scholarly journals How Different Landscape Elements Limit the Breeding Habitat of Meadow Bird Species

Ardea ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland E. van der Vliet ◽  
Jerry van Dijk ◽  
Martin J. Wassen
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Landscape Elements

scholarly journals Remotely sensed forest understory density and nest predator occurrence interact to predict suitable breeding habitat and the occurrence of a resident boreal bird species

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 2238-2252
Author(s):  
Julian Klein ◽  
Paul J. Haverkamp ◽  
Eva Lindberg ◽  
Michael Griesser ◽  
Sönke Eggers
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Remotely Sensed ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Forest Understory ◽  
Nest Predator

scholarly journals Severe recent decrease of adult body mass in a declining insectivorous bird population

2014 ◽  
Vol 281 (1786) ◽  
pp. 20140649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sébastien Rioux Paquette ◽  
Fanie Pelletier ◽  
Dany Garant ◽  
Marc Bélisle
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Habitat Quality ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Migratory Bird ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Tree Swallow ◽  
Adult Body Mass ◽  
Agricultural Intensity ◽  
Carry Over ◽  
Substantial Decline

Migratory bird species that feed on air-borne insects are experiencing widespread regional declines, but these remain poorly understood. Agricultural intensification in the breeding range is often regarded as one of the main drivers of these declines. Here, we tested the hypothesis that body mass in breeding individuals should reflect habitat quality in an aerial insectivore, the tree swallow ( Tachycineta bicolor ), along a gradient of agricultural intensity. Our dataset was collected over 7 years (2005–2011) and included 2918 swallow captures and 1483 broods. Analyses revealed a substantial decline of the population over the course of the study (−19% occupancy rate), mirrored by decreasing body mass. This trend was especially severe in females, representing a total loss of 8% of their mass. Reproductive success was negatively influenced by intensive agriculture, but did not decrease over time. Interestingly, variation in body mass was independent of breeding habitat quality, leading us to suggest that this decline in body mass may result from carry-over effects from non-breeding areas and affect population dynamics through reduced survival. This work contributes to the growing body of evidence suggesting that declines in migratory aerial insectivores are driven by multiple, complex factors requiring better knowledge of year-round habitat use.

scholarly journals Efecto de la estacionalidad y lluvias en la avifauna del Chaco Serrano Austral, Argentina

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 953
Author(s):  
Gustavo Alfredo Fava ◽  
Juan Carlos Acosta ◽  
Graciela Mirta Blanco
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Group Management ◽  
Natural Park ◽  
Chaco Serrano ◽  
Site Survey ◽  
Migrant Bird ◽  
Resident Bird

In subtropical regions like the Chaco Serrano (33° S), rainfall has a marked seasonality, and water flood, caused by heavy rains, may have important consequences for dependent ecosystems. Conversely, the high pressure on available resources during dry periods can also affect the fauna diversity and distribution. Even though birds have shown to be excellent ecological indicators of these shifts in the environment, currently little is known about the avifauna of the Argentine Chaco Serrano phytogeographic district. Our aim was to study the resident bird population status in the Southern Chaco Serrano, its fluctuations in richness and abundance, and its relationship to seasonal variations, in monthly and annual hydroperiods. In order to assess the resident bird status over a two year period (2011 Mar.-2013 Feb.) we carried out 18 sampling surveys during pre-breeding (spring), breeding (summer) and non breeding periods (autumn-winter), in the Northeastern part of the Valle Fértil Natural Park, San Juan province, Argentina. During each site survey, we recorded bird assemblages found in six transects, and obtained bird abundance and species diversity. A mixed general linear model was employed to evaluate relationships between the studied variables. We found a total of 98 species of birds belonging to 33 families (44 resident species, 23 spring visitors, six summer visitors, two winter visitors and 23 with scarce registers). We also registered 68 of these species in both hydroperiods, 28 only during rainy periods and only two during the dry period. Both richness and abundance showed the highest values during the pre-breeding and rainy seasons, while different tendencies were detected during the isolated monthly rainfalls. These changes in bird densities were associated with the arrival of migratory species, mainly spring visitors, and probably in relationship with their reproductive activity, and to seasonal fluctuations in food resources. The Southern Chaco Serrano is a subtropical semiarid place that seems to be an important breeding habitat for many migrant bird species, which in turn promoted seasonal changes in species density and diversity, mainly during rainy years. This work contributed to our understanding on the causes of richness and abundance variations on birds, and will contribute to this important group management and conservation in this area.

