Nesting Birds Research Articles

A radar-infrared compatible stealth metamaterial with bird's nest morphology

The rapid development of detection technology, the technology with radar infrared compatible stealth function has become one of the important ways to improve the survivability of weapons and equipment. However, the two stealth mechanisms of radar stealth and infrared stealth are mutually exclusive. In this work, a multilayer radar-infrared compatible stealth metamaterial is presented based on SiO2 fiber reinforced aerogels skeleton (SFRAS). The prepared samples with bird 's nest microstructure showed good compressive strength (1.73–2.52 MPa) and low density (0.22–0.27 g/cm3), achieving lightweight. Moreover, the metamaterial exhibits excellent electromagnetic absorption performance, effective absorbing broadband (13 GHz), and ultra-wideband absorption of electromagnetic waves is achieved. Nanoporous structure and low thermal conductivity (0.03426–0.05011 W/ (m K)) successfully reduce the surface thermal radiation, indicating that it is a potential material for achieving infrared stealth. The new technology provides a new approach to the research of the radar-infrared compatible stealth structure.

Habitat amount and edge effects, not perch proximity, nest exposure, or vegetation diversity affect cowbird parasitism in agricultural landscapes

Context Prior research documented relationships between brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) brood parasitism and edge effects, proximity of perches, and nest exposure. Those relationships have not been evaluated in agroecosystems containing extremes of fragmentation and vegetation diversity. ObjectivesWe compared three existing hypotheses on how cowbirds locate host nests with two new hypotheses regarding habitat amount and vegetation diversity to determine how the configuration and location of agricultural conservation practices affect grassland bird nest parasitism rates and predicted rates for eight common conservation practices.Methods We assessed cowbird parasitism of grassland bird nests on corn and soybean farms in Iowa, USA, and measured perch proximity, nest exposure, edge effects, habitat amount, and vegetation diversity for each nest. We fit a global generalized linear mixed-effects model and compared importance of model parameters using odds ratios. We predicted parasitism likelihood for every subset model and averaged predictions to explore individual effects.ResultsThe variables that most influenced parasitism rates included main effects for nest initiation day-of-season (OR = 0.71, CI95 = 0.60–0.84) and the landscape variables of distance to nearest crop edge (0.63, 0.51–0.76) and proportion of grass land cover within 660 m (0.75, 0.57–1.00). We found little support that perch proximity, nest exposure, or native vegetation diversity affected parasitism. We also assessed parasitism likelihood by conservation practice and found no significant differences.ConclusionsOur results provide evidence to support the edge effect and habitat amount hypotheses, but not the nest exposure, vegetation diversity, or perch proximity hypotheses.

Protecting wild bird nests against predators: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of non‐lethal methods

Abstract Implementing effective, affordable and ethical conservation management will be crucial for minimising future biodiversity losses. Such management requires reliable foundational evidence to help managers make informed choices about how to address the needs of their target species. Unfortunately, such evidence is still lacking for many species and management scenarios. One major global challenge is improving the reproductive success of threatened species in the context of predation. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of in situ experiments that used non‐lethal methods to protect bird nests against predators, with the aims of summarising global trends in nest protection efforts, comparing the effectiveness of different protection measures and informing future research and management. We considered peer‐reviewed studies in English. We detected a large geographic and taxonomic bias in the evidence base with 58% of articles conducted in North America and 76% on ground‐nesting birds. Less than 3% of articles involved taxa listed as Endangered or Critically Endangered and 51% of study units lasted just a single breeding season. Nests protected with exclosures, fences and guards were more likely to be successful than their unprotected controls. Interventions involving deterrents, conditioned taste aversion, chemical camouflage and diversionary feeding did not have a significant positive effect on nest success, but the interventions in these categories were less common and more diverse in nature. Synthesis and applications. To increase their conservation value, future non‐lethal nest protection experiments should whenever possible clearly state overall aims, take place over multiple seasons, use a comparable control and test non‐lethal protection methods independently of lethal predator control. Greater focus is required on under‐studied taxa such as cup‐nesting songbirds and birds in South America, Africa and Asia, and novel protection techniques such as deterrents and chemical camouflage. Practitioners should consider the evidence we synthesise here when deciding whether non‐lethal nest protection approaches are optimal for their study system, to increase conservation success and reduce ethical and financial costs.

