Number Of Birds Research Articles

Некоторые аспекты проблемы защиты птиц от поражения электрическим током на воздушных линиях электропередачи в Казахстане

Некоторые аспекты проблемы защиты птиц от поражения электрическим током на воздушных линиях электропередачи в Казахстане

Impact of COVID-19 on pest birds (Silver Gulls Larus novaehollandiae) on a popular tourist island

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Rottnest Island, Western Australia, a popular tourist destination, was closed to the public for 72 days (from 25 March 2020 to 5 June), so that it could be used as a quarantine facility. Silver Gulls Larus novaehollandiae were surveyed in the main settlement area over 429 days, beginning at the commencement of the quarantine period, with a focus on a previously identified problem area, the shopping mall. These surveys allowed for the comparison of Silver Gull numbers with and without the presence of easily accessible anthropogenic food. The number of Gulls was extremely low during the quarantine period, followed by a 578% increase in the same period the following year when visitors returned. During the period of food scarcity, many of the Gulls appeared to have left the Island, which suggests that the number of pest birds on Rottnest Island can be influenced by the amount of anthropogenic food available to them.

Овсянка-ремез Ocyrisrusticus на территории Вишерского и Норского заповедников

The Information about the state and the dynamics of the number of the local nesting population of the Rustic bunting in the Visherky strict nature reserve of the Perm Region is given. The average population density of Ocyris rusticuson the territory of the strict nature reserve in the nesting period, according to data until 2014, is: 1.5±1.2 pairs/km2in mountain taiga forests, and 1.4±1.1 pairs/km2in valley forests. A comparison is made with the Norsky strict nature reserve of the Amur Region, where the species occurs on migration, and the dynamics of the number of migratory birds is analyzed. The validity of including the species in the Red Books of the Russian Federation and regions is discussed.

The ecological role of native‐plant landscaping in residential yards to birds during the nonbreeding period

AbstractResidential yards are a form of urban land use that cover a considerable amount of area in cities worldwide and provide important habitat for wildlife, especially when landscaped with native plants. Nevertheless, most native‐plant landscaping and wildlife research in the northern temperate regions of the world has been conducted during the spring and summer breeding period, leaving a gap in our understanding of the importance of residential yards and native plants as habitats for animals during the nonbreeding period. To fill this gap, we quantified the ecological role of native‐landscaped yards to avifauna throughout Greater Los Angeles (LA), California, during the winter nonbreeding period, which is a time of year when the region hosts a high abundance and diversity of migratory and resident birds. We surveyed birds and habitat features from October to March of 2020 and 2021 at 22 pairs of native‐ and non‐native‐landscaped yards plus 10 additional native‐landscaped yards. We had three objectives for our study. First, we compared avifaunal communities, including feeding and nonfeeding behaviors, and habitat features between native and non‐native‐landscaped yards. Second, we quantified relationships between habitat features and bird richness, abundance, and feeding and nonfeeding behaviors—focusing on species affiliated with urban or natural terrestrial ecosystems of the region. Third, we documented feeding and nonfeeding behaviors by birds with native and non‐native plants. Native‐landscaped yards had a greater cover of native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, and a higher cover of natural habitat elements, including leaf litter and bare‐ground cover. Bird richness and abundance—especially bird species affiliated with tree‐ and shrub‐dominated ecosystems—were greater in native than non‐native‐landscaped yards. Further, yards with a higher cover of native plants supported greater numbers of feeding birds, with individuals focusing their foraging behaviors on distinct native trees and shrubs, including Quercus spp. (oak), Heteromeles spp. (toyon), Arctostaphylos spp. (manzanita), and Salvia spp. (sage). Our results suggest that residential yards landscaped with native plants provide important habitat for birds during the nonbreeding period and are a viable approach for residents and cities if improving conditions for birds throughout the annual cycle is a goal.

