Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds. Volume 3 Snipe to Pigeons.
Abstract
Third volume of exhaustive seven-volume summary of all that is known of the birds of the Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic region.
[1028 pages, colour plates]
... The rock pigeon (Columba livia) was introduced into New Zealand in the 19 th century and has since become common and widespread across the country (Higgins & Davies 1996). Rock pigeons were domesticated ~5,000 years ago (Sossinka 1982), and subsequently feral populations have become established around the world, with wild populations continuing to be supplemented from escapes of domestic stock (Higgins & Davies 1996). ...
... The rock pigeon (Columba livia) was introduced into New Zealand in the 19 th century and has since become common and widespread across the country (Higgins & Davies 1996). Rock pigeons were domesticated ~5,000 years ago (Sossinka 1982), and subsequently feral populations have become established around the world, with wild populations continuing to be supplemented from escapes of domestic stock (Higgins & Davies 1996). In New Zealand, the range of rock pigeons increased between two atlas surveys from 1969-1979 and 1999-2004 and the pattern was evident on both the North and South Islands (Robertson et al. 2007). ...
... In their native European range, 'wild' rock pigeons typically nest on cliffs, or on the walls near the entrance to caves, often in coastal areas (Murton & Clark 1968). In contrast, feral rock pigeons in urban areas typically nest on buildings and under bridges, a pattern that also characterises rock pigeons in their New Zealand range (Higgins & Davies 1996). In both their native European range and introduced New Zealand range, feral rock pigeons typically nest at heights ranging from ~12 m on buildings to as high as 50 m on a power station girder (Higgins & Davies 1996). ...
We found widespread nesting on the ground in a large population of feral rock pigeons (Columba livia) in an urban, but predator-free native forest reserve in Christchurch, New Zealand. Ninety-seven percent (n = 77) of rock pigeon nests were located on the ground, with most placed either at the bases of large kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides) trees or under a tangle of vines on the forest floor. Clutch size was 2 eggs in all nests, with a hatching success of 93.9% in nests that survived to the hatch stage. Overall nest success was higher (60.0%) than in other populations of rock pigeons, with half of nest failures attributed to culling of the population that occurred during the course of our study. On average, rock pigeons fledged 1.60 chicks per successful nest. No ground nests were located outside the boundary of the predator- proof fence, suggesting pigeons were able to assess predation risk when selecting nest site location. Ground nesting by rock pigeons may be a way to avoid damage to nests in the canopy by strong winds or predation from aerial predators such as harrier (Circus approximans), which also occur in the reserve. Based on density of nests, we estimated a breeding population of 226 to 258 rock pigeons in the 7.8 ha reserve. The high number of pigeons in the reserve highlights the need for further studies on how populations of introduced species of birds in New Zealand respond to control of mammalian predators and the effect this may have on sympatric native species.
... Battley, unpublished data) and Austrovenus stutchbuiyi. There can be sexual differences in habitat choice and diet, as females have much longer bills than males (Higgins & Davies 1996). In the Firth of Thames, in the North Island of New Zealand, some males take small mussels on cobble flats, while females nearby feed on polychaetes in soft mud (P.F. ...
... No estimates of the sizes of Nucula hartvigiana taken by knots have been made, but as they reached only 9 mm in length in this survey, all are probably ingestible by knots. Virtually all Macomona liliana are buried too deep in the sand for knots with a bill length of about 3 1 mm (Higgins & Davies 1996) to reach them (Battley 1996). ...
... Turnstone diet has not been studied in detail in New Zealand, but they are known to be extremely adaptable birds. They often occur in rocky habitats, and in New Zealand they also occur in sandy habitats with Zostera beds (Higgins & Davies 1996). On Farewell Spit they feed on large sandhoppers (Amphipoda) under beach-washed kelp and wrack, peel back algal mats on sandy pans, toss stones and sticks to examine the ground underneath (hence their English name), extract tiny worms from dead cockle shells, take terminal segments from Maldanidae tubes (P.F. ...
... Both locations contained a mixture of open grass, in which birds feed, and trees, required for nesting, roosting and shelter (Higgins, Peter, & Cowling, 2006). Local predators include brown goshawks, Accipiter fasciatus, collared sparrowhawks, Accipiter cirrocephalus, peregrine falcons, Falco peregrinus, and Australian hobbies, Falco longipennis (Higgins, 1999;Taylor, 1992), and foxes, Vulpes vulpes, cats, Felis catus, and dogs, Canis lupus familiaris (Cunningham & Magrath, 2017). The magpies in our study areas are habituated to humans, making them amenable subjects for our experiments. ...
... 85 g) in the family Monarchidae that feed primarily on the ground, and crimson rosellas are mediumsized parrots (ca. 130 g; family Psittacidae) that feed on the ground or in vegetation (Higgins, 1999;Higgins et al., 2006). In contrast to the functionally referential alarm calls of miners, magpie-larks and crimson rosellas each have only a 'general' alarm call given in response to a variety of threats and disturbances including when flushed from the ground, in response to flying predators, when mobbing predators or other threats, and (at least in magpie-larks) in social interactions (Higgins, 1999;Higgins et al., 2006;Ribot, Berg, Buchanan, & Bennett, 2011;B. ...
... 130 g; family Psittacidae) that feed on the ground or in vegetation (Higgins, 1999;Higgins et al., 2006). In contrast to the functionally referential alarm calls of miners, magpie-larks and crimson rosellas each have only a 'general' alarm call given in response to a variety of threats and disturbances including when flushed from the ground, in response to flying predators, when mobbing predators or other threats, and (at least in magpie-larks) in social interactions (Higgins, 1999;Higgins et al., 2006;Ribot, Berg, Buchanan, & Bennett, 2011;B. Igic and C. Ratnayake, personal observations). ...
Social information varies in its reliability and relevance, requiring individuals to use rules to avoid inappropriate responses to false information. A simple rule is to respond only when a certain number of individuals provide similar information. Although individuals within social groups can use such numerical rules to assess conspecific information and make consensus decisions, it is unknown whether individuals apply similar rules when assessing the value of heterospecific information. We consider the case of individuals eavesdropping on heterospecific alarm calls. Eavesdroppers may be particularly vulnerable to false alarms because of the large pool of potential callers and variability in the specific threats to which they call. Individuals might therefore value alarm calls more if they come from multiple callers or multiple species than from a single caller or a single species. We tested these predictions using field playback experiments on wild Australian magpies, Gymnorhina tibicen. Magpies responded more strongly to alarm calls coming from two callers versus one caller of the same heterospecific species. However, in contrast to our prediction, magpies responded similarly to alarm calls from two individuals of different species as they did to alarm calls from two individuals of the same species. We conclude that the number of calling individuals does affect response, probably because information from multiple callers is more reliable, but that the value or reliability of information from multiple species may depend on the types of alarm calls and combination of species involved.
... In fact, the present research demonstrated a larger buildup of heavy metals in the tissues, organs, and feathers of Indian pond herons and black-crowned night herons than in earlier studies [18,33,34]. In addition, researchers have shown that the accumulation of metals in the bodies of waterbirds, such as Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn, As, Cu, and Hg, causes significant health concerns [8,13,35]. ...
... The study found that the Cr was lower than those studied in other parts of the world [42]; however, a greater concentration of Cr has been reported in various species of waterbirds [43]. A study reported that dietary preferences could enrich the higher exposure of Cr in the waterbirds [35]. A higher level of Cr was reported in fishes [21]; these waterbirds mainly feed on fish, which might be why the Cr was greater in the two species of waterbirds studied. ...
Waterbirds may be a good indicator of harmful metal levels in aquatic environments. Wa-terbirds' organs and tissues were tested for the presence of pollutants, such as metals. However, very few reports describe the use of bird feathers and their prey in metal analysis. In the present research, seven metals were measured in the tissue, kidney, liver, and feathers of the Indian pond heron, the black-crowned night heron, and their prey species, including crabs, prawns, molluscs, and fishes from a freshwater lake. Metals were examined using an ECIL-4141-double beam atomic absorption spectrophotometer (DB-AAS). Metal concentrations differed considerably in the tissue, kidney, liver, and feathers of the Indian pond heron and black-crowned night heron (p < 0.001). Indeed, this research discovered a good correlation between the metals of prey species and the tissues , kidneys, liver, and feathers of waterbirds that were tested. The regression model explained that the Cyprinus carpio influence the accumulation of metals about 98.2% in tissues, Macrobrachium rosenbergii and Cyprinus carpio around 86.3% in the kidney, the Labeo rohita almost 47.2% in the liver and Labeo rohita nearly 93.2% on the feathers of the Indian pond heron. On the other hand, the Mys-tus vittatus, Cyprinus carpio, Labeo rohita influence about 98.8% in tissue, the Claris batrachus and Ti-lapia mossambica around 93.3% in kidney, the Mystus vittatus, Cyprinus carpio, about 93.2% in liver and the freshwater crab (Travancoriana schirnerae), freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) and a fish (Cyprinus carpio) nearly 93.2% in feathers in the black-crowned night heron. This research evaluated metals in the dead carcasses of waterbirds, a non-invasive biomonitoring technique for pollution. Overall, the investigation revealed that the lake is severely contaminated with metals. Therefore, the management and protection of aquatic habitats, particularly freshwater lakes, should be enhanced to rescue wild species that rely on aquatic ecosystems and to ensure that people have access to clean drinking water.
... In the Pacific Ocean there is an eastern population wintering off equatorial South America and a western population wintering mainly off south-east Australia (Olsen & Larsson 2013). There is no evidence to suggest that the Pacific wintering populations are divided on the breeding grounds, but the majority of both populations probably pass through the Bering Straits and are broad front migrants once in the Pacific (Higgins & Davis 1996, Olsen & Larsson 2013. ...
