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Breeding success of birds depends on survival during two critical stages of the reproductive period: First, egg laying and incubation, and then nestling and fledgling. This essential element of avian life history mirrors an evolutionary adaptation of parents to existing environmental conditions. The main factors that determine nest survival involve weather, predation and sibling competition. Despite numerous studies documenting their impact on breeding success, only a few have analysed the issue with regard to ground-nesting birds and estimated their survival functions. Therefore, we decided to examine nest survival probability of the Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) in a population that occupies newly established roadside habitats in Central Poland. The analysis is based on 141 nests monitored between 2018 and 2022. We found that the mean survival probability of the whole nesting period was 0.376, and it was higher during the egg stage (0.836) than during the nestling period (0.392). The Cox proportional hazards model shows that nest survival in the nestling stage is mainly affected by the time of breeding and the distance from the road edge, and also by mean temperature of the whole nesting period. In other words, the probability of a brood failure in the nestling stage decreases as the breeding season advances, whereas it increases among nests located closer to the road edge. Furthermore, during the whole nesting period, nest failure decreases as the temperature rises. Our study suggests that the Crested Lark, being a multi-brood and thermophilic species inhabiting temperate regions, may benefit more if its nesting attempts begin later during the season when breeding conditions become more favourable. However, we also take into consideration a hypothesis that nesting in grassy habitats near road edges may prove to be an ecological trap, attracting high densities of nesting birds but leading to their low nest success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gran Canaria Blue Chaffinch is the rarest forest passerine in the western Palaearctic with a population reduced to a single locality, Inagua, in the west of the island. After a forest fire, some birds were established in another location and a reinforcement programme was launched with the aim of consolidating this new population. Between 2010 and 2019, 194 Blue Chaffinches were released in the pine forest of La Cumbre, in the centre of the island and at a higher altitude than the previous one. Birds of two origins were used for this action: captive-bred birds were released using "soft" release methods, and wild-caught birds from the Inagua source population were released using "hard" release methods. Survival of radio-tagged birds (20–42 days of battery life) was high and similar between the two groups. Wild-caught birds occupied 12–15 times more surface area than captive-bred birds that remained close to supplementary feeding sites. All translocated birds displayed breeding behaviour in the following breeding season, although the rate of contribution to the new population was significantly lower for wild-caught birds (21% compared to 54% for captive-bred birds). This disparity can be partly attributed to nearly one-fifth of the wild-caught birds returning to Inagua. We conclude that the establishment phase of the Blue Chaffinch reinforced program in Gran Canaria has been successful. To retain wild-caught birds and deter their return to the source population, we recommend employing methods akin to the soft-release techniques utilized for captive-bred birds. Ongoing monitoring of the enhanced population, collecting data on survival and breeding success, will enable the evaluation of the long-term success of the translocation program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative adverse outcome pathways (qAOPs) describe the response–response relationships that link the magnitude and/or duration of chemical interaction with a specific molecular target to the probability and/or severity of the resulting apical‐level toxicity of regulatory relevance. The present study developed the first qAOP for latent toxicities showing that early life exposure adversely affects health at adulthood. Specifically, a qAOP for embryonic activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor 2 (AHR2) of fishes by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) leading to decreased fecundity of females at adulthood was developed by building on existing qAOPs for (1) activation of the AHR leading to early life mortality in birds and fishes, and (2) inhibition of cytochrome P450 aromatase activity leading to decreased fecundity in fishes. Using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model species and benzo[a]pyrene as a model PAH, three linked quantitative relationships were developed: (1) plasma estrogen in adult females as a function of embryonic exposure, (2) plasma vitellogenin in adult females as a function of plasma estrogen, and (3) fecundity of adult females as a function of plasma vitellogenin. A fourth quantitative relationship was developed for early life mortality as a function of sensitivity to activation of the AHR2 in a standardized in vitro AHR transactivation assay to integrate toxic equivalence calculations that would allow prediction of effects of exposure to untested PAHs. The accuracy of the predictions from the resulting qAOP were evaluated using experimental data from zebrafish exposed as embryos to another PAH, benzo[k]fluoranthene. The qAOP developed in the present study demonstrates the potential of the AOP framework in enabling consideration of latent toxicities in quantitative ecological risk assessments and regulatory decision‐making. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:2145–2156. © 2024 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Wildlife Research is the property of Springer Nature 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.)

The release of captive‐bred or translocated individuals is a strategy used worldwide to support threatened animal populations. By capture–recapture analysis, we examined the survival of released individuals when reinforcing a critically endangered Lesser White‐fronted Goose population. Our analysis includes data from 646 birds, released 1984–2017, including two different age classes, divided in two distinct periods when different techniques were used. Fledglings were released with foster parents of Barnacle Geese in the first period and by a soft release without support of foster parenting in the second period. Yearlings were released by soft release in both periods. We find that use of foster parents enhances survival rates, but these differences were detectable only in the first year of life. Fledglings supported by foster parents showed significantly higher survival compared to yearlings released by soft release, but this difference was not clear when soft release was applied to both groups. Resighting data suggest that most losses occurred during the acclimation period following the release. Foster parenting may enhance survival rates due to social learning enabling the transfer of crucial behaviors (e.g. feeding, anti‐predator, and migration) to released individuals. However, these conservation benefits need to be balanced against costs and potential inherent risks related to foster parenting, including the imprinting of undesired behaviors in released individuals, such as hybridization. Based on our results, we advise conservationists to carefully consider foster parenting as one method to improve survival probability, especially if capacity to produce individuals to be released is a limiting factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTSNewcastle disease virus (NDV) is an avian orthoavulavirus I that causes high morbidity and mortality in birds, depending on the pathotype of the virus. Several clinical studies have shown that NDV is a promising oncolytic virus for cancer therapies, yet its application to clinics is restricted due to the pathogenicity of this virus in poultry. Hence, it is important to produce a recombinant NDV (rNDV) with reduced virulence to make it a fit candidate as an oncolytic virus. In this study, we aimed to produce a rNDV with a truncated ant-igenome via reverse genetics to render it non-replicating (nr). The genes responsible for replication were removed from the NDV genome. The rescued nr-NDV was verified, propagated, and purified from tissue culture medium. The virus failed to propagate in embryonated eggs, confirming its non-replicating property. The virus retained its oncolytic activities similar to that of the replicating rAF-GFP as observed in a cell viability assay when a breast cancer cell line, MCF-7, was treated with the virus. In conclusion, this study has successfully generated a system to produce a non-replicating NDV which can be used as a viral vector for heterologous protein delivery, as a safer alternative compared to the virulent strains as an oncolytic virus.Development of nr-NDV.Reverse transfection was applied for the recovery