Article
Ornithology
Esther F. Kettel, Ian D. Woodward, Dawn E. Balmer, David G. Noble
Summary: Many hirundine species, including the Common House Martin, are experiencing declines in their populations. A citizen science survey in the UK found that breeding performance of House Martins is influenced by nest-specific, landscape, and weather factors. Birds in the eastern part of the UK breed earlier and have higher breeding performance compared to the west. Conservation measures should focus on discouraging removal of old nests and installing artificial nests, particularly on buildings with plastic soffits.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Qing Zhao, Greg W. Mitchell, Michael D. Cadman, Jackson W. Kusack, Dean R. Evans, Kaelyn Bumelis, Keith A. Hobson, Mitch D. Weegman, Antonio Salvadori, Scott Wilson
Summary: Understanding demographic processes is crucial for studying population dynamics and developing conservation strategies. However, collecting population and demographic data is often challenging. Integrated population modeling allows for combining data from different sources to gain insights. In this study, we used IPM to analyze 15 years of data on a barn swallow population in Ontario, Canada. We found that the population declined by about 2% annually, mainly due to changes in immigration and adult survival. Additionally, warmer temperatures in April had a positive effect on adult survival, while warmer temperatures during the breeding period had a negative effect on productivity. Our results highlight the vulnerability of the species to inclement weather during the breeding season and suggest the importance of conservation strategies that mitigate climate threats. Furthermore, our IPM provides a foundation for future monitoring programs that aim to maximize the utility of population counts and demographic data.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Review
Ornithology
Luchang Zhang, Xingjian Ma, Zhiyu Chen, Chunying Wang, Zicheng Liu, Xiang Li, Xiaoying Xing
Summary: Artificial nest boxes are widely used to attract birds for nesting and breeding in specific locations, playing a significant role in avian ecology research and attracting insectivorous birds. However, research indicates that artificial nest boxes can have adverse effects on avian breeding success, yet this issue has received limited attention. A review of 321 research papers published from 2003 to 2022 on artificial nest boxes was conducted, highlighting the drawbacks and misuses in the design and placement of these boxes. Inappropriate selection of nest boxes reduced bird attraction and breeding success. Shortcomings were found in the construction material, color, smell, and structural design of the boxes, as well as their densities, locations, orientations, and management strategies. Recommendations for more efficient and safer artificial nest boxes are proposed for future avian ecology research and bird conservation.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Beata Dulisz, Anna Maria Stawicka, Pawel Knozowski, Tom A. Diserens, Jacek J. Nowakowski
Summary: The study investigated the impact of urban building modernization on bird nesting sites and the effectiveness of using nest boxes for bird conservation after building thermal modernization. It was found that using nest boxes as compensation for lost nesting sites during building renovation can partially restore the population levels of bird species involved.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
Kathleen N. Smith, W. Andrew Cox, Karl E. Miller, Lauren L. Plussa
Summary: Swallow-tailed Kites in the United States have seen a rebound in population and are considered a species of concern in southeastern states. A study in southwest Florida found that nest survival of Swallow-tailed Kites was influenced by nest site characteristics, with nests in larger trees having higher survival rates. The study also revealed that nests initiated earlier in the nesting season had a greater likelihood of fledging young.
JOURNAL OF RAPTOR RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Gujing Han, Ruijie Wang, Qiwei Yuan, Saidian Li, Liu Zhao, Min He, Shiqi Yang, Liang Qin
Summary: This paper improves the lightweight model YOLOv5s to enhance the accuracy of bird nest model detection on transmission towers in aerial images. The OSA module and CBAM are utilized to enhance small target recognition, while reducing the parameters of the ASPP module to improve detection in complex backgrounds. The experiments demonstrate a significant increase in accuracy and only a slight decrease in speed of the improved YOLOv5s model.
Article
Ecology
Kristen M. Lalla, Kevin C. Fraser, Barbara Frei, Jason D. Fischer, Joe Siegrist, James D. Ray, Mario Cohn-Haft, Kyle H. Elliott
Summary: The study found that purple martins have smaller foraging ranges during the breeding season and larger ranges during the non-breeding season, consistently preferring aquatic habitats. Understanding foraging constraints and habitat preferences of aerial insectivores can aid in conservation planning. Further research on foraging behavior during post-breeding periods and migration is recommended.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alexandra M. Anderson, Catherine B. Jardine, J. R. Zimmerling, Erin F. Baerwald, Christina M. Davy
Summary: Understanding the relationship between turbine height and wildlife fatalities is crucial in mitigating collision risks as wind turbines become taller and more densely distributed. This study examined the relationship between turbine height and fatalities of different bat and bird species in Ontario, Canada. The results showed that while some bat species had higher fatalities with increased turbine height, others had lower fatalities. Additionally, flight height differences among species were found to be a factor affecting collision risk.
