimulated the collection of wild birds, of which commercial benefit was undoubtedly the most important. Hunting activities were conducted throughout the year, and efficient and low-cost hunting techniques, such as hunting with nets and neck snares were the predominant hunting techniques. The use of bait birds, whistles and bird song recordings was common, with the aim of improving the harvest by finding and attracting target species, highlighting a preference for hunting certain species of birds. The various hunting motivations underscore the complexity of the current hunting issue. Conservation management was discussed by considering the hunting strategies employed and the needs of hunters, as well as the market demand, which highlights the necessity of the combined actions of law enforcement, commercial breeding, social welfare, the development of hunting grounds and environmental education.

Hunting and Consumption of Passerine Birds by Wild Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos)

Abstract. Predation of vertebrates by Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) has rarely been documented and only in relation to fish and amphibians. Mallard foraging behavior was observed at a reservoir bordering Semenic-Caras Gorges National Park in southwest Romania. A group of Mallards comprising one adult female and 10 subadults was recorded hunting, killing and consuming hatching year passerine birds of two species, a Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) and a Black Redstart (Phoenicuros ochruros). These are the first records of hunting of birds by wild Mallards. This extraordinary new behavior represents substantial diet expansion for this widespread and abundant duck species.

Plantation Houses of North Florida

<p>The concept of Plantation conjures an image that identifies the North Florida / South Georgia region of the U. S. Leon County attracted many cotton planters from Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, North and South Carolina in the 1820’s to the 1850’s. Up to the beginning of the Civil War, Leon County was the 5th largest producer of cotton counting all counties from Florida and Georgia. The Civil War brought the plantation culture to a standstill.</p><p>The plantations transformed the environment based on their need for open fields in which to cultivate different crops, or raise a variety of animals with the help of slaves. From the 1900’s many plantations abandoned their land to nature producing a deep change in the local landscape. Today plantations are not used as much for planting crops but more for hunting or as tree farms. The hunting plantations do not grow crops but provide good conditions for the hunting of animals and birds. Other plantations were torn apart, sold and now are part of the Tallahassee urban fabric. In other words, they disappeared.</p><p>The transformation of the plantations has been slow and steady, and has become the image of the area, even the region. The paper shows five plantations that represent five different evolutions of these traditional landscapes. The landscapes have evolved to accommodate the very local but fluid definition of place. It is this transformation, this evolving identity which helped preserve some of the traditional landscapes and the traditional architecture on them.</p><p>The most prominent feature of the plantation is the “Big House” or plantation house. The house embodies all aspects of the plantation life style. The construction materials and methods reflected the times, the technologies and the available resources.</p><p>The research has been done mainly in the archives of the Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation. The results, still pending, explain the land typology as it evolved from the golden decades of the plantation culture to the present day land use.</p>

Hunting and Consumption of Passerine Birds by Wild Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos)

Hunting and Consumption of Passerine Birds by Wild Mallards (<i>Anas platyrhynchos</i>)

Conserving a globally threatened species in a semi-natural, agrarian landscape

AbstractAgriculture threatens biodiversity across the tropics, particularly in semi-natural grassland landscapes, where human populations are high, habitat is easily converted and agriculture is prone to intensification. Over the last 20 years intensive, commercial dry season rice cultivation has emerged as the dominant threat to the Bengal florican Houbaropsis bengalensis, a globally threatened bustard that breeds in the seasonally inundated grasslands of central Cambodia. Although floricans have been extensively monitored for 10 years, no socioeconomic research has been undertaken to examine how local livelihood activities interact with the florican. We conducted household questionnaires and focus groups in 21 villages in the Northern Tonle Sap Conservation Landscape to gather information on household demographics, rice farming and bird hunting in protected and unprotected areas of florican breeding habitat. We identified a significant increase in dry season rice adoption by local communities since 2005. Dry season rice cultivation was strongly associated with agrochemical use and rice fields directly overlapped with florican breeding habitat, reducing habitat availability throughout the breeding season. We identified a low but significant level of bird hunting in grassland households (8%) and revealed a demand for wild bird meat amongst local communities. Our findings suggest an urgent need for conservation interventions in unprotected farmland and emphasize the role of enforcement and community engagement in improving protection within protected areas. We highlight the potential of private sector initiatives such as the Sustainable Rice Platform in reconciling conservation and development for impoverished rural communities.

