The Black Stork is a regular, solitary breeder, characteristic of old floodplain forests surround... more The Black Stork is a regular, solitary breeder, characteristic of old floodplain forests surrounded by good feeding areas. The national breeding population is estimated at 220-340 pairs. The breeding population is Red-listed as Vulnerable. Thanks to the international color- ringing programe, 49 recoveries of 23 individual storks have been reported. Foreign birds belong to breeding populations of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Serbia on their way to wintering sites. Croatian Black Storks follow the eastern migration route via Turkey and Israel. Exact wintering sites of Croatian populations are not yet known. Through intensive research effort, alluvial wetlands in the triangle of Hungary, Serbia and Croatia (incl. Kopacki rit) have been proved to be one of the most important breeding and stopover sites. Breeding of ringed individuals has been recorded 40-80 km from the natal place, indicating breeding-site fidelity.
Preletnicka populacija svojte je, prema IUCN regionalnoj klasifikaciji, kategorizirana ugroženom ... more Preletnicka populacija svojte je, prema IUCN regionalnoj klasifikaciji, kategorizirana ugroženom (EN).
The breeding period is a demanding and time-constrained phase for migratory bird species. Breedin... more The breeding period is a demanding and time-constrained phase for migratory bird species. Breeding outcome and duration can interact with the extent and duration of post-breeding movements, resulting in individual differences in space use ultimately influencing later stages of the annual cycle. We present space-use and home range estimates during the breeding season for 21 European rollers Coracias garrulus tracked between 2018 and 2022, in Italy and Croatia. Using high-resolution spatial GPS data coupled with regular nest-box monitoring, we analyzed differences in space use during the incubation/nestling period versus post-breeding period prior to migration, accounting for the breeding outcome (successful vs. failure). We found that adult movements were strongly reduced during the first phase, whereas increased in the post-breeding phase, especially for failed breeders. Successful breeders remained in the surroundings of the nest site, whereas unsuccessful ones tended to abandon th...
<strong>Abstract</strong> The black-headed bunting is one of the few species that mig... more <strong>Abstract</strong> The black-headed bunting is one of the few species that migrate along the Indo- European flyway, and its migration routes and phenology are poorly understood. We provide the first individual-based year-round tracking study describing route choice and timing of black-headed buntings migrating from a breeding site in Croatia to a 6000 km distant non-breeding region in Maharashtra, Central India. To evaluate landscapes important for the black-headed bunting migration, we quantified land covers and climates along the migration corridor. Stopover areas during the post-breeding migration were concentrated in four distinct regions: the Balkan Peninsula, central Anatolia, along with the Zagros Mountain range and from the Indus River delta to the Kathiawar Peninsula. Post-breeding migration routes followed the shortest path connecting breeding and non-breeding sites, except for the initial detour from the breeding sites to the first stopovers at the Balkan Peninsula. The pre-breeding migration routes occur along the Arabian Peninsula, about 1000 km south of the post-breeding routes – creating a clockwise loop migration pattern. Post-breeding migration lasted about two months, whereas pre-breeding migration was almost two times shorter, conforming to energy- and time-minimisation strategies, respectively. During the postbreeding migration, birds seem to track ecological niches found on their breeding grounds. Post-breeding stopover areas were rich in mosaic lands and were in warm and dry climates of Mediterranean character, while forests and bare areas, as well as arid and humid climates, were avoided.
Znanstveno-stručni skup Nacionalnog parka Plitvička jezera povodom 60 godina od osnivanja i 30 godina od upisa na UNESCO-vu Listu svjetske kulturne i prirodne baštine : zbornik radova, 2011
Capsule: In Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis populations from the eastern Adriatic Sea, there... more Capsule: In Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis populations from the eastern Adriatic Sea, there are considerable differences in the ratio of migratory birds and apparent survival among the colonies. Survival was dependent on age, colony and area of dispersal. Aims: To identify the ratio of migratory birds within populations of Yellow-legged Gulls, and to compare apparent survival of gulls during migration in central and northern Europe and around the Adriatic Sea. Methods: We analysed 15 years of resighting data of Yellow-legged Gulls using a MARK multi-state model to calculate survival rates. The effects of age, natal colony and area of dispersal were examined. Results: Almost 60% of Adriatic Yellow-legged Gulls were migratory but the ratio varied among colonies (10.3-78.3%). Survival was dependent on age, colony and area of dispersal, with average values per group ranging between 0.599 (se 0.093) and 0.684 (se 0.084). Conclusion: The ratio of migratory and dispersive Yellow-legged Gulls from different Adriatic colonies might be affected by both inheritance and food availability.
