Northern Pintail Research Articles

A high-altitude population of Hyperboreomyzon polaris (Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae) in Altai Mountains, South Siberia, Russia.

Hyperboreomyzon polaris Bolotov, Eliseeva, Klass & Kondakov, 2022 (Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae) is an enigmatic freshwater leech that was recently described based on three specimens from two remote regions of the Eurasian Arctic, that is, the Kolguev Island and Putorana Plateau, Russia. Later on, misidentified historical samples of this species were discovered in the Hirudinea collection of Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg, Russia). These samples were collected by Pavel G. Ignatov, a prominent Russian geographer and traveler, from a remote high-altitude area of the Altai Mountains (South Siberia) in 1901. To collect new samples from this population, we organized a field expedition to the same area (Lake Dzhulukul) in 2023. Molecular genetic data (COI and 18S rRNA) obtained from newly collected specimens revealed that they belong to H. polaris. Hence, this leech could be considered an Arctic-alpine species, the disjunctive range of which covers Arctic areas of Eurasia and Central Asian (South Siberian) mountains. We describe and illustrate living individuals of H. polaris for the first time, update its morphological diagnosis, present a life cycle reconstruction based on the frequency of four size classes in available samples. It is shown that this species prefers small lentic water bodies such as small lakes and lakelets. The crop content of a well-fed specimen from Altai contains DNA of the northern pintail Anas acuta Linnaeus (Aves: Anatidae), indicating that H. polaris feeds on blood of waterfowl. Our results indicate that Hyperboreomyzon may be considered a species adapted to cold high-latitude areas and mountain refugia.

A PRELIMINARY SURVEY ON DIVERSITY OF AVIFAUNA IN KATWA, PURBA BURDWAN, WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Birds are used as bio-indicator due to their sensitivity to minor environmental changes. A survey was done from July 2022 to February 2023 to study the avifaunal diversity of Katwa. A total of 67 bird species were recorded during the study period. The species were categorized in three namely common resident (CR), not common resident (NCR) and migratory (M) of which 40 are common resident, 24 are not common resident and 3 are migratory. The found common birds species were house crow, common myna, red vented bulbul, house sparrow, spotted dove, asian koel, little ringed plover etc. Among the not common resident avifauna were Long-legged Buzzard, Cotton teal, Pied-cuckoo, Grey Wagtail, yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail etc. and the three migratory birds were Common Pochard, Red-crested Pochard and Northern Pintail. Katwa and adjoining Ajay Baadh has wide variety of trees, wetland, grassland and agricultural land which is the major contributing factor for the rich avifaunal diversity found during the short study period. This is a preliminary effort for documentation of the avifauna, but more studies and suitable conservation strategies are required in the study area.

Long-term changes in autumn-winter harvest distributions vary among duck species, months, and subpopulations.

Our aim was to describe shifts in autumn and winter harvest distributions of three species of dabbling ducks (blue-winged teal [Spatula discors], mallard [Anas platyrhynchos], and northern pintail [Anas acuta]) in the Central and Mississippi flyways of North America during 1960-2019. We measured shifts in band recovery distributions corrected for changes in hunting season dates and zones by using kernel density estimators to calculate 10 distributional metrics. We then assessed interannual and intraspecific variation by comparing species-specific changes in distributional metrics for 4 months (October-January) and three geographically based subpopulations. During 1960-2019, band recovery distributions shifted west- and southwards (blue-winged teal) or east- and northwards (mallard and northern pintail) by one hundred to several hundred kilometers. For all three species, the broad (95% isopleth) and core distributions (50% isopleth) showed widespread decreases in overlap and increases in relative area compared to a 1960-1979 baseline period. Shifts in band recovery distributions varied by month, with southward shifts for blue-winged teal most pronounced in October and northward shifts for mallard and northern pintail greatest during December and January. Finally, distributional metric response varied considerably among mallard subpopulations, including 2-4-fold differences in longitude, latitude, and overlap, whereas differences among subpopulations were minimal for blue-winged teal and northern pintail. Our findings support the popular notion that winter (December-January) distributions of duck species have shifted north; however, the extent and direction of distributional changes vary among species and subpopulations. Long-term distributional changes are therefore complex and summarizing shifts across species, months, or subpopulations could mask underlying finer-scale patterns that are important to habitat conservation and population management. A detailed understanding of how species distributions have changed over time will help quantify important drivers of species occurrence, identify habitat management options, and could inform decisions on where to focus conservation or restoration efforts.

