Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carles Carboneras ◽  
Guy M. Kirwan ◽  
Chris Sharpe
Keyword(s):  
2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 573-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ondřej Št’ovíček ◽  
Dagmar Čížková ◽  
Yang Liu ◽  
Tomáš Albrecht ◽  
Gerald Heckel ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 12-21
Author(s):  
V. E. Giragosov ◽  
M. M. Beskaravainy

The relevance of the study of hydrophilic birds in the urban areas of the Black Sea coast is due to their important role in the coastal biocoenosis structure and the need to preserve biodiversity in the conditions of anthropogenic transformation of Crimean coastal zone. The dynamics of species composition and abundance of birds in Kruglaya (Omega) Bay (Sevastopol) were investigated. The results of regular and episodic monitoring carried out in 1995 and 2005–2016 were used in this work. Quantitative accounting was carried out only in January and February (1–2 times per winter season) in 2005–2008, episodically in 2009–2013 and weekly in December — May 2014/2015 and September — May 2015/2016. Number of specimens per species was registered, and the ratio of young and adult specimens in mute swan (Cygnus olor), sex ratio in mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), common pochard (Aythya ferina) and tufted duck (Aythya fuligula) were determined. Russian and Latin names of birds are represented by L. S. Stepanian. Kruglaya Bay is one of Sevastopol bays which form the northern coastline of the Heraclea Peninsula, and it is a place of seasonal concentrations of hydrophilic birds. The basic morphometric characteristics of the bay are the following: the water area — 0.64 km2, length — 1.3 km, maximum width — 0.8 km, the average depth — 4.5 m. The water area of the bay did not freeze usually, only its inner part was covered with ice in extremely cold winters. Benthic macrophyte species are represented by two associations: Cystoseira crinita and C. barbata on stones and rocks, and Zostera noltii and Z. marina on sandy and silty areas. Two local areas of common reed (Phragmites australis) beds are located in the inner part of the bay. The zoobenthos is a significant part of the food supply of birds and includes 97 species, mainly polychaetes, molluscs and crustaceans. The ichthyofauna is represented by 42 fish species. 51 species of aquatic and semi-aquatic birds across 8 Orders were identified. The winter bird community was most diverse and numerous (32 species: 14 Anseriformes, 7 Charadriiformes, 5 Podicipediformes, 3 Gruiformes, 2 Pelecaniformes, 1 Gaviiformes). Eight species dominate regularly in winters and quantitatively — mute swan, mallard, common pochard, tufted duck, eurasian coot (Fulica atra), black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus), caspian gull (Larus cachinnans) and common gull (Larus canus). Rare species wintering in the Mountain Crimea, including horned grebe (Podiceps auritus), Bewick’s swan (Cygnus bewickii), red-breasted goose (Rufibrenta ruficollis), white-headed duck (Oxyura leucocephala), knot (Calidris canutus), is of great interest. The average ratio of young and adult mute swans in the main wintering period (December — February) was 61 : 39 % in 2014/2015 and 45 : 55 % in 2015/2016, respectively. The ratio of males and females were as follows: in mallard 49.5 : 50.5 % in 2014/2015, and 51.4 : 48.6 % in 2015/2016; in common pochard 54.8 : 45.2 % in 2014/2015, and 60.5 : 39.5 % in 2015/2016; in tufted duck 51.0 : 49.0 % in 2014/2015, and 51.4 : 48.6 % in 2015/2016, respectively. Formation of the winter bird community began in October, sometimes at the end of September when single specimens of mallard, coot, tufted duck, red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator), black-necked grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) appeared. Common gull, great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) and the common pochard come flying in November; the mute swan appears at the beginning of December. Maximum and relatively stable number of most species was typical for January and the first half of February. Maximum number of specimens of all bird species was registered in January 13, 2015 (1288), and February 7, 2016 (1531 specimens). The feeding conditions of Kruglaya Bay allow overwintering of the birds with different feeding specializations. The benthophages (most of Anseriformes and Coot) rank first in species richness (at least 13 species) and in quantitative terms. Five species (black-throated diver (Gavia arctica), great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), common sheg (Phalacrocorax aristotelis), red-breasted merganser, Sandwich tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)) form the group of ichthyophages. The Grebes occupy an intermediate position between benthophages and ichthyophages: small fish and benthic invertebrates are present in their diet. Four species of gull (black-headed, Caspian, common, Mediterranean gull (Larus melanocephalus)) constitute a group of omnivores. The rare visitors in Kruglaya Bay are zoophagous and omnivorous birds foraging in the surf zone and at shallow depths, such as water rail (Rallus aquaticus), common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), dunlin (Calidris alpina), knot (Calidris canutus), and herbivores which prefer to feed in terrestrial habitats — red-breasted goose (Rufibrenta ruficollis). The nutritional requirements of birds are compensated to a certain extent by additional feeding carried out by townspeople. In general 30 passing and nomadic species, mainly Charadriiformes (11), Anseriformes (7) and Ciconiiformes (5), were registered. A nesting bird community was absent, and only the nesting of little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) was registered in 2016 for the first time in city zone. The spring migration took place from late February to May, the autumn migration — from August until the first decade of November. Kruglaya Bay is a valuable natural and ecological educational place and deserves status as a natural park.


