scholarly journals Crop Depredation by Birds in Deccan Plateau, India

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manoj Ashokrao Kale ◽  
Nandkishor Dudhe ◽  
Raju Kasambe ◽  
Prosun Bhattacharya
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Columba Livia ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Psittacula Krameri ◽  
Ploceus Philippinus ◽  
Field Assessment ◽  
Actual Field ◽  
Deccan Plateau ◽  
Sowing Period

Extent of crop depredation in agricultural fields of groundnut, pearl millet, peas, sorghum and sunflower was assessed in Pune, Akola and Amravati, the three productive districts of Maharashtra, India. The study included interviews with the farmers, identification of the bird species responsible for the crop depredation and actual field assessment of damage. The problem of crop depredation is severe for the crops mostly during harvesting season. Most farmers were not satisfied with the conventional bird repelling techniques. A maximum depredation was observed by Sorghum crops by house sparrows Passer domesticus, baya weavers Ploceus philippinus, and rose-ringed parakeets Psittacula krameri, accounting to 52% of the total damage. Blue rock pigeons Columba livia damaged 42% of the peas crop (chick peas and pigeon peas), while house sparrows and baya weaver damaged the groundnut crop by 26% in the sampling plots. House sparrow Passer domesticus and baya weaver Ploceus philippinus damaged the groundnut crop in the sampling plots just after the sowing period. The sustainable solution for reducing crop depredation is a need for the farmers and also such techniques will help avoid direct or indirect effects of use of lethal bird control techniques on bird species.

scholarly journals Electromagnetic Pollution as a Possible Explanation for the Decline of House Sparrows in Interaction with Other Factors

Birds ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-337
Author(s):  
Alfonso Balmori
Keyword(s):  
Electromagnetic Radiation ◽  
Thermal Effects ◽  
House Sparrow ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
The Other ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Electromagnetic Pollution ◽  
The Impact

In recent decades, there has been a decline of the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), mainly in European cities, and several hypotheses have been proposed that attempt to determine the causes of this rapid decline. Previous studies indicated that house sparrows were significantly negatively associated with increasing electromagnetic radiation and sparrows disappeared from areas most polluted. In addition, there are many studies on the impact of radiation on other bird and non-bird species, as well as numerous laboratory studies that demonstrated detrimental effects at electric field strength levels that can be found in cities today. Electromagnetic radiation is the most plausible factor for multiple reasons, including that this is the only one that affects the other hypotheses proposed so far. It is a type of pollution that affects productivity, fertility, decreases insects (chicken feed), causes loss of habitat, decreases immunity and can promote disease. Additionally, the recent sparrow decline matches the deployment of mobile telephony networks. Further, there are known mechanisms of action for non-thermal effects of electromagnetic radiation that may affect sparrows causing their decline. Thus, electromagnetic radiation must be seriously considered as a factor for house sparrows’ decline, probably in synergy with the other factors previously proposed.

Production Of Melanin-Based Plumage Traits In Male House Sparrows: No Effect Of Dietary Copper

2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-15
Author(s):  
Ian R.K. Stewart ◽  
David F. Westneat
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Enzymatic Oxidation ◽  
Copper Level ◽  
Melanin Production ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Dietary Copper ◽  
Male House ◽  
Recommended Level

Abstract In many bird species, males possess conspicuous patches of black feathers on their head or breast, the size of which is often positively related to their success in intra- and intersexual interactions. The production of these plumage signals is presumed to depend upon one or more limiting factors which prevent low quality males developing large signals in order to gain the associated benefits. The coloration of these feathers is due to their infusion with the pigment melanin, which birds synthesize endogenously during a series of conversion steps beginning with the enzymatic oxidation of the amino acid tyrosine. Copper is the cofactor of the enzyme responsible for this process, and it is possible that copper level limits the activity of the enzyme and therefore limits melanin production. We tested this hypothesis by manipulating the level of dietary copper available to individually caged juvenile and adult house sparrows (Passer domesticus) throughout their moult. Birds were provided with artificial diets containing either 100%, 50% or 10% of the recommended level of copper. Dietary copper did not affect the size of the black breast patch, the most obvious melanin-based plumage trait in this species, nor did it affect the reflectance of the black feathers. In sum, we reject the hypothesis that dietary copper limits the size or blackness of the breast patch of the male house sparrow.

