Academic literature on the topic 'Bird feeders'
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Journal articles on the topic "Bird feeders"
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Bukor, Boglárka, Boróka Kósa, András Liker, and Gábor Seress. "Winter field survey of bird feeders in two Hungarian cities." Ornis Hungarica 32, no. 1 (2024): 80–95. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2024-0006.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract Bird feeding by people is one of the most popular human-wildlife interactions globally. Urban ecology studies generally recognize that cities offer a more favourable habitat for many wintering birds compared to natural areas, primarily due to the increased availability of the winter food sources provided by people. However, actual field surveys about the residents’ bird feeding activity are rare. Here we surveyed bird feeders during the winter of 2021–2022 at 5-5 locations in two cities in Hungary. We recorded the number and type of bird feeders, the type of food offered, the number of bird species and individuals visiting the feeders. The density of feeders was higher in Veszprém, a middle-sized city (range: 60.1–206.1 bird feeders/km2) compared to Budapest, the capital city of Hungary (23.3–83.0 bird feeders/km2). The most frequent food types were fat balls, seed mix, and sunflower seeds in both cities. We registered a total of 516 individuals of 24 species on the feeders, and found that the type of the feeder, but not the city, significantly affected both the number of individuals and species visiting bird feeders. These results help to get a more complete picture of how the winter food supplies of birds are shaped by urbanization.
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Moyers, Sahnzi C., James S. Adelman, Damien R. Farine, Courtney A. Thomason, and Dana M. Hawley. "Feeder density enhances house finch disease transmission in experimental epidemics." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 373, no. 1745 (2018): 20170090. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2017.0090.
Full textAbstract:
Anthropogenic food provisioning of wildlife can alter the frequency of contacts among hosts and between hosts and environmental sources of pathogens. Despite the popularity of garden bird feeding, few studies have addressed how feeders influence host contact rates and disease dynamics. We experimentally manipulated feeder density in replicate aviaries containing captive, pathogen-naive, groups of house finches ( Haemorhous mexicanus ) and continuously tracked behaviours at feeders using radio-frequency identification devices. We then inoculated one bird per group with Mycoplasma gallisepticum (Mg), a common bacterial pathogen for which feeders are fomites of transmission, and assessed effects of feeder density on house finch behaviour and pathogen transmission. We found that pathogen transmission was significantly higher in groups with the highest density of bird feeders, despite a significantly lower rate of intraspecific aggressive interactions relative to the low feeder density groups. Conversely, among naive group members that never showed signs of disease, we saw significantly higher concentrations of Mg-specific antibodies in low feeder density groups, suggesting that birds in low feeder density treatments had exposure to subclinical doses of Mg. We discuss ways in which the density of garden bird feeders could play an important role in mediating the intensity of Mg epidemics. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Anthropogenic resource subsidies and host–parasite dynamics in wildlife'.
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Lee, Casie, Lisa A. Tell, Tiffany Hilfer, and Rachel L. Vannette. "Microbial communities in hummingbird feeders are distinct from floral nectar and influenced by bird visitation." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 286, no. 1898 (2019): 20182295. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.2295.
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Human provisioning can shape resource availability for wildlife, but consequences for microbiota availability and exchange remain relatively unexplored. Here, we characterized microbial communities on bills and faecal material of hummingbirds and their food resources, including feeders and floral nectar. We experimentally manipulated bird visitation to feeders and examined effects on sucrose solution microbial communities. Birds, feeders and flowers hosted distinct bacterial and fungal communities. Proteobacteria comprised over 80% of nectar bacteria but feeder solutions contained a high relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria. Hummingbirds hosted bacterial taxa commonly found in other birds and novel genera including Zymobacter [Proteobacteria] and Ascomycete fungi. For feeders, bird-visited and unvisited solutions both accumulated abundant microbial populations that changed solution pH, but microbial composition was largely determined by visitation treatment. Our results reveal that feeders host abundant microbial populations, including some bird-associated microbial taxa. Microbial taxa in feeders were primarily non-pathogenic bacteria and fungi but differed substantially from those in floral nectar. These results demonstrate that human provisioning influences microbial intake by free-ranging hummingbirds; however, it is unknown how these changes impact hummingbird gastrointestinal flora or health.
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Iffiong, S. A., I. J. Fulani, and J. M. Olomu. "THE EFFECTS OF STOCKING DENSITY ON THE PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS." Nigerian Journal of Animal Production 6 (January 19, 2021): 21–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.51791/njap.v6i.2652.
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THREE trials were conducted to determine the optimum stocking density for broiler chickens raised in a tropical environment In Trial 1, 100,67, 50,40, 34 and 29 birds were placed in duplicates in each pen with an area of 3.72 M2 to give stocking densities of 0.037, 0.056, 0.074, 0.093, 0.10 and 0 128 M2 per bird respectively. In Trial 2, stocking densities of 0.046, 0056, 0.064, 0.074, 0.083 and 0.093 M2 per bird were compared. Trial 3 involved studying the effects of providing equal feeder space (5cm/bird) or equal number of similar sized feeders (2 feeders per pen) when birds were stocked at floor spaces of 0.056, 0.064, 0.74, 0.083 and 0.093 sq meter per bird. Results showed that weight gain and feed consumption decreased, while total meat yield and net income per unit area increased, with increase in stocking rates. Feed efficiency, mortality and carcass dressing percentages were not significantly affected by the stocking rates. The effects of stocking densities on the performance of the birds were not altered by equalizing the feeder space per bird or by providing equal number of feeders per unit space. Management problems in terms of wetness of litter, feeding and watering were encountered with stocking densities of 0.037, 0.046 and 0.056 M2/ bird. Stocking rates of 0.083, 0.093, 0.10 and 0.128 M2 were uneconomic and did not produce superior performances to stocking densities of 0.064 or 0.074 M2/bird. On the basis of the results, floor spaces of 0.064 or 0.074 M2 per bird may be recommended as the optimum for broiler chickens raised in the tropics. The feeder space at these optimum stocking rates need not be more than 5cm per bird.
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Aberle, M. A., K. E. Langwig, J. S. Adelman, and D. M. Hawley. "Effects of bird feeder density on the foraging behaviors of a backyard songbird (the House Finch, Haemorhous mexicanus) subject to seasonal disease outbreaks." Canadian Journal of Zoology 98, no. 9 (2020): 611–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2019-0282.
