Chaffinch Research Articles

Mobbing responses of great tits (Parus major) do not depend on the number of heterospecific callers

AbstractNumerical competence—the ability to estimate and process the number of objects and events—is important during antipredator strategies because it influences individual's survival chances. Animals can benefit from numerical competence during mobbing—when a prey moves toward and vocalizes at or harasses a predator. Mobbing responses of some species are related to the number of conspecific callers, and responses are stronger during playbacks simulating multiple callers. Here, we tested heterospecific individual vocal recognition (IVR) in combination with numerical competence in great tits (Parus major). Since previous work showed that great tits respond to mobbing calls of chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs), we predict that great tits showed a stronger response when two or four different individual chaffinches were played back versus only one individual by keeping the duty cycle (number of total calls/min) identical. Individuals were exposed to playbacks simulating calling by one, two or four heterospecific callers, or singing by one caller (control song). Great tits approached the speaker closer and produced more calls during the mobbing calls treatments than during the control treatment (song). However, in contrast to our prediction, great tits responded similarly to mobbing calls from several heterospecific callers as they did toward mobbing calls from one heterospecific caller. Maybe the great tits still are capable of determining the identity of the callers, but what might matter most for them in this very specific situation might be the mobbing intensity. We assume that the duty cycle itself has the stronger impact on the response.

Habitat-dependent variations in the incidence of Chaffinches Fringilla coelebs with diseased legs

ABSTRACT Chaffinches Fringilla coelebs are unlucky in being probably the species most susceptible to diseased legs, either from knemidocoptic mange, Fringilla papilloma virus, or both. In the fourteen winter periods (October to March) 2005/06 to 2018/19 during normal ringing operations I caught 2282 Chaffinches in Cheshire and 86 of those birds were recorded with disease visible on one or both legs. The incidence of diseased legs was significantly higher at feeding stations, where 29 birds were affected out of 186 caught (15.6%), than at sites in farmland (13 of 754, 1.7%), at woodland roosts (34 of 1109, 3.1%) or in my garden (10 of 165, 6.1%). Most of the affected birds were released unringed, without processing, but the age was recorded for 60 of them (56 adults and four first-years); the very high proportion of adults has not been reported before and suggests that visibly affected legs could take a long time to develop, and that birds can live with the symptoms of disease for a considerable time.

Species turnover in forest bird communities on Fiordland islands following predator eradications

Recent advances in the control of mammalian predators have begun to reveal interspecific competition as a key driver in the structure of New Zealand forest bird communities once predation pressure is reduced. We present evidence that, when at high densities, South Island robins (Petroica australis) may be responsible for declines in a suite of smaller native and introduced songbird species. Bird surveys undertaken on 47 islands in Breaksea Sound and Dusky Sound, Fiordland, during 1974 to 1986, were repeated on the same islands in 2016 or 2019. During the first block of surveys, Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) were present on two islands, and stoats (Mustela erminea) were known or presumed to regularly reach 43 of the remaining islands. The rats were eradicated in 1986 and 1988, and stoats have been controlled to zero density since 2001 on all 28 of the islands surveyed in Dusky Sound, and since 2008 on 12 of 19 islands surveyed in Breaksea Sound. Bird species that apparently benefited from pest mammal eradications included South Island robin (Petroica australis) and kākā (Nestor meridionalis), both of which are endemic. Species recorded less often after the eradications included tomtit (Petroica macrocephala), grey warbler (Gerygone igata), silvereye (Zosterops lateralis), dunnock (Prunella modularis), and chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) – a mixture of endemic, native, and introduced species. We hypothesise that these five species have been outcompeted or displaced by the now widespread and abundant South Island robin, probably through aggressive interactions.

Archaic Dialect of Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs (Passeriformes, Fringillidae), Song in the Lower-Dnipro Area (South Ukraine) and Its Territorial Relations

Archaic song dialect of Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758) is located in the Lower-Dnipro Area. To describe it, we recorded 11673 songs of 2008 males from 43 localities in Southern Ukraine during 2004–2015. This dialect has compound spatial structure and connects with other dialects forming a well developed contact area with them. Its core was located in old forests of the lower stream of the Dnipro River. It has spread from them to the new forests in their outskirts. The complex is separated at dialect level in the cluster analysis. It includes considerable number of original song types. Their elements and structure demonstrate archaic features similar to those of other southern complexes but more modern than the old Carpathian and Danube dialects. It occupies the intermediate position between them and modern dialects of the Forest and Wood-and-Steppe Ukraine by the structure of song and is similar to the dialect of Crimean Chaffinch and the song complex of South-Eastern Ukraine.