Genome analysis of gyroviruses identified in waterfowl in Arizona (USA).

Gyroviruses are small single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) viruses that are largely associated with birds. Chicken anemia virus is the most extensively studied gyrovirus due to its disease impact on the poultry industry. However, we know much less about gyroviruses infecting other avian species. To investigate gyroviruses infecting waterfowl, we determined six complete genome sequences that fall into three gyrovirus groups, referred to as waterfowl gyrovirus 1 (n = 3), 2 (n = 2), and 3 (n = 1), in organs from hunter-harvested waterfowl from Arizona (USA). The waterfowl gyrovirus 1 variants were identified in multiple organs of a single American wigeon and represent a tentative new species. The waterfowl gyrovirus 2 variants were identified in the livers of two American wigeons and share >70% VP1 nucleotide sequence identity with gyrovirus 9, previously identified in the spleen of a Brazilian Pekin duck (MT318123) and a human fecal sample (KP742975). Waterfowl gyrovirus 3 was identified in a northern pintail spleen sample, and it shares >73% VP1 nucleotide sequence identity with two gyrovirus 13 sequences previously identified in Brazilian Pekin duck spleens (MT318125 and MT318127). These gyroviruses are the first to be identified in waterfowl in North America, as well as in American wigeons and northern pintails.

Ecological and anthropogenic drivers of waterfowl productivity are synchronous across species, space, and time.

Knowledge of interspecific and spatiotemporal variation in demography-environment relationships is key for understanding the population dynamics of sympatric species and developing multispecies conservation strategies. We used hierarchical random-effects models to examine interspecific and spatial variation in annual productivity in six migratory ducks (i.e., American wigeon [Mareca americana], blue-winged teal [Spatula discors], gadwall [Mareca strepera], green-winged teal [Anas crecca], mallard [Anas platyrhynchos] and northern pintail [Anas acuta]) across six distinct ecostrata in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America. We tested whether breeding habitat conditions (seasonal pond counts, agricultural intensification, and grassland acreage) or cross-seasonal effects (indexed by flooded rice acreage in primary wintering areas) better explained variation in the proportion of juveniles captured during late summer banding. The proportion of juveniles (i.e., productivity) was highly variable within species and ecostrata throughout 1961-2019 and generally declined through time in blue-winged teal, gadwall, mallard, pintail, and wigeon, but there was no support for a trend in green-winged teal. Productivity in Canadian ecostrata declined with increasing agricultural intensification and increased with increasing pond counts. We also found a strong cross-seasonal effect, whereby more flooded rice hectares during winter resulted in higher subsequent productivity. Our results suggest highly consistent environmental and anthropogenic effects on waterfowl productivity across species and space. Our study advances our understanding of current year and cross-seasonal effects on duck productivity across a suite of species and at finer spatial scales, which could help managers better target working-lands conservation programs on both breeding and wintering areas. We encourage other researchers to evaluate environmental drivers of population dynamics among species in a single modeling framework for a deeper understanding of whether conservation plans should be generalized or customized given limited financial resources.

Survival of northern pintail ducklings in grasslands and croplands: implications for fall‐seeded cereals

AbstractSpecies‐specific management strategies have been implemented to address persistently low continental populations of several duck species, including the northern pintail (Anas acuta). In the Canadian Prairie Pothole Region (PPR), addressing threats from spring‐seeded cereals on pintail productivity may provide sufficient gains to recover populations. Research on pintail duckling ecology has revealed that duckling survival may be greater in grassland‐dominated landscapes than in annual cropland‐dominated landscapes, possibly limiting the benefits of fall‐seeded cropping practices. Winter wheat crops increase nest success and may assist nesting pintail populations through provision of nesting refuges from spring tillage operations, earlier hatch, and greater nest densities compared to traditional spring‐seeded cereal crops. Yet inadequate duckling survival may reduce these benefits. Our principal objective was to examine if pintail reproductive success in winter wheat in cropland‐dominated landscapes was comparable to grassland‐dominated landscapes or, alternatively, if duckling survival rates in cropland‐dominated landscapes offset the gains of greater nesting success in winter wheat. We captured and radio‐marked 104 nesting female pintails in grasslands and croplands of southern Saskatchewan, during 2011–2012. We modeled cumulative survival to 30 days post hatch in relation to landscape composition and land cover type, specifically, the influence of nesting in fall‐seeded crops. Predicted 30‐day survival for ducklings hatched in perennial cover (40.8% [85% CI = 40.0–44.6%]) in grassland‐dominated landscapes and winter wheat (38.2% [32.0–44.4%]) in cropland‐dominated landscapes was more than double survival of ducklings hatched in spring‐seeded cropland (16.9% [12.6–21.6%]) in cropland‐dominated landscapes. Ducklings moving through local environments with more perennial cover and seasonal wetlands, but less wetland edge, had increased survival. The benefit of greater nest survival in winter wheat was not completely superseded by reduced duckling survival for broods raised in intensive agricultural landscapes. The retention of grassland landscapes and expansion and promotion of fall‐seeded crops in cropland‐dominated landscapes can benefit northern pintails across broad regions of the PPR.