... However, the migratory route of the birds in the eastern part of the north Indian Ocean is unclear. Olsen & Larsson (2013) suggest that they are part of the wintering population in the Arabian Sea, but Higgins & Davis (1996) suggest that these birds originate in the Pacific, entering the eastern Indian Ocean from the south-western Pacific via South-East Asia. It is also possible that there is a trans-continental crossing via the Bay of Bengal, but there are very few records to support this hypothesis. ...
Pakistan’s avifauna was well documented in the two-volume
work ‘The Birds of Pakistan’ (Roberts 1991, 1992), thanks to the
numerous ornithologists and birdwatchers who visited, many
of them stationed as civil service officers. Pakistan’s bird list was
added to by Roberts (2002), and Grimmett et al. (2008) published
the first modern field guide to the country, providing a more
contemporary country list in the process.
Since this time birdwatching and ornithology across the
country have grown and, as a consequence, numerous new and
interesting bird records have come to light. This article highlights
and classifies the notable records in two categories from mid-
2013 to mid-2021: (1) records which constitute an addition to the
checklist of Pakistan, in some cases presenting substantial range
extensions; and (2) vagrant species with five or fewer previous
records. In total, we document 23 new species for Pakistan and
discuss 17 vagrant species.
... In the Pacific Ocean there is an eastern population wintering off equatorial South America and a western population wintering mainly off south-east Australia (Olsen & Larsson 2013). There is no evidence to suggest that the Pacific wintering populations are divided on the breeding grounds, but the majority of both populations probably pass through the Bering Straits and are broad front migrants once in the Pacific (Higgins & Davis 1996, Olsen & Larsson 2013. ...
... However, the migratory route of the birds in the eastern part of the north Indian Ocean is unclear. Olsen & Larsson (2013) suggest that they are part of the wintering population in the Arabian Sea, but Higgins & Davis (1996) suggest that these birds originate in the Pacific, entering the eastern Indian Ocean from the south-western Pacific via South-East Asia. It is also possible that there is a trans-continental crossing via the Bay of Bengal, but there are very few records to support this hypothesis. ...
Reports observations of a 'spring' passage of Stercorarius skuas off the west coast of Sri Lanka and explores the origins of this movement
... Large-billed gerygones build untidy, domed nests of grass and moss, with a long, ragged tail below the nest chamber and a hood concealing the chamber entrance (Fig. 1a). The nests are usually built overhanging water where they resemble flood debris (Higgins, 1999;McGill, 1970;Fig. 1b). ...
... We conducted a mobbing experiment (springesummer 2015) and a decoy nest experiment (springesummer 2017) and measured nest position and structural traits (springesummer 2017). In Cairns, the main habitat of the large-billed gerygones is freshwater creeks, but they also build their nests in mangrove areas and dry creeks (Higgins, 1999). Cuckoos lay a single egg per gerygones nest, during or shortly after the hosts' egg-laying period, and usually remove one host egg during the same visit (Higgins, 2002). ...
Coevolutionary arms races between brood parasites and hosts can evolve along several distinct trajectories. To understand why, host–parasite interactions must be examined at every stage of the breeding cycle. While there have been numerous studies of interactions at the egg and nestling stages, studies of preparasitism ‘frontline’ interactions have received less attention. Frontline defences in hosts should be widespread, both because they can preserve the entire host clutch (while postparasitism defences, such as egg or chick rejection, do not) and because they tend to overlap with defences against nest predation. We investigated whether parasitism by the little bronze-cuckoo, Chalcites minutillus, has selected for frontline defences in large-billed gerygones, Gerygone magnirostris, a host that rejects cuckoo chicks. We considered three possible defences: (1) mobbing of adult cuckoos near the nest, (2) ‘decoy nest clustering’ of active nests alongside old nests and flood debris, and (3) cryptic nest architecture. Gerygones were more likely to mob a mount of a cuckoo near the nest than that of a hawk or harmless sympatric passerine. The role of nest traits in repelling parasitism was equivocal; gerygones built their nests alongside previously used nests more often than expected by chance. The experimental addition of decoy nests did not reduce parasitism rates but did lead to a significant delay in latency to predation. Although large-billed gerygones build large nests compared to other gerygones species, we found that larger nests were more likely to be parasitized than smaller nests. We conclude that parasitism has selected for a portfolio of defences in large-billed gerygones, comprising both low-cost, but mostly ineffective, frontline defences (mobbing, some nest traits), and a high-cost, but highly effective, chick stage defence (chick rejection). Thus, the relatively low effectiveness of frontline and egg stage defences may explain why some hosts evolve the rare defence of chick rejection.
... The traits associated with artificial habitat use by shorebirds are not fully understood. The shorebird community comprises a mixture of coastal specialists, generalists, and inland specialists in relation to nonbreeding habitat usage (Marchant and Higgins 1993;Marchant et al. 1996;Piersma 2003), and while both coastal specialist and generalist species are widely found in coastal areas, coastal specialists may be more restricted in their use of non-tidal habitats at high tide. Further, there is some evidence of evolutionary divergence towards more flexible habitat use by nonmigratory birds compared to migratory species (Sol et al. 2005). ...
... To investigate variation in artificial site use in relation to species traits, we used binomial generalised linear mixed models to relate the average proportion of birds that used artificial habitats in each region to: (i) migration status as migratory or non-migratory following IUCN (2019), except in the case of Black-winged Stilt because the regional subspecies Himantopus himantopus leucocephalus is generally considered to be non-migratory in the EAAF; (ii) conservation status as non-threatened or threatened (Vulnerable or higher; IUCN Red List 2019); and, (iii) habitat specialisation as a coastal specialist, generalist or inland specialist based on information from Piersma (2003), Commonwealth of Australia (2005), Marchant and Higgins (1993) and Marchant et al. (1996). ...
Shorebirds in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway have experienced population declines linked to loss of coastal wetlands. Despite this vulnerability to habitat loss, shorebirds regularly use artificial habitats, especially for high-tide roosting. Understanding the distribution of shorebirds in artificial versus natural roosts could inform habitat management strategies aimed at population recovery. We analysed time-series of high-tide shorebird monitoring data from five developed regions of Australia where artificial habitat use has previously been documented and made three key discoveries. First, artificial habitat use was generally high across the regions, with >50% of the average proportion of the regional population of 39 of 75 species-region combinations (52%) using artificial habitats at high tide. Second, in 84% of species-region combinations the average proportion of birds that used artificial habitats from the time of their establishment onward did not show a significant temporal trend. Third, migratory and coastal specialist species showed lower proportional artificial habitat use than non-migratory and generalist/inland specialist species. These findings showing consistent, widespread use of artificial habitats by large shorebird aggregations at high tide suggest that a framework for high-tide habitat management that includes artificial habitats alongside preservation of remaining natural habitats could make a significant contribution to shorebird conservation in Australia.
... The lack of aggression between aggressive species and parrots (rosellas, lorikeets) has also been previously documented (Bain et al., 2020;Hingee et al., 2022;Westgate et al., 2021). Rainbow lorikeets dominate and aggressively protect feeding and nesting resources, thereby excluding other species (Higgins, 1999). ...
Aim
Australian woodlands have been intensively cleared since European settlement and, in parallel, many species of birds inhabiting this habitat type have experienced a marked decline. Conversely, some species such as noisy miner Manorina melanocephala respond positively to habitat disturbance and due to their hyper‐aggressiveness can end up driving away specialized and fragmentation‐sensitive species. Recent studies have suggested that the negative impact of miners is exacerbated by means of synergistic interactions between these and other aggressive species, including nest predators. However, it is not clear if these positive associations arise through similar habitat requirements or due to potential mutual benefits (‘facilitation effects’), which should predominate in harsh environments as the stress‐gradient hypothesis (SGH) predicts.
Location
Eastern Australia.
Methods
We combined a multi‐season community N‐mixture model and joint species distribution models within the Hierarchical Modelling of Species Communities framework to examine species co‐occurrence patterns after accounting for imperfect detection and the influence of environmental variables. We then explored how the balance between positive and negative associations varied along an abiotic stress gradient and whether species‐to‐species associations were non‐randomly distributed with respect to species traits.
Results
No significant associations were detected; we only found tentative associations (posterior probability 85%) in a low proportion of species pairs (~4%). Although most non‐random (tentative) associations were negative, these were weaker and less consistent across models than the positive ones. Five medium‐sized species of swooping birds including the noisy miner monopolized virtually all positive associations. Communities from low‐productivity environments tended to show a lower degree of overall (community‐level) competitiveness than those located in less stressful (more productive) environments, which supports the SGH. There was no significant relationship between species trait dissimilarity and species‐to‐species association's strength.
Main Conclusions
Our results suggest that aggressive species like miners, kookaburras, lorikeets, magpies and butcherbirds can form potential synergies with each other that may intensify the direct negative influence of each species on small‐sized songbirds. Since these species thrive in anthropized landscapes and have drastically increased their numbers in some regions, their associative potential should be considered in conservation actions.
... Birds with sedentary habits, ratites, and flying poorly are highly sensitive to environmental disturbances (BROWN et al., 2013). The wren-emu-mallee Stipiturus mallee Campbell, 1908, for example, is a species whose attributes likely limit its ability to disperse and recolonize, making it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes (BROWN et al., 2009;HIGGINS et al. al., 2001). Thus, Brown et al. (2009; report that the occurrence of large forest fires in Australia (>10,000 ha) and the expansion of deforestation and agriculture caused a genetic bottleneck and decline in the effective population size of this species, motivating the declaration of this bird as endangered according to the IUCN criteria. ...
