Weather Conditions and Moon Phase Influence on Tropical Screech Owl and Burrowing Owl Detection by Playback in Southeast Brazil

Braga, Ana Claudia Rocha; Motta-Junior, José Carlos

doi:10.5253/078.097.0401

Cited by 22 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…In nocturnal species, ambient light levels affect reproduction, foraging and predator–prey interactions (Kronfeld‐Schor et al ), which are reflected by associated changes in vocal activity that depend on a species’ ecology. Bright moon periods can either elevate call rates due to increased foraging efficiency (Woods and Brigham , Braga and Motta‐Junior ), or reduce calling due to increased predation risk (Mougeot and Bretagnolle ). Changes in activity with lunar cycle can reveal other ecological information, such as reproductive status, with moonlight avoidance varying between breeding and non‐breeding individuals in some nocturnal bird species (Mougeot and Bretagnolle , Penteriani et al ).…”

Section: The Hypotheses and Associated Predictions Tested By This Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal and environmental influences on the vocal behaviour of a nocturnal bird

Digby

Towsey

Bell

et al. 2014

Journal of Avian Biology

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Temporal and environmental variation in vocal activity can provide information on avian behaviour and call function not available to short‐term experimental studies. Inter‐sexual differences in this variation can provide insight into selection effects. Yet factors influencing vocal behaviour have not been assessed in many birds, even those monitored by acoustic methods. This applies to the New Zealand kiwi (Apterygidae), for which call censuses are used extensively in conservation monitoring, yet which have poorly understood acoustic ecology. We investigated little spotted kiwi Apteryx owenii vocal behaviour over 3 yr, measuring influences on vocal activity in both sexes from time of night, season, weather conditions and lunar cycle. We tested hypotheses that call rate variation reflects call function, foraging efficiency, historic predation risk and variability in sound transmission, and that there are inter‐sexual differences in call function. Significant seasonal variation showed that vocalisations were important in kiwi reproduction, and inter‐sexual synchronisation of call rates indicated that contact, pair‐bonding or resource defence were key functions. All weather variables significantly affected call rates, with elevated calling during increased humidity and ground moisture indicating a relation between vocal activity and foraging conditions. A significant decrease in calling activity on cloudy nights, combined with no moonlight effect, suggests an impact of light pollution in this species. These influences on vocal activity provide insight into kiwi call function, have direct consequences for conservation monitoring of kiwi, and have wider implications in understanding vocal behaviour in a range of nocturnal birds.

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Section: The Hypotheses and Associated Predictions Tested By This Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal and environmental influences on the vocal behaviour of a nocturnal bird

Digby

Towsey

Bell

et al. 2014

Journal of Avian Biology

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“…Higher vocal responses following (Currie et al 2002;Haug & Didiuk 1993;Kemp et al 2009;Trejo & Beaudoin 2011;Wiens et al 2011). Hence, the call playback method could increase the detection of the owls compared to passive listening for spontaneous calls (Braga & Motta-Junior 2009;Hannah 2009;Haug & Didiuk 1993;Kissling et al 2010) besides minimising the false absences of silent individuals. Moreover, the call playback method could increase the precision in density estimation (Braga & Motta-Junior 2009), as indicated by smaller coefficients of variation (CV) derived relative to that of silent listening.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hence, the call playback method could increase the detection of the owls compared to passive listening for spontaneous calls (Braga & Motta-Junior 2009;Hannah 2009;Haug & Didiuk 1993;Kissling et al 2010) besides minimising the false absences of silent individuals. Moreover, the call playback method could increase the precision in density estimation (Braga & Motta-Junior 2009), as indicated by smaller coefficients of variation (CV) derived relative to that of silent listening. However, it should be noted that the CV was only less than 20%, indicating higher precision in estimation when data was pooled.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sunda Scops-Owl Density Estimation via Distance Sampling and Call Playback