Louse flies in Azorean and mainland populations of four Passeriformes species: A new perspective to parasite Island syndromes

Hippoboscid flies, also known as louse flies, are obligate blood-feeders ectoparasites of birds and mammals. By studying louse fly parasites of four Passeriformes species, Eurasian blackbird (Turdus merula), Eurasian blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) and European robin (Erithacus rubecula), with dissimilar time of colonization of Azores islands, we tested whether: (i) island host populations have lower parasite richness than the mainland one; (ii) island host populations undergo higher parasite prevalence, mean intensities and mean abundance than the mainland one; (iii) island parasite diversity are composed exclusively by specific parasites and (iv) parasite richness is positively correlated with the island area and proximity to the continent. For these purposes, 775 birds were sampled for presence of louse flies, by modified fumigation chamber method, from Azores Islands (São Miguel, Terceira and Flores) and Portugal mainland. Insular and mainland parasite assemblages were statistically compared. We record for the first time to Azores, Ornithomya fringillina and Icosta minor from Portugal mainland. Louse flies had highest prevalence and abundance from Azores Islands compared to those observed in mainland birds, especially blackbirds. The insular parasite diversity of Azores blackbirds, blackcaps and chaffinches was richer than the one observed in mainland population. None of the hippoboscid flies observed on the islands and mainland were host-specific. Thus, our findings provide an upgrade of parasite island syndromes knowledge, in the context of the ectoparasites, namely to the hippoboscid flies case.

Формирование сообществ гнездящихся птиц парков Киева по градиенту антропического воздействия в мегаполисе

In settlements, safe places for birds nesting and feeding need to be created. The purpose of the work is to assess the state and identify vectors of the formation of nesting bird communities in parks under the pressure of anthropic load in the metropolis. In parks of Kyiv 62 species of birds nest. Such faunogenetic complexes like European nemoral (25.0–53.3%), Desert-mountain (12.0–27.8%) and Forest-steppe (6.9–25.0%) prevail. The number of community species in each of parks is 49–12, the average nesting density is 0.08±0.02–0.9±0.19 pairs / ha, and the dispersion is 0.12–1.62. With the combination of anthropic load on biotopes of more than 140 points with a small area of parks (2.0–16.5 ha), the species composition of communities decreases, and the average nesting density and density dispersion increase. Dominated by density: Parus major, Columba livia, Sturnus vulgaris, Turdus merula, Passer domesticus, Passer montanus, Fringilla coelebs, Columba palumbus, Apus apus, Ficedula albicollis, Erithacus rubecula, Turdus pilaris. All birds in communities are obligate synanthropes (12.9%; n=62) or hemisinanthropes. Obligate synanthropes are distributed in communities of 0-7 species. According to the gradient of increasing anthropic load on parks, logarithmic trends show a slight increase in the percentage share of obligate synanthropes in the species composition and in the number of breeding pairs. 47–70% nest on trees, 0–14.3% in shrubs, 0–13.0% on ground and in buildings. In parks, birds (16–38% of the species composition), in addition to using species-specific stations, nest in the cavities of buildings. Such species like Motacilla alba L., Sturnus vulgaris, Ficedula albicollis, Muscicapa striata Pallas, Erithacus rubecula, Parus major, Passer domesticus, Passer montanus nest in this way. Due to this nesting strategy, the need of the birds in hollows and the dependence on the woodpeckers in the community decreases. High parameters of the Shannon index (1.51–3.14) and Pielou index (0.61–0.95) were revealed, with low data of the Berger-Parker index (0.15–0.61). With an anthropic load of more than 160 points, there is a sharp decrease in species diversity, evenness of species, and increased dominance pressure. Cluster analysis showed the division of bird communities into similarity groups according to the area of the parks, the proximity of parks to the outskirts of the city and large forest tracts of the area and specifics of the anthropic load.