THE NUMBERS DYNAMICS OF ANATIDS (ANSERIFORMES, ANATIDAE, AVES) IN MODEL AREAS IN DAGESTAN, NORTHEASTERN CAUCASUS, RUSSIA

The numbers of waterfowl and shorebirds declining on a global scale is largely due to the reduction in wetland areas in the era of climate warming. Long-term monitoring data obtained in 1995–2020 in two Key Bird Areas of Russia of international importance, i.e. the Sulakskaya and Turalinskaya lagoons, the Republic of Dagestan, are presented, the transboundary populations of Anseriformes (Anatidae) taken as examples, Both model lagoons are located in one of Russia’s largest bottleneck places of the western Caspian flyways, where the fly routes of European and Asian migrants intersect. The Anseriformes model group, which includes 18 predominantly background species, was chosen based on their regular encounters during migration. According to the information on the ring returns obtained from the Research and Information Center for Bird Ringing at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, a conditional outline of the generalized distribution range of Anseriformes was revealed, the faunogenetic basis of which is composed of widespread representatives of Arctic or Siberian fauna types. Based on all available data, including the information derived from literature sources, the geographic location both of populations and their regular migration areas was determined. The rating of 12 of all 18 study species was found to have significantly decreased, vs 2 that increased, and further 4 that remained stable. The resulting trends were synchronized with data available from literary sources on the same species of Anseriformes in their nesting areas. The coincidence of the corresponding trends with the distribution trends of the same anatid species in their nesting areas ensured the distance of distant populations of Anseriformes obtained along their flyways in the model lagoons to be correctly measured. This was found to correlate with the average monthly air temperatures in the autumn-winter period in the Primorskaya Lowland of Dagestan, 12 model species being associated with temperature fluctuations. The numbers of migratory populations of anatids in cold years are shown to lead to their increased migration in the study area, as a result the migration of migrants along the flight routes slowing down and their wintering places being changed. Correlation analysis showed a significant relation between the increased areas of Anseriformes wintering in the Caspian Sea with sea-level regression, in which the shallowing areas of marine waters limited the access of anatids to food resources (benthos). Three key factors determining the dynamics of a group of Anseriformes populations are discussed: hydroclimatic cycles, anthropogenic influence and foraging. A temporary ban on the hunting removal of 8 vulnerable species of anatids (the Greylag Goose, the Common Teal, the Garganey, the Gadwall, the Eurasian Wigeon, the Northern Pintail, the Northern Shoveler, and the Common Pochard) is proposed to be imposed in Siberia, Kazakhstan, the Urals Federal District, the Cis-Urals, the Volga region, and the Southern and North Caucasus federal districts until their populations become sufficiently restored.

Movement behavior, habitat selection, and functional responses to habitat availability among four species of wintering waterfowl in California