Full textAbstract:
Provisioning of wildlife, such as backyard bird feeding, can alter animal behavior and ecology in diverse ways. For species that are highly dependent on supplemental resources, it is critical to understand how variation in the degree of provisioning, as occurs naturally across backyards, alters wildlife behavior and ecology in ways potentially relevant to disease spread. We experimentally manipulated feeder density at suburban sites and tracked local abundance, foraging behaviors, body mass, and movement in House Finches (Haemorhous mexicanus (P.L. Statius Müller, 1776)), the primary host of a pathogen commonly spread at feeders. Sites with high feeder density harbored higher local House Finch abundance, and birds at these sites had longer feeding bouts and total time on feeders relative to sites with low feeder density. House Finches at high-density feeder sites had lower residual body mass despite greater apparent feeder access. Finally, birds first recorded at low-density feeder sites were more likely to move to neighboring high-density feeder sites than vice versa. Because local abundance and time spent on feeders have both been linked with disease risk in this species, the effects of heterogeneity in bird feeder density on these traits may have important consequences for disease dynamics in this system and more broadly.
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Frątczak, Martyna, Piotr Indykiewicz, Beata Dulisz, et al. "Lack of Evidence That Bird Feeders Are a Source of Salmonellosis during Winter in Poland." Animals 11, no. 6 (2021): 1831. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani11061831.
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Bird feeders are known to be a transfer site for many important bird pathogens, such as zoonotic Salmonella spp., known to be widespread among wild birds in Poland. The aim of the study was to investigate (1) whether feeders can be a source of Salmonella spp., (2) whether the risk is the same for feeders located in cities and rural areas and (3) whether there is a different level of contamination with Salmonella spp. between old and new feeders. Data were collected in the period 12 January–28 February 2018 in four cities in Poland and nearby rural areas. In total, 204 feeders were sampled. The samples from feeders were taken after a 2-week period of feeding birds. Material for analysis consisted of the remains of food and feces. We did not find the presence of Salmonella spp. in any of the tested samples collected from bird feeders. Therefore, the estimated value of the 95% confidence interval for the binary data was 0.000–0.018. Reasons for the isolation of Salmonella spp. from feeders not being successful lie in the low intensity of bacterial shedding by infected wild birds and low survival of bacteria in the environment in bird feces—which are still not well studied.
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Vana, Emily R., Elizabeth R. Wrobel, and Travis E. Wilcoxen. "Variation in Seroprevalence of Antibodies against Mycoplasma Gallisepticum and Avipoxvirus in Nine Species of Birds with Differential Access to Feeders." Avian Biology Research 11, no. 1 (2018): 7–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.3184/175815617x15102264820747.
Full textAbstract:
Congregation of individuals at high densities is known to increase disease transmission and bird-feeding activities are specifically aimed at attracting many birds to a single location. We surveyed nine potential host species for evidence of infection by each Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Avipoxvirus, or avian pox. We also examined differences in pathogen exposure at sites with bird feeders and sites without bird feeders. Finally, we compared prevalence of birds with antibodies against MG and avian pox to those that showed physical signs of infection. To test for pathogen exposure, we used indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. We found species-specific disease dynamics, as House Finches Haemorhous mexicanus had a significantly greater likelihood of having antibodies against MG than any other species. Birds at sites with feeders were more likely to have antibodies against MG. Birds at sites with feeders were no more likely to have antibodies against avian pox, but seroprevalence of avian pox did differ significantly among species. Overall, our findings suggest differential exposure and immune responses to each pathogen among species and that feeders increase the exposure of individuals to MG but not to avian pox, offering valuable new insights into the role of bird feeding activities in disease transmission among birds.
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Lee, Ya-Fu, Yen-Min Kuo, and Eric K. Bollinger. "Effects of feeding height and distance from protective cover on the foraging behavior of wintering birds." Canadian Journal of Zoology 83, no. 6 (2005): 880–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z05-079.
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Foraging behavior that balances feeding efficiency with predation risk avoidance may be selected for; thus, foraging animals may choose among sites and achieve various giving-up densities under different feeding conditions. We compared the frequency and duration of visits and the feeding efficiency of a mixed-species wintering bird flock among feeders set up at three heights within woods, at the edge between woods and dense shrub, and in open fields to investigate the feeding height preference of birds and its relationship to the extent of openness of the sites. Carolina chickadees (Parus carolinensis Audubon, 1834) and tufted titmice (Parus bicolor L., 1766) accounted for 96% of the total number of visits to feeders and 95.9% of the total time spent on feeders. Birds tended to visit higher feeders and feeders in the woods and at edge sites more frequently than they visited lower feeders and feeders in open fields. Birds also spent more time on higher feeders and feeders in the woods and at edge sites than on lower feeders and feeders in open fields. However, the feeding height preference changed over the course of observations, and different patterns were observed at different sites. In the woods and at the edge, bird visits shifted to the lower feeders earlier; in contrast, birds preferred higher feeders throughout the period of observation in open fields. Feeding efficiency was lower at open sites than in woods and at edge sites, but birds spent the least time per seed on low feeders at open sites. Seeds on higher feeders and in woods or at edge sites were removed faster. Regardless of the height and locality of feeders, birds preferred energy-rich oil-type seeds over energy-poor striped seeds.
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Mady, Rachael P., Wesley M. Hochachka, and David N. Bonter. "Consistency in supplemental food availability affects the space use of wintering birds." Behavioral Ecology 32, no. 4 (2021): 580–89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arab002.
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Abstract Across the globe, millions of people feed wild birds and this practice has profound implications for many bird species. To better understand the effects of this supplemental feeding, many researchers have compared birds with access to inexhaustible supplemental food to those without access. However, the consistency of supplemental food availability varies with peoples’ provisioning habits because some people fill their feeders daily, while others do so sporadically. As the consistency of food availability changes, a bird’s foraging strategy, including its use of space, should change. To determine how space use varies with the consistency of supplemental food availability, we surveyed three species with access to experimental feeders that provided constant, pulsed, or no access to food. We conducted these surveys at two locations—near and far from the feeder—within nine sites to determine differences in space use among and within sites. Access to supplemental food, regardless of feeding regime, anchored the movements of each species near the feeders. However, the different feeding regimes had different effects on space use. Birds with constant access to supplemental food were continually anchored near the feeders, while the birds with pulsed access were temporarily anchored near the feeders. In one of three species (black-capped chickadee), birds concentrated in larger numbers near feeders with pulsed access when food was available compared to near feeders with constant access. Supplemental feeders act as spatial anchors but do so in different ways across species and feeding regimes with potentially varying implications for survival and population dynamics.