scholarly journals Veredas and their use by birds in the Cerrado, South America: a review

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dárius Pukenis Tubelis
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Habitat Requirement ◽  
Landscape Elements ◽  
Hydromorphic Soil ◽  
Grassland Species ◽  
Mauritia Flexuosa ◽  
Water Courses

In the Cerrado, veredas are linear physiognomies that occur on hydromorphic soil usually along narrow water courses. They often growth on flat terrain or near headwaters. They are characterised by the abundance of buriti palms (Mauritia flexuosa) that growth over other trees, numerous shrubs and a dense herbaceous stratum. Despite being common landscape elements through the Cerrado's extension, the use of veredas by birds has not been examined in detail. This study aimed to review studies of birds and veredas in the Cerrado. Publications (n = 25) reported the use of veredas by 261 bird species. Only 13 of them had aspects of their biology (reproduction and feeding) studied in detail. Veredas are poorly used by Cerrado's endemic species, but are the major habitat requirement of several species. The richness of bird species found in veredas is increased by their inclusion in the home range of forest, savanna and grassland species. This study also discusses the values of veredas to the regional biodiversity, and the major threats to their conservation inside and outside the system of nature reserves. Suggestions for future research on birds and veredas in Cerrado also are provided.

Habitat openness and edge avoidance predict Saltmarsh Sparrow abundance better than habitat area

The Condor ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 122 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hallie Marshall ◽  
Erik J Blomberg ◽  
Valerie Watson ◽  
Meaghan Conway ◽  
Jonathan B Cohen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Decline ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Tidal Marshes ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Marsh Edge ◽  
Marsh Bird ◽  
Saltmarsh Sparrow ◽  
Habitat Features ◽  
Better Than

Abstract The Saltmarsh Sparrow (Ammospiza caudacuta) is a tidal marsh bird facing rapid population decline throughout its range, largely caused by degradation and loss of breeding habitat. Thus, there is a need to preserve tidal marshes in the northeastern United States, but to do so requires an understanding of the habitat features that support robust populations. Previous studies have shown Saltmarsh Sparrow abundance increases with marsh size, but in similar bird species, area sensitivity is more directly linked to edge avoidance. Whether additional landscape features affect the abundance of Saltmarsh Sparrows is unknown. We explored how the height of objects on the horizon, an index of habitat openness, affected the abundance of Saltmarsh Sparrows. Our primary goal was to determine whether the angle to the highest point on the horizon (“angle to maximum horizon”) predicted abundance better than marsh area or distance to the marsh edge. We used N-mixture models to evaluate the combination of spatial factors that best predicted Saltmarsh Sparrow abundance while also accounting for survey-level variables that could influence detection probability. We found that the interaction between distance to edge and angle to maximum horizon best predicted abundance. Taller objects on the horizon were negatively correlated with bird abundance, and this effect was strongest within 50 m of the marsh edge. When we considered the predictive powers of patch area, distance to edge, and angle to maximum horizon individually, angle to maximum horizon was the best single predictor. We found the highest abundance of Saltmarsh Sparrows at point locations where the angle to maximum horizon was 0.0°, and at angles greater than 12° the predicted abundance fell below 1 bird per survey point. We propose that managers should prioritize marsh openness and experimentally test the effect of marsh edge manipulations when making conservation decisions for this rapidly declining species.

scholarly journals Monitoring Breeding Bird Populations in Grand Teton National Park: 1995-1997

1997 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 13-25
Author(s):  
Martin Cody ◽  
Stephen Cain
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
National Park ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Breeding Bird ◽  
Grand Teton National Park ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
The Impact

