Vagrant Birds Research Articles

Current expansion of the Barn Owl (<i>Tyto alba</i>) (Tytonidae, Aves) in Northern Eurasia

In the north of Eurasia, until the mid-twentieth century, the Barn Owl (Tyto alba) was sporadically distributed only in the Baltic states, in the west of Belarus and Ukraine, and in Moldova. Once, in 1942, a vagrant bird was caught in Turkmenistan also. At the end of the 20th century, reports appeared of rare recordings of barn owls in Eastern Europe, and since the beginning of the 21st century, pronounced expansion of these birds has been noted, observed in the south of Ukraine, Crimea, Ciscaucasia, and Transcaucasia. Different subspecies living in Central and Southern Europe and the Middle East are simultaneously expanding their nesting areas, namely: a. guttata, T. a. alba, and T. a. erlangeri. However, visual identification of subspecies and clarification of the direction of their expansion are complicated by the similarity of various forms and their significant individual variability associated with age, sex, intergradation with neighboring subspecies and other factors. The appearance of sedentary barn owls in new places is usually preceded by their post-nesting dispersion, directed in all directions and in some cases reaching 1–2 thousand km from the place of birth. Owing to the expansion of its range, barn owl populations have increased many times in a number of regions over the past decades, but accurate estimates of their numbers there are missing due to the rarity and sporadical nature of new finds, the very secretive lifestyle of these birds and insufficient knowledge of their ecology and ethology in the north of Eurasia. The article examines the taxonomy of various barn owl populations in Northern Eurasia and main diagnostic characteristics of some subspecies living in the north of Eurasia, as well as analyzes features of their historical and current distribution and expansion in Eurasia. The author also discusses possible causes and mechanisms of the barn owl dispersion and touches on information on the dynamics of their numbers in few regions.

The Steller's Sea‐Eagle in North America: An economic assessment of birdwatchers travelling to see a vagrant raptor

Abstract Birdwatching—a cultural ecosystem service—is among the most popular outdoor recreational activities. Existing economic valuations of birdwatching typically overlook the economic contributions of birdwatchers travelling to see vagrant (out‐of‐range) birds. Economic valuations of vagrant birdwatching are few, and to date, no valuation of a large, charismatic vagrant species—or of a recurring individual vagrant bird—has been reported. During 2020–2022, a vagrant Steller's Sea‐Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) was reported in several locations in North America, representing the first record of this species in these locations. In Winter 2020–2021, the eagle spent nearly a month on the eastern seaboard of the United States, and thousands of people travelled to see it. We conducted an online survey of individuals who travelled to see the eagle to estimate the individual and collective non‐consumptive use value of this vagrant birdwatching event. Using individual travel cost methodology, we estimated an average individual expenditure and, together with estimates of the total number of birdwatchers, we estimated non‐consumptive use value of the vagrant birdwatching event. Finally, we used a willingness to pay framework (via hypothetical donations to view the eagle) to evaluate the non‐consumptive use consumer surplus of the event. We estimated that, on average, individual birdwatchers spent $180 USD (95% CI = $156–$207) ignoring travel time—or $277 (95% CI = $243–$314) when accounting for travel time—to view the eagle. Furthermore, we estimated between 2115 and 2645 individuals travelled to see the eagle during December 2021 to January 2022. Thus, we estimated that the eagle generated a total expenditure between $380,604 and $476,626, or between $584,373 and $731,809 when accounting for travel time. Finally, based on travellers' willingness to pay, we estimated a non‐consumptive use consumer surplus of the event between $139,036 and $174,114. Assigning economic value to nature gives policymakers and business leaders footing to advance conservation in decision‐making. Although often overlooked in these decisions, vagrant birds supply ephemeral ecosystem services that might bolster community development efforts, particularly if vagrancy events occur with some predictability (e.g. recurring annually). Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Southern Europe is becoming climatically favourable for African birds: anticipating the establishment of a new species