of nr-NDV.Propagation of nr-NDV was done by sub-passaging transfected BSR T7/5 cells.Safety profile was done to prove that the nr-NDV is non-replicating.Development of nr-NDV.Reverse transfection was applied for the recovery of nr-NDV.Propagation of nr-NDV was done by sub-passaging transfected BSR T7/5 cells.Safety profile was done to prove that the nr-NDV is non-replicating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Harsh early environmental conditions can exert delayed, long‐lasting effects on phenotypes, including reproductive traits such as sexual signals. Indeed, adverse early conditions can accelerate development, increasing oxidative stress that may, in turn, impact adult sexual signals. Among signals, colorations produced by red ketocarotenoids seem to depend on mitochondrial functioning. Hence, they could reveal individual cell respiration efficiency. It has been hypothesized that these traits are unfalsifiable “index” signals of condition due to their deep connection to individual metabolism. Since mitochondrial dysfunction is frequently linked to aging, red ketocarotenoid‐based ornaments could also be good signals of a critical fitness component: longevity. We tested this red color per longevity correlation in captive zebra finches. In addition, we experimentally decreased the synthesis of glutathione (a critical intracellular antioxidant) during the first days of the birds' life to resemble harsh early environmental conditions (e.g., undernutrition). Longevity was recorded until the death of the last bird (almost 9 years). Males, but not females, exhibiting a redder bill in early adulthood lived longer than males with paler bills, which agrees with some precedent studies. However, such bill redness—longevity connection was absent among males with inhibited glutathione synthesis. These findings may suggest that environmental factors can alter the reliability of red ketocarotenoid‐based sexual signals, making them less unfalsifiable than believed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Artificial reservoirs are alternative habitats for bird diversity, and knowledge of the diversity and abundance of bird species contribute to the management of the ecosystem. This study was conducted to investigate the species diversity and abundance of birds in Mai-Nigus reservoir and its surrounding semi-forest from July 2022 to March 2023. Point count method with a total of fifteen count stations at an interval of 50 m radius was used to study the diversity and abundance of bird species in the semi-forest habitat while total count employed on the reservoir. Results: A total of 123 bird species comprising endemic and globally threatened species were identified. Order Passeriformes had the highest number of species followed by Charadriiformes and Pelecaniformes. Family Scolopacidae was the most abundant followed by Ardeidae, Ploceidae and Anatidae. Bird species richness and abundance were not significantly varied across seasons and habitats (P > 0.05). The highest species diversity (H´=3.96) were recorded in the Semi-forest during the wet season, whereas the least was recorded from reservoir during the dry season (H´=2.66). The highest and lowest species evenness of birds was recorded in Semi-forest (E = 0.725) and reservoir (E = 0.448) during the dry season, respectively. Most birds that inhabited the area had frequent relative abundance followed by uncommon and common species. Conclusion: Mai-Nigus reservoir and surrounding habitat host high bird diversity and this requires critical conservation concerns for the long-term survival of birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Simple Summary: Many bird species in the Galapagos Islands are killed on the roads by cars that transport citizens and tourists to their daily activities. This study reports the number of wild bird species killed near roads in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2018 and uses a statistical analysis (PRIDIT) to rank the main intrinsic (avian) and extrinsic (environmental) predictors of mortality. About 250 birds (21 species) were found dead each year on the road. Our results show that for all studied years, small-endemic birds are especially at risk of roadkill during hot days on the main road of Santa Cruz. The Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia aureola is the most affected species, particularly during the hot season. On the other hand, owls are a bigger species than the Yellow Warbler and, therefore, are less affected. However, the impacts of vehicle strikes are important to follow up on because owls are endangered. Although controlling the factors affecting bird mortality is complex, our results can inform management actions to mitigate avian mortality resulting from collisions with vehicles and other human activities. In the Galapagos Islands, the main road in Santa Cruz is one of the elements involved in bird road mortality along with vehicles and the impacted species. This study reports the number of roadkilled birds found on the road from the Itabaca Channel to Puerto Ayora, and the main factors, whether avian or environmental, involved in bird roadkill mortality. We collected individual carcasses in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2018 with a prevalence of 278, 252, 265, and 294, respectively, across 21 species. The endemic Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia aureola was the most affected bird. We used a PRIDIT model to rank the top avian and environmental predictors of road mortality. We found that for the sampled years, bird body size (i.e., 8–35 g) and the endemism status (i.e., endemic/native) were the main predictors of roadkill mortality, along with seasonality (i.e., hot season). Weaker predictors related to the bird (i.e., age and sex) and the environment (ecosystem, road slope, vegetation, or precipitation) are also reported as determinants of roadkill mortality. This study on avian mortality aims to inform conservation strategies to reduce the rate of wildlife avian roadkill on Santa Cruz Island and other islands with similar problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mortality from entanglement and hanging in fishing line or baling twine is known for many species of birds. In this note, we add to the list multiple deaths of Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota). We found 4 hanging or entanglement events of this species from 3 counties in western Kansas. In Ellis County we found 2 locations under bridges: 3 birds hung together at the nest opening with fishing line and a single bird hung from a nest from an unknown source. In Gove County a single bird was hung with baling twine that was embedded into the base of a mud nest attached to a natural rock formation. At the last location in Hamilton County, an entanglement death of a bird at a bridge was due to an unknown cause, but multiple nests had baling twine incorporated into their formation. Proper disposal of fishing line and baling twine could reduce mortality from these and other sources in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The broiler industry is crucial in Malaysia's agricultural sector, contributing significantly to meat production and the economy. However, the industry faces significant challenges, primarily stemming from high production costs, with feed costs constituting a substantial portion. Therefore, there is a need to improve domestic farm performance and competitiveness by optimizing resources and minimizing expenses to enhance overall productivity. This study aims to estimate the extent of cost efficiency in broiler farming in Peninsular Malaysia and identify key determinants influencing the inefficiency cost. A comprehensive survey involving 241 broiler farms in Peninsular Malaysia was conducted using structured questionnaires and a stratified random sampling technique. Employing the Stochastic Cost Frontier model revealed an operational inefficiency of approximately 5.7% above optimal costs among the surveyed farms, indicating substantial potential for a 5.7% reduction in production costs through enhanced management strategies. Factors such as feed prices, day-old chick prices, price of miscellaneous inputs, production output levels, and capital investment prices emerged as prominent influencers in the broiler cost function. Furthermore, the study indicated that socio-economic factors such as housing system, extension visits, credit access and contract farming are associated with lower inefficiencies, thereby enhancing cost efficiency in broiler farming operations. Conversely, higher bird mortality rates are associated with the increased inefficiency. Gaining insights into these factors is crucial for stakeholders to allocate resources wisely, plan strategically, and enhance competitiveness in broiler farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Winter is a critical period for the survival of local bird species in temperate regions. Some wintering birds may rely on transient food, such as that provided at birdfeeders, but bird communities around birdfeeders may also attract predators. However, these effects of