Fighting and flirting are the main evolutionary forces behind the development of bird song and bo... more Fighting and flirting are the main evolutionary forces behind the development of bird song and both contribute to different song characteristics. By comparison of vocalisations throughout bird taxa, we can help to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the song. In this study, we provide the first detailed analysis of song structure and song type variability in the Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala). We quantify the fine structural characteristics of the song and describe the song and syllable repertoire size. Further, we describe intraindividual song variability over time and interindividual song variability over space, and we explore whether this species uses syntactic rules to create songs. Our analyses reveal that the Black-headed Bunting has a short yet rather complex song and that the syllable pool is extensive. Its song is constructed of three parts that differ in both complexity and rhythm, suggesting the use of syntactic rules in constructing a song. The male song is typically built of 9-13 syllables, with 7-12 that are non-repetitive. Each male sings only one stereotyped song, which remains identical throughout the male's lifespan, providing evidence for age-limited song learning. Songs are individually distinct, suggesting the importance of song in individual recognition of males. Two spatial levels of song variation in the Black-headed Bunting are shown. On a microgeographical level, relatively small song neighbourhoods are formed with a handful of birds singing the same song type. On a macrogeographical level, dialects can be distinguished by the end part of a song. The most striking feature of the male Black-headed Bunting song is the immense variability of song types. Typically, only a small number of males shared the same song type, and males with unique song types occurred frequently as well. The high song complexity and single-song repertoire found in the Black-headed Bunting could reflect a high level of polygyny and a low level of parental care, therefore pointing to strong intersexual selection on the male song. Keywords Song dialect • Song similarity • Single-song species • Age-limited song learners Zusammenfassung Aufbau und Variabilität des Gesangs männlicher Kappenammern (Emberiza melanocephala) Kämpfen und Flirten sind zwei wichtige Funktionen des Vogelgesangs und damit auch treibende Kräfte der Evolution, die zur Ausprägung von Vogelgesängen beitragen, dabei aber unterschiedliche strukturelle Merkmale fördern. Um die Evolution von Vogelgesängen zu rekonstruieren, ist unter anderem der Vergleich von Gesängen verschiedener Vogelarten eine wertvolle Methode. In dieser Studie präsentieren wir dazu die erste detaillierte quantitative Analyse und Beschreibung von Struktur und Variabilität des Gesangs männlicher Kappenammer (Emberiza melanocephala). Neben Gesangsaufbau, der Ausprägung von Gesangstypen und der Silbenrepertoiregröße werden intra-und interindividuelle Gesangsunterschiede sowie mögliche zugrundeliegende syntaktische Regeln untersucht. Unsere Analysen zeigen, dass männliche Kappenammern kurze aber komplexe Gesänge produzieren, die sie aus einem umfangreichen Silbenpool schöpfen. Der typische Gesang von Kappenammermännchen besteht aus drei Teilen, die sich in Komplexität und Rhythmus unterscheiden, was auf die Verwendung syntaktischer Regeln beim Gesangsaufbau hindeutet. Eine Gesangstrophe besteht typischerweise aus 9-13 Silben Communicated by S. Kipper.
Larus : godišnjak Zavoda za ornitologiju Hrvatske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti, 2018
Historical records of occurrence of the European Roller Coracias garrulus in Croatia are examined... more Historical records of occurrence of the European Roller Coracias garrulus in Croatia are examined to determine its former breeding distribution in Croatia. The European Roller once bred in lowland region of Croatia and was most numerous in river valleys. As in most other parts of its European breeding range, it suffered a severe decline and finally went extinct in lowland region. The last confirmation of its breeding in lowland region was from Hrvatsko Zagorje from the 1980s. At the same time, in the 1980s, breeding was for the first time recorded in the coastal region, in Ravni kotari. After almost thirty years without confirmations, breeding was again confirmed in Ravni kotari in 2010. Following the rediscovery, a monitoring program was initiated in 2011. Subsequently, breeding attempt was also recoreded in Istria. Launching targeted conservation measures is urgently needed to preserve the European Roller as a breeding bird in Croatia.
