Ornithol Sci 19: 41 – 53 (2020) ORIGINAL ARTICLE Bird-banding records reveal changes in avian spring and autumn migration timing in a coastal forest near Niigata Alima DORZHIEVA1,*, Makoto NAKATA2,#, Keisuke TAKANO2, Youki FUJIHIKO1, Yasuo ITO3, Kiyoshi AKAHARA3, Katsuyoshi TACHIKAWA3, Yasuko ICHIMURA3, Yaeko FURUKAWA3, Hiroshi SATO3, Mikiko FUJISAWA3, Mika OKAMOTO3 and Takehiko SHIMIZU3 1 Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, 2–8050, Ikarashi, Nishi-ku, Niigata 950–2181, Japan 2 Faculty of Agriculture, Niigata University, 2–8050, Ikarashi, Nishi-ku, Niigata 950–2181, Japan 3 Niigata Group, Japanese Bird Banding Association, 1–13–11, Teraohigashi, Nishi-ku, Niigata 950–2054, Japan ORNITHOLOGICAL Abstract Changes in the timing of bird migration in spring and autumn in a coastal forest near the city of Niigata, central Honshu, Japan, were analyzed based on 27 SCIENCE years of bird-banding records. Half of the bird species studied, including all migra- © The Ornithological Society tory types except residents, arrived or departed significantly earlier in spring due to an of Japan 2020 increase in spring temperatures. The rate of change we observed in spring migration timing due to changes in temperature was identical to or slightly greater than those reported in studies from other countries. The spring arrival of the Narcissus Flycatcher Ficedula narcissina and the Japanese Thrush Turdus cardis, both long-distance sum- mer migrants to the nearby mountains, became earlier (advanced), however, for reasons that remained unclear. Median capture date in autumn was significantly asso- ciated with year for five species. Of these, the median capture date of the Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus, a resident and wandering bird, and the Black-faced Bunting Emberiza spodocephala, a wandering bird, advanced annually, while for the Japanese Robin Luscinia akahige and two other species (all long-distance migrants), it was delayed. We hypothesize that forest succession from a simple pine forest to a mixed forest with well-developed sub-canopy and shrub layers may have strongly influenced the Japanese White-eye and the Black-faced Bunting due to changes in population structure in the study area, resulting in an earlier median autumn cap- ture date. Forest succession may also have influenced the Japanese Robin’s food resources, enabling it to stay longer in the study area and resulting in a delay in autumn departure date. Thus, changes in bird migration timing differ according to different environmental factors in spring and autumn. Key words Bird-banding records, Climate change, Forest succession, Median capture date, Spring temperature Climate change, caused mainly by an increase have caused significant environmental changes such in concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmo- as glacial melting and sea level rise, natural disas- sphere, has had a global effect (Ministry of the ters, and distinctive changes in weather conditions Environment 2017). The Fifth Assessment Report affecting the phenology of flora and fauna (Lawler et published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Cli- al. 2009; Acharia & Chettri 2010). Plant phenology mate Change, reported a 0.85°C increase over 132 (e.g. flowering and leaf budding) has changed consis- years (IPCC 2013). Changes in global temperature tently with climate change (Cleland et al. 2007). In central Asia, the growing season has lengthened by (Received 4 January 2019; Accepted 15 July 2019) approximately 10 days per decade due to both earlier # Corresponding author, E-mail: [email protected] * Present address: The Buryat State Academy of Agriculture, 8 spring onset and later leaf fall in autumn (Zhou et al. Pushkin Street, Ulan-Ude 670024, Russia 2001). The timing of bird arrivals has been increas- 41 A. DORZHIEVA et al. ingly studied over the past decades. Birds’ responses periods. Short and long-distance migrants arrived to climate changes have manifested in a shift in in Niigata Prefecture significantly earlier in spring timing of arrival and the beginning of breeding. In by 2.4 and 2.7 days per degree (d/°C), respectively warm spring years, most birds migrate to breeding (Nakata et al. 2011a). Similar patterns were recorded grounds early (Palm et al. 2009; Dunn & Winkler in the Yokohama area, Kanagawa Prefecture. On 2010; Charmantier & Gienapp 2013). Arrival tim- average, winter visitors departed 15 days earlier and ing of birds is also affected by other climatic fac- arrived nine days later in years of warm springs and tors such as wind speed along migration routes or autumns, respectively (Kobori et al. 2012). However, at wintering grounds, which may to some extent be research investigating the relationships between bird independent of changes in temperature (Gordo 2007; migration timing (particularly autumn migration), and Møller 2013). On the other hand, researcher opin- environmental factors, is limited in Japan. In order to ions differ regarding long-term changes in the timing assess the impact of climatic and other environmental of autumn bird migration. Some researchers suggest factors on the timing of bird migration in spring and that, in recent decades, climate warming in western autumn, we analyzed long-term bird-banding records Europe has resulted in both short and long-distance from the coastal forest of Sekiya near the city of migrants arriving much later (Cotton 2003). Obser- Niigata, central Honshu, Japan. vations in northern North America showed that the autumn migration of long-distance migrants peaked MATERIALS AND METHODS significantly earlier, while, in contrast, most of the short-distance migrants arrived later (Mills 2005). 