DOCSLIB.ORG

Anting by an American Dipper (Cinclus Mexicanus)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Anting by an American Dipper (Cinclus Mexicanus) SHORT COMMUNICATIONS 423 ties (Walters 1990). This insistance on soli- DU PLESSIS,M. A. AND J. B. WILLIAMS. 1994. Com- tary roosting is not only expensive in terms munal cavity-roosting in Green Woodhoopoes: consequences for energy expenditure and the sea- of cavity construction, but is also extremely sonal pattern of mortality. Auk 111:292-299. costly for those group members, usually ju- FRAZIER, A. AND V. NOLAN. 1959. Communal roosting veniles, lacking access to their own roost hole. by the Eastern Bluebird in winter. Bird-Banding Such supernumerary individuals are generally 30:219-226. forced to roost in the open (J. Walters, pers. KENDEIGH, S. C. 1961. Energy of birds conserved by comm.) where they are exposed to ambient roosting in cavities. Wilson Bull. 73: 140-147. KNORR, 0. A. 1957. Communal roosting of the Pyg- temperatures, precipitation, wind, and preda- my Nuthatch. Condor 59:398. tors. This suggests that, for the Red-cockaded LIGON. J. D. 1993. The role of phylogenetic history in Woodpecker, the costs of roosting communal- the evolution of contemporary avian mating and pa- ly within a cavity outweigh not only the costs rental care systems. Cum Ornithol. lO:l-46. of solitary roosting, but also the general ben- LIGON, J. D. AND S. H. LIGON. 1978. The communal efits of cavity roosting. social system of the Green Woodhoopoe in Kenya. Living Bird 17:159-197. SWINGLAND,I. R. 1977. The social and spatial organ- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS zation of winter communal roosting in Rooks (Car- Thanks to Rana Creek Ranch for allowing me ac- vus frugilegus). J. Zool. (Lond.) 182509-534. cess to their Acorn Woodpeckers and to Walter Ko- WEATHERHEAD,I? J. 1983. Two principal strategies of enig, Jeff Walters, and an anonymous reviewer for avian communal roosts. Am. Nat. 121:237-243. comments on the manuscript. Financial support was WEATHERHEAD,F! J. AND D. J. HOYSAK. 1984. Domi- provided by a NSF postdoctoral fellowship and NSF nance structuring of a Red-winged Blackbird grants to W. D. Koenig. roost. Auk 101551-555. WILLIAMS, J. B., M. A. DU PLESSIS,AND W. R. SIEG- LITERATURE CITED FRIED. 1991. Green Woodhoopoes (Phoeniculus purpureus) and obligate cavity-roosting provide a DU PLESSIS, M. A., W. W. WEATHERS, AND W. D. Ko- test of the thermoregulatory insufficiency hypoth- ENIG. 1994. Energetic benefits of communal esis. Auk 108:285-293. roosting by Acorn Woodpeckers during the non- ZELENY, L. 1977. Song of hope for the bluebird. Nat. breeding season. Condor 96:631-637. Geog. 151:854-865. Wilson Bull., 110(3), 1998, pp. 423-425 Anting by an American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) Sophie A. H. Osborn ’ ABSTRACT.-Anting behavior has been recorded known to consume ants, my observation does not ap- in over 200 birds, yet its purpose remains unresolved. pear to lend support to either the molt-irritation or the Here I report an observation of anting in an aquatic food preparation hypotheses for this species. Received passerine, the American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus). 5 Dec. 1997, accepted 26 March 1998. The dipper was seen preening ants onto its remiges in a process known as “active” anting. Numerous hy- potheses exist for why birds ant, including controlling ectoparasites, inhibiting the growth of fungi or bacte- Anting behavior, in which a bird exposes ria, soothing skin irritated during the molting period, its plumage and possibly skin to ants or other and removing toxic formic acid prior to food con- pungent substances (Whitaker 1957, Simmons sumption. Because of the timing and nature of the dip- 1966, Clayton and Vernon 1993), has been pers’ anting episode and the fact that dippers are not documented sporadically in the literature and its purpose remains unresolved. Although it is I Div. of Biological Sciences, Univ. of Montana, observed infrequently, anting has been record- Missoula, MT 59812; ed in more than 200 avian species (see Gros- E-mail: [email protected]. kin 1950, Whitaker 1957, Potter 1970, Dun- 424 THE WILSON BULLETIN l Vol. 110, No. 3, September 1998 can 1976, Hendricks 1980, Post and Browne Smith). Both genera spray formic acid and are 1982), most of which have been passerines. known to be used by anting birds (Groskin To date, only