The Auk ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 717-726 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce D. Dugger ◽  
Peter Blums

Abstract Brood parasitism occurs disproportionately in birds with precocial young and is particularly common in Anseriformes. In part, that pattern may result because precocial hosts, relative to altricial species, incur relatively few costs when caring for precocial eggs. Empirical data do not consistently support that hypothesis, and some parameters have not been adequately compared between parasitized and nonparasitized nests or females. We used a combination of experimentation (egg and duckling additions) and analysis of a larger observational data set to compare reproductive parameters, recruitment, and adult survival between parasitized and nonparasitized female Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) and Tufted Ducks (A. fuligula). Addition of three eggs to nests during the host's laying cycle had no effect on host clutch size, host egg hatch success, or nest success for either species. Nest success was not affected by parasitism intensity for pochards, but we did detect a small drop in nest success for Tufted Duck nests parasitized with >6 eggs. Recruitment probability did not differ between parasitized and nonparasitized nests for either species, and parasitism had no negative effect on adult survival. Between-year nest initiation dates were later for parasitized Tufted Ducks, although the biological consequences of that difference (3.8 days) seem negligible. Moderate levels of parasitism do not negatively affect hosts for these two species.


Author(s):  
Aniolas Sruoga ◽  
Isaak Rashal ◽  
Dalius Butkauskas ◽  
Jānis Vīksne ◽  
Mečislovas Žalakevičius ◽  
...  

Haplotypic variability and population genetic structure of Garganey Anas querquedula and common pochard Aythyla ferina in the Western Palearctic The mitochondrial DNA (D-loop of mtDNA) sequencing method was used for investigation of various populations of Garganey Anas querquedula and Common Pochard Aythya ferina in the Western Palearctic. Reconstructed phylogenetic relationships based on comparison of D-loop sequences enabled to identify genetic similarity on the level of individual birds and to designate populations with different genetic structure. Identified haplotypic variability indicated the existence of two populations of Garganey with a different genetic structure in Europe. Some genetic variability was also observed among populations of Common Pochard of different origin. Haplotypic variability at different levels was found in both investigated species, despite a considerable overlap in wintering sites used by Garganeys and Common Pochards breeding in various regions.


2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 273-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vitas Stanevičius ◽  
Saulius Švažas ◽  
Liutauras Raudonikis ◽  
Gediminas Gražulevičius
Keyword(s):  

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohtash Chand Gupta ◽  
Tirshem Kumar Kaushik ◽  
Surjit Kumar

Kaithal District is comprised of 2317 Km² Sq. Km area having six blocks Viz.:Kaithal, Kalayat, Pundri, Rajound, Ghula and Siwan located at a distance of 150 Kms from New Delhi toward North West. Its geographical position lies between 29° 48' 0 N latitude and between 76° 22' 60 E longitude.The present studies were carried between 2005-2008 with the help of Zenith Camera and telelens. In all, 63 species of Wetland birds belonging to 10 Orders, 38 genera and 16 families were observed in various village ponds in Kaithal District. Out of 63 species of wetland birds, 31 are winter migratory, 9 local migratory, 3 summers migratory and 20 species are resident birds. Considering IUCN categories, Black Ibis (Pseudibis papillosa) which belongs to Biome Restricted Species (BRS) was observed in three blocks viz. Kaithal, Pundri and Rajound of Kaithal district. In addition, Spotted Greenshank (Tringa guttifer) which has been placed in endangered category of IUCN was observed as single individual. But Black Ibis (Pseudibis papillosa) was observed in a group of three to seven. Northern Shoveller (Anas clypeata), which is reportedly coming from Central Russia and Caspian Siberia has been observed in very large groups of 200-250 and virtually spotted in each and every pond in Northern Haryana. Similarly, Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Common Teal (Anas crecca), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha), Lesser-whistling Teal (Dendrocygna javanica) were also seen in relatively large groups. Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) is always observed in pure groups floating in the centre of relatively big ponds. In contrast, Gadwall (Anas strepera), Northern Shoveller (Anas clypeata), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) and Common Teal (Anas crecca), share close proximity with each other in water and are found in mixed groups. Northern Shoveller (Anas clypeata), Bar- headed Goose (Anser indicus) and Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) stay between Octobers to April. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) stays in winter for shortest period between December and January. Maximum wetland birds observed in Kaithal District belong to Order Charadriiformes and to family Anatidae of Order Anseriformes. Spotted Greenshank (Tringa guttifer) is the peculiar to Pundri block only, in Kaithal District.


2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-162
Author(s):  
Olexander Ponomarenko ◽  
Myhaylo Banik ◽  
Olexander Zhukov

Abstract The habitat suitability for the Common Pochard, a duck species in decline, was studied in the middle reaches of the Orel’ River, Central Ukraine, in 2015–2017. The ducks were counted on their breeding grounds with the use of the ground survey technique. The positions of individual birds were estimated by GPS and plotted on the Google Earth map. The Ecological Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA) was applied to assess the habitat suitability. Sentinel-2 image was used to extract 13 ecogeographical variables and to get two measures of the ecological niche (marginality and specialization). The ENFA procedure was applied twice at landscape and sub-landscape levels to describe the habitat selection across sequential spatial scales. Both the axes of marginality and specialization of the ecological niche of the species proved to be significantly different from the random alternatives. At landscape level, the distribution may be predicted with the use of Aerosol/Coastal, Vegetation and Hydrothermal Composite indices (marginality) and Modified Normalized Difference Water (MNDW) Index along with several vegetation indices (specialization). At sub-landscape level, MNDW played a crucial role. The importance of MNDW is mediated by the preference for the wetlands with the stretches of open water which are used by the ducks to initiate flight safely and to optimize diving possibilities. The ENFA is a reliable tool for the assessment of the habitat suitability and for setting the conservation priorities for the Common Pochard.


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