The State of Australia's Birds 2003

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The State of Australia's Birds 2003 T HE S TATE OF A USTRALIA’ S B IRDS 2003 Wedge-tailed Eagle. Photo by www.birdphotos.com.au JOIN TODAY! CONSERVATION THROUGH KNOWLEDGE By joining Birds Australia, you help Dedicated to the study, conservation and enjoyment of native birds Australia’s wild birds and their and their habitats habitats. Whether you participate Since 1901 Birds Australia (Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union) has in the activities and research or worked for the conservation of Australasia’s birds and their habitats, principally through just enjoy Australia’s leading bird scientific research. An independent, not-for- magazine Wingspan, your profit organisation, Birds Australia relies on the financial support of companies, trusts and subscription is hard at work, foundations, and private individuals. The organisation inspires the involvement of safeguarding our beautiful birds. thousands of volunteers in its conservation projects and through their generosity and commitment undertakes nationwide and Title First Name localised monitoring of bird populations. Surname 415 Riversdale Road, Hawthorn East, Victoria 3123 Address Tel: (03) 9882 2622; Fax: (03) 9882 2677; Postcode Email: [email protected] Phone (AH) (BH) Web site: www.birdsaustralia.com.au Email Funding for this report was generously provided by the Vera Moore Foundation Please accept my enclosed cheque for $68 $50 (concession) and the Australian Government’s $108 (family*) or $87 (family concession) payable to Department of Environment and Heritage (formerly Environment Australia). ‘Birds Australia’ or debit my Bankcard Visa Mastercard Vera Moore Foundation Expiry Date / Signature by Penny Olsen, Date / / SCIA.1 Michael Weston, Post to: Birds Australia, 415 Riversdale Rd, Hawthorn East, Vic. 3123 Ross Cunningham, Layout and design: P.A.G.E. Pty Ltd Tel: (03) 9882 2622; Fax: (03) 9882 2677; Email: [email protected] Reproduction and printing: and Andrew Silcocks *Family covers two members at the same address. Membership runs for twelve months. ✂ Courtney Colour Graphics Please enquire for rates for overseas members, and subscriptions to Emu, the journal of ornithology. Supplement to Wingspan, vol. 13, no. 4, CONSERVATION THROUGH KNOWLEDGE December 2003 Cover pic: Barking Owl. Photo by Nicholas Birks II The State of Australia’ s Birds 2003 The State of Australia’s Birds 2003 III The State of Australia’s Birds 2003 report is an overview of the status of Australia’s birds, the main threats they face and the conservation actions taken. The report and much of the data in it were collected and largely funded by volunteers. This is an extraordinary expression of concern for Australia’s birds and their habitats. Without such commitment, how are we to understand the state of our birds: which species and bird communities are truly in trouble, where to focus conservation efforts, whether conservation interventions are working? Red-browed Finch. Photo by www.birdphotos.com.au THE KEY FINDINGS INTRODUCTION Favourable news • Knowledge of habitat management by burning is improving, Quite possibly, birds are the The State of Australia’s Birds 2003 on topics such as habitat change, • A concerted effort by dedicated individuals, recovery teams, but an inability to control extensive dry season fires remains (SOAB) is the first in a series of reports freshwater birds, seabirds, shorebirds, landholders and governments has improved the prospects for a threat to several northern grassy woodland species most popular of wild animals. summarising the fortunes of Australia’s and the fate of birds on islands. several threatened species • In the 20 years between Atlases, another introduced birds. It presents population trends and Australia is a large climatically and • Conservation of birds can be compatible with human land species has established and two of the more recently Visible, vibrant and rich in changes for Australian birds over various biogeographically diverse continent uses, for example, sustainable farming and the recreational use established species—Spotted Turtle-Dove and Common time spans—some extending from the with a generally sparse human of beaches Myna—have spread variety, they give pleasure by 1960s—leading up to the present. It is population. Assessing the state of its • The number of volunteers working to monitor and improve • By-catch in Australian pelagic fisheries is a recently identified, intended that this introductory SOAB bird species—in excess of 700— the status of the nation’s birds is increasing major threat to the Flesh-footed Shearwater bringing colour and song to the report sets the baseline for five-yearly presents special challenges. This report • Knowledge of long-term patterns and trends in bird overviews, informed by the Ongoing examines the fortunes of birds at populations is improving There is strong circumstantial evidence that: garden, and enlivening the Atlas of Australian Birds and many other continental