Identifying a Bird Species from the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir El-Bahari
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Secretary Bird
Secretary Birds are Raptors, or Birds of Prey, they are distantly related to vultures and hawks! They have all of the features of a bird of prey too, including forward facing eyes for hunting, strong talons to grab their prey, and a large hooked beak for eating! Secretary Birds do fly, but they spend of most of their day hunting by walking on the ground. Their long legs are perfect to help them see over the tall grass of their Savanna habitat. Deadly Stomp Secretary Birds have two hunting strategies. They either strike with their powerful beak or they stomp the prey with their feet! They hunt small birds, mammals, and reptiles like snakes and lizards. They are even known to hunt venomous snakes! The Little Rock Zoo works with the Secretary Bird Species Survival Plan, which helps to protect this amazing species in zoos and in the wild! Want to Learn more? Check out these links and activities! Nat Geo Wild: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQckuAwNbFs Nat Geo Kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7itwHJiNRz4 Kruger National Park (South Africa): http://www.krugerpark.co.za/africa_secretary_bird.html Edge of Existence (ZSL): http://www.edgeofexistence.org/species/secretarybird/ San Diego Zoo: https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/index.php/animals/secretary-bird Secretary Birds are amazing Birds of Prey that spend most of their time on the ground rather than flying to find their food! Cut out the puzzle pieces to make your very own Secretary Bird Puzzle! Photo by Karen Caster . -
Eastern Marsh Harrier Chu-Hi (Jpn) Circus Spilonotus Morphology and Classification Still Undiscovered Nesting Grounds in Hokkaido in Particular
Bird Research News Vol.7 No.5 2010.5.20. Eastern Marsh Harrier Chu-hi (Jpn) Circus spilonotus Morphology and classification still undiscovered nesting grounds in Hokkaido in particular. The total population of the species wintering in Japan, on the other hand, has not been counted except for the roosting number of some Classification: Accipitriformes Accipitridae areas, such as Watarase Marsh, Tochigi Pref., central Japan. Total length: ♂ 480mm ♀ 580mm Wing length: 380-430mm Wingspan: 1132-1372mm Nest: Tail length: 215-262mm Culmen length: 28-31mm They build a nest in wet reed beds or the dry tall grassland of Japa- Tarsus length: 85-91mm Weight: 498-844g nese pampas grass (Miscanthus sinensis), etc., piling up dry grass on the ground (Nishide 1979, Tada 2007, Naya et. al. 2007, Chiba Measurements after Enomoto (1941). 2008). The nest size is about 110-130cm by 80-90cm (Chiba 2008, Naya et al. 2007). Appearance: The plumage coloration of East- Egg: ern Marsh Harriers is basically They lay an egg at 3.3 day intervals on average (Nishide 1979). brownish, but varies considera- The clutch size is 4-7 eggs (Chiba 2008, Nishide 1979). The egg bly (Morioka et al. 1995). There size is 48.0mm by 38.0mm on average (n = 5) (Chiba 2008). The are types such as totally dark egg color is grayish white (Chiba 2008). brown, off-white from the head to the leading edge of a wing, Incubation and nestling periods: and pale brown with a vertical- Females mostly incubate eggs. The incubation period is about 28- striped underpart, bluish gray 34 days (Chiba 2008). -
DRIES ENGELEN - [email protected]
Accounting for differential migration strategies between age groups to monitor raptor population dynamics in the eastern Black Sea flyway (Vansteelant et al. In 2nd review IBIS) DRIES ENGELEN - [email protected] Photo: Adrien Brun One of the world’s largest bottlenecks for raptor migration Based on ‘Raptors of the World’ (Bildstein, 2000) Photo: Adrien Brun Targeted monitoring Priority species, secondary species Using morphological groups MonPalHen, Large Eagle, etc. Quantity vs quality Ageing (& sexing) Photo: John Wright Photo: Adrien Brun Estimated from unidentified Targeted monitoring individuals (%) Species Priority species, secondary species Avg