Hypsipetes Amaurotis Research Articles

関東地方における秋期のヒヨドリの渡り‐齋藤（１９３５‐１９４３）の観察記録の解析

In the plains of Kanto district, Japan, flocks of the Brown-eared Bulbul Hypsipetes amaurotis often undertake a southern autumn migration. From 1934 to 1942 Mr. Genzaburo Saito made daily observations throughout the annual autumn migrations at Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, and recorded values of several migration parameters. I analyzed his data to clarify the migration status c. 70 years ago and to assess whether the status differed from the present one. Results showed the annual number of migrating individuals to vary from c. 400 to c. 1,700 with a median of c. 900 and c. 14 individuals in a flock. Flights began in late September and finished in early November, with most flocks flying in October. Comparison with the data of Yamaguchi (2004, 2005) revealed the values obtained at Chiba City c. 70 years ago do not differ greatly from those occurring at the present time. Therefore, even though part of the H. amaurotis population has begun to breed in the plain regions in west-southern districts in Japan over the past 70 years, the migration status has remained unchanged. During each migration period, the number of migrating birds showed at least two peaks. The mean time at which peaks occurred differed between days, suggesting that the site at which each flock had started to fly was respectively different. Flocks arrived from the northwest and departed in a southeasterly direction, and the variance of the direction was very small. As this direction is parallel to the coastline at Chiba City, the birds may fly along the coastline towards the southern part of Boso peninsula where Chiba City is located. However, some flocks may visit forests en route, and remain there for a time. Therefore, autumn migrating flocks of H. amaurotis are thought to show a flexible behaviour responding to environmental conditions.

도시하천의 하안식생과 조류 Biotope에 관한 연구- 청주시 무심천을 중심으로 -

For the purposes to prepare diverse habitate and biotope for riparian plants and animals, Cheongju attempted to create "eco-friendly natural river" from 2002 to 2007. The present study investigated the facts of biotope creation for birds associated with riparian vegetation in Mushimcheon-river. Phragmites communis community, P. japonica community, Zizania latifolia community, Miscanthus sacchariflorus community, Typha angustata community, T. orientalis community as emerged plants, Lemna paucicostata-Spirodela polyrhiza community as free-floating plant and Trapa japonica community as floating-leaved plant are distributed in riparian zone. In addition, Poa pratensis community, Bromus japonicus community, Calamagrostis epigeios community, Humulus japonicus community) as weeds are distributed in floodplain. The distributional area of plant communities estimated by actual vegetation map are as follows: Phragmites communis community was 421,747m2(33.95%), Salix gracilistyla community 24,898m2 (0.26%), P. japonica-P. communis community 22,691m2(1.83%) and Zizania latifolia community 20,179m2(1.62%). The birds of 52 species are observed at Mushimcheon-stream from Sector 1 to Sector 10. The Sectors being observed diverse birds species and number of individual are Sector 1, Sector 4 and Sector 10. Especially, abundant bird species and number of individual are checked at Sector 1 and Sector 4 in winter, at Sector 7and Sector 10 in summer. By the observation of biotope, it is known that great tit(Parus major), brown-eared bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis), rufous turtle dove(Streptopelia orientalis), dusky thrush(Turdus naumanni), black-billed magpie(Pica pica), rustic bunting(Emberiza rustica), daurian redstart(Phoenicurus auroreus) and yellow-throated bunting(Emberiza elegans) are used the shrubs of Salix sp. and Amorpha fruticosa communities for feeding and resting places. Tall-grass types as Miscanthus sacchariflorus, Phragmites japonica and P. communis are used as breeding places by rustic bunting(Emberiza rustica), common buzzard(Bueto bueto), ring-necked pheasant(Phasianus colchicus), ellow-throated bunting(Emberzia elegans), vinous-throuted parrotbill Paradoxornis webbiana), little egret(Egretta garzetta), gray heron(Ardea cinerea), bull-headed shrike (Lanius bucephalus) and daurian redstart(Phoenicurus auroreus). It was also observed that the small birds such as rustic bunting, ellow-throated bunting and vinous-throuted heron were attacked and hunted by common buzzard. Rice paddy field and dry field are used as feeding places by rufous turtle dove(Streptopelia orientalis), bull-headed shrike(Lanius bucephalus), dusky thrush(Turdus naumanni eunomus), oriental greenfinch(Carduelis sinica), kestrel(Falco tinnunculus), tree sparrow(Passer montanus) and common buzzard(Bueto bueto). Gravelly fields and sand delta formed in water channel are used as beeding places by long-billed ringed plover(Charadrius placidus) and common sandpiper(Tringa hypoleucos) and as feeding places by white wagtail(Motacilla alba lugens), little egret(Egretta garzetta), gray heron(Ardea cinerea), common sandpiper(Tringa hypoleucos) and other Tringa spp. Mud flat formed in water channel side are used as feeding and resting places by white wagtail, common sandpiper and common sandpiper.