and regional scales. The • Most of the more highly threatened species have been listed • Species richness is reduced where native vegetation clearance monitoring programs. These overviews first part is based on the nation-wide, federally and/or by the appropriate State (but preparation of is continuing bush. Birds have long fired will be interspersed with themed reports volunteer-based Atlas of Australian Birds recovery plans lags behind) • Low reporting rates are associated with areas of reduced native • Some seabirds, particularly albatrosses, appear to have vegetation cover human imagination and remain benefited from by-catch reduction measures implemented in • Climate change is compromising high altitude residents Birds as indicators longline fisheries • Broadscale, intensified agriculture, such as cotton growing, a source of enjoyment for many, The state of the nation’s birds feeds into the clearance of native vegetation, • The rate of broadscale clearing of native vegetation has is an increasing threat to bird populations the Australian Government’s State of inappropriate fire regimes and introduced been markedly reduced in New South Wales and food and pests to a few. Their Environment reporting as an indicator of species are common threats to Australia’s preliminary steps have been taken towards its cessation Uncertain news national environmental health. Birds can biodiversity. Australian ecosystems that in Queensland • Unsustainable farming practices, particularly in the vital functions in nature include be useful surrogates or indicators of have been over-simplified through • Our cities provide habitat for a wide and increasing variety of wheat-sheep belt, are joint threats to agriculture and birds biodiversity (the variety of all living agricultural practices are often associated common native birds • Conservation effort has been directed at rare species with seed dispersal, pollination, the things). Monitoring of birds can provide with tree dieback, loss of native species, • Although dynamic, populations of several waterbirds appear relatively little action taken to improve the fortunes of more information on the distribution of soil erosion, salinity and deterioration in to be stable in the long-term common declining species regulation of insect and rodent diversity and signal changes to water quality. A greater diversity of birds • Australia is such a large, diverse country that the monitoring ecosystems. Importantly, birds—often is generally associated with a greater Unfavourable news and conservation of our 700 plus bird species is a complex and populations, and the disposal of noisy, colourful and active during the richness of tree, shrub and ground cover • The implementation of recovery plans is poorly supported demanding task day—are relatively easy to observe, species, as well as a greater range of by governments • The impact of the extended drought and exceptional fires that carrion. They herald the passing which makes monitoring accessible, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and • Populations of several common and widespread woodland burned much of the High Country of the south-east in 2003 unobtrusive, cost efficient and, not invertebrates. So, in addition to being birds of the extensively cleared wheat-sheep belt continue is yet to be revealed of the seasons and reflect the least, enjoyable. a measure of ecosystem diversity, the to decline • Populations of several long-established introduced species are Management for birds cannot be state of our birds can act as an indicator • Populations of several migratory shorebirds show evidence declining, as they are in their natural range health of natural systems. assumed to cover the requirements of all of environmental health and sustainable of long-term decline other life forms. Yet, adversities such as land use. IV The State of Australia’ s Birds 2003 The State of Australia’ s Birds 2003 V (which mainly covers landbirds), response to the identification of species of I. TRENDS IN COMMON AND WIDESPREAD BIRDS coordinated by Birds Australia. high conservation concern in the Action The report begins by taking a look at Plan for Australian Birds 2000. Australian Bustard. Photo by Graeme Chapman continental scale changes in reporting rates 2003 sees much of the country Change in the two decades between and bird species richness over the past emerging from a severe drought—the national Atlases Some major threats to 20 years. Over this period we have seen worst in history—topped in the early The first national Birds Australia Atlas Australian birds rapid change to habitat through clearance,
Recommended publications
  • Whistler3 Frontcover