Savannas are a pyrophytic biome, a biodiversity hotspot, and have global importance, occupying 20% of the Earth's surface. It is a biome that requires burning to maintain its biodiversity and pyrodiversity. It has suffered from altered fire regimes due to the direct and indirect action of factors such as deforestation, agriculture, cattle ranching, and climate change, resulting in habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation. This fact can impact the avifauna, changing population dynamics and distribution in the landscape. Thus, through a literature search, this study evaluated the influences of fire on avifauna populations in savannas. It was found that fire impacts avifauna directly or indirectly and acts positively or negatively, according to the niche of the species evaluated and its intrinsic characteristics. The observed effect will depend on the fire detection ability, locomotion capacity, species, habit, functional guild, demographic parameters, resource availability, post-disturbance successional evolution, dispersal ability, and the geographic scale of the area affected by the fire. The main impacts observed for this clade are indirect effects, and its most negatively impacted populations are the ratites and those with poor locomotion ability. Despite the many gaps in knowledge about the impact of fire on the population parameters of avifauna, studies that focus on community dynamics indicate that, in general, there are few changes in richness and abundance indices. Thus, a greater understanding of the consequences of fire on birds is necessary to support better the actions of the Integrated Fire Management Program and its expansion throughout the Brazilian territory in search of quality, dynamic, and integrated environmental management.
... Limited analyses of breeding calls of the surfbird and red knot are available (Glutz von Blotzheim et al. 1975;Cramp 1983;Miller et al. 1987Miller et al. , 1988Bergmann et al. 2008;Miller and Baker 2009;Baker et al. 2020;Senner and McCaffery 2020), but only one spectrogram of a great knot's breeding call has been published (Miller and Baker 2009). Spectrograms of nonbreeding calls of the latter species are in Higgins and Davies (1996) and Rasmussen and Anderton (2005). ...
We studied calls of three sandpiper species to document species’ similarities and differences. We hypothesized that functionally different calls would differ in degree of divergence. We studied two nuptial calls (complex “Song” and rhythmically repeated aerial call, RRC) of males, and a general-purpose call (“alarm” trill, AT) given by parents of both sexes in the presence of humans and other potential predators, in great knot, Calidris tenuirostris (Horsfeld, 1821); surfbird, Calidris virgata (Gmelin, 1789); and red knot, Calidris canutus (Linnaeus, 1758). Calls diverged unevenly across species—RRCs and Song diverged the most and ATs the least. Vocalizations of great knot and surfbird were most similar to one another, in agreement with a recently proposed phylogeny. Despite species differences in single acoustic traits, calls were evolutionarily conservative at higher structural levels, such as rhythmic temporal delivery of RRCs and harmonic structure (e.g., the fundamental frequency was suppressed in some call types). Some acoustic qualities that differed across species were similar across call types within species (e.g., tonality in red knot calls). Trait similarity across different calls suggests that a species’ calls cannot evolve independently of one another: common mechanisms of vocal production across different calls may impede differentiation within a species’ repertoire.
... A summary of the review undertaken to better understand the potential vulnerabilities of the key waterbird species to disturbance by fishing activities within the Peel-Harvey Estuary is provided in Table 8. Higgins and Davies (1996) 8 Australian Museum (2020) 9 Birdlife International (2016a) 10 Birdlife International (2019a) 11 Birdlife (2020d) 12 Birdlife (2020e) 13 Birdlife International (2018) 14 Birdlife International (2016b) 15 Newbey (1996) 16 Birdlife (2020f) 17 Birdlife International (2016c) 18 Birdlife (2020g) 19 Birdlife International (2016d) 20 Birdlife International (2016e) 21 Birdlife (2020h) 22 Birdlife International (2016f) 23 Birdlife (2020i) 24 Birdlife (2020j) 25 Birdlife International (2019b) 26 Birdlife (2020k) 27 Birdlife International (2016g) 28 Birdlife (2020l) 29 Birdlife International (2016h) ...
... Here I report obsert'ations of a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua gakrita feeding opportunistically at flowers and apparendy obtaining nectar. Nectar has not previously been reported as a food source for this species in the Top End or elsewhere (Higgins 1999). ...
... Traditionally viewed as an old growth forestdependent species (Debus & Chafer, 1994;McNabb, 1996), the powerful owl is adaptable in utilising human-dominated landscapes such as urban parks at low densities where suitable habitat exists (Cooke et al., 2018;Isaac et al., 2013;Kavanagh, 2004;Webster et al., 1999;Pavey, 1995). Deforestation through forestry practices, urbanisation and bushfires have caused an ongoing population decline where it is now listed as 'vulnerable' under state legislation in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland (Higgins 1999). There has been no documentation on whether extensive clearing of habitat in former powerful owl range displaces owls to disturbed urban environments. ...
As landscapes are increasingly modified due to anthropogenic processes such as urbanisation or development for agriculture, the need to understand wildlife habitat requirements is imperative. This is particularly pertinent for species that are threatened, or apex predators with specific nest, den, or food requirements. Identifying responses to habitat with thresholds can provide an understanding of what resources species are using or avoiding, and their interactions with the surrounding environment. In this research we investigated space use and habitat requirements of the threatened apex predator, the powerful owl (Ninox strenua) in Greater Melbourne, Australia. We deployed GPS devices to 21 urban powerful owls over five years and found owls had an average home range size of 397 ha, and an average core-range of 84 ha. Home range size and positioning was driven by tree cover and urban land cover, while core ranges were restricted to treed environments with a limited area of impervious surfaces and housing. We used thresholds to identify-three priorities for powerful owl conservation in Mel-bourne. Priority 1: Ensuring river corridors and public open spaces are adequately protected. Priority 2: Limit property densities near rivers and protected areas. Priority 3: Finding opportunities for revegetation to expand and enhance habitat over time. Our research demonstrates how species-specific thresholds can inform land use planning to ensure wildlife species are maintained within highly modified environments.
... Some of these species have low count coverage on the non-breeding grounds, and therefore the estimates were based on breeding range and density. For example, Long-toed Stint is a very difficult species to monitor on the nonbreeding grounds because it makes extensive use of inland freshwater marshes (Higgins & Davies 1996) and rice fields. Species with more modest increases on previous estimates (up to 50% higher than WPE5) were mostly derived from spatial extrapolation, with only three exceptions that instead used breeding range and density (Marsh Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola and Common Greenshank). ...
Population estimates are widely used to underpin conservation decisions. However, determining accurate population estimates for migratory species is especially challenging, since they are often widespread and it is rarely possible to survey them throughout their full distribution. In the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF), this problem is compounded by its size (85 million square kilometres) and the number of migratory species it supports (nearly 500). Here, we provide analytical approaches for addressing this problem, presenting a revision of the EAAF population estimates for 37 migratory shorebird species protected under Australian national environmental legislation. Population estimates were generated by (i) summarising existing count data in the non-breeding range, (ii) spatially extrapolating across uncounted areas, and (iii) modelling abundance on the basis of estimates of breeding range and density. Expert review was used to adjust modelled estimates, particularly in under-counted areas. There were many gaps in shorebird monitoring data, necessitating substantial use of extrapolation and expert review, the extent of which varied among species. Spatial extrapolation to under-counted areas often produced estimates that were much higher than the observed data, and expert review was used to cross-check and adjust these where necessary. Estimates of population size obtained through analyses of breeding ranges and density indicated that 18 species were poorly represented by counts in the non-breeding season. It was difficult to determine independently the robustness of these estimates, but these breeding ground estimates were considered the best available data for ten species, that mostly use poorly-surveyed freshwater or pelagic habitats in the non-breeding season. We discuss the rationale and limitations of these approaches to population estimation, and how they could be modified for other applications. Data available for population estimates will vary in quality and extent among species, regions and migration stage, and approaches need to be flexible enough to provide useful information for conservation policy and planning.
... For the present review, we consulted the above-mentioned published sources of information (Table 1), and checked for records from the Rockhampton region among the nine annual bird reports from 1983 to 1991, published by the Queensland Ornithological Society in the journal Sunbird, and three District Bird Lists for World Bird Day, published by the Bird Observers ' Club, covering 1955-1960(Wheeler 1957, 1959. For the species of concern, we consulted pertinent volumes of the Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds (Higgins 1999;Higgins and Peter 2002;Higgins et al. 2006) and the two national bird Atlases, referred to here as Atlas 1 (Blakers et al. 1984) and Atlas 2 ( Barrett et al. 2003), covering the periods 1977-1981 and 1998-2002, respectively. We compared occupancy of the 1° cell surrounding Rockhampton (hereafter, ROC cell) and its seven adjacent 1° cells in Atlas 1 with that in Atlas 2, to gauge whether there had been a contraction in the species' regional range over the intervening 20 years. ...
Many longitudinal studies of regional avifaunas have been conducted in Australia, but the majority concern temperate inland regions. We examined changes in the avifauna of the Rockhampton region (10 500 km²) in subtropical, coastal Central Queensland, Australia, over 130 years, comparing accounts from 1888, 1925 and 1973–1974 with survey data from 2000 to 2019. Of the 307 confirmed species recorded until 1975, 11 resident species have since disappeared from the region, while another 11 species appear to have declined. This is the highest number of extinct bird species reported to date in a region larger than 1000 km², although the annual extinction rate is surpassed by that of Coomooboolaroo, a pastoral property of 454 km² only 100 km away, which lost 18 species over a similar period. Eleven (50%) of the 22 extirpated or declining species forage primarily on the ground, and 12 (55%) are primarily insectivorous. Eucalypt woodland is the major habitat of 11 species (50%), while another five (23%) are associated with rainforests. Species loss and decline coincided with habitat loss: 63% of the eucalypt woodland and 70% of the rainforest have been cleared since Europeans settled in the region. Livestock overgrazing probably played a role in the extirpation of four species of finches. The decline of at least 11 species since 1975 coincided with three consecutive decades of low rainfall, and an ongoing increase in ambient temperature.