birdfeeders on interspecific interactions between birds and their predators remain largely unexplored and have so far not been tested experimentally. We hypothesized that birdfeeders indirectly attract predators in winter because of the attraction of small birds, and tested this hypothesis using experimental feeders at 52 different urban and rural sites across western Poland. We found that the number of small birds increased around birdfeeders, particularly those with provided food. We found that birdfeeders that attracted more small birds (regardless of whether they provided food) attracted also more predators, such as sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus and feral cats Felis domesticus. Moreover, birdfeeders in urban habitats attracted relatively fewer small birds but not fewer predators compared to those in rural areas. Altogether, birdfeeders with food provided attracted small prey birds but they attracted also more predators, whose presence may hinder small birds from fully utilizing available resources, potentially impacting their winter survival through direct (mortality) and indirect (increased monitoring and vigilance) effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2022, a severe outbreak of disease caused by clade 2.3.4.4b Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus resulted in unprecedented mortality among wild birds in eastern Canada. Tens of thousands of birds were reported sick or dead, prompting a comprehensive assessment of mortality spanning the breeding season between April 1 and September 30, 2022. Mortality reports were collated from federal, Indigenous, provincial, and municipal agencies, the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, and other nongovernmental organizations, universities, and citizen science platforms. A scenario analysis was conducted to refine mortality estimates, accounting for potential double counts from multiple sources under a range of spatial and temporal overlaps. Correcting for double counting, HPAI is estimated to have caused 40,391 wild bird mortalities in eastern Canada during the spring and summer of 2022; however, this figure underestimates total mortality as it excludes unreported deaths on land and at sea. Seabirds and sea ducks, long‐lived species that are slow to recover from perturbations, accounted for 98.7% of estimated mortalities. Our study provides estimates of bird mortality, with Northern Gannets (Morus bassanus; 25,669), Common Murres (Uria aalge; 8133), and American Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima dresseri; 1894) exhibiting the highest mortality figures. We then compare these mortality estimates with recent population estimates and trends and make an initial assessment of whether biologically meaningful population‐level impacts are possible. Specifically, we focus on the Northern Gannet, a species that has suffered significant global mortality, and two harvested species, Common Murre and American Common Eider, to inform management decisions. Our analysis suggests population‐level impacts in eastern Canada are possible for Northern Gannets and American Common Eiders, but are unlikely for Common Murres. This study demonstrates a comprehensive approach to assessing mortality and underscores the urgent need for further research to understand the broader ecological ramifications of the HPAI outbreak on wild bird populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influenced by climate change, numerous lakes in permafrost regions are draining, showing significant spatial variability. This study focuses on St. Lawrence Island, where over the last two decades, 771 of 3,271 lakes have drained—a rate around 40 times higher than across the entire northern permafrost region. The surge in lake drainage began in 2018, coinciding with record low sea ice extent in the Bering Sea and unprecedented bird mortalities. Using satellite imagery and machine learning methods, we analyzed drainage events to identify the climatic drivers and potential climate thresholds affecting the island's lake ecosystems. Our findings indicate that autumn peak temperatures above 6°C more than triple the drainage probability, and warming‐induced permafrost thawing may be the direct driver of lake drainage. This research highlights the vulnerability of Arctic lake ecosystems to climate change and assists in developing predictive models for permafrost response, crucial for mitigating impacts on Arctic communities. Plain Language Summary: St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Strait has experienced a drastic increase in lake drainage since 2018, suggesting that the region may be reaching a critical environmental threshold or tipping point. This study used satellite images to track changes in over 3,000 lakes over two decades, discovering that warmer autumns with temperatures above 6°C greatly increase the chance of lakes draining. This indicates that the region's permafrost is becoming unstable due to higher temperatures. Permafrost thawing happens because the increased warmth causes the ice within the permafrost to melt, leading to the collapse and drainage of lakes. Such changes are important not only because they transform the local landscape but also because they can impact the people and wildlife depending on these lakes for survival. Understanding these patterns helps predict future changes and assists in preparing for and possibly preventing the negative impacts of these environmental changes. This study highlights how global warming can lead to significant changes in Arctic regions, which can have lasting effects on both the environment and human communities. Key Points: Over two decades, a quarter of St. Lawrence Island's lakes have drained, a rate 40 times higher than the entire northern permafrost regionSince 2018, the frequency of lake drainage events has increased tenfold, likely linked to autumn heatwaves and permafrost thawingLake drainage probability more than triples when autumn maximum temperatures exceed 6°C, pushing lake ecosystems beyond tipping points [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bird collisions with buildings are responsible for a large number of bird deaths in cities around the world, yet they remain poorly studied outside North America. We conducted one of the first citywide fine‐scale and landscape‐scale analyses of bird–building collisions in Asia and used maximum entropy modeling (as commonly applied to species distribution modeling) in a novel way to assess the drivers of bird–building collisions in the tropical city‐state of Singapore. We combined 7 years of community science observations with publicly available building and remote sensing data. Drivers of bird–building collisions varied among taxa. Some migratory taxa had a higher relative collision risk that was linked to areas with high building densities and high levels of nocturnal blue light pollution. Nonmigratory taxa had a higher collision risk in areas near forest cover. Projecting our results onto official long‐term land‐use plans, we predicted that future increases in bird–building collision risk stemmed from increases in blue light pollution and encroachment of buildings into forested areas and identified 6 potential collision hotspots linked to future developments. Our results suggest that bird–building collision mitigation measures need to account for the different drivers of collision for resident and migratory species and show that combining community science and ecological modeling can be a powerful approach for analyzing bird–building collision data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Many-colored Rush Tyrant (Tachuris rubrigastra) and Wren-like Rushbird (Phleocryptes melanops) are birds that inhabit the subtropical salt marshes of Brazil, a newly recognized ecosystem of tidal marshes. We studied the habitat selection of these species in the subtropical salt marshes, characterizing the vegetation types where the species did and did not occur in the same habitats. The species occurred in a total of four very simplified vegetation types, characterized by the dominance of one or two plant species, including Schoenoplectus californicus, Crinum americanum, Cladium jamaicense, and Typha domingensis. We found that the habitats selected by the birds have very specific phytophysiognomic characteristics related to vegetation height and density. Moreover, the lower altitudes of certain areas of occurrence implies longer and higher flooding during periods of high tides; thus, the greater height of the vegetation maintains an above-water-level foraging and protective area for the birds. The fact that subtropical salt marshes are a transitional ecosystem suggests the possibility of rapid changes in plant succession or an intensification of the tropicalization process with mangrove expansion, which could eliminate habitat characteristics that are crucial to the survival of these two bird species in the subtropical salt marshes of Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Field Ornithology is the property of Resilience Alliance 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.)

