Phenological changes are one of the most well recognised responses of organisms to climate change. The ability to detect phenological change often relies on long‐term datasets, which are scarce in the Southern Hemisphere. As the adaptive capacity of species is highly variable, it is important to better understand how species in the Southern Hemisphere may respond to climate change through shifts in their annual cycles. Citizen science projects, like bird nest record schemes, offer valuable long‐term data, although data heterogeneity can pose challenges, affecting their use in research. To investigate the suitability of the South African nest record scheme (SANRS) for estimating phenological shifts, we conducted a preliminary exploration of shifts in lay dates in four well‐represented species. Firstly, we explore the composition of nest cards for each species, specifically the proportions of single‐ and multi‐visit cards. Secondly, we explore the accuracy of single‐visit cards for estimating lay dates compared to more accurate multi‐visit cards. Lastly, we compared analytical approaches to test for possible shifts in lay dates. We found little differences for lay date estimates between single and multi‐visit cards and our different models showed similar patterns of lay date shifts for all species. Three of our four species (African paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis, cape turtle dove Streptopelia capicola, cape wagtail Motacilla capensis and laughing dove Spilopelia senegalensis) showed a shift toward later laying over the period 1950–1999. Although only based on a limited number of species, this consistent pattern towards later lay dates contrasts with the general trends found in the Northern Hemisphere for shifts toward earlier laying. The mechanisms driving these shifts is currently unclear, but in contrast to the Northern Hemisphere, in this region rainfall rather than temperature may have a stronger influence on avian breeding phenology. Our results highlight the potential of the South African Nest Record Scheme to detect shifts in laying dates, paving the way for more extensive studies of phenological changes, and the mechanisms involved, in the under‐researched region.

Among the different biomes in southern Africa, tropical riparian forests appear to be especially rich in terms of biodiversity, but little is known about avian communities occupying these forests. In this paper, bird counts were conducted in May, July–August, and October–November in 2013 and 2014. The line transect method was used. A transect 16.6 km long was designed along the Zambezi River between S 17.4975 E 24.3478 and S 17.4874 E 24.447. In total, 146 bird species were recorded. The number of species detected each season varied from 95 to 100. The number of dominant species was consistently low, varying between 2 and 3 depending on the month. However, the cumulative dominance and the dominance index were much higher in the dry season (May–August) than in the wet season (October–November). Two species were dominant each month: Euplectes axillaris and Pycnonotus tricolor. Vidua macroura and Estrilda astrild were dominant only in October, while Streptopelia capicola was dominant only in May. The group of subdominants was much more diverse than dominants and included 13 species. The Shannon diversity index increased between July and November from 3.45 to 4.05 but Simpson's diversity index did not show any seasonal trend. Pielou's evenness index was higher in the wet season (0.82–0.88) than in the dry season (0.76–0.79). The proportions of the main feeding guilds were much the same throughout the year, except for November, when the proportion of insectivores markedly increased, while that of granivores decreased. Riparian forest corridors in urbanized environments may be viewed as main instruments for offsetting the negative effects of habitat loss and fragmentation. Dataset published through GBIF (DOI: 10.15470/0ssr1v)

The study was conducted to estimate the bird diversity and the risks they confront at Head Trimmu, Distt. Jhang, Punjab, Pakistan. A number of field surveys were managed over 12-months by employing both direct and indirect means during certain hours of a day. The study found a total of 54 species from 15 orders and 31 families. The bird species were classified as residents (64.4%), breeders (8%), migrants (26%), and passage migrants (1.4%). The most frequent species observed during the study were house sparrow, house crow, domestic rock pigeon, ring-necked dove and common myna. Overall, the study revealed a diversified avian community with Shannon-Wiener diversity index of 3.3367. Only two species found near threatened like the Houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata)and Alexandrine parakeet (Psittacula eupatria) but the majority of the species are of least concern. The ecological richness of the area is under threat by urban development due to growing human population. So, the major threats to avian species in the study area are habitat degradation, Illegal hunting and lack of awareness. It is suggested to preserve avian diversity by the involvement of government agencies, private groups (WWF, IUCN, BirdLife International) and the general public.