1. Currently, the deployment of tracking devices is one of the most frequently used approaches to... more 1. Currently, the deployment of tracking devices is one of the most frequently used approaches to study movement ecology of birds. Recent miniaturisation of light-level geolocators enabled studying small bird species whose migratory patterns were widely unknown. However, geolocators may reduce vital rates in tagged birds and may bias obtained movement data. 2. There is a need for a thorough assessment of the potential tag effects on small birds, as previous meta-analyses did not evaluate unpublished data and impact of multiple life-history traits, focused mainly on large species and the number of published studies tagging small birds has increased substantially. 3. We quantitatively reviewed 549 records extracted from 74 published and 48 unpublished studies on over 7,800 tagged and 17,800 control individuals to examine the effects of geolocator tagging on small bird species (body mass <100 g). We calculated the effect of tagging on apparent survival, condition, phenology and breeding performance and identified the most important predictors of the magnitude of effect sizes. 4. Even though the effects were not statistically significant in phylogenetically controlled models, we found a weak negative impact of geolocators on apparent survival. The negative effect on apparent survival was stronger with increasing relative load of the device and with geolocators attached using elastic harnesses. Moreover, tagging effects were stronger in smaller species. 5. In conclusion, we found a weak effect on apparent survival of tagged birds and managed to pinpoint key aspects and drivers of tagging effects. We provide recommendations for Accepted Article This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. establishing matched control group for proper effect size assessment in future studies and outline various aspects of tagging that need further investigation. Finally, our results encourage further use of geolocators on small bird species but the ethical aspects and scientific benefits should always be considered.
Both habitat changes and predation can cause population declines in farmland birds. Habitat chang... more Both habitat changes and predation can cause population declines in farmland birds. Habitat changes may allow novel or invasive alien predators to establish populations in new environments, which can have major ecological consequences for native prey species. We studied effects of a novel avian predator, the Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus), on the survival of male Black-headed Buntings (Emberiza melanocephala). Between 2011 and 2015, survival of 35 territorial Black-headed Bunting males was monitored and their apparent survival in years with and without predators was computed. The apparent monthly survival (reported ± SE) was very high during the breeding seasons when Montagu's Harrier was not present (0.957 ± 0.035) as well as in nonbreeding periods (0.981 ± 0.011). It was significantly lower during the breeding season of 2013 when Montagu's Harrier was present in the area (0.600 ± 0.136). Changes in habitat structure due to alteration in agricultural practice and temporal changes in weather conditions have presumably enabled Montagu's Harriers to breed in the study area and led to increases in the importance of birds in Montagu's Harrier's diet. The appearance of Montagu's Harriers in the study area strongly coincided with the steep decrease in the apparent survival of the male Black-headed Buntings. The lack of appropriate response in male Black-headed Buntings made them extremely vulnerable to attacks of this aerial predator. Effet lié à l'habitat d'un prédateur rare sur la survie apparente du Bruant mélanocéphale mâle RÉSUMÉ. Les modifications de l'habitat et la prédation peuvent tous deux être en cause dans les baisses de population d'oiseaux champêtres. Les modifications de l'habitat peuvent permettre à de nouveaux prédateurs ou des prédateurs étrangers envahissants d'établir des populations dans de nouveaux paysages, pouvant du coup entraîner des conséquences écologiques graves pour les espècesproie indigènes. Nous avons étudié les effets d'un nouveau prédateur aviaire, le Busard cendré (Circus pygargus), sur la survie des Bruants mélanocéphales (Emberiza melanocephala) mâles. Entre 2011 et 2015, la survie de 35 Bruants mélanocéphales mâles territoriaux a été suivie et leur survie apparente avec ou sans prédateurs a été calculée selon les années. La survie apparente mensuelle (rapportée ± erreurtype) était très élevée au cours des saisons de nidification où le Busard cendré n'était pas présent (0,957 ± 0,035) ainsi qu'en dehors de la saison de reproduction (0,981 ± 0,011). Cette survie était très faible durant la saison de nidification de 2013 (0,600 ± 0,136) alors que le Busard cendré était présent dans le secteur. Les changements de la structure de l'habitat, attribuables aux modifications des pratiques agricoles, de même que les changements temporels des conditions météorologiques ont apparemment permis au Busard cendré de se reproduire dans l'aire d'étude et ont mené à l'augmentation de l'importance des oiseaux dans la diète du busard. L'apparition du Busard cendré dans l'aire d'étude a coïncidé grandement avec la diminution importante de la survie apparente des Bruants mélanocéphales mâles. Le manque de réactions appropriées de la part des bruants mâles les a rendus extrêmement vulnérables aux attaques de ce prédateur aérien.