one record exists for anting in 1950). From my observation position, I could an aquatic species (Creutz 1952), the Eurasian not be certain whether the dipper was select- Dipper (Cilzclus cinclus). Here, I report an in- ing Formica neorujibarbis exclusively, or cident of anting in the American Dipper (Cin- whether it also selected one or more of the clus mexicanus), North Americas’ only truly Camponotus spp. that may have been attracted aquatic passerine. to the swarming Formica ants. All ants were I observed an adult American Dipper anting collected approximately one month after the on Blodgett Creek (elevation 1370 m), near observation, because high water prevented my Hamilton, Montana, on 12 July 1997. Just pri- being able to access the log any earlier. or to anting, the bird was engaged in two ae- The anting I observed conforms to descrip- rial chases and attacks with another dipper. At tions of “active” anting wherein a bird ac- 09:50 MST, the dipper flew to the end of a tively preens ants into its feathers, as opposed downed log that was partially submerged in to “passive” anting in which birds settle on water across the stream from its nest. There, ants and allow them to crawl into their plum- it pecked into a hole (7.5 X 13.2 cm), where- age (Whitaker 1957, Potter 1970). Unlike upon numerous ants began to emerge. The many birds that have been described as anting dipper then picked up an ant and, holding its “frenetically” (Clayton and Vernon 1993) or right wing open, applied it with a preening while in apparent “ecstasy” (Ivor 1956), even motion to the ventral portion of its wing. The falling over in the process, the dipper I ob- entire process was then repeated, with the dip- served appeared to ant calmly, looking much per picking up a total of approximately 15 as though it were merely preening. ants. The bird concentrated its efforts primar- Numerous hypotheses exist for why birds ily on the axillary and secondary regions of ant. Anting may help control ectoparasites its right wing. It appeared to insert each ant (Groskin 1950, Simmons 1966) inhibit the near the base of the remiges and then to preen growth of fungi and bacteria owing to the an- down toward the tips. Several ants were ap- tibiotic nature of ant secretions (Ehrlich et al. plied to the base of the secondaries or sec- 1986), soothe skin irritated by rapid feather ondary coverts and into the axillaries without replacement during the molting period (Potter a downward preening motion. I may have 1970, Potter and Hauser 1974), or be a means overlooked anting of the birds’ primaries be- of removing toxic formic acid prior to food cause it was several seconds before I recog- consumption (Judson and Bennett 1992). My nized the dippers’ unusual alternation of peck- anting observation occurred prior to the dip- ing at ants and preening as anting behavior. pers’ presumed molting period and therefore Only one ant appeared to be used for each does not appear to lend support to the hy- preening bout and each ant appeared to be pothesis that anting is closely correlated with held among the feathers for only a few sec- feather replacement (Potter 1970, Potter and onds. I was not able to determine whether the Hauser 1974). American Dippers have been dipper consumed or discarded the ants after recorded molting only between July and Sep- using them. The anting bout was conducted in tember (Bent 1948, Sullivan 1973). Dippers full sunlight and lasted l-2 minutes. The bird molt after the dispersal of their young and un- did not vocalize while anting. dergo a brief molt-induced flightless period Ants that were later collected from inside (Sullivan 1965, 1973). The dipper I observed the hole in the log were identified as Formicu was still feeding its fledglings, which had left neorujibarbis (Emery). I suspect that the dip- the nest three days earlier. Dippers continue per was using this species for its anting bout to feed fledglings up to two weeks before the because it initially pecked into the hole nu- young disperse (Sullivan 1973). The anting merous times and then began picking up the dipper still retained all its remiges and rectri- ants as soon as they emerged. However, two ces and showed no obvious signs of having other species of ants were collected from the begun its molt. However, without having the immediate vicinity of the hole, Camponotus bird in hand, I could not confirm whether it vicinus (Mayr) and Camponotus laevigatus (E had started replacing its body feathers. Be- SHORT COMMUNICATIONS 425 cause dippers molt symmetrically (Sullivan CLAYTON, D. H. AND J. G. VERNON. 