Western Reef Heron (Egretta gularis) Science Article 3 abstract The presence of a Western Reef-Heron in Kittery, Maine for six days in August 2006presented an opportunity to perform a case study of the economic boost that birding canbring to a small community. Jeannette and Derek Lovitch, The Wild Bird Center of Yarmouth Download article download […]
Category: Africa
CUTANEOUS EVAPORATION IN HEAT-STRESSED SPOTTED SANDGROUSE
Spotted Sandgrouse (Pterocles senegallus) Science Article 1 abstract Many species of desert birds are relatively small (< 500 g), diurnally active ground dwellers that are naturally exposed to high ambient temperatures (T,) and low relativehumidities (RH). Sandgrouse (Pteroclididae), being small birds (weighing between 200 and 400 g) having a relatively high standard metabolic rate (SMR), […]
International single species Action planfor the Conservation of the Northern Bald Ibis
Southern Bald Ibis (Geronticus calvus) Science Article 1 abstract The Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita has undergone a long history of decline over at least four centuries, having been distributed over much of north and northeast Africa and the Middle East. Two distinct populations have been identified which are genetically distinct. The main western population […]
Sexing and ageing Rose-ringed Parakeets Psittacula krameri in Britain
Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) Science Article 1 abstract Although Rose-ringed Parakeets Psittacula krameri over three years old can easily be sexed due to the males’ rose-coloured neck-rings and black bibs, sexually immature males and females are considered impossible to separate in the hand. The biometrics of males and females overlap but males tend to be […]
Kinematics and mechanics of ground take-off in the starling Sturnis vulgaris and the quail Coturnix coturnix .
Quail (Coturnix coturnix) Science Article 3 abstract The mechanics of avian take-off are central to hypotheses about flight evolution, but have not been quantified in terms of whole-body movements for any species. In this study, I use a combination of high-speed video analysis and force plate recording to measure the kinematics and mechanics of ground […]
African climate warming advances spring arrival of the Common Quail Coturnix coturnix
Quail (Coturnix coturnix) Science Article 5 abstract The Common Quail is one of the most popular steppe-land birds and is also one of greateconomic interest. Despite this, some aspects of its life cycle remain unclear, especially those concerned with the wintering phase. Here we report a long-term study of the spring arrival phenology of this […]
Observations on the cloacal gland of the eurasian quail, Coturnix coturnix
Quail (Coturnix coturnix) Science Article 1 abstract While handling the Eurasian quail, Coturnix coturnix, in a game stocking program, the junior author noted that the breeding males issued a frothy fluid from their cloac . Upon examination we noted that this secretion originated in a gland located above the dorsal lip of the cloaca. There […]
Comparison of migratory tendency in European Quail Coturnix c. coturnix, domestic Japanese Quail Coturnix c. japonica and their hybrids
Quail (Coturnix coturnix) Science Article 4 abstract Since the 1970s, the decline of the occidental populations of European Quail Coturnix c. coturnix, a partial migrant Galliform species, has driven the release of domestic Japanese Quail Coturnix c. japonica into the wild as game birds. Recent experiments suggest that reproductive isolating mechanisms have not developed to […]
Fluctuations related to rainfall in richness and abundance of birds of steppic Mediterranean habitats
Quail (Coturnix coturnix) Science Article 6 abstract The existence of interannual variations in the richness and abundance of bird species breeding in pseudo-steppic Mediterranean areas is analysed and related to the important fluctuations that take place in rainfall, which in turn deeply influence vegetation growth. The hypothesis of food limitation as a key factor in […]
Breeding systems related to incubation investment in the Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio porphyrio (L.).
Purple Swamp-hen (Porphyrio porphyrio) Science Article 1 abstract I recorded, during the incubation period, the day shift activity of purple swamphens Porphyrio porphyrio porphyrio breeding in an artificial wetland of southeastern Spain. Three breeding systems were found: pairs, trios and solitary birds, which confirms that the subspecies porphyrio may also have communal breeding. However, the […]