Birds avoid crossing roads to prevent predation

Why didn't the bird cross the road? Because it was afraid of predators and venturing into another bird's territory

Date:  July 19, 2017

Source: Frontiers

Summary: It was once believed that roads posed no problem to birds because of their ability to fly. A new study finds that they can find these human-made structures problematic, especially small, forest-dwelling species. Their hesitance to cross roads could restrict their positive effects on the natural environment, such as seed dispersal, pollination and insect control.

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Camouflage really does reduce chances of being eaten

A ground-breaking study has confirmed the long held assumption that camouflage protects animals from the clutches of predators

Date:January 29, 2016

Source:University of Exeter

A ground-breaking study has confirmed the long held assumption that camouflage protects animals from the clutches of predators, and offers insights into the most important aspects of camouflage.

The research, by scientists from the Universities of Exeter and Cambridge, investigated the camouflage of ground-nesting birds in Zambia, using sophisticated digital imaging to demonstrate how they would appear from the perspective of a predator.

The team found that animals or eggs that matched the pattern or contrast of the surrounding landscape were less likely to be eaten by their natural predators.

The study is published in leading journal Scientific Reports on Friday, January 29 2016.

Dr Jolyon Troscianko, lead author of the paper from the University of Exeter's Centre for Ecology and Conservation department said: "We know that animal camouflage has evolved over millions of years to help prey evade being seen by predators - it is a classic example of natural selection.

"Yet although it may seem obvious that blending into your background makes you less likely to be seen, it is surprisingly difficult to test this in a natural setting.

"This is partly because very well camouflaged animals are of course difficult to find in the wild, and also because they tend to keep moving around, meaning the match between their own appearance and their background is constantly changing. In addition we had determine which predators were eating the nests so that we could take into account their different visual systems."

Martin Stevens from Exeter University who, along with Claire Spottiswoode from the University of Cambridge, co-led the project said: "Despite such a long history of research, ours is the first study to directly show how the degree of camouflage an individual has, to the eyes of its predators, directly affects the likelihood of it being seen and eaten in the wild."

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Seabirds Facing Threats, says National Trust

Written by Betty Laseter on 28 Aug 2014

Seabirds around the UK coastline are being affected by a triple whammy of extreme weather, predators, like foxes, rats and non-native mink, and disturbance by human walkers and their dogs, said the National Trust.

The charity's experts fear that severe winter storms such as the ones witnessed in the Westcountry in the past 12 months and unseasonal heavy rain such as the deluge, which washed out the summer of 2012, will become more regular and strong as the climate is getting warmer.

Considering the future of Britain's marine birdlife, the national trust has published a report, which is echoed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). RSPB is concerned about the various species that are surviving around the South West peninsula.

One of the problems of seabirds includes predators like foxes, rats and non-native mink, according to the survey. The other common danger faced by breeding seabirds was disturbance by humans like walkers and their dogs.

Gwen Potter, a National Trust Ranger in Ceredigion, in west Wales, told the Today programme that population of birds such as terns and Atlantic puffins has been hit by recent storms and dogs.

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Predators and the weather take their pick of bird

The local countryside scene in July is reviewed by John Almond with the help of members and friends of Alnwick and District Natural History Society.

As the breeding season for most bird species drew to a close it was time to assess the success or otherwise this year when the weather has changed from one extreme to another.

The cold, wet spring had a particularly bad effect on butterflies but they seem to have made use of the mostly fine weather in July to get on with mating and laying eggs.

A spotted flycatcher was still nesting near Powburn on July 1.

In Belle Vue Gardens, a song thrush was taking food for young on July 1 and 5, a robin was collecting food for young on July 3, and a juvenile robin was present on July 5.On July 4, blue tits, coal tits, song thrush and blackbird were reported to have nested in Royal Oak Gardens.

There was mixed success for the Long Nanny colony of nesting birds.

On July 4, there were 2,000 pairs of Arctic terns and 18 pairs of little terns.

Predation by a kestrel feeding young was causing problems with the subsequent loss of chicks and even adult birds.

There was only one little tern chick left at the end of the month, a badger being thought to be responsible for the losses.

A ringed plover was present on July 4, but the eight pairs that had attempted to nest were thwarted by black headed gulls.

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Possums eating rare birds

Felicity Ogilvie reported this story on Wednesday, December 26, 2012 08:24:00

Listen to MP3 of this story (minutes)

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DAVID MARK: A Canadian researcher is trying to find out why one of Australia's rarest birds is on the decline.

Amanda Edworthy is spending her summer climbing trees on Tasmania's Bruny Island, south of Hobart, to unlock the secrets of the Spotted Pardalote.

She's discovered local possums are reaching into nest boxes and eating the birds.

Felicity Ogilvie reports from Bruny Island.

(sound of birds)

Continued:  http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2012/s3660668.htm

Scotland's seabirds have declined 53% in 25 years

RSPB COMMENTS

In response to this report by Scottish Natural Heritage. Rory Crawford, seabird policy officer with RSPB Scotland, said: “This report from SNH is timely. These declines are in line with what we’ve seen on our own reserves and this should act as a call to action. Better management of the sandeel fishery and efforts to control non-native species are both really welcome and RSPB Scotland support these steps strongly. However, although the nature conservation measures in the Marine (Scotland) Act are a brilliant step forward for many marine habitats and species, seabirds have been largely ignored in the process of identifying protected areas. Seabirds must be better protected at sea and RSPB Scotland strongly encourages the Scottish Government to ensure that steps are taken to protect seabirds through Marine Protected Areas before they are consulted on next summer.”

New report confirms Scotland's seabird decline
November 2012. A new report by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has confirmed results from previous years that showed that Scotland's seabird numbers have continued to decline, although there are some species that have fared better than others.

53% drop in breeding seabirds in 25 years
The report uses data collected by volunteers and professionals from a sample of breeding colonies around Scotland. It shows that, from 1986 to 2011, the numbers of seabirds breeding in Scotland has dropped by around 53%.

11 species reviewed
Of the 11 species reviewed over the 25-year period, the numbers of nine decreased. The largest declines were for the Arctic skua (74%), Arctic tern (72%) and black-legged kittiwake (66%). Two seabirds have remained stable (black guillemot and northern fulmar).

Food shortages, weather conditions and predation by non-native species
The continuing decreases have been linked to a range of factors such as food shortages, weather conditions and predation by non-native species such as brown rats and mink. The number of small shoaling fish, which are an important food source for many seabirds, may have fallen. These fish are probably being affected by rising sea temperatures because of climate change, as well as other factors.

Efforts to halt the decline
A range of measures has been put in place to help combat pressures on the seabirds. Voluntary reductions in sandeel fisheries means that very little if any sandeel fishing now takes place within the foraging range of kittiwakes, a species which has seen a particularly sharp drop in numbers in recent years. The control of non-native predators, such as the brown rat and the American mink, has also been carried out on various parts of the Scottish coastline and islands and is now starting to show some benefits, with terns re-colonising some areas. The Scottish Government's Marine Bill also includes measures to improve marine nature conservation to safeguard and protect Scotland's unique habitats.

Continued:  http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/scotland-seabirds2012.html#cr