Densities and dispersion of breeding Eurasian Hobbies Falco subbuteo in southeast England

Capsule Breeding Hobbies are more numerous in parts of southeast England than previously recognized, and in suitable habitat their breeding dispersion shows a regular pattern.

Aims To establish the density and breeding dispersion pattern of a population of Hobbies in southeast England.

Methods Surveys to locate every pair of Hobbies present were conducted in six study areas of between 48.0 and 201.2 km² in three counties in southeast England during 2005–10.

Results Each study area held between 7 and 21 pairs. Densities were higher than in previous studies conducted in Britain, at between 9.0 and 15.0 pairs per 100 km². Mean densities per unit area of non-developed habitat were also consistently higher than expected, at between 10.1 and 17.3 pairs per 100 km². The mean nearest known neighbour distances fell within the range 1.8–2.8 km. In all six study areas, pairs were regularly spaced. The majority (68.0%) of nesting and territorial pairs occupied sites in woodland.

Conclusions Breeding Hobbies are considerably more numerous in parts of southeast England than previously recognized, and numbers appear to be continuing to increase. Accurate population estimates for Hobbies require species-specific fieldwork.     

四川南充市区火斑鸠的繁殖生态

20 0 2年 5～ 1 1月、2 0 0 3年 4～ 9月对南充市火斑鸠的繁殖生态进行了研究。结果表明 :4月下旬迁到 ,5月下旬开始繁殖 ;影响巢址选择的主要因素 6种 ;两性参与筑巢 ,营巢期 7～ 8d ;隔 2～ 3日产枚卵 ,窝卵数 ( 2 2 1± 0 0 9)枚 (n =1 9) ;雌雄轮流昼夜孵卵 ,日换孵两次 ,孵卵期 1 1～ 1 2d ,孵化率 92 86%;育雏可分三个时期 ,育雏高峰期每日 7:0 0、1 3 :0 0、1 8:0 0时左右 ,育雏期 1 7～ 1 8d ,雏离巢率 1 0 0 %,繁殖生产力1 86,种群育雏高峰期 7月和 8月上中旬 ;雏鸟于 1 7或 1 8日后离巢迁到郊外 ,9月下旬集群 ,1 0月中下旬迁飞。     

珠颈斑鸠繁殖期占据领域鸣声特征及行为

2003年4～6月,在四川省南充市通过野外观察、录音、室内计算机处理及声谱分析对珠颈斑鸠繁殖期占据领域鸣声特征及行为做了研究。结果表明：珠颈斑鸠有一般占据和召唤配偶共同占据两类鸣声,两类鸣声雌雄不同,但均由3音节组成;其鸣唱具有应答性,且每次在各栖位点的鸣唱顺序大致相同;日鸣唱频次变化大,具3个高峰期;繁殖各时期鸣唱频次变化亦大。     

呼和浩特市鸟类种的新记录——珠颈斑鸠

2004年4月4日笔者在呼和浩特市第三苗圃(40°48.445′N,111°433.49′E)进行鸟类资源调查时,于15:40左右在东侧靠近东墙的灌丛中发现两只体长约30cm的类似灰斑鸠的鸟,在距其约8m的地方,通过8×40倍双目望远镜观察发现:通体粉褐色,头部灰褐色;后颈具宽阔的黑色领圈,其上杂以珍珠     

Method learning caused a first‐time observer effect in a newly started breeding bird survey

Capsule A first‐time observer effect in the new French breeding bird survey (BBS) was found to result from new observers learning how to use the point count method on randomly selected sites.

Aims To estimate the first‐year effect in a newly started BBS, to look for correlates and test for a temporal trend in learning.

Methods Trends of 105 species were estimated using data from 2001–2007 obtained by 1100 observers conducting point counts over 1535 randomly selected squares. I estimated the average increase in detected numbers between the first and all subsequent years of survey at a site.

Results Observers counted 4.3% more birds in subsequent years than during the initial year of survey. This first‐year effect decreased from 2001 to 2007 (by an average of 2% per year). It was not related to most variables known to influence species detection probability. Only species with songs of lower sound frequencies (ranging from 0.5 to 8 kHz here) displayed a greater increase in locally detected numbers.

Conclusion The detected first‐year effect was the result of method learning by new observers who had not previously conducted point counts or visited randomly selected sites. The learning effect was larger for species with songs of lower sound frequency which are harder to hear during the dawn chorus.     