Influence of habitat structure on the nesting height of birds in urban areas

1981 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
pp. 924-932 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Pierre L. Savard ◽  
J. Bruce Falls
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Habitat Structure ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Columba Livia ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
American Robin ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Selection Of

The influence of habitat structure on the nesting height of five species of birds in an urban area was investigated. All rock dove (Columba livia) nests were on two-story buildings. The nesting height of house sparrows (Passer domesticus) and starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) was influenced by building height being higher in two-story residential areas than in areas with bungalows. House sparrows were more versatile than starlings in the selection of nest sites. They occasionally nested in coniferous foliage but preferred man-made structures. The height of American robin (Turdus migratorius) nests ranged widely in response to vertical distribution of foliage. The largest number of nests in a given plot always occurred in the layer of foliage just below the layer with the largest volume of foliage. Robins nested in coniferous foliage early in the breeding season but switched to deciduous foliage as the season progressed. Common grackles (Quiscalus quiscula) nested exclusively in coniferous foliage and their nesting height was also influenced by the vertical structure. Habitat structure was found to be the main determinant of nesting height of birds in the urban environment and height in itself was not an important feature in the nest site selection of the species studied. Disturbance as measured by house density had a relatively minor influence.

scholarly journals Avifauna within the Main Campus of Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (12) ◽  
pp. 1246-1252
Author(s):  
Hassan A Rudayni
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
House Sparrow ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Columba Livia ◽  
Avian Diversity ◽  
Main Campus ◽  
Wiener Diversity Index ◽  
New Policies

Avian diversity of two zones within the main campus of IMSIU University was studied during the period from July 2019 to June 2020. A total number of 1,653 individual birds was recorded across the main campus which falls under fifteen species belonging to thirteen families. Out of this number, 760 individual of them were recorded in Zone-A versus 893 individual in Zone-B. Species richness in Zone-A was 15 while species richness in Zone-B was 13. Census index of the Birds was recorded as follows: 4.6 Birds/ha and 7.9 Birds/ha in both Zones A and B, respectively. Bird species sighted was higher in Zone-B as compared with Zone-A, as indicated by Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (H) which accounts for 1.83 in Zone-A and 1.65 in Zone-B. Pigeon (Columba livia), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis) were among the most frequently sighted. From the current study, it is recommended that Zone-B be pedestrianized for the enrichment and protection of the avian species. Also, new policies should be put forward by the relevant authority within the main campus to maintain avian diversity, such as expanding afforestation and green landscapes, in addition to the establishment of artificial lakes and ponds.

scholarly journals Protective Nest Design for Indian House Sparrow (Passer domesticus L.) - with Reference to Predation and Reuse

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veera Mahesh ◽  
Suseela Lanka
Keyword(s):  
House Sparrow ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Food Resources ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Bird Population ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Basic Model ◽  
Nest Design

Background: The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus L.), is a human-commensal bird species, belonging to the order Passeriformes. The rapid changes in our lifestyle resulted in the decrease of this bird population during the past four decades. Among the various causes viz., lack of food resources, pollution pressure, indiscriminate usage of pesticides etc. Habitat loss is found to be one of the main threats for their rapid decline. Installation of artificial nest boxes was found to be the best alternatives for raising the bird population. Methods: Jangareddigudem of West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India, was chosen as the study area. The nest boxes were designed by incorporating certain modifications to the basic model specified by British Trust of Ornithology. Installation of the nest boxes was initiated from an area with moderate food resources, located towards south-west edge of the town and was expanded in to other areas in a latitudinal wise towards north and south directions. Data was collected on a regular basis to study the occupancy of the nest boxes by the house sparrows. Result: The model designed was proved to be protective from predators and also well accepted by the public. Out of 570 nests that were installed in the study area, 550 nests were occupied and being used for breeding, that comes to around 97.6% occupancy indicating the suitability and protectiveness of this model. The sparrow population in the study area has been increased with a count of sparrows from few to 300+ sparrows at each roosting site (two roosting sites) by the end of 2020 by utilizing the nest boxes.

scholarly journals Male age and its association with reproductive traits in captive and wild house sparrows