Різноманіття угруповань птахів лісу Боярської лісової дослідної станції на градієнті антропічного навантаження

Bird communities was researched according to the transect method in the nesting period of 2013 and 2015. 4 model forest plots in the Boyarskaya Experimental Station were selected. All of them are culturelphytocenoses based onPinus sylvestris L., Quercus robur L., Q. rubra L. The species composition of birds, their abundance, α-diversity indices, synanthropization index of bird communities (to Jedryctkowski) were analyzed. The similarity of bird communities was determined using cluster analysis in "Origin Pro 9.0". 65 bird species of 11 orders were recorded. 35 species of them live in the species reserve. On model plots that not have conservation status, the number of species in bird communities is 20–27. In plots with a dominance of Q. robur, 42 species were recorded, with a dominance of P. sylvestris - 35 species of the birds. Dominants in bird communities Parus major L. and Fringilla coelebs L. The presence in the list of subdominants Anthus trivialis L. and Phylloscopus sibilatrix Bechstein is a positive characteristic of the forest. The synanthropic of bird communities increases according to the increase in anthropic load: the synanthropization index from 0.4 to 0.65, the relative abundance of synanthropic birds in communities from 0.66 to 0.81. There are no alien birds. The species diversity and the number of bird species in the communities decreases along the gradient of increasing anthropic load. The similarity of bird communities and their α-diversity depends by the anthropic load, and not by the ratio of the species composition of the forest trees. The distribution of relative abundance of species in bird communities, on the contrary, is associated with the ratio of the species composition of trees. In forest plots dominated by P. sylvestris, bird communities are balanced, in plots with a predominance of Q. robur, disturbances in the development of bird communities are noticeable.

Water Vapour Conductance of Passerine Nest Walls

Avian incubation relies on maintenance of the appropriate temperature and humidity within the nest. Previous studies suggested that conductance of the nest wall to water vapour was relatively low, albeit greater than the conductance of the eggshell, but no empirical studies confirmed this. In this study hygrometer loggers were used to measure water vapour inside and outside nest cups to determine conductance of the nest wall. Average water vapour conductance values for nine species of passerine ranged from 479 mgH2O·day-1·Torr-1 for Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs nests to 712 mgH2O·d-1·Torr-1 for Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus nests. Generally, water vapour conductance values were two orders of magnitude higher than that of published values for the eggshell for these species, although humidity in the nest cup were comparable to published data for passerine nests. These results indicate that in the study species the nest wall was not an effective barrier to water vapour loss. Reconsideration of high values for nest wall conductance, nest attentiveness and sources of water to create humidity, have led to a new approach that deals with nest humidity as part of the water budget during the incubation period. Over time the amount of water vapour required to raise nest humidity far exceeds that released by the eggs. It is proposed that nest humidity is driven by cutaneous water loss from the incubating bird, rather than water vapour lost from the eggs, in order to counter loss of humidity through the nest wall and during incubation recesses.

Threat recognition and response in an avian brood-parasite host from New Caledonia

AbstractNest predation and avian brood parasitism are the main sources of nest failure in many passerine birds. Large predators threaten both brood and parents, whereas brood parasites pose only a danger to eggs or nestlings. The fan-tailed gerygone Gerygone flavolateralis from New Caledonia is subjected to high rates of nest predation by the New Caledonian crow Corvus moneduloides (responsible for about 20–40% of predation) and moderate rates of brood parasitism by the shining bronze-cuckoo Chalcites lucidus (parasitizing about 18% of nests), which also depredates nests that are too advanced for parasitism (13% of nests). To test if fan-tailed gerygones are able to discriminate predators from brood parasites, we presented 3 bird models at active gerygone nests: a brood parasite/small nest predator (shining bronze-cuckoo), a large nest predator (crow), and a small non-native bird (common chaffinch Fringilla coelebs), which is unknown to the gerygone, as a control. We assessed the response of adult gerygones to the presentation of each model by measuring the minimum approach distance, number of alarm calls, number of attacks, and time to first nest visit after the presentation (latency). Adult gerygones often attacked the cuckoo, approached but never attacked the chaffinch and always avoided the crow. Latency was shorter after an attack response and during brooding, but similar among models. We did not find any link between the cuckoo model presentation and later ejection of cuckoo nestlings. We conclude that adult fan-tailed gerygones discriminate between different models and respond accordingly to the level of threat, but do not show awareness of parasitism risk and increase of nestling ejection rates following exposure to the cuckoo model.