“Kalila and Dimna” is considered one of the most famous international literary heritages that has been welcomed by various peoples, as we find that it has been translated into various languages in the world. In this comparative study, the researchers attempt to uncover the differences between the Arabic text of the story “The ring-necked dove” and its translation in Persian, seeking to reveal the contingent additions to that story and the role of culture in the change made by Nasrallah Munshi to the text, relying on the theory of “Framing” by Mona Baker. Due to the presence of some differences between the various versions of Kalila and Dimna, the researchers decided to rely on the version issued by Abd al-Wahhab Azzam and Taha Hussein, while the Persian version relied upon is a version explained by “Mojtaba Minavi,” issued by the University of Tehran Publisher. The story that researchers are focusing on analyzing its translation includes a flock of pigeons falling into a trap The story that the researchers are focusing on analyzing its translation includes a story of a flock of pigeons falling into a trap, but through cooperation with others, they are able to remove the trap, going to a rat to help them. In this study, which was conducted using a descriptive-analytical approach, the Arabic text was compared with its Persian translation to reveal the additions to the Persian text. Then, the researchers tried to uncover the translator’s possible justifications for adding new parts to the text. The results that the researchers reached indicate that Ibn Muqaffa holds the ring-necked dove responsible for what happened to the flock of pigeons because she (the ring-necked dove) was their leader, but the translator (Nasrallah Munshi) tried to reframe the story so that he could exonerate the ring-necked dove and direct responsibility to the flock of pigeons without the ring-necked dove. On the other hand, between the lines of the Arabic text, there is an emphasis on the necessity of cooperation in order to get rid of disasters, but in the Persian text, we find an insistence on values such as sacrifice and altruism, as well as the role that lack of attention to the leader’s orders plays in the occurrence of disasters and misfortunes, as well as the effect of the wisdom that the leader possesses in That's it, people. In other words, the translator is trying to exaggerate the role of the leader in saving his nation. While Ibn Muqaffa tries to focus on the role of cooperation in achieving this salvation. This study helps researchers know the differences in Arabic stories and their translation into various international languages while introducing the Arab literary heritage to students.

In 2012, a simplified territory mapping method was employed to study the distribution and numbers of all birds breeding in the Ogongo Game Park (OGP). OGP is situated approximately 50 km north-west of Oshakati, in the Outapi district, Omusati region, North-Central Namibia. The area of the park is approximately 1000 ha. The vegetation of OGP comprises mainly mopane savanna Colophospermum-Acacia nilotica. In total, 142 bird species were recorded: 101 breeding residents, 19 regular visitors, 10 irregular visitors, 3 vagrants, 10 Palaearctic migrants. Maps showing the distribution of identified territories are presented for all breeding species. The dominant species were Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola (14.2%), Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris (9.3%), White-browed Sparrow-Weaver Plocepasser mahali (9.3%) and Blue Waxbill Uraeginthus angolensis (8.3%). Nine other species were classified as subdominant, comprising a further 27.7% of all breeding birds.

The breeding densities of three dove species: Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis, Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola, and Mourning Collared Dove Streptopelia decipiens were studied by means of the territory mapping method in 400 ha of acacia savanna in northern Namibia. About half of the study area comprised cultivated fields, orchards, sport fields and human settlements. The study was conducted in February–June 2020, after a prolonged drought in 2017–2019. During the drought, most doves vacated their territories and ceased to breed, but breeding populations recovered rapidly. The overall population density of all species was the highest in February/March (30.3 pairs / 100 ha), intermediate in April (27.8), and lowest in May/June (23.5). Population densities were higher in the man-modified than in natural savanna. While the population densities in natural savanna significantly increased with the advance of the dry season, in man-modified savanna the densities decreased slightly.

Musing Joseph Bottone (bio) miracle of morning dewsigh of the ringneck dove transparent as blue glass in the window at Chartreson an autumn day that longs for death I have not finished with this, but wondergaze into trees that make a little songfrom the dew that falls from the leaf sun beams hold enough of a miracleilluminating my nameless, fleeting life what poured in my cupI drank. [End Page 303] Click for larger view View full resolution Courtesy of Zdenek Machacek via Unsplash Joseph Bottone Joseph Bottone was born in Brooklyn, NY, and drawn to poetry at a young age. He began writing poetry in High School when he met Allen Ginsberg who encouraged him to submit his work to The World, a magazine of poetry produced by St. Mark's Church. More recently, he spent three years as poet-in-residence at Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur, CA. He has published his work in Italy and Australia. He lives and writes in Taos, NM. josephbottone@yahoo.com. Copyright © 2022 Johns Hopkins University Press