Article
Ornithology
Conor C. Taff, Brianna A. Johnson, Allison T. Anker, Alyssa M. Rodriguez, Jennifer L. Houtz, Jennifer J. Uehling, Maren N. Vitousek
Summary: Life history theory provides a framework for understanding how trade-offs generate negative trait associations. Among nestling birds, time spent in the nest, risk of predation, and lifespan covary, showing the importance of understanding the allocation trade-offs between different traits in avian development.
Article
Ecology
Richard S. Turner, Ophelie J. D. Lasne, Kara N. Youngentob, Shukhrat Shokirov, Helen L. Osmond, Loeske E. B. Kruuk
Summary: In wild bird populations, the structure of vegetation around nest-sites can influence predation risk. However, quantifying vegetation structure is challenging, leading to a lack of understanding of its importance. This study used airborne laser scanning (ALS) to measure vegetation structure and 11 years of breeding data to investigate nest-site selection in superb fairy-wrens. The results showed that specific characteristics of understorey vegetation were associated with nest-site selection, but nesting preferences were not advantageous under current predation pressures.
REMOTE SENSING IN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Ornithology
Christopher J. W. McClure
Summary: Nest boxes are commonly used to monitor animals, and it is common practice to relocate them from unproductive sites to better habitats. However, this relocation may lead to biased results and overly optimistic interpretations of population status.
JOURNAL OF RAPTOR RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Julia E. Put, Greg W. Mitchell, Nancy A. Mahony, Jeffrey Costa, Tara L. Imlay, Scott Bossuyt, Chloe K. Boynton, Gary Burness, Dean R. Evans, Keith A. Hobson, Jackson W. Kusack, Olga Lansdorp, Ariel K. Lenske, Beverly McClenaghan, Erica Nol, Antonio Salvadori, Adam C. Smith, Tony D. Williams, Rebecca Whittam, Michael D. Cadman
Summary: The study found that long-term population trends in Barn Swallows in Canada were generally stronger in the east and west, and weaker in central Canada. Short-term population trends were usually weakly negative or neutral. Average breeding performance and colony size were poor predictors of regional growth rates in the subsequent year. The results suggest that local breeding success is positively correlated to changes in local colony size in the following year, but there is little support for density dependence affecting local breeding performance.
AVIAN CONSERVATION AND ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Pablo Capilla-Lasheras, Blanca Bondia, Jose I. Aguirre
Summary: Breeding birds adjust nest composition to influence environmental conditions for eggs and offspring, with feathers often used for insulation. However, the study found that the amount of feathers in nests did not mitigate the negative impact of rainfall on breeding success. Despite variations in nest composition, feathers did not appear to play a significant role in protecting Eurasian tree sparrows against environmental fluctuations.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Jinlong Liu, Han Yan, Guopan Li, Shaobin Li
Summary: The study found strong and positive associations between nest concealment and clutch size, incubation period, nestling period, and nest success across 21 sympatric bird species living on the Tibet Plateau at 3,400m altitude. This suggests that nest-site characteristics, such as concealment, play a crucial role in reproductive performance in alpine bird communities.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Pietro B. D'Amelio, Andre C. Ferreira, Rita Fortuna, Matthieu Paquet, Liliana R. Silva, Franck Theron, Claire Doutrelant, Rita Covas
Summary: Climate plays a significant role in reproductive processes, and this study investigated the effects of weather and nest predation on reproductive output in a social species. The results showed that larger group sizes have limited capacity to mitigate the effects of adverse weather.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amelie Gervais, Eve Courtois, Valerie Fournier, Marc Belisle
Article
Entomology
Amelie Gervais, Marc Belisle, Marc J. Mazerolle, Valerie Fournier
Summary: The study showed that planting hedgerows and flower strips in apple orchards can increase the abundance and diversity of bumble bee species, thereby enhancing pollination efficiency.
Article
Ecology
Marie-Christine Poisson, Daniel R. Garrett, Audrey Sigouin, Marc Belisle, Dany Garant, Lounes Haroune, Jean-Philippe Bellenger, Fanie Pelletier
Summary: The study evaluated the presence of pesticides in the diet of Tree Swallows on farms in southern Quebec, Canada, and found that while pesticides were ubiquitous in the study system, there was no relationship between food contamination by pesticides and Tree Swallow reproductive performance. More research is needed to further understand the potential role of pesticides in the decline of farmland birds and aerial insectivores.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Joanna Drzewinska-Chanko, Radoslaw Wlodarczyk, Adrian Gajewski, Karolina Rudnicka, Peter O. Dunn, Piotr Minias
Summary: The study found that birds with better immunity are more likely to join larger experimental colonies, while there was no significant association between colony size and immunogenetic traits. This suggests that settlement decisions may be flexible within individuals and are primarily determined by the current immunological status.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Samantha L. R. Capel, Juan L. Bouzat, Julian M. Catchen, Jeff A. Johnson, Peter O. Dunn, Ken N. Paige
Summary: Various conservation strategies have been developed to address biodiversity loss driven by human activities. This study uses the greater prairie-chicken as a case study and demonstrates that translocations can alleviate inbreeding, restore genetic diversity, and maintain local variation. The findings highlight the value of genome-wide analysis in assessing the effects of translocations and genetic restoration success.