... Latham's Snipe Gallinago hardwickii is a good example of this, and is less well-known due to its cryptic habits, especially outside the breeding season. Latham's Snipe breeds in northern Japan and in parts of eastern Russia during the months April-July and migrates to Australia where it spends the non-breeding season predominantly in shallow, vegetated freshwater wetlands in south-eastern Australia (Higgins & Davies 1996). The population is declining in Japan (Ura et al. 2018), and the breeding range is now centred on the northern island of Hokkaido, with fewer breeding records from the main island of Honshu (Nakamura & Shigemori 1990, Iida 1995. ...
Latham’s Snipe (Японский бекас) Gallinago hardwickii was historically considered to breed mostly
in Japan with a small proportion of breeding records in Russia. Since the 1950s, the species has been
expanding its range northward and the current distribution of snipe encompasses most of the island of
Sakhalin. At the same time, the species has experienced a breeding range contraction in Japan. During
May 2019, opportunistic snipe surveys were conducted during a nine-day field trip of Sakhalin. Snipe
were recorded either as incidental observations or during a 10’ point count. The highest numbers of
snipe were found on the south-west coast of Sakhalin in the Tomarinskiy and Korsakovsky regions. All
records were made in mosaic meadow-forest and modified grassland habitats, and none were obtained
from forest or intact woodland. Comparison of these snapshot data to breeding surveys conducted
between 1993 and 2012 demonstrate the species to be relatively widespread across Sakhalin, and in
most areas not dominated by continuous forest. However, the conditions under which snipe breed
successfully are more restricted than would be expected based on these broad habitat associations and
numbers of displaying males. Agricultural intensification, spring burning of meadowlands and illegal
shooting of snipe all reduce breeding success. While a significant proportion of the Latham’s Snipe
global population appears to occur on Sakhalin (potentially as high as 18%), when considered in the
broader context of species decline documented in Japan, it is likely that the global trend for this species
is generally downward.
... Importantly, cavity-breeding birds are an interesting group in which to study the relationship between species traits and competition intensity as: (a) the species nesting requirements are well known (Gibbons & Lindenmayer, 2002;Higgins, 1999) and (b) they are likely to interact around the limited number of potential nesting sites (Davis et al., 2013). ...
Interaction networks among native and invasive species in a community can inform both invasion impacts and applied management of invasive species. The intensity of aggressive interactions may be related to the overlap in species’ ecological niche and functional traits, especially in cavity‐breeding species, that often compete for limited nesting sites. Australia is home to over 100 native and introduced cavity‐nesting species, including several invasive species that are widespread globally, such as the common myna Acridotheres tristis. Here, we aimed to test the extent to which shared functional traits inform the intensity of aggression between cavity‐nesting birds.
We quantified the outcomes of aggressive interactions between birds in large hollow‐bearing trees in SE Queensland, Australia. We examined whether more similarly sized birds interacted more frequently, whether larger species won aggressive interactions more often, and whether cavity‐breeding species with similar preferences for nesting sites (breeding‐niche space) interacted more frequently.
We recorded a total of 410 aggressive interactions and 48 interacting bird species around tree hollows, including 20 cavity‐nesting bird species. These interactions were dominated by the invasive common myna, the native noisy miner (a non‐cavity‐breeder) and the native rainbow lorikeet Trichoglossus moluccanus, but the common myna won the largest total number of interspecific interactions. On average, larger birds won aggressive interactions more frequently, yet there were some important exceptions to this finding; the common myna (113 ± 30 g) won 26 of the 29 interactions against the larger native rainbow lorikeet (126 ± 44 g). Importantly, species with more similar nest‐site preferences were observed aggressively interacting more frequently.
Synthesis and applications. The impact of the invasive common myna was higher‐site preferences. Control efforts for the myna should focus on birds that nest in natural tree hollows. An analysis of shared traits by managers could be used to help identify how many local species would benefit from common myna control in a given area and test if further behavioural studies of common myna are warranted.
... Most of the Diamond Doves captured in this study were caught over two days in May 2010 after a substantial rainfall event in the preceding three months. Resource-based movements of this species have previously been documented (Higgins and Davies 1996) and are the most likely explanation for low recapture rates in our study. ...
Mark-recapture surveys of bird communities were conducted at five Acacia shrubland sites near Alice Springs, central Australia, between 2001 and 2011. The primary objective was to examine the levels of site fidelity displayed by individuals to provide insight into local bird community dynamics that cannot be ascertained by visual surveying. Approximately 1800 birds from 50 species were banded and over 150 individuals were recaptured. Results for the 27 species whose members were captured and banded 10 or more times are reported and assessed for evidence of site fidelity. Eleven species were classified as sedentary based on relatively high recapture rates and individuals being recaptured over long time periods. Species with the highest rates of recapture and with individuals persisting at sites for many years included the Splendid Fairy-wren Malurus splendens, Redthroat Pyrrolaemus brunneus and Chestnut-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza uropygialis. The results provide new evidence of high site fidelity for a suite of species associated with Acacia shrubland habitat in central Australia. Conclusions about which species are sedentary and which are mobile are broadly consistent with those of previous studies in this habitat based on visual surveys and with banding data from other regions, but with some new insights being gained.
... Black-billed gulls reside only in New Zealand, and populations have a high probability of mixing, particularly during the non-breeding season, due to the comparatively small land area of New Zealand. The gulls are known to move to the coast during the winter, and roost in large flocks [6]. This would support the lack of population structure seen when examining mtDNA markers. ...
Black-billed gulls (Larus bulleri) are endemic to New Zealand and are suspected to be undergoing substantial population declines. They primarily breed on open gravel beds in braided rivers of the South Island-a habitat that is diminishing and becoming increasingly modified. Although management of this species is increasing, little has been published on their movements and demographics. In this study, both mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region domain I and nuclear single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were examined to help understand the connectivity and population structure of black-billed gulls across the country and to help inform management decisions. Mitochondrial DNA showed no population structure, with high haplotype and low nucleotide diversity, and analyses highlighted mitochondrial introgression with the closely related red-billed gulls (Larus novaehollandiae scopulinus). Nuclear DNA analyses, however, identified two groups, with Rotorua birds in the North Island being distinct from the rest of New Zealand, and isolation-by-distance evident across the South Island populations. Gene flow primarily occurs between nearby colonies with a stepwise movement across the landscape. The importance from a genetic perspective of the more isolated North Island birds (1.6% of total population) needs to be further evaluated. From our results, we infer that the South Island black-billed gull management should focus on maintaining several populations within each region rather than focusing on single specific colonies or river catchments. Future study is needed to investigate the genetic structure of populations at the northern limit of the species' range, and identify the mechanisms behind, and extent of, the hybridisation between red-billed and black-billed gulls.
... It is important to consider the impact of harvesting on source birds and the structure of the founder group; fortunately, there are many precedents and established protocols for this (e.g., Ortiz-Catedral & Brunton 2010;Collen et al. 2014). Most plant species consumed by Reischek's Parakeets (Greene 1999;Elliott et al. 2015) are also present on Macquarie Island (Shaw et al. 2010), and given Red-crowned Parakeets are adaptable with a varied diet (Higgins 1999), their dietary needs are likely to be met. ...
Article impact statement: Structured decision making can be used to identify an optimal source population for conservation introductions.
... The breeding distribution of Parasitic Jaegers extends farther south (Olsen and Larsson 1997), with Slettnes taking a central position in the distribution range, and we expect that our sample therefore corresponds reasonably well with the species' overall mean migration timing. For Pomarine Jaeger and Great Skua, approximate migration periods and distances were obtained from the literature (Cramp and Simmons 1983, Furness 1987, Higgins and Davies 1996, Olsen and Larsson 1997, Magnusdottir et al. 2012 andwith the exception of geolocator data for Great Skuas (Magnusdottir et al. 2012)-are not specific to certain years or sites. We therefore assume they are generalizations over large areas and multiple years. ...
We compared the primary molt of the 4 species of skuas and jaegers (Stercorariidae) that breed in the Northern Hemisphere: Long-tailed Jaeger (Stercorarius longicaudus), Parasitic Jaeger (S. parasiticus), Pomarine Jaeger (S.
pomarinus), and Great Skua (S. skua). We analyzed primary molt data of 1,573 individuals of multiple age classes, mostly collected from photographs taken at sea but also from museum specimens and beached individuals. Whereas molt duration generally increased with species’ size, molt duration in Parasitic and Pomarine jaegers was surprisingly similar given their size difference. Larger species started primary molt earlier and showed more overlap with postbreeding migration, such that there was complete overlap in Great Skua but no overlap in Long-tailed Jaeger. Within jaeger species, the first primary molt cycle took longer than later molt cycles. We suggest that, unlike birds in their first primary molt cycle, birds in their second or subsequent primary molt cycles are time-constrained to complete primary molt before the onset of prebreeding long-distance migration. By contrast, molt duration did not differ between age classes of Great Skuas. Adult Great Skuas may have overcome the time constraint by completely overlapping molt and postbreeding migration. Molt-migration overlap is generally rare in birds but may be feasible for Great Skuas given their shorter migration distance and low migration speed.
The foraging behaviour of the Red-necked stint (Calidris ruficollis, Scolopacidae, Charadriiformes) was analyzed in detail. The observations were carried out by the authors on the coasts of the Sea of Okhotsk near Magadan and Ola (August 2010), and on Urup Island, Kuriles (August-September 2021, as part of the complex expedition of the second field season “Eastern Bastion – Kuril Ridge”, organized jointly by the Expeditionary Center of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and the Russian Geographical Society. The diversity of stint species-specific feeding techniques was assessed, and their list compiled, based on a digital coding system. A schematic presentation of the foraging strategies of the Red-necked stint has been proposed.