The success of avian translocations depends on many factors. Release age is often cited as an influential factor that warrants further study, yet no general guidelines exist to improve the outcome of translocations. We conducted a systematic review of literature on captive‐reared or wild‐caught birds that incorporated >1 age class in their analyses of post‐release survival, dispersal, or reproduction. Fifty‐two studies met our search criteria, and 39 were retained for an evaluation of post‐release survival. For studies reporting at least one trend, more reported higher post‐release survival when birds were translocated at younger ages (68%) than at older ages (32%). This pattern was most pronounced for wild‐caught birds and for captive‐reared birds released within their first year of life. Captive‐reared birds of prey were an exception, with birds released at older ages often having higher survival than birds released at younger ages. We review the authors' hypotheses for why birds released at younger ages are more likely to settle, survive, and breed. More research is needed on the potential effects of release age on dispersal and reproduction. We recommend that future studies incorporate age of release as a covariate and control for the effect of season of release in experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Usutu virus (USUV) is an emerging flavivirus that is maintained in an enzootic cycle with mosquitoes as vectors and birds as amplifying hosts. In Europe, the virus has caused mass mortality of wild birds, mainly among Common Blackbird (Turdus merula) populations. While mosquitoes are the primary vectors for USUV, Common Blackbirds and other avian species are exposed to other arthropod ectoparasites, such as ticks. It is unknown, however, if ticks can maintain and transmit USUV. We addressed this question using in vitro and in vivo experiments and field collected data. USUV replicated in IRE/CTVM19 Ixodes ricinus tick cells and in injected ticks. Moreover, I. ricinus nymphs acquired the virus via artificial membrane blood-feeding and maintained the virus for at least 70 days. Transstadial transmission of USUV from nymphs to adults was confirmed in 4.9% of the ticks. USUV disseminated from the midgut to the haemocoel, and was transmitted via the saliva of the tick during artificial membrane blood-feeding. We further explored the role of ticks by monitoring USUV in questing ticks and in ticks feeding on wild birds in the Netherlands between 2016 and 2019. In total, 622 wild birds and the Ixodes ticks they carried were tested for USUV RNA. Of these birds, 48 (7.7%) carried USUV-positive ticks. The presence of negative-sense USUV RNA in ticks, as confirmed via small RNA-sequencing, showed active virus replication. In contrast, we did not detect USUV in 15,381 questing ticks collected in 2017 and 2019. We conclude that I. ricinus can be infected with USUV and can transstadially and horizontally transmit USUV. However, in comparison to mosquito-borne transmission, the role of I. ricinus ticks in the epidemiology of USUV is expected to be minor. Author summary: Usutu virus (USUV) is a virus primarily circulating between birds and mosquitoes. Other blood-feeding arthropods, such as ticks, feed on birds. However, it is unknown whether ticks can be infected with USUV and transmit the virus to birds or other animals. Therefore, we infected a tick cell line and ticks collected from the field with USUV. We showed that the virus replicates in tick cells, as well as in field-collected ticks. Moreover, we showed that USUV disseminated through the tick body and was excreted with the saliva of ticks during artificial feeding. We further investigated if ticks are infected with USUV while feeding on wild birds and when searching for a host in the vegetation. We found that 7.7% of tick-infested birds carried USUV positive ticks, while USUV was not detected in questing ticks. Our findings provide evidence that ticks can be infected with USUV and might transmit the virus to another host, but the role of ticks in the transmission of USUV is expected to be minor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proportions in the size of the avian egg albumen, yolk, and shell are crucial for understanding bird survival and reproductive success because their relationships with volume and surface area can affect ecological and life history strategies. Prior studies have focused on the relationship between the albumen and the yolk, but little is known about the scaling relationship between eggshell mass and shape and the mass of the albumen and the yolk. Toward this end, 691 eggs of six precocial species were examined, and their 2-D egg profiles were photographed and digitized. The explicit Preston equation, which assumes bilateral symmetrical geometry, was used to fit the 2-D egg profiles and to calculate surface areas and volumes based on the hypothesis that eggs can be treated as solids of profile revolution. The scaling relationships of eggshell mass (Ms), albumen mass (Ma), and yolk mass (My), as well as the surface area (S), volume (V), and total mass (Mt) were determined. The explicit Preston equation was validated in describing the 2-D egg profiles. The scaling exponents of Ma vs. Ms, My vs. Ms , and My vs. Ma were smaller than unity, indicating that increases in Ma and My fail to keep pace with increases in Ms , and that increases in My fail to keep pace with increases in Ma. Therefore, increases in unit nutrient contents (i.e. the yolk) involve disproportionately larger increases in eggshell mass and disproportionately larger increases in albumen mass. The data also revealed a 2/3-power scaling relationship between S and V for each species, that is, the simple Euclidean geometry is obeyed. These findings help to inform our understanding of avian egg construction and reveal evolutionary interspecific trends in the scaling of egg shape, volume, mass, and mass allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For most birds that exhibit delayed dispersal (remaining on the natal territory rather than dispersing to seek a breeding opportunity), siblings appear free to stay or leave the natal area. However, in rare cases, delaying dispersal is determined via conflict among siblings, with the dominant individual remaining on the natal territory. We used radio-tracking to examine brood reduction, and subsequent juvenile survival, of first-year Canada Jays (Perisoreus canadensis) in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. Soon after juveniles become nutritionally independent, intra-brood struggles lead to one "dominant juvenile" remaining on the natal territory after permanently expelling the subordinate siblings ("ejectees"). Males in above-average condition when nestlings were the most likely to become the dominant juveniles and females did so only when broods were all-female at the time of the expulsion. Dominant juveniles were much more likely to survive their first summer compared to ejectees (survival probabilities = 0.84 and 0.45, respectively), suggesting that ejectees are especially vulnerable to mortality risk in the critical interval between their expulsion from the natal territory and their settlement on a new territory. However, if ejectees lived to autumn, they had only a slightly lower probability of first-winter survival (0.73) than dominant juveniles (0.85). These results suggest that the survival advantage gained by dominant juveniles is greatest during the first summer after hatching, with a much smaller difference over the first winter after ejectees have settled on non-natal territories. Our work provides insight into potential evolutionary and ecological mechanisms driving social dominance hierarchies in wild birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adjustment of reproductive timing within the annual cycle is a crucial issue for both offspring and parents' survival, and breeding success. Early laying date is closely related to successful breeding outcome and better survival. Obtaining long datasets on threatened long-lived species' breeding performance can contribute to their conservation. Using field observations and telemetry information, here we analyse how laying date of an endangered long-lived raptor varies with nest characteristics, individual factors and climatic variables during an 18-year (2004–2021) study period in eastern Spain. To this end, we estimated how environmental and individual variables affect laying date. Our results showed that average laying date in our study area took place on February 17th. Laying date showed no trend during the study period. Nests placed in higher elevations showed delayed laying dates. Territories occupied by adults with previous successful experience and high brood size showed earlier laying dates. Current year laying date was highly correlated with previous year laying date. Colder territories delayed laying date and the minimum temperature of the previous December were negatively correlated to previous laying date. Our results highlight the importance of experienced birds able to adjust timing of reproduction to maximise biological fitness. High adult mortality allows sub-adults to settle as breeders and jeopardises species' persistence. Therefore, the reduction of mortality of territorial birds is of the outmost importance to improve the conservation status of declining long-lived species such as the Bonelli's eagle (Aquila fasciata). