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The common murre (Uria aalge) is a species of seabird particularly vulnerable to several environmental stressors, including parasitic infection and oil contamination. However, the molecular response to these stressors is severely understudied. This study investigated the common murre's transcriptomic responses to these stressors. Blood samples were collected from common murres undergoing rehabilitation at International Bird Rescue in Fairfield, CA. Total RNA was extracted from these samples, followed by library preparation and Illumina sequencing to generate whole transcriptome data. Differential gene expression analysis was conducted using DeSeq2 to identify genes significantly altered in response to oil contamination and parasitic infection. Differential gene expression analysis revealed 194 genes shared between oil-contaminated and infected birds, including key immune-related genes, such as ANXA2, LY96, and LY86. These genes play vital roles inmediating the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis indicated significant alterations in stress, immune, and inflammatory responses, with additional lipid metabolism changes in contaminated birds. Our findings highlight the detrimental effects that these stressors have on wild birds. These findings suggest a generalized stress response and specific metabolic adaptations to oil exposure, providing insights for seabird conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roads provide attractive but dangerous habitats for a wide variety of wild animals, including granivorous species feeding on road-spilled grains. The survival of those animals would imply risk-taking behaviors toward vehicles. We investigated these behaviors in a southern Tunisian crested lark (Galerida cristata) population, by using the flight and tolerance distances of flushed birds as assessments of motivation to take risks. Crested larks foraging on the roadside tolerated more risk compared to those foraging in road-free areas, which could reflect possible habituation of roadside individuals to road traffic. Moreover, crested larks tolerated closer approaches when they were in larger flocks, probably due to increased risk dilution and/or scramble competition. Finally, the studied birds took more risks in summer compared to winter, which could result from reduced time available for foraging during the hot season, or reflect a possible age effect since summer birds included many less-experienced fledglings, among other possible explanations. In sum, our findings highlight that roadside life imposes behavioral adjustments on seed-eating birds, and that seasonal effects may greatly affect birds' behavioral responses to road-associated threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consequences of climatic change in migratory and resident birds in terms of behavior, physiology, genetics, ecology, and evolution are the best documented changes reported in the animal world. This systematic review focuses on the studies conducted/published in the two most recent decades (2001–2020) regarding the effects of global climate change on birds. The PSALSAR [Protocol, Search, Appraisal, Synthesis, Analysis and Reporting results] approach was used to conduct the review. Information from a total of 170 publications in two databases (PUBMED and Google Scholar) including journal articles, books, book chapters, reviews, and reports were extracted and analyzed under ten criteria. An increase in publication number was observed in both databases. Overall, the highest number of publications were available for the year 2019. The highest number (141) of selected publications were journal articles. The highest number of articles (41) were from PLOS One. Selected articles' study periods ranged between 1830 to 2100. Twenty‐eight studies were done in a global scale. Other studies scaled around eight regions, five continents and 40 countries. Behavior and ecology related consequences were studied the most. Eighty‐two studies used primary data sources and 88 studies used secondary data sources. Quantification, mapping, and modeling were the most utilized modes of assessments. Most studies species are Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), and Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor). Majority of the publications were based on expansion of knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The great cormorant has become a model taxon in the study of the ecology and ecotoxicology of fish-eating species. In this study, we used 157 adult and 222 juvenile dead individuals sexed by dissection to provide a method of sexing this species using external measurements. Males were larger than females in all linear body measurements, but there were no significant differences between adults and juveniles. Thus, in further analyses data on juveniles and adults within a sex was combined. The discriminant equations provided, with wing length and bill length, provided high accuracy, with 6.2% of individuals misclassified. The method presented here makes it possible to account for sex-specific patterns in ecological studies of the great cormorant and may be applied to data collected in the past. The possibility of sex identification of birds has substantial importance for studies on different aspects of bird ecology and behaviour. Using discriminant functions is becoming increasingly popular in studies of bird species that are monomorphic in plumage characteristics because they are cheap, hardly invasive and may be applied to data collected in the past. In this paper, we provide a discriminant function to sex great cormorants using external measurements. Males were larger than females in all linear body measurements, but there were no significant differences between adults and juveniles. Thus, data on juveniles and adults within a sex was combined. Discriminant equations with the most commonly used linear measurements, wing length and bill length, were provided. If identifying birds with discriminant function values D2 < −1.256 as females and those with D2 > 0.916 as males, 99% of birds will be correctly sexed. The method presented here makes it possible to account for sex-specific patterns in ecological studies of the great cormorant and may be applied to data collected in the past. The cross-application of discriminant functions developed for other populations of the great cormorant produces a 5.4% and 7.5% misclassification rate for birds from northern Poland using discriminant equations developed for populations in Greece and the Netherlands, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In modern animal husbandry, stress can be viewed as an automatic response triggered by exposure to adverse environmental conditions. This response can range from mild discomfort to severe consequences, including mortality. The poultry industry, which significantly contributes to human nutrition, is not exempt from this issue. Although genetic selection has been employed for several decades to enhance production output, it has also resulted in poor stress resilience. Stress is manifested through a series of physiological reactions, such as the identification of the stressful stimulus, activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal medulla, and subsequent hormonal cascades. While brief periods of stress can be tolerated, prolonged exposure can have more severe consequences. For instance, extreme fluctuations in environmental temperature can lead to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, impairment of reproductive performance, and reduced immunity. In addition, excessive noise in poultry slaughterhouses has been linked to altered bird behaviour and decreased production efficiency. Mechanical vibrations have also been shown to negatively impact the meat quality of broilers during transport as well as the egg quality and hatchability in hatcheries. Lastly, egg production is heavily influenced by light intensity and regimens, and inadequate light management can result in deficiencies, including visual anomalies, skeletal deformities, and circulatory problems. Although there is a growing body of evidence demonstrating the impact of environmental stressors on poultry physiology, there is a disproportionate representation of stressors in research. Recent studies have been focused on chronic heat stress, reflecting the current interest of the scientific community in climate change. Therefore, this review aims to highlight the