1993. Common 1973), the dipper I observed presumably Grackle anting with lime fruit and its effect on would have anted both wings if its anting bout ectoparasites. Auk 1 lo:95 l-952. CREUTZ, G. 1952. Einemsen (“anting”) bei Cinch. was correlated with feather replacement. Ant- J. Omithol. 93:174. ing birds frequently have been seen altemat- DUNCAN, S. 1976. Anting by a Scarlet Tanager and ing wings during bouts of anting (e.g., Wenny two Blue Jays in Massachusetts. Bird-Banding 1998). Although the female Eurasian Dipper 47:73. observed by Creutz (1952) in Germany anted EHRLICH, F? R., D. S. DOBKIN, AND D. WHEYE. 1986. the ventral and dorsal sides of both wings, it The adaptive significance of anting.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Trunk Road Estate Biodiversity Action Plan
    Home Welsh Assembly Government Trunk Road Estate Biodiversity Action Plan 2004-2014 If you have any comments on this document, its contents, or its links to other sites, please send them by post to: Environmental Science Advisor, Transport Directorate, Welsh Assembly Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ or by email to [email protected] The same contact point can be used to report sightings of wildlife relating to the Trunk Road and Motorway network. Prepared by on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government ISBN 0 7504 3243 8 JANUARY 2004 ©Crown copyright 2004 Home Contents Foreword by Minister for Economic Development and Transport 4 Executive Summary 5 How to use this document 8 Introduction 9 Background to biodiversity in the UK 10 Background to biodiversity in Wales 12 The Trunk Road Estate 13 Existing guidance and advice 16 TREBAP development 19 Delivery 23 Links to other organisations 26 The Plans 27 Glossary 129 Bibliography and useful references 134 Other references 138 Acknowledgements 139 3 Contents Foreword FOREWORD BY THE MINISTER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORT The publication of this Action Plan is both a recognition of the way the Assembly Government has been taking forward biodiversity and an opportunity for the Transport Directorate to continue to contribute to the wealth of biodiversity that occurs in Wales. Getting the right balance between the needs of our society for road-based transport, and the effects of the Assembly’s road network on our wildlife is a complex and often controversial issue. The Plan itself is designed to both challenge and inspire those who work with the Directorate on the National Assembly’s road network – and, as importantly, to challenge those of us who use the network to think more about the wildlife there.
    [Show full text]
  • Locomotion and Other Behavior of the Dipper
    Vol. 61 LOCOMOTION AND OTHER BEHAVIOR OF THE DIPPER By WILLL4M’ R. GOODGE As a part of a study of adaptations for aquatic life in the North American Dipper (C&cZ~ me&unus) , an effort was made to learn more about the locomotor behavior of this speciesin order to form a basis for interpretation of structural modifications. In this paper the locomotion of the dipper, with particular regard to underwater progres- sion, is described and analyzed by the use of information obtained through field study and by observation and motion picture photography of captive birds in the laboratory. Although a thorough field study of nesting behavior was not a part of this work, some data of this nature obtained during the study of locomotor behavior will be included. The latter material, although fragmentary, supplements previously published informa- tion. Until the work of Hann (1950) there had been no intensive study of the nesting habits of this species in spite of the fact that its unusual mode of life for a passerine bird makes it an especially interesting species. MATERIALS AND METHODS Dippers were observed in the field at many localities in the state of Washington, but the majority of the observations were made on a pair of birds nesting along the upper Raging River in the western foothills of the Cascade Mountains near North Bend, Washington, at an elevation of about 1000 feet. Other nesting dippers were observed along Icicle River near Leavenworth on the east slope of the Cascades at an elevation of about 2500 feet. Most of the field work was done in 1954 and 1955.