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trematodes of the family Cyclocoelidae are parasites mainly of the respiratory system of birds and present a cosmopolitan distribution. Although infection with these flukes can result in pathological changes and even bird death, information on their life cycles is scarce and almost entirely based on experimental infection data. Thus, the generation of knowledge on the mollusks that act as natural intermediate hosts of cyclocoelids is necessary and can aid control measures against these air sac trematodes. In the present study, gastropod mollusks collected in an urban stream from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, were subjected to the compression technique for the detection of non-emerging larval trematodes. Tailless cercariae with confluent ceca were found in 8/30 (26.7%) specimens of Biomphalaria glabrata and 3/33 (9.1%) specimen of Physella acuta. Samples of the cercariae were subjected to morphological characterization and genetic study (28S, Cox-1, and Nad-1). For comparative purposes, adult trematodes previously collected in the air sac of a common gallinule (Gallinula galeata) found dead in another waterbody from the same region were also characterized. The molecular sequences obtained revealed a high degree of similarity (100% in 28S, 99.2% in Cox-1, and 99.5% in Nad-1) between larval stages found in mollusks and adult parasites found in G. galeata and morphologically identified as Cyclocoelum mutabile. The conspecificity with this widely distributed cyclocoelid was also corroborated by phylogenetic analysis and comparison with isolates of this species previously characterized in Peru and the Czech Republic (99.4–100% and 96.7–97.0% of similarity in Nad-1, respectively). Thus, the integrative analysis carried out in the present work enabled us to identify C. mutabile in mollusks in South America for the first time. The finding of B. glabrata and P. acuta as new intermediate hosts corroborates the importance of freshwater gastropods in the transmission of C. mutabile, as well as the low specificity to the mollusk group, as previously characterized through experimental studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feathers are complex integument structures that provide birds with many functions. They are vital to a bird's survival, fundamental to their visual displays, and responsible for the evolutionary radiation of the avian class. Feathers provide a protective barrier for the body; their water repellency is a key feature. Despite hundreds of years of ornithological research, the available literature on how feathers repel water is both limited and puzzling. Most hypotheses from the early 1900s suggested uropygial gland oil provided feathers with a hydrophobic coating. Subsequent studies showed that the feather's hierarchical structure creates a porous substrate that readily repels water with or without oil. Numerous studies and methods have been published attempting to explain, quantify, and compare the water repellency of feathers. Many overlook the role of barbules and the effect of their variation, which both likely play a crucial part in water repellency. The goal of this paper is to synthesize this research to better understand what has been done, what makes sense, and more importantly, what is missing. Previous reviews on this subject are mostly over 30 years old and did not use modern methods for systematic review. Here, we performed a systematic review to capture all relevant published papers on feather water repellency. We emphasize the crucial role of barbules in feather water repellency and why their morphological variation should not be ignored. We answer the question, what do we really know about the water repellency of feathers? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wide variety of attachment techniques have been used to track birds with electronic tags, with glue, tape, leg rings, neck collars and harnesses being the most common methods. In general, the choice of attachment method should strive to minimize tagging effects, but ensure that sufficient data are collected to address the research question at hand. The aim of our study was to develop and evaluate tag attachment methods to track Sandwich Terns Thalasseus sandvicensis during the last part of the incubation and the chick‐rearing period of one breeding season. Tag attachments had to stay on for the duration of the chick‐rearing period (5–6 weeks) and be non‐restraining and flexible, but strong enough to withstand the forces and submersion associated with their plunge‐diving foraging technique. We first experimentally tested the durability of flexible material under various environmental conditions with the aim of developing a self‐releasing harness. Then, in field studies, we compared three different attachment methods on terns during the breeding seasons, attaching tags to dorsal feathers using (1) tape, (2) glue or (3) a newly developed harness made specifically for short‐term deployments of one chick‐rearing period and constructed from degradable material. Assessment of the performance of attachment methods was based on retention time of the loggers and on annual survival rates of tagged individuals in comparison with non‐tagged individuals. The use of tape and glue led to premature loss of tags (median minimum retention time (range) of 3 (1–4) days and 15 (5–26) days, respectively), whereas the self‐releasing harness had a median minimum retention time of 42 (18–91) days, which is sufficient to track Sandwich Terns during the entire chick‐rearing period. The apparent annual survival of birds tagged using glue or tape did not differ from that observed in non‐tagged control birds. In contrast, birds fitted with the self‐releasing harnesses might have experienced a lower survival rate than control birds. Entanglement of birds in the harness material was incidentally observed in three cases, which may have contributed to the lower survival rates observed in this group. The risk of entanglement can potentially be mitigated with a leg‐loop harness instead of a full‐body harness. Our results highlight the necessity of careful consideration when selecting appropriate attachment methods. Specifically, there is a need to address whether the research questions and desired tracking duration justify the use of a harness and the higher impact that it entails, or whether a tape or glue‐mount is sufficient. More broadly, sharing field expertise in tag attachments across studies is essential to successful deployments while minimizing the impact on animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beginning in the mid‐1990s, populations of three species of Gyps vultures declined by more than 97% in South Asia in little more than a decade, caused by unintentional poisoning by the non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac. This led to a ban on the veterinary use of the drug, and establishment of conservation breeding programmes, throughout the region. Once much of Nepal had been confirmed as being free from diclofenac, beginning in 2017 White‐rumped Vultures Gyps bengalensis were released from the captive breeding population. A total of 99 birds (n = 50 wild and n = 49 released) were fitted with GPS transmitters between 2017 and 2022 and monitored daily. Tag fixes suggesting death or ill‐health were followed up and dead vultures were retrieved for post‐mortem analysis. The estimated annual survival of wild adult vultures was 0.974 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.910–0.997), while that of wild subadults was 0.880 (95% CI 0.721–0.966). Survival rates of released birds were lower than those of wild birds, being 0.644 (95% CI 0.490–0.778) for adults and 0.758 (95% CI 0.579–0.887) for subadults. Post‐mortem analysis of dead vultures indicated several possible causes of death, including predation, infection and electrocution. There was no evidence that any birds died of NSAID poisoning. The high survival rates of wild birds, especially adults, and the lack of evidence for NSAID‐caused mortality, suggest that vulture habitat in the Nepal Vulture Safe Zone is free from diclofenac and that other hazards are sufficiently infrequent to allow the vulture population to recover. The lower survival of released birds compared with their wild counterparts suggests a need to improve the conservation breeding programme and release protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, titled "Studying Interspecific Synchrony in Bird Survival Using Constant Effort Sites Mist‐Netting Scheme," explores the synchrony in annual adult survival among songbird species across France. The researchers used a constant effort sites mist‐netting scheme to capture and study the birds without causing harm. They found that the survival rates were largely synchronous among species, despite their different ecological niches, life histories, and migratory strategies. However, the causes of this synchrony remain unclear, and further monitoring is needed to investigate the factors driving interspecific survival at a national scale. [Extracted from the article]

Seabirds interact with fishing vessels to consume fishing discards and baits, sometimes resulting in incidental capture (bycatch) and the death of the bird, which has clear conservation implications. To understand seabird–fishery interactions at large spatiotemporal scales, researchers are increasing their use of simultaneous seabird and fishing vessel tracking. However, vessel tracking data can contain gaps due to technical problems, illicit manipulation, or lack of adoption of tracking monitoring systems. These gaps might lead to underestimating the fishing effort and bycatch rates and jeopardize the effectiveness of marine conservation. We deployed bird‐borne radar detector tags capable of recording radar signals from vessels. We placed tags on 88 shearwaters (Calonectris diomedea, Calonectris borealis, and Calonectris edwardsii) that forage in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem. We modeled vessel radar detections registered by the tags in relation to gridded automatic identification system (AIS) vessel tracking data to examine the spatiotemporal dynamics of seabird–vessel interactions and identify unreported fishing activity areas. Our models showed a moderate fit (area under the curve >0.7) to vessel tracking data, indicating a strong association of shearwaters to fishing vessels in major fishing grounds. Although in high‐marine‐traffic regions, radar detections were also driven by nonfishing vessels. The tags registered the presence of potential unregulated and unreported fishing vessels in West African waters, where merchant shipping is unusual but fishing activity is intense. Overall, bird‐borne radar detectors showed areas and periods when the association of seabirds with legal and illegal fishing vessels was high. Bird‐borne radar detectors could improve the focus of conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waterbirds are particularly affected by the high hunting pressure they face in many regions, which in some cases is compromising conservation actions for threatened species. The marbled teal Marmaronetta angustirostris is one of the most endangered waterbirds in Europe. In order to restore its population, several conservation actions have recently been undertaken, including a population reinforcement programme in Spain using captive‐bred birds. With the aim of assessing the success of the