Does individual variation in fruit profitability override color differences in avian choice of red or white Ilex serrata fruits?

Although avian color preferences have been studied and documented in controlled experiments, they have not been demonstrated under natural conditions in most cases. We hypothesized that avian fruit choice reflects intraspecific variation in fruit characteristics other than color, rather than fruit color differences. By planting one Ilex serrata Thunb. (red form) and one I. serrata forma leucocarpa Beissner (white form), which produce red and white fruits, respectively, at each of five points, we examined the proportion of fruits removed per tree and fruit choice by three avian species based on fruit color and other fruit characteristics. The proportion of fruits removed increased with pulpy sugar concentration and fruit diameter, but it did not differ between fruit colors. The main foragers, resident brown-eared bulbuls Hypsypetes amaurotis, consumed fruits regardless of color, but correspondingly to fruit removal, and appeared to base their fruit choice on pulpy sugar concentration and fruit diameter rather than on color. In contrast, the minor foragers, migrant Daurian redstarts Phoenicurus auroreus (Pallas) and Siberian bluechats Tarsiger cyanurus (Pallas), tended to choose red fruits and were possibly attracted by them. In conclusion, fruit removal per tree reflected individual variation in fruit profitability more strongly than differences in fruit color, even though the individual variation was not remarkable. The importance of color in fruit choice differed based on species, residency status, and major/minor foragers.

Phylogenetic Comparison of Leucocytozoon spp. from Wild Birds of Japan

Eight species of Japanese birds were found to be infected with Leucocytozoon species using microscopic analysis. We used PCR and sequence analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (cyt b) to compare the genetic background among these detected protozoa species. In 20 individuals of 22 samples, a single amplified band was detected from 6 of 8 bird species; 9 Japanese rock ptarmigans (Lagopus mutus japonicus), 4 large-billed crows (Corvus macrorhynchos), 2 carrion crows (C. corone), 2 scops owls (Otus scops), 1 Japanese grosbeak (Eophona personata), and 2 brown-eared bulbuls (Hypsipetes amaurotis), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on the partial cyt b sequences revealed that all Leucocytozoon isolates in Japan closely grouped with other Leucocytozoon species previously reported in the literature. Among the Japanese isolates, the phylogenetic tree suggested that L. lovati from the Japanese rock ptarmigan may be basal to the parasites found in other bird species. Our study is the first to identify the molecular relationships among Leucocytozoon parasites in the avifauna of Japan.

大阪市中心部の街路樹と越冬期の鳥類の出現状況の関係

I investigated birds from 15 January to 24 February 2004 along 8 wooded streets in central area of Osaka, Japan, in order to determine which environmental factors of wooded street are important as habitat of birds in winter. Eight species of 218 individuals were recorded at 2 times observation of the streets. I used a satellite image to identify the distribution of vegetation in my study area. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of each grid cell was calculated. The value of NDVI that indicated the threshold value for vegetation cover were 0.3 and more, based on the ground-truthing from December 2003 to February 2004. The proportion of vegetation cover within 50 m from a recording point was calculated in each bird species. The average vegetation cover proportion of Hypsipetes amaurotis and Sturnus cineraceus was more than 25 %, while that of Passer montanus was around 5 %. Almost all individuals of species except Passer montanus were significantly recorded in buffer areas within 100 m, 200 m, 300 m and 400 m from the edge of 2 ha and more woodlot.