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Coghlan, Andy. "Garden bird feeders spread diseases." New Scientist 206, no. 2755 (2010): 12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0262-4079(10)60844-5.
Full textDissertations / Theses on the topic "Bird feeders"
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Kahal, Siddhant. "Bird Abundance at Bird Feeders in Response to Temperature, Wind Speed and Precipitation During the Winter Season." DigitalCommons@CalPoly, 2018. https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/1918.
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The goal of this project is to explore how 23 different bird species respond to 3 climatic attributes. These attributes are lower than average temperatures, wind speed and precipitation level. Information about the bird species and all of the data associated with them is provided by Project FeederWatch (PFW). This is a citizen based survey study that provides key information about bird species abundance through the use of backyard and community feeders. The study volunteers from across the United States and Canada monitor these bird feeders and note important information about the species such as the number of individuals seen. Other standard information is also included such as location data and date. An original data collection pipeline was developed for this study to append climate data from Weather Underground (WU) to the PFW bird feeder data. The final dataset helped to explore how exactly the birds are reacting to winter temperatures, wind speeds and rain levels. Our results indicate that birds species in general visit the bird feeders more often as temperatures dip below average. We found that the body mass of the bird plays no role in the number of visits. Birds don't seem to be significantly affected by precipitation or wind speed as our results indicate no relationship between these climatic factors and abundance at the feeders.
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Du, Plessis Monique. "The effect of supplementary nectar feeders on bird-plant mutualisms in the Cape Fynbos, South Africa." Master's thesis, Faculty of Science, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33642.
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Across the world, people feed birds to interact with nature. A variety of feeder types have been developed over the years to target a broad bird community. Attracting nectarivorous birds to gardens using supplementary nectar feeders is a popular human activity across the globe, but few studies have explored its effects on birds and the plants they pollinate. Nectar feeders may have positive effects, facilitating the urban adaptation of nectarivorous birds, and supplementing their diets when floral resources are scarce. However, supplementary feeders may also lure birds away from indigenous vegetation, affecting the rate of visits to bird-pollinated plants, with consequences for seed set. This study is the first to investigate the effect of nectar feeders on an African plantpollinator mutualism. Given that many plant species in the fynbos biome are bird pollinated, this study was conducted in residential gardens and natural vegetation along the urban edge of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. I carried out a feeding experiment with a matched paired design to answer two main questions: (1) Do nectar feeders affect bird abundance and distribution ranges? If so, (2) do these affect their visitation rates to bird-pollinated plants? I conducted bird surveys to compare relative bird abundance and local distribution patterns for three feeding guilds (i.e., nectar-specialists, nectar-opportunists and non-nectarivores) between feeder and control treatments (Chapter 2). I then tested whether the presence of nectar feeders in gardens affected sunbird visitation rates to two bird-pollinated Erica species (Erica plukenetii subsp. plukenetii and Erica abietina subsp. atrorosea) in the neighbouring vegetation compared to control sites (Chapter 3). In chapter 2, I found that nectar feeders attracted higher densities of avian nectarivores (but not non-nectarivores) to gardens relative to natural vegetation, and decreased their densities in the neighbouring fynbos, even when floral abundance in the neighbouring vegetation was high. In chapter 3, I found that the consequent changes to sunbird distribution patterns (the main pollinators of ericas) seemed to have no influence on visitation rates to E. abietina, but decreased visitation to E. plukenetii flowers within 300 m of gardens with feeders. Thus, nectar feeders may have positive effects for birds themselves by reducing their urban sensitivity but may also have negative effects on the surrounding fynbos ecosystem. Given that nectar feeders appear to compete with the flowers of E. plukenetii, and perhaps those of other birdpollinated species, supplementary feeding may inadvertently threaten bird-plant pollination networks. This issue is particularly concerning in biomes such as the Cape Floristic Region where many bird-pollinated plants occur near urban edges.
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Aberle, Matthew Allen. "Effects of Bird Feeder Density on the Behavior and Ecology of a Feeder-Dependent Songbird: Patterns and Implications for Disease Transmission." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/85045.
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Anthropogenic resource provisioning of wildlife has increasingly been hypothesized to alter pathogen spread. Although bird feeding is the most widespread form of intentional wildlife provisioning, we know relatively little about how the degree of anthropogenic feeding at a site impacts wild birds in ways relevant to disease transmission. We manipulated the density of bird feeders (low versus high) available at otherwise similar sites and tracked the local abundance, body condition (scaled-mass index), feeding behavior, and movement across the landscape in wild house finches (Haemorhous mexicanus), a feeder-dependent species subject to outbreaks of a contagious pathogen commonly spread at feeders. The local abundance of house finches was significantly higher at sites with high feeder density but, surprisingly, finches at high-density feeder sites had poorer body condition than those at low-density sites. Behaviorally, birds at high-density feeder sites had longer average feeding bouts and spent more time per day on feeders than birds at low-density feeder sites. Further, birds first recorded at low-density feeder sites were more likely to move to a neighboring high-density feeder site than vice versa. Overall, because local abundance and time spent on feeders have been linked with the risk of disease outbreaks in this species, effects of bird feeder density on both traits may, in turn, influence disease dynamics in house finches. Our results suggest that heterogeneity in the density of bird feeders can have diverse effects on wild birds, with potential consequences for disease transmission.<br>Master of Science
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Petrelli, Alissa R. "Influences of Anthropogenic Noise on Flight Initiation Distance, Foraging Behavior, And Feeder Community Structure of Wild Birds." DigitalCommons@CalPoly, 2017. https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/1829.
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Throughout the world, birds represent the primary type of wildlife that people experience on a daily basis. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that alterations to the acoustic environment can negatively affect birds as well as humans in a variety of ways, and altered acoustics from noise pollution has the potential to influence human interactions with wild birds. In this thesis, I investigated how anthropogenic noise impacts daily behavior as well as community structure of wild birds. In the first component of this thesis, I assessed the distance at which a bird initiates flight or escape behavior (i.e., flight initiation distance or FID) in varying acoustic conditions. I surveyed 12 songbird species from three foraging guilds, ground foragers, canopy gleaners, and hawking flycatchers, and I predicted FIDs to decrease, remain the same, and increase with noise exposure, respectively. Contrary to expectations, the canopy gleaning and flycatching guilds exhibited mixed responses, with some species exhibiting unchanged FIDs with noise while others exhibited increased FIDs with noise. However, FIDs of all ground foraging species and one canopy gleaner decreased with noise levels. In the second component, I examined the feeding of wild birds, an increasingly popular recreational activity throughout North America that promotes increased sense of wellbeing by connecting people with wildlife and nature. I tested how experimental noise influences abundance, species richness, community structure and foraging behavior of songbirds at maintained bird feeders. By measuring activity levels of all species that utilized the feeders exposed to intervals of quiet and noisy conditions, I found noise to be a significant predictor of community turnover. Specifically, noise exposure resulted in increased feeder activity for two species, and decreased activity for one species. I also confirmed previous research conducted in the laboratory indicating white-crowned sparrows decrease their foraging rate under noise conditions, presumably as a trade off with visual vigilance. Considering the interactions of humans and wild birds, the results from my two thesis components indicate that the acoustic environment can play a role in how species of different foraging guilds respond to birdwatchers and what species visit bird feeders.