BackgroundThe current modification of species distribution ranges, as a response to a warmer climate, constitutes an interesting line of work and a recent challenge for biogeography. This study aimed to determine if the climatic conditions of southern Europe are adequate to host a typical African species, the House Bunting, which is registered regularly during the last years, still in low numbers. To this end, the distribution of the species in its native range was modelled, both in the present and in future climate scenarios, using its current breeding distribution areas and a set of environmental variables.ResultsThe results showed that the southern half of the Iberian Peninsula exhibits high values of favourability to host this African species for the current climatic conditions. Furthermore, future forecasts indicated an increase in favourability for this area. The highly favourable areas we detected in the south of the Iberian Peninsula are already regularly receiving individuals of the species. These observations are very likely vagrant birds dispersing from recently colonised breeding areas in northern Morocco, which may indicate a continuous process of colonisation towards the north, as has occurred during the last decades in Northern Africa.ConclusionsWe cannot anticipate when the House Bunting will establish on the European continent because colonisation processes are usually slow but, according to our results, we predict its establishment in the near future. We have also identified those areas hosting favourable conditions for the species in Europe. These areas are a potential focal point for the colonisation of this and other African birds if the climate continues to warm.

Causes of vagrancy of North Asian passerines in western Europe

In recent decades, several explanations for vagrancy of North Asian bird species in Europe have been suggested. The explanations can typically be divided into two, non‐exclusive groups. Some cite weather factors as the primary cause of vagrancy, whereas others hypothesize an internal defect behind the phenomenon. In addition, some authors also suggest climate‐driven range expansion following breeding population increase as a contributing factor. In recent years, studies have been published that have provided clear evidence for the origin of vagrant birds, as well as the reasons for their vagrancy. Here we summarize current knowledge and conclude that weather, habitat use, feeding habit, breeding success and climate change are important factors that affect the vagrancy of birds, together with the number of observers playing an important role in contributing data. In the future, advances in technology such as the development of tracking systems and the extensive use of stable isotopes will make it possible to explain the causes of vagrancy more precisely, so further research in this area of ornithology is essential.

Investigating aerial diversity of non‐fungal eukaryotes across a 40° latitudinal transect using DNA metabarcoding

AbstractThe high number of bipolar and widespread bryophyte and microbial taxa in the Antarctic flora suggests the effective Long‐Distance Dispersal (LDD) of spores and other propagules from lower latitudes and even the Northern Hemisphere to Antarctica and the sub‐Antarctic regions. However, few studies have attempted to document the transfer mechanisms by which potential newcomers may arrive in Antarctica. Commonly suggested or assumed mechanisms include transport in air currents, adventitious transfer with migrating or vagrant birds, and with human assistance. In this study, we investigated the biodiversity present in the air along a 40° latitudinal transect, from the port city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (ca. 22°S) to Comandante Ferraz Station on King George Island (South Shetland Islands, ca. 62°S), maritime Antarctica, to shed light on the potential role of LDD in species distribution. Air samples were collected in October 2021 on the Brazilian polar support vessel Ary Rongel using air filters with membranes of 0.22 μm. Total DNA was extracted from the filters and the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS2) DNA sequence was used for metabarcoding. A total of 53 non‐fungal taxa representing three kingdoms (most abundantly Viridiplantae) and six phyla (most abundantly Bryophyta and Magnoliophyta) were assigned from the sequences found. Aerial biodiversity was greater closer to the coast and generally decreased with increasing latitude, although a small increase was apparent in the South Shetland Islands. The taxa assigned are generally present in coastal biomes, although a small proportion of the assignments represented taxa of more distant origin, supporting the occurrence of LDD in the air column.

Phylogenetic relationships and genetic variations among cinereous vultures Aegypius monachus in South Korea

Mature individuals of the cinereous vulture, Aegypius monachus, number 15,600–21,000 birds worldwide and population size of the bird has been in decline due to poisoned baits and the decreasing availability of food. Approximately 12–16% of the global population of cinereous vultures spend their winters in Korean regions that are hence important areas. In this study, the population structure and genetic diversity of the cinereous vulture in South Korea were evaluated to clarify the relationships between the Mongolian and South Korean populations with genetic diversity assessed using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite markers. In the South Korean population, two unique haplotypes (Hap8 and Hap9) were newly discovered in their mtDNA, with three polymorphic sites and low-level genetic diversity. Most of the cinereous vultures in South Korea were represented by a single haplotype, Hap8, and analyses of phylogenetic trees and the haplotype network illustrated that Hap8 was clustered in Lineage D (Mongolia). Notably, the other haplotype, Hap9, was only identified in one individual in South Korea with an unexpected clustering in Lineage C (Caucasus region, Armenia, Georgia, and Kazakhstan populations), which indicated that it might have been a vagrant bird. The microsatellite loci ( n = 21) isolated from South Korean cinereous vultures indicated comparatively lower genetic variation, with a K value of 1. These results indicate that the origin of the South Korean population is most likely from one source population of the Far Eastern cluster (Mongolian population), which was also supported by the outcome of mtDNA analysis. This study improves our understanding of the population structure and genetic diversity between the Mongolian and South Korean cinereous vulture populations.