1) Study area Furthermore, researchers suggest that the arrival time The research site was in the coastal forest planta- of birds in autumn is governed by the end of the tion of Sekiya (37°55′N, 139°01′E) in the city of reproductive period, the conditions in the breeding Niigata, central Honshu, Japan. The coastal forest grounds after the breeding season, and the expected extends for approximately 5 km and is 100–200 m conditions during the migration passage and in the wide, and is dominated by Japanese Black Pine Pinus wintering grounds (Jenni & Kery 2003). It is thought thunbergii, which was planted to prevent sand drift that autumn migration happens later during warm caused by the strong northwest monsoon in winter. years when birds stay longer in their breeding areas Due to lack of management of the pine forest, suc- (Sparks & Mason 2001; Carey 2009; Charmantier & cession has occurred from a simple pine forest to Gienapp 2013). a mixed forest with multiple strata (Yamaguchi & Japan’s climate is sensitive to global warming in Nakata 2008). Nakata et al. (2011a) described the several respects (Ministry of the Environment 2017). vegetation characteristics of the research site. Locust The average temperature increase in Japan over the Tree Robinia pseudoacacia and conifer mixes make past 100 years has been 1.19°C (Japan Meteorological up the canopy layer. Evergreen broad-leaved tree Agency 2018a). Climate change in Japan has affected species such as Persea thunbergii, Ilex integra, and phenological events in plants and animals. Thus, Neolitsea sericea, and deciduous broad-leaved tree the increase in spring temperature during the last species such as the Chinese Hackberry Celtis sinen- decade led to early flowering of the Japanese Apri- sis, Prunus speciosa, and Prunus verecunda make up cot Prunus mume by 0.8 days, the Yoshino Cherry the sub-canopy layer. The shrub layer is dominated Prunus×yedoensis by 0.7 days, and the Japanese by evergreen species, such as the Japanese Aucuba Wisteria Wisteria floribunda by 0.7 days (Ogawa- Aucuba japonica, the Japanese Spindle Euonymus Onishi & Berry 2013). Bird arrival times also have japonicas, and Ligustrum japonicum, and decidu- changed in response to an increase in temperature. ous species such as communities mixed with Morus Koike and Higuchi (2002) reported a trend of earlier australis. The herb layer is generally poor due to breeding and larger clutches over 21 years (1978– reduced light intensity caused by the dense growth 1998) in the Red-cheeked Starling Sturnia philippen- of the sub-canopy and shrub layers, however scat- sis in Niigata Prefecture, central Honshu, Japan. The tered growth of Persicaria filiformis and Oplismenus timing of breeding in Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica undulatifolius occurs. was about half a month earlier in the 2000s than in the 1960s in Japan (Deguchi et al. 2012), however 2) Bird banding data their departure timing did not change between these The Niigata Group of the Japanese Bird Band- 42 Migration timing based on bird banding ing Association has been banding birds during the to lowlands or the low mountains south of central spring and autumn migrations in the study area since Honshu (including Niigata Prefecture) in winter. This 1987. Bird banding was conducted in the coastal for- category also includes species that breed in northeast- est from just after sunrise to just before sunset at two ern China and the Korean Peninsula, but migrate to main research sites of ca. 1 ha each and approxi- Japan in winter. mately 350 m apart. Seven to 20 mist nets were used, (e) Long-distance migrants (summer visitors) to depending on the number of researchers or weather the nearby mountains: come from southern China or conditions and were checked at hourly intervals. The Southeast Asia in spring and breed in Japan (in the nets were 12 m long, 0.3–2 m high, and had mesh mountains in Niigata Prefecture). sizes of 24, 30, or 36 mm. Bird banding research was (f) Long-distance migrants (winter visitors): have not conducted on bad-weather days. their main breeding areas in the far north of Hokkaido To obtain uniform study periods for the spring and and the Korean Peninsula, and migrate to mainland autumn migration seasons, we used bird-banding Japan in winter. data from 28 March to 11 June in spring and from (g) Passage visitors: only pass through in spring 25 August to 17 November in autumn for 27 years and autumn, and do not stay in Niigata Prefecture in (from 1991 to 2017).