Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) Science Article 10 abstract Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) breeding densities in the prairie pothole habitat of eastern North Dakota during 1961-1980 varied from 2.28 birds/km2 in 1977 to 9.47 birds/km2 in 1963 and were correlated with pond abundance (r = 0.543, P < 0.05). The number of basins used by pairs declined with […]
MAGUARI STORK NESTING: JUVENILE GROWTH AND BEHAVIOR
Maguari Stork (Ciconia maguari) Science Article 1 abstract Although it has a wide range in tropical South America, the Maguari Stork (Ciconia maguari) is poorly known. In an 11-yr study of its breeding biology in the llanos ofVenezuela I found the mean clutch size for 3 yr to be 3.2 eggs. The young hatched synchronously […]
Magpies as Hosts for West Nile Virus, Southern France
Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 10 abstract European magpies (Pica pica) from southern France were tested for antibodies to West Nile virus (WNV) and viral shedding in feces during spring
Reduced immunocompetence of nestlings in replacement clutches of the European magpie (Pica pica)
Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 1 abstract Laying date is one of the most important determinants of reproductive success and recruitment probability in birds. Late breeders usually fledge fewer chicks than individuals with earlier breeding dates, and fledglings produced late in the season have high mortality rates. Food availability and nestling mass have been evoked […]
Genetic, environmental and maternal effects on magpie nestling-fitness traits under different nutritional conditions: a new experimental approach
Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 6 abstract Rearing full siblings under different environmental conditions allows partitioning of the totalphenotypic variance of a trait into its genetic and environmental components. This, in naturalbird populations, is usually achieved by cross-fostering experimental designs. We estimatedgenetic and environmental components Liesbeth De Neve et al, Evolutionary Ecology Research, 2004, 6: […]
The effect of nest usurpation on breeding success of the black-billed magpie Pica pica
Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 4 abstract The breeding of some birds, such as raptors or owls that do not build theirown nest, is often limited by the availability of nests constructed by otherbird species. When breeding habitats substantially lack natural nest sites(e.g., cavities in trees or cli s), a strong conflict over the nest […]
Is the communal roosting behaviour of the Magpie (Pica pica) wind dependent? An example from an isolated population in W Poland
Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 5 abstract The Magpie is a residential non-migratorybird (Goodwin, 1986; Birkhead, 1991).Each pair of birds controls its own territoryall the year around. However, in winter thismonogamous bird sleeps in communal roosts.Birkhead (1991) discussed some of the mainideas, which may explain this behaviour. Pawel CZECHOWSKI, Leszek JERZAK, Piotr ZDUNIAK and Marcin […]
Antagonistic antiparasite defenses: nest defense and egg rejection in the magpie host of the great spotted cuckoo
Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 3 abstract Brood parasites dramatically reduce the reproductive success of their hosts, which therefore have developed defenses against brood parasites. The first line of defense is protecting the nest against adult parasites. When the parasite has successfully parasitized a host nest, some hosts are able to recognize and reject the […]
Nest size predicts the effect of foodsupplementation to magpie nestlings on theirimmunocompetence: an experimental test ofnest size indicating parental ability
Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 9 abstract Post-mating sexually selected signals are expected to indicate parental quality. The good parent model assumes that expression ofthe sexual character positively reflects parental ability, resulting in a potential link between the exaggeration of the character andnestling-fitness traits. We tested this prediction in a population of a monogamous passerine, […]
Effects of begging on growth rates ofnestling chicks
Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 2 abstract We investigated whether an increase in begging levels delays growth of chicks. In experiment 1, we hand-reared nine pairs ofring dove squabs, divided into a control and a begging group. All squabs received similar amounts of food, but those in thebegging group had to beg for a prolonged […]