An algorithm for estimating the number of objects in a selected area of space based on ordinary photos

There are many areas of activity where the problem of counting objects in three-dimensional space appears. It is often the case that the primary source of information in such a situation are photos or digital videos. In mathematical language, a two-dimensional photo can somewhat be treated as a projection of a selected space area. The significant issue in such a situation is that the counted objects in the image may overlap many times, which may cause some objects to obscure others. This approach addresses this issue by using appropriate statistical estimations of the amount of obscured objects based on computer image analysis. The proposed algorithm has already been initially used to count the number of birds in digital photos and films.

Assessing avian biodiversity in Swamithoppu saltpan with the fuzzy matrix approach

Fuzzy matrix is an invaluable tool in determining the biodiversity of a particular area. It is used to measure the species richness and abundance of a given area, as well as account for the presence of rare species. This study used fuzzy matrix analysis Initial Raw Data Matrix (IRDM), Average Quantity Dependent Data Matrix (AQDM), Refined Quantity Dependent Data Matrices (RQDMs), and Combined Effect Quantity Dependent Data Matrix (CEQDM) to determine the distribution and diversity of wetland birds in Samythoopu. The results showed that the maximum number of birds chose the sites of J1, J2,J3, S4, and S5, while the S2 point was identified as the most disturbed site and the birds were facing threats in sites including J4, S2, S3, S5, U1, U2, and U3. This fuzzy matrix can help predict the exact places with more anthropogenic disturbance to disturb the diversity and distribution of wetland birds.

Опыт использования гнездовых платформ для степного орла на юге Костанайской области, Казахстан

Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) population currently continues to decline in Kazakhstan, the south of the Kostanay region is no exception. The reasons for the decline are of different nature, both abiotic and biotic, and include the following: destruction of nests by land predators (most often Steppe Eagle nests are located on the ground); steppe fires are of great threat, and the fact that some nests are located on trees and bushes does not help, but rather aggravates the situation; destruction of nests by livestock; developing new areas for farms, etc., as a result, Steppe Eagles are forced to leave favorable nesting territories; electrocution on power poles as Steppe Eagles use traverses to build nests. Artificial structures, such as nesting platforms, are widely used to attract raptors. During the implementation of the project “Steppe Eagle Conservation in Kazakhstan” within the international campaign “Flyway Champions”, 35 platforms were installed in favorable Steppe Eagle nesting biotopes in “Saga” and “Altybay” hunting grounds (managed by ACBK – Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan) in the South of the Kostanay region in the summer of 2021. The design is made entirely of metal, consists of a support with a cross section of 100×100 mm and a height of 3 m, where 1 m is buried in the ground, and a “basket” with dimensions of 1×1 m installed at the top. Various shrub and tree branches are placed and attached to the “basket”, designed to imitate an active nest. This design is protected from terrestrial predators, and most importantly, from steppe fires. In the breeding season of 2022, Steppe Eagles occupied three platforms, in 2023 – two. It is noteworthy that a pair of eagles used the same nest in both seasons. As an experiment, in 2021 an old nest of Long-Legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) was moved to one of the platforms, and in 2023 it was occupied. In 2022, one of three pairs left the nest for unknown reasons after completing it; in the remaining two, a clutch of two eggs was observed; later we observed down feathers, but only one nestling remained in the nest by the time of the departure. In 2023, clutches on two platforms consisted of two eggs each, but later two and one nestling were observed there, having left the nest in the same number. Nesting platforms also serve as a “perch” for a number of birds, and after the use by Steppe Eagles, Indian Sparrow (Passer indicus) occupies them; the number of such a colony reached 13–16 nests. It is also worth noting that sometimes the distance between occupied nesting platform and occupied natural nest is less than 2 km, which suggests that there is a need for this biotechnical activity.

The fate of rescued Manx Shearwaters following grounding

Manx Shearwaters Puffinus puffinus, like other procellariiform seabirds, spend most of their lives at sea and are encountered on land only when breeding at colonies or if they are grounded due to unfavourable weather conditions or exposure to artificial light. Here, we used historical ringing data to explore the age class structure and spatial patterns of Manx Shearwater groundings and examined ringing and recovery data to identify records of post-grounding survival for first-year and adult birds. We noted 35 cases, out of 6,381 ringed grounded shearwaters, where a bird went on to be recaptured, including two individuals that were later recorded as having successful breeding attempts. While this constitutes only a small number of birds confirmed to have survived following grounding, it is likely to be a considerable underestimate of survival considering the low probability of recapturing a surviving shearwater. Finally, we found that a greater proportion of grounded birds were first-years compared to adult shearwaters, and that adults were found to be grounded further away from colonies than first-year birds. This may be indicative of differential impacts of light pollution at different life stages.