SD Montagu’s Harrier 55,7 10,7 Pallid Harrier 50,5 11,1 Using morphological groups Western Marsh Harrier 0,2 0,1 MonPalHen, Large Eagle, etc. Black Kite 10,0 5,0 Barely mentioned (recorded?) in literature European Honey Buzzard 1,8 1,3 Booted Eagle 0,0 0,0 Quantity vs quality Short-toed Snake Eagle 0,0 0,0 Ageing (& sexing) Lesser Spotted Eagle 43,9 15,6 Photo: Adrien Brun Estimated from unidentified Targeted monitoring individuals (%) Species Priority species, secondary species Avg SD Montagu’s Harrier 55,7 10,7 Pallid Harrier 50,5 11,1 Using morphological groups Western Marsh Harrier 0,2 0,1 MonPalHen, Large Eagle, etc. Black Kite 10,0 5,0 European Honey Buzzard 1,8 1,3 Booted Eagle 0,0 0,0 Quantity vs quality Short-toed Snake Eagle 0,0 0,0 Ageing (& sexing) Lesser Spotted Eagle 43,9 Photo: John15,6 Wright Photo: Adrien Brun Age data is barely used in population trend analyses However 1) Inexperienced juveniles often behave differently than experienced conspecifics (timing, route choice, response to environmental change). -
Eared Owls in New Jersey
j RaptorRes. 23(4):162-166 ¸ 1989 The Raptor ResearchFoundation, Inc. OBSERVATIONS ON THE EVENING DEPARTURE AND ACTIVITY OF WINTERING SHORT-EARED OWLS IN NEW JERSEY THOMAS BOSAKOWSKI ABSTR^CT.--WinteringShort-eared Owls (Asioflammeus) were primarily crepuscularand nocturnal. Roostdeparture occurred most frequently after sunset(83%) with mostexceptions occurring on heavily overcastdays. Owls usually departed singly or in tandemand engaged in a steadydirect flight, presumably to a predeterminedhunting area. Hunting was rarely initiatednear the roostsite. Night observations up to 5 hr after sunsetrevealed that owls huntedcontinuously into the night and were not merely crepuscular.Despite their reputationas an on-the-wingpredator, extended periods of perch-huntingwere oftenobserved after sunset,particularly on windlessnights. Active hunting from percheswas evidenced by a continualseries of pouncesand huntingflights that werelaunched from the sameor nearbyperches. Owls respondedon 3 of 5 trials to broadcastsof prerecordedShort-eared Owl calls with vocalizations and/or vigorouscircling flights over the calling station. The Short-earedOwl (Asioflarnrneus)is primarily and Central North America, Peterson Field Guide Series nocturnalduring the winter months,and hencerel- Record,Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston)at known Short- eared Owl locations for at least 8 min. Taped calls were ativelyfew attemptshave been made to studyactivity broadcastat full volume with a portable 7 watt-output patternsand behaviorof the specieson wintering cassettetape-recorder placed on the roofof a parkedvehicle grounds(e.g., Short and Drew 1962; Clark 1975; with observers inside. Marr and McWhirter 1982). In this paper I present information on evening roost departure, social in- RESULTS AND DISCUSSION teractionsand hunting activitiesof wintering Short- Evening Departure. Short-eared Owls were eared Owls in New Jersey. -
Gender Determination in the Western Marsh Harrier (Circus Aeruginosus ) Using Morphometrics and Discriminant Analysis
J. Raptor Res. 40(1):000–000 E 2006 The Raptor Research Foundation, Inc. GENDER DETERMINATION IN THE WESTERN MARSH HARRIER (CIRCUS AERUGINOSUS ) USING MORPHOMETRICS AND DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS CHRISTIAN BAVOUX Le Marais aux Oiseaux, Les Grissotie`res, 17550 Dolus-d’Ole´ron, France GUY BURNELEAU 2, rue du Port de Chiffeu, Mauzac, 17320 Saint-Just-Luzac, France VINCENT BRETAGNOLLE1 Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chize´, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 79360 Beauvoir-sur-Niort, France ABSTRACT.