Abstract Based on the results of dietary surveys of the Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola L.) in 11 countries (Great Britain, Scotland, France, Italy, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, and Romania), 63 taxa (42 animal and 21 plant) were detected in Woodcock gizzard contents, of which the predominant dietary components were of animal origin. The composition of the dietary components varies only within a narrow spectrum, adapting to seasonal changes in the insect fauna and the supply of the area. Earthworms (Lumbricus spp.) represent the dominant proportion, also with larvae of Dermaptera, Myriapoda, Coleoptera taxa, and Diplopoda and Araneidae species being present in significant numbers. The mass fraction of plant components (mainly weed seeds) is low, with occasional occurrence of vegetative plant parts. The narrow species range of animal taxa recorded and the low proportion of plant dietary components clearly indicate that the Woodcock is a specialist species, and the availability of a few major dietary component taxa groups are a limiting factor in case of the Woodcock. Therefore, it is a major determinant of the diurnal, seasonal and annual movement patterns.
{"title":"Spectrum of animal and plant in the diet of Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola L.) based on literature data","authors":"A. Bende, Richárd László","doi":"10.2478/orhu-2022-0029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2022-0029","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Based on the results of dietary surveys of the Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola L.) in 11 countries (Great Britain, Scotland, France, Italy, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, and Romania), 63 taxa (42 animal and 21 plant) were detected in Woodcock gizzard contents, of which the predominant dietary components were of animal origin. The composition of the dietary components varies only within a narrow spectrum, adapting to seasonal changes in the insect fauna and the supply of the area. Earthworms (Lumbricus spp.) represent the dominant proportion, also with larvae of Dermaptera, Myriapoda, Coleoptera taxa, and Diplopoda and Araneidae species being present in significant numbers. The mass fraction of plant components (mainly weed seeds) is low, with occasional occurrence of vegetative plant parts. The narrow species range of animal taxa recorded and the low proportion of plant dietary components clearly indicate that the Woodcock is a specialist species, and the availability of a few major dietary component taxa groups are a limiting factor in case of the Woodcock. Therefore, it is a major determinant of the diurnal, seasonal and annual movement patterns.","PeriodicalId":35966,"journal":{"name":"Ornis Hungarica","volume":"30 1","pages":"188 - 194"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44150250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Woodpeckers as cavity excavators are crucial in forest ecosystems, therefore, it is important to study their ecological needs, specifically at the territory scale, using mapping methodologies, of which there are uncertainties considering detection probabilities and the distances of the territory centres in different species and habitats. We studied the effects of the number of visits and isolation distance on detected woodpecker territories in the 1,000 ha forest mosaic of the Peszér forest in Central Hungary. We made territory mapping in 2020 along existing trails and forest roads on the present woodpecker species as Black, Eurasian Green, Great Spotted, Middle Spotted, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Eurasian Wryneck. We found a very low detection probability for single territories during one visit, while with the increasing number of visits it is more unlikely to overlook territories. Considering the isolation distances, by lowering the distance, more territories can be registered, which suggests that researchers should take great care choosing the proper distance for a given species whilst avoiding the over- or underestimation of territories. This paper has an actuality as BirdLife Hungary announced the Eurasian Green Woodpecker as the Bird of the Year in 2022, for drawing attention to this species’ habitat preferences and conservation.