    [Show full text]
  • The Mollusks
    The Mollusks A Guide to Their Study, Collection, and Preservation Edited by Charles F. Sturm Timothy A. Pearce Ángel Valdés A Publication of the American Malacological Society Los Angeles and Pittsburgh Universal Publishers Boca Raton, Florida USA • 2006 The Mollusks: A Guide to Their Study, Collection, and Preservation Copyright 2006 American Malacological Society All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or other- wise without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Acknowledgment of permission to use copyrighted material: Carl Zeiss, Germany: Figure 7.1 Eastman Kodak Company: Figure 7.4 A. & C. Black, London: Figure 19.2 Daniel Geiger: Figures 20.1 and 20.3 Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History: Figures 27.1-27.9 Acknowledgment of permission to use non-copyrighted material: David Mulliner: Figure 3.1 Illinois Natural History Survey: Figure 25.1 The Festivus, San Diego Shell Club: Figure 24.4 This volume should be cited as follows: Sturm, C. F., T. A. Pearce, and A. Valdés. 2006. The Mollusks: A Guide to Their Study, Collection, and Preservation. American Malacological Society, Pittsburgh, PA, U.S.A. Pp. xii + 445. Chapters should be cited as based on the following example: Sturm, C. F., T. A. Pearce, and A. Valdés. 2006. Chapter 1. The Mollusks: Introductory Comments. In: C. F. Sturm, T. A. Pearce, and A. Valdés, eds., The Mollusks: A Guide to Their Study, Collection, and Preservation. American Malacological Society, Pittsburgh, PA., U.S.A.
    [Show full text]
  • Relationship of Anting and Sunbathing to Molting in Wild Birds
    RELATIONSHIP OF ANTING AND SUNBATHING TO MOLTING IN WILD BIRDS ELOISE F. lPOTTER AND DORIS C. HAUSER • AviAr• anting has generateda large and somewhatcontroversial body of literature, much of it based upon the behavior of captive or experi- mental birds (e.g. Ivor 1943, Whitaker 1957, Weisbrod 1971), birds treat- ing plumagewith substancesother than ants (recently with mothballs in Dubois 1969 and with lemon oil in Johnson 1971), or single oc- currencesfrom widely scatteredgeographical locations. McAtee (1954) advisedthat in searchingfor a reasonabletheory as to why birds ant only recordsfrom wild birds using ants should be examined. The authors agree with McAtee and further believe that data should be considered comparableonly when taken from a limited geographicalregion (e.g. temperateNorth America in Potter 1970). The literatureon antinghas beenreviewed several times (Groskin 1950, Whitaker 1957, Chisholm1959, Simmons1966, Potter 1970). Principal theoriesare (1) that anting birds "derive sensualpleasure from anting, possiblysexual stimulation" (Whitaker 1957); (2) that ant secretions prevent, remove, or otherwise control ectoparasiteinfestation (Groskin 1950, Dubinin in Kelso and Nice 1963, Simmons1966); (3) that ant secretionsmay be helpful in feather maintenanceby increasingflow of salivafor preening,removing stale preen oil and other lipids,or increasing feather wear resistance(Simmons 1966); and (4) that ant secretions sootheskin irritated by the emergenceof new feathers (Southern 1963, Potter 1970). Only four authors have publisheda dozen or more anting recordsinvolving wild birds usingants and takingplace in or near a single location in temperate North America. These are Brackbill (1948) from Maryland, Groskin(1950) from Pennsylvania,Potter (1970) from North Carolina, and Hauser (1973) also from North Carolina.