—When adult, the gender of Western Marsh Harriers (Circus aeruginosus) are determined on the basis of the presence of gray feathers on the wing and on the tail in the males. However, males of this species in southwestern France have female-like plumages, lacking gray feathers, and thus, gender determination is impossible by using coloration alone. We investigated sex determination using biometric parameters in a study site located in southwestern France. From one to six measurements (body mass, bill length, wing chord length, tarsus length and width, and tail length) were taken from 243 marsh harriers of known gender (156 males and 87 females), marked in the study site, and subsequently re-sighted. Additionally, 30 marsh harriers specimens were measured by two observers to establish within and between observer repeatability values, as well as within bird repeatability for the six biometric parameters. Using quadratic Discriminant Analysis, we showed that it was possible to sex individuals of this species with .99% accuracy on the basis of only two parameters: bill length and body mass. Actually, using bill length alone provides very good indication of gender (accuracy . -
Biodiversity Observations
Biodiversity Observations http://bo.adu.org.za An electronic journal published by the Animal Demography Unit at the University of Cape Town The scope of Biodiversity Observations consists of papers describing observations about biodiversity in general, including animals, plants, algae and fungi. This includes observations of behaviour, breeding and flowering patterns, distributions and range extensions, foraging, food, movement, measurements, habitat and colouration/plumage variations. Biotic interactions such as pollination, fruit dispersal, herbivory and predation fall within the scope, as well as the use of indigenous and exotic species by humans. Observations of naturalised plants and animals will also be considered. Biodiversity Observations will also publish a variety of other interesting or relevant biodiversity material: reports of projects and conferences, annotated checklists for a site or region, specialist bibliographies, book reviews and any other appropriate material. Further details and guidelines to authors are on this website. Lead Editor: Arnold van der Westhuizen – Paper Editor: Amour McCarthy and Les G Underhill INTERNET SEARCHING OF BIRD–BIRD ASSOCIATIONS: A CASE OF BEE-EATERS HITCHHIKING LARGE AFRICAN BIRDS Peter Mikula & Piotr Tryjanowski Recommended citation format: Mikula P, Tryjanowski P. 2016. Internet searching of bird–bird associations: A case of bee-eaters hitchhiking large African birds. Biodiversity Observations 7.80: 1–6. URL: http://bo.adu.org.za/content.php?id=273 Published online: 17 November 2016 – -
Raptors at a Glance
Raptors at a Glance Accipiters Common Name Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Northern Goshawk Scientific Name Accipiter striatus Accipiter cooperii Accipiter gentilis Former Common Name Woodlands, highly Woods, adapts well to aggressive toward human Nest Location / Type Woodlands urban areas; MF build encroachment; MF build Clutch Size / # Broods 4-5 / 1 brood 4-5 / 1 brood 3-4 / 1 brood Pair Bond Monogamous Monogamous Monogamous # Days Incubate 32-35; F 32-36; F>M 36-38; F>M # Days to Fledge 24-27 27-34 35-42 Chick Development Semialtricial 1 Semialtricial 1 Semialtricial 1 MF feed; male hunts from MF feed; male hunts from incubation to fledge, incubation to fledge; young female feeds young; young MF feed, young dependant dependant 30-40 days after dependant 30-40 days after Parental Care of Young 21-28 days after fledging fledging fledging Small birds, some Birds, mammals, grouse, Primary Food Small birds mammals squirrels, snowshoe hares Hunting Style Aerial pursuit Aerial pursuit Aerial pursuit, low patrol Range Map HY birds = up to 20% of Up to 25% of F breeds in breeding population; young HY, 25% of F breed in SY, hatch synchronously but 50% don't breed till TY; show distinct size irruptions occur on 10 year Notes difference between chicks. cycle (approx). Definitions: Chick Development Mating Systems Altricial : Immobile, downless, eyes closed, fed Monogamy : One male, one female Semialtricial 2 : Immobile, downy, eyes closed, fed Polygamy : Both polyandry and polygyny Semialtricial 1 : Immobile, downy, eyes open, fed Polyandry -
Black Harrier Research
