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203 results for “bird nest”
Rural children know cavity-nesting birds of the Atlantic Forest but may underappreciate their critical habitat
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Symbiotic microbiota vary with breeding group membership in a highly social joint-nesting bird
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Habitat geometry rather than visual acuity limits the visibility of a ground-nesting bird's clutch to terrestrial predators
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Secondary Amazon rainforest partially recovers tree cavities suitable for nesting birds in 18–34 years
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Data from: Nest attendance by tropical and temperate passerine birds: same constancy, different strategy
1. Parental care in birds varies among species and geographic regions. Incubation behavior influences embryonic development rate and varies substantially among species. 2. We studied attendance at the nest by videoing nests or collecting data from the literature for 112 species in north temperate and lowland tropical sites, then associated patterns of incubation on- and off-bouts with species and environmental traits. 3. Songbirds nesting at low elevations incubate their eggs for an average of 74.1% (12.9 s.d., n = 60 species) of the time in temperate regions and 71.0% (12.2 s.d., n = 52 species) in tropical regions during daylight hours, and 84.3% (8.2 s.d.) and 85.3% (6.2 s.d.), respectively, of each 24-hour cycle. 4. While these attendance percentages do not differ significantly between latitudes, our data also show that lowland tropical songbirds make fewer visits to the nest and, consequently, have longer on-bouts and off-bouts during incubation. This pattern in attendance reflects a latitudinal contrast in parental care strategy, where lowland tropical birds reduce visits to the nest by increasing on- and off-bout lengths while maintaining the same proportion of time spent incubating their eggs (constancy). 5. Similar constancy across latitude suggests that tropical and temperate birds may be similarly constrained to maintain elevated egg temperatures for normal embryo growth. 6. The different attendance strategies adopted in each region may reflect differences in ambient temperature, adult foraging time, and nest predation rate. Consistently warm ambient temperatures likely allow tropical birds to take longer off-bouts, and thereby to reduce activity around the nest, compared to temperate birds.
Data from: Sound settlement: noise surpasses land cover in explaining breeding habitat selection of secondary cavity-nesting birds
Birds breeding in heterogeneous landscapes select nest sites by cueing in on a variety of factors from landscape features and social information to the presence of natural enemies. We focus on determining the relative impact of anthropogenic noise on nest site occupancy, compared to amount of forest cover, which is known to strongly influence the selection process. We examine chronic, industrial noise from natural gas wells directly measured at the nest box as well as site-averaged noise, using a well-established field experimental system in northwestern New Mexico. We hypothesized that high levels of noise, both at the nest site and in the environment, would decrease nest box occupancy. We set up nest boxes using a geospatially paired control and experimental site design and analyzed four years of occupancy data from four secondary cavity-nesting birds common to the Colorado Plateau. We found different effects of noise and landscape features depending on species, with strong effects of noise observed in breeding habitat selection of Myiarchus cinerascens, the Ash-throated Flycatcher, and Sialia currucoides, the Mountain Bluebird. In contrast, the amount of forest cover less frequently explained habitat selection for those species or had a smaller standardized effect than the acoustic environment. Although forest cover characterization and management is commonly employed by natural resource managers, our results show that characterizing and managing the acoustic environment should be an important tool in protected area management.
Data from: Fitness consequences of interspecific nesting associations among cavity-nesting birds
Interspecific aggregations of prey may provide benefits by mitigating predation risk, but they can also create costs if they increase competition for resources or are more easily detectable by predators. Variation in predation risk and resource availability may influence the occurrence and fitness effects of aggregating in nature. Yet, tests of such possibilities are lacking. Cavity nesting birds provide an interesting test case. They compete aggressively for resources and experience low nest predation rates, which might predict dispersion, but we found they commonly aggregate by sharing nest trees across 19 years of study. Tree sharing was more common when aspen were more abundant and somewhat more common in years with higher nest predation risk. Nest success was higher in shared trees when nest predation risk was higher than average. Ultimately, the costs and benefits of aggregating (nest tree sharing) varied across years and we outline hypotheses for future studies.
