Avian Ecology and Behaviour

Anderson M.J., Laughlin C.P.   Investigating laterality, social behavior, and temperature effects in captive Chilean Flamingos, Phoenicopterus chilensis

p. 3–19

Two studies examined laterality, social behavior, and the influence of temperature on unipedal resting in several captive flocks of Chilean flamingos. Study 1 observed a small flock of Chilean flamingos at Elmwood Park Zoo (Norristown, PA, USA) and collected on-site weather data, while Study 2 employed a live online webcam to observe the Chilean flamingo flock at Houston Zoo (Houston, TX, USA) and obtained local weather data via an additional online source. Consistent with the idea of a thermoregulatory function of unipedal resting (cf. Anderson & Williams, 2010), both studies provided evidence of a negative relationship between temperature and the percentage of resting birds engaging in unipedal resting, such that more resting birds were seen engaging in unipedal resting on cooler days, and Study 2 evidenced that Chilean flamingos are more likely to engage in unipedal resting while resting in water than on land. Study 1 evidenced a relationship between agonistic behavior and pair-bonding, such that birds with a higher ratio of wins during aggressive encounters displayed stronger bonds with their preferred partners and were also more “desirable” to potential partners. Both studies failed to obtain evidence of lateral preferences in neck-resting or in unipedal resting support leg, suggesting a possible species difference between Chilean flamingos and Caribbean flamingos (cf. Anderson et al., 2009) in terms of lateral neck-resting preferences. Given the methodological limitations of the present studies, however, additional research is necessary to further investigate this possibility.

chilean flamingos, Phoenicopterus chilensis, laterality, resting, temperature, aggression, pair-bonding

Bulyuk V.N., Bolshakov C.V., Sinelschikova A.Y., Vorotkov M.V.   Does the reaction of nocturnally migrating songbirds to the local light source depend on backlighting of the sky?

p. 21–26

light pollution, urban light, natural light, bird migration

Bolshakov C.V., Shapoval A.P., Leoke D.Yu., Zelenova N.P.   Results of bird trapping and ringing by the Biological Station “Rybachy” on the Courish Spit in 2013

p. 27–60

In 2013, a grand total of 30,084 birds of 102 species were trapped and ringed by the Biological Station “Rybachy” in the framework of long- and short-term research projects. A total of 1,008 ringed birds of 49 species produced 1,545 recaptures. In 2013, 312 birds of 29 species ringed on the Courish Spit in previous years were retrapped. Between 15.03.2012 and 15.03.2013, 77 birds of 19 species ringed on the Courish Spit were reported as recovered more than 20 km from the ringing site. In 2013, 76 birds of 17 species ringed outside the Courish Spit were controlled. A review of research projects is given, along with main trapping techniques. A complete list of long-distance recoveries is provided.

bird ringing, retraps, long-distance recoveries, research projects