Comparisons of Dispersal Success between the Species Fruiting Prior to and Those at the Peak of Migrant Frugivore Abundance

I evaluated whether plants gain high dispersal success by synchronizing their fruiting with frugivore abundance. Fruiting phenologies, seasonal fluctuations in the abundance of frugivorous birds, and consumption of fruits by birds and Japanese macaques, Macaca fuscata Blyth, were studied in the montane forest of Yakushima for two years. At the community level, fruiting phenologies and seasonal fluctuations in frugivorous bird abundance were asynchronous because Zosterops japonica Temminck et Schlegel, a resident frugivore, decreased in number during the fruiting season. In addition, Symplocos myrtacea Sieb. et Zucc. fruited in September, before the migration of frugivorous birds (Turdus spp. and brown-eared bulbuls Hypsypetes amaurotis Temminck) in November and December. The phenology of other fruit species (Eurya japonica Thunb. and Cleyera japonica Thunb.p.p.emend. Sieb. et Zucc) were synchronized with migrant frugivorous birds. Fruit species with phenologies that are synchronized with migrant frugivore abundances have higher dispersal success either by birds (C. japonica) or macaques (E. japonica). Macaques predated most of the seeds of S. myrtacea. Dispersal success of S. myrtacea is low both by birds and macaques, thus the early fruiting by S. myrtacea does not seem to be an adaptation to maximize dispersal success by depending on resident dispersers or by avoiding intense competition for dispersers.

ブドウ栽培における簡易防鳥ネット導入による鳥害回避の試み

In mountainous regions of Japan, some people grow grapes for personal consumption. Damage to grapes caused by birds is serious in many such areas. At present, the only effective method against bird damage is to install physical barriers, such as nets, around or over vineyards. To install nets easily and safely, we designed a new grape cultivation method: the trellis height is equal to the width of a simple commercially available net (1×50 m, 12 g/m2). Using the new cultivation method, we evaluated its bird damage prevention effect and working efficiency. Results showed that: 1) net installation was easy and safe; 2) nets installed only on the lower edges of the trellis reduced bird damage effectively because brown-eared bulbuls (Hypsipetes amaurotis), a main bird that damages grapes, tended to invade the vineyard from under the trellis; 3) nets installed both on upper and lower sides of the trellis perfectly prevented bird damage. These results suggest that this is applicable as an effective method against bird damage to grapes in these areas.

巣箱を利用したフクロウのヒナの標識および育雛時の餌内容

Niigata Prefecture is located along the Japan Sea side of central Honshu, Japan. In this research on Ural Owl, nesting boxes were set out in Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) woodlands along the coast. A total of 50 boxes were provided from 1996 to 2005, set at heights of 2.5 to 3.5 meters, and at intervals of 20-1,000 meters. Twenty of boxes were utilized by breeding Ural Owl. A total of 43 chicks were taken, weighed, banded and returned to their nest. Weight ranged from 240-615 grams. In addition, remains of food were analyzed. During the first week after hatching, remains of Japanese Robin, Blue-and-white Flycatcher and Narcissus Flycatcher were common. These songbirds are on the northern migration just as the chicks hatch out in late April to early May, and are thus readily available in the local area. In addition, these small prey may be easy to the young chicks to digest. Once the chicks have grown to over 400 gr., the size of food items tends to increase, including Whites's Ground Thrush, Starling, Brown-eared Bulbul, Japanese Grosbeak and also Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus). As the chicks grow further doves and pigeons are added. Feeding appears to stop about 5 days before fledging, after which the weight of the chicks drops by 80-100 grams. For the first two weeks after exiting the nest, the fledglings perch on branches within a 30 m radius of the nest, and are fed mostly between midnight and 1200 hrs.