The decline of ground-nesting birds in Europe: do we need to manage predation in addition to habitat?
<p>Bird populations are declining globally with losses recorded in many European breeding birds. Habitat management measures have not resulted in a widespread reversal of these declines. We analysed national bird population trends from ten European countries (France, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK) in relation to the species' nesting strategy ('ground-nesting' or 'other'), Annex I designation ('designated' or 'not designated') and association with agricultural habitats for breeding ('associated' or 'not associated'). For each country in our dataset, we also defined the following factors: farming intensity; predator community complexity; and predator control effort. Our results showed additive effects of nesting strategy, designation, and breeding habitats on the likelihood of population decline. Ground-nesting birds were 86% more likely to decline than birds with other nesting strategies. Annex I designated species of the Birds Directive were 50% less likely to decline than non-designated birds. Birds breeding primarily in agricultural habitats were more likely to decline than birds breeding in other habitats, interactively with farming intensity. Homogenous trends across Europe (i.e., trends in two or more countries that were either not declining in all countries or declining in all countries) indicate that the probability of population decline was related to nesting strategy and breeding habitat, with ground-nesting birds being 15.6 times more likely than other birds to have a declining trend across Europe, and birds nesting in agricultural habitat being 17.8 times more likely than birds nesting in other habitats to have a declining trend across Europe. Our results highlight a widespread challenge, therefore widespread instruments (e.g. legislation, economic policies, agri-environment schemes) will be required to reserve these declines. Ground-nesting species requirements can be complex and multiple strategies will be needed to restore populations including the development of predation management tools.</p>
Do nest boxes breed the target species or its competitors? A case study of a critically endangered bird
<p>Nest boxes are widely used for habitat restoration. Unfortunately, competitors of the target species may exploit nest boxes, creating perverse outcomes. Avoiding habitats preferred by nontarget species, while favoring those of the target species, requires an adaptive management approach if limited information about species preferences is available when deploying boxes. Using nest boxes intended for Swift Parrots Lathamus discolor, we identify factors associated with nontarget species occupancy (Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris and Tree Martin Petrochelidon nigricans) in newly deployed boxes in 2016, and then again after 3 years had elapsed in 2019. Box occupancy by different species depended on the interaction between distance of individual boxes to the forest edge and year. Although the target species exploited similar numbers of nest boxes in both years, competitors were the main beneficiaries of established boxes. A subordinate native nest competitor increased box occupancy likelihood at greater distances from forest edges in both years, but the relationship was stronger in 2019. Introduced Common Starlings S. vulgaris were most likely to occupy boxes close to forest edges, but the magnitude of this relationship was much greater for established than newly deployed boxes. We suggest that permanent box deployments for Swift Parrots may produce perverse outcomes by increasing nesting habitat for Common Starlings. We suggest that for species that only use cavities for part of their life cycle, managers should limit access to boxes outside of critical times to reduce the likelihood that pest populations can exploit restoration efforts and create new problems.</p>
Birds may decorated their nest to exploit a fear of feathers
<p>This dataset contains data from experiments carried out in a woodland area and described in the paper: "T. Slagsvold, and Wiebe, K. L. (2021) "Nest decoration: birds exploit a fear of feathers to guard their nest from usurpation". </p> <p>The experiments investigated a new hypothesis, namely that some cavity nesting birds, like titmice, add feathers on the top of their nest to prevent usurpation <span>by triggering a fear response in their rivals. W</span>e presented pied flycatchers (<i>Ficedula hypoleuca</i>), blue tits (<em>Cyanistes caeruleus</em>) and tree swallows <span>(<i>Tachycineta bicolor</i></span>) that were prospecting for a nest site in spring with a dyad of nest boxes, to study whether they hesitated to enter a box depending on the content of feathers.</p> <p>Main results of the experiments were that (1) <span>all three species hesitated to enter boxes with white feathers. (2) A similar avoidance of white feathers was found when the alternate nest box of a dyad held black feathers. (3) However, the birds readily collected white feathers that we placed on the ground in front of their nest box, showing the fear of such feathers was context-dependent. We suggest that naive prospecting birds may perceive feathers in nests as the result of a predation event, and that owners decorate nests with bright feathers that can be seen from the opening to deter others from entering. </span></p>
Fig. 2 in Diversity And Structure Of Nesting Birds In The Coastal Riparian Zones Of Great Kabylia In Algeria
Fig. 2. Centesimal Frequency of Great Kabylia Coastal Riparian Zones Avifauna.