{"title":"Testing different isolation distances in woodpecker territory mapping in Central Hungary","authors":"C. Vadász, Gábor Kocsán, G. Ónodi","doi":"10.2478/orhu-2022-0016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2022-0016","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Woodpeckers as cavity excavators are crucial in forest ecosystems, therefore, it is important to study their ecological needs, specifically at the territory scale, using mapping methodologies, of which there are uncertainties considering detection probabilities and the distances of the territory centres in different species and habitats. We studied the effects of the number of visits and isolation distance on detected woodpecker territories in the 1,000 ha forest mosaic of the Peszér forest in Central Hungary. We made territory mapping in 2020 along existing trails and forest roads on the present woodpecker species as Black, Eurasian Green, Great Spotted, Middle Spotted, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Eurasian Wryneck. We found a very low detection probability for single territories during one visit, while with the increasing number of visits it is more unlikely to overlook territories. Considering the isolation distances, by lowering the distance, more territories can be registered, which suggests that researchers should take great care choosing the proper distance for a given species whilst avoiding the over- or underestimation of territories. This paper has an actuality as BirdLife Hungary announced the Eurasian Green Woodpecker as the Bird of the Year in 2022, for drawing attention to this species’ habitat preferences and conservation.","PeriodicalId":35966,"journal":{"name":"Ornis Hungarica","volume":"30 1","pages":"1 - 9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46901436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract The western boundary of the Palearctic range of the Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) is located in the Carpathian Basin, with significant breeding areas in the northern part of Serbia, Voivodina Province. The size of the breeding population has been estimated and surveyed several times since the middle of the last century. The number of breeding pairs showed considerable variation, while estimates suggested a declining trend in the population size, though the dynamics of the Red-footed Falcon population was less known. This motivated us to perform censuses every year from 2000 until 2009. During that period, the number of confirmed breeding pairs varied from 61 to 179. We found that the number of breeding pairs decreased significantly (˃ 40%) after a 3-4 year of increase. The number of breeding sites and the extent of the distribution area changed in proportion to the increase or decrease of the population size. However, the change in population size was unrelated to the general proportion of pairs breeding in colonies (87–96%) and those breeding solitarily (4–13%).
{"title":"The population dynamics of the Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) on the southwestern limit of its breeding range","authors":"J. Purger, Sándor Lukács","doi":"10.2478/orhu-2022-0026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2022-0026","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The western boundary of the Palearctic range of the Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) is located in the Carpathian Basin, with significant breeding areas in the northern part of Serbia, Voivodina Province. The size of the breeding population has been estimated and surveyed several times since the middle of the last century. The number of breeding pairs showed considerable variation, while estimates suggested a declining trend in the population size, though the dynamics of the Red-footed Falcon population was less known. This motivated us to perform censuses every year from 2000 until 2009. During that period, the number of confirmed breeding pairs varied from 61 to 179. We found that the number of breeding pairs decreased significantly (˃ 40%) after a 3-4 year of increase. The number of breeding sites and the extent of the distribution area changed in proportion to the increase or decrease of the population size. However, the change in population size was unrelated to the general proportion of pairs breeding in colonies (87–96%) and those breeding solitarily (4–13%).","PeriodicalId":35966,"journal":{"name":"Ornis Hungarica","volume":"30 1","pages":"151 - 162"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44104114","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract The authors have identified the mostly very fragmentary bird fossils from the uncatalogued material of the Hungarian Institute of Geology and Geophysics to the level that the condition of the bones allows. Almost half of the 102 bone pieces (42 fragments) could be completely or partially identified, while the rest (60 fragments represented either by bone fragments or by toe phalanges, claws, mandibles, etc.) could not be identified. The material identified includes taxa previously published and known from the site, but a good number of these are represented by other bones or parts of bones, as in previous publications (Palaeortyx phasianoides Milne-Edwards, 1869, Palaeocryptonix hungaricus Jánossy, 1991, Porzana † kretzoii Kessler, 2009, Glaucidium † baranensis Kessler, 2010, Apus † baranensis Jánossy, 1977, Lullula † minor Kessler, 2013, Delichon † polgardiensis Kessler, 2013, Riparia † major Kessler, 2013, Sitta † gracilis Kessler, 2013). The taxa identified at order, family or genus level are listed in the main text and complemented by one figure, as well as a rich bibliographic material.