reinforcement programme to establish a long‐term self‐sustaining population, we identified mortality causes of marbled teal, evaluated the survival of individual birds of the reinforcement programme and estimated the viability of the population under different management scenarios. We used data from wild and captive‐bred individuals tracked by GPS since 2018 (n = 42) and from a mark–recapture programme initiated in 2015 (n = 297). We recovered 15 dead birds or transmitters: 20% died of natural causes, 60% of non‐natural causes (including all anthropic causes) and 20% of unknown causes. Furthermore, the GPS tags of 24 birds unexpectedly stopped transmitting without any indication of malfunction, and for 66.7% of these disappeared birds, the cessation was suspected to be caused by illegal shooting. Survival during the hunting season was higher for males (31.3%) than for females (12.5%), and for the wild (50%) than for the captive‐bred birds (9.4%), probably due to differences in migration patterns to North Africa. Population viability models revealed that maintaining the breeding population at the current mortality rates is only possible with a permanent release programme of captive‐bred individuals, and that in order to establish a self‐sustaining population, non‐natural mortality would have to be reduced by at least 40%. We recommend management measures to reduce marbled teal mortality, such as limiting legal hunting to hours with clear visibility, prosecuting illegal shootings, controlling exotic predators and improving water management to reduce disease outbreaks. Some improvements can be implemented in captive‐breeding programmes, such as earlier release times and incorporating anti‐predator training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extensive use of rodenticides poses a severe threat to non-target species, particularly birds of prey and scavengers. In this study, a GC-MS/MS-based method was used to unlock the cause of bird deaths in Poland. Organs (liver, heart, kidney, and lungs) collected during autopsies of two rooks (Corvus frugilegus) and one carrion crow (Corvus corone corone), as well as fecal samples, were analyzed for the presence of anticoagulant coumarin derivatives, i.e., warfarin and bromadiolone. As for warfarin, the highest concentration was found in crow samples overall, with concentrations in the feces and lungs at 5.812 ± 0.368 µg/g and 4.840 ± 0.256 µg/g, respectively. The heart showed the lowest concentration of this compound (0.128 ± 0.01 µg/g). In the case of bromadiolone, the highest concentration was recorded in the liver of a rook (16.659 ± 1.499 µg/g) and this concentration significantly exceeded the levels in the other samples. By revealing the reality of the threat, these discoveries emphasize the need to regulate and monitor the trade in rodenticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Field Ornithology is the property of Resilience Alliance 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.)

Collisions with windows cause millions of bird deaths per year, these events are because birds are unable to recognize glass as a physical barrier. Some studies mention that some families and behaviors make some species more susceptible to collisions. The objectives of the present study were to determine the composition of species that collide against building windows, to know the glass that generates the highest degree of mortality, and to analyze the characteristics of the species such as migratory habits, feeding habits, and conservation status of the affected species. The study was carried out in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Three areas were selected with buildings that presented the highest amount of glassware and were monitored three times a month from January to December 2019. A total of 270 carcasses belonging to 44 species were obtained, of these, Zenaida asiatica (Linnaeus, 1758) was the one with the highest number of accidents, the reflective glass generated a high mortality rate, and each season of the year is different in terms of the composition of birds affected. These structures are generating a decline in species with conservation status (Passerina ciris Linnaeus, 1758) and endemics of Mexico (Corvus imparatus Peters, JL 1929 and Periporphyrus celaeno Deppe, W 1830). The findings show a problem for the conservation of species, and for this reason, the buildings should continue to be investigated to know the real impact on bird populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raptor nests on human-built structures represent a significant source of conflict, as they can result in bird mortality, fires, or power outages due to falling nest materials or animals connecting with energized conductors. Power companies typically try to mitigate these conflicts to avoid service disruptions. Performing mitigation measures across all potentially problematic power infrastructure is generally not a practical solution given logistical, time, or budgetary constraints. Therefore, there is a need for quantitative, landscapescale tools to identify conflict risk and prioritize mitigation. We examined the influence of habitat and transmission infrastructure distribution on the potential risk of osprey (Pandion haliaetus) nesting-infrastructure conflict in the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) power service area within Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Virginia, USA, using osprey nesting and conflict records from 1990-2020. We modeled risk using a 3-stage approach, which intersected a nesting habitat suitability model and density of infrastructure to evaluate the potential risk of conflict. Habitat suitability was greater on or near open water and closer to developed areas. Transmission line density was low (0.14 ± 0.29 lines/km²) and heterogenous across the service area with more lines within urban centers and near power facilities. Integrating habitat suitability and transmission infrastructure information revealed that very low and low-risk areas comprised 99% of the service area. Less than 1% comprised 1,113.7 km² of moderate and 82.2 km² of high or very high risk, mostly concentrated along major rivers and lakes, and around urban centers. Risk was more prevalent in the northeastern portion of the service area. This work presents a top-down approach to mitigating osprey--power infrastructure conflict, which allows for the prioritization of mitigation actions and can facilitate long-term coexistence with this protected species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigates how incorporating olive leaves (OLs) (Olea europaea) into turkeys' (Meleagris gallopavo) diets affects their performance, welfare, blood biochemical parameters, and oxidative status of those reared in intensive farming conditions. The potential of this ingredient was assessed by comparing two dietary incorporation rates of olive leaves, 3 % and 6 %, in three commercial feeds corresponding to three growth phases over 15 weeks where feed was provided ad libitum. A total of 270 animals (broiler medium strain) were used. They were divided into three groups: the OL0, OL3, and OL6 regimens with OL incorporation rates of 0 %, 3 %, and 6 %, respectively. Animals were allocated to three pens of approximately 15 m 2 of surface area; each pen had 30 animals, with a density of three turkeys per square meter. Throughout the rearing period, the diet had no effect on bird mortality. Olive leaves boosted growth rates. Indeed, after the experiment, the OL3 group had significantly higher weights than the OL6 and OL0 groups, which had the lowest feed conversion ratio. Furthermore, after bleeding, the weights and evisceration was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the OL3 and OL0 groups compared to the OL6 group. However, OL0 turkeys had significantly higher spleen, heart, and abdominal fat weights than OL3 and OL6 turkeys. The three experimental groups had no significant differences (p>0.05) in carcass yield or gizzard or liver weights. OL supplementation improved oxidative status but had no effect on animal welfare or blood biochemical parameters, with the exception of the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), which was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in the OL3 group than in the OL0 and OL6 groups. Except for the mean cholesterol level, which was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in the OL3 and OL6 (1.29 g L -1) groups compared to the OL0 group, and the albumin level, which was higher in the OL0 group compared to the OL6 group, no significant effect was observed on biochemical serum parameters. Thus, a 3 % OL supplementation in the turkey diet appears promising for improving the bird's growth performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bird–building collisions account for 365–988 million bird fatalities every year in the United States alone. Understanding conditions that heighten collision risk is critical to developing effective strategies for reducing this source of anthropogenic bird mortality. Meteorological factors and regional migration traffic may increase collision rates but also may be difficult to disentangle from other effects.We used 5 years of bird collision counts in New York City to examine the influence of nocturnal weather conditions and bird migration traffic rates on collisions with buildings during spring and fall.We found that seasonally unfavourable winds and conditions that impede visibility are important factors that increase the rates of bird–building collisions during both seasons. Specifically, northerly and westerly winds and low visibility in the spring and southerly and westerly winds and low cloud ceiling height in the fall are associated with higher collision risks.Generally, these weather variables associated most strongly with increased collisions when nocturnal bird migration traffic was high, with the exception of low visibility in spring, which was predicted to triple collision rates compared to high visibility, independent of bird migration traffic.Synthesis and applications: Although legislation to turn off unnecessary nocturnal lighting for the entirety of the migration seasons may be an ultimate goal, a proximate goal invaluable for reducing collisions will be predicting which nights will be of highest risk and using this information to determine when mitigation efforts could be most effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.)

