Category: Worldwide oriental region

Activity patterns and effect of ticks on growth and survival of tropical roseate tern nestlings

Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii) Science Article 1 abstract Patterns of abundance of the seabird tick Amblyomma loculosum and their effectson Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii) nestling growth, fledging age, and survival are describedon Aride Island, Seychelles, in 1997-1999. Female ticks attached to nestlings from 4to 14 days (to engorge) whereas male ticks attached for 1-3 days. […]

In vivo pectoralis muscle force-length behavior during level flight in pigeons (Columba livia)

Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) Science Article 3 abstract For the first time, we report in vivo measurements of pectoralis muscle length change obtained using sonomicrometry combined with measurements of its force development via deltopectoral crest strain recordings of a bird in free flight. These measurements allow us to characterize the contractile behavior and mechanical power […]

Thermal control of metabolic cold defence in pigeons Columba livia

Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) Science Article 1 abstract Metabolic rate (MR) and various body temperatures were recorded in pigeons Columba livia during gradual lowering of the ambient temperature (Ta) and during cold exposure (?10 deg C) for an entire circadian cycle. The aim was to study how changes in MR accorded with the observed body […]

A functional analysis of the primary upstroke and downstroke muscles in the domestic pigeon (Columba livia) during flight

Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) Science Article 2 abstract In domestic pigeons (Columba livia), the electrical activity of the major depressor muscle of the wing, the pectoralis (pars thoracicus), begins in late upstroke well before the wing begins its downstroke excursion. The two architecturally distinct heads of the pectoralis, the sternobrachialis and the thoracobrachialis, are differentially […]

Factors Affecting Chick Provisioning by Caspian TernsNesting in the Columbia River Estuary

Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia) Science Article 1 abstract We investigated factors affecting chick provisioning by radio-tagged Caspian Terns (Sterna caspia)nesting in a large colony on East Sand Island in the Columbia River estuary during 2001. Caspian Tern predationon juvenile salmonids (Oncorhynchusspp.) in the estuary prompted resource managers to relocate ca. 9,000 pairs ofterns nesting on […]

PACIFIC COAST CASPIAN TERNS: DYNAMICSOF AN EXPANDING POPULATION

Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia) Science Article 2 abstract Nesting distribution, age-related seasonal movements, survivorship, and mechanisms of population expansion in Pacific Coast Caspian Terns (Sterna caspia) were examined primarily through analysis of 412 recoveries of birds banded as juveniles between 1935 and 1980. Since the beginning of this century, the population has shifted from nesting […]

Foraging Patterns of Caspian Terns and Double-crested Cormorants inthe Columbia River Estuary

Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia) Science Article 3 abstract We examined spatial and temporal foraging patterns of Caspian terns and double-crested cormorants nesting in the ColumbiaRiver estuary, to potentially identify circumstances where juvenile salmonids listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act mightbe more vulnerable to predation by these avian piscivores. Data were collected during the 1998 […]

Repeatability of reproductive traits in female Barn Swallows Hirurcdo rustica

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Science Article 2 abstract The constancy of laying date, clutch size, numbers of hatchlings and fledglings,and mean egg volume per clutch was studied in female Barn SwallowsHirundo rustica in central Poland in 1994-97 . Laying dates of firstclutches, clutch size, the number of hatchlings and fledglings and egg volumeshowed significant repeatability. […]

Bill edge development as a reliable character for discriminating two age classes within juvenile Swallows Hirundo rustica

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Science Article 3 abstract To compare fitness data not only between adults and juveniles but also between recently-fledged and older juvenile Swallows we looked for an externally-visible character to distinguish these two cohorts in the field. So far, no such criteria seem to have been described (Svensson 1992, Suter 1985, Cramp […]

Influence of parental age on the growth of nestling Swallows Hirundo rustica

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Science Article 7 abstract The growth (mass) of 67 nestling swallows is studied and factors influencing growth parameters are investigated. The logistic model best fits the data; there is no evidence that clutch-size influences any of the growth parameters. On the other hand, brood effect is highly significant for each of […]