{"title":"Presentation of so far undetermined bird remains from the Upper Miocene (MN13) of Polgárdi 4 and 5 (Fejér county, West Hungary)","authors":"J. Kessler, Ida Horváth","doi":"10.2478/orhu-2022-0027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2022-0027","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The authors have identified the mostly very fragmentary bird fossils from the uncatalogued material of the Hungarian Institute of Geology and Geophysics to the level that the condition of the bones allows. Almost half of the 102 bone pieces (42 fragments) could be completely or partially identified, while the rest (60 fragments represented either by bone fragments or by toe phalanges, claws, mandibles, etc.) could not be identified. The material identified includes taxa previously published and known from the site, but a good number of these are represented by other bones or parts of bones, as in previous publications (Palaeortyx phasianoides Milne-Edwards, 1869, Palaeocryptonix hungaricus Jánossy, 1991, Porzana † kretzoii Kessler, 2009, Glaucidium † baranensis Kessler, 2010, Apus † baranensis Jánossy, 1977, Lullula † minor Kessler, 2013, Delichon † polgardiensis Kessler, 2013, Riparia † major Kessler, 2013, Sitta † gracilis Kessler, 2013). The taxa identified at order, family or genus level are listed in the main text and complemented by one figure, as well as a rich bibliographic material.","PeriodicalId":35966,"journal":{"name":"Ornis Hungarica","volume":"30 1","pages":"163 - 175"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47509905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Functional characteristics of the jaw apparatus, for example bite force, in vertebrates is a combination of the skeleton and the musculature. In birds, bite force has been measured directly or calculated using various methods including summation of forces generated by the different elements of the jaw musculature. However, there have been no reports of the relationships between body size with the mass of the different muscle groups in a closely related group of birds. This study explored allometry in the different jaw muscle masses from parrot (Psittaciformes) species differing in body mass by 40-fold. It was hypothesised that the different muscle masses would exhibit isometry with body mass and skull size. Parrot heads were dissected and the masses of the individual muscle complexes were recorded. Data were subjected to phylogenetically-controlled regression analysis to document scaling effects with body mass and skull size. Most, but not all muscles, exhibited positive allometry with body mass but most were isometric with skull size. Consequently, as parrots get bigger, their skulls get proportionally longer, but that the muscles within the head isometrically scaled relative to the size of these proportionally larger skulls. The large muscles imply greater bite forces in parrots than have been reported to date, which seems to be associated with an increase in skull size to accommodate more muscles. It is unknown whether this pattern is applicable to other birds within specific orders or even across birds as a whole. There needs to be further investigation into the allometry of the morphological and functional properties of the avian jaw musculature.
{"title":"Allometric inter-relationships between jaw musculature mass, skull size and body mass in Psittaciformes","authors":"Shannon L. Harrison, G. Sutton, D. Deeming","doi":"10.2478/orhu-2022-0019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2022-0019","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Functional characteristics of the jaw apparatus, for example bite force, in vertebrates is a combination of the skeleton and the musculature. In birds, bite force has been measured directly or calculated using various methods including summation of forces generated by the different elements of the jaw musculature. However, there have been no reports of the relationships between body size with the mass of the different muscle groups in a closely related group of birds. This study explored allometry in the different jaw muscle masses from parrot (Psittaciformes) species differing in body mass by 40-fold. It was hypothesised that the different muscle masses would exhibit isometry with body mass and skull size. Parrot heads were dissected and the masses of the individual muscle complexes were recorded. Data were subjected to phylogenetically-controlled regression analysis to document scaling effects with body mass and skull size. Most, but not all muscles, exhibited positive allometry with body mass but most were isometric with skull size. Consequently, as parrots get bigger, their skulls get proportionally longer, but that the muscles within the head isometrically scaled relative to the size of these proportionally larger skulls. The large muscles imply greater bite forces in parrots than have been reported to date, which seems to be associated with an increase in skull size to accommodate more muscles. It is unknown whether this pattern is applicable to other birds within specific orders or even across birds as a whole. There needs to be further investigation into the allometry of the morphological and functional properties of the avian jaw musculature.","PeriodicalId":35966,"journal":{"name":"Ornis Hungarica","volume":"30 1","pages":"45 - 60"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44999703","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
B. A. Boulaouad, Bachir Harzallah, Khaled Ayyach, Karim Attouche, Walid Soukkou, Djamel Hadj Aissa, Hamza Faidi, M. Missoum
Abstract In this paper we present a report about the birds of the southern part of the Algerian Sahara. A total of 62 species were recorded with direct observations in nine different localities of two regions (from Tamanrasset city to In Guezzam city), belonging to 29 families and 12 orders in 2021. Three species were recorded for the first time in Algeria, White-throated Bee-eater (Merops albicollis), Cut-throat Finch (Amadina fasciata) and Village Indigobird (Vidua chalybeata). The latter two were probably escaped from captivity. The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) were observed for the first time in this region.