IntroductionHabitat selection analyses provide a window into the perceived value of habitats by animals and how those perceptions compare with other animals, change across time, or change in relation to availability (termed functional responses). Habitat selection analysis and functional responses can be used to develop strategies to avoid habitat limitations, guide habitat management, and set attainable conservation goals. GPS relocations of marked animals are the principal data used in habitat selection analysis. The accuracy and frequency with which tracking devices collect data are increasing and may result in non-stationary point processes that result from latent behaviors previously unidentifiable in sparse data.MethodsWe investigated non-stationary step length distributions and integrated a two-mixture model of animal movement with step selection analysis to identify patterns of activity among four species of co-occurring waterfowl that winter in the Central Valley of California, United States. We evaluated relative strength of selection and compared functional responses across a range of habitat types for two goose and two dabbling duck species.ResultsGoose species (greater white-fronted goose [Anser albifrons] and lesser snow goose [Anser caerulescens caerulescens]) used habitats similarly and displayed similar functional responses with habitat availability. Northern pintail (Anas acuta) displayed functional responses for habitats that provided primary food resources and sanctuary from hunting that were more similar to geese than to mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), which expressed a more generalist pattern of habitat selection.DiscussionOur results define conditions where food resource competition between geese and ducks could operate, which indicate that some species may be more impacted than others. Specifically, early season food limitation may manifest more strongly in snow geese due to longer movements and stronger functional response with rice availability. Late season limitations may manifest in northern pintail, which remain reliant on rice later but may not be reflected in habitat selection patterns due to a consistent functional response with rice availability. We show that multiple movement processes present in high-resolution data can be used to obtain a variety of information about animal behavior and that subsequent step selection analyses may demonstrate unique functional responses relative to alternate habitat selection methods that warrant additional investigation.

Data on hunting use of waterfowl resources in Yakutia

Scientific information on waterfowl harvesting in Yakutia is mostly outdated. The lack of reliable bag data prevents the establishment of sustainable use of waterfowl resources under the conditions of massive shooting and a modified legislation base. This research aimed to collect and analyze contemporary information on the hunting take of waterfowl (Anatidae, Coot, loons, and grebes) in Yakutia. We used data from the State Hunting Registry (2017–2022) to estimate the total harvest. Species-specific shares in hunting bags were identified using digital photographs of shot birds collected from the Internet in 2015, 2017, and 2018 (around 1000 photos). The distribution and results of traditional spring hunting of scoters were studied through a survey of hunters conducted in 2015. On average, 18,400 geese and 200,000 ducks were shot during the summer-autumn season, whereas 26,600 geese and 160,500 ducks were shot during the spring season. Overall, 23 waterfowl species were identified, namely three species of geese, 17 species of ducks, Coot, Arctic Loon, and Red-necked Grebe. The autumn bag included 22 species, of which the bean goose, mallard, Eurasian wigeon, and common teal were the most abundant. Spring bags consisted of 14 species with prevailing bean geese, common teals, northern pintails, and mallards. Based on “least concern” international and national conservation status we suggest to exclude the Chinese Spot-billed Duck, Gadwall, Common Scoter and Coot from the Red Data Book of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and resume their hunting use.

Sixty-years of community-science data suggest earlier fall migration and short-stopping of waterfowl in North America

Abstract Worldwide, migratory phenology and movement of many bird species is shifting in response to anthropogenic climate and habitat changes. However, due to variation among species and a shortage of analyses, changes in waterfowl migration, particularly in the fall, are not well understood. Fall migration phenology and movement patterns dictate waterfowl hunting success and satisfaction, with cascading implications on economies and support for habitat management and securement. Using 60 years of band recovery data for waterfowl banded in the Canadian Prairie Pothole Region (PPR), we evaluated whether fall migration timing and/or distribution changed in Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Pintail (A. acuta), and Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) between 1960 and 2019. We found that in the Midcontinent Flyways, Mallards and Blue-winged Teal migrated faster in more recent time periods, whereas Northern Pintail began fall migration earlier. In the Pacific Flyway, Mallards began fall migration earlier. Both Mallards and Northern Pintails showed evidence of short-stopping in the Midcontinent Flyways. Indeed, the Mallard and Northern Pintail distribution of band recovery data shifted 180 and 226 km north, respectively, from 1960 to 2019. Conversely, Blue-winged Teal recovery distributions were consistent across years. Mallards and Northern Pintails also exhibited an increased proportion of band recoveries in the Pacific Flyway in recent decades. We provide clear evidence that the timing and routes of fall migration have shifted over the past 6 decades, but these phenological and spatial shifts differ among species. We suggest that using community-science data collected by hunters themselves to explain one of the group’s major concerns (changes in duck abundance at traditional hunting grounds), within the environmental lens of climate change, may help lead to further engagement and two-way dialogue to support effective waterfowl management for these culturally and ecologically important species.

Genome sequence of a Sobemovirus from the feces of Northern Pintail (Anas acuta).