Анализ фаунистического сходства сообществ пернатых хищников некоторых местообитаний Алтайского края и республики Алтай

Birds of the orders Falconiformes, Accipitriformes, and Strigiformes are at the top of the food chain, and therefore, they are the most vulnerable to changes in the natural environment caused by human activities. The condition of populations of birds of prey can serve as a criterion for the well-being of a biotope. The current state of nesting groups of many species of birds of prey in Altai Krai is of great concern. The survival of many of them is now in question, as numerous threats are generated by lumbering, mining, farming, poaching, growing energy infrastructure, and other human activities. In this regard, there is an urgent need for a detailed study of the species composition and population numbers of birds of prey and owls in the Altai region, as well as regular monitoring of populations that still exist. In this paper, we made a comparative analysis of breeding groups of raptors of different habitats of the Russian part of the Altai region: the Ukok plateau, the Ulandryk River gorge, the Anui River valley and the Kasmalinsky pine forest. Data on the species composition are taken from both our works and literature. We carried out a comparative analysis of breeding groups of birds using the coefficients of faunistic similarity of Jaccard and Sörensen. Since we had to compare more than two breeding groups, we used Mountford cluster analysis to order the similarity coefficients, which consists in sequentially combining the most similar groups. The results of the analysis of the Jaccard and Sörensen coefficients turned out to be very similar. The greatest similarity of the nesting species composition was found between the Anui River valley and Kasmalinsky pine forest (Кj=0.63; Кs=0.77). More significant differences were found between the Ukok plateau and the Ulandryk River gorge (Кj=0.44; Кs=0.60). And the maximum differences were found between the Kasmalinsky pine forest and the Ulandryk gorge (Кj=0.17; Кs=0.29). These differences can be explained by the specifics of the physical and geographical conditions and vegetation cover of different habitats of the Altai region. The poor species composition of raptors in the Ulandryk Gorge (7 species of birds of prey and 1 species of owls) is due to the complete absence of woods in this habitat. Therefore, there are no tree-nesting species here. The gorge is inhabited only by those species of raptors that can build their nests on the rocks. There are also no species here that require special types of prey, which are not sufficient in this biotope. The richness of the species composition of raptors (18 species of birds of prey and 8 species of owls) in the Kasmalinsky pine forest is because most species are dendrophiles and find here the optimal substrate for nests – large pines. The forage base here is also optimal for most species of raptors. Only specific mountain-steppe and high-mountain species do not nest in the pine forest. According to the species composition of raptors, habitats such as the Ukok plateau and the Anui river valley are in an intermediate position between the Ulandryk gorge and the Kasmalinsky pine forest. Both have rocky outcrops suitable for nesting and trees. Therefore, in these biotopes birds that prefer nesting both on rocks and in trees can be found.

Результаты первой попытки привлечения пары орлана-белохвоста в искусственное гнездовье

Результаты первой попытки привлечения пары орлана-белохвоста в искусственное гнездовье

Районы зимовок орлана-белохвоста на юге Казахстана

Районы зимовок орлана-белохвоста на юге Казахстана

Does wing use and disuse cause behavioural and musculoskeletal changes in domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus)?

