Nesting Birds Research Articles

Study of the antiaging effects of bird's nest peptide based on biochemical, cellular, and animal models

Study of the antiaging effects of bird's nest peptide based on biochemical, cellular, and animal models

Effects of sterilization temperature and time on the average sensory scores, physicochemical properties, microorganisms and antioxidant activity of bird's nest beverage

Salanganes'Nest is one of the well-appreciated foods (sea cucumber, fish fin, abalone, and bird's nest) in the Southern-East region. This study focused on the variation of mean sensory scores, physicochemical properties, and microbiological and antioxidant activities. This study focused on the variation of mean sensory scores, physicochemical properties, and microbiological and antioxidant activities under different pasteurization temperatures (105, 110, and 115 oC) and time (15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 minutes) conditions. The results showed that pasteurization temperature and time affected the evaluated objective functions. The tested indexes of bird's nest water were the best at 110 oC for 35 minutes, for example, (free radical scavenging activity of 73.32b ± 0.34% and total antioxidant activity of 1.22b ± 0.02 (mg AA/ml product)). Bird's nest will be a potential drink in anti-aging to enhance human health.

Unexpected morphological variability in the eggshells of the South American caimans Caiman latirostris and Caiman yacare

Eggshell morphology is a valuable indicator of the local conditions within the nests of modern crocodilians and birds. In contrast to these latter, the anatomical structure of the eggshells of most crocodilian species is practically unknown. Here, we provide the first characterization of crocodilian eggshells, using x-ray micro-CT scans. We studied eggshells of Caiman latirostris and Caiman yacare from various developmental stages that coincide with the beginning of embryonic ossification. The new 3D renderings revealed complex ornamentation, unique among crocodilians, and amphora-shaped pore canals, some of which converge in single pore openings. We also documented a high density of pore canals with a gas diffusion capacity 45 times higher than the average predicted for modern avian eggshells. The external ornamentation and the thickness of the compact layer of the eggshells (i.e. excluding ornamentation) showed ontogenetic and interspecific differences that could be related to nesting materials and nesting areas selected by each species. The shell features described here evidence a greater structural complexity than previously recognized in phylogenetically close, sympatric crocodilian species. Further comprehensive morphological analyses on other modern and fossil crocodilian eggshells using micro-CT technology will shed new light on the evolution of reproductive strategies in this intriguing archosaur clade.

Load-responsive bionic kirigami structures for high-efficient fog harvesting

Harvesting fog is a charming approach to alleviating the global water shortage crisis. However, it is extremely challenging to design fog collectors with high efficiency due to the scarce geometric driving structures. Herein, we develop a 3D kirigami structure inspired by the new corrugated driving structures in the Bird's Nest Fern, which can be fabricated by simple shearing and stretching. Its water collection ratio increases with the external load, forming the unique load responsiveness. The kirigami structure owns a 3D array configuration to enhance flow velocity for the efficient droplet condensation rate and has geometric and wetting gradients to transport condensate droplets spontaneously and quickly, contributing to a high water collection efficiency. The water collection ratio can reach 3.45 times that of a pure iron sheet by only changing the geometric structure, and the highest ratio can even reach 4.58 times with the assistance of wetting gradients.

A potential consequence for urban birds’ fitness: Exposed anthropogenic nest materials reduce nest survival in the clay-colored thrush

Urban bird dwellers survive and reproduce in highly urbanized ecosystems. Some individuals adjust to these novel conditions by changing natural nesting materials for artificial materials, thus making nests more conspicuous in the environment. The consequences of using artificial materials for nesting remain poorly understood, especially from a nest-predator perspective. We studied if exposed artificial materials on bird nests affect the daily survival rate in a common dweller species, the clay-colored thrush (Turdus grayi). We used previously collected nests with a different area of exposed artificial materials and placed them with clay eggs on the main campus of the Universidad de Costa Rica. During 12 days of the reproductive season, we monitored the nests using trap cameras located in front of each nest. We found that nest survival decreased as the proportion of exposed artificial materials increased in the nest and, unexpectedly, that the principal predators were conspecifics. Thus, artificial materials used in the outer layer of nests make them more susceptible to predation. The use of artificial materials likely reduce reproductive success and population size in urban clay-colored thrush, but further field experiments measuring the effect of waste in birds' nests on the reproductive success of urban birds are needed.