西表島のアカメガシワ Ｍａｌｌｏｔｕｓ ｊａｐｏｎｉｃｕｓ 果実を採食する鳥

Possible seed dispersal agents of a pioneer tree Mallotus japonicus were observed on Iriomote Island in the summer of 2003. When the fruit is ripe, the shell opens and exposes a clump of blackish lipid-rich seeds. The seeds attract many species of birds. Observation for four days (34hrs) at the tree stands revealed four species of birds, the Jungle Crow Corvus macrorhynchos osai, the Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus loochooensis, the Brown-eared Bulbul Hypsipetes amaurotis stejnegeri, and the Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica yamashinai, to visit and eat the seeds. These endemic sub-species of birds are regarded as important seed dispersers of this pioneer tree.

울산지역 모자익 경관에서의 조류 다양성

Birds were censused to investigate the composition of landscape structure for bird diversity around Ulsan between May and November 2002. Associations with three main categories of habitat variables were evaluated: 1) amount and type of forest; 2) residual habitats not classified as forest or crops; 3) land-use variables. Cluster analysis of bird community shows the highest forest variables of , and the others are residual habitat variables (), land-use variables () in spring, and forest variables of , land-use variables (), residual habitat variables () in autumn, respectively. In Principal Component Analysis of a total of 196 sites, the populations are strongly correlated to Component I () based forest habitats and to Component II based on land-use. Species preferring sites were clearly separated with heterogenous forest along the first axis. In autumn, the populations are moderately correlated to Component I based land-use and to component II based forest habitats. Species preferring local habitats were also clearly separated. Fifty three species of 1,700 birds were recorded: Brown-eared Bulbul, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Great Tit, Tree Sparrow and Black-billed Magpie accounted for over of the observed birds in spring and autumn. The important species were Brown-eared Bulbul, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Great Tit and Tree Sparrow in spring and autumn. Four habitats in terms of their species richness were computed as follows: Wonhyosan has the highest an expected species number, $E[S_{59}]

Relationship between seed retention time in bird's gut and fruit characteristics

Seed retention time (SRT) of 16 fruit species in the guts of the Brown-eared Bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis), a major fruit consumer in central Japan, was studied to examine the relationship between SRT and fruit characteristics, i.e. fruit size, seed size, seed weight, and water content. Caged bulbuls were videotaped after feeding on fruits, and the time of defecation of each seed was recorded. Most seeds were always defecated in fecal pellets, with the exception of Aucuba japonica (the largest of the seeds studied), a seed of which was regurgitated on one occasion. Bulbuls defecate large seeds more rapidly than small seeds. The SRT of the last defecated seed, mean SRT, and standard deviation of SRT were significantly negatively correlated with seed size, fruit size, and seed weight, while SRT of the first defecated seed and water content were not correlated with any of the fruit characteristics examined. This suggests that Brown-eared Bulbuls are somehow able selectively to eliminate bulky seeds from the gut rapidly in order to overcome digestive limitations. If birds would prefer fruit species with large seeds that they can regurgitate and with short seed retention times in the gut, the results suggest that large seeds have the advantage of quantity of seed dispersed. Small seeds retained in the gut for longer have the advantage of being carried further and thus can achieve greater dispersal distances and more diverse destinations. The evolutionary interaction between fruiting plants and avian seed dispersers, may affect the diversity of fruit characteristics mediated by the length of retention time in a bird's gut.

Fruiting of fleshy-fruited plants and abundance of frugivorous birds: Phenological correspondence in a temperate forest in central Japan

We investigated the seasonal correspondence between the fruiting phenology of fleshy-fruited plants and the abundance of frugivorous birds, in a temperate forest, in central Japan. The majority of fleshy fruits ripened in the fall when frugivorous birds were most abundant. This correspondence occurred earlier than in a warm temperate forest, located in southern Japan; these relationships in East Asia coincide with those of the temperate regions of North America and Europe. We also examined whether the abundance of frugivorous birds led to profitable effects for seed dispersal among fleshy-fruited plants. The Brown-eared Bulbul Hypsipetes amaurotis was considered to be an important seed disperser for many fleshy-fruited plants because of its high frequency of occurrence throughout the fruiting season, and its large gape size, which allowed it to swallow all sizes of fruits found at the study site. Although numerous Brown-eared Bulbuls and other frugivorous birds were present in the fall, fruit removal rates in fall-fruiting species were not always higher than in summer-fruiting species. The abundance of frugivorous birds alone could therefore not adequately explain the concentrated fruiting phenology among fleshy-fruited plants.