Intensive supplementary feeding improves the performance of wild bird seed plots in provisioning farmland birds throughout the winter: a case study in lowland England

ABSTRACT Capsule Sown bird-food plots with intensive (daily) supplementary feeding throughout the winter attracted substantially greater numbers of seed-eating farmland birds than control plots without additional feeding, whose planted seed resource was exhausted by mid-winter. Aims We studied the performance of cultivated agri-environment scheme (AES) plots, predominantly growing wild bird seed (WBS), in addressing the ‘hungry gap’ of food scarcity for seed-eating farmland birds over the winter period. We assessed whether intensive supplementary feeding could improve AES-WBS plot performance to support greater numbers of birds over a longer period throughout the winter. Methods Five monthly bird counts were conducted from November to March on AES-WBS plots on three farms during three winters, alongside assessment of standing seed availability on the plants. Daily supplementary feeding of 8–25 kg of mixed seeds was scattered directly onto each treatment plot, with additional seed provided in hanging bird-feeders. The density of target farmland birds, and the depletion of the standing seed resource on plants, was compared between treatment plots and controls over the winter, using generalized linear models. Results Cultivated AES-WBS plots contained only approximately 25% of their potential full capacity of seed availability at the beginning of winter, and this was exhausted by January. Supplementary feeding attracted significantly greater numbers of farmland birds to AES-WBS plots than unfed controls, with up to 421 birds per plot, dominated by Common Chaffinches Fringilla coelebs, Yellowhammers Emberiza citronella, and Common Linnets Linaria cannabina. Bird densities on fed plots peaked in the late winter (February) ‘hungry gap’, but the magnitude of peak densities varied between years and farms. Conclusion Intensive supplementary feeding can substantially improve poor performance of AES-WBS plots in supporting farmland birds throughout the winter, particularly during the late winter ‘hungry gap’ when seed availability on AES-WBS plots is otherwise exhausted.

Interannual dynamics of breeding bird assemblage within the Central Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (Minsk)

We studied the dynamics of the composition and diversity of breeding bird assemblage within the Central Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus in Minsk during 2016–2019 and compared with census data from breeding seasons of 1982–1985 and 1991–1992. Total 86 species were recorded and the breeding was confirmed for 59 of them. The interannual dynamics of breeding density for 42 species is analysed. Overall bird densities varied from 2.03 pairs/ha to 8.76 pairs/ha during single year; 16 species (Fringilla coelebs, Erithacus rubecula, Turdus merula, T. philomelos, T. pilaris, Parus major, Cyanistes caeruleus, Sylvia atricapilla, S. borin, S. curruca, Phylloscopus sibilatrix, Ph. collybita, Ph. trochilus, Sturnus vulgaris, Pica pica and Columba palumbus) were shown to be the dominants in assemblage during these years. We found that there was increased in species richness (17 new breeding species appeared, 2 breeding species disappeared) and the overall breeding bird density (by almost 3– 4 times) since 1982. The main factors explaining the dynamics of some assemblage characteristics such as synurbization of some bird species and change in habitat structure are discussed.

Fruit and berry plants of forest belts as a factor of species diversity of ornithofauna during the breeding season and autumn migration period

During migration, the availability of food that affects the success of bird movements, the nature and timing of their movements, is critical for many bird species. The relationship between migration routes and the ripening of fruit and berry plants along the route is important. Four types of forest belts were studied: wind-blown maple-ash, latticed maple-linden, dense oak-maple-linden, wind-blown oak-maple-poplar. During the study 43 bird species were identified consuming 9 major fruit and berry plant species: Sambucus nigra, Prunus spinosa, Crataegus laevigata, Rosa canina, Prunus padus, Sorbus aucuparia, Rhamnus cathartica, Morus nigra, Prunus cerasus. The highest average number of birds feeding in forest belts (4.14 ind./km) was registered in oak-maple-linden dense forest belts, while the lowest number (1.48 ind./km) was recorded in wind-blown maple-ash ones. Maple-linden latticed forest belts characterize the best index data of α-diversity of birds. In the summer-autumn diet, succulent fruit are the most important: Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) – 11.8% of the total number of birds observed to feed on this food resource, Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) – 11.3%, Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) – 9.3%, Song thrush (Turdus philomelos) – 7.3%, Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) – 7.1%, Blackbird (Turdus merula) – 5.4%. 42 species of birds were observed to feed on black elderberry. More than half (51.2%) of the species composition of birds feeding on fruit and berry plants were migratory birds. Consequently, juicy berries are an important food during bird migrations.