Fire is an important agent of tree cavity creation and loss in some forest ecosystems. Even though cavity‐bearing trees may be replaced over decades post fire, cavity‐nesting animals depend on uninterrupted access to suitable nesting sites. Balancing the impacts of fire on the availability and recruitment of suitable tree cavities for wildlife is important. We studied fire effects on trees with suitable nests for Critically Endangered Orange‐bellied Parrots Neophema chrysogaster to evaluate how to optimize suitable cavity availability both now and into the future. We used field surveys to quantify the age‐class distribution of trees across the species' historical range, and climbed them to reveal that only 16% of Smithton peppermints Eucalyptus nitida supported a potentially suitable nest cavity. We incorporated this information into a simulation that explored the impacts of fire on the occurrence of nest trees over a century under different fire regimes. We predicted that more frequent and severe fires resulted in lower probabilities of persistence of nesting sites for Orange‐bellied Parrots. Management of the foraging habitat of Orange‐bellied Parrots requires regular burning of moorlands adjacent to the forests where they nest. Our simulations show that preventing regular burning of these forests is important to maximize the probability of persistence of nesting habitat for Orange‐bellied Parrots. We show that by incorporating field data on the true availability of habitat, it is possible to simulate the uncertain impacts of fire on future perpetuation of suitable nesting cavities for wildlife.
Antibiotic resistance is an ongoing threat to both human and animal health. Migratory birds are a potential vector for the spread of novel pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes. To date, there has been no comprehensive study investigating the presence of antibiotic resistance (AMR) in the bacteria of Australian shorebirds or terns. In the current study, 1022 individual birds representing 12 species were sampled across three states of Australia (Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia) and tested for the presence of phenotypically resistant strains of three bacteria with potential to be zoonotic pathogens; Escherichia coli, Enterococcusspp., and Salmonellasp. In total, 206 E. coli, 266 Enterococcusspp., and 20 Salmonellasp. isolates were recovered, with AMR detected in 42% of E. coli, 85% of Enterococcusspp., and 10% of Salmonellasp. Phenotypic resistance was commonly detected to erythromycin (79% of Enterococcusspp.), ciprofloxacin (31% of Enterococcusspp.) and streptomycin (21% of E. coli). Resident birds were more likely to carry AMR bacteria than migratory birds (p ≤ .001). Bacteria isolated from shorebirds and terns are commonly resistant to at least one antibiotic, suggesting that wild bird populations serve as a potential reservoir and vector for AMR bacteria. However, globally emerging phenotypes of multidrug‐resistant bacteria were not detected in Australian shorebirds. This study provides baseline data of the carriage of AMR bacteria in Australian shorebirds and terns.
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The Fairy Tern Sternula nereis is an Australasian tern that breeds in Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand, with the latter having the smallest breeding population and is listed as ‘Threatened – Nationally Critical’ by the New Zealand Department of Conservation. Here, we investigate the genetic relatedness and level of endemism (gene flow) of the New Zealand Fairy Tern S. n. davisae population compared to the larger breeding populations in Australia S. n. nereis and New Caledonia S. n. exsul using the NADH subunit 2 (ND2) region of the mitochondrial DNA. We found that the three main populations (n = 86) were genetically distinct with a different fixed haplotype restricted to New Zealand (n = 15) and New Caledonia (n = 16), and that the estimated gene flow was low to zero, indicating no interbreeding between the populations. The current genetic evidence is consistent with observations of morphological and behavioural differences among the populations, and we suggest continued independent management of the population in New Zealand and further surveys and independent management of the New Caledonia population.
Artificial light at night (ALAN) has rapidly and drastically changed the global nocturnal environment. Evidence for the effect of ALAN on animal behaviour is mounting and animals are exposed to both point sources of light (street and other surrounding light sources) and broadscale illuminance in the form of skyglow. Research has typically taken a simplified approach to assessing the presence of ALAN, yet to fully understand the ecological impact requires consideration of the different scales and sources of light concurrently. Bird song has previously been well studied for its relationship with light, offering an opportunity to examine the relative impact of different sources of light on behaviour. In this study, we combine correlational and experimental approaches to examine how light at night affects the nocturnal song behaviour of the largely diurnal willie wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys). Observations of willie wagtails across urban and rural locations in southeastern Australia demonstrated that nocturnal song behaviour increased with the intensity of moonlight in darker rural areas but decreased in areas with high sky glow. In addition, willie wagtails were half as likely to sing at night in the presence of localized light sources such as streetlights in urban and rural areas. Experimental introduction of streetlights to a previously dark area confirmed this relationship: willie wagtail song rates declined when lights were turned on and returned to their original rates following streetlight removal. Our findings show that scale, as well as intensity, are important when considering the impact of light at night as moonlight, sky glow, and localized sources of artificial light have different effects on nocturnal song behaviour.
Feeding studies provide important information about animals and the environments in which they live. Yet little is known about the diet of the Australian Fairy Tern Sternula nereis nereis, despite the species being listed as threatened (Vulnerable) and in need of research. This study investigated the dietary composition of this bill-loading seabird, at three colony sites of an inner shelf seascape (two marine and one estuarine) using non-invasive digital photography and direct observations (number of observations [n] = 9854) Small, surface schooling, inshore spawning fishes were the most important prey at all sites. Blue Sprat Spratelloides robustus, hardyheads (Atherinidae spp.) and garfishes Hyporhamphus spp. dominated the diet, contributing ≥ 75% of all prey at each site. The abundance of these fishes, whose spawning period overlapped the Fairy Tern breeding season in south-western Australia (October to February), is likely an important factor influencing the location of Fairy Tern colonies. Multivariate statistical analyses showed that dietary composition differed significantly among colony sites, breeding seasons, between courtship and chick feeding, and time of day. Blue Sprat, Beaked Salmon Gonorynchus greyi, and flyingfishes (Exocoetidae spp.) were present in greater proportions at Rottnest Island and Penguin Island (marine sites) than at Point Walter (estuarine). In contrast, hardyheads, Tailor Pomatomus saltatrix, and Yelloweye Mullet Aldrichetta forsteri were more common at Point Walter. Garfishes were around twice as important at Penguin Island than the other sites. Differences in habitat and fish species assemblages at each site may explain the observed spatial trends in dietary composition, while environmental factors, e.g. sea surface temperature and freshwater discharge, and natural interannual variability may explain the observed temporal trends in diet. Fish donated for courtship were ∼21% (12 mm) longer than those provisioned to chicks and the composition of prey in the diet of Fairy Terns differed between courtship and chick feeding at both Point Walter and Penguin Island. Differences in prey handling capabilities and nutritional requirements of adult females and chicks may explain these differences. Dietary composition differed significantly among diurnal periods at Point Walter and Penguin Island, with the greatest differences observed between morning and afternoon periods. At least 30 prey species were recorded, suggesting a degree of feeding opportunism, however, the large proportion of Blue Sprat, particularly at marine colony sites, highlights a potential vulnerability of Fairy Terns to changes in prey availability during their breeding period.
Two foraging trips of one female and one male Westland Petrel Procellaria westlandica partially tracked by radio telemetry, and six foraging trips by three male Westland Petrels tracked by satellite telemetry are reported. We report on the development of Platform Transmitting Terminals (PTTs) suitable for use on burrowing seabirds and on the successful deployment of the modified PTTs. The birds tracked by VHF radio telemetry were recorded around the 200-m depth contour on a few days during their foraging trip but were beyond reception range most of the time. The birds tracked by satellite mostly foraged on the continental slope off the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand except in one instance where a bird flew through Cook Strait and spent time on the Chatham Rise east of the South Island. The difficulties associated with interpreting satellite tracks for birds that travel relatively short distances at sea are discussed.
Animals rely on both personal and social information about danger to minimize risk, yet environmental conditions constrain information. Both visual obstructions and background noise can reduce detectability of predators, which may increase reliance on social information, such as from alarm calls. Furthermore, a combination of visual and auditory constraints might greatly increase reliance on social information, because the loss of information from one source cannot be compensated by the other. Testing these possibilities requires manipulating personal information while broadcasting alarm calls. We therefore experimentally tested the effects of a visual barrier, traffic noise, and their combination on the response of Australian magpies, Cracticus tibicen, to heterospecific alarm calls. The barrier blocked only visual cues, while playback of moderate traffic noise could mask subtle acoustic cues of danger, such as of a predator’s movement, but not the alarm-call playback. We predicted that response to alarm calls would increase with either visual or acoustic constraint, and that there would be a disproportionate response when both were present. As predicted, individuals responded more strongly to alarm calls when there was a visual barrier. However, moderate traffic noise did not affect responses, and the effect of the visual barrier was not greater during traffic-noise playback. We conclude that a reduction of personal, visual information led to a greater reliance on social information from alarm calls, confirming indirect evidence from other species. The absence of a traffic-noise effect could be because in Australian magpies hearing subtle cues is less important than vision in detecting predators.
Theoretical studies predict that hosts of avian brood parasites should evolve defenses against parasitism in a matter of decades. However, opportunities to test these predictions are limited because brood parasites rarely switch to naïve hosts. Here, we capitalize on a recent host switch by the brood-parasitic Pacific Koel (Eudynamys orientalis) in eastern Australia, to investigate how quickly the Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), a recent host that has been annexed by the koel within the last 90 years, can learn to recognize and mob adult cuckoos and evolve the ability to eject parasite eggs. Pacific Koel nestlings kill all host young, so there should be strong selection for hosts to evolve defenses. However, low parasitism rates and high egg recognition costs might slow the spread of egg ejection in our study populations, while adult parasite recognition should be able to spread more rapidly, as this defense has been shown to be a learned trait rather than a genetically inherited defense. We tested Red Wattlebirds at two sites where parasitism rate differed. As predicted, we found that the Red Wattlebird showed little or no ability to eject foreign model eggs at either site, whereas two historical hosts showed high levels of egg ejection at both sites. However, Red Wattlebirds responded significantly more aggressively to a koel mount than to mounts of a harmless control and nest predator at the site with the higher parasitism rate and gave significantly more alarm calls overall toward the koel mount. Our results support previous evidence that recognition and mobbing of a brood parasite are learned traits and may be especially beneficial to naïve hosts that have not had enough time or a high enough selection pressure to evolve egg rejection.