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Jones, Gareth. "Parent:offspring resource allocation strategies in birds : studies on swallows (Hirundinidae)." Thesis, University of Stirling, 1985. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/11902.
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The use of precision automated electronic balances has allowed remote quantification of instantaneous and long term body mass changes in breeding swallows, Hirundo rustica. By means of observation, experiment and optimality modelling, the extent of mass changes during incubation and nestling rearing are described, and the fitness consequences of mass changes discussed. An understanding of the causes and consequences of mass changes in swallows is developed from laboratory investigations of short term mass changes in canaries Serinus canarius, and from carcass analysis of breeding sand martins R. riparia, and swallows. Parent: offspring resource allocation was investigated during incubation in swallows. A model is developed which assumes that fitness is maximised in individuals which spend most time on the nest as a result of maximising the difference between net gain while foraging and clutch reheating costs, measured in units of energy. The model is tested, and the most frequently observed inattentive period proves, to be similar to that predicted to be the most energetically profitable. The early decline in swallow body mass during nestling rearing is likely to represent a 'programmed' anorexia in females during the brooding phase, whereby mass loss is beneficial in reducing flight costs and releasing energy available for work. After termination of brooding, however, mass losses were associated with rapid feeding rates to the brood for both sexes, and were judged to be potentially costly in terms of adult survival. (ii) By concurrent monitoring of resources for parents and offspring, investment in self-maintenance relative to investment in offspring is calculated, and the results interpreted in the wider context of lifehistory tactics and parental investment theories. Both sexes of swallow invested more in 'self' relative to 'offspring' when food was scarce or when feeding broods of small metabolic mass. Females appeared to risk their body mass falling to lower levels than that of their mates when feeding conditions were poor. overall, the study showed that the costs and benefits of mass changes in swallows differed according to the stage of the breeding cycle, and that detailed knowledge of the causes of mass changes allows insight into the evolution of reproductive strategies of birds of both sexes in relation to individual quality and resource availability.
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Warrick, Douglas Robert. "Prey flight behaviors in response to wading bird disturbances and their influence on foraging strategy of Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias)." Thesis, Thesis (M.S.)--University of Oregon, 1992, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/1794/9891.
Full textAbstract:
Typescript.
Includes vita and abstract.
Bibliography: Includes bibliographical references (leaves 89-91).<br>A geometric model using idealized prey behaviors in
reaction to wading bird disturbances was developed to
hypothesize how wading bird foraging strategy might most
efficiently counter those behaviors. The model suggests that
for prey responding to wading bird disturbances with flight
response distance strongly negatively correlated to their
distance from the point of disturbance, wading birds could
employ disturbance facilitated social foraging strategy,
thereby increasing individual foraging efficiency and
selecting for social foraging.
In controlled studies of the reactive behaviors of two
primary prey species seen to be taken at disparate rates by
solitary and socially foraging herons, schooling Shiner
Surfperch exhibited behaviors favoring social foraging in
herons, while Staghorn Sculpins exhibited no correlation in their flight response distances relative to their proximity to
the disturbance, and seemed unlikely to be more efficiently
utilized by socially foraging wading birds.
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Mbatha, Khanyisile R. "Using nutritional quality of forage and faeces for predicting sustainable livestock and game stocking rates at Pniel Estates in Northern Cape, South Africa." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/1347.
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Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.<br>The aim of the study was to assess the importance of spatial and temporal variation in diet quality and abundance for determining sustainable stocking rates on commercial, communal and game ranches in a semi-arid savanna, with the ultimate goal of avoiding land degradation in the long term, to provide sustainable livelihoods in rangelands and to make policy that will help in managing the available natural resources in the rangelands. Thus, firstly the effects of grazing, fire, nitrogen and water availability on nutritional quality of grass in semi-arid savanna was assessed. Secondly, spatial and temporal variation in plant quantity and quality among management (commercial, communal and game) types and habitat types (open savanna, rocky, shrubby and pans) and stocking rates in different management types were determined. Thirdly, the quality and quantity of variation inside and outside herbivore exclosures among commercial, communal and game management and habitat types in the semi arid savanna were estimated. Fourthly, faecal profiling was used to assess the effects of different management types on diet quality in semi-arid savanna. Lastly, policy based on the results of the present study was formulated.
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Scott, Samantha Luise. "Feeding ecology of birds in a Mist Belt forest in South Africa." Thesis, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10539/12495.
Full textAbstract:
A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science,
University of the Witwatersrand,
in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Science
October 2012
Johannesburg, South Africa<br>Food is not always readily available and therefore an important limiting resource to birds. South African forests have a similar fruiting and flowering phenology to tropical forests in that food availability fluctuates over space and time. South African indigenous forest is naturally fragmented in a non-forest matrix and therefore differs from tropical forests. Anthropogenic landuse change has contributed to the increased fragmentation of indigenous forest. The isolated nature of patches provides a suitable platform from which to assess changes in a forest bird community between seasons because they are structurally and functionally distinct from the surrounding vegetation. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess food as a driver of community dynamics and dietary patterns of birds in a Mist Belt Mixed Podocarpus forest patch between two distinct seasons, winter and summer. This was assessed through a combination of field techniques and stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen. Further, birds were categorised as forest specialists, forest generalists, and forest visitors based on published information to provide extra insight into community changes. Species richness and abundance differed between seasons due to the local movements and turnover of birds and due to the influx of migrants into the forest. In addition, nectarivores and frugivores increased in abundance and biomass in the forest in winter when flowers and fruit were readily available from canopy trees, such as Halleria lucida and Podocarpus latifolius. However, insect-eating guilds increased in summer when there was a greater diversity of invertebrates. Nectarivores, granivores, and omnivores vertically tracked food within forest height strat to where it was most abundant, demonstrating a close association with the location of their food resources. Further, the niche of several species, particularly insectivores and nectarivores, broadened in winter when food resources were limited. However, there was niche contraction in several bird species in summer when resources were more readily available. Overall, the forest acted as a refuge for guilds, particularly frugivores and nectarivores, in winter. Furthermore, this study suggested that food limitation is species-specific and does not apply to all species. Understanding the drivers of community change has important implications for forest management and conservation of forest flora and fauna.
