فهرست مطالب

Podoces
Volume:7 Issue: 1, 2012

  • تاریخ انتشار: 1392/03/10
  • تعداد عناوین: 11
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  • I.Charalambidou, N. Kassinis, S. Gcel, W. Fuller Pages 1-8
    We present here the first island-wide assessment of the status and breeding population of the Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus in Cyprus from July 2007 to June 2009. This survey was carried out at 27 wetland areas and more than 200 individuals were recorded at 10 wetlands during autumn passage while at least 50 over-wintered at five wetlands. Approximately 100 individuals were recorded at 12 wetlands during spring passage, and the breeding population was estimated at 61– 68 pairs scattered among 15 wetlands. The population of this species has increased since the 1990s, probably as a consequence of populationgrowth in the Middle East as well as increasingly warmer winters in Cyprus and the creation of water reservoirs, particularly sewage lagoons. The most important sites are concentrated in central and eastern Cyprus.
    Keywords: Breeding population, Cyprus, Spur, winged Lapwing, Status, Vanellus spinosus
  • N. Nourani Najafi, E. Kahrom, M. Karami Pages 9-15
    The Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio is a resident waterbird in Iran. It has a very small population in Anzali wetland which is one of the main breeding areas of this species in Gilan Province. The present study was conducted to study the breeding biology and ecology of the Purple Swamphen in Anzali wetland during the breeding seasons of 2011 and 2012 In this study, nine nests, including four active nests with 16 eggs, were\ found and studied in Jahadbekandeh Ab-bandan, 236 ha, in the central section of Anzali wetland. The nests had shallow cups constructed within reed clusters. The average maximum and minimum diameters of the nestcups were 44.7 and 34.9 cm, respectively, and the average external height of the nest-cups was 28.2 cm (N=9). The clutch size was 3 to 5 (N=4). The average length and width of the eggs were 52.2 and 40.7 mm (N=16), respectively. Eight of 16 eggs were successfully hatched.
    Keywords: Anzali wetland, Breeding biology, Nest site, Nest, Porphyrio porphyrio, Purple Swamphen, Waterbird
  • M. Vosoghi, A. Ashoori, H. Kami Pages 16-20
    The first breeding attempt of the Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus in Fars Province, Iran, was recorded at Darab in June 2011, and three active nests were found in July 2012. Analysis of 74 pellets collected around the nests indicated that House Mouse Mus musculus and Steppe Field Mouse Apodemus cf witherbyi contributed 59.4% and 24.3% of the diet, respectively. The adult kites were absent for an average of 49.9 minutes (N=8) between visits to the nests. Threats to the kites are discussed and some conservation measures are proposed to encourage better protection of the breeding Black-winged Kites in the region. According to published records and a number of unpublished records, it can be concluded that a major expansion in the breeding range of the Black-winged Kite is occurring in many parts of southern Iran.
    Keywords: Black, winged Kite, Breeding, Diet, Elanus caeruleus, Fars, Iran
  • A. Mohamed Samsoor Ali, R. Santhanakrishnan Pages 21-32
    The comparative diet of the Barn Owl Tyto alba and the Spotted Owlet Athene brama were studied in an urban habitat of Madurai District, Tamil Nadu, Southern India, during January–December 2008. Regurgitated pellets of these two owl species were analysed to understand their dietary composition. The diet of the Barn Owl mainly comprised small mammals such as Suncus murinus (51.9%) and Rattus rattus (28.6%), while the diet of the Spotted Owlet comprised mostly arthropods (84.9%); Coleoptera (40.9%) and Orthoptera (32.4%). Food niche overlap between the Barn Owl and the Spotted Owlet in overall diet was 6.5%, which indicated very low degree of overlap.