The Croatian population of the eagle owl Bubo bubo (Linnaeus, 1758) is estimated at 800-1200 bree... more The Croatian population of the eagle owl Bubo bubo (Linnaeus, 1758) is estimated at 800-1200 breeding pairs with the majority of population breeding in the Mediterranean region, along the eastern Adriatic coast. The main aims of this work were twofold: (1) to determine the eagle owl territorial densities in the central part of Mediterranean Croatia; and (2) to examine landscape composition and configuration of the study plots and consider possible reasons for differences in recorded densities. The abundance of the eagle owl was surveyed from 2001 to 2006 within three plots of similar size (a total survey area of 246 km 2): two plots were on the mainland and one on the archipelago at about 16 km from the coast. The playback method was used to stimulate eagle owl territorial behaviour and to determine the locations of their territories. Territorial densities ranged from 4.5 to 26.2 pairs/100 km 2 , with the highest density being recorded on islands. We suggest that this high density is a result of good foraging conditions, especially year-round availability and high abundance of the yellow-legged gull Larus michahellis J. F. Naumann, 1840 and the brown rat Rattus rattus (Linnaeus, 1758), together with low risk of human-induced mortality.
Larus : godišnjak Zavoda za ornitologiju Hrvatske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti, 2016
Museum skins of the Black-eared Wheatear Oenante hispanica from the eastern Adriatic coast were e... more Museum skins of the Black-eared Wheatear Oenante hispanica from the eastern Adriatic coast were examined in order to identify subspecies. All 91 examined skins belong to O. h. melanoleuca. Wing lengths (88-96 mm in adult males, 87-93.5 mm in 2 nd year males and 84-92 mm in females) are among the longest for this species. The proportion of the black-throated morph was 56.5% in males and 40.9% in females. Biometric measures and variability in tail pattern are described.
The distribution and abundance of woodpecker species in the mountain forests of Croatian Karst re... more The distribution and abundance of woodpecker species in the mountain forests of Croatian Karst region were studied from 2004 to 2007. The aim was to establish the basis for monitoring populations of woodpeckers as part of an extensive Karst Ecosystems Conservation Project. Since woodpeckers are regarded as a key forest species, they were used as indicators of forest biodiversity and naturalness. The study was conducted in the highest part of the Croatian Dinaric Alps. Four mountain forest habitats types were covered: beech forests, fir-beech forests, beech-pine forest and spruce forests. Woodpeckers were counted on nine transects. Each transect contained 15 standpoints for census. Sound luring was used. Six species of woodpeckers were found in the research area: Lesser Spotted, Great Spotted, White-backed, Three-toed, Grey-headed and Black Woodpecker. The former four species were selected for future monitoring. Results of the census – that is, the distribution and the abundance of w...
Prikazana su kretanja crnoglavog batica na temelju stogodisnjih podataka o prstenovanim i nađenim... more Prikazana su kretanja crnoglavog batica na temelju stogodisnjih podataka o prstenovanim i nađenim pticama.
The Black Stork is a regular, solitary breeder, characteristic of old floodplain forests surround... more The Black Stork is a regular, solitary breeder, characteristic of old floodplain forests surrounded by good feeding areas. The national breeding population is estimated at 220-340 pairs. The breeding population is Red-listed as Vulnerable. Thanks to the international color- ringing programe, 49 recoveries of 23 individual storks have been reported. Foreign birds belong to breeding populations of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Serbia on their way to wintering sites. Croatian Black Storks follow the eastern migration route via Turkey and Israel. Exact wintering sites of Croatian populations are not yet known. Through intensive research effort, alluvial wetlands in the triangle of Hungary, Serbia and Croatia (incl. Kopacki rit) have been proved to be one of the most important breeding and stopover sites. Breeding of ringed individuals has been recorded 40-80 km from the natal place, indicating breeding-site fidelity.
Preletnicka populacija svojte je, prema IUCN regionalnoj klasifikaciji, kategorizirana ugroženom ... more Preletnicka populacija svojte je, prema IUCN regionalnoj klasifikaciji, kategorizirana ugroženom (EN).