火斑鸠孵卵期和育雏期伴巢行为

2002年5～11月对7巢火斑鸠的伴巢行为进行了预观察;2003年4～9月采用所有事件取样法(Alloccurrence recording)和焦点动物取样法(Focal animalsampling)对其3巢的孵卵期和育雏期伴巢行为进行了系统研究。结果表明：其伴巢行为时间长,雌雄差异大。孵卵期内伴巢行为变化小;而育雏期则较复杂,行为特征和时间变化大,根据行为不同可分3个时期：暖雏期、守护期、巢周育雏期。     

珠颈斑鸠的代谢产热特征

采用封闭式氧气流体压力呼吸仪和数字式温度计,测定在环境温度(Ta)为0℃、6.5℃、10.5℃、16.5℃、20℃、22.5℃、25℃、27.5℃和30℃时珠颈斑鸠(Streptopelia chinesis)的代谢率(MR)和体温(Tb),由此计算出每个温度点的热传导(C)以及MR和C的体质量预期值等指标,探讨其代谢产热特征。结果表明:在Ta为0℃～30℃时,珠颈斑鸠的体温基本维持恒定,平均体温为(40.7±0.1)℃,热中性区(TNZ)为22.5～27.5℃,基础代谢率为(160.48±6.05)mlO2.h-1,是体质量预期值的65%;Ta在0℃～25℃范围内,热传导值最低且基本保持恒定,平均为(0.07±0.01)mlO2.g-1.h-1.℃-1,是体质量预期值的122%。珠颈斑鸠具有较低的MR,较高的C和Tb,能较好地适应南方较热的气候环境。     

Hybrid vocalizations are effective within, but not outside, an avian hybrid zone

Secondary contact between closely related species can lead tohybridization. The fitness of hybrid individuals within andoutside the hybrid zone determines whether the hybrid zone expandsinto the ranges of the 2 parental species or remains a stable,geographically narrow area in between the allopatric rangesof the parental species. In birds, vocalizations play an importantrole in male–male competition and female mate choice andare often affected by hybridization. One of the factors thatwill influence male hybrid fitness is the ability to defenda territory against competitors by vocalizing. We tested theefficacy of territorial signals of hybrids of 2 dove species,Streptopelia vinacea and Streptopelia capicola, compared withthe vocalizations of the parental species. With playback experiments,we assessed the response to hybrid and the 2 parental speciesvocalizations in the hybrid zone and adjacent allopatric populationsof each species. In the hybrid zone, males did not respond differentlyto the 3 vocalization types. In both allopatric populations,however, males responded more to conspecific than to heterospecificsignals and the response strength to hybrid signals was intermediate.Therefore, in the allopatric populations, hybrid males may havea reduced success in defending territories. In male–maleinteractions in the hybrid zone, hybrids may not have a disadvantagecompared with males of the parental species. The ability todefend a territory against competitors may thus help maintaina stable hybrid zone in the area of overlap.     

Haemolytic and bactericidal activity of serum from the ring dove (Streptopelia risoria) after treatment with exogenous prolactin

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effect of exogenous prolactin on the haemolytic and bactericidal capacity of serum obtained from ring doves (Streptopelia risoria) previously injected with either bovine serum albumin or saline solution. Haemolytic activity was measured in CH-50 units (which represents the capacity of serum complement to lyse 50% of sheep red blood cells in the presence of specific antibody) and the bactericidal activity was estimated from the number of colony-forming units ofStaphylococcus aureus which survived after 24 h of incubation in the presence of serum. The results indicated that: (1) bovine serum albumin stimulated both haemolytic and bactericidal activity, the highest values occurring 24 h and 4 days after administration, respectively. (2) Prolactin induced an increase in the haemolytic activity of complement. (3) The administration of bovine serum albumin to animals previously treated with prolactin produced a greater stimulation than either bovine serum albumin or prolactin alone.Abbreviations BSA bovine serum albumin - CFT complement fixation test - CFU colony-forming units - CH-50 units, the reciprocal of the complement dilution with 50% lysis of the hemolysin-treated erythrocytes - IU international units - PBS phosphate-buffered saline solution - SS saline solution     

Effects of begging on growth rates of nestling chicks

We investigated whether an increase in begging levels delaysgrowth of chicks. In experiment 1, we hand-reared nine pairsof ring dove squabs, divided into a control and a begging group.All squabs received similar amounts of food, but those in thebegging group had to beg for a prolonged period in order tobe fed, while squabs in the control group received food withoutbegging. Squabs stopped responding to the treatment after 10days and, at that time, there was no effect of induced beggingon their body mass. In experiment 2, we hand-reared 27 pairsof magpie chicks for 3 days. The design of experiment 2 wassimilar to that of experiment 1. Daily food intake and beggingaffected growth rates. On average, chicks in the begging groupgrew 0.8 g/day less than control chicks, which represents adecrease of 8.15% in growth rate. Because growth is usuallypositively associated with expected fitness, this demonstratesthat begging is a costly behavior, an assumption routinelymade in models of begging behavior.     

Prolactin-induced parental hyperphagia in ring doves: are glucocorticoids involved?