Development of Method for Evaluation of Edible Bird's Nest Content in Ready-to-Eat Beverages.

Edible bird's nest (EBN) is one of the most valuable tonic Chinese foods, made from glutinous salivary secretion with highly concentrated mucin glycoprotein. For ease of consumption, manufacturers have marketed different ready-to-eat EBN products, in which the EBN content varies. This is the first study to analyze the EBN content in ready-to-eat beverages. To determine the EBN content in ready-to-eat beverages by its active ingredient, N-acetylneuraminic acid (sialic acid). Sialic acid in ready-to-eat beverages and raw EBN was extracted in sodium hydrogen sulfate solution, followed by derivatization using o-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride and determination using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Method precision, recovery of extraction, degradation of sialic acid due to cooking, and measurement uncertainty were evaluated. The mean concentrations of raw EBN in different origins and colors ranged from 5.77 to 10.92%. Ten different brands of traditional ready-to-eat EBN beverages from the market were analyzed, in which estimated concentrations of EBN were diversified, ranging from 0.014 ± 0.010 to 0.66 ± 0.069% (w/w) (95% confidence level). The concentration of sialic acid was found to range from 11.4 to 527 mg/kg. Based on the results, sialic acid content can provide a better estimation of the EBN content in traditional ready-to-eat beverages. Neither the selling price nor dried matter could be used as an indicator of the quality of the ready-to-eat EBN beverage among the samples obtained. Sialic acid can be used as an indicator to estimate EBN content, where the sialic acid and EBN content in ready-to-eat beverages from the market were found to vary significantly.

Influence of level and oxidation state of iron on colors of edible bird’s nest

Edible bird's nests (EBNs) are known as a medical food with abundant mineral and nutrition. Their colors vary from white, yellow and red according to their production sites. White EBNs are produced by swiftlets living in both natural caves and man-made bird's houses. Red EBNs, on the other hand, can be only found in a certain cave. Due to the higher price of red EBNs in comparison with white EBNs, artificial red EBNs are made by exposing white EBNs with nitrous acid vapor generated from a solution of sodium nitrite and hydrochloric acid. According to ICP-OES, red cave EBNs displayed 3–35-fold higher amount of iron (4.18 ± 1.00 mg/100g), compared to white EBNs (0.57 ± 0.40 - 0.66 ± 0.13 mg/100g) and artificial red EBNs (0.12 ± 0.06 - 1.45 ± 0.03 mg/100g). Fe K-edge XAS demonstrated the presence of iron (II) and iron (III) species in all EBNs. Both red cave EBNs and artificial red EBNs from both cave and house showed significantly higher amount of iron (III) (96.69–99.08%) than white EBNs from both cave and house (68.81–74.19%). This study suggests that the red color in EBNs of both authentic red cave and artificial red EBNs are associated with their iron (III) content.

Using Social Media to Determine the Global Distribution of Plastics in Birds’ Nests: The Role of Riverine Habitats

Plastics are widely distributed in all ecosystems with evident impacts on biodiversity. We aimed at examining the topic of plastic occurrence within bird nests. We conducted a systematic search on three social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) to fill the gap of knowledge on plastic nests worldwide. As a result, we observed nests with plastics mostly belonging to synanthropic species inhabiting riverine habitats, mainly in Europe, North America, and Asia, with an increase in occurrence over the years. Two common and generalist freshwater species (Eurasian Coot Fulica atra and Swans Cygnus sp.) showed the highest frequency of occurrence of plastic debris. We suggest plastics in bird nests as a proxy for debris occurring in the environment. However, our data may be biased, due to our sample’s low representativeness. Therefore, more data are necessary to have more information on plastic distribution. In conclusion, social media might be pivotal in indicating plastic hotspot areas worldwide and being an indicator of plastic pollution within the environment.

