Pernis Ptilorhynchus Research Articles

First record of Crested (or Crested-type) Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus for Greece

First record of Crested (or Crested-type) Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus for Greece

Landscape Characteristics of Oriental Honey Buzzards Wintering in Western Part of Flores Island Based on Satellite-Tracking Data

Oriental Honey Buzzards (OHBs, Pernis ptilorhynchus) are migratory raptor that has been satellite-tracked since 2003. Some islands in Indonesia which are used for wintering habitat are Flores and Borneo. However, both islands have different characteristics of climate and land cover. The objectives of this research were to analyze the landscape characteristic of the OHBs wintering habitat in western Flores, and to subsequently compare landscape characteristic of the OHBs wintering habitat in Borneo. Landscape habitat characteristics were analyzed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) combined with GIS and then compared to the previous study in Borneo Island. The result showed that the first of six principal components explained 79.14% and 77.59% of the observed variation in landscape characteristics of both core and edge habitats, subsequently. Habitat selection by OHBs at wintering site was influenced by the availability of thermal wind and food. Savannah was identified as the main landscape characteristic that was different between wintering habitat in Flores and Borneo. Savannah is well-known as a habitat for many species of amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals so that it can be a hunting area that provide alternative feed for OHBs.

Climate change alters the optimal wind-dependent flight routes of an avian migrant.

Migratory birds can be adversely affected by climate change as they encounter its geographically uneven impacts in various stages of their life cycle. While a wealth of research is devoted to the impacts of climate change on distribution range and phenology of migratory birds, the indirect effects of climate change on optimal migratory routes and flyways, through changes in air movements, are poorly understood. Here, we predict the influence of climate change on the migratory route of a long-distant migrant using an ensemble of correlative modelling approaches, and present and future atmospheric data obtained from a regional climate model. We show that changes in wind conditions by mid-century will result in a slight shift and reduction in the suitable areas for migration of the study species, the Oriental honey-buzzard, over a critical section of its autumn journey, followed by a complete loss of this section of the traditional route by late century. Our results highlight the need for investigating the consequences of climate change-induced disturbance in wind support for long-distance migratory birds, particularly species that depend on the wind to cross ecological barriers, and those that will be exposed to longer journeys due to future range shifts.

First record of Oriental Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus for Djibouti and Africa, in 1987

First record of Oriental Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus for Djibouti and Africa, in 1987

The Feather Structure of Oriental Honey Buzzards (Pernis ptilorhynchus) and Other Hawk Species in Relation to Their Foraging Behavior.

The basic structure of a bird feather may be adapted to suit a variety of functions on different parts of the body and in different species. In Oriental honey buzzards (Pernis ptilorhynchus), a species which often preys on the larvae of bees and wasps, it is thought that the bird's integument may provide protection against the stings of these insects. We investigated the structure of Oriental honey buzzard feathers from the face, head, and neck using light and scanning electron microscopy. The structure and appearance of the feathers were compared with those of two other hawk species which live in similar habitats but have different diets: the grey-faced buzzard (Butastur indicus) and the black kite (Milvus migrans). All feathers of Oriental honey buzzards that were examined were smaller than feathers from the same regions of the body of other species and had a reduced number of plumulaceous barbs; barbs were also closer together at the feather tip and had a high barbule density. The small 'scale feathers' on the face had deep barbules with a curved, armor-like appearance, which may help prevent stings from reaching the skin. A unique filamentous substance was observed on all the honey buzzard feathers, particularly those from around the eye of a male bird. It is possible that this may be related to a chemical defense mechanism to deter bees and wasps.

Observation records of over-wintering Oriental Honey Buzzard in Kanagawa Prefecture

Observation records of over-wintering Oriental Honey Buzzard in Kanagawa Prefecture

Stop and Smell the Pollen: The Role of Olfaction and Vision of the Oriental Honey Buzzard in Identifying Food.

