DOCSLIB.ORG

Role of Refuse As Food for Migrant, Floater and Breeding Black Kites ( Milvus Migrans)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Role of Refuse As Food for Migrant, Floater and Breeding Black Kites ( Milvus Migrans) j. RaptorRes. 31 (1):71-76 ¸ 1997 The Raptor ResearchFoundation, Inc. ROLE OF REFUSE AS FOOD FOR MIGRANT, FLOATER AND BREEDING BLACK KITES ( MILVUS MIGRANS) GUILLERMO BItNet Departamentode Biologfa Animal, Universidadde Alcalti de Henares, Alcaltide Henares,E-28871 Madrid, Spain A•sxv•cx.---The use of refuse by breeding, floating, and migrating Black Kites (Milvus migrans)was studied near a large garbagedump in Madrid, Spain. Refusewas an important food resourcefor non- breeding Black Kites, especiallymigrants that fed almostexclusively at the garbagedump. The dump wasonly of secondaryand variableimportance for kites during the breeding season.Pairs of breeding kites nestingin nearbywooded areasforaged mainly on a wide varietyof wild prey and only sporadically ate refuseat the dump. Floatersroosted in nearbywooded areas but, unlike breedingpairs, they foraged mainly by scavengingat the dump. Exploitation of food resourcesother than refuseby breeding kites may be due to their need for large amountsof prey biomassfor brood provisioning.Perhaps dumps augmentpopulations of Black Kitesby providingrich foraging areaswhere large numbersof nonbreed- ing and migratory kites can scavengefor food. KEYWOP. DS: BlackKite, Milvus migrans;garbage dump; foraging;, refuse. Importancia de la basuraen la diem de Milanos Negros (Milvus migrans)migrantes, flomntes y reprod- uctores. R•SUMF.N.--La impormnciade la basuraen la diem de Milanos Negros (Milvus migrans)reproductores, migradorese integrantesde la poblacionflomnte fue estudiadaen lascercanias del basurerode Madrid, Espafia.La basurafue un recursoimpormnte para los milanos no reproductores,especialmente para Its migrantes,pert su papel fue secundarioaunque variablepara los milanosque se reprodujeron cerca del basurero.Los individuosflomntes forrajearon en el basureropert mmbien consumieronuna amplia variedad de presassalvajes. La abundancia de alimento en el basurero no provoc6 que los milanos nidificaran en suscercanias, ya que la parejasque asi lo hicieron consumieronbasura s61o espofftdica- mente. Por el contrario, Its individuosflomntes percnoctaron a diario en la zona arboladam•ts cercana al basurero. El uso preferencial de presassalvajes frente a la basura por los milanos reproductores puede ser explicado como consecuenciade la necesidadde presasde gran biomasapara su consumo por los pollos en crecimiento. Durante la esmcitn reproductora, el vertedero de Madrid podria tener una impormncia indirecm para el mantenimiento y conservacitnde la poblaci0n reproductoraa travfis del reemplazode las p•rdidas en Its reproductorespor Its individuosflomntes. [Traduccitn del Autor] Breeding and nonbreeding segmentsof raptor 1991), especiallywhere large waste accumulations populations often share the sameforaging habitats occur at garbage dumps (Ceballos and DonS_zar (Newton 1979). Floaters, nonbreeding, nonterri- 1988, Blanco 1994). Rubbish dumps and dung- torial adults and subadults,have larger home rang- heaps are frequently used by scavengingbirds that es and greater mobility than breeders,and usually normally exploit temporary and unpredictable concentrate in areas rich in food (Newton 1979, food sources(Pomeroy 1975, DonS_zar1992). The Ceballos and Don•ar 1990). Interactions between importance of refuse dumps for breeding popula- floaters and breeding conspecificshas been little tions of scavengingbirds has been repeatedly em- studied despite its potential to influence raptor phasized(Pomeroy 1975, Coulson et al. 1987,Don- populationdynamics (Newton 1979). Both breed- 5_zar1992) but, to date, it is not known whether ers and floaters of socialspecies such as the Milvus theseunnatural foraging placesare influencing the kites coexist in breeding areas when food is abun- population dynamicsof scavengingspecies. dant (Espina 1986, Koga et al. 1989, Heredia et al. The Black Kite (Milvus migrans)is a widespread 71 72 BLANCO VOL. 31, No. I speciesthat opportunisticallyexploits a wide array (breeding and floating) and migrant kites. After the of food sources (Delibes 1975, Shiraishi et al. breedingseason, field observationssuggested that breed- ing Black Kites and their fledglingsjoined communal 1990). Floaters form an unknown proportion of roosts together with floaters and northern migrants (J. populations, and usually share