    The Whistler is the occasionally issued journal of the Hunter Bird Observers Club Inc. ISSN 1835-7385 The aims of the Hunter Bird Observers Club (HBOC), which is affiliated with Bird Observation and Conservation Australia, are: To encourage and further the study and conservation of Australian birds and their habitat To encourage bird observing as a leisure-time activity HBOC is administered by a Committee: Executive: Committee Members: President: Paul Baird Craig Anderson Vice-President: Grant Brosie Liz Crawford Secretary: Tom Clarke Ann Lindsey Treasurer: Rowley Smith Robert McDonald Ian Martin Mick Roderick Publication of The Whistler is supported by a Sub-committee: Mike Newman (Joint Editor) Harold Tarrant (Joint Editor) Liz Crawford (Production Manager) Chris Herbert (Cover design) Liz Huxtable Ann Lindsey Jenny Powers Mick Roderick Alan Stuart Authors wishing to submit manuscripts for consideration for publication should consult Instructions for Authors on page 61 and submit to the Editors: Mike Newman [email protected] and/or Harold Tarrant [email protected] Authors wishing to contribute articles of general bird and birdwatching news to the club newsletter, which has 6 issues per year, should submit to the Newsletter Editor: Liz Crawford [email protected] © Hunter Bird Observers Club Inc. PO Box 24 New Lambton NSW 2305 Website: www.hboc.org.au Front cover: Australian Painted Snipe Rostratula australis – Photo: Ann Lindsey Back cover: Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva - Photo: Chris Herbert The Whistler is proudly supported by the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority Editorial The Whistler 3 (2009): i-ii The Whistler – Editorial The Editors are pleased to provide our members hopefully make good reading now, but will and other ornithological enthusiasts with the third certainly provide a useful point of reference for issue of the club’s emerging journal.
    [Show full text]
  • TAG Operational Structure
    PARROT TAXON ADVISORY GROUP (TAG) Regional Collection Plan 5th Edition 2020-2025 Sustainability of Parrot Populations in AZA Facilities ...................................................................... 1 Mission/Objectives/Strategies......................................................................................................... 2 TAG Operational Structure .............................................................................................................. 3 Steering Committee .................................................................................................................... 3 TAG Advisors ............................................................................................................................... 4 SSP Coordinators ......................................................................................................................... 5 Hot Topics: TAG Recommendations ................................................................................................ 8 Parrots as Ambassador Animals .................................................................................................. 9 Interactive Aviaries Housing Psittaciformes .............................................................................. 10 Private Aviculture ...................................................................................................................... 13 Communication ........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Birdlife International for the Input of Analyses, Technical Information, Advice, Ideas, Research Papers, Peer Review and Comment
    UNEP/CMS/ScC16/Doc.10 Annex 2b CMS Scientific Council: Flyway Working Group Reviews Review 2: Review of Current Knowledge of Bird Flyways, Principal Knowledge Gaps and Conservation Priorities Compiled by: JEFF KIRBY Just Ecology Brookend House, Old Brookend, Berkeley, Gloucestershire, GL13 9SQ, U.K. June 2010 Acknowledgements I am grateful to colleagues at BirdLife International for the input of analyses, technical information, advice, ideas, research papers, peer review and comment. Thus, I extend my gratitude to my lead contact at the BirdLife Secretariat, Ali Stattersfield, and to Tris Allinson, Jonathan Barnard, Stuart Butchart, John Croxall, Mike Evans, Lincoln Fishpool, Richard Grimmett, Vicky Jones and Ian May. In addition, John Sherwell worked enthusiastically and efficiently to provide many key publications, at short notice, and I’m grateful to him for that. I also thank the authors of, and contributors to, Kirby et al. (2008) which was a major review of the status of migratory bird species and which laid the foundations for this work. Borja Heredia, from CMS, and Taej Mundkur, from Wetlands International, also provided much helpful advice and assistance, and were instrumental in steering the work. I wish to thank Tim Jones as well (the compiler of a parallel review of CMS instruments) for his advice, comment and technical inputs; and also Simon Delany of Wetlands International. Various members of the CMS Flyway Working Group, and other representatives from CMS, BirdLife and Wetlands International networks, responded to requests for advice and comment and for this I wish to thank: Olivier Biber, Joost Brouwer, Nicola Crockford, Carlo C. Custodio, Tim Dodman, Roger Jaensch, Jelena Kralj, Angus Middleton, Narelle Montgomery, Cristina Morales, Paul Kariuki Ndang'ang'a, Paul O’Neill, Herb Raffaele and David Stroud.