major abiotic stressors in poultry production and elucidate their underlying mechanisms, addressing the need for a more comprehensive understanding of stress in diverse environmental contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar eclipses present rare celestial events that can elicit unique behavioral responses in animals, yet comprehensive studies on these phenomena, particularly concerning bird behavior, remain limited. This study, conducted at the Red Butte Canyon Research Natural Area in Utah during the annular solar eclipse on October 14, 2023, aimed to document and analyze avian activity using bird banding data. Leveraging 11 years of banding records, we observed a surprising positive peak in bird captures, indicating increased activity during the eclipse, challenging conventional expectations of decreased activity during peak totality. The unexpected, record-breaking captures on the eclipse day at this location, which also surpassed the average trend in captures over time for 18 other banding days in mid-October, highlights the complexity of bird behavior during celestial events. This study marks the first known published effort to conduct bird banding during a solar eclipse. Quantitative analyses, including species composition and capture trends, contribute to a nuanced understanding of avian responses to the eclipse. This study underscores the importance of empirical research in unraveling the intricacies of how birds navigate and adapt to unique environmental conditions created by solar eclipses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pampas grasslands' biodiversity is severely threatened by habitat modification, as is the case for the Pampas meadowlark (Leistes defilippii). Here we study the areas used by the species throughout the year in the Southern Pampas of Argentina, in association with seasonal changes in behavior, in an attempt to provide information for its effective conservation. We selected four grassland sites with livestock activities in which we studied vegetation characteristics and the abundance and behavior of the Pampas meadowlark, during breeding and non-breeding seasons. The species was absent in sites with higher bare ground cover and lower cover of >30 cm vegetation, and with high proportions of forb, shrub or exotic grass species. In those areas where the Pampas meadowlark was present during the breeding season, its abundance was higher where the grassland was entirely dominated by native grasses, and abandoned another site when the grassland became dominated by introduced plant species, after the breeding period. We are the first to report the behavior of a Pampas meadowlark population throughout an entire year with its seasonal changes. Our results and description of the behavior throughout the year highlight the importance of structural heterogeneity of the grasslands, determined by a low intensity of grazing, for the breeding of the Pampas meadowlark. Also, features associated with breeding habitat can't predict the presence of flocks during the non-breeding season, as noted in our results for vegetation structure, but vegetation composition, food availability and landscape variables could play an important role in determining which areas serve as appropriate habitat during the non-breeding season, when large flocks search the grasslands for food. A better understanding of the habitat requirements and the use of space at different scales by the Pampas meadowlark will allow the identification of the most urgent and effective measures for its conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysing migration patterns can be used to predict the likelihood of invasion by exotic species, and disease prevalence and spread through contact networks in animals. This paper presents an analytical method for surveying the characteristics of wildlife migration, which can be challenging due to the varying distances and directions that animals travel and the diverse characteristics of different species. To gain a comprehensive understanding of migratory behaviour, it is necessary to integrate migration interrelationships within the populations and correlated migratory modes, e.g., aggregation or dispersed patterns. To achieve this, we propose the SSS-PCA method, which combines the small-shuffle surrogate (SSS) method and principal component analysis (PCA). The SSS-PCA method involves three major steps: (1) applying the SSS method to break down the time-series correlational structure of the movement data with different time frames, (2) obtaining some mobility indicators, e.g., the range and variance of movement, from the original and SSS data with different time frames, and (3) performing PCA on the mobility indicators, and clustering the results. The proposed method can reveal the migration patterns of individuals and the influence of individuals on the whole group. The SSS-PCA method can be used to examine the migration patterns of marine and terrestrial animal species. We suggest that the method can be applied to further studies of various species' migration data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vocalization is an important communication tool that can reflect many aspects of an individual's internal and external condition. This is especially true for birds. Previous research has shown that bird calls and songs change in response to a variety of potential stressors, although the extent and direction of the changes depend on the nature of the stressor and the environment. Circulating glucocorticoids, such as corticosterone, often increase in response to stressors and mediate some of the observed changes via alterations of the individual's physiological state. Acute elevations of corticosterone often occur as a physiological response to short‐term stressors; however, the effects of this elevation on adult vocalizations have not been well documented. Here, we experimentally elevated corticosterone at two different levels using a noninvasive method and examined the effects on the vocal communication of male and female adult common mynas (Acridotheres tristis). Corticosterone elevation temporarily increased song output and some measures of song complexity, while call output decreased. These effects were dosage dependent (higher corticosterone levels had a stronger effect), most evident 40 min after ingestion, and some vocal changes were sex‐specific. Future studies should investigate whether the changes in vocal performance due to elevated glucocorticoids have consequences for the birds' behavior, reproductive success, and survival. Research Highlights: Corticosterone elevation led to an increase in song output, higher song complexity, but call output decreased. These effects were dosage dependent (higher levels had a stronger effect), and some vocal changes were sex‐specific. Here, we experimentally elevated corticosterone (CORT) at two different levels using a noninvasive method and examined the effects on the vocal communication of adult common mynas (Acridotheres tristis). CORT elevation led to an increase in song output and singing likelihood, and higher song complexity, but call output decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vocal behavior of Neotropical birds has received less attention compared to birds in Northern temperate regions. Many bird species rely on acoustic communication to establish and maintain territories and to interact with conspecifics. For this reason, the growing threat of noise pollution in their habitats is a cause for concern. Birds perform behavioral adjustments when confronted with atypical environmental situations (e.g. urban noises, artificial light, human voice or vegetation loss). The aim of this study was to investigate vocal adjustments of Masked Gnatcatcher (Polioptila dumicola) males in environments located near a route with varying level of traffic noise (measured in decibels) and differing percentage of cover vegetation. Linear mixed models (LMMs) were used to analyze the effects of both environmental parameters in P. dumicola song. Results reveal that P. dumicola increases the amplitude of its songs in response to higher levels of traffic noise. Cover vegetation did not show any effect on song parameters. The model with the highest significance demonstrates a positive linear relationship between amplitude and traffic noise. These findings underscore the importance of studying communication alterations in noisy environments and understanding the ecological consequences of such effects on bird populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2017, one pair of Oriental reed warblers (Acrocephalus orientalis) with color aberrations was found in Yongnianwa National Wetland Park, Hebei, China. The female bird exhibited white feathers on the head, neck, and upper back, and the base of the beak was flesh‐red in color. The male had a few feathers on the outer edges of the left and right primary wing coverts that were white, which was determined to be leucism after analysis. The breeding pairs laid their first egg on May 29, with a clutch size of four eggs. After an incubation period of 13 days, two chicks hatched on June 13, 2017. The nest was found empty on June 20 when the chicks were 7 days old and before fledging age; therefore, it was presumed that the chicks had been predated. A white parrot egg was added to the nest during the incubation period to test the egg recognition ability of breeding pairs and was successfully rejected. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of color aberrations in the Oriental reed warbler, and we found that this color aberrations did not affect some reproductive and antiparasitic behaviors of the birds, but whether it affects their breeding success needs to be further studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although brood parasitism has been well documented among bird species, interspecific alloparenting, which is parenting behavior of adult individuals of one species toward the progeny of another species, is increasingly being reported. However, compared with the many reports of interspecific alloparenting behavior in North America and Europe, this phenomenon is less well known in China, with only two prior cases of interspecific alloparenting behavior in birds having been recorded. On June 23, 2022, we observed an instance of interspecific alloparental care provided by a mountain bulbul (Ixos mcclellandii) towards silver‐eared mesia (Leiothrix argentauris) nestlings in Caihu Village, Jingdong County, Yunnan Province, southwestern China. We recorded 19.5 h of footage during the period in which the mountain bulbul provided care for the nestlings with the aim of documenting detailed observations of interspecific alloparenting to contribute to our overall understanding of this behavior. The alloparenting behavior of the mountain bulbul lasted for at least 5 days. During this period, both silver‐eared mesia parents fed their nestlings 157 times and removed their nestlings' fecal sacs 5 times, while the mountain bulbul fed the nestlings 30 times and removed the nestlings' fecal sacs 4 times. In addition, the male silver‐eared mesia parent chased the mountain bulbul away during nestling feeding. As there was no life history information for the mountain bulbul at that time, we were unable to directly determine why it exhibited interspecific alloparental care. Regardless of the reason for the mountain bulbul's behavior, these findings provide valuable information for future studies on the reproductive ecology of these two bird species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowing the location of migratory birds throughout their annual cycle is fundamental for many questions in ornithology. Technological advances have provided several approaches, with increasing miniaturization allowing deployment on smaller and smaller birds. Here, we examine the strengths and limitations of barometric pressure geolocators (pressure tags), which have recently been shown to be extremely effective in tracking small birds (<25 g). The newly developed geolocation by pressure workflow (GeoPressureR) uses a global weather analysis dataset and hidden Markov movement model to reveal locations more accurately or continuously than can be achieved by other available light-weight devices (e.g. light-level geolocators, automated radio telemetry, and archival GPS tags). Additionally, pressure data can provide altitude information and document generally intractable flight behavior, as well as exact migratory phenologies. This new technology can be applied to important unresolved problems such as altitudinal migration, stopover site use, molt migration, vertical airspace use, and drivers of migratory flight initiation, duration, and direction. We provide an example of a pressure tag on a Swainson's Warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii) deployed on its breeding territory in Virginia, USA, revealing the complete story of its migration to and from Cuba, including its refined wintering site, stopover sites, and migration routes, all with precise timing. Studies relying on pressure tags are still subject to biases related to recovery of the devices for data extraction, and application to birds that exhibit extensive aerial movements (e.g. swallows and swifts) remains challenging. Widespread deployment of pressure tags could show unprecedented details of bird migration and other aspects of aerial behavior, which could benefit conservation and greatly enrich our understanding of avian movement ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring of breeding success in wildlife is key for evaluating population trends and support conservation measures. However, it is challenging depending on breeding places or non-accessible habitat. In recent years, new technologies were applied to studies of bird biology, i.e. drones. UAV (drones) are available to study new aspects of bird ecology, which are not available using traditional methods. The Raven Corvus corax predominantly nests in upper tree canopies or on high cliffs. Hence, it is challenging to monitor it breeding success from the ground. Our study were conducted in forests in NE Poland, on the 77 arboreal Raven nests in 2021–2022. By using drones, we investigated (i) whether the classic data on breeding success from ground observations differ from those of nest inspections via drone, and (ii) to what extent the adult birds behave when the drone is used at the nest. The inspection from the ground failed to determine the contents of as many as 30% of the occupied nests. Inspections using a drone and those made from the ground yielded different results, as aerial assessment showed a higher number of the young (respectively 1.93 vs. 3.22 per successful brood). Broods with three young accounted for 6.5% of nests controlled from the ground and 23.3% using a drone, while broods with two young accounted for 33.8% and 10.4% of nests, respectively. During most of the inspected nests (65% of the cases), adult birds sat nearby in the tree tops and called. In 12% of the cases, the birds flew close to the nest, passing the drone at a distance of more than 20 m, and did not attempt to approach the device. In four cases, adult birds closed the drone at less than 10 m. A direct collision did not happen. The most vital reactions were recorded in several instances (only 4.2%) in which the birds were not near the nest when the inspection began but arrived during the inspection. Drone surveys have revealed previously un-described behavior of birds, alarmed at the examination of empty nests. In 50 nests, 65% of the cases, the Raven tolerated the drone's presence at the nest, although the birds showed concern and occasionally defensive reactions. It seems that the adverse reaction of birds is weaker when they associate the appearance of a drone with human presence. Key recommendations: control in teams of two - operator and observer, starting end landing in close vicinity of the nest tree, immediate interruption of flight if birds react, forbade flying directly over the nest. It is advisable to check the reaction of adult Ravens to drone inspections of nests with small nestlings. To sum up, our study showed that the drone inspections did not harm the adult birds but provides a more reliable data for reproduction than the observation from ground. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frans de Waal, the Editor-in-Chief of Behaviour from 2011 to 2024, was a highly influential biologist known for his groundbreaking work on primate behavior and evolution. His research revolutionized the field of behavioral biology and had far-reaching implications for other scientific disciplines such as ecology, psychology, anthropology, philosophy, and economics. De Waal's comparative approach to studying behavior among chimpanzees, bonobos, and humans provided valuable insights into the fundamental basis of human nature and the evolution of moral codes. He also effectively communicated his work to general audiences through popular books and speaking engagements. De Waal's contributions to primatology were widely recognized, and he received numerous awards and honors for his work. His impact was felt so widely that he was listed among Time magazine's top 100 most influential people in 2007. [Extracted from the article]