In summer 1997 our NPS-funded project # CA-1460-5-0010, covering a 3-y period from summer 1995 through summer 1997, was completed. The immediate goals of the project were to instigate a system for monitoring the densities of breeding bird species, by establishment of flxed sites as a basis for a long term monitoring plan and of census protocols that can detect changes of breeding species and their densities over successive years. The monitoring scheme is conducted largely within Grand Teton National Park (GTNP), but covers habitats and an avifauna representative of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) and the central-northern Rocky Mountains in general. The project emphasizes the need for long­term and on-going studies on breeding bird species and densities and their importance as a tool for evaluating the impact of both local and distant influences on breeding bird populations. For residents, species that remain all year in or near the breeding habitat, local effects include those operating on-site during the non-breeding season as well as during the breeding season. For migrant species, those that breed on-site but leave to spend the non-breeding season in other locations, often distant and usually of quite different habitat composition, there are both on-site influences on breeding population densities, such as inter-year changes in vegetation structure and productivity, and off-site or distant influences, including factors that affect over-wintering success in the non­breeding habitat and others that influence a successful transit between wintering and breeding grounds. The assessment of long-term trends in bird densities may be used as a form of bioassay of the state of the local environments. Information from such studies can provide region-wide indicators that, given a sufficiently comprehensive data base, can segregate local from distant influences on populations. Such indicators can be incorporated into management strategies to aid in determining which local strategies may be necessary (and feasible) to help maintain the biota.

Breeding habitat selection by the endangered Regent Honeyeater Anthochaera phrygia (Meliphagidae) at the local and landscape scale

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Oliver ◽  
G. W. Lollback
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Landscape Scale ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Grazing Land ◽  
Landscape Models ◽  
Modelling Techniques ◽  
A Site ◽  
Patch Edge ◽  
Selection Of

This is the first Australian study to apply logistical modelling techniques to describe the breeding habitat selection of a widely dispersed, highly mobile, threatened bird species. Landscape and microhabitat structural attributes of breeding habitat occupied by the endangered Regent Honeyeater Anthochaera phrygia in the Bundarra-Barraba region of northern NSW were compared to those of unoccupied habitat using logistic regression modelling. Models containing landscape scale variables were best at explaining Regent Honeyeater presence. Regent Honeyeater occupation was negatively associated with the amount of woodland cover surrounding a site (1 km and 2 km radius) and distance to patch edge, and was positively associated with site connectivity and linear remnants. Linear, well-connected woodland patches surrounded by cleared grazing land are typical of the remnant native vegetation occupied by Regent Honeyeaters in the Bundarra-Barraba region. The landscape models developed here can be used to identify potential new sites for protection and rehabilitation, and to assess the suitability of unsurveyed or unoccupied sites for the release of captively bred Regent Honeyeaters, which is identified as one of the priority recovery action for the species.

Early seral hardwood vegetation increases adult and fledgling bird abundance in Douglas-fir plantations of the Oregon Coast Range, USA

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 918-933 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tana M. Ellis ◽  
Andrew J. Kroll ◽  
Matthew G. Betts
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Relative Magnitude ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Private Lands ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Catharus Ustulatus

Recent evidence suggests that population declines of bird species associated with early-successional forest conditions may be associated with reduced quality of breeding habitat. Increasing intensity of forest management on private lands and decreased harvest rates on federal lands in the Pacific Northwest, USA, have resulted in a loss of diverse young forest stands, typically called early seral forest. Previous studies suggest that the amount of early seral broadleaf cover within conifer forests is linked to the composition of foliage-gleaning bird communities. However, information regarding productivity and juvenile use of post-breeding habitat in highly modified plantation habitat is lacking. We examined the relationship between vegetation structure resulting from intensive forest management practices and the abundance of five species of leaf-gleaning, neotropical migrants: orange-crowned warbler ( Oreothlypis celata (Say, 1823)), Wilson’s warbler ( Wilsonia pusilla (A. Wilson, 1811)), MacGillivray’s warbler ( Oporornis tolmiei (J.K. Townsend, 1839)), Swainson’s thrush ( Catharus ustulatus (Nuttall, 1840)), and black-headed grosbeak ( Pheucticus melanocephalus (Swainson, 1827)). All species, except MacGillivray’s warbler, showed positive associations with the amount of early seral hardwood cover as fledglings, breeding adults, or both. However, the relative magnitude of these associations varied, suggesting that other factors may also have influenced avian responses. Abundances of breeding pairs and young are likely to show positive responses to management practices that increase early seral hardwood cover in regenerating stands. If adopted at landscape and regional scales, such practices may positively influence population trends of several declining bird species.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document