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Exploratory analyses of migration timing and morphometrics of the Dunnock (Prunella modularis)

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Exploratory analyses of migration timing and morphometrics of the Dunnock (Prunella modularis). – Ornis Hungarica 24(2): 127–144. Abstract Ornithological studies often rely on large temporal scale ringing datasets as source of information. However, basic descriptive statistics of collected data are rarely provided. In order to fill this gap, here we present the second item of a series of exploratory analyses of migration timing and body size measurements of the most frequent Passerine species at a ringing station located in Central Hungary (1984–2015). First, we give a concise description of foreign ring recoveries of the Dunnock in relation to Hungary. We then shift focus to data of 11,617 individuals deriving from the ringing station, where birds have been trapped, handled and ringed with standardized methodology since 1984. Timing is described through annual and daily capture and recapture frequencies and their descriptive statistics. We show annual mean arrival dates within the study period and we present the cumulative distribution of first captures with stopover durations. We present the distributions of wing, third primary, tail length and body mass, and the annual means of these variables. Furthermore, we show the distribution of individual fat and muscle scores, and the distribution of body mass within each fat score category. We distinguish migration periods (spring and autumn), and age groups (i.e. juveniles and adults). Our aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of the analysed variables. However, we do not aim to interpret the obtained results, merely draw attention to interesting patterns, that may be worth exploring in detail. Data used here are available upon request for further analyses.
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... Migrations of this species have been studied by different researches in Ukraine but they mostly concerned the phenology of migrations [4,5]. In recent years, not only migrations of birds are studied (time, directions and height of passage [6,7], morphometric data of birds [8], change of bird plumage during migration and identification of it age) [9] and biometrical differentiation [10], but also applied directions of research of migratory birds are being developed. Thus, in particular, studies are conducted related to the influence of wind power plant [11,12] or possible impact due to possibility of its construction on migratory birds [13] and influence of geomagnetic field on migratory activity of birds [14]. ...
... Most of these birds flew at altitudes between 30 and 40 m in National Park "Prypiat-Stokhid", and in the Ukrainian Carpathians the flight of their passage is slightly lower [13]. The period of the main autumn flight of the species in the National Park is similar in other areas of Ukraine [1,13] and partly in Hungary [6,8]. ...
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The aim. The main purpose of the study was to find out the peculiarities of autumn migrations of birds, in particular such little-studied species as the Dunnock. This is necessary for the development and implementation of a management plan in the National Park for a whole complexes of migratory birds and separate species, first of all rare or small in number quantity. Materials and methods. Our research was conducted at the Prypiat River near Svalovychi village in Liubeshiv district, Volyn region of Ukraine in September and October 2012–2017. Observations were performed visually, starting in the morning half an hour before sunrise and ending in the evening half an hour after sunset (all hours of the light part of a day, without interruption). The light part of a day was divided into hour of observations, taking into the daily changes of sunrise and sunset. Flight altitude was determined visually, and flight directions – by 8 rhumbs. Results. There were 2124 individuals of the Dunnock counted during the study of visible autumn migration birds at one observation point in 2012–2017. The most bird migrated in flocks, but a significant part of them flew alone. The most numerous migrants this species were in small flocks – 2–5 individuals (89.9 % of all counted birds in flocks). There are from 2 to 38 individuals in one flock, on average – 3.2±0.15 individuals. The main passage lasted from the 2nd decade of September to the middle of the 2nd decade of October. The majority of them flew in the morning, in the first 3 hours of observations (75.5–83.5 % of all counted birds in different years, in average 79.6 %). The majority birds of this species were observed in flight within altitudes between 30 and 40 m (59.4 %) and the predominant direction of flight was W (52.4 %) and some less – SW (45.4 %). Conclusions. According to the results of 6-years research, the peculiarities of visible autumn migrations of the Dunnock have been clarified (the main passage – the 2nd decade of September – middle of the 2nd decade of October, majority of birds flew in the first 3 hours of observations, used altitudes between 30 and 40 m and the W and SW directions of passage). The results of our research are the basis for the further study of this species, planning and implementation of conservation measures for birds in the National Park “Prypiat-Stokhid”. The obtained data are also a supplement to the state of study of this species in Ukraine
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Loop migration, i.e. the use of different routes during spring and autumn migration, is a common migratory strategy among many long-distance migratory species. This migration strategy is most likely driven by the variation in food availability and/or prevailing winds en route between the spring and autumn seasons. Tracking studies and long-distance ring recoveries have revealed that many of the species that migrate along the American and Eurasian−African migratory flyways use different stopover sites in spring and in autumn. However, very little information is available on songbirds migrating along the East Asian flyway. In this study, we compared the wing lengths of six East Asian long-distance migratory passerines (Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus, Siberian Rubythroat Calliope calliope, Taiga Flycatcher Ficedula albicilla, Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis, Thick-billed Warbler Arundinax aedon and Black-faced Bunting Emberiza spodocephala) migrating through two different study sites in Russia. We examined whether these species show morphological differences between spring and autumn migration which could indicate the occurrence of different populations at different parts of the migratory cycle. Based on a dataset of 2,368 adult individuals, we found no differences in wing length between the two seasons for four studied species, suggesting the absence of loop migration. This might be explained by adequate food supply and similar prevailing wind directions for birds in both spring and autumn, or the lack of obvious ecological barriers along the East Asian flyway which have to be crossed during migration. However, the differing wing lengths of individuals captured in spring and autumn for two species, Black-faced Bunting and Red-flanked Bluetail, provide evidence for the possible use of different seasonal migratory routes. Further field studies are needed to better understand the migration ecology of passerine birds in the East Asian flyway.
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Sokolov, L.V., Markovets, M.Yu. & Yu. G. Morozov (1999): Long-term dynamics of the mean date of autumn migration in passerines on the Courish Spit of the Baltic Sea. Avian Ecol. Behav. 2: 1-18. The analysis of the mean date of autumn migration in juveniles in 26 passerine species over 40 years (1959-1998) revealed considerable inter-annual variation in the majority of species. In many species the mean date of autumn migration varied in parallel. In the 1960s eleven bird species migrated earlier through the Courish Spit compared with the 1970s. In the 1980s, compared with the 1970s, such a trend was revealed in 15 species. In the 1990s, compared with the 1980s, a tendency towards later migration was recorded in eight species. Similar trends were also found in adults in eight species. A com-parison of the timing of autumn migration of juveniles with mean monthly ambient temperatures in spring, summer and autumn showed a significant or nearly significant negative correlation in 14 species, mainly with April temperature. A significant positive relationship between the timing of autumn migration and post-fledging dispersal was revealed in nine species out of 13 tested. In the Great Tit Parus major and Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs we found a significant positive relationship between the timing of breeding and the mean date of autumn passage of adults. We conclude that the main reason of long-term variation of the timing of autumn passage in passerines in our study area are long-term climate fluctuations in Europe in the 20th century. Warmings observed in the northern hemisphere in the 1960s and even more pronounced in the 1980s caused a shift towards earlier arrival in spring and earlier breeding in many passerines (Sokolov et al. 1998, Sokolov & Payevsky 1998). This caused a respective shift in the timing of autumn migration in a number of species. Colder periods in the 1970s and to some extent in the 1990s, to the contrary, resulted in later migration in some passerines. Future trends will depend on annual dynamics of spring ambient temperature in Europe. Key words: autumn migration, dynamics of the timing of migration, mean date of migration, ambient temperature, climate, passerines.
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