BACKGROUND: Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are an invasive and destructive species throughout many regions of the world. A sodium nitrite (SN) toxic bait is currently used in Australia and being developed for use in the US and other countries to combat the increasing populations of wild pigs. In the US, efforts to modify the Australian SN‐toxic bait and baiting strategy have focused on reducing issues with non‐target animals accessing the SN‐toxic bait spilled outside of bait stations by wild pigs. We tested and compared modifications for efficacy (with wild pigs) and hazards (with non‐targets) in north‐central Texas, US during summer (July 2021) and winter (March 2023) seasons. RESULTS: During both seasons we found that visitation to the bait sites declined 94–99% after deploying the SN‐toxic bait, and we found a total of 106 dead wild pigs, indicating considerable lethality for the local population. Prior to deploying the SN‐toxic bait, Global Positioning System (GPS)‐collared wild pigs were more likely to cease visiting bait sites during summer when foraging resources were abundant. Farrowing decreased visitation to bait sites during the winter. We observed no dead non‐targets during summer; winter results showed an average of 5.2 dead migrating birds per bait site (primarily Dark‐eye juncos [Junco hyemalis]) from consuming SN‐toxic bait spilled by wild pigs. The presence and winter‐foraging behaviors of migrating birds appeared to increase hazards for those species. CONCLUSION: The current formulation of SN‐toxic bait was effective at removing wild pigs during both seasons, however it is clear that different baiting strategies may be required in winter when migrating birds are present. Baiting wild pigs prior to farrowing during the winter, and during drier summers, may further improve efficacy of the bait. Reducing hazards to non‐targets could be achieved by refining the SN‐toxic bait or modifying bait stations to decrease the potential for spillage, decreasing environmental persistence if spilled, or decreasing attractiveness to migrating birds. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We need landscape-scale approaches to design and manage agro-ecosystems that can sustain both agricultural production and biodiversity conservation. In this study, yield figures provided by 299 farmers served to quantify the energyequivalents of food production across different crops in 49 1-km2 landscapes. Our results show that the relationship between bird diversity and food energy production depends on the proportion of farmland within the landscape, with a negative correlation observed in agriculture dominated landscapes (≥ 64-74% farmland). In contrast, neither typical farmland birds nor butterflies showed any significant relationship with total food energy production. We conclude that in European temperate regions consisting of small-scale, mixed farming systems (arable and livestock production), productivity and biodiversity conservation may not be purely antagonistic, particularly when (semi-)natural habitats make up a large fraction of the landscape (≥ 20%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In this study, we assessed whether the flight initiation distance (FID) of Saffron finches (Sicalis flaveola, Aves), commonly observed in urban centers in Brazil, was influenced by the direction of gaze, the number of people, behavior, and habituation to humans. To achieve this, the researcher walked at a constant speed towards groups of birds, alone or in a group, either looking directly at the birds or not, and in locations with heavy or low pedestrian traffic. The results showed that Saffron finches exhibited longer FIDs when more people approached them while staring directly at them. If the birds were alert, the FIDs were longer. Pedestrian traffic did not influence FID responses, meaning that the birds were not habituated to humans. Background: The flight initiation distance (FID) measures the distance a bird flees from an approaching predator. Factors such as the frequency of predator approaches, the direction of predator gaze, variations in predator presence across different areas, and the specific behaviors displayed by predators can all affect the FID. For birds, people can assume the role of predators. Methods: This study aimed to evaluate whether the FID of the species Sicalis flaveola (Saffron finch, Aves, Passeriformes) is influenced by the number of people and their gaze direction, comparing areas with the greater and lesser flow of people and relating to the types of behavior exhibited by the birds. Results: The results showed that the number of people walking towards the bird influenced the escape behavior, with more people generating longer FIDs than fewer people. If the approach was with the eyes fixed on the birds, the FIDs were longer. When birds were alert, FIDs were longer. Conclusion: Overall, the findings imply that birds exhibit nuanced reactions to human presence, even in areas with frequent human encounters, highlighting their advanced capacity for assessing and responding to perceived risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Simple Summary: Recent studies have delved into the adverse phenomenon of smothering in cage-free laying hen-rearing systems, challenging the traditional notion of this behavior as "natural" or the result of hysteria among birds in the flock. This work identifies smothering as a detrimental, abnormal behavior with significant economic repercussions for poultry farming. Through a comprehensive literature review and bibliographic mapping, combined with consultations with poultry farmers via extension services and rural technical assistance, this study illuminates the environmental triggers of smothering behavior. The investigation reveals that factors inherent to the birds' rearing environment precipitate this behavior, underscoring an urgent need for detailed, focused research into avian behavioral physiology. The objective is to unravel the complex interplay between production systems, animal welfare, and their economic implications on poultry operations. This study not only advances our understanding of bird behavior in intensive production contexts but also offers valuable insights for improving welfare standards and economic outcomes in the poultry industry. The proliferation of rearing systems providing opportunities for birds to engage in natural behaviors can trigger behavioral repertoires that when not manageable compromise animal welfare and the economic viability of the flock. Smothering in laying hens has long been perceived as "natural" or the result of hysteria among birds in the flock. However, the current literature has recognized smothering as an abnormal outcome with the potential to result in significant losses in cage-free poultry systems. Recent studies have specifically aimed to categorize the organization of smothering behavior and highlight its potential causes and consequences. In this study, literature review and bibliographic mapping, drawing on published articles and engagement with poultry farmers through extension and rural technical assistance, were employed. The findings indicate that smothering is a behavior triggered by factors related to the environment in which the laying hens are kept. This study concludes that there is a critical need for more rigorous and detailed research to elucidate the nuances of avian behavioral physiology and assess the impact of production systems on animal welfare and the economic impacts on the flock. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of bird behavior in high-production environments and provides practical insights for the poultry industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on recent ornithological observations in Switzerland, covering the period from February to April 2024. It highlights notable bird sightings during this time, including the first appearance of certain species in the country, such as the Red-flanked Bluetail and the Semi-collared Flycatcher. It provide valuable insights into bird migration patterns and occurrences, contributing to our understanding of avian distribution and behavior in Switzerland.