Bird migration: When vagrants become pioneers

Vagrant birds are frequently recorded outside of their regular geographic range. A new study documents how vagrancy, in this case in an Asian songbird, can lead to establishment of a new migration route.

New Vagrant Bird Species of the Northern Urals (the Komi Republic)

New Vagrant Bird Species of the Northern Urals (the Komi Republic)

Small mammals in diet of the barn owl (Tyto alba) in the Black Sea Biosphere Reserve

The barn owl (Tyto alba) formerly was one of the rarest vagrant bird species in the Black Sea Biosphere Reserve. Since 2018, this species has been wintering regularly in the Yahorlytskyi Kut division of the Black Sea Biosphere Reserve. We studied the barn owl’s diet in the reserve by analysing 20 pellets collected in the winter of 2018. A total of 69 specimens of 5 mammal species were identified from the pellets. Species of small mammals that dominate in open habitats prevail in the barn owl’s diet such as the social vole (Microtus socialis) (dominant species of steppe habitats; 43 % of identifiable small-mammal specimens) and the lesser white-toothed shrew (Crocidura suaveolens) (dominant species of salt marsh habitats; 42 % of identifiable small-mammal specimens). Remains of the southern vole (Microtus levis), the Ural field mouse (Sylvaemus cf. uralensis), and the Eurasian pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus) were non-abundant in the barn owl’s diet.

Constraints on fruit tracking by birds at the range edge

AbstractAimsBiotic interactions may be disrupted at the range boundary if the involved species are rare in the most distant sectors. This study assesses fruit tracking by seed‐dispersing birds wintering on the border of the Palaearctic, a region where many species become scarcer before reaching the limits of their distribution in the Sahara. As vagrancy improves fruit tracking, this study tests if vagrant birds track fruit resources better than non‐vagrant birds and if their tracking ability is reduced at the range edge.LocationThe Iberian Peninsula and the Maghreb.MethodsSeed‐dispersing passerines (O. Passeriformes) were counted in 134 sampling sites along a 2000‐km‐long latitudinal belt. Relationships between bird numbers and latitude, temperature, shrub cover and fruit abundance were explored by multivariate analyses. In addition, the habitat matching rule was used to assess the ability of birds to track fruit changes along the latitudinal belt.ResultsFruit abundance and temperature were the main drivers of the distribution of vagrant birds (all of them migratory species) while for non‐vagrant birds (most of them sedentary species) distribution was weakly correlated to the study variables. Vagrant birds tracked the spatial–temporal variations in fruit abundance but showed a reduced ability to fit numbers to fruit abundance changes in southern sectors.Main conclusionsVagrant are migratory birds responsible for large‐scale tracking of fruit outputs but seems to face some constraints on fruit tracking at the far edge of the Palaearctic. As the movements of these birds southwards are declining due to climate warming effects, these results suggest a future weakening of their role as seed dispersers in the most peripheral areas of the Palaearctic.

Tracing the origin of vagrant Siberian songbirds with stable isotopes: the case of Yellow-browed Warbler (Abrornis inornatus) in Fennoscandia

Vagrant birds are mesmerizing birdwatchers worldwide, but the nature of vagrancy and the true origin of the vagrants are poorly known. To Western Europe, the massive Siberian land mass delivers most of the vagrant songbirds, e.g. Yellow-browed Warbler (YBW) (Abrornis inornatus, formerly Phylloscopus inornatus). In this study we used stable hydrogen isotope ratios in tail feathers (d2Hf) from two ringing stations in northern Fennoscandia in an attempt to link vagrant YBW to potential regions of origin. We could do this thanks to a collection of samples from nestling and breeding adult YBW in Central Siberia. Compared with the nestling samples, the Fennoscandian d2Hf data indicated origins in the western and/or southern parts of the breeding range. The assignment map created in IsoMAP showed high probabilities of origins in the Komi Republic, N/NW of the Ural Mountains. Although our study rules out a large proportion of the YBW breeding range, our method could not pin-point a precise region of origin.