    [Show full text]
  • The Relationships of the Starlings (Sturnidae: Sturnini) and the Mockingbirds (Sturnidae: Mimini)
    THE RELATIONSHIPS OF THE STARLINGS (STURNIDAE: STURNINI) AND THE MOCKINGBIRDS (STURNIDAE: MIMINI) CHARLESG. SIBLEYAND JON E. AHLQUIST Departmentof Biologyand PeabodyMuseum of Natural History,Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511 USA ABSTRACT.--OldWorld starlingshave been thought to be related to crowsand their allies, to weaverbirds, or to New World troupials. New World mockingbirdsand thrashershave usually been placed near the thrushesand/or wrens. DNA-DNA hybridization data indi- cated that starlingsand mockingbirdsare more closelyrelated to each other than either is to any other living taxon. Some avian systematistsdoubted this conclusion.Therefore, a more extensiveDNA hybridizationstudy was conducted,and a successfulsearch was made for other evidence of the relationshipbetween starlingsand mockingbirds.The resultssup- port our original conclusionthat the two groupsdiverged from a commonancestor in the late Oligoceneor early Miocene, about 23-28 million yearsago, and that their relationship may be expressedin our passerineclassification, based on DNA comparisons,by placing them as sistertribes in the Family Sturnidae,Superfamily Turdoidea, Parvorder Muscicapae, Suborder Passeres.Their next nearest relatives are the members of the Turdidae, including the typical thrushes,erithacine chats,and muscicapineflycatchers. Received 15 March 1983, acceptedI November1983. STARLINGS are confined to the Old World, dine thrushesinclude Turdus,Catharus, Hylocich- mockingbirdsand thrashersto the New World. la, Zootheraand Myadestes.d) Cinclusis
    [Show full text]
  • NOTES a POSSIBLE HOSTILE TAKEOVER of a MATED FEMALE by a MALE AMERICAN DIPPER Mary F
    NOTES A POSSIBLE HOSTILE TAKEOVER OF A MATED FEMALE BY A MALE AMERICAN DIPPER MARY F. WILLSON, 5230 Terrace Place, Juneau, Alaska 99801; [email protected] KATHERINE M. HOCKER, 7995 North Douglas Hwy, Juneau, Alaska 99801 We report a possible hostile takeover of a female (and a territory) by a male Ameri- can Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) near Juneau in southeastern Alaska in 2006. The evidence is circumstantial but strongly suggestive, in light of previous studies. Infanticide by unrelated conspecific individuals, both male and female, is widespread among mammals (Hrdy 1979) and birds (Chek and Robertson 1991, Møller 2004, Veiga 2004). Usurping males kill existing offspring, quickly making the bereft female ready to mate again (e.g., Hrdy 1979, Freed 1986, 1987). In passerine birds, infan- ticide by adult males occurs in a variety of species (e.g., swallows, wrens, sunbirds, starlings; Møller 1988, Freed 1986, 1987, Kermott et al. 1990, Goldstein et al. 1986, Robertson and Stutchbury 1988, Smith et al. 1996), often giving the usurper a mate or sometimes both a mate and a nest (Hansell 2000). Infanticide by a usurping male at a given nest may be spread over more than one day (Goldstein et al. 1986, Kermott et al. 1990, Yoerg 1990). J. P. Loegering (in Kingery 1996) reported a possible case of infanticide and usur- pation of a female and her nest by a male American Dipper in Oregon. An intruding male drove away a parental male, whose nestlings were found dead in the stream the next day. The intruder mated with the female of the original pair; they replaced the old nest lining and nested together.
    [Show full text]
  • Ring Ouzel Sightings in 2010 and 2009
    Ring Ouzel sightings in 2010 and 2009 NOVEMBER 2010 12th November (from Michael Pye) Grassington Yorkshire Dales Sighting at Tarmac's Swinden Quarry, near Grassington 12/11/2010. A male bird that hung around the feeders/bird table in the quarry for the afternoon. SEPTEMBER 2010 29th September (from Irene Fletcher) Sittingboune Kent I was sitting at the table with my grandson when we noticed an unusual bird in the trees at the bottom of the garden. After watching it for 5 minutes or so we searched through my husband’s bird books and found it to be a Ring Ouzel. It came back a few more times and it was most definitely a male Ring Ouzel. 28th September (from Tony Bowman) Lorg, Dumfries Email to Chris Rollie …… As you are especially interested in Ring Ouzels (I am remembering your talk at the Dumfries branch of SOC), I thought I should let you know of three birds I saw and heard today at a place called Lorg at the end of the Water of Ken valley. Grid ref: NS668008 They were in the few trees that there are around an old dwelling and then moved to the bracken further back. This was at 13:15 today, 28 September. Two were adults and the third a juvenile/1st winter. Wonder if they bred locally? Chris Rollie comments ….. This is a really interesting record – thanks. I was up at Lorg a week past Sunday and was just telling George the history of the area for ring ouzel – it had up to 6 pairs in the 1970s, and I remember 2-3 pairs from the 1980s.