The importance of olfaction for various avian behaviors has become increasingly evident. So far, the use of olfaction for food detection among raptors has only been demonstrated for Cathartes vultures. The Oriental honey buzzard (Pernis orientalis) is a resident and migrant in Taiwan and regularly forages in apiaries. One of its foods in apiaries is yellow pollen dough, a softball-sized mixture of pollen, soybeans, and sugar that beekeepers provide as a supplementary food for bees. Given that pollen dough is not similar to any naturally occurring food, we hypothesized that buzzards identify the dough’s nutritious contents using olfaction, perhaps in combination with vision. Using a series of choice experiments in which individuals could choose between two doughs, we showed that (1) buzzards almost unerringly chose pollen-containing over pollen lacking doughs when otherwise the doughs were identical in size, shape, and yellow color; (2) buzzards always preferred yellow over black or green doughs if both doughs contained pollen; (3) buzzards still preferred pollen-containing over pollen-lacking doughs when both doughs were black, but at a lower rate than in (1). We statistically excluded the possible influences of the doughs’ relative brightness or of repeat visits by the same individuals. Our experiments thus suggest the use of a ‘multi-modal foraging strategy’ among buzzards whereby olfaction and vision are likely to be both used in identifying food at close distances. We also estimated the olfactory receptor gene repertoire size in the buzzard’s genome which is almost five times as large as that of three other raptor species. Therefore, olfaction is likely of far greater ecological importance to this species than to other raptor species. We suggest that olfaction should be considered in the design of behavioral and genetic studies to better understand the use of multiple senses in avian behaviors.

Spatial Distribution Model of Stopover Habitats Used by Oriental Honey Buzzards in East Belitung Based on Satellite-tracking Data

Knowledge of spatial distribution for the stopover habitats of migratory raptors is a prerequisite to understanding their stopover ecology and managing their habitats. East Belitung is the important stopover habitat of migratory raptors, Oriental Honey Buzzards (OHBs Pernisptilorhynchus) based on satellite-tracking data taken in 2006-2009. The primary aim of this study was to analyze stopover habitats distribution of OHBs and their characteristics in East Belitung.Distribution and characteristics of OHBs stopover habitats in East Belitung could be determined by using geographic information systems (GIS) and satellite-tracking data. Logistic regression analysis wasused for analysing several environmental variables (i.e. slope, elevation, and distance to the several nearest land cover) for characterizing the landscape characteristics of OHBs’ stopover habitats. Results showed that the distribution of stopover habitats covered 2,453.14 km2 (94.93%) of East Belitung area. Habitat selection at stopover sites was highly influenced by availability of food. Identification of these landscape characteristics provide baseline information for ecological-based development of East Belitung and managing stopover habitats.

Northbound Migration Count of Raptors at Tanjung Tuan, Peninsular Malaysia: Magnitude, Timing, and Flight Behavior

Abstract Tanjung Tuan is a primary spring raptor migration watchsite in Malaysia. During northbound migration, many raptors can be seen crossing the Straits of Malacca from Sumatra (Indonesia) to Peninsular Malaysia. We examined the migration magnitude, timing, and flight behavior of migratory raptors recorded based on migration counts at Tanjung Tuan in 2009 and 2010. A total of 37 615 migrating raptors of 11 species and 72 277 individuals of 10 species were counted in 2009 (332 hr of observation) and 2010 (465 hr), respectively. Eighty percent of bulk passage occurred in 29–38 d, with the average median passage date occurring in mid-March. Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhyncus) made up 85.9 ± 2.9% of the flight, followed by Black Baza (Aviceda leuphotes, 8.7 ± 3.8%) and Chinese Goshawk (Accipiter soloensis, 3.0 ± 2.0%). The timing of the peak daily count differed among the three major migrants with highest count of Oriental Honey-buzzards occurring at 1200–1300 H, whereas for both Black Bazas and ...

愛知県西三河地域で繁殖したハチクマが巣に搬入した餌動物

愛知県西三河地域で繁殖したハチクマが巣に搬入した餌動物

Landscape characteristics derived from satellite-tracking data of wintering habitats used by oriental honey buzzards in Borneo