도시공원내 야생조류의 유치증식을 위한 서식지에 관한 조사

공원별 관찰된 조류의 서식수는 비봉공원 49종 4,349마리, 진주성지 46종 6,453마리. 노산공원 37종 2,817마리, 산호공원 33종 6,014마리로 조사되었으며, 4개 공원 전지역에서 우점도와 출현빈도가 높았던 조류는 참새(21.8%), 오목눈이류(20.7%), 까치(8.7%), 직박구리(7.6%), 박새(6.4%), 방울새류(4.6%)순이었다. 조류군집을 이동성에 의하여 분석한 결과 텃새 > 여름새 > 겨울새 > 통과새 순으로 4개공원 모두 텃새가 우점하였으며 종 수는 겨울철에 40종으로 최소, 봄철에 53종으로 최대를 나타내었다. 공원별 분포조류에 대한 종다양도지수는 비봉공원이 1.3256으로 종다양도가 가장 높았고 산호공원, 노산공원, 진주성지 순으로 나타났다. 공원별 서식조류에 대한 영소길드와 채이길드를 조사한 결과 4개공원 모두 영소길드는 공원수목의 수동, 수관, 관목을 이용한 영소길드(1∼7종)보다 외부, 인공 영소길드(7∼15종)가 높은 반면 번식기 채이길드는 외부, 인공, 공중 채이길드(2∼8종)보다 수관, 관목을 이용한 채이길드(12∼25종)가 높게 나타났다. The number of species and individvals of birds observed in Bibong, Chinju-castle, Nosan and Saho parks were 49 and 4,349, 46 and 6,453, 37 and 2,817, and 33 and 6,014, nespectively The dominant species in all survey areas were shown in the order of Passer montanus(21.8%), Aegithalos spp.(20.7%), Pica pica(8.7%), Hypsipetes amaurotis(7.6%), Parus major(6.4%), Carduelis spp.(4.6%). Migration of birds was the order of residents, summer visitor, winter visitor, and passage migrant. The number of bird species appeared was the fewest in winter as 40 species and the most in spring as 53 species. Species diversity was the highest in Bibong park as 1.3256 and followed in the order of Sanho park, Nosan park, and Chinju-castle park. The nesting guild was higher at outside and artificial nesting guild(7-15 species) compared with hole, canopy, bush nesting guild(1-7 species) in all survey areas. The breeding forage guild was higher at canopy and bush(12-25 species) than that at outside, artificial, and air forage guild(2-8 species).

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Seed dispersal of Chinese tallow-tree Sapium sebiferum by Birds

Fruit of the Chinese tallow-tree Sapium sebiferum have white sarcocarp and dehiscence in autumn. The sarcocarp dries on the branch soon after the dehiscence. We observed eight bird species eating the fruit of S. sebiferum. Two species of crows Corvus corone and C. macrorhynchos, the Grey Starling Sturnus cineraceus and the Brown-eared Bulbul Hypsipetes amaurotis swallowed the fruit and excreted the seeds. The Tree Sparrow Passer montanus, the Great Tit Parus major and the Oriental Greenfinch Carduelis sinica took only a small part of the sarcocarp and left the seeds on the branch.The Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis took a lot of fruits and digested the seeds.The Tree Sparrow, the Great Tit, the Oriental Greenfinch, and the Turtle Dove are not seed dispersers, but a kind of seed parasite or predator.

