Volume 11 Issue 1
Apr.  2020
Turn off MathJax
Article Contents
Article Navigation >  Avian Research  > 2020  >  11: 2.
Joana S. Costa, Afonso D. Rocha, Ricardo A. Correia, José A. Alves. 2020: Developing and validating a nestling photographic aging guide for cavity-nesting birds: an example with the European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster). Avian Research, 11(1): 2. doi: 10.1186/s40657-020-0188-z
Citation: Joana S. Costa, Afonso D. Rocha, Ricardo A. Correia, José A. Alves. 2020: Developing and validating a nestling photographic aging guide for cavity-nesting birds: an example with the European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster). Avian Research, 11(1): 2. doi: 10.1186/s40657-020-0188-z
shu

Developing and validating a nestling photographic aging guide for cavity-nesting birds: an example with the European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)

doi: 10.1186/s40657-020-0188-z
  • 1.

    Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal

  • 2.

    Institute of Biological and Health Sciences (ICBS), Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, AL, Brazil

  • 3.

    University of Iceland, South Iceland Research Centre, Lindarbraut 4, 840 Laugarvatn, Iceland

Funds:

FCT with grants to JSC SFRH/BD/113580/2015

JAA SFRH/BPD/91527/2012

RC SFRH/BPD/118635/2016

also benefited from financial support to CESAM UID/AMB/50017/2019

through national funds FCT/MCTES

More Information
  • Corresponding author: Joana S. Costa, joana.santoscosta@ua.pt
  • Received Date: 03 Jun 2019
  • Accepted Date: 13 Jan 2020
  • Publish Date: 04 Feb 2020
    Abstract
  • Background Accurate estimation of nestlings' age is essential in avian demography studies as well as in population ecology and conservation. For example, it can be useful for synchronizing nest visits with events of particular interest, such as the age at which young can be safely ringed, or in choosing the best period to attain the most accurate calculation of laying or hatching dates.
    Methods We constructed a photographic guide for aging European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) nestlings to 3-day age classes and evaluated the aging method by performing a validation exercise with several observers with no previous experience in aging bee-eater nestlings.
    Results The aging guide for bee-eater nestlings allowed estimating age to within 3 days with an average accuracy of 0.85. We found the optimal period for aging nestlings was between days 13-18 (with accuracy between 0.94 and 0.99), during which the status of feather development was more easily distinguishable from the preceding and subsequent age classes. During the first 3 days after hatching, nestlings could also be aged with high accuracy (0.93). The small size of the nestling in relation to the eggs and the nestling's inability to raise its head during these first days allowed for good discrimination from the subsequent age class. Between days 25 and 28, nestlings were correctly aged in only half of assignments (0.55 sensitivity) and nestlings belonging to class 7 (days 7-9) were the least correctly identified (0.38 sensitivity). However, by visiting the nests at 12 days intervals it is possible to achieve the highest accuracy in age estimation with the smallest disturbance and logistic investment.
    Conclusions This study highlighted how indirect methods and a simple protocol can be established and employed to quickly estimate nestling age in cases where handling nestlings is challenging or impossible, while minimizing disturbance in and around the nest.

     