habitat with the Vifiuela pers. comm. and pers. obs.). The firstjuveniles breeding segment (Espina 1986, Koga et al. 1989, appeared in the roost soon after the breeding season Blanco 1994). At present, little is known about the (Blanco 1994) when breeders left their territories. There- fore, someremains collected at this time might haveorig- relationship between these two sectors of Black inated from prey of local breederswhich representeda Kite populations. This study deals with the role of high proportion of the birds roosting communallyfrom refuse in the diet of breeding, floating and mi- 23-31 July. Afterwards, the collecting period coincided grating Black Kites living in the vicinity of a large with the major influx of migrants (>1000 kites in early garbage dump near Madrid, Spain. August); at this time local breeders constituted a small proportion of the birds. STUDY AREA AND METHODS The diet of breeding kites and their nestlingswas de- termined by analysisof food remainsfound in and below The studyarea waslocated at an elevationof 500-700 the nestsof 18 pairs. The material was collected after the m in the flood plain of the Jarama River at its confluence w•th River Manzanares (40 ø 19'N, 3ø 31'W) in southeast- breeding seasonto avoid disturbanceat the nests.Pairs studied nested in trees and cliffs about 4-12.5 km from ern Madrid Province, central Spain. It included a com- the dump. plex of riverinc gypsumcliffs, riparian forestsdominated Food remainswere identified by macroscopiccompar- by poplars (Populusalba, P. nigra, P. 34 cultivar),willows (Salixspp.) and elms (Ulmusminor), but most of the area ison with referencecollections and quantified assuming was convertedto agriculture (mainly cereal crops, sun- the smallestpossible number of individuals(Marti 1987). flower, alfalfa and vegetables),cattle grazing and gravel Two main categoriesof food were consideredin the anal- extraction.The Madrid garbagedump waslocated in the ysis:wild prey obtained by hunting and scavenging(e.g., northeastern portion of the study area. From 100 to wild birds, mammals,fish), and refuse (e.g., food items >1000 Black Kites routinely gathered there to feed on intentionally discardedby humans such as domesticre- the refuse (Blanco 1994). fuse, offal from slaughterhousesand butcher shops,and During the breeding seasonof 1994, the Black Kite marine fish). To detect general differencesin food habits population consistedof about 50 pairs nesting on trees, of breeding and nonbreeding Black Kites, prey items cliffs and electric pylons,and about 80-300 nonbreeding were classifiedinto nine major groups (Table 1). The individualsforming a floating population of both adults data were likely biasedin favor of the most durableprey and subadults(Blanco 1994). Each day,resident floaters remains and did not reflect the importance of arthro- roosted communallyabout 4 km southeastof the dump, pods and other prey (Marti 1987). However,the study m a portion of riverine elm forest where 6-10 pairs nest- was not designedto provide detailed descriptionsof the ed Numbers of Black Kites in the area increased consid- Black Kite diet (Delibes 1975, Veiga and Hiraldo 1989, erably after breeding and especiallyduring migration Shiraishi et al. 1990) but to detect broad differences in (Blanco 1994). the consumption of refuse. I determined the diet of nonbreedingkites by analyz- Biomassof each prey specieswas estimated using mean ing food remains collectedbeneath roostingand diurnal weightsof each prey taxon obtained from the literature. communal perching trees during the period when Black Weights of prey taxon identified at nestscould not ex- Kites are resident in the area (Blanco 1994). All prey ceed 300 g even when the mean weight of the taxon remains (bones, fur and feathers) were collected on each exceededthat weight becauseBlack Kitesusually do not visit to the roost, from the final stage of the nestling pe- transport heavier prey to the nest (Espina 1986, pers. riod (June) to the end of August.Prey collectionswere obs.). In this case,I assumedthat prey heavier than 300 grouped into three time periods (22 July, 31 July and g were not deliveredto the nest whole. Weightsof large August) to assesspossible temporal variationsin the con- prey from the roost were estimated based on the daily sumption of refilse. The first period (Period A: until 22 food requirementsof adult Black Kites (100 g, Espina July) included the spring migration, breeding season, 1986; see also Heredia et al. 1991 for Red Kites [Milvus fledgling period