Northern pintail (Anas acuta) is a migratory waterfowl that can transmit various viruses. The genome sequence of a Sobemovirus was determined using metagenomic sequencing from the feces of northern pintail (Anas acuta) in Xinjiang, northwest China. The virus possesses a linear RNA molecule of 4177bp and is most closely related to isolates SoMV-WA (GenBank accession no. HM163159.1) and ATCC PV-109 (GenBank accession no. GQ845002.2), with a nucleotide identity of 86.7%. The virus encodes four open reading frames (ORF) coding for four proteins, and phylogenetic analysis of capsid protein and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) showed that the strain was clustered into the species Sowbane Mosaic Virus (SoMV). The amino acid sequence identity of capsid protein was 89.6-90.9% to other isolates of SoMV, but 17.6-31.4% similar to other strains in the genus Sobemovirus, indicating a strain of Sowbane Mosaic Virus. This is the first report of SoMV in the feces of wild birds and in China, and it suggested that northern pintail likely plays an alternative role in the transmission of SoMV.

FOOD CONTENTS ANALYSIS OF WATERFOWL PASSING THROUGH INDUS THE RIVER AT TAUNSA, SOUTH PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

A study was carried out to assess the food composition of migratory waterfowl in Bet Makwal Kalan, near the Head Taunsa Barrage, along the River Indus passage. Migratory water birds are thought to be important components in dispersal of total living entity especially seeds due to their proclivity for extensive relocations. They might be found in large numbers in the muddy sections. Migratory water birds are important components of total plant dispersal due to their proclivity for making extensive migrations. A sum of 459 gizzard samples was collected, during their Fall migration, relating to 10 Waterfowl species i.e. Northern Pintail (n=56), Eurasian Wigeon (n=17), Garganay (n=07), Mallard (n=02), Northern Shoveler (n=22), Common Teal (n=129), Gadwall (n=158), Tufted Duck (n=04), Common Pochard (n=29) and Ferruginous Duck (n=34). During their winter migration, the Waterfowl species picked plants over animals as their primary source of sustenance when travelling through Taunsa. Food research revealed that all 10 species of birds consumed large amounts of seeds. Out of ten duck species, two plant species (Naias marina and Potamogeton pusillus) consistently ranked among the top seeds ingested by six of the duck species (Eurasian Wigeon, Garganey, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, and Common Pochard). Whereas the Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Common Teal, and Ferruginous Duck have been found to consume large amounts of seeds from Potamogeton pectinatus and Poligonum spp. It was determined that molluscans and crustaceans residues were found to be well-represented in the gizzard samples of ducks. The recent study also highlighted that various vegetations play vital role in wetland ecosystems as a basic wild food provider. A larger population of migrating Waterfowl yield better findings for this study, which is currently being undertaken.

Waterfowl distribution and productivity in the Prairie Pothole Region of Canada: tools for conservation planning

AbstractSpecies conservation requires an understanding of the factors and interactions affecting species distribution and behavior, habitat availability and use, and corresponding vital rates at multiple temporal and spatial scales. Opportunities to investigate these relationships across broad geographic regions are rare. We combined long‐term waterfowl population surveys, and studies of habitat use and breeding success, to develop models that identify and incorporate these interactions for upland‐nesting waterfowl in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of Canada. Specifically, we used data from the annual Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey (1961–2009) at the survey segment level and associated habitat covariates to model and map the long‐term average duck density across the Canadian PPR. We analyzed nest location and fate data from approximately 25,000 duck nests found during 3 multi‐year nesting studies (1994–2011) to model factors associated with nest survival and habitat selection through the nesting season for the 5 most common upland nesting duck species: mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), gadwall (Mareca strepera), blue‐winged teal (Spatula discors), northern shoveler (Spatula clypeata), and northern pintail (Anas acuta). Duck density was highly variable across the Canadian PPR, reflecting positive responses to local wetland area and count, and amounts of cropland and grassland, a regional positive response to latitude, and a negative response to local amounts of tree cover. Nest survival was affected by temporal and spatial variables at multiple scales. Specifically, nest survival demonstrated interactive effects among species, nest initiation date, and nesting cover type and was influenced by relative annual wetness, population density, and surrounding landscape composition at landscape scales, and broad geographic gradients (east‐west and north‐south). Likewise, species‐specific probability of nest habitat selection was influenced by timing of nest initiation, population density, relative annual wetness, herbaceous cover, and tree cover in the surrounding landscape, and location within the Canadian PPR. We combined these models, with estimates of breeding effort (nesting, renesting, and nest attempts) from existing literature, in a stochastic conservation planning model that estimates nest distribution and success given spatiotemporal variation in duck density, habitat availability, and influential covariates. We demonstrate the use of this model by examining various conservation planning scenarios. These models allow estimation of local, landscape, and regional influence of conservation investments and other landscape changes on the productivity of breeding duck populations across the PPR of Canada. These models lay the groundwork for the incorporation of conservation delivery costs for full return‐on‐investment analyses and scenario analyses of climate, habitat, and land use change in regional and continental population models.