When Parasites Damage Birds’ Beaks, the Whole Environment Can Change

Parasitism is the most common feeding mode on earth. But how do parasites affect the feeding behavior of their hosts? Darwin’s finches of the Galápagos Islands have a parasite called the avian vampire fly, which lay its eggs inside bird nests. When the eggs hatch, the immature flies enter the nestlings’ beaks via their nostrils and feed on their blood and tissue. The few nestlings that survive tend to have deformed beaks. We wanted to find out how this beak damage changes a finch’s body condition and feeding behavior once it leaves the nest. This study was conducted in the Galápagos Islands over 10 years. We monitored four species of Darwin’s finches and measured their body conditions. Overall, adults with damaged beaks were in poorer condition and changed their feeding behavior. This study shows that parasites can have long-term effects on the feeding behavior of their hosts.

Mode-locked laser with multiple timescales in a microresonator-based nested cavity

Mode-locking techniques have played a pivotal role in developing and advancing laser technology. Stable fiber-cavity configurations can generate trains of pulses spanning from MHz to GHz speeds, which are fundamental to various applications in micromachining, spectroscopy, and communications. However, the generation and exploitation of multiple timescales in a single laser cavity configuration remain unexplored. Our work demonstrates a fiber-cavity laser configuration designed to generate and control pulse trains from nanosecond to picosecond timescales with a broadband output and a low mode-locking threshold. Our approach exploits a frequency mode-locking mechanism that simultaneously drives the modes of an integrated microring resonator nested within an external fiber-loop cavity, guaranteeing ultra-stable operation. By selectively filtering the nested cavity modes, we can transition from nanosecond pulses to pulse burst trains in which nanosecond and picosecond components coexist. Our laser configuration produces a train of pulses with durations of 5.1 ns and 3.1 ps at repetition rates of 4.4 MHz and 48.7 GHz, with time-bandwidth products close to the transform-limited values of 0.5 and 0.46, respectively. Moreover, in the absence of frequency modulation, we demonstrate the generation of comb spectra with an adjustable central wavelength. Our findings have the potential to significantly contribute to the development of cutting-edge technologies and applications, harnessing the distinct advantages of mode-locked pulses across various scientific and engineering disciplines.

Exploring the value of ecosystem services at health clinic gardens in a South African context

Ecosystem services (ESs) valuation is important for advancing biodiversity objectives and investing in green infrastructure (GI) establishment. Little is known about the potential of health clinic gardens (HCGs) to provide ESs and their potential values. This study sought to determine the plant and bird species composition and potential value of ESs provided by 32 HCGs in two South African district municipalities. HCG sizes range from 513.0m2 to 13531.0m2 and each had at least one micro-garden. Among the 312 plant species observed across all HCGs, 60% were exotic. The small HCGs had 31 ± 3.6 different plant species per garden, compared to the medium-sized (32 ± 3.7) and large ones (49 ± 5.2). Provisioning ESs from the observed species were prominent with 17.4 ± 1.16 species potentially used for general well-being, 13.66 ± 1.08 as potential food plants, and 11.91 ± 0.93 potentially raw materials. Trees in HCGs were estimated to sequester up to 163481.87 kg of carbon from trees covering an area of up to 9620.80m2. Approximately 1390.70 ± 427.50m2 of HCG space had the potential to provide a habitat for plants and birds, and 11 bird species were observed across all HCGs. Sixty-three bird nests encountered in 18 HCGs are believed to belong to the Passer domesticus. HCGs resemble other types of gardens like home and domestic gardens, and their rich plant biodiversity positions them as ideal ecosystems to benefit even the most vulnerable members of society. They provide an opportune platform for knowledge upscaling in the cultivation and use of plant species as a supplement of primary healthcare and food security issues in the summer months to the rural, urban, and peri-urban poor in the Global South.

The potential cutaneous benefits of edible bird's nest.