{"title":"A new species for Algeria, White-throated Bee-eater (Merops albicollis), observations of probably escaped individuals of Cutthroat Finch (Amadina fasciata) and Village Indigobird (Vidua chalybeata) and a checklist of southern Sahara birds","authors":"B. A. Boulaouad, Bachir Harzallah, Khaled Ayyach, Karim Attouche, Walid Soukkou, Djamel Hadj Aissa, Hamza Faidi, M. Missoum","doi":"10.2478/orhu-2022-0030","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2022-0030","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract In this paper we present a report about the birds of the southern part of the Algerian Sahara. A total of 62 species were recorded with direct observations in nine different localities of two regions (from Tamanrasset city to In Guezzam city), belonging to 29 families and 12 orders in 2021. Three species were recorded for the first time in Algeria, White-throated Bee-eater (Merops albicollis), Cut-throat Finch (Amadina fasciata) and Village Indigobird (Vidua chalybeata). The latter two were probably escaped from captivity. The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) were observed for the first time in this region.","PeriodicalId":35966,"journal":{"name":"Ornis Hungarica","volume":"30 1","pages":"195 - 207"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45404694","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract To upgrade the known avifaunal assemblages of adjoining coastal areas of Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal, India, opportunistic survey were carried out during January 2020 to August 2022. The survey yielded additions of 36 bird species in 10 orders and 17 families to the coastal area of Purba Medinipur district, based on photographic evidences. Among these recorded birds, 30 species were classified as Least Concern, two species were Near Threatened (Aythya nyroca, Calidris canutus), one species was Vulnerable (Aythya ferina), two species were Endangered (Calidris tenuirostris, Rynchops albicollis) and one species was Not Assessed (Porphyrio poliocephalus). Details of all the records are given here.
{"title":"New species for the avifauna of adjoining coastal areas of Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal, India","authors":"Piklu Das, Atish Manna, Arajush Payra","doi":"10.2478/orhu-2022-0031","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2022-0031","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract To upgrade the known avifaunal assemblages of adjoining coastal areas of Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal, India, opportunistic survey were carried out during January 2020 to August 2022. The survey yielded additions of 36 bird species in 10 orders and 17 families to the coastal area of Purba Medinipur district, based on photographic evidences. Among these recorded birds, 30 species were classified as Least Concern, two species were Near Threatened (Aythya nyroca, Calidris canutus), one species was Vulnerable (Aythya ferina), two species were Endangered (Calidris tenuirostris, Rynchops albicollis) and one species was Not Assessed (Porphyrio poliocephalus). Details of all the records are given here.","PeriodicalId":35966,"journal":{"name":"Ornis Hungarica","volume":"30 1","pages":"208 - 224"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47468864","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Woodpeckers, having a fairly well-defined range of acoustic signals, offer a valuable opportunity to link acoustic repertoires to behavioural observations. Instrumental and vocal sounds from more than 70 individual Eurasian Green Woodpeckers were analysed using 305 sound recordings. Eighteen separate acoustic signals are described, together with field observations of associated behaviour. Sixteen are illustrated by clear spectrograms supporting the phonetic descriptions. With one exception, calls consisted of repeated elements, with the first element often containing varying degrees of emphasis. Variation within call types, especially the advertising call, differentiated individuals and their motivation and did not appear to be regionally significant. Instrumental signals, while soft and easily overlooked, constituted an important intimate communication between breeding pairs.
{"title":"The acoustic communication of the Eurasian Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)","authors":"Kyle Turner, G. Gorman, D. Alder","doi":"10.2478/orhu-2022-0017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2022-0017","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Woodpeckers, having a fairly well-defined range of acoustic signals, offer a valuable opportunity to link acoustic repertoires to behavioural observations. Instrumental and vocal sounds from more than 70 individual Eurasian Green Woodpeckers were analysed using 305 sound recordings. Eighteen separate acoustic signals are described, together with field observations of associated behaviour. Sixteen are illustrated by clear spectrograms supporting the phonetic descriptions. With one exception, calls consisted of repeated elements, with the first element often containing varying degrees of emphasis. Variation within call types, especially the advertising call, differentiated individuals and their motivation and did not appear to be regionally significant. Instrumental signals, while soft and easily overlooked, constituted an important intimate communication between breeding pairs.","PeriodicalId":35966,"journal":{"name":"Ornis Hungarica","volume":"30 1","pages":"10 - 32"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44402298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract We analysed the effects of weather and climatic patterns on the productivity of the White Stork in Hungary between 1958 and 2017, using i) linear mixed effect models (LMM), ii) LMM-s extended by a single random effect variable or a nested combination; iii) LMM-s extended by a single fixed effect variable and iv) using an additive model of the selected variables. As a preselection, the following climatic variables were identified with substantial support: March mean temperature, March precipitation, April mean temperature, June mean temperature, June precipitation (negative), July mean temperature. The slight increase of the mean number of fledged chicks over 59 years could be the result of the increasing mean temperature, but in itself it might not be strong enough to prove that climate change will overall benefit White Stork productivity. Higher temperature and precipitation values are favourable, probably because of the higher biomass, providing more prey, but high precipitation is unfavourable until the thermoregulation of chicks is not developed. Decreasing amounts of precipitation may cause loss of wetlands as suitable feeding sites. Extreme weather is important to complement the picture given by climate change.