Magellanic penguin Spheniscus magellanicus rehabilitation and husbandry at Santos Municipal Aquarium, Brazil

Between late austral autumn and early winter, some of the Magellanic penguin Spheniscus magellanicus population foraging on the Patagonian continental shelf move towards the southern Brazilian coast (22–32°S). Many of these vagrant birds wash ashore in very poor health condition. The Santos Municipal Aquarium, Brazil, takes in some of those stranded individuals and provides a programme of rehabilitation. The surviving birds are retained for public exhibition and environmental education. This study describes the husbandry practices and veterinary care for the penguins developed at the Aquarium, including data on survivorship, sex, ontogeny, death rates, reproduction and time in captivity. Most of the received penguins were found in Santos (23·9°S), but there were animals collected between Bertioga and Cananéia (23·7–25·3°S). The highest incidence of stranded animals was recorded in 2008. Most animals were collected during austral winter and no penguins were received in March and April. Most animals were juvenile on arrival at the institution. The average time rehabilitated birds remained in captivity (i.e. the quarantine period plus time on public exhibition) was 294 days, with a longest time of 3681 days. The most common diseases recorded in captivity were bumblefoot and aspergillosis, whereas helminth parasite infestations were the commonest ailment recorded in newly rescued birds. One individual hatched at the Aquarium in 2001 and two others in 2017.

Birds are valuable: the case of vagrants

ABSTRACTBiodiversity values need to be appropriately quantified and thence incorporated in future land development decisions. We assessed the economic and conservation-fundraising potential of vagrant Aleutian Terns in New South Wales, Australia. We found that an estimated 375–581 birdwatchers travelled far (580 ± 522 km [mean ± SD]) and reacted quickly (22% of visits were within the first week and 47% within the first two weeks) to see Aleutian Terns in an area where they had never been seen. We estimated that the total expenditure of these birdwatchers ranged from ∼ $199,000–$363,000 AUD and we further estimated that birdwatchers would have been cumulatively willing to donate upwards of $30,000 AUD to a non-governmental conservation organisation in order to have viewed the terns. These results suggest that birdwatchers highly value vagrant birdwatching and conservation campaign potential should be explored in future long-staying vagrant bird occurrences.

Vagrant birds as a dispersal vector in transoceanic range expansion of vascular plants

Birds are thought to be important vectors underlying the disjunct distribution patterns of some terrestrial biota. Here, we investigate the role of birds in the colonisation by Ochetophila trinervis (Rhamnaceae), a vascular plant from the southern Andes, of sub-Antarctic Marion Island. The location of O. trinervis on the island far from human activities, in combination with a reconstruction of island visitors’ travel history, precludes an anthropogenic introduction. Notably, three bird species occurring in the southern Andes inland have been observed as vagrants on Marion Island, with the barn swallow Hirundo rustica as the most common one. This vagrant displays long-distance migratory behaviour, eats seeds when insects are in short supply, and has started breeding in South America since the 1980s. Since naturalised O. trinervis has never been found outside the southern Andes and its diaspores are incapable of surviving in seawater or dispersing by wind, a natural avian dispersal event from the Andes to Marion Island, a distance of >7500 km, remains the only probable explanation. Although one self-incompatible shrub seems doomed to remain solitary, its mere establishment on a Southern Ocean island demonstrates the potential of vagrancy as a driver of extreme long-distance dispersal of terrestrial biota.

Travelling birds generate eco-travellers: The economic potential of vagrant birdwatching

ABSTRACTAvitourism is one of the faster growing subsectors of ecotourism, recognized for its economic value. Much of our current understanding of the economic value of avitourism revolves around bird festivals, migration events, or well-known birdwatching sites. Birdwatchers are a diverse group, some of whom competitively seek vagrant birds (i.e., birds outside their normal geographic range). The economic value from these unpredictable and transient birdwatching events remains poorly known. Using the travel cost method in a readily-quantifiable environment, we estimated that a vagrant Black-backed Oriole in Pennsylvania, United States of America, stimulated travel activity valued at about $223,000 USD or about $3,000 per day over 67 days. Some birdwatchers value rare birds, contributing significant time and financial resources to their viewing. Identifying such significant real economic value from avitourism can help to evaluate competing costs in debate over human land-use scenarios.