Delayed egg-laying in Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio in relation to increased rainfall in east-central Poland

Climate change has affected the breeding parameters of many animal species. In birds, most studies have focused on the effects of temperature on clutch phenology and clutch size. The long-term influence of other weather factors, including rainfall, on breeding parameters have been analysed much less often. Based on a 23-year dataset and 308 broods, we documented shifts in the timing of breeding, clutch size and mean egg volume in a long-distance migrant, the Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio, from a central European population. We found a 5-day shift towards delayed breeding, but no differences in brood size or egg volume during those 23 years. The GLM analysis showed that the mean May temperature had a positive influence on the clutch initiation date, whereas the number of days with rain delayed laying. During the period 1999–2021, there was no change in the mean May temperature, but total precipitation and the number of days with rain in May increased. Thus, delayed nesting in this population was probably due to the increase in rainfall during this period. Our results provide a rare example of delayed nesting in birds in recent years. Predicted changes in the climate make it difficult to assess the long-term impact of global warming on the viability of Red-backed Shrike populations in east-central Poland.

NESTING PECULIARITIES AND INTERLAY VARIABILITY OF THE STERNIDAE FAMILY BIRDS’ EGGS IN THE PRIPYAT RIVER MIDDLE STRECH FLOODPLAN

Purpose: to analyze the nesting features of birds of the Sternidae family living in the floodplain meadow of the Pripyat River. Methodology. For research, the route method was used, in which bird nests were identified during direct examination of the territory of the floodplain meadow. Hard-to-reach areas of the meadow were surveyed from a boat. To assess the morphological parameters of the eggs of birds of the Sternidae family, the eggs were measured using a caliper. The length (L) and diameter of the eggs (B) were measured. Based on the measurements, the index of intra-laying variability (iv) was determined. During the study period, 245 eggs of birds of the Sternidae family were measured, of which 88 eggs were in the Common tern, 60 eggs in the Little tern, 51 eggs in the White-winged tern and 46 eggs in the Whiskered tern. Scientific novelty. It has been established that the formation of multispecies colonies of birds of the Sternidae family makes it possible to qualitatively use territories favorable for nesting and provides protection of nests from raptors to accompanying bird species. The smallest intra-laying variability of the studied egg parameters was found in the common and barnacle tern, which is an indicator of the birds’ adaptability to nesting conditions. Conclusions. The nesting of White-winged black and Whiskered tern is directly dependent on floodwater level. A gradual decrease in the level of floodwaters leads to the drying up of the floodplain meadow and the impossibility of building nests, since these species build nests on aquatic plants or floating bogs. Nesting of Little and Common tern is limited by biotic factors, such as predation by Corvidae birds and other animals, as well as anthropogenic factors - people resting on the shore, fishermen and locals visiting the meadow, which in turn creates a disturbance factor for the birds. Among the bird species considered, the maximum value of the index of intra-variability of eggs laying in egg diameter (iv) was found for White-winged black tern (iv = 4.10 ± 0.52). The minimum value of this index is observed in Whiskered tern (iv = 3.41 ± 0.39). It should be noted that differences in this index among Common tern are less pronounced than among Marsh tern The maximum value of the index of intra-variability of eggs laying (iv) was found for Little Tern (iv = 5.42 ± 0.65). The minimum value of this indicator was found in Common tern (iv = 3.90 ± 0.44). For Marsh tern (Whiskered and White-winged black tern), the value of the index of intra-variability of eggs laying length (iv) does not differ significantly.