    [Show full text]
  • 53251197.Pdf
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Archivio istituzionale della ricerca - Università di Palermo This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier’s archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/copyright Author's personal copy Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 49 (2008) 435–444 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ympev Evidence of a highly complex phylogeographic structure on a specialist river bird species, the dipper (Cinclus cinclus) F. Hourlay a,*, R. Libois a, F. D’Amico b, M. Sarà c, J. O’Halloran d, J.R. Michaux e,f a Zoogeography Researchs Unit, Institut de Botanique, Université de Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium b University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour, UMR 1224 ECOBIOP UPPA-INRA avenue de l’Universite, BP1155, F-64013 Pau Cedex, France c Università degli Studi di Palermo, Dipartimento di Biologia
    [Show full text]
  • Anting Behavior by the White-Bearded Manakin (Manacus Manacus, Pipridae): an Example of Functional Interaction in a Frugivorous Lekking Bird
    Biota Neotrop., vol. 10, no. 4 Anting behavior by the White-bearded Manakin (Manacus manacus, Pipridae): an example of functional interaction in a frugivorous lekking bird César Cestari1,2 1Departamento de Zoologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP, Campus de Rio Claro, CEP 13506-900, Rio Claro, SP, Brasil 2Corresponding author: César Cestari, e-mail: [email protected] CESTARI, C. Anting behavior by the White-bearded Manakin (Manacus manacus, Pipridae): an example of functional interaction in a frugivorous lekking bird. Biota Neotrop. 10(4): http://www.biotaneotropica.org. br/v10n4/en/abstract?short-communication+bn02110042010. Abstract: Behavioral studies of birds have reported several functions for active anting. Maintenance of plumage and prevention from ectoparasites are some examples. In this context, anting by males may be of particular importance in a classical lek mating system, where male-male competition is common and individuals with higher fitness may be more successful at attracting of females. In the present note, I describe the anting behavior of White-bearded Manakin (Manacus manacus) and I relate it to lek breeding and feeding (frugivory) habits of the species. Males used up to seven Solenopsis sp. ants. They rubbed each small ant from 4 to 31 times on undertail feathers until the ants were degraded; ants were not eaten. Males then searched for a new ant in the court. Seeds discarded by males on their individual display courts attract herbivorous ants that are used for anting as a way to maintain feathers and fitness. I hypothesize that anting in White-bearded Manakin may increase the probability of males to attract females to their display courts.