Pilla

Chong

Lim

et al. 2018

JSM

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“…Probably, A. cunicularia can not reproduce in areas where tall capim flecha occurs at high densities (see grasslands behind firebreaks in Figures 5b and 5c), unless they are close to firebreaks, potential places for feeding. Unmanaged grasslands were described as the primary habitat of A. cunicularia in the Cerrado (Braga 2006, Braga & Motta Junior 2009. At Emas National Park, only grasslands burned within the previous 2-3 years might provide adequate conditions for A. cunicularia nesting because reproductive parts of capim flecha grass are absent, short or sparse in these areas.…”

Section: Number Of Burrowsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Within reserves, the owl is often found in grasslands with numerous shrubs and scattered trees (Negret 1983, Braga 2006, Braga & Motta-Junior 2009 and in firebreaks such in Emas National Park (unpublished data).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fire management and the nesting of Athene cunicularia (Aves, Strigidae) in grasslands in central Cerrado, Brazil

Tubelis

Delitti

2010

Biota Neotrop.

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Fire management is a common practice in several reserves in the Cerrado, but its influences on bird reproduction remain unknown. In addition, the nesting biology of the Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) has been studied in numerous environments, but not in tropical grasslands managed by fire. This study examined the effects of fire management on the nesting biology of A. cunicularia in Emas National Park, State of Goias, central Brazilian Cerrado. We compared the number of breeding pairs and their burrows in October and November 2009 at 15 study sites in grasslands managed by fire (firebreaks) and unmanaged grasslands adjacent to and distant from firebreaks. We visited active burrows two-four times and described the burrow entrances and sentinel sites and counted and observed adults and young. A total of 19 burrows were found at firebreaks. One and two burrows were found in grasslands adjacent to and distant from firebreaks, respectively. For all burrows found, one to three young reached the adult size, being able to fly and/or run in early November. The 22 burrows found were in the ground, associated or not with termite and ant nests. Most (86.4%) burrows had only one entrance. Only three burrows had two or three entrances. Structures used as sentinel perches by adults were mounds in front of the burrow entrances, termite nests, shrubs and trees. Most of these sentinel sites were shorter than 2 m high and located less than 10 m from the burrow entrance. At Emas National Park, firebreaks appear to provide more attractive conditions to the nesting of A. cunicularia than unmanaged grasslands, likely because of the short herbaceous stratum due to frequent burning of firebreaks. This study suggests that fire management provides suitable conditions for the successful reproduction of A. cunicularia in firebreaks at Emas National Park. Resumo: O manejo de fogo é uma prática comum em várias reservas do Cerrado, mas suas influências sobre a reprodução de aves não é conhecida. Adicionalmente, a nidificação da coruja-buraqueira (Athene cunicularia) foi estudada em numerosos ambientes, mas não em campos tropicais manejados por fogo. O presente estudo teve como objetivo examinar efeitos do manejo de fogo sobre a nidificação de A. cunicularia no Parque Nacional das Emas, Estado de Goiás, Cerrado central brasileiro. Comparamos o número de casais reprodutivos e suas tocas em outubro e novembro de 2009 em 15 locais de estudo, que incluíram trechos de campo sujo manejados por fogo (aceiros) e trechos não manejados, próximos e distantes de aceiros. Visitamos tocas ativas duas a quatro vezes, descrevemos as entradas das tocas e os locais de sentinela, assim como contamos e observamos os adultos e os filhotes. Um total de 19 tocas foi encontrado em aceiros. Uma e duas tocas foram encontradas em campos próximos e distantes de aceiros, respectivamente. Para todas as tocas encontradas, um a três filhotes atingiram o tamanho adulto, sendo aptos para voar ou correr no início de novembro. Todas as 22 tocas foram feitas no solo,...

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Weather Conditions and Moon Phase Influence on Tropical Screech Owl and Burrowing Owl Detection by Playback in Southeast Brazil

Abstract: BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Cited by 22 publications

References 21 publications

Temporal and environmental influences on the vocal behaviour of a nocturnal bird

Temporal and environmental influences on the vocal behaviour of a nocturnal bird

Sunda Scops-Owl Density Estimation via Distance Sampling and Call Playback

Fire management and the nesting of Athene cunicularia (Aves, Strigidae) in grasslands in central Cerrado, Brazil

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