{"title":"Effects of climate variables on the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia L.) productivity in a long term study","authors":"A. Gyalus, P. Lovászi, Z. Végvári, T. Csörgő","doi":"10.2478/orhu-2022-0020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2022-0020","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract We analysed the effects of weather and climatic patterns on the productivity of the White Stork in Hungary between 1958 and 2017, using i) linear mixed effect models (LMM), ii) LMM-s extended by a single random effect variable or a nested combination; iii) LMM-s extended by a single fixed effect variable and iv) using an additive model of the selected variables. As a preselection, the following climatic variables were identified with substantial support: March mean temperature, March precipitation, April mean temperature, June mean temperature, June precipitation (negative), July mean temperature. The slight increase of the mean number of fledged chicks over 59 years could be the result of the increasing mean temperature, but in itself it might not be strong enough to prove that climate change will overall benefit White Stork productivity. Higher temperature and precipitation values are favourable, probably because of the higher biomass, providing more prey, but high precipitation is unfavourable until the thermoregulation of chicks is not developed. Decreasing amounts of precipitation may cause loss of wetlands as suitable feeding sites. Extreme weather is important to complement the picture given by climate change.","PeriodicalId":35966,"journal":{"name":"Ornis Hungarica","volume":"30 1","pages":"61 - 74"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43906219","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
R. Valle, Alejandro Corregidor-Castro, E. Verza, F. Scarton
Abstract In the last decade, the use of drones has proven to be the major innovation for studying various aspects of waterbird breeding biology, overcoming the environmental obstacles inherent in monitoring their breeding sites. The Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) represents an example of the aforementioned difficulties, since it nests in impenetrable reed beds and nearby bushes, trees and shrubs. The present work reports the results of drone assessment of nest counting and reproductive success of the Squacco Heron in a colony in the Po Delta (NE Italy). At the beginning of the breeding season, far more nests (46) were found using drones than by eye from the nearest embankment (12). After four weeks (estimated hatching period), only ten nests were relocated by drone, due to vegetation overgrowth. All relocated nests were placed directly either within reed beds or on lower branches of shrubs, but always without higher branches obstructing the view from above. Finally, in the fledging period, no nest was relocated on drone imagery, due to further vegetation growth. Only 27 juveniles were found by drone, mostly perching on the canopy, without any evidence of nest failure, suggesting a critical underestimation. In conclusion, drone use improves accuracy of counting nesting Squacco Herons, but fails to assess productivity.
{"title":"Drone monitoring improves nest detection of Squacco Herons Ardeola ralloides, but fails to assess its productivity","authors":"R. Valle, Alejandro Corregidor-Castro, E. Verza, F. Scarton","doi":"10.2478/orhu-2022-0028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2022-0028","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract In the last decade, the use of drones has proven to be the major innovation for studying various aspects of waterbird breeding biology, overcoming the environmental obstacles inherent in monitoring their breeding sites. The Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) represents an example of the aforementioned difficulties, since it nests in impenetrable reed beds and nearby bushes, trees and shrubs. The present work reports the results of drone assessment of nest counting and reproductive success of the Squacco Heron in a colony in the Po Delta (NE Italy). At the beginning of the breeding season, far more nests (46) were found using drones than by eye from the nearest embankment (12). After four weeks (estimated hatching period), only ten nests were relocated by drone, due to vegetation overgrowth. All relocated nests were placed directly either within reed beds or on lower branches of shrubs, but always without higher branches obstructing the view from above. Finally, in the fledging period, no nest was relocated on drone imagery, due to further vegetation growth. Only 27 juveniles were found by drone, mostly perching on the canopy, without any evidence of nest failure, suggesting a critical underestimation. In conclusion, drone use improves accuracy of counting nesting Squacco Herons, but fails to assess productivity.","PeriodicalId":35966,"journal":{"name":"Ornis Hungarica","volume":"30 1","pages":"176 - 187"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41414196","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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