and the start of migrant arrivals;Period milvus]).Therefore, I assumedthat the maximum inges- B (23-31 July) coincided with an increasein the influx tion capacityper feeding bout to be equivalent to the of migrants;and Period C (from I Augustto the end of daily food requirements(Blanco et al. 1990). Although that month) included the peak abundance of migrants Black Kites may tear off small pieces of the prey and and the remainder of the residencyperiod of BlackKites bring them to the nest one by one (J. Vifiuela pers in the area (Blanco 1994). Because all food remains comm.), and nonbreedingkites may eat prey over several found below the roosting trees were collected in each days,I felt my criteria
Load more

Recommended publications
  • View Full Text-PDF
    Int.J.Curr.Res.Aca.Rev.2017; 5(5): 15-18 International Journal of Current Research and Academic Review ISSN: 2347-3215 (Online) ҉҉ Volume 5 ҉҉ Number 5 (May-2017) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcrar.com doi: https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcrar.2017.505.003 Some Preliminary Observations on Abundance of Black Kite (Milvus migrans) and Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) in Kerala, South India Binu Chullakattil1* and K. Seedikkoya2 1Research and Development Centre, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore-641 046, India 2M.E.S.Mampad College, Malappuram, Pin-676 542, Kerala, India *Corresponding author Abstract Article Info The Black Kites [Milvus migrans] and Brahminy kites (Haliastur indus) are found in a Accepted: 05 May 2017 variety of habitats, from wooded streams to open plains and are commonly seen in and Available Online: 20 May 2017 around remote towns. The Present study shows that there is a considerable decline in the abundance of Black kites during heavy monsoon [June- September]. Thereafter the Keywords number gradually increases from October to May to reach its peak during March and April. The study indicates that there is a local migration among Black kites during Milvus migrans, Habitats, Haliastur South-West monsoon. Such a trend is not shown by Brahminykites. The probable indus, Southwest monsoon, Streams, reasons are also discussed. Migration. Introduction Walz (2000), Walz and Sammulung (2005). In this context this study is significant. The Black Kites are found in a variety of habitats, from wooded streams to open plains, and is often observed in Materials and Methods and around remote towns. It is a medium-sized raptor.
    [Show full text]
  • Systematics and Conservation of the Hook-Billed Kite Including the Island Taxa from Cuba and Grenada J
    Animal Conservation. Print ISSN 1367-9430 Systematics and conservation of the hook-billed kite including the island taxa from Cuba and Grenada J. A. Johnson1,2, R. Thorstrom1 & D. P. Mindell2 1 The Peregrine Fund, Boise, ID, USA 2 Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, Ann Arbor, MI, USA Keywords Abstract phylogenetics; coalescence; divergence; conservation; cryptic species; Chondrohierax. Taxonomic uncertainties within the genus Chondrohierax stem from the high degree of variation in bill size and plumage coloration throughout the geographic Correspondence range of the single recognized species, hook-billed kite Chondrohierax uncinatus. Jeff A. Johnson, Department of Ecology & These uncertainties impede conservation efforts as local populations have declined Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan throughout much of its geographic range from the Neotropics in Central America Museum of Zoology, 1109 Geddes Avenue, to northern Argentina and Paraguay, including two island populations on Cuba Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. and Grenada, and it is not known whether barriers to dispersal exist between any Email: [email protected] of these areas. Here, we present mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA; cytochrome B and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2) phylogenetic analyses of Chondrohierax, with Received 2 December 2006; accepted particular emphasis on the two island taxa (from Cuba, Chondrohierax uncinatus 20 April 2007 wilsonii and from Grenada, Chondrohierax uncinatus mirus). The mtDNA phylo- genetic results suggest that hook-billed kites on both islands are unique; however, doi:10.1111/j.1469-1795.2007.00118.x the Cuban kite has much greater divergence estimates (1.8–2.0% corrected sequence divergence) when compared with the mainland populations than does the Grenada hook-billed kite (0.1–0.3%).
