Tree Pipit Research Articles

Habitat preferences of tree pipit (Anthus trivialis) and meadow pipit (A. pratensis) at sympatric and allopatric localities

Habitat preferences of the tree pipit (Anthus trivialis) and the meadow pipit (A. pratensis; Passeriformes: Motacillidae) were observed during the years 1998–1999 at three localities in the Czech Republic; two with one pipit species only, and a third with both species present. We investigated one of the possible mechanisms allowing syntopic coexistence—different habitat selection. We characterised territories of each pipit pair by the habitats present in the territory (defined by dominant plant composition) and by quantitative parameters (territory size, height and density of the vegetation, number of look-outs of different height categories, and proportion of wet ground). Tree pipits preferred significantly higher vegetation of lower density than meadow pipits, and there was generally a higher number of high look-outs in their territories. However, in some of the preferred territories at the allopatric locality of the tree pipit, steep hill slopes could well substitute for higher look-outs, which were almost absent. The two pipit species at the sympatric locality occupied very different habitats, which was also reflected in quantitative parameters of their territories. The available data of pipit habitat at different European localities show that the two species can occupy a much wider range of habitats. The habitat separation in sympatry might therefore be one of the mechanisms allowing syntopic coexistence of both species.

Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infection in passerine birds from the Mazurian Lake region (Northeastern Poland)

The aim of the present study was to evaluate a potential role of different passerine birds species in Mazurian Lake region (northeast Poland) in the spread of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the spirochaete that causes Lyme disease. A total number of 1254 birds (representing 42 species) were captured during the 3-year study period. Blood samples were collected from birds and analyzed with a nested polymerase chain reaction technique in order to detect fragments of the pathogen DNA. Positive results were obtained in 4.2% of all blood samples. Specifically, B. burgdorferi s.l. were detected in tree pipit (Anthus Erivialis; 21.1% of 19 birds), dunnock (Prunella modularis; 15.8% of 19 birds), chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs; 12.7% of 166 birds), song thrush (Turdus philometos; 9.3% of 54 birds), nuthatch (Sitta euopea; 7.7% of 26 birds), hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothroustes; 6.7% of 15 birds), robin (Erithacus rebecula; 5.1% of 256 birds), blackbird (Turdus merula; 4.2% of 71 birds) and wren (Troglodytes troglodytes; 3.7% of 27 birds). Additionally, the incidence of the infection was analyzed in relation to the habitat in which the birds resided (mixed coniferous forest or alder swamp forest), months of the study (from April to October), age and sex, but the differences were not statistically significant.

Mob culture unravelled

One of the most intriguing issues in animal behaviour is that of altruism, particularly between unrelated individuals. For if such altruism is not reciprocated, biologists believe that it would not be able to persist as cheats would win out. So when does it pay to help others? One puzzling case is that of prey mobbing potential predators. Members of many species of small birds will mob a potential predator when spotted. They will utter characteristic sounds that attract other prey individuals of different species to the vicinity. Mobbing usually causes the predator to leave the area, which gives an opportunity for prey individuals to continue their normal activity. But mobbing behaviour also carries risks of injury or death. The individual that first raises the alarm to the presence of a predator may be at increased risk of predation by attracting the predator's attention, especially if not quickly joined by other prey individuals in the mob. Two researchers, Indrikis Krams and Tatjana Krama, at Daugavpils University in Latvia, have looked at whether there is any evidence of reciprocal altruism in mobbing behaviour in the presence of different prey species (Proc. Roy. Soc. B 2002, published online). They tested whether a male chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), a migrant bird in Latvia, would instigate a mobbing attack on a predator when in a community of returning, migrant birds unknown to each other at the start of the breeding season compared with chaffinches that joined a sedentary group of birds that are more likely to know each other. Migrant birds, forming anonymous communities at the beginning of the breeding season, may also develop closer social ties during the course of the summer, the researchers considered, that may allow the development of reciprocal help. The birds inhabit small patches of woodland in a mosaic landscape of open land comprising bogs, lakes and rivers. Such woodland patches present relatively isolated habitats with little movement of birds between patches during breeding. Fellow migrant species include tree pipits, starlings, wrens, dunnocks icterine warblers, garden warblers, blackcaps, whitethroats, willow warblers, flycatchers, robins and song thrushes. All these birds show mobbing behaviour of potential predators. The researchers expected that the male chaffinches would be less likely to initiate a mob at the beginning of the breeding season when surrounded by strangers. However, they suggested, mobbing activity might increase as the breeding season advances and they knew their neighbours. Using a stuffed owl deployed around the patch of woodland containing the birds, the results support these predictions. In contrast, they looked at chaffinches that had joined a woodland patch inhabited by sedentary species where there was a greater likelihood that the birds already knew each other. Here they found the chaffinches were much more confident in raising the alarm as soon as they arrived, compared with those in association with fellow migrants who did not know each other. The results suggest the first clue that reciprocal altruism may exist between members of different species – when they know each other – in tackling a common enemy.