Anthropogenic noise reduces avian feeding efficiency and increases vigilance along an urban–rural gradient regardless of species’ tolerances to urbanisation

Anthropogenic noise can adversely impact urban bird populations by interfering with vocal communication. Less research has addressed if anthropogenic noise masks the adventitious sounds that birds use to aid predator detection, which may lead to increased vigilance and reduced feeding efficiency. We test this hypothesis using a controlled playback experiment along an urban–rural gradient in Sheffield (UK). We also test the related predictions that anthropogenic noise has the greatest impacts on vigilance and feeding efficiency in rural populations, and on species that are more sensitive to urbanisation. We focus on six passerines, in order from most to least urbanised (based on how urbanisation influences population densities): blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus, robin Erithacus rubeculla, great tit Parus major, chaffinch Fringilla coelebs, coal tit Periparus ater and nuthatch Sitta europaea. We used play‐back of anthropogenic urban noise and a control treatment at 46 feeding stations located along the urban–rural gradient. We assess impacts on willingness to visit feeders, feeding and vigilance rates. Exposure to anthropogenic noise reduced visit rates to supplementary feeding stations, reduced feeding rates and increased vigilance. Birds at more urban sites exhibit less marked treatment induced reductions in feeding rates, suggesting that urban populations may be partially habituated or adapted to noisy environments. There was no evidence, however, that more urbanised species were less sensitive to the impacts of noise on any response variable. Our results support the adventitious sound masking hypothesis. Urban noise may thus interfere with the ability of birds to detect predators, reducing their willingness to use food rich environments and increase vigilance rates resulting in reduced feeding rates. These adverse impacts may compromise the quality of otherwise suitable foraging habitats in noisy urban areas. They are likely to be widespread as they arise in a range of species including common urban birds.

Effects of forest structure on the interaction between avian hosts, dipteran vectors and haemosporidian parasites

BackgroundForest habitats are important biodiversity refuges for a wide variety of bird species. Parasitism may modulate host species presence and abundance, and parasite effects can change according to forest management practices. Such processes are not well studied in vector-borne avian haemosporidians. We analyzed the effects of forest management on bird-dipteran-haemosporidian interactions, using seven common bird species in managed and unmanaged beech forest habitats in northeastern Germany. We assumed that forest structural heterogeneity affects parasite population parameters in avian hosts (i.e., prevalence and parasitemia), through its effect on the condition of the avian host but also through varying vector abundances.ResultsParasite prevalence was high (about 80%) and homogeneous across different beech forest categories (i.e., young, old, unmanaged) and for all bird species, except Erithacus rubecula (35%). Parasitemia varied across bird species but not across forest categories within each avian species (lowest parasitemia were found in E. rubecula, Turdus merula, and Turdus philomelos). In our study system, we found that vector abundance was not the main driver of parasite dynamics. We found that forest structure affects parasite infection probability directly and potentially host condition via available resources that have to be used either to combat infections (i.e., high parasitemia) or to maintain a good body condition.ConclusionsThe effects of each of the predictors were bird species-specific, and we found that Diptera vectors were not the foremost influence in our host-vector-parasite system. Effects of forest habitat variables indicated that for most bird species in this study, habitat regulation of infection probability was more likely (i.e., E. rubecula, Fringilla coelebs, Sylvia atricapilla), whereas for Parus major habitat characteristics impacted first individuals' body condition and subsequently the probability of infection. Our findings emphasize the need of species-specific analyses and to use continuous forest structural parameters (e.g., the proportion of gap, south facing aspect) to better understand habitat and land use effects on host-vector-parasite dynamics.