    [Show full text]
  • A Black Kite Milvus Migrans on the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago, Brazil
    Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia, 23(1), 31-35 March 2015 A Black Kite Milvus migrans on the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago, Brazil Guilherme T. Nunes1,2,6, Lilian S. Hoffmann3, Bruno C. L. Macena4,5, Glayson A. Bencke3 and Leandro Bugoni1 1 Laboratório de Aves Aquáticas e Tartarugas Marinhas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande – FURG, CP 474, CEP 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil. 2 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande – FURG, CP 474, CEP 96203-900, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil. 3 Museu de Ciências Naturais, Fundação Zoobotânica do Rio Grande do Sul, CEP 90690-000, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. 4 Laboratório de Oceanografia Pesqueira, Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco – UFRPE, CEP 52171- 900, Recife, PE, Brazil. 5 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Centro de Tecnologia e Geociências, Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco – UFPE, CEP 50740-550, Recife, PE, Brazil. 6 Corresponding author: [email protected] Received on 17 November 2014. Accepted on 16 March 2015. ABSTRACT: The lB ack Kite Milvus migrans is a widespread migratory raptor found over much of the Old World. Vagrants have been widely recorded far from its main migratory routes. Here, we report the occurrence of a Black Kite in the Brazilian Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago (SPSPA) in April/May 2014. The bird remained for 32 days in the SPSPA, disappearing at the end of the rainy season. It looked healthy for most of this period and was once seen preying on a seabird chick.
    [Show full text]
  • Dieter Thomas Tietze Editor How They Arise, Modify and Vanish
    Fascinating Life Sciences Dieter Thomas Tietze Editor Bird Species How They Arise, Modify and Vanish Fascinating Life Sciences This interdisciplinary series brings together the most essential and captivating topics in the life sciences. They range from the plant sciences to zoology, from the microbiome to macrobiome, and from basic biology to biotechnology. The series not only highlights fascinating research; it also discusses major challenges associated with the life sciences and related disciplines and outlines future research directions. Individual volumes provide in-depth information, are richly illustrated with photographs, illustrations, and maps, and feature suggestions for further reading or glossaries where appropriate. Interested researchers in all areas of the life sciences, as well as biology enthusiasts, will find the series’ interdisciplinary focus and highly readable volumes especially appealing. More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/15408 Dieter Thomas Tietze Editor Bird Species How They Arise, Modify and Vanish Editor Dieter Thomas Tietze Natural History Museum Basel Basel, Switzerland ISSN 2509-6745 ISSN 2509-6753 (electronic) Fascinating Life Sciences ISBN 978-3-319-91688-0 ISBN 978-3-319-91689-7 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91689-7 Library of Congress Control Number: 2018948152 © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2018. This book is an open access publication. Open Access This book is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.
    [Show full text]
  • <I>MILVUS MIGRANS</I>
    j. RaptorRes. 33(3):207-217 ¸ 1999 The Raptor Research Foundation, Inc. NEST DISPERSION, DIET, AND BREEDING SUCCESS OF BLACK KITES (MILVUS MIGRANS) IN THE ITALIAN PRE-ALPS FABRIZIO SERGIO Edward GreyInstitute of Field Ornithology,Department of Zoology,South Parhs Road, OxfordOX1 3PS, U.K. ALBERTO BOTO Dipartimentodi BiologiaAnimale, Piazza Botta 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy ABSTRACT.--Westudied a population of Black Kites (Milvus migrans)from 1992-96 in a 100-km')study area in the Italian pre-Alps around Lake Lugano. Population densityincreased from 24 territorial pairs per 100 km'• in 1992 to 38 in 1996. Nearest neighbor distanceswere variable, averaging1288 m for solitary pairs (N = 24) and 306 m for colonial ones (N = 151). Regular spacing of nest siteswas the rule within colonies, but inter-nest distance for solitary breeders increased as new pairs settled in the area. Nests occurred both in trees (58%, N = 84) and on cliffs (42%); 23% and 5% (N = 84) of the nestswere originally built by Common Buzzards (Buteobuteo) and Ravens (C0rvuscorax), respectively. Mean laying date was 25 April (N = 42), mean clutch size was 2.29 eggs (N = 42) and mean number of fledged young was 0.97, 1.11, and 1.78 young per territorial, reproductive, and successfulpairs, respectively(N = 143, 95, 78). The percentageof successfulterritorial pairswas 55% (N = 143). Diet was dominated by fish and birds, which accounted for 62% and 28% of 307 identified prey items, respectively.Compared with other European populations, this population showedan intermediate den- sityand an averageclutch sizebut the lowestfledging and breeding successever recorded for the species.