    • FullText(HTML)
  • loading
    • References(35)
  • Amiot C, Ji W, Hill SD. Using plumage and behavioural development to age New Zealand Fantail nestlings. N Z J Zool. 2014;42:35-43. http://cn.bing.com/academic/profile?id=f7856176e3bde79cd6eafc9cbb5545c9&encoded=0&v=paper_preview&mkt=zh-cn
    Arbeiter S, Schulze M, Tamm P, Hahn S. Strong cascading effect of weather conditions on prey availability and annual breeding performance in European Bee-eaters Merops apiaster. J Ornithol. 2016;157:155-63. doi: 10.1007/s10336-015-1262-x
    Bates D, Maechler DM, Bolker B, Walker S. Fitting linear mixed-effects models using lme4. J Stat Softw. 2015;67:1-48. http://d.old.wanfangdata.com.cn/NSTLQK/NSTL_QKJJ0218748967/
    Boal CW. A photographic and behavioural guide to aging nestling Northern Goshawks. Stud Avian Biol. 1994;16:32-40. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242196757_A_photographic_and_behavioral_guide_to_aging_nestling_northern_goshawks
    Brown WP, Alianell TW. Do interspecific image-based ageing guides produce accurate estimates of nestling ages?—progress toward development of a generalised ageing guide. Ringing Migr. 2017;32:72-8. doi: 10.1080/03078698.2017.1426928
    Brown WP, Alexander AL, Alexander DA, Zuefle ME, Underwood TJ. Estimating ages of House Wren nestlings based on body mass, wing chord length, and feather tract development patterns. N Am Bird Bander. 2011;36:101-10.
    Brown WP, Zuefle ME, Underwood TJ, Alexander AL, Alexander DA. House Wren nestling age can be determined accurately from a guide of digital images. N Am Bird Bander. 2013;38:150-9. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281042747_House_Wren_nestling_age_can_be_accurately_determined_from_a_guide_of_digital_images
    Bryant D, Tatner P. Hatching asynchrony, sibling competition and siblicide in nestling birds: studies of swiftlets and bee-eaters. Anim Behav. 1990;39:657-71. doi: 10.1016/S0003-3472(05)80377-X
    Burnham KP, Anderson DR. Model selection and multimodel inference: a practical information-theoretic approach. 2nd ed. New York: Springer; 2002.
    Cruz-Mcdonnell KK, Wolf BO. Rapid warming and drought negatively impact population size and reproductive dynamics of an avian predator in the arid southwest. Glob Chang Biol. 2016;22:237-53. doi: 10.1111/gcb.13092
    Eeva T, Lehikoinen E. Growth and mortality of nestling Great Tits (Parus major) and Pied Flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) in a heavy metal pollution gradient. Oecologia. 1996;108:631-9. doi: 10.1007/BF00329036
    Fernaz JM, Schifferli L, Grüebler MU. Ageing nestling Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica: an illustrated guide and cautionary comments. Ringing Migr. 2012;27:65-75. doi: 10.1080/03078698.2012.747587
    Fletcher K, Howarth D, Kirby A, Dunn R, Smith A. Effect of climate change on breeding phenology, clutch size and chick survival of an upland bird. Ibis. 2013;155:456-63. doi: 10.1111/ibi.12055
    Fry CH. The bee-eaters. London: T & A D Poyser Ltd; 1984.
    Fyfe RW, Oldendorff RR. Minimizing the dangers of nesting studies to raptors and other sensitive species. Can Wildl Serv. 1976; Occasional Paper number 23.
    Gotmark F. The effects of investigator disturbance on nesting birds. Curr Ornithol. 1992;9:63-104. http://cn.bing.com/academic/profile?id=82c2090ca92a9ef1e5a96df3296dcb3f&encoded=0&v=paper_preview&mkt=zh-cn
    Green RE, Tyler GA. Estimating the age of Corncrake Crex crex chicks from body weight and the development of primary feathers. Ringing Migr. 2005;22:139-44. doi: 10.1080/03078698.2005.9674322
    IPMA weather reports. Instituto Português do Mar e Atmosfera. 2019. http://www.ipma.pt/en/publicacoes/boletins.jsp?cmbDep=cli&cmbTema=pcl&idDep=cli&idTema=pcl&curAno=-1. Accessed 20 Sept 2019.
    Jongsomjit D, Jones S, Gardali T, Geupel G, Gouse P. A guide to nestling development and aging in altricial passerines. Biological Technical Publication FWS/BTP-R6008-2007. Washington, DC, US Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service; 2007.
    Lenth R. Emmeans: estimated marginal means, aka least-aquares means. R package version 1.3.2. 2019.
    Lessells CM, Avery MI. Hatching asynchrony in European Bee-eaters Merops Apiaster. J Anim Ecol. 1989;58:815-35. doi: 10.2307/5126
    Marchesi L, Sergio F, Pedrini P. Costs and benefits of breeding in human-altered landscapes for the Eagle Owl Bubo bubo. Ibis. 2002;144:164-77. doi: 10.1046/j.1474-919X.2002.t01-2-00094_2.x
    Moritsch MQ. Photographic guide for aging nestling Prairie Falcons. Boise: USDI Bureau of Land Management; 1983.
    Moritsch MQ. Photographic guide for aging nestling Ferruginous Hawks. Boise: USDI Bureau of Land Management; 1985.
    Murphy MT. Growth and aging of nestling Eastern Kingbirds and Eastern Phoebes. J Field Ornithol. 1981;52:309-16.
    Nilsson JÅ, Gårdmark A. Sibling competition affects individual growth strategies in Marsh Tit, Parus palustris, nestlings. Anim Behav. 2001;61:357-65. doi: 10.1006/anbe.2000.1602
    Pande S, Pawashe A, Mahajan MN, Mahabal A, Yosef R, Dahanukar N. Biometry based ageing of nestling Indian Spotted Owlets (Athene brama brama). Zookeys. 2011;132:75-88. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.132.1346
    R Core Team. R: a language and environment for statistical computing. Vienna: R Core Team; 2017. https://www.r-project.org.
    Rodway MS. Relationship between wing length and body mass in Atlantic Puffin chicks. J Field Ornithol. 1997;68:338-47. http://www.wanfangdata.com.cn/details/detail.do?_type=perio&id=c109acdeb87fbade16efcab59992c3d5
    Saunders DA, Ingram JA. Twenty-eight years of monitoring a breeding population of Carnaby's Cockatoo. Pac Conserv Biol. 1998;4:261-70. doi: 10.1071/PC980261
    Saunders DA, Dawson R, Nicholls AO. Aging nestling Carnaby's Cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus latirostris, and estimating the timing and length of the breeding season. Nat Conserv. 2015;12:27-42. doi: 10.3897/natureconservation.12.4863
    Tomotani BM, van der Jeugd H, Gienapp P, de la Hera I, Pilzecker J, Teichmann C, et al. Climate change leads to differential shifts in the timing of annual cycle stages in a migratory bird. Glob Chang Biol. 2018;24:823-35. doi: 10.1111/gcb.14006
    Wails CN, Oswald SA, Arnold JM. Are morphometrics sufficient for estimating age of pre-fledging birds in the field? A test using Common Terns (Sterna hirundo). PLoS ONE. 2014;9:e111987. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111987
    Weinberg HJ, Roth RR. Rectrix shape as an indicator of age in the Wood Thrush. J Field Ornithol. 1994;65:115-21.
    Wilkins N, Brown WP. The accuracy of Eastern Bluebird nestling age estimates produced from three different aging guides of digital images. N Am Bird Bander. 2015;40:1-10.
    • Relative Articles
    • Supplements(0)
    • Cited By
  • 加载中

Catalog

    通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com
    • 1. 

      沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院 沈阳 110142

    1. 本站搜索
    2. 百度学术搜索
    3. 万方数据库搜索
    4. CNKI搜索

    Tables(5)

    Get Citation
    PDF
    XML

    Article Metrics

    Article views (1897) PDF downloads(11) Cited by()
    Proportional views
    Supported by: Beijing Renhe Information Technology Co. Ltd   Technical support: info@rhhz.net

    /

    DownLoad:  Full-Size Img  PowerPoint
    Return
    Return