Edible bird's nest (EBN) is composed of the solidified saliva of swiftlet birds. EBN has been extremely popular in Asian culture for centuries. They are often consumed as a delicacy in the form of bird's nest soup and are believed to have numerous skin benefits. In light of EBN's growing popularity and significant cultural importance, we aimprovide a comprehensive review of EBN's potential dermatologic benefits and role in photoaging, anti-inflammation, wound healing, skin barrier enhancement, and skin whitening. While in vitro, in vivo, and preliminary clinical trial results are promising, there is a need for future human clinical research to further validate these findings and establish EBN's efficacy and safety for dermatologic applications.

ANALISIS KELAYAKAN BUDIDAYA SARANG BURUNG WALET DI DESA BADAK BARU KECAMATAN MUARA BADAK (Studi Pada Usaha Sarang Burung Walet Pak Nassarudin)

Currently, in the Muara Badak sub-district, many people have built swallow nests. This area is suitable for swallow cultivation because of its location close to the beach, nature that is still free from pollution, and close to forests that are still wide open. The high selling price and large capital make it difficult for wallet farmers who are already cultivating or prospective new Sawang wallet farmers to make a decision to invest. Ironically, many end up stopping their business in the middle of the road because they are considered a failure. Therefore, it is necessary to do a business feasibility analysis before starting a business. Sampling was carried out purposively, namely Mr. Nassaruddin's Wallet Nest Business with the consideration that it had been in operation for the last twelve years until 2023 and had a three-level wallet bird's nest building by calculating the NPV, Net B/C, IRR, and PP values. The results of this study are that the yields obtained can reach tens of millions of rupiah, In the financial feasibility analysis based on investment criteria with a factor discount of 10%, it can be produced as follows: NPV value > 0, which is IDR 580,147,000.00, Net B/C value > 1, which is 5.12, IRR value > i, which is 29.21%, and PP value is 6.758 years. These results indicate that Pak Nassarudin's Swallow's Nest Business is feasible to implement or continue.

Detection of Potential Faults in the Electricity Distribution Network Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Thermal Cameras Through Deep Learning Methods

In this article, a software-based unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) prototype has been developed for exploration purposes, replacing the current manual inspection of energy transmission lines (ETLs) by human teams. The UAV's capabilities address the limitations of human viewing angles, ensuring more efficient exploration activities. Real-time exploration is now achieved through data collected with UAVs and processed using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and image processing techniques. The UAV’s path and detected objects are autonomously processed in the Cartesian coordinate system. The autonomous conductor tracking system provides bidirectional tracking of conductors in the distribution network through color space range and Faster R-CNN conductor detection. Incorporating a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) design, the UAV is capable of operating in adverse weather conditions. An additional overheating warning system protects equipment in the electricity distribution network (EDN) from potential issues related to uneven load distribution, economic life, and labor errors. Through modeling studies with convolutional neural networks and field data, impressive F-1 scores have been achieved for detecting various anomalies: 77% for trees in contact with the line, 67% for concrete equipment exceeding its economic life, 88% for bird nests, 55% for cracked porcelain insulators, 89% for foreign objects, and 97% for nonuse of original fuses.

Silver Nanoparticles Biosynthesis Using White Nest-Swiftlet Extract: A Sustainable Pathway for Nanomedicine Applications

Demand of antibacterial-based metal nanoparticles biomaterials against broad ranges of pathogenic microorganisms show unique functionality in a wide range of applications. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) play a major role especially in nanomedicine field; thus, there are urge to find more economic and eco-friendly synthesis method without harming the consumers and/or patients. In this study, an aqueous of white nest-swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus) extract was used as bio-reductant and stabilizing agent to synthesis the AgNPs. The changes colour from colourless to reddish brown within 15 minutes under heat condition, 50 mM AgNO3 concentration and 3, 4, and 5 % (w/v) edible bird nest (EBN) dose indicated the successful of AgNPs biosynthesis by using visual indication. Further characterization of AgNPs was carried out by UV-visible spectroscopy through presence of plasmon resonance band between 410 nm to 430 nm. Infrared spectroscopy technique was used to analyse the involvement of biomolecules in EBN reduced the AgNPs. Their morphology and particle size analysed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) showed nearly spherical in size with average diameter of 35 nm. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) attached with FESEM evaluate the composition of silver in the solutions. The content of silver increasing with the concentration of EBN extract. On the basis of results and facts, the green approach on AgNPs synthesis through EBN can be proposed as ecologically and economically feasible approach to become antibacterial wound dressing.