    [Show full text]
  • Proposals 2018-C
    AOS Classification Committee – North and Middle America Proposal Set 2018-C 1 March 2018 No. Page Title 01 02 Adopt (a) a revised linear sequence and (b) a subfamily classification for the Accipitridae 02 10 Split Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) into two species 03 25 Revise the classification and linear sequence of the Tyrannoidea (with amendment) 04 39 Split Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) into two species 05 42 Split Puffinus boydi from Audubon’s Shearwater P. lherminieri 06 48 (a) Split extralimital Gracula indica from Hill Myna G. religiosa and (b) move G. religiosa from the main list to Appendix 1 07 51 Split Melozone occipitalis from White-eared Ground-Sparrow M. leucotis 08 61 Split White-collared Seedeater (Sporophila torqueola) into two species (with amendment) 09 72 Lump Taiga Bean-Goose Anser fabalis and Tundra Bean-Goose A. serrirostris 10 78 Recognize Mexican Duck Anas diazi as a species 11 87 Transfer Loxigilla portoricensis and L. violacea to Melopyrrha 12 90 Split Gray Nightjar Caprimulgus indicus into three species, recognizing (a) C. jotaka and (b) C. phalaena 13 93 Split Barn Owl (Tyto alba) into three species 14 99 Split LeConte’s Thrasher (Toxostoma lecontei) into two species 15 105 Revise generic assignments of New World “grassland” sparrows 1 2018-C-1 N&MA Classification Committee pp. 87-105 Adopt (a) a revised linear sequence and (b) a subfamily classification for the Accipitridae Background: Our current linear sequence of the Accipitridae, which places all the kites at the beginning, followed by the harpy and sea eagles, accipiters and harriers, buteonines, and finally the booted eagles, follows the revised Peters classification of the group (Stresemann and Amadon 1979).
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogeny, Historical Biogeography and the Evolution of Migration in Accipitrid Birds of Prey (Aves: Accipitriformes)
    Ornis Hungarica 2014. 22(1): 15–35. DOI: 10.2478/orhu-2014-0008 Phylogeny, historical biogeography and the evolution of migration in accipitrid birds of prey (Aves: Accipitriformes) Jenő nagy1 & Jácint tökölyi2* Jenő Nagy & Jácint Tökölyi 2014. Phylogeny, historical biogeography and the evolution of mig ration in accipitrid birds of prey (Aves: Accipitriformes). – Ornis Hungarica 22(1): 15–35. Abstract Migration plays a fundamental part in the life of most temperate bird species. The re­ gu lar, large­scale seasonal movements that characterize temperate migration systems appear to have originated in parallel with the postglacial northern expansion of tropical species. Migratoriness is also in- fluenced by a number of ecological factors, such as the ability to survive harsh winters. Hence, understanding the origins and evolution of migration requires integration of the biogeographic history and ecology of birds in a phylogenetic context. We used molecular dating and ancestral state reconstruction to infer the origins and evolu- tionary changes in migratory behavior and ancestral area reconstruction to investigate historical patterns of range evolution in accipitrid birds of prey (Accipitriformes). Migration evolved multiple times in birds of prey, the ear- liest of which occurred in true hawks (Accipitrinae), during the middle Miocene period, according to our analy- ses. In most cases, a tropical ancestral distribution was inferred for the non­migratory ancestors of migratory line- ages. Results from directional evolutionary tests indicate that migration evolved in the tropics and then increased the rate of colonization of temperate habitats, suggesting that temperate species might be descendants of tropi- cal ones that dispersed into these seasonal habitats.