CONSERVATION GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Esther Carle-Pruneau, Marc Belisle, Fanie Pelletier, Dany Garant
Summary: The study evaluated the determinants of nest box local recruitment and natal dispersal distances in declining aerial insectivore, the tree swallow Tachycineta bicolor. Results showed that heavier chicks and those fledging earlier were more likely to recruit, and natal dispersal distances were generally short influenced by different factors depending on sex.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nicholas D. Sly, Corey R. Freeman-Gallant, Amberleigh E. Henschen, Piotr Minias, Linda A. Whittingham, Peter O. Dunn
Summary: This study uses whole-genome sequencing and transcriptomics to determine the genetic basis of ornament size preference in different populations of common yellowthroat. The research shows that females in each population prefer different ornaments but the size preference is linked to genes related to male quality.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Eve Courtois, Dany Garant, Fanie Pelletier, Marc Belisle
Summary: Animals are expected to choose breeding habitats based on various environmental and social factors, but human-induced changes can lead to maladaptive habitat choices. Tree swallows were found to prefer open habitats with high densities of competitors, such as house sparrows. This study highlights the complexity of habitat selection behavior and the potential for ecological traps in farmlands.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Daniel R. Garrett, Fanie Pelletier, Dany Garant, Marc Belisle
Summary: Climate change leads to increased frequency and intensity of inclement weather, which affects avian species' reproductive success. Landscape changes, such as agricultural intensification, also contribute to avian population declines. This study found that cold snaps and increased precipitation negatively impact the fledging success of Tree Swallows, especially in more agro-intensive landscapes.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Daniel R. Garrett, Fanie Pelletier, Dany Garant, Marc Belisle
Summary: Aerial insectivores are experiencing global population declines due to changes in agricultural practices, with a reduction in insect abundance affecting their fitness. This study investigates the relationship between prey availability and the fitness of Tree Swallows in southern Quebec, Canada, across a gradient of agricultural intensification. The results demonstrate that prey availability impacts fledging success and nestling body mass, and this impact varies with agricultural intensity.
ECOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Ewa Pikus, Peter O. Dunn, Piotr Minias
Summary: This study examined the relationship between MHC gene diversity and fitness-related traits in a population of Eurasian coot. The results showed that high MHC gene diversity was associated with poorer condition, weaker ornament expression, later onset of breeding, and smaller clutches. The study suggests that the costs of high MHC diversity outweighed the benefits in an urban landscape.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Daniel R. Garrett, Stephane Lamoureux, Sebastien Rioux Paquette, Fanie Pelletier, Dany Garant, Marc Belisle
Summary: The decline of avian aerial insectivores, primarily caused by climate change and agricultural intensification, is exacerbated by cold snaps and the negative effects of agricultural landscapes on nestling growth and body condition.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Daniel R. Garrett, Fanie Pelletier, Dany Garant, Marc Belisle
Summary: The historical rise of intensive agriculture is believed to contribute to the decline of grassland and aerial insectivorous birds. This study found that agro-intensive landscapes have lower provisioning rates for nestlings, leading to potential negative effects on bird populations.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Catherine Geoffroy, Marc-Andre Villard, Marc Belisle
Summary: The study found that different forest-cover types can affect the movement speed and behavior patterns of Ovenbirds. Ovenbirds released in conifer plantations tended to move faster and straighter, while those released in untreated forests moved relatively slower. The results suggest that forest-cover types may impact the movements of Ovenbirds.
AVIAN CONSERVATION AND ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Audrey Sigouin, Marc Belisle, Dany Garant, Fanie Pelletier
Summary: Global agricultural pesticide usage is increasing, with potential adverse effects on non-target organisms due to lack of specificity. Recent studies suggest toxicological effects of pesticides may be amplified in stressful environments. This study on tree swallows in Canada found negative effects on physiology from combined exposure to pesticides and parasites, emphasizing the complexity of responses to multiple stressors in natural settings. Populations of aerial insectivores are declining, and while sublethal pesticide effects on physiology are suspected, exposure to other factors such as parasitism should also be considered for a comprehensive assessment.
CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)