A life-history spectrum of population responses to simultaneous change in climate and land use.

Climate and land use change are two of the primary threats to global biodiversity; however, each species within a community may respond differently to these facets of global change. Although it is typically assumed that species use the habitat that is advantageous for survival and reproduction, anthropogenic changes to the environment can create ecological traps, making it critical to assess both habitat selection (e.g. where species congregate on the landscape) and the influence of selected habitats on the demographic processes that govern population dynamics. We used a long-term (1958-2011), large-scale, multi-species dataset for waterfowl that spans the United States and Canada to estimate species-specific responses to climate and land use variables in a landscape that has undergone significant environmental change across space and time. We first estimated the effects of change in climate and land use variables on habitat selection and population dynamics for nine species. We then hypothesized that species-specific responses to environmental change would scale with life-history traits, specifically: longevity, nesting phenology and female breeding site fidelity. We observed species-level heterogeneity in the demographic and habitat selection responses to climate and land use change, which would complicate community-level habitat management. Our work highlights the importance of multi-species monitoring and community-level analysis, even among closely related species. We detected several relationships between life-history traits, particularly nesting phenology, and species' responses to environmental change. One species, the early-nesting northern pintail (Anas acuta), was consistently at the extreme end of responses to land use and climate predictors and has been a species of conservation concern since their population began to decline in the 1980s. They, and the blue-winged teal, also demonstrated a positive habitat selection response to the proportion of cropland on the landscape that simultaneously reduced abundance the following year, indicative of susceptibility to ecological traps. By distilling the diversity of species' responses to environmental change within a community, our methodological approach and findings will help improve predictions of community responses to global change and can inform multi-species management and conservation plans in dynamic landscapes that are based on simple tenets of life-history theory.

The potential role of migratory birds in the transmission of pathogenic Campylobacter species to broiler chickens in broiler poultry farms and live bird markets

BackgroundCampylobacter species (spp.) are one of the most important zoonotic bacteria possessing potential hazards for animal and human health worldwide. Migratory birds are implicated as significant carriers for microbes and a play very important role in the dissemination of Campylobacter to broiler chickens and their environment. The purpose of this investigation was to detect the prevalence, antibiotic resistant patterns, virulence and diversity of pathogenic Campylobacter spp. in 7 migratory bird species (Northern shoveler, Common pochard, Common teal, Northern pintail, Eared Grebe, Great Crested Grebe and Garganey) and broiler chickens that were collected from broiler poultry farms and live bird markets.ResultsThe prevalence of Campylobacter was 12.5% (25/200), of which 15% (15/100) was recovered from 5 migratory bird species only and 10% (10/100) from broiler chickens. At the level of migratory birds, eight isolates (53.3%) were Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) and 7 isolates (46.7%) were Campylobacter coli (C. coli) meanwhile, in broiler chickens C. jejuni and C. coli were 50% (5/10) for each. All isolated strains had phenotypic resistance to doxycycline, while all of the isolates were susceptible to amikacin. The multidrug resistance to three, four or five antimicrobial classes was found in 72% (18/25) of the isolated strains. The multiantibiotic resistance index between the examined isolates was 0.22–0.77, with 10 antibiotic resistance patterns. The virulence of isolated Campylobacter strains (from both migratory birds and broiler chicken birds) was detected by targeting the VirB11, ciaB and iam genes which were recorded at 16%, 52% and 100%, respectively. Additionally, 100% and 84% of the antibiotic resistance genes were identified as tetA and BlaOXA-61, respectively.ConclusionsThe results of this study revealed the diversity between all the isolated strains from migratory birds and their similarity to broiler chicken isolates. The findings of the present study highlight the impact of migratory birds visiting Egypt and other countries on pathogenic Campylobacter spp. carrying pathogenic virulence and resistance genes, necessitating the application of biosecurity measures to prevent migratory birds from entering farms during their migration period.