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antje Girndt ◽  
Glenn Cockburn ◽  
Alfredo Sánchez-Tójar ◽  
Moritz Hertel ◽  
Terry Burke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Reproductive Senescence ◽  
Young Males ◽  
Adaptive Models ◽  
Socially Monogamous ◽  
Sperm Traits

Evolutionary theory predicts that females seek extra-pair fertilisations from high-quality males. In socially monogamous bird species, it is often old males that are most successful in extra-pair fertilisations. Adaptive models of female extra-pair mate choice suggest that old males may produce offspring of higher genetic quality than young males because they have proven their survivability. However, old males are also more likely to show signs of reproductive senescence, such as reduced sperm quality. To better understand why old males account for a disproportionally large number of extra-pair offspring and what the consequences of mating with old males are, we compared several sperm traits of both captive and wild house sparrows, Passer domesticus. Sperm morphological traits and cloacal protuberance volume (a proxy for sperm load) of old and young males did not differ substantially. However, old males delivered almost three times more sperm to the female’s egg than young males. We discuss the possibility of a post-copulatory advantage for old over young males and the consequences for females mated with old males.

scholarly journals First Evidence of a Relationship Between Female Major Histocompatibility Complex Diversity and Eggshell Bacteria in House Sparrows (Passer domesticus)

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alžbeta Darolová ◽  
Miroslav Poláček ◽  
Ján Krištofík ◽  
Barbara Lukasch ◽  
Herbert Hoi
Keyword(s):  
Major Histocompatibility Complex ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Selective Medium ◽  
Major Histocompatibility ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Histocompatibility Complex

Bacteria are known to exert positive and negative influences on animals’ health and fitness. Bacteria, in particular those inhabiting the skin and inner organs of vertebrates, are horizontally or vertically transmitted. Specifically, mothers of bird species can transfer bacterial strains to their offspring when the egg is passing the reproductive tract, as the eggshell rubs against the wall of the uterus. In this context, the female immune system might play an important role in influencing the vertical transmission of bacteria. Here, we investigate the relationship between the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and cultivable eggshell bacteria originating putatively from the female urogenital tract in a captive population of house sparrows (Passer domesticus). We predict that females with a more variable MHC will transfer fewer bacteria onto the eggshells. Our results show a negative relationship between the number of functional MHC class I alleles and bacteria originating in the urinary tract and growing on a selective medium. This is the first study to find a correlation between female MHC diversity and eggshell bacteria.

scholarly journals Population Densities of Birds Breeding in Urbanized Habitats in the Grabiszyn District in the City of Wrocław

2014 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Grzegorz Kopij
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Parus Major ◽  
Columba Livia ◽  
Mapping Method ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Pica Pica ◽  
Breeding Bird ◽  
Passer Montanus ◽  
The City

Abstract Studies were carried out in 2010 by mean of simplified version of the mapping method. The study area (395 ha) was located close to the city centre. It comprised a mosaic of urbanized habitats, with a clear dominance of green areas, such as parks (41.1 ha), gardens, cemeteries and tree clumps. A total of 48 breeding bird species were recorded in the whole study area. The most common (<25 pairs/100 ha) were Passer domesticus, Passer montanus, Sturnus vulgaris, Parus caeruleus, Parus major, Apus apus and Columba livia. Numerous (7-15 pairs/100 ha) were also the following species: Columba palumbus, Turdus pilaris, Sylvia atricapilla, Serinus serinus, Turdus merula and Pica pica. Insectivorous birds were the most common birds constituting 63.3%, and granivorous -32.6% of all pairs recorded. Most birds nested in tree holes (39.3%), in/on buildings (30.2%) and in trees/shrubs (25.6%). Distribution of breeding pairs of 23 bird species was presented on maps. Population trends for 17 species were documented. Rapid increase in numbers of Turdus pilaris, Corvus cornix and Phoenicurus phoenicurus and decrease of Pica pica were recorded.

scholarly journals Hunting Behavior and Diet of Cooper's Hawks: An Urban View of the Small-Bird-In-Winter Paradigm

The Condor ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 105 (3) ◽  
pp. 474-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy C. Roth ◽  
Steven L. Lima
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Columba Livia ◽  
Sturnus Vulgaris ◽  
Predatory Behavior ◽  
Hunting Behavior ◽  
Zenaida Macroura ◽  
Accipiter Cooperii ◽  
Risk Of Predation ◽  
Cooper's Hawks