    [Show full text]
  • Common Birds in Tilligerry Habitat
    Common Birds in Tilligerry Habitat Dedicated bird enthusiasts have kindly contributed to this sequence of 106 bird species spotted in the habitat over the last few years Kookaburra Red-browed Finch Black-faced Cuckoo- shrike Magpie-lark Tawny Frogmouth Noisy Miner Spotted Dove [1] Crested Pigeon Australian Raven Olive-backed Oriole Whistling Kite Grey Butcherbird Pied Butcherbird Australian Magpie Noisy Friarbird Galah Long-billed Corella Eastern Rosella Yellow-tailed black Rainbow Lorikeet Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Cockatoo Tawny Frogmouth c Noeline Karlson [1] ( ) Common Birds in Tilligerry Habitat Variegated Fairy- Yellow Faced Superb Fairy-wren White Cheeked Scarlet Honeyeater Blue-faced Honeyeater wren Honeyeater Honeyeater White-throated Brown Gerygone Brown Thornbill Yellow Thornbill Eastern Yellow Robin Silvereye Gerygone White-browed Eastern Spinebill [2] Spotted Pardalote Grey Fantail Little Wattlebird Red Wattlebird Scrubwren Willie Wagtail Eastern Whipbird Welcome Swallow Leaden Flycatcher Golden Whistler Rufous Whistler Eastern Spinebill c Noeline Karlson [2] ( ) Common Sea and shore birds Silver Gull White-necked Heron Little Black Australian White Ibis Masked Lapwing Crested Tern Cormorant Little Pied Cormorant White-bellied Sea-Eagle [3] Pelican White-faced Heron Uncommon Sea and shore birds Caspian Tern Pied Cormorant White-necked Heron Great Egret Little Egret Great Cormorant Striated Heron Intermediate Egret [3] White-bellied Sea-Eagle (c) Noeline Karlson Uncommon Birds in Tilligerry Habitat Grey Goshawk Australian Hobby
    [Show full text]
  • Beak and Feather Disease Viru
    Fact sheet Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) is the causative agent of psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD), an endemic disease in Australia’s wild parrot populations. Descriptions of parrots with feather loss consistent with the disease date back to the late 1800s (Ashby 1907). The virus is believed to have originated in Australia sometime following the separation of the continent from Gondwanaland, with spread to other parts of the world with modern movement of parrots as pet and aviary species . It has the potential to impact on several endangered Australian and non-Australian parrot populations and is listed as a key threatening process by the Australian government. Of late, the virus also has been identified in various non-psittacine species . Beak and feather disease virus is a 14 to 16 nm non-enveloped icosahedral DNA virus belonging to the family Circoviridae. Formerly, it was believed that the circoviruses recovered from a diverse range of psittacines were all antigenically similar. Doubt was cast on this theory when a virus that appeared to be serologically and genetically different was isolated from cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) (Shearer et al. 2008). More recent research appears to indicate that psittacine circoviruses can be divided into two species and multiple viral strains. Based on work by Varsani et al. (2011), BFDV contains 14 strains, while budgerigar circovirus (BCV), a newly defined species to date only found in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulates), contains three strains. However, it is likely that this number will continue to increase as shown by the discovery of two new distinct BFDV lineages in orange-bellied parrots (Neophema chrysogaster) (Peters et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Everyone Welcome Grey Butcherbird Robin Hide