Books on the topic "Bird feeders"
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Baldwin, Edward A. Building birdhouses & feeders. Edited by Rae Norm, Clapp Verner Warren 1932-, and Ortho Books. Ortho Books, 1990.
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1883-, Sibley Hi, ed. Bird houses, feeders you can make. Goodheart-Willcox Co., 1991.
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Hughes, Heidi. Backyard bird feeding. Dept. of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1989.
Find full textBook chapters on the topic "Bird feeders"
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Meire, Patrick M. "The Impact of Bird Predation on Marine and Estuarine Bivalve Populations: A Selective Review of Patterns and Underlying Causes." In Bivalve Filter Feeders. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 1993. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-78353-1_6.
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"The Bird Feeders." In A Handbook for Constructive Living. University of Hawaii Press, 2002. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/9780824843632-030.
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Douglas, Angela E. "November 29, 2020." In Nature on the Doorstep. Cornell University Press, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.7591/cornell/9781501768118.003.0037.
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This chapter describes the pumpkins in the author's backyard, several of which have been smashed open and eviscerated. During the morning, a squirrel visited and started to pick out pumpkin seeds from a partially eaten fruit. However, the author's main suspect is deer, specifically the local group of white-tailed deer that holes up in the wild area to the south of their estate. The author then turns to the cardinals. Although they cannot feed directly from the bird feeders, they forage avidly for seeds spilled onto the ground by messy feeders above. The author is confident that the cardinals have contributed to the many discarded sunflower seed shells beneath their feeder.
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Douglas, Angela E. "March 22, 2020." In Nature on the Doorstep. Cornell University Press, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.7591/cornell/9781501768118.003.0001.
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This chapter discusses the author's dilemma of whether to restock their bird feeders. House sparrows lack prudence in their eating habits, very different from the author's regular customers, the chickadees, the tufted titmice, the downy woodpeckers, and the juncos, and the occasional visitors, the Carolina wrens, the house finches, and the red-bellied woodpeckers. The author describes their estate, presenting a tour of the backyard and the trees that are planted there. These trees include the red maple, a black walnut, and a group of Norway spruce and Scotch pine. A week after the refill of the bird feeders, the suet holder is empty and the seed holder nearly so, courtesy of the house sparrows and a pileated woodpecker.
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Douglas, Angela E. "January 17, 2021." In Nature on the Doorstep. Cornell University Press, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.7591/cornell/9781501768118.003.0044.
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This chapter details how the bird feeders in the author's backyard have become an integral part of the daily feeding routine for the house sparrows that live in the forsythia hedge at the bottom of the road. Anna Comstock's description of them as English sparrows is accurate only in a parochial sense—that they were brought across to the US from England. Really, house sparrows started out in the Middle East, where, with the advent of human agriculture about ten thousand years ago, they switched from being migratory birds that lived in natural grasslands to life with humans. Today, house sparrows live almost entirely in human-dominated places and they have the dubious distinction of being the most widely distributed of all bird species. The author then reflects on the practice of bird feeding, before describing the visit of a red-tailed hawk.
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Douglas, Angela E. "December 6, 2020." In Nature on the Doorstep. Cornell University Press, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.7591/cornell/9781501768118.003.0038.
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This chapter illustrates how a Cooper's hawk visited the author's backyard. To a first approximation, she is a super-sized UK sparrowhawk. While the sparrowhawk is eleven to fourteen inches long, the Cooper's hawk is fifteen to twenty inches, and this visitor was right at the top end of the size range. The Cooper's hawk visitation put an end to the author and her husband's debate on whether to reinstate the feeder for the cardinals. Another species in their backyard is the sharp-shinned hawk, which is very similar in appearance to the Cooper's but smaller, in fact much the same as the UK sparrowhawk. Both the Cooper's and the sharp-shinned are renowned for hunting around bird feeders. Not surprisingly, the sharp-shinneds tend to go for the sparrows and wrens, while the Cooper's major in the robins, doves, and blue jays, but nothing is safe because a meal of the sharp-shinneds can sometimes go big, and the Cooper's go small.
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K. Nkwabi, Ally, and Pius Y. Kavana. "Influence of agriculture on the resilience and trophic cascade in a savanna bird community of the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania." In Birds - Conservation, Research and Ecology [Working Title]. IntechOpen, 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.1001358.
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Agriculture is one of the factors contributing to the global depletion of natural resources. Human activities such as overgrazing, deforestation, bush fires, mining, urbanization and cultivation as well as climate change have aggravated the ability of bird species to disperse into new habitat. This study investigated how agriculture altered the bird community in the Serengeti National Park. This park is structured along a rainfall gradient with highest rainfall in agricultural land northwest of the Serengeti National Park and lowest rainfall on the treeless plains in the southeast of Serengeti National Park. With respect to trophic level in agriculture there was a greater proportional decrease of species (compared to savanna) at the predator trophic level (vertebrate feeders) than at the insectivore and herbivore trophic levels. Therefore, higher feeding levels were less able to tolerate change in habitat structure due to agriculture than species at lower feeding levels.
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Jones, Darryl. "The Feeder Effect." In The Birds at My Table. Cornell University Press, 2018. http://dx.doi.org/10.7591/cornell/9781501710780.003.0004.
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The popularity of wild bird feeding has introduced enormous amounts of additional food into the ecosystem, especially in urban areas. Significantly, all of this food is supplementary to the natural diet of the birds consuming it. For this reason, bird feeding has been likened to a supplementary feeding experiment on a global scale yet with no clear expectations of possible outcomes. This chapter investigated the likely consequences of this situation.
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Ehrenfeld, David. "Scientific Discoveries and Nature’s Mysteries." In Swimming Lessons. Oxford University Press, 2002. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195148527.003.0031.