The movements of backyard poultry and wild bird populations are known to pose a disease risk to the commercial poultry industry. However, it is often difficult to estimate this risk due to the lack of accurate data on the numbers, locations, and movement patterns of these populations. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the use of three different data sources when investigating disease transmission risk between poultry populations in New Zealand including (1) cross-sectional survey data looking at the movement of goods and services within the commercial poultry industry, (2) backyard poultry sales data from the online auction site TradeMe®, and (3) citizen science data from the wild bird monitoring project eBird.
The cross-sectional survey data and backyard poultry sales data were transformed into network graphs showing the connectivity of commercial and backyard poultry producers across different geographical regions. The backyard poultry network was also used to parameterise a Susceptible-Infectious (SI) simulation model to explore the behaviour of potential disease outbreaks. The citizen science data was used to create an additional map showing the spatial distribution of wild bird observations across New Zealand. To explore the potential for diseases to spread between each population, maps were combined into bivariate choropleth maps showing the overlap between movements within the commercial poultry industry, backyard poultry trades and, wild bird observations.
Network analysis revealed that the commercial poultry network was highly connected with geographical clustering around the urban centres of Auckland, New Plymouth and Christchurch. The backyard poultry network was also a highly active trade network and displayed similar geographic clustering to the commercial network. In the disease simulation models, the high connectivity resulted in all suburbs becoming infected in 96.4% of the SI simulations. Analysis of the eBird data included reports of over 80 species; the majority of which were identified as coastal seabirds or wading birds that showed little overlap with either backyard or commercial poultry.
Overall, our study findings highlight how the spatial patterns of trading activity within the commercial poultry industry, alongside the movement of backyard poultry and wild birds, have the potential to contribute significantly to the spread of diseases between these populations. However, it is clear that in order to fully understand this risk landscape, further data integration is needed; including the use of additional datasets that have further information on critical variables such as environmental factors.
Wetlands, and the species that rely upon them, are under significant threat world‐wide, with wetlands often being completely removed or drastically altered. Successful wetland management requires an understanding of the interactions between wetland species and the microhabitats they use. The use of microhabitats for thermoregulation in wetland species is poorly studied, though anthropogenic influence on wetlands can reduce the diversity of microhabitats and thus the thermoregulatory options for animals. At high ambient temperatures birds may use the water‐logged wetland margins to help with thermoregulation, and are often observed roosting in the sitting position within this microhabitat. However, whether sitting on the wet substrate helps in thermoregulation is unknown.
In this study, we tested whether birds selectively use microhabitats across temperatures by conducting field observations of nine species of shorebirds. We use comparative analysis to determine whether birds roost more on wet substrate in the sitting posture, that is, ‘wet‐sitting’, at high ambient temperatures.
We found substrate type across the wetland margins to be important in shorebird thermoregulation, with the time spent sitting being significantly mediated by the substrate on which the bird roosted. Individuals tended to sit on bare, wet ground much more under high ambient temperatures compared with low ambient temperatures. Vegetation on the other hand was used similarly across temperatures, and likely does not provide the same thermoregulatory benefits.
By roosting on wet substrate at high ambient temperatures, birds may increase the potential for heat dissipation across the uninsulated legs, as water‐logged wetland margins are known to remain cooler than the ambient temperature or vegetated microhabitats under hot climatic conditions.
Synthesis and applications. Wetland creation and management requires an understanding of the functional significance of such microhabitats, not only for foraging and breeding, but also for roosting. We demonstrate that managing wetland margins is likely important in minimising heat stress in birds, with our findings emphasising the importance of maintaining open spaces in habitat mosaics for birds to use for thermoregulation. The ability of wetland species to manage heat stress is becoming exceedingly important as they are threatened by both decreased wetland availability and increasing ambient temperatures under climate change.
The Auckland Islands are the largest island group in the New Zealand subantarctic region, and have the most diverse avifauna, including eight endemic taxa. We present the first comprehensive review of the avifauna of the Auckland Islands, based on a database of 23,028 unique bird records made between 1807 and 2019. At least 45 species breed (or bred) on the islands, with a further 77 species recorded as visiting the group as migrants, vagrants, or failed colonisers. Information on the occurrence of each species on the different islands in the group is presented, along with population estimates, a summary of breeding chronology and other reproductive parameters, and diet where known. The frequency at which 33 bird species were encountered during visits to the seven largest islands is compared graphically to facilitate comparison of each island's bird fauna in relation to habitat differences and the history of introduced mammals. Disappointment Island (284 ha) is the least modified island in the group. However, it lacks forest, and so has a very restricted land bird fauna, lacking ten species that breed on other islands in the group. Auckland Island (45,889 ha) is the only major island in the group where introduced mammals are still present. As a result, it also has a depauperate bird fauna, with at least 11 species completely absent and a further seven species reported at lower frequencies than on the next largest islands (Adams and Enderby Islands). Miskelly, C.M.; Elliott, G.P.; Parker, G.C.; Rexer-Huber, K.; Russ, R.B; Taylor, R.H.; Tennyson, A.J.D.; Walker, K.J. 2020. Birds of the Auckland Islands, New Zealand subantarctic. Notornis 67(1): 59-151.
Oyster Rock occurs in the Institut Islands/Montesquieu Islands in the Kimberley region,
north-western Western Australia. Very few ornithological surveys of this island have been undertaken. We circumnavigated the rock on 23 April 2017 and observed the following species (and estimated numbers): Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii (at least 300), Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii (100), Pied Cormorant (50), Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres (20), Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis (30), Silver Gull Larus novaehollandiae (10), Brown Booby Sula leucogaster (2), and Eastern Osprey Pandion cristatus (1). Multiple instances of courtship behaviour (bills raised, wings lowered) and copulation between Roseate Terns were observed, and courtship between Greater Crested Terns (provisioning of fish) was observed. Two of the closest islands to Oyster Rock form the Low Rocks and Sterna Island (Kimberley) Important Bird Area because they support more than 1% of the world population of Roseate Terns, with up to 4,000 breeding pairs using the site. Considering the results of our brief survey of Oyster Rock, we recommend adding it and surrounding waters to the Low Rocks and Sterna Island Important Bird Area.
A classical prediction of the traditional evolutionary theories of ageing (tETA) is that longevity should be positively correlated with survival early on in life. However, large and unexplained variation exists in juvenile survival-longevity combinations. Here, we provide the first comparative study investigating the life-history, ecological and social correlates of juvenile survival, longevity and their combinations in 204 bird species. Overall, both measurements were positively correlated, but multiple survivals' combinations evolved, some in accordance with tETA ("positive JS-L combinations") while others contrasting it ("JS-L mismatches"). Positive JS-L combinations covaried with the pace of life proxies, whereas mismatching combinations covaried with the growing season length, where long growing seasons promoted juvenile survival, while short growing seasons promoted longevity. Interestingly, sociality explained only positive combinations, while life-history and ecological traits explained both positive and mismatching combinations. Overall, these findings challenge a main prediction of the tETA, and identify key evolutionary forces driving the coevolution between juvenile survival and longevity.
We studied the applicability of Lanchester's laws of combat to explain interspecific dominance in birds. We focused on 10 species of Australian birds in the arid zone of New South Wales that foraged at an established locust trap. Consistent with the “linear law,” larger species usually dominated smaller species in one-on-one encounters. We found no support for the “N-square law,” which predicted that large numbers of smaller species could dominate larger species when more abundant. Further analysis of the most abundant species revealed that it was less likely to visit the locust trap when larger, more dominant heterospecifics were present. Body size, and not numerical superiority, seems to be an important determinant in interspecific foraging decisions in birds.
¿Puede la Ley de Lanchester Ayudar a Explicar la Dominancia Interespecífica en Aves?
Resumen. Hemos estudiado la aplicabilidad de las leyes del combate de Lanchester en explicar la dominancia interespecífica en aves. Hemos focalizado este estudio en 10 especies de aves australianas de la zona árida de New South Wales, las cuales se alimentaron en trampas de insectos establecidas para tal fin. Consistente con la “ley lineal,” las especies de mayor tamaño usualmente dominaron a las especies más pequeñas en los encuentros uno a uno. No encontramos evidencia que apoye la “ley cuadrática,” la cual predice que un gran número de especies de pequeño tamaño podrían dominar a especies de tamaño mayor cuando las primeras son más abundantes. Posteriores análisis sobre la especie más abundantes revelaron que la probabilidad de visita a las trampas de insectos es menor cuando individuos heteroespecíficos más grandes y más dominantes están presentes. El tamaño corporal, y no la superioridad numérica, parece ser un importante factor en las decisiones de forrajeo en las aves.
Howell et al. (2003) argue that the Humphrey-Parkes (H-P) system of molt terminology is flawed because it requires using traditional first prebasic molt as the starting point for plumage succession that results in noncorrespondence between nomenclature and presumed homology in first basic plumages. However, the H-P system does not require this. Second, they argue that plumage color can be a misleading criterion for evaluating plumage homologies. I show, however, that the timing and extent of molts, and thus their homologies, can de documented more accurately by using plumage color than by not doing so. Howell et al. (2003) propose a revised H-P system. To follow their system, one must accept their notion that no first-cycle molts are homologous with prebasic molts in subsequent molt cycles. However, this is not so as many species have a molt in their first cycle that is homologous to definitive prebasic molt. In addition, Howell et al.'s (2003) system does not offer any new or better criteria for identifying homologies than those suggested by Humphrey and Parkes (1959) and, thus, is not an improvement on the H-P system. First-cycle molts and plumages of most birds are poorly known. Therefore, we will not have sufficient data to determine whether new molts have been evolutionarily added to the first cycle, as suggested by Howell et al. (2003), until the molts of many more species of birds are studied. Further, these studies must be done on closely related species, not phylogenetically distant ones as proposed by Howell et al. (2003).