Black Harrier Research Protecting a species through research and conservation Black Harriers and other Red Data species in the proposed Boulder Wind Farm: a re-assessment, January 2020 Dr R.E. Simmons Black Harrier Research Group, FitzPatrick Institute, UCT Dr R E Simmons, Honorary Researcher, Percy FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town, Rondebosh, 7700, Cape Town, South Africa [email protected] +27 (0)82 780 0133 RATIONALE The proposed Boulders Wind Farm in the Cape Columbine area, east of Paternoster, has attracted public criticism from conservation groups in the area due to its proximity to various nationally important biodiversity areas, and visual and archaeological concerns. I was asked by the concerned groups, as a specialist on raptors, and particularly Endangered Black Harrier Circus maurus, to re-assess the Red Data species in the area and review the avian EIA Report prepared for the Boulders wind farm site. The Cape Columbine area has recently been identified as a nationally important core area for breeding harriers, so I spent three days on site in late January 2020 to prepare a specialist report as part of the Appeal Process. I also spoke to local birders and met with the conservationists. This is a report of my findings. BACKGROUND The proposed Boulders site is a Wind Farm comprising 45 turbines of hub height 120-m, placed on 10 farm portions surrounding the existing and operational West Coast 1 Wind Farm (WC1WF). The West Coast 1 site was subject to an avian assessment, mitigation measures, and has at least one year of carcass data available. -
Wwtworldwide
In each list below, only one bird has talons to catch its prey. Amazing Adaptations - Answers CIRCLE the bird with talons. Quiz for children aged 5-7 years 9 MALLARD DUCK MUTE SWAN OSPREY 10 MARSH HARRIER REED WARBLER CANADA GOOSE Round 1: Picture round The following birds were all featured in this week’s Amazing Adaptation Cards. Q Can you name them? Round 3: Which is the longest? In this week’s session you looked at birds that have long legs to keep their body above the water. In each list below, CIRCLE the bird that has the longest legs. If you get stuck, use your Amazing Adaptations Cards to help you. 11 REED WARBLER GREY HERON KINGFISHER © Tony Sutton© Tony @ flickr 12 LITTLE EGRET DIPPER MALLARD DUCK 1 (Mute) swan 2 (Grey) heron 3 Avocet 13 DIPPER AVOCET REED WARBLER In this week’s session you looked at birds that had long necks to reach food below the water. In each list below, CIRCLE the bird that has the longest neck. 14 MUTE SWAN OSPREY MALLARD DUCK © ianpreston @ flickr 4 (Mallard) duck 5 Dipper 15 MARSH HARRIER GREY HERON KINGFISHER Round 2: Odd one out round In this week’s session you looked at different types of feet suited to wetlands. In each list below, only one bird has webbed feet. Circle the bird with webbed feet. If you get stuck, use your Amazing Adaptations Cards to help you. Q Can you CIRCLE the odd one out in each list below? 6 REED WARBLER MUTE SWAN OSPREY The otter is a mammal and the other two are amphibians. -
Secretarybird, Sagittarius Serpentarius
Secretarybird, Sagittarius serpentarius Compiler: Bernard Amakobe Contributors: Dr Kariuki Ndang’ang’a, Dr Mwangi Githiru, Dr Claudia Gray, Dr Nisha Owen, Ms. Olivia Couchman Suggested citation: Amakobe, B et al (2019). A survival blueprint for the Secretarybird, Sagittarius serpentarius, an output from Wildlife Works, Kenya and an EDGE of Existence fellowship, Zoological Society of London, London, UK. 1. STATUS REVIEW 1.1 Taxonomy: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Order: Accipitriformes Family: Sagittariidae R. Grandori and L. Grandori, 1935 Genus: Sagittarius Hermann, 1783 Species: Sagittarius serpentarius 1.2 Distribution and population status: 1.2.1 Global distribution: Whilst the Secretarybird occurs throughout Sub- Saharan Africa, the survival blueprint on the species focuses on Kenya and not the whole range of the species. Country Population estimate Distribution Population trend Notes (plus, references) (plus, references) Sub-Saharan 6700 – 67000, Africa Decreasing, Africa (Kenya; http://www.birdlife.org http://www.birdlife.org Senegal; The Gambia; Guinea Bissau; Mali; Burkina Faso; Ghana; Togo; Benin; Niger; Chad; Sudan; South