Fig. 1 in Diversity And Structure Of Nesting Birds In The Coastal Riparian Zones Of Great Kabylia In Algeria
Fig. 1. Geographical Location of the Study Sites.
Linking agri-environment scheme habitat area, predation and the abundance of chick invertebrate prey to the nesting success of a declining farmland bird
<p>Across Europe, farmland bird populations have continued to decline since the 1970s owing to the intensification of farming practices. Studies of such declines have tended to focus specifically on either the impacts of habitats (nesting and foraging), nest predators or prey availability on bird demographics. The study presented here provides new insights into the relative effects of each of these factors on Yellowhammer nest survival. The Yellowhammer was selected for this study as it is a UK red-listed bird species whose population is in decline across much of Europe. We use a long-term dataset of 147 nests, monitored between 1995 and 2007, to provide an insight into how Yellowhammer nest survival is influenced by nesting habitat (nest concealment and nest height), foraging habitats (habitat coverage within 100 m of nests), the removal of nest predators (Magpie Pica pica abundance as an inverse measure of avian predator removal through gamekeeping) and food availability (measured with a D-vac invertebrate suction sampler). Our results indicated that Yellowhammer hatching success was negatively related to the coverage of spring agri-environment scheme habitats, a group which represents invertebrate-rich agri-environment habitats, but hatching success increased with nest height. Fledging success was positively related to the coverage of the seed-rich habitat Wild Bird Seed mixture. The farm-level abundance of Yellowhammer chick-food invertebrates declined over the study period. Our results highlight the importance of simultaneously considering multiple agents that shape avian breeding success, i.e. their ability to produce offspring, to inform conservation management. Our key finding for land managers relates to the positive relationship between the proportion seed rich foraging habitat within the Yellowhammer's average foraging range and Yellowhammer fledging success, which shows that a habitat intended primarily to provide winter food resources is also important to breeding birds. Chick food abundance in this habitat was, however, similar to broadleaf and cereal crops. We recommend that this habitat should be provided near to potential Yellowhammer nesting sites and adjacent to invertebrate-rich agri-environment scheme habitats such as beetle banks and conservation headlands to further boost invertebrate resources for a declining farmland bird.</p>
Subarctic afforestation: effects of forest plantations on ground-nesting birds in lowland Iceland
<p>Planting forests is a commonly suggested measure to mitigate climate change. The resulting changes in habitat structure can greatly influence the diversity and abundance of pre-existing wildlife. Understanding these consequences is key for avoiding unintended impacts of afforestation on habitats and populations of conservation concern. Afforestation in lowland Iceland has been gaining momentum in recent years and further increases are planned. Iceland supports internationally important breeding populations of several ground-nesting, migratory bird species that mostly breed in open habitats. If afforestation impacts the distribution and abundance of these species, the consequences may be apparent throughout their non-breeding ranges across Europe and Africa. To quantify the effects of plantation forests on the abundance and distribution of ground-nesting birds (in particular waders, Charadriiformes), surveys were conducted on 161 transects (surrounding 118 plantations) perpendicular to forest edges throughout Iceland. The resulting variation in density with distance from plantation was used to estimate the likely changes in bird numbers resulting from future afforestation plans, and to explore the potential effects of different planting configuration (size and number of forest patches) scenarios. Of seven wader species, densities of five (golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria), whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), dunlin (Calidris alpina) and black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa)) in the 200 m surrounding plantations were just over half of those further away (up to 700 m). Redshank (Tringa totanus) densities were lowest <150 m from the plantation edge while snipe (Gallinago gallinago) densities were 50% higher close to plantations (0-50 m) than further away (51-700 m), and no consistent effects of plantation height, diameter, density or type were identified. Plantations are typically small and widespread, and simulated scenarios indicated that total declines in bird abundance resulting from planting trees in one large block (1000 ha) could result in only ~11% of the declines predicted from planting multiple small blocks (1 ha) in similar habitats. Synthesis and application: The severe impact that planting forests in open landscapes can have on populations of ground-nesting birds emphasises the need for strategic planning of tree-planting schemes. Given Iceland's statutory commitments to species protection and the huge contribution of Iceland to global migratory bird flyways, these are challenges that must be addressed quickly, before population-level impacts are observed across migratory ranges.