Knowledge of the spatial distribution of the wintering habitats of migratory raptors is a prerequisite to understanding their wintering ecology and managing their habitats. Oriental honey buzzards (OHBs, Pernis ptilorhynchus) are migratory raptors with wintering grounds in Indonesia. OHBs’ wintering habitats can be divided into core and edge habitats with unique landscape characteristics, which influence wintering-site selection. Twenty-three satellite-tracked OHBs (2006–2010) used Borneo as their wintering grounds. The primary aim of this study was to analyze OHBs’ wintering habitat distributions (core and edge habitats) in Borneo and their landscape characteristics in the province of South Kalimantan. Fixed-kernel density estimation was used to estimate the edge and core habitats of 23 OHBs in Borneo. We used a 95 % fixed kernel (FK_95 %) and a 50 % fixed kernel (FK_50 %) to estimate the spatial distribution of edge and core habitats, respectively. Factor analysis was used to analyze landscape characteristics of core and edge habitats. Results showed that edge and core habitats covered about 153,463.4 km2 (20.7 %) and 27,528.3 km2 (3.7 %) of the Borneo area, respectively. Habitat selection by OHBs at wintering sites in both core and edge habitats was highly influenced by the availability of thermal winds and food. However, the more frequent presence of OHBs in core habitats indicates that habitat selection is basically influenced by increased thermal winds associated with particular landform characteristics. Identification of these landscape characteristics provides useful baseline information for ecological-based development, particularly for landscape management and biodiversity conservation.

KARATERISTIK HABITAT MUSIM DINGIN SIKEP MADU ASIA (PERNIS PTYLORHYNCHUS) DI TALAGA BODAS, JAWA BARAT BERBASIS DATA SATELLITE TRACKING

ABSTRACT Oriental Honey Buzzards (OHBs, Pernis ptilorhynchus) are migratory raptors which have wintering grounds in Indonesia. OHBs’ wintering habitats can be divided into core and edge habitats with unique landscape characteristics, which influence wintering site selection.TalagaBodasandsurroundingareahas beenidentifiedas wintering habitat of OHB based satellite tracking data. Theobjective of this study were to: 1) modeling the distribution of wintering habitat of OHB in Talaga Bodas; 2) analyzemicro habitats of vegetationaspect inTalagaBodas; 3) implications of wintering habitatmanagement inWest Java. Main methodology was combining satellite-tracking data of OHB with the GIS/remote sensing datausing logistic regression model. 18 Environmental variable used in this study include nearest distance to the elevation (0-300m, 300-500m, 500-700m, 700-1000m, >1000m),slope (0-3%, 3-8%, 8-15%, 15-25%, 25-40%, >40%) and landcover (water body, paddy field,abandon land,settlement,shrub,plantation,forest). Only 7 variables were detected as important variable for characteririzing the distribution of wintering habitat. Wintering habitat distribution model werepredominantly influenced by 1) slope 25%-40%, 2) elevation 0-300 m, 3) elevation 300-500 m, 4) elevation >1000 m, 5) forest, 6) paddy field and 7) water body. The results of the vegetation analysis’s known that the core habitat biodiversity tend to have less variable than the edge habitats.The results ofthis studywillbe usedformanagement ofwinteringhabitat for OHB. Key words:logistic regression, oriental honey-buzzards, satellite tracking, talaga bodas, wintering habitat

Morphometric Analysis of the Unusual Feeding Morphology of Oriental Honey Buzzards

Oriental Honey Buzzards (Pernis ptilorhynchus) are birds of prey that mainly feed on the larvae of social bees and wasps. Previous researchers noted that they have an unusual morphology and it is proposed that this is adaptive to their diet and feeding behaviour. In this study we aimed to quantitatively identify key features of Oriental Honey Buzzards that distinguished them from other birds of prey using morphometric methods. Eighty museum specimens of Japanese raptors (13 Oriental Honey Buzzards, 9 Grey-faced Buzzards, 13 Black Kites, 12 Northern Goshawks, 12 Common Buzzards, 12 Mountain Hawk-eagles and 9 Ospreys) were measured and photographed. PCA analysis, based on 11 head and 11 foot measurements, and landmark based relative warps analysis combined with canonical variates analysis were used to describe morphological variation among the specimens and identify which morphological characters were most important in distinguishing Oriental Honey Buzzards from the other species. We found that the honey-buzzards had a distinctive head morphology, with a long cere and long slit-like nares, and a longer, thinner beak that had a shorter hook at the tip. In relation to their foot size, honey-buzzards had a longer Digit-II and shorter Talon-I and Talon-II than all other species in the study. Long Digits III and IV and shallow tendon depth on the toe were also important in distinguishing Oriental Honey Buzzards from the other species. We suggest that a long, thin beak with a short hooked tip and long digits on the feet are adaptive for extracting larvae from combs and digging wasp nests out of the ground, while the slit-like nares and long cere may offer protection from stings. Identifying key morphological features using morphometric methods allows us to better understand the adaptations and evolutionary processes associated with feeding behaviour in birds of prey.