Domestic chickens may live in environments which restrict wing muscle usage. Notably, reduced wing activity and accompanying muscle weakness are hypothesized risk factors for keel bone fractures and deviations. We used radio-frequency identification (RFID) to measure duration spent at elevated resources (feeders, nest-boxes), ultrasonography to measure muscle thickness (breast and lower leg) changes, radiography and palpation to determine fractures and deviations, respectively, following no, partial (one-sided wing sling) and full (cage) immobilization in white- and brown-feathered birds. We hypothesized partially immobilized hens would reduce elevated resource usage and that both immobilization groups would show decreased pectoralis thickness (disuse) and increased prevalence of fractures and deviations. Elevated nest-box usage was 42% lower following five weeks of partial immobilization for brown-feathered hens but no change in resource usage in white-feathered birds was observed. Fully immobilized, white-feathered hens showed a 17% reduction in pectoralis thickness, while the brown-feathered counterparts showed no change. Lastly, fractures and deviations were not affected in either strain or form of wing immobilization; however, overall low numbers of birds presented with these issues. Altogether, this study shows a profound difference between white- and brown-feathered hens in response to wing immobilization and associated muscle physiology.

Deep Learning-Based Parasitic Egg Identification From a Slender-Billed Gull’s Nest

Intraspecific nest parasitism is a phenomenon that attracts the attention of biologists since it helps in saving the endangered species such as Slender Billed Gull. The problem comes from the fact that a parasite female lays its eggs in the nest of another female (host) of the same species which causes the abandon of the nest by the host. This behavior causes a significant reduction in future birds number and leads to the expansion of this specie. Thus, there has been an urgent necessity to clean the nest from parasitic eggs. So, our aim is to built an automatic parasitic egg identification system based on egg visual features information. Our system uses deep learning models which have proven their success for image classification. Indeed, our system conduct an egg image’s pre-processing phase followed by Fast Beta Wavelet Network (FBWN) to extract the most efficient descriptors (shape, texture, and color). Then, these features will be inputted to the Stacked AutoEncoder for egg classification. Our proposed system, has been evaluated on 91-egg dataset collected from 31 clutches of eggs in Sfax region, Tunisia. Our model has given a parasitic egg identification accuracy of 89.9% which has outperformed the state of the art method and shows the efficiency and the robustness of our system.

Experimental evidence for clothianidin deposition in feathers of house sparrows after ingestion of sublethal doses treated seeds.

Bird feathers are commonly used to assess environmental contamination by chemical pollutants. However, although neonicotinoid insecticides are widely applied worldwide, feathers have rarely been used to survey the contamination by neonicotinoids in birds. To investigate whether clothianidin, one compound of the neonicotinoid class, is deposited into birds’ feathers, we conducted an experiment with 56 wild male and female house sparrows dispatched in 7 aviaries. During this experiment, house sparrows were fed with certified organic seeds treated with clothianidin at an estimated concentration of 0.25 μg/g BW per day and per individual. We collected blood samples and plucked four tail feathers at the onset of the experiment to confirm that no birds were previously exposed to clothianidin. 35 days later, we collected blood samples and the newly grown feathers. Before exposure, a small number of birds showed very low clothianidin concentrations in plasma and feathers. After exposure, the plasma and the newly grown feathers of all birds contained clothianidin. Clothianidin concentrations in feathers were similar in both sexes, but the plasma of males contained clothianidin at higher concentrations than that of females. Our results confirm that ingested clothianidin transits in the plasma and is deposited in feathers during their growth. They also suggest substantial individual variation in the amounts of clothianidin transiting in the plasma and being deposited in feathers that may reflect variation in metabolism and/or access to food in relation to sex, social hierarchy and group dynamics. Whether increasing levels of exposure translate linearly or non-linearly (e.g. saturation process) into increasing clothianidin concentrations in bird plasma and feathers remains to be investigated. To conclude, these results confirm the relevance of using feathers to biomonitor the presence of neonicotinoids, but the relationship between the level of exposure and the concentrations found in feathers remains to be established.

Relationship between independent variables and adoption of backyard poultry farming by the beneficiaries

The rural backyard poultry although losing its importance under the impact of modernization and industrialization, is still prevalent in rural and tribal areas of the country. The present study was aimed to find out the relationship between selected independent variables with adoption level of Backyard poultry farming by the beneficiaries. The present investigation was conducted in SKNAU Jobner-Jaipur, Rajasthan. Out of a total 120 beneficiaries 80 beneficiaries were selected randomly for the study purpose. The data were collected with the help of a well-structured interview schedule. It was found that caste was negatively and non-significantly related with the adoption of Backyard poultry farming practices by the beneficiaries. It was also observed that occupation, education, family size, family type and land holding were positively and non-significantly related with the adoption of Backyard poultry farming practices by the beneficiaries. It was also found that age, social participation, annual income, number of poultry birds and poultry farming experience were positively and significantly related with the adoption of Backyard poultry farming practise by the beneficiaries.