    Gang-gang JUNE 2020 Newsletter of the Canberra Ornithologists Group Inc. JUNE MEETING Summary/analysis of the past month and what to watch Wednesday 10 June 2020 out for this month virtual meeting After the very busy previous month, the very cold change that swept through There will be virtual meeting on 10 June. at the end of April/early May seemed to very much quieten bird activity in Arrangements for this are still being the COG area of Interest (AoI) for the 4 week period from 29 April covered by organised and COG members will be this column. This is despite the weather then warming up to around average separately advised of the details, temperatures with limited rain falling. For example, on the afternoon of 17 including how to participate. May, Mark Clayton and his wife took advantage of the glorious weather and decided to go for a drive just to see what birds were about. They left home The single speaker for this virtual meeting in Kaleen at about 1 pm and travelled via Uriarra Crossing all the way to will be Alice McGlashan on “Hollow using Angle Crossing Road, but could hardly find a bird. species and nest box designs for the Canberra region”. Andrea and I have been doing regular walks in the local area and have been also been remarking on the lack of birds. That same morning we walked Many of our local native birds and mammals use tree hollows for nesting or Continued Page 2 sleeping. Much of the native habitat in and around Canberra has a deficit of old hollow bearing trees, from land clearing and selective removal of large trees for timber and firewood.
    [Show full text]
  • DIET of the EASTERN BRISTLEBIRD Dasyornis Brachypterus in NEW SOUTH WALES
    Corella, 2004, 28(3): 79-81 DIET OF THE EASTERN BRISTLEBIRD Dasyornis brachypterus IN NEW SOUTH WALES LINDA GIBSON1 and JACK BAKER2 'Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2010 'Institute of Conservation Biology. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, New South Wales 2522 Received: I October 2003 7 The diet of the Eastern Bristlebird Oasyomis brachypterus in New South Wales was determined from observations and an analysis of faeces, stomach and gut contents of 18 birds caught in or obtained from Booderee National Park, Jervis Bay and Barren Grounds Nature Reserve, New South Wales. The study showed these birds largely take mobile terrestrial invertebrate species, the majority of which are ants and beetles. There is some indication that plant material, especially seeds, are also part of the diet. Observations suggest that the diet is opportunistic and based on foraging behaviour of 'peck it and see'. INTRODUCTION STUDY AREA AND METHODS Dasyornis brachypterus The specimens used in this study were obtained from two sites. The rare Eastern Bristlebird ° ° (Passeriformes: Pardalotidae), is a small, semi-flightless, Booderee National Park, (35 08'S, l 50 45'E) a Commonwealth of Australia owned area that occupies most of the Bherwerre brownish bird inhabiting low, dense vegetation in coastal Peninsula, on the southern side of Jervis Bay, on the south coast and near coastal south-eastern Australia. It once occurred of New South Wales and Barren Grounds Nature Reserve (34°40'S, in an almost continuous distribution from southern l 50 °42'E) on the lllawarra plateau, west of Kiama, New South Queensland to western Victoria (Baker 1997).