The breeding period is a demanding and time-constrained phase for migratory bird species. Breedin... more The breeding period is a demanding and time-constrained phase for migratory bird species. Breeding outcome and duration can interact with the extent and duration of post-breeding movements, resulting in individual differences in space use ultimately influencing later stages of the annual cycle. We present space-use and home range estimates during the breeding season for 21 European rollers Coracias garrulus tracked between 2018 and 2022, in Italy and Croatia. Using high-resolution spatial GPS data coupled with regular nest-box monitoring, we analyzed differences in space use during the incubation/nestling period versus post-breeding period prior to migration, accounting for the breeding outcome (successful vs. failure). We found that adult movements were strongly reduced during the first phase, whereas increased in the post-breeding phase, especially for failed breeders. Successful breeders remained in the surroundings of the nest site, whereas unsuccessful ones tended to abandon th...
<strong>Abstract</strong> The black-headed bunting is one of the few species that mig... more <strong>Abstract</strong> The black-headed bunting is one of the few species that migrate along the Indo- European flyway, and its migration routes and phenology are poorly understood. We provide the first individual-based year-round tracking study describing route choice and timing of black-headed buntings migrating from a breeding site in Croatia to a 6000 km distant non-breeding region in Maharashtra, Central India. To evaluate landscapes important for the black-headed bunting migration, we quantified land covers and climates along the migration corridor. Stopover areas during the post-breeding migration were concentrated in four distinct regions: the Balkan Peninsula, central Anatolia, along with the Zagros Mountain range and from the Indus River delta to the Kathiawar Peninsula. Post-breeding migration routes followed the shortest path connecting breeding and non-breeding sites, except for the initial detour from the breeding sites to the first stopovers at the Balkan Peninsula. The pre-breeding migration routes occur along the Arabian Peninsula, about 1000 km south of the post-breeding routes – creating a clockwise loop migration pattern. Post-breeding migration lasted about two months, whereas pre-breeding migration was almost two times shorter, conforming to energy- and time-minimisation strategies, respectively. During the postbreeding migration, birds seem to track ecological niches found on their breeding grounds. Post-breeding stopover areas were rich in mosaic lands and were in warm and dry climates of Mediterranean character, while forests and bare areas, as well as arid and humid climates, were avoided.
Znanstveno-stručni skup Nacionalnog parka Plitvička jezera povodom 60 godina od osnivanja i 30 godina od upisa na UNESCO-vu Listu svjetske kulturne i prirodne baštine : zbornik radova, 2011
Capsule: In Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis populations from the eastern Adriatic Sea, there... more Capsule: In Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis populations from the eastern Adriatic Sea, there are considerable differences in the ratio of migratory birds and apparent survival among the colonies. Survival was dependent on age, colony and area of dispersal. Aims: To identify the ratio of migratory birds within populations of Yellow-legged Gulls, and to compare apparent survival of gulls during migration in central and northern Europe and around the Adriatic Sea. Methods: We analysed 15 years of resighting data of Yellow-legged Gulls using a MARK multi-state model to calculate survival rates. The effects of age, natal colony and area of dispersal were examined. Results: Almost 60% of Adriatic Yellow-legged Gulls were migratory but the ratio varied among colonies (10.3-78.3%). Survival was dependent on age, colony and area of dispersal, with average values per group ranging between 0.599 (se 0.093) and 0.684 (se 0.084). Conclusion: The ratio of migratory and dispersive Yellow-legged Gulls from different Adriatic colonies might be affected by both inheritance and food availability.