Diversity and functionality of bird communities in tropical agroforests are shaped by their surrounding landscape, particularly the extent and type of natural forest. However, most evidence comes from tropical rainforest landscapes, whereas the bearing of such trends in other forest types remains understudied. We compared functional and beta diversity of bird communities in 23 cacao agroforests embedded in landscapes of two contrasting Peruvian regions: seasonally‐dry tropical forests and subtropical rainforests from the Andean foothills. Strong climatic seasonality affects both landscapes, but forest vegetation structure and complexity differ. We found higher bird species richness (n = 179 spp) and higher species turnover in the subtropical forest than in the dry forest landscape (n = 64 spp). Only in the dry forest landscape, distance from forest increased dissimilarity driven by species loss, that is, the nestedness component of beta diversity. This points to the importance of conserving dry tropical forests within the broader landscape matrix, with known benefits for pest control and cacao yield. Functional diversity indices were not influenced by forest distance in either landscape, but the proportion of insects in birds' diet decreased by 27% along a 1 km distance gradient from forest in the subtropical forest landscape. In the dry forest landscape, however, it decreased by only 3% across the same distance gradient. Far from forest (≥1 km), forest specialization decreased by ~33% and 20% in the subtropical and dry forest landscapes, respectively. These differences indicate that regionally‐adapted agroforest management is paramount for conserving bird diversity and ecosystem services as pest control. Procuring high‐canopy shade trees and adequate microhabitats for insectivorous species is essential to maintain biocontrol services in the subtropical forest. Conversely, in the dry forest enhancing low‐canopy vegetation with a focus on frugivores and ensuring forest closeness to agroforests may maximize bird diversity and their ecosystem services. A complete version of this article is translated to Spanish in the supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal play behavior has received increasing attention for its relationship to cognition as a possible precursor to physical problem-solving abilities across taxa. In birds, captive studies reveal that exploring and combining novel objects correlates with advanced problem solving. However, we lack systematic investigations in the wild, thus limiting our understanding of play structure, context, and demographics in a natural context. The Striated Caracara (Phalcoboenus australis) population endemic to the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) shows striking behavioral similarities to cognitively well-studied parrots and corvids, as opportunistic generalists and extractive foragers with a prolonged adolescence and complex social structure. We present observations of spontaneous play behavior and results of a field experiment investigating the effect of object complexity on play and exploratory behaviors. Eighteen juvenile and adult Striated Caracaras participated across eight sessions (duration mean ± SD: 401 ± 317 sec, range: 44–1134 sec), manipulating geometric objects for 84 ± 120 sec, signaling play behaviors, and directing greater attention toward a cone and triangular pyramid than a square pyramid. Further research into object properties that elicit play and exploratory behavior can shed light on the context and degree to which Striated Caracaras might disturb novel objects in their environment, such as those used in pest management, to inform effective mitigation measures. More broadly, comparative research into curiosity, exploration and play, as well as cognitive capabilities, across all caracara species would expand our empirically driven knowledge of the socio-ecological contexts that give rise to these behaviors and traits in birds. El comportamiento de juego animal ha recibido cada vez más atención por su relación con la cognición como un posible precursor de habilidades físicas para resolver problemas a través de diversos taxones. En las aves, estudios en cautiverio revelan que explorar y combinar objetos novedosos se correlaciona con habilidades avanzadas para resolver problemas. Sin embargo, carecemos de investigaciones sistemáticas en la naturaleza, limitando así nuestra comprensión de la estructura del juego, el contexto y la demografía en un entorno natural. La población endémica de Phalcoboenus australis de las Islas Falkland (Malvinas) muestra notables similitudes de comportamiento con loros y córvidos que han sido bien estudiados cognitivamente, como generalistas oportunistas y forrajeadores extractivos con una adolescencia prolongada y una estructura social compleja. Presentamos observaciones de comportamiento de juego espontáneo y resultados de un experimento de campo que investiga el efecto de la complejidad del objeto en el juego y de los comportamientos exploratorios. Dieciocho juveniles y adultos de P. australis participaron en ocho sesiones (duración media ± DE: 401 ± 317 segundos, rango: 44–1134 segundos), manipulando objetos geométricos durante 84 ± 120 segundos, mostrando comportamientos de juego y dirigiendo mayor atención hacia un cono y una pirámide triangular que hacia una pirámide cuadrada. Investigaciones adicionales sobre las propiedades de los objetos que provocan el juego y el comportamiento exploratorio pueden arrojar luz sobre el contexto y el grado en que los individuos de P. australis podrían alterar objetos novedosos en su ambiente, como los utilizados en el control de plagas, para informar medidas de mitigación efectivas. Más ampliamente, la investigación comparativa sobre la curiosidad, la exploración y el juego, así como las capacidades cognitivas en todas las especies de Phalcoboenus, expandiría nuestro conocimiento empíricamente fundamentado de los contextos socioecológicos que dan origen a estos comportamientos y rasgos en las aves. [Traducción del equipo editorial] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasites inhabit practically all environments of the planet, representing an important selective pressure on different traits, including behavior. However, there is limited knowledge on the relationship between haemosporidian infection and the behavior of birds. In this study, we recorded risk-taking behaviors exhibited during three behavioral tests: struggle in the hand, open-field, and simulated territorial intrusion, in a resident population of thorn-tailed Rayadito (Aphrastura spinicauda) located on Navarino Island (55°S), southern Chile. This population shows a high prevalence of the haemosporidian Leucocytozoon spp., providing us with an opportunity to explore the connection between this parasite and the risk-taking behaviors of a Neotropical bird species. Our results indicate that birds infected by Leucocytozoon spp. exhibit higher activity scores in the behavioral tests, suggesting that individuals infected may be more propensity for risky behaviors. These findings raise intriguing questions about whether behavior precedes infection or results from it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research into bird habitat selection can unveil the impact of specific habitat characteristics on bird survival. However, empirical information on the environmental factor preferences and differences within the yew ecological garden for birds is still lacking. This study was conducted in a yew ecological garden located in the southern experimental area of the Meihua Mountain National Nature Reserve, Fujian Province, China. We selected three commonly occurring bird species for analysis to discern the factors influencing habitat selection and interspecific differences and the impact of habitat environmental factors. Canopy density and coverage were identified as dominant factors influencing habitat selection for the Red-billed Blue Magpie (Urocissa erythrorhyncha), Black Bulbul (Hypsipetes leucocephalus), and Orange-bellied Leafbird (Chloropsis hardwickii). The height of perching trees, average tree height, and average diameter at breast height were all important determinants for the habitat selection of Red-billed Blue Magpie and Black Bulbul. These dominant factors were consistent with logistic regression analysis results. Both one-way ANOVA and stepwise discriminant analysis revealed significant differences in habitat selection among three commonly occurring bird species. Our results provide important insights into avian habitat selection in patchy habitats, which can be used as a guideline for future conservation and habitat management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Methods in Ecology & Evolution is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