Copyright of Journal of Art History / Sanat Tarihi Dergisi is the property of Ege University 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.)

Agricultural intensification has affected wildlife across Europe, triggering steep declines and regional extinctions of farmland birds. Effective conservation activities are essential for the preservation of biodiversity in an agricultural landscape, but current efforts have not succeeded in halting these declines. Here we investigate a ground-nesting shorebird, the collared pratincole Glareola pratincola , which has shifted its habitat use in Central Europe over the last 20 years from alkaline grasslands to intensively managed agricultural fields. We show that nesting success was different between three agricultural habitat types, with the highest nesting success in fallow lands and the lowest in row crops. Nesting success was also associated with the timing of breeding and breeding density, as nests produced early in the breeding season and those in high-breeding-density areas hatched more successfully than those produced later in the season and at low density. We implemented direct conservation measures including marking nests and negotiating with farmers to avoid cultivating the field between nest markers, controlling nest predators and, most recently, creating suitable nesting sites and foraging areas for pratincoles. As a result of these conservation actions, nest survival increased from 11.2% to 83.5% and the size of the breeding population increased from 13 to 56 pairs during 2012–2021. Thus, we show that agricultural landscapes can continue to provide suitable habitats, and targeted conservation actions have the potential to reverse the declines of farmland species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Field Ornithology is the property of Resilience Alliance 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.)

In an age where catastrophic damage from climate-related events circulates through social and print media, it is important to build communities of hope for our elementary students. Climate justice education is a vehicle for creating hope and building strong, resilient communities where students are empowered to act for themselves and their natural surroundings. Local phenomena can be leveraged to engage elementary students in civic responsibility and science and engineering practices, inspiring students to take action through proposing solutions to their community. We engage urban elementary students in a year-long place-based experiential learning centered on a student-driven local phenomenon. This project situates students as scientists collecting data and evidence to develop claims and argue from evidence regarding bird structures and their survival in built and green environments. Students create authentic relationships with nature, rectifying the unjust relationships from past practices that contribute to environmental degradation of local communities. Climate justice is served as students use their voices for themselves, for the environment, and for the future of the planet they will inhabit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) stimulate proliferation of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of broiler chickens. This results in enhanced utilisation of dietary non-starch polysaccharides and increased production of valuable short-chain fatty acids. However, these positive effects do not always translate into improved bird productive performance, with inconsistent performance responses observed between bird trials. 2. A holo-analysis was conducted to determine the effects of supplementing XOS into broiler diets on bird feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion and mortality. This was done by comparing the XOS supplemented treatment to the control treatment. A total of 53 studies which met the criteria for inclusion were used in the analysis. 3. The results showed that XOS had a notable positive impact on bird mortality; XOS reduced mortality by 0.69% for every 1% increment in the control group. XOS supplementation induced a positive effect on the feed conversion ratio (FCR). However, the efficacy of XOS at improving FCR was dependent on the efficiency of the control group (performance of the flock), and the concentration of total arabinoxylan, protein and phytase in the diet. There were insufficient data points to predict the effect of XOS on body weight and feed intake. 4. In conclusion, the holo-analysis revealed that supplementing XOS to broiler chicken diets reduces bird mortality. XOS can also improve FCR, but the scale of response is dependent on the diet composition and control flock performance. Additional studies are required to confirm the effects of XOS on body weight and feed intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bird population declines are an important ecosystem issue, and mortality from human-derived sources—including collisions with vehicles—is a contributing factor. Current knowledge of bird collisions with vehicles is based on detections of roadside casualties by on-the-ground searchers. We present an estimate of annual vehicle–bird collisions (hereafter collisions) based on counts of collisions by drivers. From 30 December 2020 to 12 January 2022, drivers recorded 125 collisions and 2,265,126 driven km. Nationwide annual collision rates in the USA were estimated by multiplying our modeled per-km collision rates with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s annual vehicle mileage data. The resulting estimated annual collision rate for unpaved rural two-lane and paved rural two-lane roads combined was notably higher than for other categories: 60 collisions per million km driven (95% confidence interval [CI] 42–85) compared with paved rural multi-lane (12 [95% CI 6–25]) and urban/suburban (14 [95% CI 4–44]) roads. The predicted annual collision rate for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regions was highest in the Pacific (95 collisions per million km driven [95% CI 47–195]) and lowest in the Pacific Southwest (eight collisions per million km driven [95% CI 1–61]; no collisions were recorded in the Southeast [limited sampling]). We estimated total number of vehicle–bird collisions in the continental USA to be 96 million birds per year (95% CI 59–200). Our results are based only on light-duty trucks and sedans, and so could be refined with a more representative sample of vehicle types. Nevertheless, our nationwide estimates are useful to help prioritize broad-scale efforts to slow or reverse population declines. Our work suggests vehicle–bird collision risk is highest on two-lane roads and for small birds, and research to identify mitigation measures to reduce vehicle–bird collision rates might be most useful on two-lane roads.