Effectiveness of Collaborative Strategy to Reduce Aflatoxin Contamination in Corn

The number of birds that die from diseases caused by aflatoxins in corn is the motivation for this study. The purpose of this research is to a) measure the success of aflatoxin treatment in the preharvest, post-harvest, and Innovative Reduction of Aflatoxin (IRA) processes, b) measure the effect of pre-harvest (PRE) and post-harvest (POST) handling on standard control maize (SQC) with IRA mediation. The test method used
 Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with the Partial Least Square (PLS) approach. Findings show that Innovative Reduction of Aflatoxin (IRA) is able to play a role as a mediation of activities in pre-harvest and post-harvest after continuous improvement is carried out in each of its activities. The originality of the research can be seen from the process of forming a corn aflatoxin control strategy as a practical recommendation for farmers in Indonesia.

The effect of oregano essential oil on the prevention and treatment of Salmonella pullorum and Salmonella gallinarum infections in commercial Yellow-chicken breeders.

In order to prevent pullorum disease and fowl typhoid in breeders, the use of oregano essential oil (OEO) was tested for the prevention and treatment of infections of multidrug-resistant Salmonella pullorum (SP) and Salmonella gallinarum (SG) in commercial Yellow-chicken breeders. In the challenge-protection experiment, commercial Hongguang-Black 1-day-old breeder chicks were randomly divided into four groups, including A (challenged, preventive dose), B (challenged, treatment dose), C (challenged, untreated), and D (unchallenged, untreated). Group A was supplemented with 200 μL/L OEO in the drinking water during the whole trial (1-35 days of age) and group B was supplemented with 400 μL/L OEO during 8-12 days of age, while groups C and D were kept as untreated controls. At 7 days of age, birds of groups A, B, and C were divided into two subgroups with equal number of birds (A1-A2, B1-B2, and C1-C2), and then subgroups A1, B1, and C1 were challenged with SP, while subgroups A2, B2, and C2 were challenged with SG. Clinical symptoms and death were observed and recorded daily. Every week during the experiment, serum antibodies against SP and SG of all the groups were detected by the plate agglutinate test (PAT). At the age of 35 days, all birds were weighed and necropsied, lesions were recorded and the challenging pathogens were isolated. The results showed that the positive rates of SP and SG isolation in groups A1, A2 and B1, B2 were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those of groups C1 and C2, respectively, while groups A1 and A2 were slightly lower (P > 0.05) than those of groups B1 and B2. The average body weight (BW) of groups A1 and A2 were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of groups B1, B2 and C1, C2, respectively, but there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) with that of group D. The r-value between PAT positive and the recovery rates of Salmonella was 0.99, which means they are highly positively correlated. The results of this study demonstrated that the prevention dose (200μL/L) and the treatment dose (400 μL/L) of OEO supplemented in the drinking water could all effectively decrease infections of SP and SG and that the effect of the prevention was greater than that of the treatment and finally that the prevention could also significantly reduce the BW decline of birds challenged with SP and SG.

Key Habitat Factors of Breeding Birds in Agricultural Hedgerow Landscapes in East-Fryslân, the Netherlands, in European Perspective – Ecological Evaluation and Relation to Agri-Environmental Schemes