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One of the joys of science is its steady production of wonderful discoveries. At irregular but not intolerable intervals, it throws out to the waiting world findings that add spice to a thousand morning newspapers and enliven the conversations of countless barbers and taxi drivers. Some branches of science are especially fruitful in their production of wonders: physics doles out an inexhaustible supply of elemental particles with clever, memorable names like quark. Medicine provides powerful antibiotics freshly isolated from weird sources such as exotic muds and frogskin, arraying them against an equally fresh crop of antibiotic-resistant microbes. Geology reveals previously unsuspected earthquake faults under major cities and dazzles us with hidden, underwater chains of volcanoes in secret, violent eruption. Even paleontology can be counted on for the latest, well-documented theory of how birds came to fly or, as I have already discussed, why the dinosaurs became extinct. And then, every ten years or so, like the return of a speeded-up Halley’s Comet, animal behavior brightens the scientific horizon with a new and incredible explanation of how animals find their way home. Not long ago, the wires were humming, or would have hummed if wires hummed anymore, with the discovery by P. Berthold and three colleagues that bird migration has a rapidly evolving genetic basis. Evidently, the inherited tendency of a population to choose a particular migratory direction can change in a few years, with the selection of another direction. Berthold, working in Radolfzell, in southwest Germany, made the most of an earlier observation: since the 1950s, increasing numbers of blackcaps, Old World warblers, have been spending the winter in Britain, traveling from their breeding grounds in Germany and Austriaduring the fall migration. Traditional wintering grounds are in the western Mediterranean countries far to the south; most blackcaps still go there in the fall. But the blackcaps wintering in Britain have done well; global warming (or chance) has ameliorated the winter climate, and the British are dedicated bird feeders. What Berthold did was to capture forty male and female blackcaps in England, transport them to Germany, breed them, and raise their young.
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Tufail, Amina, and Yusra Ashfaq. "Role of Birds in Salmonellosis." In Salmonella - Current Trends and Perspectives in Detection and Control [Working Title]. IntechOpen, 2024. http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.1004914.
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The main research question explores the role of birds in Salmonella transmission dynamics, highlighting the zoonotic potential for disease spread from birds to humans. Investigating bird salmonellosis uncovers a complex interaction of factors, including birds’ feeding habits and ecological behaviors, that facilitate disease dissemination. Utilizing epidemiological evidence, genomic analysis, and case studies, the research elucidates how salmonellosis is transmitted among birds and to humans. Significant findings identify garden birds as major Salmonella reservoirs, reveal genetic similarities between avian and human Salmonella strains, and underscore the role of environmental contamination. Notably, species like the Eurasian siskin and greenfinch are significant carriers, with bird-feeding practices and feeder congregations accelerating transmission. The research emphasizes a comprehensive management approach to salmonellosis, involving public education, wildlife management, and strategic interventions to reduce risks. It calls for improved hygiene practices in human-bird interaction zones and targeted bird population surveillance for Salmonella. Understanding birds’ role in salmonellosis epidemiology is vital for developing effective public health strategies, enhancing food safety, and wildlife conservation, and underscoring the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in tackling zoonotic diseases.
Conference papers on the topic "Bird feeders"
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Khandogiy, A. V., E. K. Svistun, I. V. Gubich, et al. "BIODIVERSITY AND ECOLOGY OF BIRDS IN THE PARK ZONES OF MINSK." In SAKHAROV READINGS 2022: ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS OF THE XXI CENTURY. International Sakharov Environmental Institute of Belarusian State University, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.46646/sakh-2022-2-197-201.
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The article discusses the features of the ecology of birds in the parks of Minsk. The territorial heterogeneity of quantitative indicators of the bird population was determined. Factors that threaten birds in urban areas have been identified. Measures are proposed to preserve the species diversity of the avifauna and improve the ecological conditions of habitats in the parks of the capital, such as the creation of special recreation areas for people on the outskirts of park areas, conservation of tree species, planting trees and shrubs, conservation of forest litter, installation of artificial nests and feeders, use for night lighting more modern lighting fixtures, promoting the protection and conservation of the avifauna, educating citizens in a humane and caring attitude towards the animal world. It is concluded that the conservation of bird biodiversity should be addressed in a comprehensive manner, depending on the ecological specifics of a particular bird species and a particular park.
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Miguel Marques, Fernando. "“ALImentáRIO” - Holder for the Supplementary Feeding of Wild Birds." In 13th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE 2022). AHFE International, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.54941/ahfe1001397.
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This is an animal design project (design thinking to meet the needs of animals) which aims to bring birds into contact with humans and - through this solution - to bring the sound and movement produced by them into our lives (whether in the countryside, whether in the urban landscape), which can be translated into joy and peace achieved by the harmony of natural wildlife in our domestic environment.Starting question Knowing that birds are elusive and fearful animals, but also can bring joy and movement to our daily lives, how can we attract them to our coexistence? Supplementary feeding can be a good solution, and there are already some versions available on the international market, especially in countries where winter is more extreme. In southern Europe, feeding birds is still not a very common practice. Depending on the type of food the birds eat in their natural habitat and, depending on the endogenous birds, there are variations in the diet, and only a test of placing food available to the birds will determine the type of food to be placed in the supplementary feeder.The "AlimentáRIO" (feeder) is a ceramic supplementary feeding stand/holder that can contain various types of food, in order to test if birds can be attracted close to your home.There are several types of bird food: nectar, seeds, worms, fruit, tallow/lard... And, for each of these types of food, there is a specific type of feeder. The "AlimentáRIO" is a versatile feeder intended to cover all types. Nectar is more suitable for birds that can pollinate during late winter and early spring, when insects are less active. For these reasons, nectar should only be placed in feeders as a food supplement in the winter and autumn.In Portugal, there are some birds that drink nectar, according to Luís Pascoal da Silva , a researcher at CIBIO-inBIO. The scientist states that there are several pollinating birds in Portugal, but the study of the contribution of these birds to pollination is scarce. Seeds - besides the traditional canary seed - can contain sunflower seeds or nuts, such as walnuts and peanuts, depending on the endogenous birds. Fruit is also sought after by some species of birds, namely apples and pears, in addition to other exotic fruits. However, in general, birds can be drawn to any type of fruit. Fat balls are usually tallow/lard balls with seeds and fruits to reinforce supplementary feeding during cold seasons. The "AlimentáRIO" is a suspended wild bird feeder that can be hung in more or less sheltered places, made with materials resistant to the elements, without the need for maintenance. However, its cleaning must be done according to the recommendations referred to in the full article. As already mentioned, the construction materials are low maintenance, and the food container and the deflecting bell jar are made with stoneware - the type of ceramics more resistant to both bumps and thermal variations. The junction of the two parts is made with a nickel-plated threaded rod, covered with an aluminium tube, and all components are joined by manual screw threads, which allows to assemble and disassemble it without the use of any tools, thus facilitating an in-depth cleaning at the end of the supplementary feeding season.The "AlimentáRIO" has a lower part with four concavities for placing food, which allows the possible placement of different types of food at the same time, thus drawing different species. As it is a feeder consisting of a protective and deflecting bell jar, the birds are protected from possible direct attacks from predators and from falling leaves in the autumn. The fact that it is a supplementary feeder that can be hung with a rope makes it difficult for rats and squirrels to get close to the food, given that, if by chance these animals manage to descend on the rope, they must also overcome the challenge of getting through the bell jar (which is a spherical cap) to get to the place where the food is. The results of the placement tests of this supplementary feeder have been reassuring, which show that the feeders foster the approximation of wild birds in relatively short periods of time - between 3 weeks and one month.