Long-term Post-fire Monitoring of the Breeding Bird Populations in the Kerzhensky State Nature Biosphere Reserve (Central Volga region, Russia)

In the summer of 2010, about a half of the Kerzhensky State Nature Biosphere Reserve territory suffered from a wildfire. During the 9 following years, monitoring of the bird populations in the breeding season was conducted there. Birds were counted by a route method in 6 main habitats differ in their fire burned types and also in unburned similar habitats. A total of 130 bird species were registered. In the first years after the wildfire impact, bird populations in the habitats affected by different wildfire types were similar according to the Sorensen-Chekanovsky’s index. This similarity increased to 2016. The similarity of the bird populations of burned sites has been decreasing last two years. The species richness changed in different directions. At first study years, the abundance of the breeding bird populations increased both in burnt and unburnt sites, while later this parameter decreased a bit and stabilised. Although interannual changes in indicators are still possible. The bird populations of the unburnt habitats, especially bogs, differ by lower values of indicators for the last five years. The influence of nature-climatic indicators of various months (average the monthly air temperature, the daily amount of precipitation) on the interannual dynamics of the breeding avifauna abundance was noted in only one case, out of 84 indicators. We distinguished the species (e.g. Sylvia communis) recognised as indicators of damaging by fire. Fringilla coelebs was dominant in all habitats studied, but from 2017, Anthus trivialis dominated in the severely burned birch-pine forests and on the raised bogs (burned and unburned). The most intense changes in bird populations were observed within the first five post-fire years.

Song-type switching rate in the chaffinch carries a message during simulated intrusion

Birds communicate their motivation and willingness to escalate a territorial conflict with a variety of agonistic signals. One of these, song-type switching, has been suggested to be a conventional signal in male–male interactions. However, this behavior does not show a consistent pattern across species. In this study, we asked whether variation in song-switching rate carries a message for song receivers among territorial chaffinches, Fringilla coelebs. Chaffinch song is well described, but only a few studies have focused on the communicative function of song-type switching or bout duration. Using data from playback experiments, we show here that variation in song-type switching rate affects the response of chaffinches. In response to the low switching rate treatment, territorial males began to sing later, produced fewer songs and more rain calls, decreased flight intensity, and spent more time close to the speaker than during playback of songs with a high switching rate. Our results provide strong evidence that the song-type switching rate is an agonistic signal in the chaffinch and that territorial males exhibit a stronger response toward rivals that sing with a lower song-type switching rate. A secondary purpose of our study was to determine the receivers’ response with respect to their own song rate and song repertoire. We found that the reaction of tested males was correlated with their own spontaneous song rate. This implies that a male’s response to stimuli may be predicted on the basis of his own song output.Significance statementUsing playback experiments, we show that birds’ responses to simulated territorial intrusion vary not only with the type of stimulus but also with the tested males’ spontaneous song output. We found that, from the perspective of the song receiver, variation in switching rate carries a message for territorial chaffinches. Our findings add a new example of agonistic signaling in which territorial males exhibit a stronger response toward rivals singing with lower song-type switching rate, which up to now has only been demonstrated in a few species. Moreover, our results show that a male’s response to playback could be predicted using his song output. This may be associated with motivation and willingness to escalate a conflict and could possibly also indicate a male’s quality.

Responses of New Zealand forest birds to management of introduced mammals.

Over the past 1000 years New Zealand has lost 40–50% of its bird species, and over half of these extinctions are attributable to predation by introduced mammals. Populations of many extant forest bird species continue to be depredated by mammals, especially rats, possums, and mustelids. The management history of New Zealand's forests over the past 50 years presents a unique opportunity because a varied program of mammalian predator control has created a replicated management experiment. We conducted a meta‐analysis of population‐level responses of forest birds to different levels of mammal control recorded across New Zealand. We collected data from 32 uniquely treated sites and 20 extant bird species representing a total of 247 population responses to 3 intensities of invasive mammal control (zero, low, and high). The treatments varied from eradication of invasive mammals via ground‐based techniques to periodic suppression of mammals via aerially sown toxin. We modeled population‐level responses of birds according to key life history attributes to determine the biological processes that influence species’ responses to management. Large endemic species, such as the Kaka (Nestor meridionalis) and New Zealand Pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae), responded positively at the population level to mammal control in 61 of 77 cases for species ≥20 g compared with 31 positive responses from 78 cases for species <20 g. The Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa) and Grey Warbler (Gerygone igata), both shallow endemic species, and 4 nonendemic species (Blackbird [Turdus merula], Chaffinch [Fringilla coelebs], Dunnock [Prunella modularis], and Silvereye [Zosterops lateralis]) that arrived in New Zealand in the last 200 years tended to have slight negative or neutral responses to mammal control (59 of 77 cases). Our results suggest that large, deeply endemic forest birds, especially cavity nesters, are most at risk of further decline in the absence of mammal control and, conversely suggest that 6 species apparently tolerate the presence of invasive mammals and may be sensitive to competition from larger endemic birds.