Sudan; Nigeria; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Ethiopia; Somalia; D R Congo; Uganda; Mauritania; Tanzania; Angola; Zambia; Malawi; Mozambique; South Africa) 1.2.2 Local distribution: Country Region / Site Level of Population Reference(s) Notes province Protection size Kenya South Kenya NA protected Unknown (Kenya by the Wildlife Bills, Kenya 2015; Wildlife Act McClure et 2015 al., 2018) West Kenya NA protected Unknown by the Kenya Wildlife Act 2015 North & East NA Protected Unknown Kenya by the Kenya Wildlife Act 2015 1.3 Protection status: Protected by the Kenya Wildlife Act 2015, which protects it from any form of trade or consumption. -
Leptosomiformes ~ Trogoniformes ~ Bucerotiformes ~ Piciformes
Birds of the World part 6 Afroaves The core landbirds originating in Africa TELLURAVES: AFROAVES – core landbirds originating in Africa (8 orders) • ORDER ACCIPITRIFORMES – hawks and allies (4 families, 265 species) – Family Cathartidae – New World vultures (7 species) – Family Sagittariidae – secretarybird (1 species) – Family Pandionidae – ospreys (2 species) – Family Accipitridae – kites, hawks, and eagles (255 species) • ORDER STRIGIFORMES – owls (2 families, 241 species) – Family Tytonidae – barn owls (19 species) – Family Strigidae – owls (222 species) • ORDER COLIIFORMES (1 family, 6 species) – Family Coliidae – mousebirds (6 species) • ORDER LEPTOSOMIFORMES (1 family, 1 species) – Family Leptosomidae – cuckoo-roller (1 species) • ORDER TROGONIFORMES (1 family, 43 species) – Family Trogonidae – trogons (43 species) • ORDER BUCEROTIFORMES – hornbills and hoopoes (4 families, 74 species) – Family Upupidae – hoopoes (4 species) – Family Phoeniculidae – wood hoopoes (9 species) – Family Bucorvidae – ground hornbills (2 species) – Family Bucerotidae – hornbills (59 species) • ORDER PICIFORMES – woodpeckers and allies (9 families, 443 species) – Family Galbulidae – jacamars (18 species) – Family Bucconidae – puffbirds (37 species) – Family Capitonidae – New World barbets (15 species) – Family Semnornithidae – toucan barbets (2 species) – Family Ramphastidae – toucans (46 species) – Family Megalaimidae – Asian barbets (32 species) – Family Lybiidae – African barbets (42 species) – Family Indicatoridae – honeyguides (17 species) – Family -
Lighting Time
CAMERA acTION LIGHTING Bait fishing also has been recorded in other bird groups. A captive Lesser Black-backed Gull used bread to catch fish in a Durban bird park, and this has since been observed in wild strike Herring Gulls in Paris. Other birds recorded using bread to attract fish include Carrion African Harrier-Hawks Crows (Israel), Pied Kingfishers (Africa) and Black Kites (Australia), and a captive Sunbit- in Cape Town tern used mealworms to lure fish. Bait fishing appears to be a learned behav- iour. Proficiency improves with age; adult he African Harrier-Hawk Green-backed Herons use more baits than Polyboroides typus may have lures compared to juveniles, and are more changed its name from Gym- adept at catching fish. The behaviour may Tnogene but hasn’t changed its hunt- spread when birds observe other individuals ing antics. This sequence of images of baiting, but probably arises initially when an an immature bird literally scratching individual learns to associate fish with float- a House Sparrow out of a street light ing items. So-called ‘passive fishing’ provides was photographed by Neil Shannon a plausible intermediate step in this process. in Kenwyn, Cape Town. Several herons have been observed taking fish Having apparently taken a liking attracted to bread thrown into ponds to feed to Cape Town’s greenbelt of leafy TIME ducks or fish, and it is a small step from there suburbs and adjacent plantations to gathering their own bread to use as bait. and forests, Harrier-Hawks are now tool The rather skulking Little Bittern is unlikely fairly frequently seen as they feed Bait fishing by a Little Bittern to have learned this approach in such a setting, on introduced bird species such as this House Sparrow and on the alien he Green-backed Heron is renowned grey squirrels.