    [Show full text]
  • First Recorded Polygynous Mating in the Red Kite &Lpar;<I>Milvus Milvus</I>&Rpar;
    254 SHORTCOMMUNICATIONS VOL. 33, NO. 3 the Southern England Kite Group for helping to collect DEP,SSON, M. SYLVAN, A. SENOSIAIN AND EC. CARBO. kite chicksfor releasein the midlandsin 1997.The paper 1997. The re-establishment of Red Kite Milvus milvus benefitted greatly from the commentsof Dr. Ian Newton, breeding populationsin Scotlandand England. Br. Tom J. Cade and Harrison Tordoff. Birds 90:123-138. LOVEGROVE,R., G. ELLIOT AND K. SMITH. 1990. The Red LITERATURE CITED Kite in Britain. In CJ. Cadbury [ED.], RSPBConser- C&qTER, I.C., I.M. EV•NS •ND N. CROCKFORD.1995. The vation Review1990. Sandy,U.K. Red Kite re-introduction project in Britain--progress NEWTON,I. 1979. Populationecology of raptors.T. & A. so far and future plans. Br. Wildl. 7:18-25. D. Poyser,London, U.K. CR•vtP,S. 1985. Handbook of the birds of Europe, the , P.E. DAVISAND J.E. DAWS.1987. Age of first Middle East and North Africa: the birds of the West- breeding, dispersaland survivalof Red Kites Milvus ern Palearctic. Vol. 4. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, milvus in Wales. Ibis 131:16-21. U.K. , -- ANDD. Moss. 1994. Philopatryand pop- and K.E.L. SIMMONS. 1980. Handbook of the birds ulation growth of Red Kites Milvus milvusin Wales. Proc. R. Soc.Lond. B, 257:317-323. of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa: the INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NA- birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. 2. Oxford Univ. TURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES. 1987. Translocation of Press, Oxford, U.K. living organisms:introductions, re-introductionsand EVANS, I.M., M.W.
    [Show full text]
  • Sibling Aggression, Hatching Asynchrony, and Nestling Mortality in the Black Kite (Milvus Migrans)
    Behav Ecol Sociobiol (1999) 45: 33±45 Ó Springer-Verlag 1999 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Javier VinÄ uela Sibling aggression, hatching asynchrony, and nestling mortality in the black kite (Milvus migrans) Received: 9 March 1998 / Accepted after revision: 8 August 1998 Abstract In siblicidal species, hatching asynchrony high-quality chicks, but a manifestation of a parent- could act to reduce sibling rivalry or promote the death ospring con¯ict over brood size. of last-hatched chicks. The pattern of hatching asyn- chrony was experimentally altered in the black kite Key words Hatching asynchrony á Sibling aggression á Milvus migrans. Hatching asynchrony in control broods Nestling mortality á Parent-ospring con¯ict á was intermediate between those of experimentally syn- Milvus migrans chronised and asynchronised broods. Sibling aggression and wounds on the chicks were more commonly ob- served early in the nestling period and in synchronous nests. Serious injuries were observed on last-hatched Introduction chicks in asynchronous nests, as were observations of intimidated or crushed chicks. Sibling aggression was Sibling aggression and hatching asynchrony are com- related to food abundance, but some chicks died at an mon in raptors (Newton 1979), and may promote sib- early age in nests with abundant food (cainism). Cainism licide (Simmons 1988). Hatching asynchrony could was more commonly found in asynchronous nests. For reduce sibling aggression between size-matched chicks species with facultative siblicide, moderate hatching (Hahn 1981), allowing the establishment of a size hier- asynchrony could be a compromise between reducing archy with a minimum of aggressive interactions. Al- sibling rivalry and avoiding large size dierences be- ternatively, it could promote the death of last-hatched tween sibs that would result in cainism.