Abstract We examined the predatory behavior of wintering urban Cooper's Hawks (Accipiter cooperii). Eight Cooper's Hawks (7 female, 1 male) were radio-tracked intensively during two winter periods from 1999–2001. We observed 179 attacks, 35 of which were successful, for an overall attack success rate of 20%. We recorded an additional 44 kills resulting from unobserved attacks. European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura), and Rock Doves (Columba livia) made up 95% of the prey attacked and 91% of the diet. Smaller birds (<70 g), such as House Sparrows (Passer domesticus), were numerous in the study area but were rarely attacked. Mammals were not included in the diet. Surprise attacks (initiated at close range, often from behind an obstruction), were more successful than “open” attacks, although the latter were more frequent. In addition, attacks on single individuals were significantly more successful than those on flocks. Nonetheless, many attacks were attempted on large flocks. Our results suggest that the smaller bird species (<70 g) in our urban study area were at low risk of predation from Cooper's Hawks. Comportamiento de Caza y Dieta de Accipiter cooperii: Una Visión Urbana del Paradigma de Aves Pequeñas durante el Invierno Resumen. Examinamos el comportamiento de depredación de individuos urbanos de la especie Accipiter cooperii durante el período de invernada. Ocho individuos (siete hembras y un macho) fueron seguidos intensamente mediante radio telemetría durante dos períodos invernales desde 1999 hasta 2001. Observamos 179 ataques, de los cuales 35 fueron exitosos, con una tasa general de éxito de ataque del 20%. Adicionalmente, registramos 44 muertes que resultaron de ataques no observados. Sturnus vulgaris, Zenaida macroura y Columba livia compusieron el 95% de las presas atacadas y el 91% de la dieta. Aves pequeñas (<70 g), como Passer domesticus, fueron muy abundantes en el área de estudio pero fueron raramente atacadas. La dieta no incluyó mamíferos. Los ataques sorpresivos (iniciados a una corta distancia, generalmente desde detrás de algún objeto) fueron más exitosos que ataques “abiertos,” aunque estos últimos fueron más frecuentes. Además, los ataques sobre individuos que se encontraban solos fueron significativamente más exitosos que aquellos sobre bandadas. Sin embargo, muchos ataques fueron intentados sobre bandadas grandes. Nuestros resultados sugieren que en nuestra área de estudio urbana las especies de aves más pequeñas (<70 g) tenían un menor riesgo de ser depredadas por A. cooperii.

Genetic Structure of Northern Fowl Mite (Mesostigmata: Macronyssidae) Populations Among Layer Chicken Flocks and Local House Sparrows (Passeriformes: Passeridae)

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 122-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
John B McCulloch ◽  
Jeb P Owen ◽  
Nancy C Hinkle ◽  
Bradley A Mullens ◽  
Jeremiah W Busch
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
The United States ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Layer Chicken ◽  
Northern Fowl Mite

Abstract The northern fowl mite (NFM) Ornithonyssus sylviarum Canestrini and Fanzago is a blood-feeding ectoparasite found on many wild bird species and is a pest of poultry in the United States. It is unknown where NFM infestations of poultry originate, which has made it difficult to establish preventative biosecurity or effective control. We used microsatellite markers to evaluate genetic variation within and among NFM populations to determine routes of introduction onto farms and long-term persistence. We compared NFM from flocks of chickens (Gallus gallus) on different farms in California, Washington, and Georgia, and we compared NFM collected over a 5-yr interval. On three farms we collected NFM from chickens and house sparrows (Passer domesticus) nesting on each farm, which we used to assess movement between host species. There was strong genetic structure among mites from different poultry farms and low estimates of migration between farms. There were significant differences between mites on chickens and house sparrows on two farms where sparrows nested near flocks, indicating no exchange of mites. Only one farm showed evidence of NFM movement between chickens and sparrows. There was high genetic similarity between mites collected 5 yr apart on each of two farms, indicating that NFM infestations can persist for long periods. The genetic patterns did not reveal sources of NFM infestations on chicken farms. The data suggest that NFMs are strongly differentiated, which likely reflects periodic population declines with flock turnover and pesticide pressure.

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