Modern agricultural landscapes suffer heavily from biodiversity loss. To counter this loss, it is important to understand the key factors that affect biodiversity in these landscapes. We studied the relationships between breeding birds and the habitat characteristics of the small-scale hedgerow landscapes of East-Fryslân, The Netherlands, a typical agricultural landscape that is under pressure from upscaling and habitat degradation. We questioned whether our findings collaborate the results of hedgerow studies from other countries. We also analysed whether agri-environmental schemes were effective for breeding birds. In this study, breeding birds and fifteen habitat factors were surveyed along 170 transects in two different regions in East-Fryslân in 2018. 37 bird species were identified, of which 19 were woodland species, 18 shrub species and 7 hedgerow specialists. We found five habitat characteristics to be key factors for breeding bird numbers. Four of these factors were intrinsic factors of the hedges (i.e. shrub cover, cover of brambles and nettles, crown width, hedge width at the base) and one spatial factor (i.e. number of hedge corners within a 150-m radius, corresponding to hedge intersections). Four key factors were the same for the two regions, but effect sizes differed between factors and species groups. As proxies for habitat volume (amount of habitat), the intrinsic key factors for hedgerow breeding birds in East-Fryslân correspond to those found in Britain and Eastern Europe, despite considerable differences in botanical composition, structure and management of the hedges. In contrast to studies on British hedges, we found mainly quantitative key factors and only one qualitative factor (cover of brambles and nettles). We found one spatial key factor (hedge intersections) and no correlation of bird numbers with density of hedges in the vicinity. We discuss the ecology of the key factors with respect to food provisioning and breeding. We also conclude that agri-environmental schemes favour key habitat factors and through this shrub birds. Implications of our findings are that traditional management favours breeding birds, but also that management should partly be extensified.

Group chorusing as an intragroup signal in the greater ani, a communally breeding bird

AbstractGroup living often requires maintaining dynamic and varied relationships with fellow group members, while simultaneously monitoring and interacting with external competitors. Group members in many social species vocalize together to produce duets or choruses—coordinated, often conspicuous vocal displays—that may play a role in these interactions. Compared with male–female duets, however, relatively little research exists on the function and adaptive significance of group choruses, which involve three or more individuals. Here we investigate chorusing behavior in the greater ani (Crotophaga major), a communally breeding cuckoo that nests in stable social groups of four to eight unrelated individuals. Groups may remain together for several years on the same nesting territory, and groups occasionally destroy each other's clutches in conflicts over high‐quality territories. We asked whether the raucous, highly stereotyped choruses performed by ani groups are primarily used for intra‐ or intergroup communication, and whether they contain information about the identity of the social group and the number of birds vocalizing. Behavioral observations and acoustic recordings from three breeding seasons revealed that choruses typically occurred during social interactions within the group (78% of choruses) or in response to a predator or extra‐group individual (17%) and only rarely in intergroup interactions (4%). Consistent with this finding, choruses did not reliably reflect the number of birds vocalizing, and we found only limited evidence for group‐specific acoustic signatures (driven by a single group whose choruses were highly distinct). These results suggest that group choruses play an important role in intra‐group signaling, potentially in contexts such as group formation, reinforcement of social bonds within the group, and/or collective decision‐making, and they motivate new research questions about the role of collective signaling in social evolution.

The influence of the Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam reservoir on the nesting and abundance of the osprey (&lt;i&gt;Pandion haliaetus&lt;/i&gt; L., 1758)

The paper presents the materials of the study of the osprey grouping on the territory of the Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve. Before the formation of the reservoir, 34 osprey nests were recorded on the banks of the Yenisei. The flooding of the valley was accompanied by the formation of extensive flat areas suitable for nesting. The volume of fish resources that form the basis of the ospreys food supply has increased and their availability is one of the main criteria of the ecosystem, on which the number of this rare bird depends. Continuous monitoring of the osprey grouping on the shores of the Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam reservoir within the Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve began in 2012. The work included a survey of suitable habitats in order to identify nesting sites, certification of nests, accounting of adult birds, as well as monitoring the reproduction of ospreys. Based on the results of the research, it was possible to create a model of optimal natural conditions for nesting ospreys in the mountainous regions of Siberia. The creation of a large artificial reservoir has had a positive impact on the number of protected groups of ospreys. A special regime of strict protection peculiar to biosphere reserves plays a positive role, which excludes visits to nest bays, significantly reducing the anxiety factor. Together, this allows the birds to expand the nesting areas and breed offspring.