    [Show full text]
  • Direct Evidence of Poison-Driven Widespread Population Decline in a Wild Vertebrate
    Direct evidence of poison-driven widespread population decline in a wild vertebrate Patricia Mateo-Tomása,b,c,1,2, Pedro P. Olead,e,1, Eva Mínguezf,g, Rafael Mateoh, and Javier Viñuelac aResearch Unit of Biodiversity, Oviedo University - Spanish Research Council - Principado de Asturias (UO-CSIC-PA), 33600 Mieres, Spain; bCentre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal; cGame and Wildlife Management Group, Institute for Game and Wildlife Research (IREC), University of Castilla-La Mancha - Spanish Research Council - Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM-CSIC-JCCM), 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain; dTerrestrial Ecology Group, Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain; eCentro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain; fWorld Wildlife Fund Spain (WWF Spain), 28005 Madrid, Spain; gSpanish Ornithological Society (SEO/BirdLife), 28053 Madrid, Spain and hWildlife Toxicology Group, Institute for Game and Wildlife Research (IREC), University of Castilla-La Mancha - Spanish Research Council - Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM-CSIC-JCCM), 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain Edited by Gerardo Ceballos, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico, and approved May 20, 2020 (received for review December 19, 2019) Toxicants such as organochlorine insecticides, lead ammunition, decline due to such processes as density-dependent productivity or and veterinary drugs have caused severe wildlife poisoning, immigration, which may compensate for toxic effects at an indi- pushing the populations of several apex species to the edge of vidual level (1). As a result, forecasting the fate of populations extinction. These prime cases epitomize the serious threat that affected by toxicants is a challenging task (10).
    [Show full text]
  • Poland Ramsar Information Sheet Published on 10 January 2018
    RIS for Site no. 2320, Przemków Fish Ponds, Poland Ramsar Information Sheet Published on 10 January 2018 Poland Przemków Fish Ponds Designation date 9 April 2015 Site number 2320 Coordinates 51°34'26"N 15°48'40"E Area 4 605,42 ha https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/2320 Created by RSIS V.1.6 on - 10 January 2018 RIS for Site no. 2320, Przemków Fish Ponds, Poland Color codes Fields back-shaded in light blue relate to data and information required only for RIS updates. Note that some fields concerning aspects of Part 3, the Ecological Character Description of the RIS (tinted in purple), are not expected to be completed as part of a standard RIS, but are included for completeness so as to provide the requested consistency between the RIS and the format of a ‘full’ Ecological Character Description, as adopted in Resolution X.15 (2008). If a Contracting Party does have information available that is relevant to these fields (for example from a national format Ecological Character Description) it may, if it wishes to, include information in these additional fields. 1 - Summary Summary Wetland situated in the river Szprotawa catchment, includes two fish pond complexes (15 ponds-769 ha and 20 ponds-179 ha), and an adjacent to them fens, bogs, wet meadows, reedbeds, and riparian forests. The site is one of the most important iresting and feeding places for birds during migration in this part of Europe – especially for bean goose Anser fabalis and as breeding place for waterbirds. Summary, S1 - Page 1 RIS for Site no.
    [Show full text]
  • Preservation of Wide-Ranging Top Predators by Site-Protection: Black and Red Kites in Doñana National Park
    Biological Conservation 125 (2005) 11–21 www.elsevier.com/locate/biocon Preservation of wide-ranging top predators by site-protection: Black and red kites in Doñana National Park Fabrizio Sergio a,¤, Julio Blas b, Manuela Forero a, Néstor Fernández a,c, José Antonio Donázar a, Fernando Hiraldo a a Department of Applied Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, C.S.I.C., Avda de María Luisa s/n., Pabellón del Perú, Apdo 1056, 41013 Seville, Spain b Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Canada S7NSE2 c Department of Ecological Modelling, UFZ – Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstrasse 15, D-04301 Leipzig, Germany Received 25 August 2004 Available online 14 April 2005 Abstract We used data from a long-term study on two medium-sized generalist predators, the black kite (Milvus migrans) and the red kite (Milvus milvus), to illustrate the complexity of managing wide-ranging top predators by site-protection. The study was con- ducted between 1989 and 2000 in the Reserva Biológica de Doñana, located at the core of Doñana National Park. Both species occurred at high density and showed high productivity. Black kites were slightly increasing, and red kites showed a non-signiWcant trend. The main cause of breeding failure was nest predation, mainly by mammalian predators, most likely Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) or common genet (Genetta genetta). The main cause of mortality was illegal poisoning, which sharply increased in the late 1990s. Nest-site selection models showed that: (1) black kites selected areas near the seasonal marshes, rich in their main prey species and (2) red kites selected areas rich in marshland and far from the park border, possibly in response to illegal poisoning epi- sodes.
    [Show full text]