Recently added articles from Bird Study:
Non-breeding fæder Ruffs Philomachus pugnax associate according to sex, not morphology
Nov 01, 2008; ... Capsule Fæders (males that are female look-alikes) associate with males rather than females, at several different spatial scales. Aims To test the prediction that the occurrence in space and time of fæders on ecological grounds should track that of females. Methods The fraction ...
Does variation in demographic parameters account for regional variation in Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus population declines across Great Britain?
Nov 01, 2008; ... Capsule Variations in regional nest survival rates, natal philopatry, first-year and adult survival cannot explain regional Northern Lapwing population declines. Aims To assess whether regional nest survival rates, natal dispersal, and first-year and adult survival rates could explain ...
Breeding performance and diet of Great Skuas Stercorarius skua and Parasitic Jaegers (Arctic Skuas) S. parasiticus on the west coast of Scotland
Nov 01, 2008; ... Capsule The Arctic Skua colony on Handa Island is in decline, probably due to pressure from Great Skuas. Aims To assess the factors affecting Great Skua productivity, and the effects of Great Skuas on breeding Arctic Skuas. Methods From 2003 to 2006 population and breeding ...
Long-term population declines in Danish trans-Saharan migrant birds
Nov 01, 2008; ... Capsule Long-distance migrant birds show less favourable trends than sedentary/short-distance species. Aims To use breeding bird surveys to contrast population trends amongst common species according to their migration pattern. Methods Changes in abundance of 62 Danish breeding ...
Selection of foraging habitat and nestling diet by Meadow Pipits Anthus pratensis breeding on intensively grazed moorland
Nov 01, 2008; ... Capsule Foraging sites with low vegetation height and density, but with high arthropod biomass, are selected. Aims To test the hypothesis that on intensively grazed moorland, breeding Meadow Pipits forage for nestling food where arthropod prey are most readily available, and therefore ...
Land-use correlates of breeding performance and diet in Tree Sparrows Passer montanus
Nov 01, 2008; ... Capsule Chick diet varies seasonally and between wet and dry habitats, and there is little evidence for a link between habitat type and productivity. Aim To examine the influence of habitat composition and diversity on Tree Sparrow productivity and nestling diet in a wide variety of ...
Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus nesting in an inland urban colony: the importance of earthworms (Lumbricidae) in their diet
Nov 01, 2008; ... Capsule Earthworms can be an important food of birds breeding inland and on the coast. Aims To identify food and feeding sites of Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus breeding on buildings in Dumfries, Scotland. Methods Direct observations were made of feeding behaviour, and ...
Abundance of male Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix in Britain in 2005, and change since 1995-96
Nov 01, 2008; ... Capsule There was a non-significant decline in the number of displaying males in Britain between 1995-96 and 2005, with a significant decline in Scotland. Aims To estimate the number of displaying male Black Grouse in Britain in 2005, and to compare this with the 1995-96 ...
Breeding biology of two sympatric coots with contrasting conservation status
Nov 01, 2008; ... Capsule Red-knobbed Coots Fulica cristata and Common Coots Fulica atra have similar breeding biology except in chick survival, which was significantly lower in Red-knobbed Coots. Aims To provide information on the breeding biology of Red-knobbed Coots in Spain and to compare this with ...
Density, diet and productivity of Long-eared Owls Asio otus in the Italian Alps: the importance of Microtus voles
Nov 01, 2008; ... Capsule Relatively large populations, feeding predominantly upon voles, were present at higher elevations. Aims To determine the density, productivity and diet composition of Long-eared Owls breeding at higher elevations. Methods Population census and breeding biology were ...
Dummy birds in artificial nest studies: an experiment with Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio
Nov 01, 2008; ... Capsule Dummy birds placed on artificial nests increase nest survival, and their use should be considered in future studies of nest prédation. Nest prédation is a major cause of avian nesting mortality (Ricklefs 1969, Martin 1993). As studies on nest prédation are difficult to undertake ...
Early nesting does not result in greater productivity in the multi-brooded Woodlark Lullula arborea
Jul 01, 2008; ... Capsule Birds that started nesting early and made more nesting attempts did not produce more fledglings or recruits. Aims To investigate seasonal trends in reproductive performance of a multi-brooded ground-nesting passerine, and whether re-nesting compensates for loss of productivity to ...
Revised estimate of numbers of wintering Red-throated Divers Gavia stellata in Great Britain
Jul 01, 2008; ... Capsule An estimated 17000 Red-throated Divers winter around Great Britain. Aim To produce an up-to-date assessment of the numbers of Red-throated Divers wintering around Great Britain. Methods A revised Great Britain (GB) wintering population estimate for Red-throated Divers was ...
Sequential use of holes by birds breeding in a natural boreal forest in Mongolia
Jul 01, 2008; ... Capsule Wood Nuthatch Sitta europaea and Coal Tit Periparus ater had a high tendency to reuse nest-sites, and holes in living trees were more frequently reused than holes in dead trees. Aims Patterns of sequential nest-hole use are important in understanding the inter- and intraspecific ...
Breeding bird populations of Irish peatlands
Jul 01, 2008; ... Capsule Peatlands are very important habitats for birds despite low species diversity. Aims To describe the variation in breeding bird populations that occur on different types of Irish peatlands and their associated habitat characteristics. Methods Bird abundance and diversity ...
Predators of Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata nests in southern England as determined by digital nest-cameras
Jul 01, 2008; ... Capsule Avian predators are principally responsible. Aims To document the fate of Spotted Flycatcher nests and to identify the species responsible for nest predation. Methods During 2005-06, purpose-built, remote, digital nest-cameras were deployed at 65 out of 141 Spotted ...
Space use by Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa limosa during settlement at a previous or a new nest location
Jul 01, 2008; ... Capsule Black-tailed Godwits first return to the nest location of the previous year, even when moving to a different nest location later that season. Aims To examine the use of space by Black-tailed Godwits during the two months before egg-laying to two weeks afterwards. Methods ...
Stopover ecology of Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa limosa in Portuguese rice fields: a guide on where to feed in winter
Jul 01, 2008; ... Capsule Conservation management of rice fields may be necessary to guarantee the availability of high quality stopover habitats. Aims To analyse habitat selection and quantify the diet composition of birds. Methods Using water level and agricultural management of the fields as ...
Breeding success and nest-site characteristics of Red-breasted Flycatchers Ficedula parva in a primeval forest
Jul 01, 2008; ... Capsule Predation is a major factor influencing the breeding success of Red-breasted Flycatchers under natural conditions. Aims To examine the breeding success of Red-breasted Flycatchers in relation to nest-site characteristics and time of breeding. Methods Data were collected ...
Parental differences in brood provisioning by Hen Harriers Circus cyaneus
Jul 01, 2008; ... Capsule Females varied their provisioning patterns according to brood age and brood size, whereas males did not. Aims To quantify how parents balance the needs of their offspring for food and protection. Methods We studied 13 nests from hides and spent on average 101 hours per ...