In avian brood parasitism, parasites lay their eggs in the nests of hosts, and many hosts in the wild respond by eliminating or abandoning foreign eggs in their clutch. However, a limitation upon the study of proximate, especially physiological and experience-dependent cognitive mechanisms of egg rejection, has been the lack of a suitable model system in captivity. Here, we tested whether laboratory-kept ringneck doves (Streptopelia risoria) respond to visually distinct egg types (through applying an ink treatment upon the doves' own eggs) by rejecting them. We found that in two of two experiments, brown eggs were more often rejected, through predominantly egg burial, relative to control eggs but were done so only by a subset of dove pairs. These results are supportive of ringneck doves to become a suitable captive model for the study of foreign-egg rejection, and open the way for future research on the integrative (e.g., genetic, endocrine, ontogenetic, and cognitive) study of egg-rejection responses in a tractable research system. However, the ecological validity and applicability of this model system for the analysis of host-parasite interactions in the wild remain narrowly limited. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Successful reproduction in avian species requires considerable parental care, and for most species the efforts of both parents are necessary for the survival of offspring. Here we make the case that in these species reproductive interactions are enhanced when neurochemical activity reinforces critical stimuli and behaviors through associative learning. Drawing from research on several different species, we describe evidence for the role of associative learning in the reproductive behaviors of ring neck doves (Streptopelia risoria). A hypothetical mechanism involving a combination of classical and operant conditioning is proposed to explain the formation and maintenance of the pair bond, nest fidelity, and incubation behavior. The role of the opiate system in reinforcing various aspects of reproductive behavior in this and other species is discussed.

Roads may have negative or positive effects on wildlife. I surveyed birds along a c. 21 km transect alongside a road from Katima Mulilo to Ngoma bridge in the Zambezi Region, north-eastern Namibia, and on a second transect (control) parallel to the first one and 200–400 m away from the road. The habitat is Kalahari Woodland, partly transformed to cultivated fields. The number of bird species was similar on both transects (56 vs. 48 species; x2 = 0.62, p > 0.05), but the number of breeding pairs (overall population density) was much higher away from the road than close to it (409 vs. 283 pairs; x2 = 22.9, p < 0.01). The Shannon’s Diversity Index was very similar, while Pielou’s Evenness Index was identical in both transects compared. Five species (Blue Waxbill, Burchell’s Starling, Cape Turtle Dove, Fork-tailed Drongo and Grey-headed Sparrow) were dominant on both transects, while the African Grey Hornbill was dominant only on the transect away from the road, whereas the Red-billed Hornbill and Grey Go-away-bird were dominant only close to the road. Four species (African Grey Hornbill, Cape Turtle Dove, Meyer’s Parrot and White-browed Scrub Robin) had population densities significantly higher on the transect away from the road than close to it. However, population densities of nine other species did not differ significantly between the two transects. In general, the avian communities along and away from the road were similar, probably because traffic volume was rather low and the land cover on both transects was similar in terms of natural vegetation and degree of transformation.

In April 2013, a transect c. 1100 km long with 100 points arranged in 5 sections was designed in northern Namibia between Ruacana Watefall (W) and Kongola (E) to study avian diversity in relation to gradual changes in precipitation (c. 350 mm in W to c.600 mm in E). In total, 81 bird species were recorded in all 100 points, but in particular section, the numbers were low, ranging from 22 to 38 species. In overall, the most frequent and most numerous (dominant) were the following species: Cape Turtle Dove, Blue Waxbill, Grey-headed Sparrow, Laughing Dove and Fork-tailed Drongo. Together they comprised 42.2 % of all individuals recorded. All of them, except for the Fork-tailed Drongo, were granivores. Only nine species were recorded in ten or more points. Besides the above-mentioned dominant species, the following other were in this group: Black-chested Prinia, Black-throated Canary, Pied Crow and White-browed Scrub Robin. In particular section the number of dominant species ranged from 5 to 7, without a gradient. Two species, the Cape Turtle Dove and Blue Waxbill, remained dominant in all fi ve sections. Th e Laughing Dove and Fork-tailed Drongo — in four sections, and the Grey-headed Sparrow — in three sections. Although, no gradient in species diversity, evenness, and dominance structure was recorded, signifi cant diff erences between two most western and two most eastern sections were apparent. Two species were more frequent and numerous in the eastern than in the western sections: White-browed Scrub Robin and Cape Turtle Dove; while the following species were more frequent and numerous in the western than the eastern sections: African Palm Swift , Black-chested Prinia, Black-throated Canary, Blue Waxbill, Grey-headed Sparrow and Pied Crow.