First record of an Ad\xe9lie penguin at sub-Antarctic Marion island

BackgroundThe sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Archipelago (46°53’S, 37°52’E), consisting of Marion and Prince Edward islands, is situated in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean, approximately 2 600 km away from the closest Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) breeding locality, Bouvet Island (54°25’S; 3°22’E).MethodsTwo opportunistic sightings of an Adélie penguin at Marion Island on 28 October 2015 at Ship’s Cove and Transvaal Cove, at 9 am and 5 pm respectively.Results and ConclusionsThis is the first record of an Adélie penguin at Marion Island. An Adélie penguin was observed twice on the same day at two separate beaches approximately 2.5 km apart and appeared to be in good health. We assumed that the same penguin has been sighted twice due to the time lapse between the two sightings. Previously, 29 vagrant bird species have been recorded at Marion Island, including chinstrap (Pygoscelis Antarctica) and Magellanic (Spheniscus magellanicus) penguins. Extralimital sightings of penguins, as observed in this study, could potentially be a result of navigational errors due to severe storms or anomalous ocean conditions acting independently or in concert with other factors such as young age or poor health.

Avian Assemblages at Paya Indah Natural Wetland Reserve, Malaysia

Estimating accurate avian assemblages such as density and diversity are key factors for the conservation and management of birds and their habitats. Avian assemblages based on status in five habitats at Paya Indah Natural Wetland Reserve were determined using the distance sampling, point count method, at 121 count stations. A total of 100 bird species (64 resident, 18 migratory, 16 resident-migratory and 2 vagrant bird species) were detected from November 2012 to January 2014. The highest bird density was recorded for resident birds (72.2 ± 3.8 bird’s ha-1) and the lowest for vagrant birds (0.1 ± 0.1 birds ha-1). In which Resident birds have significantly higher density, species diversity, richness and evenness compared to resident-migrant and migratory birds.

Subspecific identification of the Great Lakes' first Brown Booby (<em>Sula leucogaster</em>) using DNA

The first Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) recorded in the Great Lakes basin was discovered on Lake Erie near the source of the Niagara River on 7 October 2013 by J. P. Morphologic evidence suggested that this bird was an adult female of the nominate Atlantic subspecies. We obtained genomic DNA from feces left by the bird. Mitochondrial DNA from the control region (CR2) was sequenced and compared with extensive CR2 data for Brown Booby available in GenBank; this corroborated the morphologic hypothesis. This is the first time that a vagrant bird in Canada has been identified using DNA extracted from feces.

On the origin and systematic position of the Azorean goldenrod, Solidago azorica (Asteraceae)

Goldenrods were first collected in the Azores by the German botanist Karl Hochstetter in 1838 and described as an endemic species Solidago azorica. In 1882, Asa Gray placed the name into synonymy of the American seaside goldenrod, S. sempervirens. The taxonomic position and status of the plants in the Azores remained unclear ever since but recent human-mediated introduction from the American coast seemed to be the most likely explanation. Here, I analyze molecular and morphological data and the historical record to test this hypothesis. While morphological differences are not clear and an overall similarity to some specimens from New Foundland is striking, I find that all analyzed Solidago plants from the Azores archipelago differ in their nuclear ITS and ETS sequences plus a number of microsatellite markers from American goldenrods. Furthermore, the historical record suggests existence of goldenrods in the Azores at the time of the arrival of the first settlers and well before Columbus’ first journey. Moreover, large populations were reported from several islands in the 16th century. I conclude that the Azorean plants are native to the Azores and represent a distinct endemic species sharing a common ancestor with S. sempervirens. The Azorean plants represent a geographically isolated, genetically distinct population that is most likely the result of a natural colonization event from the North American coast perhaps via vagrant birds. I reinstate the name S. azorica and describe the morphological differences between S. azorica and S. sempervirens.

Records of vagrant bird species in Antarctica: new observations

This paper presents a review of the vagrant species recorded in different areas of the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Seven bird species were observed at Elephant Island, King George Island and Nelson Island. Elephant Island was the area with the largest number of species recorded (N = 5). Among all the species observed in Antarctica, White-rumped Sandpiper and Cattle Egrets were the species with the most observations. There are different hypotheses used to explain the presence of vagrant bird species in Antarctica: (I) storms, irregular ocean currents, climate change and navigator errors can suggest why the birds are registered out of their usual areas of distribution; (II) changes in ocean currents may influence resource distributions and, consequently, influence bird distribution patterns. It is important to gather more information on bird species that are using new areas, to understand the diversity of birds in Antarctic regions, to characterize changes in migratory routes and to observe the responses of species facing global climate change.