Biopreparations with Lactobacillus salivarius and Bacillus subtilis are used as probiotics in poultry farming due to their beneficial effects on the intestinal ecosystem. Objective. To evaluate the probiotic activity of the biopreparations PROBIOLACTIL®, SUBTILPROBIO® and their mixture on microbiological, productive and health indicators in broilers. Materials and methods. An experiment with a completely randomized design was carried out for 42 days with four treatments: T1. Control diet (control group), T2. PROBIOLACTIL® (bioprepared with Lactobacillus salivarius C-65) + diet, T3. SUBTILPROBIO® (Bioprepared with Bacillus subtilis E-44) + diet and T4. Mixture of both biopreparations + diet. Results. The treatments where the probiotics were applied presented an increase in total lactobacilli and anaerobes (p<0.05) and a reduction in total coliforms. Live weight was higher in birds treated with the mixture, and weight gain, average daily gain, feed conversion and carcass yield were improved. The application of additives reduced mortality and increased viability in birds. Conclusions. The synergistic activity of Lactobacillus salivarius and Bacillus subtilis increases probiotic activity and favors the productive performance and viability of broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colibacillosis, caused by Escherichia coli, affects domestic and wild birds. The economic losses in industrial and subsistence poultry farms were considerable due to high morbidity and mortality and higher costs of medical treatments. A total of 488 birds were examined, out of which pathogenic Escherichia coli was found in 308 (63.11%) birds based on the biochemical, cultural, morphological and staining characters and these were confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Clinically affected birds showed symptoms of dullness, depression, disinclination to move, chest and beak resting on the ground with closed eyelids, loss of weight, weakness, ruffled feathers, gasping and distended abdomen. The pathological gross lesions noticed were the congestion of all visceral organ, fibrinous pericarditis, perihepatitis, air-sacculitis, peritonitis and salpingitis. The histopathology of effected lungs, air-sacs, pericardium, heart, liver and its capsule and peritoneum showed fibrinous inflammation with infiltration of inflammatory cells. The study concluded that colibacillosis was the cause of death of birds with typical gross and histopathological lesions in various outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Animal Production / Hayvansal Üretim is the property of Hayvansal Uretim (Journal of Animal Production) 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.)

As demand for renewable energy is rising, wind power development is rapidly growing worldwide. In its wake, conflicts arise over land use changes converting pristine nature into industrial power plants and its associated adverse biodiversity effects, crowned by one of the most obvious and deadly consequences: bird collisions. Most post-construction studies report low levels of avian mortality, but the majority of these studies are conducted primarily on larger birds. However, the diversity and abundance of small passerine birds are rarely reflected in the carcass surveys, although they in numeric proportion to their abundances should be the most numerous. The assumption that surveys find all carcasses seems thus rarely fulfilled and passerine mortality is likely to be grossly underestimated. We therefore designed an experiment with dummy birds to estimate mortality of small-bodied passerines and other small-bodied birds during post-construction surveys, tested in a medium-sized wind farm in western Norway. The wind farm was surveyed weekly during the migration periods by carcass survey teams using trained dogs to find killed birds. The dogs in the carcass surveys were more successful in locating the large than the small dummy birds (60–200 g), where they found 74% of the large dummy birds. Detecting the smaller category (5–24 g) was more demanding and the dogs only found 17% of the small dummy birds. Correcting the post-construction carcass survey outcome with the results from the experiment leads to an almost fourfold increase in estimated mortality rates, largely due to the low detection rate of the smallest category. The detection rates will naturally vary between wind farms, depending on the specific habitat characteristics, the efficiency of the carcass surveys and the search intervals. Thus, implementing a simple experiment with dummy birds to future post-construction surveys will produce more accurate estimates of the wind turbine mortality rates, and thus improve our understanding of the biodiversity effects of conforming to a more sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exponential increases in anthropogenic noise and light pollution have accompanied growth of the built environment. Noise and light cause negative consequences for birds, such as disrupted navigation during migration, mortality from collisions with windows and other infrastructure, and reduced reproductive success, as well as some positive consequences, such as expanded night niches for behaviors associated with feeding, territoriality, and mating. Relatively less is known about noise and light effects on annual survival of non-migratory birds, so we conducted an exploratory study to examine variation in adult survival rates of seven avian species in relation to noise and light pollution. We used 20 years of band-resight data collected as a part of the Neighborhood Nestwatch Program (NN), a citizen science project run by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, at 242 sites in greater Washington, D.C. USA. We estimated apparent survival and documented species-specific relationships with light and noise. Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) and House Wren (Thryothorus aedon) survival decreased and American Robin (Turdus migratorius) survival increased with greater amounts of anthropogenic light. Anthropogenic noise had no relationship with apparent survival for any of the seven species. Life-history trade-offs between survival and reproduction may account for differences in species-specific effects of light pollution. Future research should examine the availability of other fine scale environmental conditions, such as tree canopy cover, that might buffer avian exposure to noise and light pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is continuously causing significant economic losses with massive poultry depopulations. Airborne transmission of HPAI was suspected, as initial bird mortalities were reported near air inlets of poultry houses. In addition, infected farms were distant, indicating that the viruses carried by dust particles might help the viruses travel for long distances in the environment. The objective of this study focused on simulating the airborne transmission of HPAI by using computational modeling to assess the risk of airborne and deposited avian influenza (AI) carried by poultry-litter dust particles. The Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) modeling was used in this study. Data from 168 infected cases in the Mid-Western area of U.S. were obtained from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Watt Poultry. The concentration simulation modeling was performed to estimate the airborne and deposited AI concentration carried by PM2.5 dust particles. Results showed that concentrations of airborne AI, deposited AI, and combined AI transmitted to other farms in a day were lower than the minimal infective dose for poultry. In most of the scenarios, the predicted probability of infection showed that Iowa-infected farms and turkey poultry houses had the highest infection probability. The findings may provide an understanding of the risk of airborne HPAI virus carried by dust particles and suggest the factors that influence long-distance airborne transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seabird bycatch in fisheries, and the development of effective mitigation to minimize this, have been subject to increasing research attention over the past three to four decades. Trawl fisheries represent a particular challenge, as bird mortalities (especially highly threatened albatrosses and large petrels, Procellariforms) occur primarily through difficult-to-detect collisions with warp and net monitoring cables. Effectiveness of bird-scaring lines (BSLs) as a mitigation measure can be fleet-specific, and studies relating specifically to reducing collisions with the net monitoring cable are rare. To support improved assessment and mitigation of seabird bycatch in trawl fisheries, we studied the mortality associated with mid-water and bottom factory trawl vessels along the southern tip of the Argentine Patagonian shelf, across 2144 trawls from 2012 to 2019, with three specific objectives: (i) inform improved bycatch management in this (and other) trawl fisheries by analysing differences in seabird collision rates and outcomes between net monitoring and warp cables, as well as the effect of mitigation measures in reducing collisions; (ii) explore the effects of key fishing operation variables on seabird impact outcomes; and (iii) estimate the annual seabird mortality in the study fleet. We tested the efficacy of BSLs as a mitigation measure to reduce seabird mortality, on warps and net monitoring cables. Our results show that seabird mortality increases in the presence of a net monitoring cable. Our estimation of fishery-wide mortality without the use of BSLs includes 108 [31–186] Southern royal albatross (Diomedea epomophora) and 279 [108–465] Black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophris) killed annually by the collisions with the net monitoring cable. We demonstrate the efficacy of BSLs in reducing the number of collisions and in combination with no discarding of fishes, seabird interactions fell to c. zero. Our study builds the case for better bycatch data collection in trawl fisheries, the strong influence of discarding, and the feasibility of simple mitigation measures to reduce seabird bycatch, including on the net monitoring cable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]