Survey of conceptual and taxonomic characteristics of the Families Acartophthalmidae, Canacidae and Carnidae (Insecta: Diptera)

The Acartophthalmidae family includes tiny to small dark flies with hyaline or infuscate wings along the coast. Adults live in the forest, where they are associated with decaying substances such as wood, fungi, carrion, excrement and rotten meat. The Canacidae are found along the sea coasts, on the surface of small bodies of water, saline and fresh, in places protected from the wind. They feed on infusoria and other tiny organisms. In Carnidae, the larvae are saprophagous or coprophagous (they live in the litter of birds' nests). Pupae are enclosed within a puparium and bird nests are micro-ecosystems with diverse communities of invertebrates, from ectoparasitoids to commensal species. The objective of this manuscript was to carry out a survey of the Families Acartophthalmidae, Canacidae and Carnidae regarding their biology, ecology, geographic distribution, and taxonomy. The systematized bibliographic study, of the descriptive and exploratory type of the Families Acartophthalmidae and Canacidae. The bibliographic search included the LILACS databases at: http://www.bireme.br/, in electronic journals available at the SciELO and USP databases: http: //www.usp.br/ and in theoretical books, these banks, university dissertations, national and international scientific articles, scientific journals, documents. The main terms used were: Diptera, flies, Acartophthalmidae, Canacidae and Carnidae.

Nest entry shape change may cause nest abandonment in urban cavity-nesting species: a case study of the Tree Sparrow Passer montanus

The threat of predation is the main cause of bird nest abandonment, with such behaviour imposing considerable energetic costs on breeding birds. However, for several species, nest abandonment can be a less costly alternative to complete brood failure. In this study, we examined nest abandonment among Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus) by surveying 71 Tree Sparrow nests with various types of entry holes and conducted artificially manipulating some of the entrance shapes. We found that nest abandonment was caused by changes to the nest entry shape in seven cases and by human interference in two cases. Nest abandonments occurred throughout the breeding season, and breeding pairs attempted to breed again immediately after nest abandonment. The results of the artificial nest entry shape manipulation experiment showed that nine of twelve nests (75.0%) were abandoned where the nest entrance holes were widened, and six of eleven nests (54.5%) were abandoned where the nest entrance holes were narrowed. However, none of the nests were abandoned where the entry shape was unchanged. Thus, nest abandonment by Tree Sparrows is correlated with nest entry shape manipulation and is more likely to occur when the energy cost of breeding again is less than that of abandoning the nest.

Bird's nest -inspired fabrication of ZIF-8 interlayer for organic solvent nanofiltration membranes

Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN), due to the characteristics of energy saving, mild operation conditions, and less waste generation, is an effective tool for purification, concentration and solvent exchange of high-value-added products. Introducing an interlayer containing ZIF-8, which features high surface areas and adjustable pore structures, can effectively regulate the interfacial polymerization process to optimize the performance of OSN membranes. However, due to the lack of nucleation sites with the substrate, it remains technologically challenging to design the ZIF-8 interlayer with structure and property persistence for interfacial polymerization under mild conditions. Inspired by the processes of birds’ nesting, the processes of mixing PEG and ZIF precursor, coating, and fast heating are working here to stimulate the in-situ growth of ZIF-8 in a facile, green and ordered way. PEG allows uniform dispersion of ZIF-8 in one step and without involving organic solvents. Furthermore, the increased binding affinity between ZIF-8 and the membrane surface endows the composite membrane with uniform morphology and significantly enhanced stability. Overall, this strategy may provide a fast, eco-friendly, and scalable approach to design composite membranes with MOF and other nanoparticulate materials as interlayers.

Community structure, ecology, and conservation issues of avifauna of two human-dominated landscapes in Faridpur district, Bangladesh during Covid-19 pandemic