Determination of glutathione in ready-to-eat edible bird's nest using a novel LC-MS method

Glutathione (GSH) is a strong antioxidant. However, there was no method to determine the GSH in ready-to-eat edible bird’s nest (EBN). A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method was developed for the determination of GSH in ready-to-eat EBN in this study. The method involves extraction by formic acid and methanol, vortex, ultra sonication and analysis using HPLC-MS/MS. The results showed that the linearity was good in the concentration range of 0.05–200 μg/L. The limit of detection and the limit of quantification of the method were 0.1 μg/kg and 1.0 μg/kg. In addition, the recovery was 90.6∼100.4% and the relative standard deviation was 1.2∼2.5%. Moreover, the content of GSH in ready-to-eat EBN produced by different stewing treatment was investigated. It was found that the content of GSH in ready-to-eat EBN increased with the increasing stewing time and temperature. When the stewing temperature was above 110 °C and the stewing time was above 15 min, it was more conducive to the formation of GSH in ready-to-eat EBN. In conclusion, this study provided a new method for the determination of GSH in ready-to-eat EBN, and also opened up a new direction for exploring the nutritional value of ready-to-eat EBN.

Type of Material, Not Tree Hole Characteristics Shapes Uropodina Mites’ Species Composition in Excavated Tree Holes

Uropodina mites are organisms regularly found in the breeding sites of vertebrates. However, studies devoted to the nest dwellers of hole-nesting birds have been performed nearly exclusively in artificial places, i.e., nest boxes. Here, we describe an assemblage of mites from the Uropodina group living in excavated tree holes. We performed this study in western Poland, sampling material from 49 tree holes excavated by great spotted and black woodpeckers. We divided the material extracted from the tree holes into three categories: wood debris, remnants of bird nests, and remnants of insects. In total, we found 12 species from the Uropodina group. The two most numerous species, Leiodinychus orbicularis and Chiropturopoda nidiphila, constituted ca. 93% of the assemblage. Two other species, Apionoseius infirmus and Uroobovella obovata, were also relatively frequent. Among the assessed factors (woodpecker species, tree hole characteristics, and type of material), only the presence of insect remains, predominantly bat guano, affected species diversity and mite abundance the most. Our study is the first to describe an assemblage of Uropodina species in excavated tree holes and discover two extremely rare mite species, Ch. nidiphila and Nanteria banatica, related to the presence of bat guano in these cavities.

Bird's Nest-Shaped Sb2 WO6 /D-Fru Composite for Multi-Stage Evaporator and Tandem Solar Light-Heat-Electricity Generators.

Herein, an integrated solar-thermal-power protocol is presented at a micro-nanoscopic level to maximize the energy utilization efficiency involving utilization period and utilization patterns, and the nexus of freshwater production and nanogeneration is realized. This sophisticated vaporization device is constructed with the merits of thermally confined evaporation space in favor of recycling latent heat of condensation and optimizing light absorption based on the local sunlight angle of incidence. Inspired by a bird's nest, Sb2 WO6 /D-Fructose composites are prepared as photothermal absorbers to achieve a superior water evaporation rate of 2.78kgm-2 h-1 in the Multi-stage evaporator. In addition, a synergistic tandem photo thermal-electric device with a combination of solar-driven water evaporation and further waterflow-driven hydrovoltaic generation, which can output a stable voltage of up to 360.8mV with effective utilization of steam energy and a limited water source, is exploited. Such integrated configurations pave a pathway for clean water production and renewable power generation simultaneously toward energy issues.