Real-time weather analysis reveals the adaptability of direct sea-crossing by raptors

Many animals seasonally travel between their breeding and wintering grounds. With their advanced mobility, birds often migrate over thousands of kilometres. Recently, satellite-tracking studies have revealed peculiar migration routes for some avian species at a global scale. However, the adaptability of such migration routes has not been clearly demonstrated. Using satellite-tracking data for 33 individuals, we show that the Japanese population of Oriental honey-buzzards (Pernis ptilorhynchus) directly crosses the 650-km-wide East China Sea during their autumn migration, although they fly a longer route around the sea rather than directly crossing it during their spring migration. By applying aerodynamic theory, we show that the buzzards could cross the sea by soaring and gliding flight. Moreover, using a high-resolution meteorological-prediction analysis, we demonstrate that the migratory trajectory of the birds strongly depends on the wind direction at their estimated locations. In the area, northeastern tailwinds blow stably only during autumn. Thermals were abundant ca. 500–1,000 m over the East China Sea in autumn, but that was not the case in spring. We suggest that the autumn-migration route across the East China Sea is likely to have evolved in response to the specific weather conditions over the sea. Animations showing movements of Oriental honey-buzzards and temporal change in weather conditions are available at: http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo110822oh01a, http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo110822oh02a, http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo110822oh04a, http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo110822oh05a, http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo110822oh06a, and http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo110822oh07a.

Validation of Spilornis cheela hoya TaqMan probes for potential gender identification of many Accipitridae species

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that genders of Accipitridae species, with the same or similar sequences to our previously proposed Spilornis cheela hoya ( S. c. hoya) chromo- helicase- DNA binding protein ( CHD) -W-specific and CHD-ZW-common TaqMan probes, can be successfully determined. Eight species of Accipitridae with known genders were collected. After PCR, TA cloning, sequencing, and alignment analyses, sequence length differences of Griffiths P2/P8 PCR amplicons between CHD-Z and CHD-W genes ranged from 2 to 19 bp for these Accipitridae species, and they were unsolved in 3% agarose gel. Using our previous proposed S. c. hoya TaqMan probes, the genders of Circaetus gallicus, completely homologous to the sequences for these CHD probes, were successfully identified. With one nucleotide difference to S. c. hoya CHD-W-specific probe, gender identification of Accipiter gularis, Accipiter soloensis, Accipiter trivirgatus, Accipiter virgatus, and Butastur indicus were validated. With two nucleotide differences in the CHD-W-specific probe and one nucleotide difference in the CHD-ZW-common probe, Pernis ptilorhyncus also performed well for gender identification. In conclusion, the S. c. hoya CHD probes, coupled with the Griffiths P2/P8 primers, were validated to provide accurate and high-throughput gender identification for many Accipitridae species.

Isolation and characterization of 10 microsatellite DNA markers in the oriental honey buzzard (Pernis ptilorhyncus)

We designed 10 new microsatellite markers for the oriental honey buzzard (Pernis ptilorhyncus) and tested them on 44 individuals. The number of alleles ranged from two to 12 with an average of five, while the observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.273 to 1.0. Linkage disequilibrium was not found. These markers are being used in a study of the ecology of this species in Taiwan. We also tested their utility on eight other raptor species.

The large‐scale detoured migration route and the shifting pattern of migration in Oriental honey‐buzzards breeding in Japan

AbstractWe describe the detoured migration route of the Oriental honey‐buzzardPernis ptilorhyncus, showing differences between autumn and spring migration, using data from 10 adult individuals marked with satellite transmitters. In autumn, the migration routes were very similar from Japan to the south end of the Malay Peninsula. The wintering sites were distributed within the Philippines, Borneo and the Malay Archipelago. During autumn, migration of the birds had few long‐term stopover sites, instead, sometimes decidedly slowing their migration rate while proceeding in a consistent direction. During spring migration, the honey‐buzzards penetrated into southern China, moving north to the base of the Korean Peninsula. The birds then went south through the Korean Peninsula to reach Japan. Before travelling to China, all spring migrants stopped for several weeks in south‐east Asia. The slow rate of travel in the autumn suggests that migrants were foraging and replenishing their energy reserves. Instead of a migration strategy that uses only a few long‐term stopover sites, honey‐buzzards may adopt a strategy based on a number of short‐term stay sites.

