Wild bird feeding delays start of dawn singing in the great tit

Saggese, Katja; Korner-Nievergelt, Fraenzi; Slagsvold, Tore; Amrhein, Valentin

doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2010.11.008

Cited by 25 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…For example, Australian magpies, Gymnorhina tibicens , that exploited feeding stations in urban areas, commenced breeding earlier than those that fed entirely on natural food resources (O'Leary & Jones, ). Another study investigating effects of food supplementation in great tits found that food‐supplemented males changed the timing of their dawn chorus until after sunrise, whereas unsupplemented males did not (Saggese et al ., ). The authors suggested that the delayed singing in these birds could potentially affect the reproductive success of urban great tits if females base mate selection on dawn song performance (Saggese et al ., ).…”

Section: Behavioural Responses To Altered Environmental Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Behavioural responses of wildlife to urban environments

Lowry

Lill²,

Wong³

2012

Biological Reviews

717

594

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Increased urbanization represents a formidable challenge for wildlife. Nevertheless, a few species appear to thrive in the evolutionarily novel environment created by cities, demonstrating the remarkable adaptability of some animals. We argue that individuals that can adjust their behaviours to the new selection pressures presented by cities should have greater success in urban habitats. Accordingly, urban wildlife often exhibit behaviours that differ from those of their rural counterparts, from changes to food and den preferences to adjustments in the structure of their signals. Research suggests that behavioural flexibility (or phenotypic plasticity) may be an important characteristic for succeeding in urban environments. Moreover, some individuals or species might possess behavioural traits (a particular temperament) that are inherently well suited to occupying urban habitats, such as a high level of disturbance tolerance. This suggests that members of species that are less 'plastic' or naturally timid in temperament are likely to be disadvantaged in high-disturbance environments and consequently may be precluded from colonizing cities and towns.

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Section: Behavioural Responses To Altered Environmental Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Behavioural responses of wildlife to urban environments

Lowry

Lill²,

Wong³

2012

Biological Reviews

717

594

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“…Several environmental factors are known to affect daily timing, such as the presence of supplementary food (Cuthill & Macdonald ; Grava, Grava & Otter ; Saggese et al . ) and weather conditions (Dunnett & Hinde ; Slagsvold ). In recent years, two alternative (but not mutually exclusive) hypotheses have received attention.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, the timing of dawn song has been also related to male quality: male Eastern kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus) that sang earlier in the morning were in better body condition (Murphy et al 2008) than birds displaying later. Several environmental factors are known to affect daily timing, such as the presence of supplementary food (Cuthill & Macdonald 1990;Grava, Grava & Otter 2009;Saggese et al 2011) and weather conditions (Dunnett & Hinde 1953;Slagsvold 1977). In recent years, two alternative (but not mutually exclusive) hypotheses have received attention.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Individual‐based measurements of light intensity provide new insights into the effects of artificial light at night on daily rhythms of urban‐dwelling songbirds

Dominoni

Carmona-Wagner

Hofmann

et al. 2013

Journal of Animal Ecology

138

148

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Summary 1.The growing interest in the effects of light pollution on daily and seasonal cycles of animals has led to a boost of research in recent years. In birds, it has been hypothesized that artificial light at night can affect daily aspects of behaviour, but one caveat is the lack of knowledge about the light intensity that wild animals, such as birds, are exposed to during the night. 2. Organisms have naturally evolved daily rhythms to adapt to the 24-h cycle of day and night, thus, it is important to investigate the potential shifts in daily cycles due to global anthropogenic processes such as urbanization. 3. We captured adult male European blackbirds (Turdus merula) in one rural forest and two urban sites differing in the degree of anthropogenic disturbance. We tagged these birds with light loggers and simultaneously recorded changes in activity status (active/non-active) through an automated telemetry system. We first analysed the relationship between light at night, weather conditions and date with daily activity onset and end. We then compared activity, light at night exposure and noise levels between weekdays and weekends. 4. Onset of daily activity was significantly advanced in both urban sites compared to the rural population, while end of daily activity did not vary either among sites. Birds exposed to higher amounts of light in the late night showed earlier onset of activity in the morning, but light at night did not influence end of daily activity. Light exposure at night and onset/end of daily activity timing was not different between weekdays and weekends, but all noise variables were. A strong seasonal effect was detected in both urban and rural populations, such as birds tended to be active earlier in the morning and later in the evening (relative to civil twilight) in the early breeding season than at later stages. 5. Our results point at artificial light at night as a major driver of change in timing of daily activity. Future research should focus on the costs and benefits of altered daily rhythmicity in birds thriving in urban areas.

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“…Large quantities of food, and hence energy and nutrients, are added into urban systems each year, with birds the primary target; it is estimated that in 2002 over 450 million kg of seed was fed to wild birds in the United States alone (13). For species capable of exploiting these anthropogenic food sources there may be profound effects on almost every aspect of their ecology (14,15). Direct benefits for feeder-visiting birds may include reduced time foraging or improved body condition, which in turn may increase reproductive success or survival and lead to population level changes (16)(17)(18).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Supplementary feeding restructures urban bird communities

Galbraith

Beggs

Jones

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

179

173

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Food availability is a primary driver of avian population regulation. However, few studies have considered the effects of what is essentially a massive supplementary feeding experiment: the practice of wild bird feeding. Bird feeding has been posited as an important factor influencing the structure of bird communities, especially in urban areas, although experimental evidence to support this is almost entirely lacking. We carried out an 18-mo experimental feeding study at 23 residential properties to investigate the effects of bird feeding on local urban avian assemblages. Our feeding regime was based on predominant urban feeding practices in our region. We used monthly bird surveys to compare avian community composition, species richness, and the densities of local species at feeding and nonfeeding properties. Avian community structure diverged at feeding properties and five of the commonest garden bird species were affected by the experimental feeding regime. Introduced birds particularly benefitted, with dramatic increases observed in the abundances of house sparrow (Passer domesticus) and spotted dove (Streptopelia chinensis) in particular. We also found evidence of a negative effect on the abundance of a native insectivore, the grey warbler (Gerygone igata). Almost all of the observed changes did not persist once feeding had ceased. Our study directly demonstrates that the human pastime of bird feeding substantially contributes to the structure of avian community in urban areas, potentially altering the balance between native and introduced species.avian ecology | community composition | garden birds | human interactions | wildlife feeding

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Wild bird feeding delays start of dawn singing in the great tit

Cited by 25 publications

References 37 publications

Behavioural responses of wildlife to urban environments

Behavioural responses of wildlife to urban environments

Individual‐based measurements of light intensity provide new insights into the effects of artificial light at night on daily rhythms of urban‐dwelling songbirds

Supplementary feeding restructures urban bird communities

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