Breeding Populations and Diets of the SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusand the HobbyFalco subbuteoin the Wigry National Park (Ne Poland)

Abstract. In 1990–1995, 12–15 pairs of Sparrowhawks (9.1/100 km2) and 7–9 pairs of Hobbies (5.6 pairs/100 km2) inhabited the forest-lakeland area of the Wigry National Park (NE Poland). The diet composition of the two species was studied by the analysis of pellets and prey remains. Sparrowhawks fed on birds (97% of prey items, 99% of food biomass), especially Turdus spp., Parus spp. and Fringilla coelebs. Hobbies consumed birds (52% of prey, 94% of biomass) and insects (43% of prey, 1% of biomass). Sparrowhawks specialized in forest birds, positively selecting Parus spp., Turdus spp., Picidae and Ficedula spp. Hobbies hunted mainly birds of open habitats (Alauda arvensis) and woodland (Anthus trivialis).

Migration routes from Lombardy, Northern Italy, to Africa, covered by birds ringed during eighteen years of ringing activity in five Pre-alpine Ornithological stations

Vigorita, V. 2000. Migration routes from Lombardy, Northern Italy, to Africa, covered by birds ringed during eighteen years of ringing activity in five Pre-alpine Ornithological stations. Ostrich 71 (1 & 2): 341. Systematic bird ringing in Lombardy, northern Italy, was started in 1977. In total 661 979 birds of 168 species were ringed in the period 1977–1994. The recoveries were 3 660. The ringed species in five Prealpine Ornithological stations wintering and recovered in Africa, during eighteen years were 14: Anthus trivialis, Anthus pmtensis, Motacilla Java, Motacilla alba. Erithacus rubecula. Phoenicum phoenicurus, Turdus merula. Turdus philomelos, Sylvia borin, Sylvia atricapilla, Ficedula hypoleuca, Sturnus vulgaris, Fnngilla coelebs, Carduelis spinus. Accordingly, with ringing and recoveries data in Lombardy and recoveries data in Africa, we can get some more detailed information on migration routes. A better knowledge of migration routes allows the study of correlation among trends of populations and quality- quantity variation of habitats and meteorological dynamics in Afiica. The collection of data is expected to continue with more standardised methods for field research, data storage and their processing. Detailed migration routes, based on analysis of ringing data, are shown.

Do Highways Influence Density of Land Birds?

/ Land bird densities in roadside habitats were studied in 17 locations in central Finland by the line transect method. Two transects were censused in each location. The first transect was situated 25 m from highway edge and the second transect 200 m away from the first one. The results suggested that land bird density was lower closer to highways. Species that avoided the road included willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), crossbills (Loxia spp.), and tree pipit (Anthus trivialis). The composition of the bird community did not vary significantly between the compared transects. Some species appeared to favour road-forest edges but this could not be confirmed with our data. These species were not the same as have been reported to favor clear-fellings-mature forest edges. Therefore, the edge effect does not seem to be the most important factor controlling relative bird densities immediately adjacent and further away from highways. The likelihood of avoiding the problems the highways are causing for bird density are been discussed.KEY WORDS: Highways; Infrastructure; Bird density; Landscape ecology