Autumn migration of birds over Polonyna Borzhava (Ukrainian Carpathians)

Migration processes of birds occurring on the Polonyna Borzhava ridge were studied. Material was collected during 52-days period since September till November 2018 and total duration of observations was equal to 307 hours. It was found that despite difficult terrain and variable weather conditions at least 48 species of birds migrate over Polonyna Borzhava. Among them the following species dominate: Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs, Common Crane Grus grus, Eurasian Siskin Spinus spinus, Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus, Great Tit Parus major, Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis, Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta, Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus, and also raptors: Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus, Common Buzzard Buteo buteo, Goshawk Accipiter gentilis, Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus, Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus and other species. Among detected species six are under protection of the Red Data Book of Ukraine: Common Crane, Hen Harrier, Stock Dove Columba oenas, Alpine Accentor&nbsp; Prunella collaris, Osprey Pandion haliaetus, and Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus. Median date of the overall bird passage falls on 9 October. Passage dynamics differs among species. Most of species prefer flight heights not higher than 55 m above the ridge, but some numerous species choose higher altitudes, for instance Wood Pigeon (85.6±62.7 m), and Common Crane (227.5±62.5 m).

The impact of landslide stabilization on birds: Insights from an Alpine valley

Landslides are a common issue in mountains and other areas with slopes, and their frequency is increasing because of climate change. Interventions aiming at stabilizing slopes are thus common worldwide. The environmental monitoring of consequences of such interventions rarely consider the potential impacts on wild species, and especially on animal taxa. Birds are widely adopted as biological indicators thanks to their ecology and high sensitivity to environmental changes, and could represent an ideal subject also for monitoring the impacts of landslide stabilization. By monitoring birds for 8 years in a complex restoration intervention in the Italian Alps, I investigate their potential use for understanding the impacts of landslide rehabilitation at different scales, in a 350 ha-area. A BACI protocol was adopted, with bird data collected by means of point counts. Generalized linear mixed models were used to evaluate the potential impacts of restoration phases and intervention sites; analyses were developed for the breeding period and for the whole year, and for the local vs. large scale.I found evidence for different types of impacts, including the local impact of construction sites (e.g. negative for chaffinch Fringilla coelebs), of in operam phase (negative for mistle thrush Turdus viscivorus, Eurasian treecreeper Certhia familiaris and crested tit Lophophanes cristatus, positive for grey wagtail Motacilla cinerea and rock bunting Emberiza cia), as well as for a disturbance effect on species' detectability and for independent trends. The overall species richness was not (or very scarcely) affected by restoration works. This 8 yr-work provides an example of the potential efficacy of birds as indicators of the environmental impacts caused by landslide rehabilitation, which will likely become increasingly common in the next decades. Avian monitoring could helpfully be integrated within standard monitoring of environmental impacts of landslide stabilization/restoration.

Trophic links of the chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) in transformed forest ecosystems of North-Eastern Ukraine

The сhaffinch (Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758; Passeriformes, Fringillidae) is one of the most colourful forest species of birds living in Europe, West Asia and North Africa. The diet of this species was studied as a contribution to the conservation of the population of this species in transformed forests of the north-eastern part of Ukraine. Four forest ecosystems were studied: three model sites in oak forests, transformed under intensive recreation pressure, and one model site in a pine-oak forest. A total of 39 invertebrate taxa, dominated by Insecta (93.0%) were found. The orders Coleoptera (32.6%) and Lepidoptera (63.5%) prevailed in the diet of finch nestlings, the highest number of taxa (52.3–76.2%) was represented by phytophages. The phytophagous species also constituted the majority of the consumed prey items (44.0–55.6%). Environmental conditions provided an important effect on the diet structure. The most favourable foraging conditions for the species were found in protected natural areas. According to the analysis, the finch foraging efficiency was similar in all the studied sites. The highest biodiversity indices were found in a protected area of Homilshanski Forests National Nature Park. Results of the research have indicated the crucial role of Fringilla coelebs in the population management of potentially dangerous agricultural pests.