Waterfowl recently infected with low pathogenic avian influenza exhibit reduced local movement and delayed migration

AbstractUnderstanding relationships between infection and wildlife movement patterns is important for predicting pathogen spread, especially for multispecies pathogens and those that can spread to humans and domestic animals, such as avian influenza viruses (AIVs). Although infection with low pathogenic AIVs is generally considered asymptomatic in wild birds, prior work has shown that influenza‐infected birds occasionally delay migration and/or reduce local movements relative to their uninfected counterparts. However, most observational research to date has focused on a few species in northern Europe; given that influenza viruses are widespread globally and outbreaks of highly pathogenic strains are increasingly common, it is important to explore influenza–movement relationships across more species and regions. Here, we used telemetry data to investigate relationships between influenza infection and movement behavior in 165 individuals from four species of North American waterfowl that overwinter in California, USA. We studied both large‐scale migratory and local overwintering movements and found that relationships between influenza infection and movement patterns varied among species. Northern pintails (Anas acuta) with antibodies to avian influenza, indicating prior infection, made migratory stopovers that averaged 12 days longer than those with no influenza antibodies. In contrast, greater white‐fronted geese (Anser albifrons) with antibodies to avian influenza made migratory stopovers that averaged 15 days shorter than those with no antibodies. Canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) that were actively infected with influenza upon capture in the winter delayed spring migration by an average of 28 days relative to birds that were uninfected at the time of capture. At the local scale, northern pintails and canvasbacks that were actively infected with influenza used areas that were 7.6 and 4.9 times smaller than those of uninfected ducks, respectively, during the period of presumed active influenza infection. We found no evidence for an influence of active influenza infection on local movements of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). These results suggest that avian influenza can influence waterfowl movements and illustrate that the relationships between avian influenza infection and wild bird movements are context‐ and species‐dependent. More generally, understanding and predicting the spread of multihost pathogens requires studying multiple taxa across space and time.

Susceptibility of common dabbling and diving duck species to clade 2.3.2.1 H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza virus: an experimental infection study.

In the winter of 2010-2011, Japan experienced a large outbreak of infections caused by clade 2.3.2.1 H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) in wild birds. Interestingly, many tufted ducks (Aythya fuligula), which are migratory diving ducks, succumbed to the infection, whereas only one infection case was reported in migratory dabbling duck species, the major natural hosts of the influenza A virus, during the outbreak. To assess whether the susceptibility of each duck species to HPAIVs was correlated with the number of cases, tufted duck and dabbling duck species (Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope; mallard, Anas platyrhynchos; Northern pintail, Anas acuta) were intranasally inoculated with A/Mandarin duck/Miyazaki/22M807-1/2011 (H5N1), an index clade 2.3.2.1 virus previously used for experimental infection studies in various bird species. All ducks observed for 10 days post-inoculation (dpi) mostly shed the virus via the oral route and survived. The tufted ducks shed a higher titer of the virus than the other dabbling duck species, and one of them showed apparent neurological symptoms after 7 dpi, which were accompanied by eye lesions. No clinical symptoms were observed in the dabbling ducks, although systemic infection and viremia were observed in some of them sacrificed at 3 dpi. These results suggest that the susceptibility of clade 2.3.2.1 HPAIVs might differ by duck species.

Patch-burn grazing provides resources for upland-nesting ducks

Contemporary rangeland management has expanded from a focus on forage and livestock production to multi-use management practices that include concepts like biodiversity and natural disturbance regimes. Patch-burn grazing (PBG) has been promoted as a multi-use land management practice that can restore vegetation structural heterogeneity and subsequently increase diversity of higher trophic levels, such as grassland birds. However, little is known about how the diverse assemblage of upland-nesting ducks responds to disturbances like interacting fire and grazing within a PBG framework. PBG divides a pasture into equal proportions (i.e., patches) and burns an individual patch annually to reduce residual vegetation and attract livestock grazing. Upland-nesting ducks are generally thought to require dense vegetation structure associated with areas of low disturbance for nesting. However, prescribed fire and grazing are essential for the conservation and management of grasslands. PBG may negatively affect ducks in recently burned patches, but may also support ducks through the provisioning of greater structure in patches with greater year(s) since fire (YSF) and could be a viable management strategy to meet grassland and duck conservation objectives. To assess the compatibility of PBG with duck conservation, we estimated nest site selection and survival of duck nests on private lands managed with PBG in the unglaciated plains and prairie pothole region of North Dakota, USA. We located 478 duck nests of four species: 230 Blue-winged Teal (<em>Spatula discors</em>), 72 Gadwall (<em>Mareca strepera</em>), 71 Mallard (<em>Anas platyrhynchos</em>), and 105 Northern Pintail (<em>A. acuta</em>). Blue-winged Teal, Gadwall, and Mallard selected for ≥ 2 YSF and avoided ≤ 1 YSF patches. Northern Pintail selected for 1 YSF and 2 YSF patches. Year(s) since fire affected survival differently for Blue-winged Teal and Gadwall, indicating the importance of variable structure resulting from disturbance regimes. Additionally, nest survival decreased as litter accumulation increased for Blue-winged Teal and Gadwall. Our findings indicate that PBG created nesting areas for ducks in later YSF patches. However, we found contrasting effects of survival in selected patches for certain species. High selection but low survival was limited to a single patch and does not necessarily limit duck nesting activity with adjacent patches having high selection and survival. Additional management strategies may be required to ensure > 1 YSF patch consists of vegetation characteristics that will attract duck nesting activity. Given our results, it appears that variable structure resulting from PBG is in line with conservation objectives, and given the need for multi-objective management, this may be a good choice for land managers interested in game and non-game conservation goals.