Back into the wild: establishing a migratory Northern bald ibis Geronticus eremita population in Europe

From the perspective of zoological institutions reintroduction projects offer many possibilities to link conservation and research programmes. An example of the multi‐layered and diverse contributions that zoological institutions in general and, specifically, Vienna Zoo, Austria, can make is the reintroduction of the Northern bald ibis Geronticus eremita in central Europe. The involvement of zoological institutions ranges from the provision of eggs or birds for release trials, to financial and advocacy support, including with government agencies and non‐governmental organizations. Through involvement at a steering level at the coordinative association ‘Förderverein Waldrappteam’ and as a partner in the EU LIFE+ reintroduction project, Vienna Zoo directly contributes to the shape of the reintroduction project for this Critically Endangered species, and provides much more than technical and infrastructural support. The reintroduction of the Northern bald ibis is broadly in line with the reintroduction guidelines of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This project provides added benefits not only through its work to prevent the illegal hunting of migratory birds but also the production and dissemination of scientific research.

A Cross-Site Analysis of Neotropical Bird Hunting Profiles

© The Author(s) 2017. Subsistence hunting of neotropical birds is common and widespread in the tropical forests of Latin America. Although its sustainability under different scenarios is subject to debate, hunting has already contributed to the decline and local extirpation of several taxa and is considered to be a significant threat to a range of large-bodied species. Gaining a better understanding of the variability of hunting patterns, as well as the factors that can potentially be used to predict them, is important if we are to develop conservation strategies that target the species most likely to be experiencing declines. In this article, we examine the avian hunting profiles of 65 communities in the neotropics. We describe their variability and look at the relationship between a hunting profile and (a) its geographical location, (b) the community’s age, (c) the community’s population size, and (d) the year in which the survey was carried out. We find that there is a significant but weak relationship between a community’s geographic location and the composition of its bird hunting profile, and that prey profiles can be considerably different even among close neighbors. We found no relationship between a community’s age or size and the mean biomass of bird prey hunted. Our results challenge the assumption that older and larger settlements have a predictable impact upon avian prey communities and suggest that cultural preferences or the starting availability of prey species can change rapidly over short distances.

Arizona Quail: Species in Jeopardy?

We begin the 21st century with the Midwestern northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) range reduced to a small portion of its historic distribution. This precipitous decline occurred largely during the last quarter of the 20th century, coincident with widespread intensive agricultural land use, unchecked natural plant succession, and frequent severe weather. Various bobwhite enthusiasts of the 1960s–1980s era including Klimstra, Dumke and Stanford had evaluated agricultural land use trends and predicted the near demise of bobwhites that we now lament. Alarmed upland bird hunters have repeatedly spurred policy makers and administrators into action. However, because bobwhites still are only an incidental product of modern agriculture, the potential for reversing declining population trends is limited. Moreover, as society and the wildlife profession become progressively less interested in consumptive uses of wildlife, the political will to appropriate agency resources for bobwhites per se is disappearing. Such a pattern has been seen in the Midwest where bobwhite conservation has become a marginal issue on the periphery of the species’ range (e.g., Ia., Wis., Mich., Ont.). This paradigm shift is occurring in much of the bobwhite’s historic range where habitat and bird populations remain at low levels. The result is that bobwhite culture as we know it (i.e., research, management, and hunting) will decline and be replaced by ecosystem conservation. At the state and national level (e.g., North American Bird Conservation Initiative, Conservation and Reinvestment Act), potential funding for restoration and management of savannas, prairies, agroecosystems, etc., can provide habitat for bobwhites. Bobwhite enthusiasts should embrace this change, and participate in the process to ensure that the needs of bobwhites are included. Importantly, our knowledge base for bobwhites is relatively strong and should bolster efforts to include needs of bobwhite in ecosystem management.