Invasive Birds of Texas

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Invasive Birds of Texas Patterns and Trends of Invasive Birds of Texas Daniel Brooks, Ph.D. Houston Museum of Natural Science What the heck is this +#~*%?? Questionnaire What species? Your name and e-mail (or other contact info.) Where you saw it? When you saw it? What was the habitat? Describe “architecture” where bird was observed How large was the flock? What was the bird(s) behavior? Did you observe any breeding behavior? What was your observation time? Kindly e-mail observations to: [email protected] Marketing List-servs (TEXBIRDS, OG, Texas Ornithology) Data sheets at birding festivals / Meetings Newsletters and Meeting announcements: OG, TOS and Audubon (Houston & Austin) Houston Chronicle / Gary Clarke HMNS Board Meetings Marketing Reports (June 2008 - current) Red-vented bulbul ~ 195 Scaly-breasted Munia ~ 885 Egyptian goose ~ 170 Monk parakeett ~ 8000 Orange bishop ~ 90 Mute swan ~ 35 Most reports Bernice Hotman: 155 munia reports Jack Hart: 60 bulbul reports Dan Brooks: 40 goose reports Most diverse site Bear Creek Park – Greg Page Scaly-breasted munia Bronze mannakin Orange bishop Orange-cheeked waxbill Pin-tailed whydah Zebra finch Non-targeted species: Larger species of birds Emu Gamebirds Golden pheasant Indian peafowl Waterfowl Black swan Bar-headed goose Ruddy shelduck Common shelduck Red-crested pochard Diamond dove Kookaburra Non-targeted species: Cage and song birds Numerous parrots Red-masked parakeet Blue-fronted parakeet Black-fronted parakeet Little corella Cockatiel Budgerigar Rose-ringed parakeet Rosy-faced lovebird Red-whiskered bulbul Bananaquit Asian glossy starling Finches Magpie manikin Silverbill Black-rumped waxbill Brimstone canary Pix are valuable support data Habitat association Foraging behavior Interspecific associations Social behavior Seasonal reproduction Nest structure Scaly-breasted Munia Data reported June 2008 – February 2015 Nearly 900 reports from 214 individuals Most are single reports, but some submitted >150 several reported seeing munias up to 7 yr prior Red-vented Bulbul Data reported June 2008 – May 2012 151 reports from 60 individuals Most are single reports, but some submitted up to 60 several reported seeing bulbuls up to 7 yr prior Activity patterns Foraging / Feeding = 43% Perching / Resting = 15% Calling = 7% Other = 35% Activity patterns Foraging / Feeding = 34% Perching / Resting = 21% Calling = 14% Other = 31% Habitat association Majority (N = 470) in urban areas e.g., Backyards with birdfeeders, gardens About 1/3 (N = 282) in preserves Kleb Woods Nature Preserve (n = 190) Addicks Reservoir/Bear Creek Park (n = 74) Arthur Storey Park (n = 10) various reservoirs, drainage basins (n = 8) Habitat association All found in urban areas 96% (N = 76) of reports - bulbuls use residential areas 4% (n = 3) - used small fragments of 2o growth w/in mosaic of urban park along White Oak Bayou Perch type Perched in 25 sp. of plants Most frequently used Oak trees and Crepe myrtle 15 species native to our region 6 exotics from munia’s native range 4 exotics from outside native range Mean perch height = 2.86 m (r = 0.3-7.6, N = 18) More perch low in trees (<5 m, n = 21) than high (>5 m, n = 6) Perched on 3 different types of abiotic structures Most frequently perched on feeders Mean perch height = 1.14 m (r = 0.03-1.8, N = 38) Perch type Perched in 37 sp. of plants Most frequently used Bamboo, Crepe myrtle, Fig and Tallow 16 species native to our region 15 exotics from bulbul’s native range 5 exotics from outside native range Mean perch height = 6.5 m (r = 1.7-14.5, N = 19) Perched on 10 different types of abiotic structures Most frequently perched on utility lines and water baths/fountains Mean perch height = 3.2 m (r = 1.2-7.3, N = 21) Adult : Juvenile ratio 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% Percent of adults and and juveniles adults of Percent 30% 20% 10% 0% Jan Feb Mar Apr Jun Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Month Monthly flock size Mean Median Jan 9 Dec 8 Feb 7 6 5 Nov Mar 4 3 2 1 Oct 0 Apr Sep May Aug Jun Jul Monthly flock size flock Monthly Mean and Max 10 15 20 25 0 5 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Months June July Aug Sep Oct Max Mean Nov Dec Mega-flocks (>50) March 2011 – February 2013 100-150 in apartment courtyard in SW Houston 2 with yellow bands – year-round residents Many HOSPs; tried controlling - only possible with cat February 2011-2013 50-70 in well-planted yard in NW Houston No aggression - BUDG, MODO, WWDO, NOCA, HOSP, BLJA August 2008–2011 > 2000 in large grassy field in Stafford Many small flocks of < 25 juveniles and adults accumulated throughout the day, dispersed at night State Distribution Local Distribution Addicks Reservoir/ Bear Creek Park LocalDistribution Distribution Cullinan Park Distribution .
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