Molecular phylogeny and biogeography of Honey-buzzards (genera Pernis and Henicopernis)

A partial sequence of the cytb gene (382 bp) was amplified and sequenced from 35 individuals (mainlymuseum specimens) of the genus Pernis representing all valid taxa (10) and two taxa (P. p. gurneyi, P. p. japonicus) with questionable validityas well as representatives of the Old World Perninae, namely Henicopernis and Aviceda, to assess their relationships to the genus Pernis. Furthermore, Gypaetus barbatus, Neophron percnopterus, and Buteo buteo were included as outgroup taxa. In the trees derived from the sequence data, Aviceda represents the sister group of the genus Pernis. The genus Henicopernis and the Old World vultures Gypaetus andNeophron appear rather distantlyrelated to Pernis. Within the genus Pernis, two of the described species (Pernis apivorus, Pernis ptilorhyncus) form monophyletic groups, whereas the relationships of the two clades representing three subspecies of Pernis celebensis are still uncertain. Although this studyis based on comparativelyshort DNA-sections, the trees deduced from these sequences can be considered as a first approach for inferring the phylogenetic relationships of the genus Pernis and related genera and for addressing questions concerning the evolutionary history, biogeography, and systematics of this group.

Spatial and temporal variation in migrant raptors on Java, Indonesia

The migration of northern migrant raptors was studied at three sites in the western half of the island of Java, Indonesia during the northern autumns of 1998 and 1999. During 58 days of observation 4716 migrants were observed, 3087 of which could be identified to species level. The migrants comprised six species, i.e. Chinese Sparrowhawk, Accipiter soloensis (2570 birds identified), Japanese Sparrowhawk, A. gularis (245 birds), Oriental Honey-buzzard, Pernis ptilorhyncus (269 birds), Common Buzzard, Buteo buteo (1 bird), Booted Eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus (1 bird), and Marsh Harrier, Circus aeruginosus (1 bird). Both Chinese Sparrowhawks and Japanese Sparrowhawks were frequently observed in large flocks, whereas Oriental Honey Buzzards were more frequently seen singly or in pairs. Between sites, intra-annual variation in proportions of the three most common species identified remained constant over the two-year study period, whereas within one site (Puncak Pass) the proportion of Oriental Honey Buzzards varied from 6 to 10% between years. Migration starts in the third week of September and passage rates (the number of birds passing per hour during 09.01–12.00 hours) of the raptors peaked at the end of October and showed little spatial variation. Migration was observed until the second week of November but it probably continues until mid- or late November. The findings confirm the existence of a large east-south-eastern passage over Java similar to that over the Thai—Malay Peninsula and Bali. Populations migrating through Java originate from northern Asia and most likely have passed over the Thai—Malay Peninsula and Sumatra before reaching Java. An unknown proportion continues on to Bali and/or the Lesser Sunda Islands, but little is known about their final wintering grounds.

Autumn migration of raptors on Java, Indonesia: composition, direction and behaviour

The migration of four northern migrant raptors (Oriental Honey‐buzzard Pernis ptilorhyncus, Chinese Sparrowhawk Accipiter soloensis,Japanese Sparrowhawk A. gularis and Common Buzzard Buteo buteo) was studied in the Dieng mountains, Central Java, Indonesia during September‐October 1998. Populations migrating through Central Java originate from northern Asia and most likely have passed over the Thai‐Malay peninsula and Sumatra before reaching West and Central Java. An unknown proportion continues on to Bali and/or the Lesser Sunda Islands. In all, 68 groups totalling 885 individuals were counted passing by. Ninety‐five percent of individuals identified were accipiters, two‐thirds of which could be identified to the species level. Passage was directed from WSW‐SW to E‐ESE, following the alignment of volcanoes on the island. The number of groups was highest during late morning; single individuals were observed significantly more often during the early morning and large (> 25 individuals) groups during the afternoon. Single individuals and small (five or fewer individuals) groups spent significantly less time in the area than large groups. The forests of the Dieng mountains are also used as an overnight stopover and hunting site. Differences in the proportion of the two species of Accipiter identified at Javan and Bali study sites suggests an additional migration route to the one following the Javan mountains. This may follow the eastern edge of the Sunda Shelf. The Dieng mountains qualify as a globally Important Bird Area (IBA) on the grounds of the raptor congregations, as well as because of the presence of globally threatened and restricted range species.