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Kennelly, Sarah, and Richard Green. "Classifying Bird Feeder Photos." In 2020 35th International Conference on Image and Vision Computing New Zealand (IVCNZ). IEEE, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ivcnz51579.2020.9290682.
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Gerhardson, Christopher, and Cheol-Hong Min. "Design and Implementation of an IoT Wireless Sensor Network for Bird Feeder Monitoring." In 2022 IEEE 13th Annual Information Technology, Electronics and Mobile Communication Conference (IEMCON). IEEE, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/iemcon56893.2022.9946473.
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Vinay, C. K., Praveen Kallam, Jayanthi Kallam, and Madhav Rao. "An autonomous bird monitoring and food intake recording feeder system towards effective rehabilitation." In 2022 IEEE International Systems Conference (SysCon). IEEE, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/syscon53536.2022.9773792.
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SKVORCOVA, Lyudmila, and Natal'ya ChURSINA. "Influence of the level of electrolytes in the diets of young quails on their productivity." In Multifunctional adaptive fodder production 29 (77). Federal Williams Research Center of Forage Production and Agroecology, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.33814/mak-2022-29-77-196-200.
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Increasing or decreasing the sodium level relative to the control does not adversely affect the level of safety of the livestock and the appetite of the birds. At the same time, feeding quails with compound feeds with a sodium level of 0.4 and 0.6% reduces feed costs per unit of production.
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Nedina, N. D., I. V. Tkacheva, and E. N. Levchenko. "THE USE OF MICROCYSTIS BIOMASS IN COMPOUND FEEDS FOR FISH IN INDUSTRIAL AQUACULTURE." In STATE AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS OF AGRIBUSINESS. ООО «ДГТУ-Принт» Адрес полиграфического предприятия: 344003, г. Ростов-на-Дону, пл. Гагарина,1., 2024. http://dx.doi.org/10.23947/interagro.2024.265-267.
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The use of the technology of using the biomass of cyanobacteria Microcystis in fish feeds is the simplicity of algae extraction, the fight against "blooming" of water, by removing a large amount of algae from natural reservoirs, increasing the productivity of cultivated objects. The biochemical composition of cyanobacteria containing trace elements, essential amino acids and vitamins necessary for the normal functioning of the organism of farm animals, birds and aquaculture facilities is considered.
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Doskovic, Vladimir, Snežana Bogosavljevic-Boškovic, Zdenka Škrbic, et al. "EFEKAT ENZIMA PROTEAZE NA PRINOS I UDEO JESTIVIH PRATEĆIH PROIZVODA KLANJA PILIĆA HIBRIDA MASTER GRIS." In XXVI savetovanje o biotehnologiji sa međunarodnim učešćem. University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Agronomy, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.46793/sbt26.269d.
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The effect of supplemental protease (Ronozyme ProAct) in broiler diet on the weights and percentage yields of slaughter by-products of male and female medium-growing Master Gris broiler chickens was analysed. Fattening period lasted for 63 days. Broilers were assigned to 3 experimental groups, each consisting of 100 birds. Experimental groups differed in protease levels used in their diets: control broilers (C) received complete feeds (starter, grower and finisher) without supplemental protease; chickens in the experimental group E-I were given a diet containing 0.2% protease and crude protein levels reduced by 4% compared with the control group, whereas experimental E-II broilers were fed a diet supplemented with 0.3% protease and containing crude protein levels reduced by 6% compared with C birds. The analysis of the results showed that feeding treatments had a very small effect on the weights and proportion yields of edible by-products (with difference only in the percentage yield of liver relative to live weight between C and E-I broilers, P<0.05), whereas sex was found to affect almost all slaughter by-products (except abdominal fat weight and the percentage yield of gizzard relative to live weight, P>0.05).
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Peteley, Attila, Adrian Nita, Hunor-Flaviu Crisan, Vasile Mara, and Lorant Balint-Balint. "THE DOUBLE SIDED IMPACT OF BEAR WATCHING IN THE GIURGEU BASIN, ROMANIA." In 22nd SGEM International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference 2022. STEF92 Technology, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.5593/sgem2022/5.1/s20.059.
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Sustainability within a region is achieved by providing a variety of services regarding the tourism products within an area. The Giurgeu basin in order to be able to sustain its values, needs to offer a wide variety of services that attract and increase the overnight stay of tourists. The services needed to be diversified with the beginning of the pandemic season of 2020 - 2022. These services existed before, but during the pandemic period, where the tourism suffered the most, it became evident that the entrepreneurs needed to find other means of attracting people. For more than two years the tourism needed to adapt, and to try to attract clients from the domestic market. The services needed to be targeted mainly towards the Romanian market. The entrepreneurs needed to provide new packages. In this paper we would like to analyze the perspective of offering special tourism packages that include wildlife watching trips in the depression, to observe the wildlife from safe locations. These trips are called bear watching�s, where the tourists go into the wilderness and from safe, specifically built locations observe the big games from a close distance. These games include the main attraction the brown bears, and most of the times the other big animals are present as well meaning the Carpathian stag, the common deer, the wild boar, the red fox, rabbit, a variety of birds. The animals are attracted by the abundance of food sources present at these feeders. The tourists come here to see these animals. We would like to analyze the impact of the animal watching�s on the tourism, and the impact of the tourism on the behavior and existential habits of the wild animals of the area. We conclude that sustaining such activities is not having a benefic impact on the existing wildlife�s existential habits and alters their seasonal behavior resulting in long lasting changes that impact generations of animals and the relationship between the wild animals and the inhabiting local population.
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Panicker, Philip K., and Amani Magid. "Microwave Plasma Gasification for the Restoration of Urban Rivers and Lakes, and the Elimination of Oceanic Garbage Patches." In ASME 2016 10th International Conference on Energy Sustainability collocated with the ASME 2016 Power Conference and the ASME 2016 14th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/es2016-59632.