Landscape level effects of modern forestry on bird communities in North Swedish boreal forests

We address effects of large-scale forestry on landscape structure and the structure and composition of boreal bird communities in North Sweden. Specifically, we ask: after controlling for the effect of patch size, forest age and tree species composition, is there any residual effect attributable to the reduction in area of old forest? Pairs of landscape blocks (25 by 25 km) were selected to maximize area difference in human-induced disturbance, clear-cut as opposed to semi-natural old forest. Median distance to natural edge (wetlands, open water) from randomly selected points in forest was 250 and 200 m in high and low impact landscapes, respectively, indicating a high degree of 'natural' fragmentation of the pristine boreal landscape in the area. By contrast, median distance to clear-cut in uncut forest was 750 and 100 m, respectively. Clear-cuts in high impact landscapes were disproportionally more common in areas with contiguous forest land than in areas with spatially disjunct forest, implicating that forestry increases natural fragmentation of the landscape by subdividing larger forest tracts. Point counts along forestry roads showed that species richness and relative abundance of forest birds were higher in landscapes with low forestry impact. These differences can partly be explained by differences in age composition of forest and composition of tree species. After controlling for patch size, forest age and tree species composition, a significant effect of forestry impact remained for Sibirian species and the Tree pipit Anthus trivialis. Our results thus imply that this group of species and the Tree pipit may be sensitive to forest fragmentation. In contrast to previous Finnish studies, we found relatively small negative effects on relative abundance of species hypothesized to be negatively affected by large-scale clear-cutting forestry. However, our picture of the present does not contradict results from Finnish long-term population studies. Five factors may account for this: 1) clear-cut areas are not permanently transformed into other land use types, 2) planted forests are not completely inhabitable for species preferring older forest, 3) the majority of species in the regional pool are habitat generalists, 4) the region studied is still extensively covered with semi-natural forest, and 5) our study area is relatively close to contiguous boreal forest in Russia, a potential source area for taiga species.

The phylogenetic relationships of Berthelot's Pipit Anthus berthelotii illustrated by DNA sequence data, with remarks on the genetic distance between Rock and Water Pipits Anthus spinoletta

The phylogenetic relationships of Berthelot's Pipit Anthus berthelotii, which is endemic to three groups of North Atlantic islands, have puzzled ornithologists for more than a century. A total of 1041 base pair cytochrome b mitochondrial DNA sequences from Berthelot's Pipit are compared with homologous sequences from the Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris, Richard's Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae, the Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis, the Red‐breasted Pipit Anthus cervinus, the Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis, Rock and Water Pipits Anthus spinoletta and the White Wagtail Motacilla alba. In the resulting phytogeny, the sister taxon of Berthelot's Pipit is unambiguously the Tawny Pipit, with Richard's Pipit forming a deeper branch on the same clade. Sequences of a Danish Rock Pipit and a Swiss Water Pipit support a close relationship between these two species, but more comprehensive studies of intra‐ and interpopulation variation are required before considering their taxonomic ranking. Some preliminary inferences are made regarding phylogenetic tendencies in the genus Anthus.

Influences of habitat fragmentation on bird species distributions and regional population sizes

A simple modelling approach was used to investigate the influence of habitat fragmentation on the distributions and regional population sizes of passerines breeding in 145 small woods in an arable landscape. Observed distributions in three consecutive years were compared with those predicted by random selection of woods by pairs (based on a Poisson distribution), and by a simulation model based on the area of habitat available and estimates of individual species minimum area requirements and territory sizes. None of the species studied were distributed randomly; some were distributed according to the area of woodland available, whereas others preferred either small or large woods. However, species distributions were influenced by their regional population sizes. When species population sizes were small, observed distributions could be predicted using algorithms based on area alone, but as numbers increased, algorithms using territory parameters were required. An absence of detectable territorial interaction suggested that space for more pairs of the species concerned had been available in our woods. Of the 14 species investigated, the models for only two consistently required the use of territory parameters, indicating that the available habitat could probably have accommodated more pairs of most of the species. Thus habitat fragmentation may reduce regional population sizes more than expected from the loss of habitat alone, to the extent that patches of suitable habitat may be unused, or occupied at low density.