A study was conducted on community structure, ecology, and conservation issues of the avifauna of two human-dominated landscapes in a lower Ganges Madhukhali Upazila, under the Faridpur district during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Direct field observations were made from April 2020 to March 2021. In total, 109 species of birds belong to 18 orders, and 49 families were observed, with a total count of 5,453 individuals. Resident bird species (93 species, 85.32%) dominant in the study area, whereas the migratory species were only 16 (14.68%). The highest number of bird species (93 species, 85.32%) with the highest number of individuals (n=3171, 58.15%) was observed in Beleswar (rural site) area. Shannon diversity index value (H=3.89, Ds= 0.9724) was higher in the rural site than Madhukhali municipal area (urban site). In the winter season, the highest number of bird species (95 species, 87.15%) with the highest number of individuals (n=2303, 42.23%) was observed. Among micro-habitats, trees, particularly the native tree species, were the preferable sites for bird nesting, foraging, and roosting. Among birds, Acridotheres tristis was the most abundant species (n=316, 5.79%) in the study area, and an uneven distribution of species in the community structure was observed. The abundance of birds shows that 59 (54.12%) species were very common, 8 (7.33%) common, 9 (8.25%) uncommon, and 33 (30.27%) rare. Among the bird species, Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus was categorised as Near Threatened (NT), and the rest are Least Concerned (IUCN Bangladesh 2015). Illegal hunting of birds, especially waterbirds, is the major threat in the rural site. Preparing a proper management plan based on the baseline data is essential for protecting of avian diversity in the study area. J. Asiat. Soc. Bangladesh, Sci. 48(1-2): 53-66, June-December 2022

Tissue-engineered edible bird's nests (TeeBN).

Edible bird's nests (EBN)-the nests of swiftlet birds harvested from the wild- are high-end healthcare food in East Asia, while their excessive harvesting poses increasing ecological, environmental, and food safety concerns. Here, we report for the first time a tissue-engineering (TE) approach for fabricating EBNs substitutes by integrating the technologies of three-dimensional (3D) printing and live cell culture. The engineered products, tissue-engineered edible bird's nests (TeeBN), comprise two layers. The first is a feeding layer that encapsulates epithelial cells in 3D-printed biocompatible gelation scaffolds. These cells secrete bioactive ingredients, e.g., sialic acid and epidermal growth factors (EGF), recapitulating the natural production of these substances by birds. The second is a receiving layer, consisting of foodgrade natural polymers, e.g., polysaccharides, which mimics the building blocks of natural EBNs while biologically stabilizing the factors released from the feeding layer. In vitro characterizations demonstrate that the feeding layer facilitates 3D cell growth and functions, and the receiving layer (as the end product) contains the necessary nutrients expected from natural EBNs-while without harmful substances commonly detected in natural EBNs. Further, in vivo metabolomics studies in mice indicate that TeeBN showed a similar profile of serum metabolites as natural EBN, reflecting comparable nutritional effects. In summary, we innovatively developed a tissue engineering-based substitute for EBNs with comparable metabolic functions and minimized safety risks, opening a new avenue for producing delicacy food from laboratorial cell culture with 3D printing technology.

Characteristics of Maleo bird spawning nests (Macrocephalon maleo) in Lake Towuti, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract. Karim HA, Najib NN, Ayu SM, Fidel. 2023. Characteristics of Maleo bird spawning nests (Macrocephalon maleo) in Lake Towuti, South Sulawesi.Biodiversitas 24: 670-676. Maleo birds (Macrocephalon maleo) have a habitat in the forest near the beach or in the middle of the forest near the hot springs. However, in Pekaloa Village, East Luwu District, Maleo birds are found in Lake Towuti, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. This, of course, shows that the habitat of Maleo birds on the shore of the lake is new information, especially on the island of Sulawesi. This research was conducted in Pekaloa Village, Towuti Sub-district, East Luwu District, South Sulawesi. This study was conducted to collect data on the characteristics of Maleo Senkawor (Macrocephalon maleo) nests. Secondary data collection began from scientific journals and works, as well as discussions with the surrounding community and the TWA manager of Lake Towuti, while primary data was obtained from measurements and direct observation in the field, as well as laboratory analysis. In this study, five nest plots with 13 nest holes were used, and the vegetation analysis used example plots measuring 175 m2. The characteristics of the nest pit have an average depth of 0.6 m, a surface diameter of 0.41 m, a temperature of 33.6oC, and a pH of 6.2. Vegetation analysis found eight species around the Maleo Senkawor bird's nest. Vegetation analysis used the density formula: highest frequency density 19.5 and highest frequency 0.57, lowest density 0.02 and lowest frequency 0.14. This study forms the basis of new information in the conservation of Maleo birds with the characteristics of the habitat conditions for nesting Maleo birds, especially in the coastal area of the lake.