    Keywords: Arthropods, Barn Owl, Diet, Food niche overlap, Small mammal, Spotted Owlet
  • F.H. Tayefeh, M. Zakaria, H. Amini, D. Khodadoust, K. Darvishi, Z. Elahi, Rad, S. Ghasemi Pages 33-37
    Individuals of many seabird species are highly philopatric, returning to breed where they hatched, while others move into colonies somewhere else. To date, there have been no published data reviewing the recoveries of breeding waterbirds ringed in the northern Persian Gulf islands. Tern chicks were ringed on the Mond Islands in the Persian Gulf between 2003 and 2010. The recording of ringed birds was carried out during the 2010 breeding season using a camera at the ringing site. Reports of ringed birds found away from the place of ringing up to the end of 2011 were also obtained. At least 57 ringed Lesser Crested Terns Sterna bengalensis and seven ringed Swift Terns Sterna bergii were observed nesting on the Mond Islands in June and July 2010. Moreover, one ringed Swift Tern and three ringed Lesser Crested Terns were found in western and southern India, a sea journey of some 2,400–3,500 km. Recovery data confirm site fidelity in Lesser Crested Terns and Swift Terns on the Mond Islands and also reveal their affinity with the oriental region.
    Keywords: Lesser Crested Tern, Nakhilu Island, Persian Gulf, Ringing, Swift Tern
  • M. Heiss Pages 38-51
    The Talysh Mountains in Azerbaijan are covered with deciduous broadleaf forests. Currently they are suffering ongoing forest degradation. The response of the local fauna to forest degradation is unknown. In this study breeding birds act as bioindicators and their response can reflect response of other taxonomic groups in this area. For the study I used the Line Transect method and surveyed 66.8 km of different forest degradation stages. I found 70 breeding bird species. Forest-dependent bird species showed a negative response to forest degradation, whereas open-land species were responding positively. The heavily degraded forests with a park-like or shrubby appearance show the highest number of bird species. The reason for this pattern is the horizontal vegetation structure in degraded forests, which are highly heterogeneous and thus forest-dependent and open-land species can breed here. Furthermore, I found the highest number of forest-dependent species in natural and slightly disturbed forests. Fourteen of them showed a significant negative response and are likely to become extinct with ongoing degradations.
    Keywords: Azerbaijan Republic, Breeding birds, Forest degradation, Talysh Mountains
  • P.V. Kvartalnov, A.G. Abdulnazarov Pages 52-53
  • R. AyÉ, T. Roth, S. Isa Sayed, T. Stalling Pages 54-58
  • M. Basheer, K.M. Aarif Pages 59-61
    The White-cheeked Barbet Megalaima viridis is an endemic species common in the forests and villages of Kerala. This study provides details of the population status, food and major threats of the White-cheeked Barbets in Kizhakkoth Panchayath, a rural agro-ecosystem in the Western Ghats region of Kerala. The population of the White-cheeked Barbet was estimated using the line transect method in a paddyfield, a coconut plantation and a sacred grove from December 2010 to November 2011.Food items were determined by direct observations, faecal matter analysis and gut content analysis. The population of the White cheeked Barbet was found to be higher in the sacred grove. It is a frugivore and is considered as a minor pest of orchard plants and Colocasia esculenta. in the study area.
  • S.H. Khatami Pages 62-65
    The breeding biology of the Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis was studied in Taleghan area in 1989. The average nest weight was 10.5 g (N=12) and average external and internal diameters were 8 cm (N=12) and 6 cm (N=12) respectively. The cup depth was 5.3 cm (N=12) and the height 8.2 cm (N=12). Female birds laid 3–6 eggs. Clutches varied in egg colour but eggs of a clutch were in similar colour. The egg colours were in greenish grey, olive and whitish blue. Eggs averaged 19 mm in length (N=8 nests) and 15 mm in width (N=8 nests); the average weight was 1.8 g (N=8 nests). One-day-old juveniles averaged 1.8 g in weight.
  • B. Mansouri, E. Hoshyari, A. Pourkhabbaz, H. Babaei Pages 66-70
    The purpose of the present study was to investigate levels of nickel in feathers of the Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis (N=15) and Siberian Gull Larus heuglini (N=15). Bird samples were collected from November to December 2010 in Hara Biosphere Reserve. Assaying nickel by using Shimadzu AA 680 flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer, the results were given as micrograms per gram of dry weight. The results of the current study showed that the amount of nickel in feathers of the Siberian Gull (a migratory species) was higher than in feathers of the Western Reef Heron (a resident species). The concentration of nickel was found to follow the order of female/juvenile> female/adult> male/adult in Western Reef Heron and male/adult> female/juvenile> female/adult> male/juvenile in Siberian Gull. The results also indicated that the nickel concentration level in female Western Reef Herons was higher than in males while in Siberian Gull the reverse was the case.