Long-term trends in the arrival dates of spring migrants

Data on the spring arrival dates of 23 species of migrants in Leicestershire over a 50-year period are presented. Chiffchaff, Sand Martin, Blackcap and Sedge Warbler showed a significant trend towards earlier arrival over the period, while Tree Pipit, Cuckoo, Whinchat, Whitethroat and Garden Warbler showed a significant trend towards later arrival. Fifteen species arrived noticeably earlier in the 1940s, a period of warm springs, while several species showed earlier arrivals in the 1980s. A number of species showed later arrival dates in the 1960s and 1970s, when April temperatures were colder than average. Several species showed significant correlations between arrival date and temperature. Arrival dates of the earliest species were much more variable than those arriving later, while species arriving in the second half of April showed a generally synchronous arrival. The results are discussed in the context of global warming.

Bird populations in upland spruce plantations in northern Britain

The aim of this study was to measure bird numbers and species richness in upland spruce forests in relation to forest habitat variables, as a basis for a computer model to predict how bird populations were likely to change under different forest management regimes. In each of the two study areas, at Cowal, Argyll and Kielder, Northumberland, 88 study plots were selected randomly from 24 combinations of tree age (0–8, 9–15, 16–25 and over 25 (mainly 25–50) years), plot size (1–2, 2.1–5 and over 5 ha) and elevation (above or below 250 m). Both pure Sitka spruce Picea sitchensis and mixed conifers were included, as were first and second rotation crops. Point counts, at up to five per plot, were used to estimate bird populations and in larger plots, additional edge points allowed the comparison of plot centres and edges. Counts were made from 1990 to 1992 in winter (mid-November to mid-March), early spring (mid-April to mid-May) and late spring (mid-May to mid-June). Each plot was visited once in each period. The counting method gave consistent results both within and between days at the same counting points. There was strong and significant variation in bird numbers and species richness with tree age, both being highest in older trees in winter and in 9–25 year old trees in spring. All of the common species—chaffinch Fringilla coelebs, coal tit Parus ater, crossbill Loxia curvirostra, dunnock Prunella modularis, goldcrest Regulus regulus, meadow pipit Anthus pratensis, robin Erithacus rubecula, redpoll Carduelis flammea, siskin Carduelis spinus, song thrush Turdus ericetorum, tree pipit Anthus trivialis, wren Troglodytes troglodytes and willow warbler Phylloscopus trochilus—showed significant variation in their abundance between tree-age categories, with all except the meadow pipit having lowest numbers in the youngest trees and their highest in 9–25 year old trees. There was little detectable effect of plot size, altitude, admixture of other conifer species or planting generation on either bird numbers or species richness. The number of individual birds detected was consistently higher at the edges than in the centres of the same plots, particularly in the first 10 m from the edge, but the type of habitat outside the plot had little effect on this. Spring numbers of most of the common species that were also resident in winter were significantly correlated with their winter numbers, but the correlations were weak (particularly in 1991/1992) and had little predictive value. The two study areas and the 2 years were similar in the way in which bird numbers and species richness varied with forest characteristics, suggesting that the conclusions may be of wide relevance. Bird numbers tended to be higher in 1991 than in 1992, owing mainly to there being more crossbills and siskins in 1991, when there was a very large cone crop. The study clearly identified tree age and closeness to the forest edge as the two main factors affecting the number and species richness of birds in upland spruce plantations. This suggests that the greatest number and variety of birds could be encouraged by creating mosaics of small patches (i.e. with a high ratio of edge habitat), with a mixture of tree ages, including a large proportion of 9–25 year old trees.