Human activities, through the development of agricultural and urbanized areas, are considered a threat to wildlife species. However, there are species that can be unaffected or even benefited by these man-made scenarios. This could be the case of the chimango caracara (Milvago chimango), a raptor species that may prove to be highly adapted to anthropogenic modifications of its habitat, requiring more detailed local population information to scientifically support that hypothesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate variation of density of chimango caracara in a urban gradient in central Argentina. During the Austral summer-autumn of 2017, I measured the abundance of chimango caracaras in 148 transects located in urban-suburban-rural urbanization gradients of 19 localities with human populations varying from 483 to 103,000 inhabitants per locality. Detection and density of chimango caracaras in each locality was analyzed as function of urban gradient, climate and number of inhabitants in each locality using a Distance Sampling approach. Urbanization and climate affected both detection and density. The selected model predicted the highest densities of chimango caracara in suburban, then in urban, and finally in rural habitats (0.18, 0.15 and 0.01 ind/ha respectively). These findings could be the result of the successful process of adaptation of chimango caracara to life in urbanized habitats and indicates that on certain occasions the anthropic disturbance could not be negative in terms of abundance for some species of birds with flexible behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Play indicates positive affective states and can therefore potentially be used as an indicator of positive welfare. Sex differences in play has been reported in many mammalian species, but in birds, this is still to be explored. It is known that young chickens perform play behavior during their early ontogeny, but potential sex differences have not previously been addressed. Therefore, we aimed to investigate potential sex effects on play ontogeny in young chickens, by comparing play occurrence in young males and females of a commercial hybrid of White Leghorn. Eighteen chicks of each sex were hatched in the same incubator and then housed in sex-separated groups. Six groups of three chicks each were randomly created for each sex, and the same three chicks were then moved to enriched play arenas twice per week, from day 6 until day 53 post hatch. The frequency of different play behaviors, categorized as locomotor play, social play and object play were recorded during 30 min on each observation day. Each group of three birds constituted the independent statistical replicate. Males played significantly more than females, due to more social and object play, whereas for locomotor play, no difference was found between the sexes. In conclusion, clear sex differences in play in chickens was demonstrated, and this may be linked to the highly sexually dimorphic behavior of adult cockerels and hens. Further research is needed to elucidate the relationships between type and frequency of play in chicks and later behavior as adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) and other species that feed at bird feeders balance the benefit of easy foraging with the added risk of predation. Individual birds respond differently to risky situations, and these differences have been attributed to the birds' personalities, which researchers commonly assess with an "open-field" behavioral assay. However, these behavioral assays in birds have not been compared to behavior in the wild in the context of foraging in the presence of a predator (i.e., risk-taking behavior). We color-banded chickadees in a wild population and conducted behavioral assays in the field. We later used foraging trials to investigate these color-banded individuals' responses to a predator (Cooper's hawk, Accipiter cooperii) model or a series of Cooper's hawk calls. We found that foraging black-capped chickadees responded more strongly to the presence of a predator model than to predator calls. Individual birds differed in their responses, and the behavioral assays (activity and exploration) predicted individual behavior in the wild during the foraging experiments. Activity and exploration assay scores were only weakly related, suggesting these two assays represent different traits. Both highly active birds and fast explorers exhibited some reluctance to visit the feeder (either reduced number of visits or greater latency to visit) when the predator model was present, a relationship that was somewhat unexpected. Our results suggest that standard behavioral assays predict behavior in the wild, but care should be taken when generalizing among species and studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amino acid tryptophan (Trp) is a precursor of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Trp supplementation or other forms of serotonergic enhancement generally promote pro-social behavior, decreasing aggression, and also feeding in different animals. However, past research has been conducted in confined spaces, and there is little work in naturalistic conditions where animals move and associate more freely. We gave a Trp-enriched diet to a free-flying flock of common waxbills (Estrilda astrild) in semi-natural conditions and monitored group foraging, aggressions during feeding, and the social network. Contrary to expectations, aggressiveness and feeding increased during Trp supplementation. Consistent with the prediction of increased social associations, foraging groups became larger, and individuals joined more foraging groups, but these changes appear driven by increased appetite during Trp treatment. Also, the mean strength of associations in the social network did not change. Overall, Trp supplementation affected group behavior in this free-flying flock, but mostly in directions unanticipated based on research conducted in small spaces. To harmonize our results with those found in small confined spaces, we hypothesize that free-flying birds have energetic requirements not experienced in lab-housed individuals, which may impact social behavior and responses to Trp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a high-resolution, densely sampled data set of wild bird songs collected over multiple years from a single population of great tits, Parus major , in the U.K. The data set includes over 1 100 000 individual acoustic units from 109 963 richly annotated songs, sung by more than 400 individual birds, and provides unprecedented detail on the vocal behaviour of wild birds. Here, we describe the data collection and processing procedures and provide a summary of the data. We also discuss potential research questions that can be addressed using this data set, including behavioural repeatability and stability, links between vocal performance and reproductive success, the timing of song production, syntactic organization of song production and song learning in the wild. We have made the data set and associated software tools publicly available with the aim that other researchers can benefit from this resource and use it to further our understanding of bird vocal behaviour in the wild. • We present a large data set of songs from a wild population of great tits. • It contains 1.1 M acoustic units from 109 K songs recorded over several years. • It includes extensive metadata and annotations. • The data set and associated software tools are publicly available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mystery of soaring birds, such as albatrosses and eagles, has intrigued biologists, physicists, aeronautical/control engineers, and applied mathematicians for centuries. These fascinating avian organisms are able to fly for long durations while expending little to no energy, utilizing wind to gain lift. This flight technique/maneuver is called dynamic soaring (DS). For biologists and physicists, the DS phenomenon is nothing but a wonder of the very elegant ability of these birds to interact with nature and use its physical ether in an optimal way for better survival and energy efficiency. For the engineering community, the DS phenomenon is a source of inspiration and an unequivocal opportunity for biomimicking. Mathematical characterization of the DS phenomenon in the literature has been limited to optimal control configurations that utilized developments in numerical optimization algorithms along with control methods to identify the optimal DS trajectory taken (or to be taken) by the bird/mimicking system. Unfortunately, all of these methods are highly complex and non-real-time. Hence, the