    [Show full text]
  • Disaggregation of Bird Families Listed on Cms Appendix Ii
    Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals 2nd Meeting of the Sessional Committee of the CMS Scientific Council (ScC-SC2) Bonn, Germany, 10 – 14 July 2017 UNEP/CMS/ScC-SC2/Inf.3 DISAGGREGATION OF BIRD FAMILIES LISTED ON CMS APPENDIX II (Prepared by the Appointed Councillors for Birds) Summary: The first meeting of the Sessional Committee of the Scientific Council identified the adoption of a new standard reference for avian taxonomy as an opportunity to disaggregate the higher-level taxa listed on Appendix II and to identify those that are considered to be migratory species and that have an unfavourable conservation status. The current paper presents an initial analysis of the higher-level disaggregation using the Handbook of the Birds of the World/BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World Volumes 1 and 2 taxonomy, and identifies the challenges in completing the analysis to identify all of the migratory species and the corresponding Range States. The document has been prepared by the COP Appointed Scientific Councilors for Birds. This is a supplementary paper to COP document UNEP/CMS/COP12/Doc.25.3 on Taxonomy and Nomenclature UNEP/CMS/ScC-Sc2/Inf.3 DISAGGREGATION OF BIRD FAMILIES LISTED ON CMS APPENDIX II 1. Through Resolution 11.19, the Conference of Parties adopted as the standard reference for bird taxonomy and nomenclature for Non-Passerine species the Handbook of the Birds of the World/BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World, Volume 1: Non-Passerines, by Josep del Hoyo and Nigel J. Collar (2014); 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Printable PDF Format
    Field Guides Tour Report Australia Part 2 2019 Oct 22, 2019 to Nov 11, 2019 John Coons & Doug Gochfeld For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please VISIT OUR TOUR PAGE. Water is a precious resource in the Australian deserts, so watering holes like this one near Georgetown are incredible places for concentrating wildlife. Two of our most bird diverse excursions were on our mornings in this region. Photo by guide Doug Gochfeld. Australia. A voyage to the land of Oz is guaranteed to be filled with novelty and wonder, regardless of whether we’ve been to the country previously. This was true for our group this year, with everyone coming away awed and excited by any number of a litany of great experiences, whether they had already been in the country for three weeks or were beginning their Aussie journey in Darwin. Given the far-flung locales we visit, this itinerary often provides the full spectrum of weather, and this year that was true to the extreme. The drought which had gripped much of Australia for months on end was still in full effect upon our arrival at Darwin in the steamy Top End, and Georgetown was equally hot, though about as dry as Darwin was humid. The warmth persisted along the Queensland coast in Cairns, while weather on the Atherton Tablelands and at Lamington National Park was mild and quite pleasant, a prelude to the pendulum swinging the other way. During our final hours below O’Reilly’s, a system came through bringing with it strong winds (and a brush fire warning that unfortunately turned out all too prescient).
    [Show full text]
  • Breeding Biology and Behaviour of the Scarlet
    Corella, 2006, 30(3/4):5945 BREEDINGBIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOUROF THE SCARLETROBIN Petroicamulticolor AND EASTERNYELLOW ROBIN Eopsaltriaaustralis IN REMNANTWOODLAND NEAR ARMIDALE, NEW SOUTH WALES S.J. S.DEBUS Division of Zoology, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351 E-mail: [email protected] Received:I3 January 2006 The breeding biology and behaviour of the Scarlet Robin Petroica multicolor and Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis were studied at lmbota Nature Reserve, on the New England Tableland of New South Wales,in 200G-2002by colour-bandingand nest-monitoring.Yellow Robins nested low in shelteredpositions, in plants with small stem diameters(mostly saplings,live trees and shrubs),whereas Scarlet Robins nested high in exposed positions, in plants with large stem diameters (mostly live trees, dead branches