Dynamics of a passerine bird community in a small deciduous wood, S Sweden, during 40 years

The passerine bird community of a 13 ha nature reserve, consisting of a narrow valley with deciduous woods and open areas, was censused yearly from 1953 through 1992 by territory mapping. Its size, showing no significant trend, was on average 124± 15(SO) territories, belonging to 20±2 species. The community has fluctuated significantly (range 103 to 158, CV=12%). Its stability was founded on the restricted fluctuations of the most abundant species. Out of the 39 stationary species, 19 (=95% of the community size) appeared there for more than 20 years, only 8 of which have been yearly present. Fringilla coelebs, Phylloscopus trachilus, Sylvia borin, and Luscinia luscinia were the most abundant species throughout. Emberiza hortulana, Carduelis cannabina, and Anthus trivialis disappeared, while Sturnus vulgaris, Sitta eurapaea, Carduelis chloris, and Turdus pilaris immigrated. The species turnover rate between successive years was 21.7±9.7%, the long-term rate being about 1%. The community structure changed gradually: taken together, the population sizes of residents and short-distance migrants increased, from 38 to 57% of the community size; the tropical migrants declined correspondingly. These two species groups showed an opposing and significant covariation.

Habitat, Landscape and Bird Composition in Mountain Forest Fragments

The study attempts to separate the effects of forest fragmentation related to landscape (patch area, isolation) and habitat (altitude, vegetation structure) on bird community composition in a mountain pine forest. Bird composition was related, using a multivariate approach (canonical correspondence analyses), to either habitat or to landscape, eliminating the effect of habitat statistically. Bird composition and species richness varied with patch area and isolation from large pine stands, but this effect could be assigned principally to variation in vegetation structure and altitude. Another effect, that of increasing occurrence and numbers of Anthus trivialis with decreasing distance to nearest low-altitude forest, could be assigned to both habitat (grass cover) and landscape (connectivity effects). Management implications are drawn from the results.

Tree Pipit with suspended or arrested moult

Tree Pipit with suspended or arrested moult

MOULT, WEIGHT AND BIOMETRICAL DATA FOR SOME PALAEARCTIC PASSERINE MIGRANTS IN ZAMBIA

Summary Loske, K.-H. & Lederer, W. 1988. Moult, weight and biometrical data for some Palaearctic passerine migrants in Zambia. Ostrich 59:1-7. Twelve Palaearctic passerine species were observed and trapped in February/March in Central Zambia. For Sand Martin, European Swallow, European Sedge Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler and Tree Pipit weights, measurements and moult stages are given. In Sand Martin and European Swallow no correlation between weight and moult was found. Primary and secondary moult was in progress in both species. Tail moult was more advanced in European Swallows. European Sedge Warbler moult showed little synchronization between individuals, and irregular moult was often recorded. Willow Warblers showed unusually high weights and little synchronization within secondary moult. The majority of the birds investigated showed moult of the body plumage. The results are discussed in comparison with data from other parts of Africa.

Effects of forest regeneration on the structure of bird communities in northern Finland

Breeding bird communities in five stages of secondary forest succession were studied in northeastern Finland in 1980–82. Three groups of communities were distinguished: open land, brush phase and forest communities, dominated by Motacilla alba and Oenanthe oenanthe, Phylloscopus trochilus and Anthus trivialis, Phylloscopus trochilus and Fringilla montifringilla, respectively.Pair density, number of species, biomass of adult birds and species diversity increased in the course of succession, none of these, however, monotonously. Average bird weight showed a decreasing trend although the variation was considerable. The degree of specialization in communities (measured by ratios derived from numbers of species, genera and families) increased in the course of succession with the exception that the initial stage had relatively high values. Species nesting and feeding in trees and shrubs increased in numbers during forest regeneration whereas species nesting and feeding on the ground showed the opposite trend. The proportions of hole‐nesting and sedentary species increased with increasing forest age.The initial stages of forest succession in the north are occupied by specialized open habitat species breeding originally on open bogs and shores. These communities thus clearly differ from those predicted from the general theory of succession, which postulates that the pioneer stages of succession are dominated by habitat generalists and that these communities should have relatively low values of community diversity.