</p>
The role of a synanthropic bird in the nest niche expansion of a secondary cavity-nester to man-made structures
<p><span>Species with similar ecological characters often compete with each other; however, a species may also facilitate the survival or reproduction of another ecologically similar species although such interaction is rarely documented in birds. Here we reported a facilitative species interaction between Asian house martins (<em>Delichon dasypus</em>) and russet sparrows (<em>Passer cinnamomeus</em>), both passerines using closed nests, in a montane farming area of Taiwan. We found that Asian house martins constructed dome-shaped nests in human houses that provided additional nest sites for russet sparrows, secondary cavity-nesters with greatly declining populations in Taiwan. Russet sparrows that used house martin nests had reproductive success comparable to those that used artificial nest boxes. However, Asian house martins avoided reclaiming sparrow-used nests, which reduced their available nest sites. Interestingly, our results imply that man-made structures may be used as a conservation tool to improve the breeding of the endangered russet sparrows via this facilitative interaction.</span></p>
Conformity to Bergmann's rule in birds depends on nest design and migration
<p>Ecogeographical rules attempt to explain large-scale spatial patterns in biological traits. One of the most enduring examples is Bergmann's rule, which states that species should be larger in colder climates due to the thermoregulatory advantages of larger body size. Support for Bergmann's rule, however, is not consistent across taxonomic groups, raising questions about what factors may moderate its effect. Behaviour may play a crucial, yet so far underexplored, role in mediating the extent to which species are subject to environmental selection pressures in colder climates. Here, we tested the hypothesis that nest design and migration influence conformity to Bergmann's rule in a phylogenetic comparative analysis of the birds of the Western Palearctic, a group encompassing dramatic variation in both climate and body mass. We predicted that migratory species and those with more protected nest designs would conform less to the rule than sedentary species and those with more exposed nests. We find that sedentary, but not short- or long-distance migrating species, are larger in colder climates. Among sedentary species, conformity to Bergmann's rule depends, further, on nest design: species with open nests, in which parents and offspring are most exposed to adverse climatic conditions during breeding, conform most strongly to the rule. Our findings suggest that enclosed nests and migration enable small birds to breed in colder environments than their body size would otherwise allow. Therefore, we conclude that behaviour can substantially modify species' responses to environmental selection pressures.</p>
Feasibility of urban bird and nest amount evaluation by the street view image virtual survey
<p>The use of Street View maps in urban bird and nest surveys is worth exploring. Using Baidu Street-View (BSV) map, 49338 seamless spherical photos of 2741 sites were collected in Qingdao. Study evaluated the effectiveness and reproducibility of birds and nests using three observation angles and four experimenters. The BSV method and citizen science data were compared to evaluate their spatial distribution consistency. The BSV time machine is used to assess them time dynamics. The environment of the sampling sites with birds or nests was also surveyed information and evaluated the optimal environment. BSV photos can identify bird and nest, and different people had high repeatability on the evaluations. Bird nests selection middle-view BSV images could save 2/3 time used in the checks with >93% precision. Most citizen bird-watching sites overlapped or were close to nest hotspot areas from the BSV method and nests were more prevalent. The BSV time machine is suitable for investigating bird's nests. Nests and birds are more likely to be found in the leafless early spring, on large, traffic-dense coastal streets with complex vertical tree structures, and around tall buildings. For further urban bird research and conservation, this approach provides a pre-experimental and informative supplement.</p>