Determinación de las Homologías Evolutivas de la Muda y el Plumaje: Un Comentario sobre Howell et al. (2003)
Resumen. Howell et al. (2003) aducen que el sistema Humphrey-Parkes (H-P) de terminología para la muda es erróneo porque requiere utilizar la primera muda prebásica como el punto de partida para la sucesión del plumaje, lo que resulta en falta de correspondencia entre la nomenclatura y las presuntas homologías en los primeros plumajes básicos. Sin embargo, el sistema H-P no requiere esto. Segundo, ellos argumentan que el color de plumaje puede ser un criterio engañoso para evaluar las homologías del plumaje, pero yo demuestro que el momento y la extensión de las mudas, y por tanto sus homologías, pueden documentarse con mayor exactitud utilizando el color del plumaje que no haciéndolo. Howell et al. (2003) proponen un sistema H-P revisado que implica aceptar su noción de que ninguna de las mudas del primer ciclo es homóloga con mudas prebásicas de ciclos de muda subsiguientes. Sin embargo, esto no es así, pues muchas especies tienen una muda en su primer ciclo que es homóloga a la muda prebásica definitiva. Adicionalmente, el sistema de Howell et al. (2003) no ofrece criterios nuevos o mejores para identificar las homologías que aquellos sugeridos por Humphrey and Parkes (1959), por lo que no representa un mejoramiento del sistema H-P. Las mudas y los plumajes del primer ciclo de la mayoría de las aves son poco conocidos. Por lo tanto, hasta que no se estudie la muda en muchas más especies de aves, no tendremos suficientes datos para determinar si nuevas mudas se han adicionado evolutivamente al primer ciclo como Howell et al. (2003) sugirieron. Más aún, dichos estudios deben hacerse en especies estrechamente relacionadas, no en aquellas filogenéticamente distantes como Howell et al. (2003) propusieron.
Populations of the Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica; Scolopacidae) embark on some of the longest migrations known among birds. The baueri race breeds in western Alaska and spends the nonbreeding season a hemisphere away in New Zealand and eastern Australia; the menzbieri race breeds in Siberia and migrates to western and northern Australia. Although the Siberian birds are known to follow the coast of Asia during both migrations, the southern pathway followed by the Alaska breeders has remained unknown. Two questions have particular ecological importance: (1) do Alaska godwits migrate directly across the Pacific, a distance of 11 000 km? and (2) are they capable of doing this in a single flight without stopping to rest or refuel? We explored six lines of evidence to answer these questions. The distribution of resightings of marked birds of the baueri and menzbieri races was significantly different between northward and southward flights with virtually no marked baueri resighted along the Asian mainland during southward migration. The timing of southward migration of the two races further indicates the absence of a coastal Asia route by baueri with peak passage of godwits in general occurring there a month prior to the departure of most birds from Alaska. The use of a direct route across the Pacific is also supported by significantly more records of godwits reported from within a direct migration corridor than elsewhere in Oceania, and during the September to November period than at other times of the year. The annual but rare occurrence of Hudsonian Godwits (L. haemastica) in New Zealand and the absence of their records along the Asian mainland also support a direct flight and are best explained by Hudsonian Godwits accompanying Bar-tailed Godwits from known communal staging areas in Alaska. Flight simulation models, extreme fat loads, and the apparent evolution of a wind-selected migration from Alaska further support a direct, nonstop flight.
Atravesando la Barrera Ecológica Final: Evidencia de un Vuelo sin Escala de 11 000 km de Longitud desde Alaska a Nueva Zelanda y el Este de Australia por Limosa lapponica
Resumen. Las poblaciones de Limosa lapponica (Scolopacidae) se embarcan en una de las migraciones más largas conocidas para aves. La raza baueri cría en el oeste de Alaska y pasa la estación no reproductiva a un hemisferio de distancia en Nueva Zelanda y el este de Australia; la raza menzbieri cría en Siberia y migra hacia el oeste y el norte de Australia. Aunque se sabe que las aves de Siberia siguen la costa de Asia durante ambas migraciones, la ruta meridional que siguen las aves reproductivas de Alaska ha permanecido desconocida. Dos preguntas tienen particular importancia ecológica: (1) ¿las aves de Alaska migran directamente a través de Pacífico, a lo largo de 11 000 km? y (2) ¿son capaces de hacerlo en un único vuelo sin parar a descansar y reabastecerse? Exploramos seis líneas de evidencia para responder a estas preguntas. La distribución de avistamientos de aves marcadas de las razas baueri y menzbieri fue significativamente diferente entre vuelos hacia el norte y el sur, sin que hubiera prácticamente un solo avistamiento de individuos marcados de baueri a lo largo del continente asiático durante la migración hacia el sur. El período de la migración hacia el sur de ambas razas indica la ausencia de una ruta costera asiática para baueri, con un pico en el paso de las aves ocurriendo allí un mes antes de la partida de la mayoría de las aves desde Alaska. El uso de una ruta directa a través del Pacífico también está avalado por un número significativamente mayor de aves reportadas para un corredor migratorio directo que para cualquier otro lugar de Oceanía, y para el período entre septiembre y noviembre que para otros momentos del año. La presencia anual, aunque rara, de L. haemastica en Nueva Zelanda y la ausencia de registros a lo largo del continente asiático también avalan la posibilidad de un vuelo directo y se explican mejor por el hecho de que L. haemastica acompaña a L. lapponica desde áreas de escala comunes en Alaska. Evidencia complementaria de un vuelo directo sin escalas está dada por modelos de simulación de vuelo, la gran acumulación de grasa en las aves y la aparente evolución de una migración seleccionada por el viento.
All birds have fundamentally similar patterns of plumage succession. Thus Humphrey and Parkes (1959) proposed a system of nomenclature (the H-P system), based on homologies, that has become standard for molt studies in North America. However, presumably analogous similarities in pattern between first basic and definitive basic plumages have obscured homologies. Many plumages conventionally known as “first basic” are better considered as novel first-cycle plumages that lack homologous counterparts in subsequent cycles. Consequently, current nomenclature does not consistently reflect between-species homologies. Howell and Corben (2000b) proposed that traditional juvenal plumage can be considered an unambiguous starting point for a terminology that better reflects presumed homologies in basic plumages; alternate and other nonbasic plumages may not necessarily be homologous between species. Four underlying strategies of increasing complexity incorporate all known patterns of plumage succession: the Simple Basic Strategy, the Complex Basic Strategy, the Simple Alternate Strategy, and the Complex Alternate Strategy. We review inconsistency in the H-P system; explain the four underlying strategies; and discuss how one can identify homologies (if any) between plumages in first and subsequent cycles and among taxa. Many species have novel plumages added into their first plumage cycle; we argue that existing terminology for these plumages is unsuitable and we term them formative plumages attained by preformative molts. Finally, we provide examples of how this modified H-P system can be applied to diverse taxa of birds while reflecting the homology underlying all basic plumage cycles. Our revision validates the flexibility and utility of the H-P system.
El Problema del Primer Plumaje Básico: Una Revisión de las Homologías de la Muda y del Plumaje
Resumen. Todas las aves tienen patrones de sucesión del plumaje fundamentalmente similares. De este modo, Humphrey y Parkes (1959) propusieron un sistema de nomenclatura (el sistema H-P), basado en homologías, el cual ha sido de uso común en estudios de muda de plumaje en Norte América. Sin embargo, supuestas similitudes análogas entre el primer plumaje básico y el plumaje definitivo básico han confundido las homologías. Muchos plumajes convencionalmente conocidos como “primer básico” son considerados mejor como plumajes originales del primer ciclo que carecen de contrapartes homólogas en los ciclos siguientes. Consecuentemente, la nomenclatura actual no refleja las homologías entre especies. Howell y Corben (2000b) propusieron que el tradicional plumaje juvenil puede ser considerado como un punto de partida inequívoco para una terminología que refleje mejor las homologías presuntas en los plumajes básicos; los plumajes alternos y otros plumajes no básicos pudieran no ser homólogos entre especies. Cuatro estrategias de creciente complejidad incorporan todos los patrones conocidos de sucesión de plumajes: La Estrategia Básica Simple, La Estrategia Básica Compleja, La Estrategia Alterna Simple, y La Estrategia Alterna Compleja. Examinamos ciertas inconsistencias en el sistema H-P; explicamos las cuatro estrategias subyacentes, y discutimos cómo se pueden identificar homologías (cuando existen) entre los plumajes del primer ciclo y de los ciclos siguientes, y entre taxa diferentes. Muchas especies tienen plumajes originales adicionales en su primer ciclo de plumaje; sostenemos que la terminología actual para estos plumajes es inadecuada y los denominamos como plumajes formativos, logrados por mudas preformativas. Finalmente, damos ejemplos de como este sistema H-P modificado puede ser aplicado a diversos tipos de aves y al mismo tiempo reflejar la homología subyacente a todos los ciclos de plumajes básicos. Nuestra revisión valida la flexibilidad y utilidad del sistema H-P.
Many seabirds are monomorphic and lack obvious ornamentation; thus the mechanisms and signaling systems that mediate mate choice can be elusive. We investigated the possibility that a unique characteristic of wing molt in most species of Sterna terns acts as a sexually selected indicator of fitness. Many terns replace a variable number of primaries and sometimes secondaries twice or occasionally three times each year. Some have suggested that this repeated wing molt may serve as an honest indicator of fitness in mutual mate choice. If this molt-signaling hypothesis is valid, one would expect there to be assortative mating with respect to the extent of repeated wing molt. We tested this prediction by examining 262 breeding pairs of Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) from colonies in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. Using banding records and plumage characters, we were often able to distinguish young birds making their first breeding attempt from older birds which may have maintained past pair bonds. We found evidence of assortative mating with respect to repeated wing molt in newly formed pairs, which supports the notion of wing molt as a sexually selected character.