Fighting and flirting are the main evolutionary forces behind the development of bird song and bo... more Fighting and flirting are the main evolutionary forces behind the development of bird song and both contribute to different song characteristics. By comparison of vocalisations throughout bird taxa, we can help to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the song. In this study, we provide the first detailed analysis of song structure and song type variability in the Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala). We quantify the fine structural characteristics of the song and describe the song and syllable repertoire size. Further, we describe intraindividual song variability over time and interindividual song variability over space, and we explore whether this species uses syntactic rules to create songs. Our analyses reveal that the Black-headed Bunting has a short yet rather complex song and that the syllable pool is extensive. Its song is constructed of three parts that differ in both complexity and rhythm, suggesting the use of syntactic rules in constructing a song. The male song is typically built of 9-13 syllables, with 7-12 that are non-repetitive. Each male sings only one stereotyped song, which remains identical throughout the male's lifespan, providing evidence for age-limited song learning. Songs are individually distinct, suggesting the importance of song in individual recognition of males. Two spatial levels of song variation in the Black-headed Bunting are shown. On a microgeographical level, relatively small song neighbourhoods are formed with a handful of birds singing the same song type. On a macrogeographical level, dialects can be distinguished by the end part of a song. The most striking feature of the male Black-headed Bunting song is the immense variability of song types. Typically, only a small number of males shared the same song type, and males with unique song types occurred frequently as well. The high song complexity and single-song repertoire found in the Black-headed Bunting could reflect a high level of polygyny and a low level of parental care, therefore pointing to strong intersexual selection on the male song. Keywords Song dialect • Song similarity • Single-song species • Age-limited song learners Zusammenfassung Aufbau und Variabilität des Gesangs männlicher Kappenammern (Emberiza melanocephala) Kämpfen und Flirten sind zwei wichtige Funktionen des Vogelgesangs und damit auch treibende Kräfte der Evolution, die zur Ausprägung von Vogelgesängen beitragen, dabei aber unterschiedliche strukturelle Merkmale fördern. Um die Evolution von Vogelgesängen zu rekonstruieren, ist unter anderem der Vergleich von Gesängen verschiedener Vogelarten eine wertvolle Methode. In dieser Studie präsentieren wir dazu die erste detaillierte quantitative Analyse und Beschreibung von Struktur und Variabilität des Gesangs männlicher Kappenammer (Emberiza melanocephala). Neben Gesangsaufbau, der Ausprägung von Gesangstypen und der Silbenrepertoiregröße werden intra-und interindividuelle Gesangsunterschiede sowie mögliche zugrundeliegende syntaktische Regeln untersucht. Unsere Analysen zeigen, dass männliche Kappenammern kurze aber komplexe Gesänge produzieren, die sie aus einem umfangreichen Silbenpool schöpfen. Der typische Gesang von Kappenammermännchen besteht aus drei Teilen, die sich in Komplexität und Rhythmus unterscheiden, was auf die Verwendung syntaktischer Regeln beim Gesangsaufbau hindeutet. Eine Gesangstrophe besteht typischerweise aus 9-13 Silben Communicated by S. Kipper.
Larus : godišnjak Zavoda za ornitologiju Hrvatske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti, 2018
Historical records of occurrence of the European Roller Coracias garrulus in Croatia are examined... more Historical records of occurrence of the European Roller Coracias garrulus in Croatia are examined to determine its former breeding distribution in Croatia. The European Roller once bred in lowland region of Croatia and was most numerous in river valleys. As in most other parts of its European breeding range, it suffered a severe decline and finally went extinct in lowland region. The last confirmation of its breeding in lowland region was from Hrvatsko Zagorje from the 1980s. At the same time, in the 1980s, breeding was for the first time recorded in the coastal region, in Ravni kotari. After almost thirty years without confirmations, breeding was again confirmed in Ravni kotari in 2010. Following the rediscovery, a monitoring program was initiated in 2011. Subsequently, breeding attempt was also recoreded in Istria. Launching targeted conservation measures is urgently needed to preserve the European Roller as a breeding bird in Croatia.
1. Currently, the deployment of tracking devices is one of the most frequently used approaches to... more 1. Currently, the deployment of tracking devices is one of the most frequently used approaches to study movement ecology of birds. Recent miniaturisation of light-level geolocators enabled studying small bird species whose migratory patterns were widely unknown. However, geolocators may reduce vital rates in tagged birds and may bias obtained movement data. 2. There is a need for a thorough assessment of the potential tag effects on small birds, as previous meta-analyses did not evaluate unpublished data and impact of multiple life-history traits, focused mainly on large species and the number of published studies tagging small birds has increased substantially. 3. We quantitatively reviewed 549 records extracted from 74 published and 48 unpublished studies on over 7,800 tagged and 17,800 control individuals to examine the effects of geolocator tagging on small bird species (body mass <100 g). We calculated the effect of tagging on apparent survival, condition, phenology and breeding performance and identified the most important predictors of the magnitude of effect sizes. 4. Even though the effects were not statistically significant in phylogenetically controlled models, we found a weak negative impact of geolocators on apparent survival. The negative effect on apparent survival was stronger with increasing relative load of the device and with geolocators attached using elastic harnesses. Moreover, tagging effects were stronger in smaller species. 5. In conclusion, we found a weak effect on apparent survival of tagged birds and managed to pinpoint key aspects and drivers of tagging effects. We provide recommendations for Accepted Article This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. establishing matched control group for proper effect size assessment in future studies and outline various aspects of tagging that need further investigation. Finally, our results encourage further use of geolocators on small bird species but the ethical aspects and scientific benefits should always be considered.