Data from: Global drivers of variation in cup nest size in passerine birds
<p>Dataset contains measurements of passerine cup nests from museum specimens and literature together with life-history, environmental and biogeographical factors pertaining to each species (<em>n</em> = 1,451 records; <em>n</em> = 1,117 species).</p> <p> </p>
Convergent evolution of elaborate nests as structural defences in birds
The pendent nests of some weaverbird and icterid species are among the most complex structures built by any animal, but why they have evolved remains to be explained. The precarious attachments and extended entrance tunnels characteristic of these nests are widely speculated to act as structural defences against invasion by nest predators, particularly tree-climbing snakes, but this hypothesis has yet to be systematically tested. We use phylogenetic comparative methods to investigate the relationship between nest structure and developmental period length, a proxy for offspring mortality, in weaverbirds (Ploceidae) and icterids (Icteridae), two bird families in which highly elaborate pendent nests have independently evolved. We find that more elaborate nests, particularly those with entrance tunnels, are associated with longer developmental periods in both families. This finding is robust to potentially confounding effects of body mass, phylogenetic relationships, nest location and latitude. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that elaborate nest structures in birds can function as structural defences, resulting in lower offspring mortality and slower development. More generally, our findings suggest that constructing complex, protective structures may buffer against environmental hazards, reducing extrinsic mortality and contributing to the evolution of slower life histories in diverse animal lineages, even humans.
Predator and destructor species of artificial bird nests in La Paz, Bolivia
<p><span>Urbanization alters the composition of biological communities and, therefore, ecological processes such as predation and destruction of bird nests. The identification of predator and destructor species is useful for designing research for the understanding of the effects of urbanization on these ecological processes. In this study, we identify the diurnal predator and destructor species of artificial bird nests in urban and peri-urban sites of the metropolitan region of La Paz, Bolivia, using webcams. The House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) was the only nest-destroying species, recorded in both urban and peri-urban environments. This species affected the nests by extracting material. Besides a predation event by the Andean Caracara (Phalcoboenus megalopterus) in a peri-urban site and one by the Domestic Cat (Felis silvestris catus) in an urban site, the species with the highest incidence of nest predation in both urban and peri-urban sites was the Chiguanco Thrush (Turdus chiguanco). A behavior that had not been previously reported for this species, and is very rare for the genus. In this report, we present two films of destruction events by the House Wren and two films of eggs predation events by the Chiguanco Thrush.</span></p>
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These curated guides explain access requirements, typical timelines, costs, and reuse considerations for widely used research datasets.
Allen Brain Atlas
Allen Brain Atlas is an Allen Institute collection of brain map atlases, datasets, APIs, and analysis tools covering mouse, human, and non-human primate brain resources.
Annotated Behaviour and Observability Dataset (ABODe)
ABODe is a University of Edinburgh DataShare dataset for behavior classification in group-housed mice using home-cage video, identities, bounding boxes, ground-plate positions, and annotator labels.
DANDI Archive for NWB datasets
DANDI is a BRAIN Initiative archive for publishing and sharing neurophysiology data, including electrophysiology, optophysiology, and behavioral data packaged as NWB and related standards.
International Brain Laboratory public data
The International Brain Laboratory public data releases expose standardized mouse decision-making experiments, including Neuropixels recordings, widefield calcium imaging, behavior, and session metadata accessed through the ONE API.
OpenNeuro
OpenNeuro is a free, open platform for sharing neuroimaging datasets, with public search, dataset pages, and download paths for web, S3, DataLad, and the OpenNeuro CLI.