Detection of Bird Nests on Transmission Towers in Aerial Images Based on Improved YOLOv5s

To further improve the accuracy of bird nest model detection on transmission towers in aerial images without significantly increasing the model size and to make detection more suitable for edge-end applications, the lightweight model YOLOv5s is improved in this paper. First, the original backbone network is reconfigured using the OSA (One-Shot Aggregation) module in the VOVNet and the CBAM (Convolution Block Attention Module) is embedded into the feature extraction network, which improves the accuracy of the model for small target recognition. Then, the atrous rates and the number of atrous convolutions of the ASPP (Atrous Spatial Pyramid Pooling) module are reduced to effectively decrease the parameters of the ASPP. The ASPP is then embedded into the feature fusion network to enhance the detection of the targets in complex backgrounds, improving the model accuracy. The experiments show that the mAP (mean-Average Precision) of the fusion-improved YOLOv5s model improves from 91.84% to 95.18%, with only a 27.4% increase in model size. Finally, the improved YOLOv5s model is deployed into the Jeston Xavier NX, resulting in a model that runs well and has a substantial increase in accuracy and a speed of 10.2 FPS, which is only 0.7 FPS slower than the original YOLOv5s model.

Komparativna studija faune člankonožaca u gnijezdima roda, domaćih lastavica i običnih golubova

An analysis was conducted on the arthropod fauna collected from stork, swallow, and pigeon nests during summer 2018 in three regions of north-eastern Algeria (Guelma, El-Tarf, and Annaba). A total of 40 nests was examined, of which 58% were infested with arthropods. Arthropods were less abundant and species rich in swallow nests than in pigeon or stork nests, where a greater dominance of mesostigmatic mites (78.71% and 72.41%, respectively) was found. Dermanyssus gallinae was the most abundant (33.05%) and most frequent (73.33%) mesostigmatic mite in pigeon nests, while uropodina mites were dominant (41.37%) in white stork nests with a frequency of 76.92% of the nests analysed. In swallow nests, the following arthropods were found: Psocodea, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera belonging to the class Insecta and Isopoda belonging to the class Malacostraca. This is the first comparative survey of arthropods occupying the nests of these bird species in northern Algeria. It is anticipated that these data, that highlight the richness of the arthropod fauna in the nests of these bird species, will motivate further research aimed at characterising the arthropod community in different bird nests and determining the nature of the relationships between them.

Investigation of Structural Characteristics and Solubility Mechanism of Edible Bird Nest: A Mucin Glycoprotein

In this study, the possible solubility properties and water-holding capacity mechanism of edible bird nest (EBN) were investigated through a structural analysis of soluble and insoluble fractions. The protein solubility and the water-holding swelling multiple increased from 2.55% to 31.52% and 3.83 to 14.00, respectively, with the heat temperature increase from 40 °C to 100 °C. It was observed that the solubility of high-Mw protein increased through heat treatment; meanwhile, part of the low-Mw fragments was estimated to aggregate to high-Mw protein with the hydrophobic interactions and disulfide bonds. The increased crystallinity of the insoluble fraction from 39.50% to 47.81% also contributed to the higher solubility and stronger water-holding capacity. Furthermore, the hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonds, and disulfide bonds in EBN were analyzed and the results showed that hydrogen bonds with burial polar group made a favorable contribution to the protein solubility. Therefore, the crystallization area degradation under high temperature with hydrogen bonds and disulfide bonds may be the main reasons underlying the solubility properties and water-holding capacity of EBN.

A Kist o’ Whistles

A Kist o’ Whistles