Synergistic monitoring of PM2.5 and CO2 based on active and passive remote sensing fusion during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Green and low-carbon are the keywords of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games (WOG) and the core of sustainable development. Beijing's P M 2.5 and C O 2 emissions attracted worldwide attention during WOG. However, the complex emission sources and frequently changing weather patterns make it impossible for a single monitoring approach to meet the high-resolution, full-coverage monitoring requirements. Therefore, we proposed an active-passive remote sensing fusion method to address this issue. The haze layer height (HLH) was first retrieved from vertical aerosol profiles measured by our high-spectral-resolution lidar located near Olympic venues, which provides new insights into the nonuniform boundary layer and the residual aerosol aloft above it. Second, we developed a bootstrap aggregating (bagging) method that assimilates the lidar-based HLH, satellite-based AOD, and meteorological data to estimate the hourly P M 2.5 with 1km resolution. The P M 2.5 at Beijing region, Bird's Nest, and Yanqing venues during WOG was 23.00±18.33, 22.91±19.48, and 16.33±10.49µg/m 3, respectively. Third, we also derived the C O 2 enhancements, C O 2 spatial gradients resulting from human activities, and annual growth rate (AGR) to estimate the performance of carbon emission management in Beijing. Based on the top-down method, the results showed an average C O 2 enhancement of 1.62ppm with an annual decline rate of 2.92ppm. Finally, we compared the monitoring data with six other international cities. The results demonstrated that Beijing has the largest P M 2.5 annual decline rate of 7.43µg/m 3, while the C O 2 AGR is 1.46ppm and keeps rising, indicating Beijing is still on its way to carbon peaking and needs to strive for carbon neutrality.

Exploring edible bird nest's potential in mitigating Wi-Fi's impact on male reproductive health.

This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of edible bird nest (EBN) against the detrimental impact of Wi-Fi on male reproductive health. Specifically, it examines whether EBN can mitigate Wi-Fi-induced changes in male reproductive hormones, estrogen receptors (ER), spermatogenesis, and sperm parameters. Thirty-six adult male rats were divided into six groups (n = 6): Control, Control EBN, Control E2, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi+EBN, and Wi-Fi+E2. Control EBN and Wi-Fi+EBN groups received 250 mg/kg/day EBN, while Control E2 and Wi-Fi+E2 groups received 12 μg/kg/day E2 for 10 days. Wi-Fi exposure and EBN supplementation lasted eight weeks. Assessments included organ weight, hormone levels (FSH, LH, testosterone, and E2), ERα/ERβ mRNA and protein expression, spermatogenic markers (c-KIT and SCF), and sperm quality. Wi-Fi exposure led to decreased FSH, testosterone, ERα mRNA, and sperm quality (concentration, motility, and viability). EBN supplementation restored serum FSH and testosterone levels, increased serum LH levels, and the testosterone/E2 ratio, and normalized mRNA ERα expression. Additionally, EBN increased sperm concentration in Wi-Fi-exposed rats without affecting motility or viability. EBN plays a crucial role in regulating male reproductive hormones and spermatogenesis, leading to improved sperm concentration. This could notably benefit men experiencing oligospermia due to excessive Wi-Fi exposure.

Swiftlet Bird's Nest (Collocalia fuciphaga) from West Sumatra as a Functional Food and Its Nutritional Content

Functional foods contain biologically active components and compounds that have physiological effects on the human body, such as promoting health and decreasing the risk of sickness. The swiftlet, which belongs to the Collocalini family, is an insect-eating bird that migrates across the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia to the Pacific Ocean. Swiftlet bird's nests (SBN) contain protein, fats, carbohydrates, iron, calcium, phosphorus, inorganic salts, fiber, and water. The objective of this study is to determine the nutritional content of swiftlet bird nests in different regions of West Sumatra. Samples of swiftlet bird's nests (SBN) were collected from Padang City (PD), Bukittinggi City (BK), and Pesisir Selatan Regency (PS). Nutritional content was analyzed using proximate methods, including moisture, protein, and fat, and the nitrite concentration was measured using UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The study found that SBN in West Sumatra contains 47.65–50.55% protein, 1.48–2.47% fat, 21.77–22.77% water, and 24.75–32.72 ppm nitrite. The results indicate that the nutritional content varies among the samples, and the protein content found in SBN is higher, making it suitable for use as a functional food. Additionally, SBN has many health benefits and biological activities, such as mitogenic response and cell growth, enhanced immunity, and improved bone strength.

