Article
Ornithology
Brandon D. Hoenig, Allison M. Snider, Anna M. Forsman, Keith A. Hobson, Steven C. Latta, Eliot T. Miller, Michael J. Polito, Luke L. Powell, Samantha L. Rogers, Thomas W. Sherry, David P. L. Toews, Andreanna J. Welch, Sabrina S. Taylor, Brady A. Porter
Summary: Identifying avian diets is crucial in understanding their roles in ecosystems. However, the diversity in bird species and dietary habits poses challenges in accurately studying avian diet. Researchers need to be aware of the capabilities and limitations of various methods to ensure correct interpretation of results. Combining multiple techniques can lead to the most comprehensive findings in avian dietary research.
Article
Ornithology
Anna M. Forsman, Brandon D. Hoenig, Stephanie A. Gaspar, Jason D. Fischer, Joe Siegrist, Kevin Fraser
Summary: DNA metabarcoding is commonly used to study insectivorous bird diets, with the ZBJ primer set being widely utilized. However, recent studies have shown biases in prey classification with ZBJ, prompting the evaluation of a new primer set called ANML. Through comparing the two primer sets, it was found that ANML outperformed ZBJ in terms of PCR efficacy, taxonomic coverage, and specificity of classification, but using both together provided the most comprehensive results. This study is the first to use ANML primers for avian diet metabarcoding, and the first to directly compare results with ZBJ.
Review
Ornithology
S. V. A. N. A. ROGALLA, M. A. T. T. H. E. W. D. SHAWKEY, L. I. L. I. A. N. A. D'ALBA
Summary: Plumage coloration can have significant effects on a bird's energy budget by affecting heat transfer and solar heating. The thermal properties of feather coloration can influence thermoregulation and flight performance. Recent studies suggest that feather coloration can reduce the energetic costs of flight.
Article
Ornithology
Allison M. Snider, Andrea Bonisoli-Alquati, Anna A. Perez-Umphrey, Philip C. Stouffer, Sabrina S. Taylor
Summary: DNA metabarcoding is a popular tool for studying animal diet. This study compared the recovery of prey DNA from stomach contents and fecal samples in Seaside Sparrows and found that while stomach contents produced higher DNA concentrations and read identifications, both sample types provided similar descriptions of diet.
ORNITHOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
Megan Garfinkel, Emily Minor, Christopher J. Whelan
Summary: Through fecal metabarcoding, it was found that birds in an agricultural landscape consumed a wide variety of prey, with significant differences in diet composition among species and sites, suggesting opportunistic feeding behavior. This indicates that birds may be able to effectively respond to pest outbreaks and contribute to agricultural resiliency.
Article
Ornithology
Laura A. McDuffie, Katherine S. Christie, Autumn-Lynn Harrison, Audrey R. Taylor, Brad A. Andres, Benoit Laliberte, James A. Johnson
Summary: Shorebirds, especially the Lesser Yellowlegs, have experienced a significant decline in abundance. The occurrence of Lesser Yellowlegs in harvest zones during southward migration is influenced by their breeding origin, especially the longitude of their breeding range. The estimated harvest rates may exceed sustainable limits, indicating the importance of further investigation and conservation efforts.
ORNITHOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
Xue Wang, Guang Zhu, Haohao Ma, Yi Wu, Wenwen Zhang, Yong Zhang, Chunlin Li, Willem F. de Boer
Summary: The conversion of natural habitats to human-dominated landscapes has significant impacts on bird communities. Human-dominated habitats harbor more bird species that deserve conservation attention, but forests remain important habitats for over 20 species.
Article
Ornithology
George Sangster, Edward L. Braun, Ulf S. Johansson, Rebecca T. Kimball, Gerald Mayr, Alexander Suh
Summary: The knowledge of higher-level phylogenetic relationships of birds has significantly increased in the past two decades with the application of genomic data. However, the nomenclature of higher-level taxa remains unstable due to the lack of regulation by the ICZN and the use of rank-based nomenclature. Lack of regulation and instability impede effective communication among systematists. This study reviews support for avian clades using phylogenomic data sets and provides formal definitions of their names based on the rules of the PhyloCode, aiming to stabilize avian higher-level nomenclature.
Article
Ornithology
Connor J. Rosenblatt, Ashley A. Dayer, Jennifer N. Duberstein, Tina B. Phillips, Howard W. Harshaw, David C. Fulton, Nicholas W. Cole, Andrew H. Raedeke, Jonathan D. Rutter, Christopher L. Wood
Summary: Contributory citizen science projects, such as eBird, play a crucial role in avian conservation science by engaging the public in scientific data collection. Maintaining participation in these projects can be challenging, and understanding factors that influence contribution rates is important for effective program management. Specialization among birders, as characterized by the recreation specialization framework, can help explain differences in contribution levels, with more specialized birders being more active participants in eBird. Motivations, such as achievement and appreciation, also play a role in influencing participation and contribution levels.
ORNITHOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Denis J. Perez-Ordonez, Mieke Titulaer, Maureen D. Correll, Erin H. Strasser, Fabiola Baeza-Tarin, Russell L. Martin, Louis A. Harveson
Summary: Grassland birds in North America have experienced a steep decline over the past 40 years. In this study, researchers investigated the factors influencing the winter survival of two grassland specialist birds, Baird's Sparrow and Grasshopper Sparrow. They found that minimum ambient temperature was the main limiting factor for the survival of these sparrows, and vegetation structure played a role in providing microclimatic refuges. The results highlight the importance of maintaining vegetative cover for grassland birds to protect against harsh weather conditions.
AVIAN CONSERVATION AND ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
E. H. J. (Lisenka) de Vries, Ruud P. B. Foppen, Henk Van Der Jeugd, Eelke Jongejans
Summary: European Turtle Doves have experienced a sharp decline in population numbers over past decades, with uncertainty surrounding the main reasons. Research suggests that decreases in clutch numbers and juvenile survival rates are the main contributors to the decline. Conservation efforts should focus on addressing threats such as hunting, habitat degradation, Trichomonas gallinae infection, and loss of foraging habitat to protect this species.
Article
Ornithology
Jerry S. Cole, Nicole L. Michel, Shane A. Emerson, Rodney B. Siegel
Summary: Occupancy modeling is a method used to evaluate bird distributions and habitat associations, which typically requires extensive survey effort. The combination of autonomous recording units (ARUs) and BirdNET software can reduce the need for manual annotation of recordings by automatically identifying bird vocalizations. BirdNET is capable of identifying vocalizations from over 900 bird species and can be used for annotating recordings for occupancy modeling.
ORNITHOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
Christopher J. McInerny, Andrew J. Musgrove, James J. Gilroy, Steve P. Dudley
Article
Ornithology
Roberto G. Valle
Summary: This study compared the accuracy, precision, and time requirement of semi-automated counts using drone-derived imagery with open-access ImageJ software to traditional ground methods for counting Greater Flamingos. Semi-automated counts were found to be easier, more affordable, faster, and produced more reliable results.
Article
Ornithology
Amanda R. Bourne, Susan J. Cunningham, Lisa J. Nupen, Andrew E. McKechnie, Amanda R. Ridley
Summary: Sex-biased mortality in response to environmental adversity during early development is prominent in various bird species. Three main theories propose that the heterogametic sex, the larger sex, or the sex with more complex endocrine system may experience higher mortality when faced with challenging conditions. Research on Southern Pied Babblers showed that high temperatures negatively impact nestling body mass, tarsus length, and fledgling survival, raising concerns about population replacement and species persistence under advancing climate change.
Article
Ornithology
Andrew N. Stillman, Marcos Caiafa, Teresa J. Lorenz, Michelle A. Jusino, Morgan W. Tingley
Summary: Ecological disturbance, such as forest fire, can affect food availability for woodpeckers. In this study, DNA metabarcoding was used to analyze the diets of four woodpecker species in burned forests. The diets were found to be broader than previously reported, especially for Northern Flicker. Wood-boring beetles were an important component of the diets for Black-backed, White-headed, and Hairy Woodpeckers.
Article
Ornithology
Connor M. Wood, M. Zachariah Peery
Summary: Occupancy modelling is a common framework for studying population variation, but survey designs have different implications for survey locations and data interpretation. Preferential sampling provides intuitive interpretation and precision, while random sampling allows for greater survey coverage but requires careful post-processing. Variations in study design choices affect parameter interpretation and are important for ecological inference and species monitoring.
Article
Ornithology
Peter Pyle, Marcel Gahbauer, Erik Johnson, Thomas B. Ryder, Jared D. Wolfe
Summary: The study focuses on addressing the challenges of identifying bird age in tropical and southern hemisphere regions and proposes the WRP system to define molting behavior, which has been refined and improved. This system allows for more accurate descriptions of bird age, molt, and plumage status, providing clearer and more comprehensive data for demographic studies.
Article
Ornithology
Jorge Garcia-Macia, Javier Vidal-Mateo, Javier De La Puente, Ana Bermejo, Rainer Raab, Vicente Urios
Summary: The study on Red Kites revealed differences in migration strategies between adults and immatures, with adults migrating more efficiently and quickly to their destinations. Additionally, spring migrations were observed to be faster and with fewer stopovers than autumn migrations.
JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Evan R. Buechley, Marco Girardello, Andrea Santangeli, Alazar Daka Ruffo, Girma Ayalew, Yilma D. Abebe, David R. Barber, Ralph Buij, Keith Bildstein, Bruktawit Abdu Mahamued, Montague H. C. Neate-Clegg, Darcy Ogada, Peter P. Marra, T. Scott Sillett, Jean-Marc Thiollay, Martin Wikelski, Peter Yaworsky, Cagan H. Sekercioglu
Summary: This study utilized a range of data sources to build distribution models for vulture species, identifying priority conservation areas in Ethiopia, particularly in the highlands and lowlands of the northeast.
BIRD CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