Hyperphagia is a prominent component of the parental behavior repertoire in male and female ring doves and is necessary in order for parents to successfully provision their growing young. Although previous studies implicate both prolactin and the endogenous glucocorticoid, corticosterone, in parental hyperphagia, the functional interactions between these two hormones in regulating changes in feeding activity have not been characterized. These studies examined the possibility that prolactin's orexigenic effects are mediated through the increased secretion of corticosterone. Twice-daily intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of prolactin increased plasma corticosterone concentration in non-breeding doves of both sexes, with males exhibiting more pronounced effects than females. To further test the importance of glucocorticoid signaling in prolactin-induced feeding responses, changes in food intake were investigated in icv prolactin-treated, non-breeding doves following icv infusion of the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU38486 or propylene glycol vehicle. No attenuation of prolactin-induced hyperphagia was observed in either sex following co-administration of RU38486 at a dose shown previously to block dexamethasone-induced feeding in doves. These findings suggest that elevated corticosterone titers in blood may contribute to the hyperphagia observed in response to prolactin, but corticosterone signaling through a mammalian-type glucocorticoid receptor is not essential.     

Optimal brood size and its limiting factors in the Rufous Turtle DoveStreptopelia orientalis

Optimal brood size and its limiting factors of the Rufous Turtle Dove,Streptopelia orientalis, were studied at the campus of the University of Tsukuba, Japan, during the breeding season in 1990–92. The dove usually lays two eggs in a nest. I made nests of a brood size of one and three by transferring a hatchling from one nest to the other, and compared their fledging success, factors of breeding failure, weight and tarsus length at fledging, growth rate and nestling period with those of a brood of two. The index of fitness (fledgling weight multiplied by average number of fledglings per nest) was almost the same in broods of two and three. However, the highest variation in fledging weight within the brood and the extension of nestling period were observed in broods of three, which caused the extension of inter-brood interval and consequently the smaller number of broods in the total breeding season. Therefore, broods of three would not have an advantage in producing more offspring than broods of two. Crop milk production had an effect on the growth of nestlings in the early phase of the nestling period, but the rapid growth in the granivorous phase compensated for the growth delay of the smallest nestling in broods of three. Small brood size and a large number of broods in a season would also be more effective under high predation pressure.     

Location of neurons projecting to the hypophysial stalk — median eminence in ring doves (Streptopelia roseogrisea)

The median eminence/pituitary stalk represents the final common pathway for fibers from neurons that project to the pituitary gland. We have used the lipophilic fluorescent tracer 1,1-dioctadecyl-3,3,3,3-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) to determine the location of neurons projecting to the median eminence/pituitary stalk in ring doves. The tracer can be precisely applied to fixed tissue, in areas to which it is otherwise difficult to gain access. Follwwing application of DiI to the median eminence/pituitary stalk, labeled neurons were detected in six distinct regions: the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, supraoptic nucleus, in and ventral to the lateral forebrain bundle, preoptic area, and lateral septum. Labeled fibers branched extensively in the diencephalon, particularly along the third ventricle and in the septal-preoptic area. Sparse fiber labeling occurred caudal to the tuberal hypothalamus, even though these regions were close to the application site of the tracer. Labeled cerebrospinal-fluid-contacting cells were seen in the paraventricular region of the third ventricle. The results indicate that the avian neuronal system that projects to the median eminence and neural lobe occurs in diffuse clusters largely along the midline region of the hypothalamic septal-preoptic area. The paucity of fiber staining caudal to the tuberal hypothalamic region indicates that cells of these regions do not project to the median eminence/pituitary.     

Distribution shifts in wintering Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria and Lapwing Vanellus vanellus in Britain

Capsule The winter distribution of Golden Plover and Lapwing has shifted east since the mid-1980s, perhaps in response to climate change.

Aims To combine analyses of winter trends on wetlands and flocks on farmland to assess the current status of Golden Plover and Lapwing in one of their main wintering regions.

Methods Winter trends were derived from monthly counts on estuaries and wetlands for the period 1974–2002 (the Wetland Bird Survey). Winter distribution on farmland was assessed using casual records of large flocks and surveys of a stratified random sample of 1-km squares (the Winter Farmland Bird Survey).

Results Regional trends showed a pronounced increase in numbers of both species since 1974 on the east coast, with a smaller increase on the south coast. Numbers in the west and north tended to decline. Flocks on farmland were concentrated in eastern Britain unlike the situation in the 1980s.

Conclusions The winter distribution of Golden Plover and Lapwing has shifted to the east, resulting in large numbers on the east coast and in the arable east of Britain. The implications of this shift, especially in relation to known habitat associations, are discussed.     

Problems of censusing Reed Buntings,Sedge Warblers and Reed Warblers

The daytime dispersal of Starlings from an urban winter communal roost was monitored by colour marking 1424 birds according to age and sex. Reports received from members of the public suggested that dispersal was homogeneous with respect to age and sex composition at all distances from the roost. There was evidence that dispersal was geographically heterogeneous with respect to sex composition, and this observation is discussed in relation to correlated variation in agricultural practices.