The line transect method has been employed to assess species diversity, population densities and community structure of birds breeding in a mosaic of Kalahari Woodland and farmland, NE Namibia. The transect, 4.5 km long, was surveyed in 2014 and 2015. The total annual rainfall in 2014 was much higher than in 2015 (427 mm vs. 262 mm). In total, 40 breeding species in 2014, and 46 in 2015 were recorded. Six species were dominant in 2014 (Cape Turtle Dove, Laughing Dove, Emerald-spotted Dove, Blue Waxbill, and White-browed Scrub Robin) and only three species in 2015 (Cape Turtle Dove and Blue Waxbill and Yellow-fronted Canary). Although the cumulative dominance in 2014 almost doubled that in 2015, the Community Index in both years was almost identical. Also diversity indices and evenness index were very similar in both years compared. Granivorous birds were the most numerous feeding guild. Their contribution was similar in 2014 and 2015 (46.7 % vs. 43.4 %). Two other feeding guilds, insectivores and frugivores, comprised together more than 50 % in both years. The number of bird species and species diversity were not influenced by the differential rainfall. However, contrary to expectations, population densities of most bird species (at least the more numerous ones) were higher in the year with lower than in the year with higher rainfall. The number of species and species diversity was similar in the farmland and in neighbouring Kalahari Woodland in a pristine stage. However, population densities of most species were lower in the farmland than in the pristine woodland.

A role for endogenous opiates in incubation behavior in ring neck doves (Streptopelia risoria)

The line transect method was applied to assess the linear index of abundance and community structure of birds breeding in an area of Kalahari woodland used as range land for cattle. Four transects were designed along roads traversing the ranch. Each transect was 2.5 km long and was surveyed three times in 2014 and 2015. A total of 47 bird species were recorded but only 25-31 species were recorded on any particular transect. In the neighbouring pristine Kalahari woodland, the number of bird species on a12 km long transect was much higher (n = 88), and ranged in some sections (each 1.2 km in length) from 35 to 53. On any particular section, the number of dominant species ranged from 5 to 7, and their cumulative dominance on each section was similar, ranging from 53-56 %, while the community dominance index ranged from 0.23 to 0.35. The most numerous species were the Cape turtle dove and emerald-spotted wood dove, which were dominant on all sections. Together they comprised 28 % of all breeding birds. The avian community in the Kalahari woodland in Sachinga LDC did not differ from the neighbouring pristine woodland either in terms of species diversity or evenness. However, it differed significantly in terms of species richness, the proportion of main ecological guilds, and linear index of abundance of particular species. These differences could be mainly due to the structure of woody vegetation, which is much thicker in Sachinga than in the pristine woodland not used as pasture for cattle. The thickening of this vegetation on the ranch could have been caused by heavy grazing pressure by the cattle. Data published through GBIF (Doi: https://doi.org/10.15470/rova7r)

Abstract The mapping method was employed to study avian community structure in relation to rainfall in a town suburb in Highveld grassland in southern Africa. Studies were conducted in two breeding seasons: 1998, with dry spring; and 2001, with close to average spring rainfall. The total rainfall in 1998 was 1254 mm, while in 2001 it was 1445 mm, in both years much above the long-term annual average (866 mm). The avian community remained remarkably similar in both years, both in respect to the number of species (44 in 1998 and 53 in 2001), and dominance relationships. The Simpson’s Diversity Index was high and also very similar in 1998 and 2001 (D = 0.91; 0.93 respectively). In all years, dominant species included the Laughing Dove, Grey-headed Sparrow, Speckled Dove, Cape Turtle-Dove and Common Fiscal. The Southern Red Bishop in 2001 was also in the group of dominants. Significant differences were noted in the overall density of all birds, but contrary to expectation density was higher in 1998, with lower rainfall, than in 2001, with higher rainfall. The proportions of nesting and feeding guilds were similar in both years compared, except for the granivores, which were proportionally more common in 1998 than in 2001. This difference was mainly due to the Laughing Dove and Grey-headed Sparrow. Generally, it appears that the suburban avian community is more stable and more diverse than neighbouring communities in the natural habitats.