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This review paper describes techniques proposed for applying microwave-induced plasma gasification (MIPG) for cleaning rivers, lakes and oceans of synthetic and organic waste pollutants by converting the waste materials into energy and useful raw materials. Rivers close to urban centers tend to get filled with man-made waste materials, such as plastics and paper, gradually forming floating masses that further trap biological materials and animals. In addition, sewage from residences and industries, as well as rainwater runoff pour into rivers and lakes carrying solid wastes into the water bodies. As a result, the water surfaces get covered with a stagnant, thick layer of synthetic and biological refuse which kill the fish, harm animals and birds, and breed disease-carrying vectors. Such destruction of water bodies is especially common in developing countries which lack the technology or the means to clean up the rivers. A terrible consequence of plastic and synthetic waste being dumped irresponsibly into the oceans is the presence of several large floating masses of garbage in the worlds’ oceans, formed by the action of gyres, or circulating ocean currents. In the Pacific Ocean, there are numerous debris fields that have been labeled the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. These patches contain whole plastic litters as well as smaller pieces of plastic, called microplastics, which are tiny fragments that were broken down by the action of waves. These waste products are ingested by animals, birds and fishes, causing death or harm. Some of the waste get washed ashore on beaches along with dead marine life. The best solution for eliminating all of the above waste management problems is by the application of MIPG systems to convert solid waste materials and contaminated water into syngas, organic fuels and raw materials. MIPG is the most efficient form of plasma gasification, which is able to process the most widest range of waste materials, while consuming only about a quarter of the energy released from the feedstock. MIPG systems can be scaled in size, power rating and waste-treatment capacity to match financial needs and waste processing requirements. MIPG systems can be set up in urban locations and on the shores of the waterbody, to filter and remove debris and contaminants and clean the water, while generating electric power to feed into the grid, and fuel or raw materials for industrial use. For eliminating the pelagic debris fields, the proposed design is to have ships fitted with waste collector and filtration systems that feeds the collected waste materials into a MIPG reactor, which converts the carbonaceous materials into syngas (H2 + CO). Some of the syngas made will be used to produce the electric power needed for running the plasma generator and onboard systems, while the remainder can be converted into methanol and other useful products through the Fischer-Tropsch process. This paper qualitatively describes the implementation schemes for the above processes, wherein MIPG technology will be used to clean up major waste problems affecting the earth’s water bodies and to convert the waste into energy and raw materials in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner, while reducing the dependence on fossil fuels and the release of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere.
Reports on the topic "Bird feeders"
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Hoy, Michael D. Herons and Egrets. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.32747/2017.7208742.ws.
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Herons and egrets commonly cause damage at aquaculture facilities and recreational fishing waters where fish are held at high densities. Fish-eating birds also can have an impact on intensively managed sport fisheries. Damage occurs when herons and egrets feed on fish purchased and released for recreational sport fishing activities. Values of these fish can be quite high given the intensity of management activities and the direct relationship of fishery quality to property value. Herons and egrets are freshwater or coastal birds of the family Ardeidae. Herons and egrets discussed in this section are all piscivorous. They are opportunistic feeders, however, and will consume small amphibians, insects, and reptiles. Due to these food preferences, herons and egrets are attracted to shallow lakes and human-made impoundments. Native bird species are covered under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and given federal protection. Depredation permits can be obtained through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition, individual states may require their own permits for legal take of these bird species.
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Gottlieb, Yuval, and Bradley A. Mullens. Might Bacterial Symbionts Influence Vectorial Capacity of Biting Midges for Ruminant Viruses? United States Department of Agriculture, 2010. http://dx.doi.org/10.32747/2010.7699837.bard.
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- Original objectives and revision: The feasibility study performed in the last year was aimed at determining the symbiotic profiles of eight selected Culicoidesspecies in Israel and the USA by: Comparing bacterial communities among geographic populations of primary bluetongue virus (BTV) vectors. Comparing bacterial communities between adults of field-collected, mammal-feeding BTV vectors and non-vectors. Comparing bacterial communities within and between mammal feeders and bird feeders, with special attention to species with unique immature habitats. We made an effort to collect the eight species during the beginning of the project, however, due to the short available collection season, and the significant changes in habitats available for Israeli Culicoides, we initially determined the symbiotic profile of five species: two BTV vectors (C. sonorensis, C. imicola), one mammal feeders with unknown vectoring ability (C. schultzei), one bird feeder (C. crepuscularis), and one unique habitat species (C. cacticola). In addition, upon preliminary symbiont identification we focused our effort on relevant specific symbionts. Background: Biting midges (Culicoides, Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are vectors of many major viral diseases affecting farm animals, including BT, which is listed among the most damaging by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and has recently emerged in completely unexpected areas (Northern Europe). One of the strategies to reduce the vectorial capacity of insect vectors is by manipulating their specific symbionts either to affect the vector species or to influence performance of the disease agent within it. Despite significant efforts to elucidate the vectorial capacity of certain Culicoidesspecies, and the critical basis of variability in infection, almost no attention has been given to symbiotic interactions between the vector and its bacterial tenants. It is now established that bacterial symbionts have major influences on their host biology, and may interact with disease agents vectored by their hosts. - Major conclusions, solutions, achievements: During the feasibility project we have found two major bacterial symbionts in Israeli and American Culicoides. In Israel we discovered that C. imicola, a known vector of BT, and C. schultzeigp. a suspected vector of BT, carry the symbiotic bacterium Cardinium, a reproductive manipulator symbiont. In C. imicolathe infection rate was close to 50%, and in C. schultzeiit was lower, and restricted to one of two species within Schultzeigroup. In 3 American species (C. sonorensis, C. crepuscularis, C. cacticola) we found the bacterium Burkholderiasp. In all species tested we have also found other bacterial species in diverse quantities and frequencies. - Implications, both scientific and agricultural: Finding specific symbionts in Culicoidesvector species is the first step in developing symbiont based control (SBC) strategies. Both identified symbionts are known from other insects, and Cardiniumis also known as a reproductive manipulator that can cause cytoplasmic incompatibility, an important phenomenon that can be used for spreading desired traits in infected populations. The role of the symbionts in Culicoideshost can be target for manipulation to reduce the vectorial capacity of the host by either changing its fitness so that it is unable to serve as a vector, or by directly changing the symbiont in a way that will affect the performance of the disease agent in its vector. Since Burkholderiaperhaps can be cultured independently of the host, it is a promising candidate for the later option. Thus, we have now opened the door for studying the specific interactions between symbionts and vector species.