Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION Many species aggregate for feeding, roosting and nesting activities, which are prevalent among water birds (Weins, 1992). Why animals form breeding colonies is a major unresolved question in evolutionary biology. The topic continues to stir lively debate (Danchin & Wagner 1997, Tella et al., 1998) and has been the focus of long term studies (Hoogland 1995; Brown & Brown 1996; Danchin et al. 1998). One of the principal issues has been whether colonies form due to limited breeding habitat; with animals forced into nesting aggregations at a nest cost, or result from social benefits of clustering (Food finding, reduced predation; Lack 1968; Alexander 1974; Hoogland & Sherman 1976; Wittenberger 1981). The nesting patterns in birds ranges from widely spaced solitary nesters to densely packed colonies of hundreds of individuals. Colonial nesting occurs in 29 of the 129 avian families (Lack, 1968). Colonial nesting is an important feature among a majority of the members of the Pelicaniformes and Ciconiformes (Ali & Ripley, 1987, Burger, 1981). The nesting colonies of these birds that represent spatial and temporal clumping of nests are popularly referred to as Heronries. Colonial waterbirds face significant threats to the long-term stability of their populations and habitats due to such impacts as the destruction of freshwater wetlands, destruction and degradation of coastal ecosystems, depletion of the forage base in freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems, contaminants, sea level rise, and various conflicts with human land and resource use. For some species, these threats have resulted in declines in numbers. In other cases, these disturbances have resulted in colonial waterbird species becoming nuisance... ... middle of paper ... ...The endangered Lesser Adjutant Storks (Leptoptilous javanicus) also breed in Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary which has recently been identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) of the country. The heronry is located in an island covered with mangrove vegetation. Enhanced foraging due to the presence of abundant foraging areas in and around the heronry in terms of wetlands and agricultural fields, decreased predation due to the remoteness of the nesting site, are supposed to be the major factors in governing the largest congregation of waterbirds in the heronry. So far, there exists no empirical ecological data on the heronry. Hence it is felt imperative to study the breeding biology of the nesting birds, resource exploitation in terms of nest material and food, nutrient requirements of the breeding birds, change in the land use pattern in foraging areas if any,
The red-cockaded woodpecker, an inhabitant of mature pine forests and pine-grassland ecosystems from Maryland to eastern Texas, has had a troubled history within the last decade (Roise et al, 1990). Ten years ago, James documented a population decline in America’s largest remaining red-cockaded woodpecker population (1991). Of the 2,157 clusters, or living groups, contained in national forests, 693 of them were located in Florid...
After the blocks died out, pony bead seeds grew on the island. These very tiny seeds caused some difficulty for the birds studied. All finches, with the exception of Tosserus saladis, increased slight to moderately.
Every day many species are slowly becoming either endangered or extinct and recently an endangered bird species called piping plovers, started nesting on Revere Beach. What would seem as a miraculous discovery, many are averse to their new inhabitants on the beach. Many Revere residents are complaining because the piping plovers now occupy parts of “their” beach. But in the article “Revere Beach should welcome the piping plover” The Editorial Board believes that the presence of the piping plover could be greatly beneficial to the city of Revere and I certainly agree. What led me to select this particular article is my concern for the many endangered species in the world like the piping plover. Human hands have led many species to become endangered
Westfields, a medium sized wetland region, is located on the outskirts of Limerick city and within the floodplain of the River Shannon (CAAS (Environmental Services) Ltd., 1999). Wetland regions are broadly defined within the Ramsar Convention (1971, 1), as, “areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt including areas of marine water, the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres.” Identified as some of the most diverse habitats on earth, wetlands are also under severe threat, with a “10% decrease in their area occurring worldwide between the years 1990 and 2006” (CORINE, 2006). Westfields is no exception. Known worldwide for the diverse flora and fauna, in particular avifauna, that are present, the area has seen a dramatic decrease in size from its traditional expansive domain to a present area of twenty-six hectares. Thus, this essay aims to examine in detail the biogeographic merits of these declining wetland regions in particular Westfields, record the current condition of this particular wetland, and explore potential ideas for future conservation.
Some people even step on their nest and bringing pets that kill the chicks and destroy the eggs. As these things kept on happening, their population started to decrease.
When visiting the southern part of Alabama, bird watchers and other nature lovers will enjoy a visit to the Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuary and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. These two attractions feature exhibits that explain the unique coastal habitats that Alabama offers its wild birds and water creatures. With long handicap-accessible boardwalks and knowledgeable guides, these attractions are sure to provide a wonde...
Watson, J. B., & Lashley, K. S. (1915). Homing and related activities of birds,. Washington: Carnegie Institution of Washington.
It just so happened that at the same time I read this book, I was reading The Storm Petrel and the Owl of Athena by Louis Halle. Half of The Storm Petrel is on the bird life of the Shetland Islands, another isolated natural system. Halle, though an evolutionist, devotes a whole chapter on how the Shetlands and other islands conserve species. (Halle. 1970, 155ff.) Where species have changed their habits, it is most often due to adaptation to humanity. He compares the wild starlings, house sparrows, and rock doves found on the Shetlands with the more domesticated versions of these birds found on the continents--and to some degree even in the main village of the Shetlands. The island birds are more like their original wild forebears. I mention this now because it will come back to haunt us later.
8. Taylor, Dan. 1998. Audubon Society Inspired to Action by Bird Die -offs . 17 Jan. 1998 . E-mail . Available bkus@sunstroke.sdsu.edu
...ughout much of their continent-wide breeding range is proof that to manage wildlife; you need to manage their ecosystems. Wet weather, combined with abundant nesting cover provided by the federal Conservation Reserve Program, have shown that wetland and grassland ecosystems are what make or break duck populations. The same is true for all other species, game and non-game. (R. Holmes). (1)
Globally coastal wetlands are disappearing at an alarming rate, the problem is most of society does not realize the value of these precious wetlands. Coastal wetlands provide an important role in the coastal ecosystem. “Coastal wetlands provide critical services such as absorbing energy from coastal storms, preserving shorelines, protecting human populations and infrastructure, supporting commercial seafood harvests, absorbing pollutants and serving as critical habitat for migratory bird populations”(Anonymous, 2011). Coastal wetlands are an economical asset as well as an environmental one.
Eastman, J. (1997).14-Crow and Jay Family (Corvidae). Birds of forest, yard, and thicket. (pp. 127- 145). Mechanicsburg, Pa: Stackpole Books. Retrieved from: eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) [Accessed 3 March 2014]
del Hoyo, Josep, Andrew Elliott and Jordi Sargatal. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol 1, Ostrich to Ducks. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, 1992.
The study area consisted of Latah and Benewoh in Idaho, USA. The research used a total of 105 sites to collect data; ranking the areas from lowest to highest elevation. The methods implemented in this research consisted of wetland sampling, mail survey and habitat modelling. The combined results allowed for better insight for the conservation of these species. The first section of the experiment consist...
Preen, A., & Marsh, H. (1995). Response of dugongs to large-scale loss of seagrass from Hervey Bay, Queensland Australia. Wildlife Research, 22(4), 507-519.