or dead trees).Yellow Robin clutch size was two or three eggs (mean 2.2; n = 19). Incubationand nestling periods were 15-17 days and 11-12 days respectively(n = 6) for the Yellow Robin, and 16-18 days (n = 3) and 16 days (n = 1) respectivelyfor the ScarletRobin. Both specieswere multi-brooded,although only YellowRobins successfully raised a second brood. The post-fledging dependence period lasted eight weeks for Yellow Robins, and six weeks for Scarlet Robins. The two robins appear to differ in their susceptibilityto nest predation, with corresponding differences in anti-predator strategies. INTRODUCTION provides empirical data on aspects that may vary geographicallywith seasonalconditions, or with habitator The
    [Show full text]
  • Eurylaimides Species Tree
    Eurylaimides ⋆Velvet Asity, Philepitta castanea Schlegel’s Asity, Philepitta schlegeli ⋆ Philepittidae Common Sunbird-Asity, Neodrepanis coruscans Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity, Neodrepanis hypoxantha ⋆Grauer’s Broadbill, Pseudocalyptomena graueri ⋆Long-tailed Broadbill, Psarisomus dalhousiae ⋆ Eurylaimidae Dusky Broadbill, Corydon sumatranus Visayan Broadbill, Sarcophanops samarensis ⋆Wattled Broadbill, Sarcophanops steerii ⋆Silver-breasted Broadbill, Serilophus lunatus ⋆Black-and-red Broadbill, Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos ⋆Banded Broadbill, Eurylaimus javanicus Black-and-yellow Broadbill, Eurylaimus ochromalus Gray-headed Broadbill, Smithornis sharpei Rufous-sided Broadbill, Smithornis rufolateralis Smithornithidae ⋆African Broadbill, Smithornis capensis Hose’s Broadbill, Calyptomena hosii ⋆Green Broadbill, Calyptomena viridis Calyptomenidae Whitehead’s Broadbill, Calyptomena whiteheadi ⋆Sapayoa, Sapayoa aenigma:0.1 Sapayoidae Blue-banded Pitta, Erythropitta arquata Garnet Pitta, Erythropitta granatina Graceful Pitta, Erythropitta venusta Black-crowned Pitta, Erythropitta ussheri Erythropitta Whiskered Pitta, Erythropitta kochi Philippine Pitta, Erythropitta erythrogaster Sula Pitta, Erythropitta dohertyi Sulawesi Pitta, Erythropitta celebensis Sangihe Pitta, Erythropitta caeruleitorques Siao Pitta, Erythropitta palliceps South Moluccan Pitta, Erythropitta rubrinucha North Moluccan Pitta, Erythropitta rufiventris Louisiade Pitta, Erythropitta meeki ⋆Papuan Pitta, Erythropitta macklotii Bismarck Pitta, Erythropitta novaehibernicae Pittidae
    [Show full text]
  • Male Intelligence Influences Male Mating Success in the Satin
    Male intelligence influences male mating success in the satin bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus) Jason Keagy1, Jean-François Savard2, and Gerald Borgia1,2 1Behavior, Ecology, Evolution and Systematics Program 2Biology Department University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 Introduction: Results: The relationship between intelligence and Red Coverage Experiment: Red on average sexual selection has not been directly was covered significantly more than blue (t=- examined, although several studies have 2.37, P=0.047), and green was intermediate examined the relationship between sexual in coverage. Tiles in the positions close to selection and brain size1,2,3. Male satin the bower (for example red and blue in bowerbirds, Ptilonorhynchus violaceus, Figure 1) were covered very little regardless have complex sexual displays that involve of color. For males with red in one of these building a stick bower on the ground, positions, red coverage did not predict decorating the bower with colored objects4, mating success. However, for those males and courting females at the bower with a with the red tile in the outer position, male complex dance during which they mimic mating success was predicted by red 5 2 other species of birds and vary in their Figure 1. Layout of experiment. Dotted line segments are coverage (R =0.65, P=0.005; Figure 4). 20 cm long. ability to react to female signals of Barrier Experiment: 6 discomfort . Males destroy their rivals’ The amount of time it took for males to 7 bowers and steal decorations from them . remove the clear barrier significantly Males do not mature until seven years of predicted their mating success (R2=0.29, age, and as juveniles they learn and P=0.005; Figure 5).
    [Show full text]