During the years 1996-2001, the line transect method has been employed to assess the species composition, dominance structure and relative abundance of birds resident in traditional farmlands, in the lowlands (10 transects with the total length of 43.9 km) and foothills (10 transects with the total length of transects 46.5 km) of Lesotho, southern Africa. This has been done to show the role of this farming in biodiversity conservation. A total of 76 resident species have been recorded in farmlands of Lesotho, 62 species in the lowlands and 53 species in the foothills. In the lowland farmlands the dominant group was composed of 6 species, namely the Prinia, Cape Bunting, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, Cape Canary, Neddicky and Common Quail (35.8 %); in the foothills the group was composed 5 species: Karoo Prinia, Cape-turtle Dove, Laughing Dove, Cape Bunting and Cape Canary (35.9 %). Eighteen species bred in significantly different densities in lowlands and foothills. While insectivorous birds were more numerous in the lowland than foothill, the reverse was true with granivorous birds. Those two guilds comprised together 78% and 83% in the lowland and foothill respectively. The proportion of species in each guild was similar. In the lowland farmland the following eight species were more common that in the foothill farmlands, while in foothill farmland 10 species were more numerous than in lowland farmland. Species diversity and evenness were strikingly high and similar in lowlands and foothills, although Sorensen Similarity Index between these two areas was low (I = 0.44). Both species diversity and structure of dominance in avian communities in Lesotho farmlands indicate that the traditional farming play a positive role in biodiversity conservation.

This study was conducted in Dinder National Park from February to April 2017 adjacent to the Ethiopian border at a distance of 550 km south east of Khartoum. The aim of this study was to identify the bird species around Galegu station in Dinder National Park. Direct observation method was used to identify the bird in Mayas (Meadows) around Galagu station. A total of 112 species belonging to 17 orders have been identified. 27 species were in the order Passeriformes belonging to 12 families. Ring-necked dove (Streptopelia capicola), African pied wagtail (Motecilla aguimp), African namaqua dove (Oena capensis), African firefinch (Legonostista rubricate), Rupell’s ling-tailed starling (Lamprotornis johnstoni), Little bee-eater (Merops pusillus) and Tufted guinea fowl (Acryllium vulturinum), were abundant.

How far the ring-necked dove is from wringing a dove's neck. The way a stand of trees can hide a deer stand, concealing the hunter who will shoot the deer. The deer, who will fall in the fall in the fallow field.

Abstract The Zambezian Baikiaea woodlands fall entirely within the Kalahari Woodland biome, a subset of savanna. In 2015, the line transect method was employed to study avian assemblages associated with Zambezian Baikiaea. In total, 10 transects were designed along a straight 12 km long line, so that each transect was 1.2 km long. A total of 88 species represented by 1190 pairs were recorded. On average, there were 42.9 species per transect. The overall density was 35.8 pairs/km, ranging from 29.2 to 44.2 on particular transects. Overall, Streptopelia capicola was the only dominant species. It was also the only species recorded as dominant on all the transects. The following other species were recorded as dominant: Cercotrichas leucophrys, Laniarius aethiopicus, Turtur chalcospilos, Dicrurus adsimilis, Lamprotornis nitens, Upupa africana, Apalis flavida, Ploceus velatus, Tchagra australis and Numida meleagris. The proportion of dominant species (cumulative dominance) varied from 18.9 to 37.7 (x = 28.5; n =...

Birds show phylogenetic variation in the relative importance of respiratory versus cutaneous evaporation, but the consequences for heat tolerance and evaporative cooling capacity remain unclear. We measured evaporative water loss (EWL), resting metabolic rate (RMR) and body temperature (Tb) in four arid-zone columbids from southern Africa [Namaqua dove (Oena capensis, ∼37 g), laughing dove (Spilopelia senegalensis, ∼89 g) and Cape turtle dove (Streptopelia capicola, ∼148 g)] and Australia [crested pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), ∼186 g] at air temperatures (Ta) of up to 62°C. There was no clear relationship between body mass and maximum Ta tolerated during acute heat exposure. Maximum Tb at very high Ta was 43.1±1.0, 43.7±0.8, 44.7±0.3 and 44.3±0.8°C in Namaqua doves, laughing doves, Cape turtle doves and crested pigeons, respectively. In all four species, RMR increased significantly at Ta above thermoneutrality, but the increases were relatively modest with RMR at Ta=56°C being 32, 60, 99 and 11% higher, respectively, than at Ta=35°C. At the highest Ta values reached, evaporative heat loss was equivalent to 466, 227, 230 and 275% of metabolic heat production. The maximum ratio of evaporative heat loss to metabolic production observed in Namaqua doves, 4.66, exceeds by a substantial margin previous values reported for birds. Our results support the notion that cutaneous evaporation provides a highly efficient mechanism of heat dissipation and an enhanced ability to tolerate extremely high Ta.