Mass Cultivation of Giardia lamblia in a Serum-Free Medium

biotopes, especially along rivers, but not dense tropical forests. The African and Eurasian ranges of the two migrating species from which I. (I.) euplecti has been collected were mapped in the Bull. Wld. Hlth. Org. by Hoogstraal et al. (1961, 24: 197-212 for Oenanthe oenanthe; 1963, 28: 235-262 for Anthus trivialis). Many of these 15 birds species are abundant over wide areas of Africa. The few I. (I.) euplecti recorded reflect either the paucity of careful tickcollecting efforts in the humid habitats generally suitable for survival of species of the subgenus Ixodes or the limited ecological foci in which I. (I.) euplecti breeds in a wide geographical area of Africa.

Bird Numbers across Edges between Mature Conifer Forest and Clearcuts in Central Sweden

Bird distributions were examined along transects extending from forest edges 250 m out on clearcuts and the same distance inside forests. Inventories were performed in spring, summer and autumn 1980, winter 1980/81 and spring 1981. 67% of all observations were made in forest parts. However, there was a seasonal change with relatively more observations on clearcuts in summer and autumn. There were considerably more observations and higher densities in an outer forest belt of c. 50 m than deeper inside the forest. This was apparent for most species but particularly in the common species Erithacus rubecula, Fringilla coelebs and certain Parus spp. There were few pronounced edge species (Anthus trivialis and Parus major dominating in numbers). Fewer individuals of open land species were observed in the first 100 m of clearcuts than in their centres. There the bird fauna differed completely from that in the forest, consisting of just a few species of open habitats, such as Emberiza citrinella and Lanius collurio. The high occurrence of tree-gleaning species in the outer forest belt is suggested to depend on a rich supply of insects. The low density of open land species on clearcuts close to the forest may be due to several factors generally important on habitat islands as varying intraand interspecific competition and risks for ambush predation.

The analyses of nesting records of several passerine species at the foot of Mt. Fuji

This paper, firstly, analyses the nesting records of Japanese bunting (Emberiza spodocephala), Japanese brown thrush (Turdus chrysolaus), Japanese bush warbler (Cettia diphone), Chinese tree pipit (Anthus hodgsoni), Bull-headed shrike (Lanius bucephalus), Japanese meadow bunting (Emberiza cioides) and Japanese grey thrush (Turdus cardis), based on the data collected by the author from 1966 to 1968 and other investigaters at the foot of Mt. Fuji, and, secondly, discusses the factors determining the seasonal and annual variations of clutch size.1. In E. spobocephala, C. diphone, A. hodgsoni, L. bucephalus and E. cioides, the clutch size shows the tendency to decline in the course of the season, and in T. chrysolaus and T. cardis, it shows the mountain-shaped variation having the peak during second-half of June and first-half of July (Tables 1-12)2. Second broods were recorded in E. spodocephala, T. chrysolaus and E. cioides.3. As the cause of the seasonal variation in clutch size, it was considered, as already pointed out by Lack (1966), that it may be the result of adaptation in each species to the seasonal variation of specific food abundance for young birds (Tables 13, 14 and Fig. 1).4. Generally speaking, the mean clutch size becomes larger in such years when the breeding started earlier on account of higher temperature in early spring. The author thinks as the cause of such a phenomenon, despite of Lack's paper (1966), that there may be more animal food for young in years when breeding started earlier, because the food resource will remain much more on account of reduction in predation rate on animal food by birds during warm winter.

NOTES ON THE FOOD OF SOME RHODESIAN BIRDS

Summary Borrett, R. P. 1973. Notes on the food of some Rhodesian birds. Ostrich 44: 145 148. 26 stomach contents of Rhodesian specimens of the following bird species were analysed: Accipiter minullus, Vanellus coronatus, Glaucidium perlatum, Cursvrius temminckii, Caprimulgus fosxii, Apus coffer, Merops superciliosus persicus, Mirafra africana, Anthus trivialis, A. similis, Macronyx capensis, Salpornis spilonota, Lanius collurio, and Lamprotornis mevesii, the biggest series being that of A. similis. Points of interest are noted as appropriate.