mathematical characterization of the DS problem, we believe, appears to be at odds with the phenomenon/birds-behavior. In this paper, we provide a novel twolayered mathematical approach to characterize, model, mimic, and control DS in a simple real-time implementation, which we believe more effectively decodes the biological behavior of soaring birds. First, we present a differential geometric control formulation and analysis of the DS problem, which allow us to introduce a control system that is simple yet controllable. Second, we establish a link between the DS philosophy and a class of dynamical control systems known as extremum seeking systems. This linkage provides the control input that makes DS a real-time reality. We believe our framework accurately describes the biological behavior of soaring birds and opens the door for geometric control theory and extremum seeking systems to be utilized in biological systems and natural phenomena. Simulation results are provided along with comparisons to powerful optimal control solvers, illustrating the advantages of the introduced method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring biodiversity changes associated with ecological restoration is crucial in the current UN Decade on Restoration. Although several studies highlight the impacts of restoration on ecosystems, it is also important to understand how restoration alters species' behavior, including vocalization. Advances in conservation technology, such as passive acoustic monitoring, facilitate rapid and noninvasive monitoring. In this study, we quantified changes in the vocal behavior of a bird species in response to small‐scale restoration carried out by removing the invasive shrub, Lantana camara (lantana), in a Central Indian tropical dry forest. We examined associations between sites of varying lantana densities and the vocalization of one of its primary dispersers, red‐vented bulbul (RVBU). We found statistically significant differences in note‐length and bandwidth of RVBU vocalizations across sites. A random forest classification model showed that Lantana density was not an important predictor of RVBU vocalizations. Apart from the percentage of forest area and farms in our sites, total human population was the most important predictor for RVBU vocalizations suggesting RVBU's use of human habitations as possible resource hubs. Our findings suggest that lantana removal is not associated with significant changes in RVBU vocalization. This study provides empirical evidence that ecological restoration may not alter species' vocalization in the short term and highlights the importance of moving beyond species presence and understanding the impact of restoration on species behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abandoned post‐quarry sites have potentiality to be remodeled into natural‐wilderness areas, a desire especially in rapidly urbanizing and transforming landscapes. However, paucity of ecological information on post‐quarry sites limits nature‐based restoration, especially in the sub‐Saharan tropical landscape. This study investigated avifauna composition of post‐quarry sites in Ndarugu, Kenya, relative to non‐quarried sites for conservation role prioritization. Birds were censused in 166 point count stations using the fixed‐radius distance method. Land use land cover types within each point provided the variables for explaining bird occurrence. Observed bird species were classified into functional guilds, avifaunal composition assessed, and bird data subjected to multivariate analysis. In total 158 species, 128 in post‐quarry and 123 in non‐quarried sites, were recorded. Bush‐ and forest‐related species were dominant, constituting over 55% of total observed birds, in both site categories. Six wetland‐related species were detected only in quarried sampling sites. Mann–Whitney statistical tests returned a significant effect of land use category on bird species richness, abundance, and diversity, all higher in post‐quarried than in non‐quarried sites (p < 0.05). Emergent natural shrubs, quarry cliffs, and cultivated farms were most influential to bird community structuring. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis revealed four functional groups of birds whose species richness increased with number of post‐quarried sampling sites in a cluster. Unique physical features of post‐quarry sites and emergent vegetation types, can be partially mimicked in nature‐oriented rehabilitation planning for long‐term social and ecological benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic noise is one of the fastest growing, globally widespread pollutants, affecting countless species worldwide. Despite accumulating evidence of the negative impacts of wind turbines on wildlife, little is known about how the noise they generate affects ecological systems. Songbirds may be susceptible to noise pollution due to their reliance on vocal communication and thus, in this field study, we examined how songbirds are affected by wind turbine noise. We broadcasted noise produced by one wind turbine in a migratory stopover site during the nonbreeding season. Throughout the study, we repeatedly monitored the acoustic environment and songbird community before, during, and after the noise treatments with passive acoustic monitoring and mist netting. We employed generalized linear mixed effects models to assess the impact of experimental noise treatment on birds behavior and likelihood ratio tests to compare models with variables of interest with null models. The daily number of birds in the presence of wind turbine noise decreased by approximately 30% compared with the before and after phases. This reduction had a significant spatial pattern; the largest decrease was closer to the speaker and on its downwind side, fitting measured sound propagation. Although we found no impact on species diversity, two out of three most common species showed clear avoidance behavior: 45% and 36% decrease in abundance for the lesser whitethroat (Sylvia curruca) and Sardinian warbler (Sylvia melanocephala momus), respectively. In the after phase, there were lingering effects on the lesser whitethroat. The age structure of the lesser whitethroat population was affected because only juvenile birds showed avoidance behavior. No difference in avoidance extent was found between migratory and nonmigratory species, but the impacts of displacement on migrants during stopover are especially troubling from a conservation perspective. Our results stress the need to address the impacts of noise pollution on wildlife when planning noise‐generating infrastructures, such as wind turbines, to allow for sustainable development without threatening already declining songbird populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birds often have a peak of singing activity at dawn, and the timing of dawn song is species-specific. However, the start of singing at dawn may also depend on environmental factors. We investigated the effects of different environmental variables on the start of dawn singing in six common songbird species in the woodlands of the Swiss National Park. Moon phase, aspect, temperature and road noise had the most consistent effects across species: dawn singing started earlier after brighter and warmer nights, on more east-exposed slopes, and in areas with more road noise. On average, birds started to sing 2.8 min earlier in areas with high road noise level compared to areas without road noise, and 4.7 min earlier in east-exposed slopes compared to west-exposed slopes. Further, birds started to sing on average 5.0 min earlier after full moon compared to new moon nights, 1.2 min earlier after warmer compared to colder nights, and 2.5 min earlier at 2200 m than at 1500 m a.s.l. The effects of date were more species-specific: Alpine Tits started to sing on average 4.9 min later at the end compared to the beginning of the study period, whilst Song Thrushes started to sing 9.0 min earlier. Our findings are in line with the results of previous studies on the effects of road noise, nocturnal light, and partly on temperature. Our study shows that variation in environmental variables may influence the start of dawn singing in different ways, and that anthropogenic factors like road noise can affect bird behaviour even in a highly protected area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Egg retrieval is regarded as an ancestral behaviour that evolved in birds as an adaptation to eggs accidentally rolling out of nests and a fixed pattern of instinctive behaviour. By contrast, egg recognition is a later and specific adaptation that arises under selection pressure from brood parasitism, through which eggs likely belonging to brood parasites are