Muda del Ala y Apareamento Asociativo en Sterna hirundo: Una Prueba de la Hipótesis de la Muda-Señalización
Resumen. Muchas aves marinas son monomórficas y no tienen ornamentaciones obvias; por tanto, los mecanismos y los sistemas de señales que media la selección de pareja son evasivos. Investigamos la posibilidad de que una característica única de la muda en la mayoría de las especies de charranes (Sterna spp.) funcione como un indicador de la aptitud sexualmente seleccionado. Muchos charranes substituyen un número variable de primarias y a veces de secundarias dos veces, u ocasionalmente tres veces, cada año. Algunos autores han sugerido que esta muda repetida podría servir como un indicador honesto de la aptitud durante la selección mutua de las parejas. Si esta hipótesis de la muda-señalización fuera válida, se esperaría que existiera apareamiento asociativo con respecto al grado de la muda repetida de las alas. Para poner a prueba esta predicción, examinamos 262 parejas reproductivas de Sterna hirundo, en colonias en la Bahía Buzzards, Massachusetts. Usando registros de anillamiento y caracteres del plumaje, pudimos distinguir con frecuencia los charranes jóvenes que hacían su primer intento de aparearse de los más viejos que pudieron haber mantenido enlaces con parejas anteriores. Encontramos evidencia de apareamento asociativo con respecto a la muda repetida de las alas en parejas nuevas, lo que apoya la noción de que la muda del ala sería un caracter seleccionado sexualmente.
Approximately 60% of the 45 species of terns (Sternae) have an unusual form of wing molt in which a variable number of inner primaries and outer secondaries are replaced two or three times in a single year—a process that has been called “repeated molt.” Although several hypotheses have been proposed for the maintenance of repeated molt, few data exist regarding potential selective forces that may have favored the evolution of this molt strategy, and there are no explanations for the high degree of interspecific variation in the extent of repeated molt. Preliminary investigations indicated that large terns tended to have less repeated molt than small terns and that the presence of repeated molt appeared to be associated with migratory behavior. We examined these initial findings by combining data from the literature, from examinations of museum specimens, and from a recent molecular phylogeny of the terns to perform phylogenetic-comparative tests. First, we used independent contrasts to verify that the association between large terns and less repeated molt was significant and not a result of shared ancestry. Second, we used tests for binary character association to evaluate the apparent link between repeated molt and migratory behavior. The results of these tests, along with reconstructions of ancestral states, led to a potential explanation for the origin of repeated molt, in which a tropical, sedentary ancestor gave rise to several lineages that spread to temperate areas and adopted a migratory life history. With this shift to a more seasonal regime came shortened breeding periods and perhaps more time for molt, which could have led to modifications of the ancestral molting strategy and the origin of repeated molt.
Efectos del Tamaño y del Comportamiento Migratorio en la Evolución de la Muda del Ala en los Gaviotines (Sternae): Un Estudio Filogenético Comparativo
Social attraction techniques for species restoration and conservation projects predominantly target colonial breeding species, which commonly use conspecific cues as indicators of habitat quality. The black‐fronted tern (Chlidonias albostriatus) is a globally endangered species that primarily breeds in transient colonies in New Zealand's braided rivers. Currently, predator control and habitat enhancement are the primary management strategies for improving black‐fronted tern populations. Methods that increase the probability of black‐fronted tern colonies being protected by management through an increase in site fidelity of breeding colonies, both within and among years, may greatly increase effectiveness of management. Social attractants, decoys, and audio playback were deployed at 10 sites within 9 Canterbury braided rivers over the 2016 breeding season (September–December). We found that terns interacted with the social attractants compared with the paired untreated plots absent of social attractants. Nearest locations of tern breeding were recorded for 8 of the 10 sites, with breeding recorded within 300 m of the social attractant experimental plots at 5 of these sites. These results suggest that social attraction has the potential for use in black‐fronted tern conservation by drawing breeding terns into habitat that has added predator or habitat management. © 2019 The Wildlife Society. Black‐fronted terns interacted significantly more with social attractants compared with untreated plots absent of social attractants. Results suggest that social attractants have the potential to improve black‐fronted tern conservation management.
Species occurrence is influenced by a range of factors including habitat attributes, climate, weather and human landscape modification. These drivers are likely to interact, but their effects are frequently quantified independently. Here we report the results of a 13‐year study of temperate woodland birds in south‐eastern Australia to quantify how different sized birds respond to the interacting effects of: (1) short‐term weather (rainfall and temperature in the 12 months preceding our surveys), (2) long‐term climate (average rainfall and maximum and minimum temperatures over the period 1970 to 2014), and (3) broad structural forms of vegetation (old‐growth woodland, regrowth woodland, and restoration plantings).
We uncovered significant interactions between bird body size, vegetation type, climate and weather. High short‐term rainfall was associated with decreased occurrence of large birds in old‐growth and regrowth woodland, but not in restoration plantings. Conversely, small bird occurrence peaked in wet years, but this effect was most pronounced in locations with a history of high rainfall, and was actually reversed (peak occurrence in dry years) in restoration plantings in dry climates. The occurrence of small birds was depressed ‐ and large birds elevated ‐ in hot years, except in restoration plantings which supported few large birds under these circumstances.
Our investigation suggests that different mechanisms may underpin contrasting responses of small and large birds to the interacting effects of climate, weather and vegetation type. A diversity of vegetation cover is needed across a landscape to promote the occurrence of different sized bird species in agriculture‐dominated landscapes, particularly under variable weather conditions. Climate change is predicted to lead to widespread drying of our study region and restoration plantings, especially in currently climatically‐wet areas may become critically important for conserving bird species, particularly small‐bodied taxa.
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Research effort is not uniform among bird species and may be influenced by multiple biological and environmental factors. Using a phylogenetic comparative approach we examined how research effort into Australian birds is related to phylogeny and tested whether key aspects of species’ biology influence this research effort. We quantified research effort directed at Australian birds by using a bibliometric dataset on 100 years of publications in the journal Emu. We found significant phylogenetic signal in research effort with bias towards the orders Passeriformes, Procellariiformes (seabirds), Cuculiformes (cuckoos), Struthioniformes (Emu and Cassowary) and Sphenisciformes (penguins). By contrast Columbiformes (doves and pigeons), Gruiformes (e.g. rails) and Turniciformes (button-quail) are, as a whole, under-studied. Further, we found several significant biological predictors of research effort. There has been a greater number of studies on species with larger body sizes, broader ranges, higher relative abundance (reporting rate), and that are found in urban environments – all characteristics that are likely to make them more obvious and accessible. We conclude that, in a continent with a relatively low density of ornithologists and many areas which are difficult to access, species that are encountered more readily are more likely to be studied. This pattern renders smaller, range-restricted species inhabiting remote areas more likely to experience the difficulties associated with data deficiency. Some or many of these species may have more perilous conservation statuses than currently recognised.
Vegetation restoration is a globally important form of management intervention designed to both remediate degraded land and to restore biodiversity. Using a 15‐year controlled experimental study in endangered Australian temperate woodlands, we quantified the response of bird biota to vegetation enhancement leading to the re‐establishment of an understorey, an increase in woodland patch size, or a combination of both. Our empirical results were characterized by marked variation in species richness and in the response of individual species to both time since enhancement and type of enhancement. For example, overall bird species richness initially responded negatively to enhancements but the effects were mitigated over time. Similar responses were identified for individual species such as the Rufous Songlark (Megalurus mathewsii). In the case of the Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala), responses to enhancement were negative and remained so over time. Conversely, the White‐plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata), Yellow‐rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa) and Superb Fairy‐wren (Malarus cyaneus) responded positively to enhancements. We also found evidence for variable responses to the kind of enhancement with some species responding to increased woodland patch size (e.g. Yellow‐rumped Thornbill), others to a combination of enhancements (e.g. White‐plumed Honeyeater), whereas yet others were agnostic to the kind of intervention that was implemented (e.g. Noisy Miner). Positive effects of enhancement were often time lagged for 6–8 years following instigation of underplanting and/or increases in woodland patch size. The negative effects of patch enhancement on the Noisy Miner indicate that underplanting and/or increases in woodland patch size may represent ways in which the impacts on other bird taxa of this despotic, hyper‐aggressive species might be mitigated.
Population mortality curves, otherwise known as lifetime distribution functions, can be indispensable in many areas of ecology and environmental management including population viability and stock management analyses, disaster‐recovery monitoring, and fundamental evolutionary biology. Yet available modeling tools are often unable to estimate population mortality curves from commonly available datasets because these datasets fail to meet stringent experimental‐design requirements. Here, we present a new method for estimating population mortality curves from records of marked individuals found dead. Such data are increasingly accessible in some of the largest biological datasets, such as continent‐ or nation‐wide marking‐and‐recovery schemes for birds and other animals. The method accounts for known biases in availability by age class, variable monitoring effort through time, and mark loss. We show that our modeling approach generates accurate estimates of population mortality structure across a range of populations differing in marking histories, true mortality curves, monitoring regimes, and mark loss rates. Our approach can be applied to multiple species or groups at a time and can provide estimates of inter‐annual adult, immature, and first‐year survival rates, required by predictive modeling applications such as population viability analyses. Our approach is also capable of estimating apparent senescence rates for each population and facilitates evolutionary analyses of life‐history traits. For example, our method is potentially useful for exploring the evolution of senescence or for inter‐group comparisons of mortality rates where groups that differ by environment may be identified within mark‐recovery records. To demonstrate the efficacy of this method, we present fitted population mortality curves for a suite of seabird species represented in a national mark–recapture database.
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