Changes in habitat suitability for wintering dabbling ducks during dry conditions in the Central Valley of California

AbstractIn arid and Mediterranean regions, landscape‐scale wetland conservation requires understanding how wildlife responds to dynamic freshwater availability and conservation actions to enhance wetland habitat. Taking advantage of Landsat satellite data and structured and community science bird survey data, we built species distribution models to describe how three duck species, the Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Green‐winged Teal (Anas crecca), and Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata), respond to freshwater supply and food resources on different flooded land cover types in the Central Valley of California. Specifically, our models compared duck habitat suitability between the wettest and driest conditions in each month from September through April. Using abundance‐weighted boosted regression trees, we created three sets of species occurrence models based on different covariates: (1) near real‐time (hereafter “real‐time”) covariates in which duck observations were matched to the water availability within the 16‐day window of a Landsat observation, (2) a combination of real‐time covariates and waterfowl food resource covariates describing annual corn and rice biomass and managed wetland moist soil seed yield estimates derived from Landsat data, and (3) long‐term average covariates—the most common approach to species distribution modeling—in which long‐term average surface water availability was used. We modeled the monthly occurrence of three duck species as a function of surface water availability, land cover type, road density, temperature, and bird data source. We found that dry conditions result in reduced habitat suitability, with the biggest reductions in November through January and in agricultural fields; in contrast, suitability of flooded wetland habitat was relatively robust to surface water availability. When models of habitat suitability based on long‐term average climate conditions were compared to models based on real‐time conditions, the highest long‐term suitability values occurred in areas where suitability was high regardless of whether it was a wet or a dry year. While all models performed well, the inclusion of crop and wetland plant yield covariates resulted in slightly higher model performance. Overall, species distribution models created using data on the environmental conditions present at the time of bird observations can aid conservation efforts under extreme conditions over large spatial scales.

Spatio-temporal distribution & seasonality of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 & H5N8 outbreaks in India, 2006-2021.

The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 and H5N8 viruses have been one of the leading causes of avian diseases worldwide, resulting in severe economic losses and posing potential zoonotic risk. There are no reports on the correlation of the seasonality of H5N1 and H5N8 viruses with the migratory bird season in India, along with the species affected. The present report describes the distribution and seasonality of HPAI outbreaks in India from 2006 to 2021. The data on the occurrence and locations of outbreaks in India and affected bird species were collated from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations database and grouped by month and year. The distribution and seasonality of HPAI H5N1 and H5N8 viruses were analyzed. A total of 284 H5N1 outbreaks were reported since 2006, with a surge in 2021. The initial outbreaks of H5N1 were predominantly in poultry. Since 2016, 57 outbreaks of H5N8 were also reported, predominantly in wild birds. Most of the outbreaks of HPAI were reported from post monsoon onwards till pre-summer season (i.e. between October and March) with their peak in winter, in January. Apart from poultry, the bird species such as owl, Indian peafowl, lesser adjutant, crows and wild migratory birds such as demoiselle crane, northern pintail and bar-headed goose were positive for HPAI. Such studies on the seasonality of HPAI outbreaks would help in the development of prevention and control strategies. The recent human infections of H5N1 and H9N2 viruses highlight the need to strengthen surveillance in wild, resident, migratory birds and in poultry along with One Health studies in India.