Nesting Animals in the Lumbok Seminung Biodiversity Park, West Lampung, Indonesia

Lumbok Seminung Biodiversity Park is a biodiversity conservation area in Lumbok Seminung District, West Lampung Regency of Lampung Province, Indonesia. The park that was established in 2015 is intended to preserve the biodiversity of flora in the region that has the potential to attract and preserve various types of animals, especially pollinators and seed dispersers. This study conducted to presence of nest-building animals indicating the support function of the park in preserving biodiversity. Study approach used was descriptive intended to contact as many types of nest-building animals as possible that are actually present. Observation made by direct sighting thoroughly, either with or without visual aids, along established trails in the park. There were 41 animal nests found during the monitoring, comprise 33 nests of insect, 6 nests of birds and 2 nests of mammals. Totally there were 10 types of nesting animals identified, consisting of 7 species of insects, 2 species of birds and 1 species of mammal. Some of these nesting animals are known to have ecological roles as pollinators (bees and wasps) and seed dispersers (birds and squirrels). The plants used as nesting sites by animals in the park totally are 14 species. In conclusion, the Lumbok Seminung Biodiversity Park already has support functions for the regional biodiversity.

Konsep Model Teori Ramona T. Mercer Pada Asuhan Keperawatan Ibu Melahirkan

Ramona Thieme Mercer was born on October 4, 1929 is the author of the middle class theory of nursing known as the achievement of the maternal role. Mercer began her Nursing career in 1950, when she received a Diploma from St. Mary's. Margaret's School of Nursing in Montgomery Alabama. Mercer's theory is an example of a middle range theory, it has a lower abstraction that is derived from other theories so that it can be applied to more specific areas of nursing. A very interesting thing, of course, is when a nurse is able to translate how to develop this theory, it becomes easier to apply to patients. Maternal Role Attainment proposed by Mercer follows Bronfenbrenner's work in 1979 which is known as the bird's nest circle which includes a set of microsystem, mesosystem and macrosystem cycles. The application of the becoming a mother model in providing nursing care to postpartum clients is carried out to help clients achieve their role as a mother. So that the mother can provide good care for the baby and the baby can be fulfilled in psychosocial terms.

Social Network Analysis on Knowledge Sharing in Swiftlet Ranching Industry in Gua Musang

This paper utilizes social network analysis to identify key stakeholders in Gua Musang's Swiftlet Ranching industry, focusing on knowledge shari ng in ranch management. The study underscores the pivotal role of government agencies as information distributors, revealing a modest 39.92% centralization closeness in knowledge sharing among stakeholders. Recognizing these influential stakeholders is crucial for implementing effective policies and information dissemination, essential for the industry's success and increased edible bird's nest production.

Anthropogenic material in pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) nests varies with local habitat features and between nest sections

Anthropogenic materials are often incorporated into bird's nests in marine and terrestrial habitats globally, although we understand very little about the non-random abundance, and variation in the abundance, of anthropogenic materials in the wider environment and in different sections of bird's nests. Here, we address these oversights by examining if the abundance of anthropogenic material in the environment is influenced by local habitat features and if their abundance varies between the outer and inner sections of pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) nests in rural woodlands. Locations in the wider environment with farms, houses and barns contained more anthropogenic material than locations without them, whilst the presence of roads, footpaths and hedges was not associated with the abundance of anthropogenic material in the environment. Nestboxes occupied by pied flycatchers had a greater mass of anthropogenic material in the environment surrounding nestboxes than unoccupied nestboxes. Meanwhile, pied flycatchers incorporated more white and to a lesser extent orange anthropogenic material into the inner and outer sections of their nests, whilst not including significant amounts of red, blue and yellow anthropogenic material. Our results suggest that local habitat features influence the abundance of anthropogenic material in the wider environment, which is presumably because such material is more abundant in modified habitats and that anthropogenic materials are non-randomly incorporated into birds’ nests in relation to their colour and also the nest section. Our study therefore increases our understanding of the incorporation of anthropogenic material into birds’ nests.