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Copyright of Ostrich: The Journal of African Ornithology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

African parrots are among the most traded of all birds listed on the appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Collapses in some wild populations due to trapping for the pet trade have highlighted the threats posed by overexploitation. Although over 3.3 million African parrots have been reported in trade since 1975, virtually no monitoring of exploited populations has taken place and basic ecological data do not exist for the majority of traded species. Greater scrutiny of the wild bird trade in Africa would help ensure the practice is compatible with conservation goals as well as minimise biosecurity risks, including the spread of infectious diseases and the establishment of invasive populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many animals use thermally buffered microhabitats, e.g. patches of shade within trees, to avoid temperature extremes. These ‘thermal refugia’ may mediate the impact of climate change on animals. Predicting how species and communities will respond to rising temperatures therefore requires an understanding of the availability of these refugia and how animals use them. We investigated patterns of tree use by birds in the southern Kalahari across different times of day and days of varying maximum air temperature. On ‘hot’ days (>35 °C) birds showed increased preference for trees that provided the greatest density of shade (Boscia albitrunca), and this effect was particularly pronounced at the hottest times of day. Comparisons of focal bird species with differing foraging niches revealed interspecific differences in tree use. Two arboreally foraging species showed a similar preference forB. albitruncaon both ‘cool’ and ‘hot’ days. In contrast, two ground-foraging species increased their use ofB. albitruncatrees on hot days, with one species (Scaly-feathered FinchSporopipes squamifrons) changing its behaviour from avoiding to preferring this tree. We discuss the role ofB. albitruncatrees as thermal refugia and the implications of temperature-driven changes in tree use in the context of rising temperatures due to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD), the most prevalent viral disease affecting psittacines, is caused by beak and feather disease virus (BFDV). This study assessed viral load using qPCR in a wild Cape parrot population affected by PBFD and compared it to overall physical condition based on clinical signs attributable to PBFD. A significant inverse correlation between viral load and overall physical condition was found, which confirmed that clinical signs may confidently be used to diagnose the relative severity of BFDV infections in wild populations. This is the first assessment of BFDV viral load in a wild psittacine population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]