Fruiting phenology of animal‐dispersed plants in response to winter migration of frugivores in a warm temperate forest on Yakushima Island, Japan

AbstractThe fruiting phenology of animal‐dispersed plants was observed in a warm temperate, evergreen forest on Yakushima Island. The number of ripe fruits was counted for 22 trees, four lianas and one parasitic epiphyte species with sapfruit. These fruits were consumed by birds and Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata yakui). Birds with small gapes (e.g. Japanese white‐eye [Zosterops japonica]) consumed only small fruit less than 6 mm in diameter, while birds with large gapes (e.g. red‐capped green pigeon [Sphenurus formosae]) and Japanese macaques consumed a wide range of fruits from 4 to 16 mm in diameter. The larger animals did not ignore the smaller fruits. Brown‐eared bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis) and Japanese white‐eye were the main consumers of sapfruit in terms of frequency in winter. Some of the observed consumers were year‐round residents, but most of the consumers migrated to Yakushima Island from the main islands of Japan to overwinter (from November to March), and their abundance in winter was four times as high as during the rest of the year (from May to October). In 23 of the 27 plant species investigated, sapfruit production coincided with their immigration season, whereas tree species bear capsules and nuts during autumn from September to November. We suggest that sapfruit species set their ripe period to the season when frugivorous birds are most abundant.

Role of birds in dissemination of the thread blight disease caused by Cylindrobasidium argenteum

The thread blight disease of broad leaved trees caused byCylindrobasidium argenteum occurred in laurel forests over 20 yr old after clear cutting in Kyushu. Finding fruit bodies of the causal fungus was possible but very difficult in the forests. In inoculation tests using spores and infected branches harvested in the forests, we succeeded in transmission only with branches. In the forests, the disease is transmitted almost entirely by contact with infected branches. During 1989 to 1992 we found four brown-eared bulbul nests containing branches infected with the disease. In one nest, mycelia of the fungus had been transmitted to the host tree. The occurrence of the disease in forests over 20-yr-old was considered to be due to the nesting of birds in trees which provided the necessary height and closed environment.

庭園に飛来する鳥類の環境構造に対する選択性に関する研究

Numbers of bird species were counted in four Japanese gardens at Chiran town, Kagoshima Prefecture, from December 1992 to December 1993 every four weeks. The conditions of the place where birds came flying werestudied. Total number of bird species discovered in the gardens were twenty one. Among the birds, following eight species abounded in the gardens; Passer montanus, Hypsipetes amaurotis, Zosterops japonica, Emberiza spodocephala, Parus major, Cettia diphone, Turdus pallidus and Dendrocopos kizuki. Structures and set of conditions in the garden chosen by birds depended on bird species. H. amaurotis and Z. japonica mainly chose the surface of the tree crown of Camellia japonica with nectar-bearing flowers for feeding. E.spodocephala, C. diphone and T. pallidus chose the structures inner hedge and pollarded shrubs which were not crowded by leaves and stems for resting. P. major and D. kizuki chose the one standing high trees for feeding insects and resting. All species did not choose narrow spaces crowded by leaves and stems, such as Rhododendron indicum pollard

Winter Bird Survey on the Ullung Island, South Korea

Winter bird survey was conducted along the climbing path and the road along the coast of the Ullung Island, from 12 to 19 January, 1995. During the survey a total of 786 birds belonging to 16 species, 14 families, and 6 orders, were observed. Among them, dominant species were Black-tailed Gull Larus crassirostris (7.81/km, 41.4%), Great Tit Parus major dageletensis (4.13/km, 24.7%), Brown-eared Bulbul Hypsipetes amaurotis (2.17/km, 13.0%), Yellow-throated Bunting Emberiza elegans (1.62/km, 9.7%), and Tree Sparrow Passer montanus (1.60/km, 9.5%). Tree Sparrows were recorded in Hyonpo only. The occurrence of Tree Sparrows may be related with food supply and snow cover in winter on the Ullung Island. Russet Saprrow Passer rutilans reported as a resident in South Korea, was not found during the survey.

Higher ratio of cabbage leaves injured by the Brown-eared Bulbul Hypsipetes amaurotis near shelter belt

In order to determine factors which cause the variation of the ratio of cabbage leaves injured by Hypsipetes amaurotis, I counted the number of leaves injured and not injured for 10 cabbages sampled randomly from each ridge, and calculated the ratio of leaves injured. Analyses of linear regression showed that the ratio of cabbage leaves injured was higher near shelter belt.