    [Show full text]
  • Records of Anting in Washington and Oregon
    28Washington Birds 11:28-34 (2011)Wiles and McAllister RECORDS Of anting by biRDS in WaShingtOn anD OREgOn Gary J. Wiles Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, Washington 98501 [email protected] Kelly R. McAllister 3903 Foxhall Drive NE, Olympia, Washington 98516 [email protected] Anting is a widespread but infrequently observed stereotypic behavior noted in more than 200 bird species, the vast majority of which are pas- serines (Chisholm 1959, Simmons 1966, 1985, Craig 1999). The behavior occurs in passive and active forms (Simmons 1985). In passive anting, birds spread themselves over an ant source and allow ants to crawl through their plumage. During active anting, ants are gathered and crushed in the bill and deliberately rubbed through the plumage using preening- like motions. In this form, other objects such as millipedes, other insects, snails, fruit, flowers, other plant materials, and mothballs are occasionally substituted for ants (Whitaker 1957, Simmons 1966, Clark et al. 1990, VanderWerf 2005). Anting involves the application of the defensive secre- tions (i.e., formic acid or repugnant anal fluid) of worker ants or other aromatic chemical compounds to the feathers or skin of a bird. The purpose of anting remains unclear. Hypothesized functions include soothing irritated skin associated with feather emergence during molt, general feather maintenance, repelling ectoparasites, inhibiting fungal or bacterial growth, food preparation by removing distasteful sub- stances from prey, and pleasurable sensory stimulation (Simmons 1966, 1985, Potter and Hauser 1974, Ehrlich et al. 1986). Experimental evidence from a few species supports that anting is conducted most often during molting (Lunt et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Discover Trail Walking an Introduction to Trail Walking Walking Guide Layout 1 11/05/2011 12:21 Page 2
    walking_guide_Layout 1 11/05/2011 12:21 Page 1 Discover Trail Walking An introduction to trail walking walking_guide_Layout 1 11/05/2011 12:21 Page 2 Recreational walking is one of the fastest growing, easiest and most enjoyable activities that anyone can do. 1 walking_guide_Layout 1 11/05/2011 12:21 Page 3 Introduction 3 Getting Started 5 Walking and Wildlife 7 Walking with the Family 11 Frequently Asked Questions 15 Trail Walk Options 19 Slí na Sláinte Walking Routes 20 Coillte Forest Trails 21 National Looped Walks 23 Inland Waterway Walking Routes 25 National Parks Trails 27 Long Distance Waymarked Trails 31 Greenways in Ireland 33 Northern Ireland Walking Trails 36 Finding Your Way 37 Walking Groups & Clubs 39 Leave No Trace 43 Contents Nordic Walking 45 Web Guide - Irishtrails.ie 48 National Trails Day 49 Developing Skills 50 National Trails Office 51 Useful Contacts & Links 53 The National Trails Office would like to thank the following for their contribution to this publication: Jean Boydell, Colin Stafford-Johnson, Una May, Joy Teo, Barry Dalby (East West Mapping), Helen Morrissey, Anna Gahan, Des Moore, Inga Bock, Tracey Gleeson, Olive Loughnane, Michael Doyle, John Mullen and Sean Collins. The following are acknowledged for contributing text and photographic images; Irish Heart Foundation, Waterways Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, Cavan Sports Partnership, Countryside Access and Activity Network (NI), National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS), Coillte, Mark Flagler and John Keyes. The National Trails Office would also like to acknowledge the ongoing work of all agencies and organisations responsible for the development and upkeep of the waymarked trails around the country and the many landowners who have given permission for the trails to cross their land.
    [Show full text]
  • How Birds Combat Ectoparasites
    The Open Ornithology Journal, 2010, 3, 41-71 41 Open Access How Birds Combat Ectoparasites Dale H. Clayton*,1, Jennifer A. H. Koop1, Christopher W. Harbison1,2, Brett R. Moyer1,3 and Sarah E. Bush1,4 1Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; 2Current address: Biology Department, Siena College, Loudonville, NY, 12211, USA; 3Current address: Providence Day School, Charlotte, NC, 28270, USA; 4Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA Abstract: Birds are plagued by an impressive diversity of ectoparasites, ranging from feather-feeding lice, to feather- degrading bacteria. Many of these ectoparasites have severe negative effects on host fitness. It is therefore not surprising that selection on birds has favored a variety of possible adaptations for dealing with ectoparasites. The functional signifi- cance of some of these defenses has been well documented. Others have barely been studied, much less tested rigorously. In this article we review the evidence - or lack thereof - for many of the purported mechanisms birds have for dealing with ectoparasites. We concentrate on features of the plumage and its components, as well as anti-parasite behaviors. In some cases, we present original data from our own recent work. We make recommendations for future studies that could im- prove our understanding of this poorly known aspect of avian biology. Keywords: Grooming, preening, dusting, sunning, molt, oil, anting, fumigation. INTRODUCTION 2) Mites and ticks (Acari): many families [6-9]. As a class, birds (Aves) are the most thoroughly studied 3) Leeches: four families [10]. group of organisms on earth.
    [Show full text]