rejected from the nest. Furthermore, egg recognition is flexible and can be enhanced through learning. We performed an empirical study on 12 populations of seven species in the tit family (Paridae), which revealed that mimetic eggs were retrieved more frequently than nonmimetic eggs across species; however, the rejection patterns were completely contrasting. Furthermore, species with a stronger recognition capacity of nonmimetic eggs retrieved eggs with lower probability; however, they rejected them with higher probability. This study also revealed that although egg retrieval is possibly a fixed pattern of instinctive behaviour, it can be modified to become a flexible reaction that adapts to subsequent evolution. Moreover, egg recognition, a specific adaptation to brood parasitism, gradually reshapes or modifies egg retrieval behaviour during evolution in a predictable manner, resulting in birds with higher levels of egg recognition being less willing to retrieve an egg from outside their nests. • Evolution of antiparasite behaviour reshapes egg retrieval, an ancestral behaviour. • Species good at egg recognition are less willing to retrieve eggs outside the nest. • Conspecific eggs are retrieved more frequently than foreign eggs across host species. • Foreign eggs are rejected more frequently than conspecific eggs across host species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the themes of bodily containment, proliferation, and the right to privacy in American law and gothic horror films. It specifically analyzes the portrayal of the American family and the domestic structure in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" and George A. Romero's "Night of the Living Dead." The article also discusses the Supreme Court's decision in Griswold v. Connecticut, which established the right to privacy as a fundamental right. It argues that these films challenge the notion of the home as a safe container for sexuality and question the security of the domestic space. The article further explores the genre of home invasion films, focusing on "The Birds" and "Night of the Living Dead," and how they blur the boundaries between public and private spaces, questioning the effectiveness of containment and challenging the idea of the home as a safe space. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Ibis is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

Background: Modern agriculture has undoubtedly led to increasing wildlife-human conflicts, notably concerning bird damage in productive and attractive crops during some parts of the annual cycle. This issue requires utmost attention for sedentary birds that may impact agricultural crops at any stage of their annual life cycle. Reducing bird-human conflicts requires a better understanding of the relationship between bird foraging activity and the characteristics of agricultural areas, notably with respect to changes in food-resource availability and crop sensitivity across the year. Methods: We explored how GPS-tagged adult male western jackdaws– sedentary corvids– utilize agricultural areas throughout their annual cycle, in a context of crop depredation. More precisely, we described their daily occurrence distribution and the extent of habitat use and selection consistency with respect to landscape composition across time. Results: Jackdaws moved in the close agricultural surroundings of their urban nesting place over the year (< 2.5 km from the nest, on average). Daily occurrence distributions were restricted (< 2.2 km2), relatively centered on the nesting locality (distance between the daily occurrence centroid and the nest < 0.9 km), and rather spatially stable during each annual life-cycle period (overlap range: 63.4–76.1%). Their foraging patterns highlighted that they fed mainly in grasslands all year round, and foraged complementarily and opportunistically in maize (during sowing– coinciding with the first stages of the birds' breeding period) and cereal crops (during harvesting– their post-fledging period). Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate the very limited space use by breeding male jackdaws which foraged preferentially in grasslands. We call for future investigations in other agricultural contexts and also considering non-breeders for extrapolation purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mounting evidence indicates the non‐consumptive effects of predators significantly impact prey physiology, ecology and behaviour. Passerine birds experience adverse effects on nesting and reproductive success when in proximity to predators. Fear of predators is context‐dependent and influenced by hunting habitats and foraging strategies. While some bat species prey on birds, the greater noctule (Nyctalus lasiopterus) stands out by specialising in avian prey, especially during peak bird migration. N. lasiopterus is thought to seize avian prey in flight, but direct evidence is lacking. If birds were taken from nests, they would likely avoid nesting near these bats. However, no observations support this view. This study documents the successful reproduction of Eurasian blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) nesting alongside a colony of approximately 25 greater noctules. This bird species is a prey species for greater noctules in Italy. Over about 1 month (April–May 2023), we observed parent birds provisioning food to chicks, with at least two chicks alive and fed outside the tree cavity by the end of the period. While acknowledging the limitations of a single observation, we propose that this previously unknown behaviour indirectly supports the idea that greater noctules only capture avian prey in flight, not within confined spaces. This observation challenges the perception that these bats pose a threat when sharing roosting spaces in trees, as evidenced in our observed case. We hope this novel observation inspires future research on variations in bird nesting behaviour and reproductive success in the presence of bird‐eating bats, as well as an assessment of the long‐term impact on population dynamics and reproductive success of nesting birds sharing such roosting spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hunting is part of the biocultural heritage of the Maya people of the Yucatán Peninsula because it has been part of their strategy of multiple use of resources and their cosmovision since pre-Hispanic times. The study of knowledge and practices on the uses of natural resources can help to improve the resilience of biological and human communities to disturbances. The aim of this study was to characterize the biocultural knowledge associated with traditional hunting in the Mayan community of Xul, Yucatán. From September to December 2020, 42 mixed questionnaires and seven semi-structured interviews were applied to local hunters. It was found that 23 species of vertebrates (35 mammals, 6 birds, and 1 reptile) are hunted in Xul and are used mainly for food. The species with higher cultural importance (iic) were the red brocket deer (Mazama temama), collared peccary (Pecari tajacu), and ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata). The dry season is their favorite season for hunting (71.4 %) and hunters prefer the milpa (92.9 %) and forest (83.3 %) as hunting sites. The most practiced techniques are the “batida” (flushing by hunting teams, p’uuj; 92.9 %), “caminar por el monte” (walking through the woods, xíimbal ts’on; 73.8 %), and “lampareo” (hunting with flashlights, ts’on; 69 %). In Xul there are beliefs such as virtues, the owners of animals and the winds (Ik’). These results show the continuity of biocultural knowledge related to hunting and its importance in the management and conservation of wild fauna in rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The images in Passing Captive Still depict humans together with birds in cages, their respective presence conjoined at eye-level. In this series, both human actors and the birds themselves are, in every case, seen through the cage bars suggesting a subversive, equalizing narrative. The strategic, pictorial conflation produces an uncanniness, which is both quaint and unsettling. As far as the images themselves are to be believed, both species are apparently "imprisoned" in the pictorial space. In order further to upset what might be the expected power balance of the auction house and event, the various bird individuals, pairs or groupings, appear always in front of the human actors, thereby privileging them within that space. An objective, reflective and contextualizing commentary is interspersed alternately with a subjective view, apparently from the position of those held captive against their will. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]