Both habitat changes and predation can cause population declines in farmland birds. Habitat chang... more Both habitat changes and predation can cause population declines in farmland birds. Habitat changes may allow novel or invasive alien predators to establish populations in new environments, which can have major ecological consequences for native prey species. We studied effects of a novel avian predator, the Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus), on the survival of male Black-headed Buntings (Emberiza melanocephala). Between 2011 and 2015, survival of 35 territorial Black-headed Bunting males was monitored and their apparent survival in years with and without predators was computed. The apparent monthly survival (reported ± SE) was very high during the breeding seasons when Montagu's Harrier was not present (0.957 ± 0.035) as well as in nonbreeding periods (0.981 ± 0.011). It was significantly lower during the breeding season of 2013 when Montagu's Harrier was present in the area (0.600 ± 0.136). Changes in habitat structure due to alteration in agricultural practice and temporal changes in weather conditions have presumably enabled Montagu's Harriers to breed in the study area and led to increases in the importance of birds in Montagu's Harrier's diet. The appearance of Montagu's Harriers in the study area strongly coincided with the steep decrease in the apparent survival of the male Black-headed Buntings. The lack of appropriate response in male Black-headed Buntings made them extremely vulnerable to attacks of this aerial predator. Effet lié à l'habitat d'un prédateur rare sur la survie apparente du Bruant mélanocéphale mâle RÉSUMÉ. Les modifications de l'habitat et la prédation peuvent tous deux être en cause dans les baisses de population d'oiseaux champêtres. Les modifications de l'habitat peuvent permettre à de nouveaux prédateurs ou des prédateurs étrangers envahissants d'établir des populations dans de nouveaux paysages, pouvant du coup entraîner des conséquences écologiques graves pour les espècesproie indigènes. Nous avons étudié les effets d'un nouveau prédateur aviaire, le Busard cendré (Circus pygargus), sur la survie des Bruants mélanocéphales (Emberiza melanocephala) mâles. Entre 2011 et 2015, la survie de 35 Bruants mélanocéphales mâles territoriaux a été suivie et leur survie apparente avec ou sans prédateurs a été calculée selon les années. La survie apparente mensuelle (rapportée ± erreurtype) était très élevée au cours des saisons de nidification où le Busard cendré n'était pas présent (0,957 ± 0,035) ainsi qu'en dehors de la saison de reproduction (0,981 ± 0,011). Cette survie était très faible durant la saison de nidification de 2013 (0,600 ± 0,136) alors que le Busard cendré était présent dans le secteur. Les changements de la structure de l'habitat, attribuables aux modifications des pratiques agricoles, de même que les changements temporels des conditions météorologiques ont apparemment permis au Busard cendré de se reproduire dans l'aire d'étude et ont mené à l'augmentation de l'importance des oiseaux dans la diète du busard. L'apparition du Busard cendré dans l'aire d'étude a coïncidé grandement avec la diminution importante de la survie apparente des Bruants mélanocéphales mâles. Le manque de réactions appropriées de la part des bruants mâles les a rendus extrêmement vulnérables aux attaques de ce prédateur aérien.
The Croatian population of the eagle owl Bubo bubo (Linnaeus, 1758) is estimated at 800-1200 bree... more The Croatian population of the eagle owl Bubo bubo (Linnaeus, 1758) is estimated at 800-1200 breeding pairs with the majority of population breeding in the Mediterranean region, along the eastern Adriatic coast. The main aims of this work were twofold: (1) to determine the eagle owl territorial densities in the central part of Mediterranean Croatia; and (2) to examine landscape composition and configuration of the study plots and consider possible reasons for differences in recorded densities. The abundance of the eagle owl was surveyed from 2001 to 2006 within three plots of similar size (a total survey area of 246 km 2): two plots were on the mainland and one on the archipelago at about 16 km from the coast. The playback method was used to stimulate eagle owl territorial behaviour and to determine the locations of their territories. Territorial densities ranged from 4.5 to 26.2 pairs/100 km 2 , with the highest density being recorded on islands. We suggest that this high density is a result of good foraging conditions, especially year-round availability and high abundance of the yellow-legged gull Larus michahellis J. F. Naumann, 1840 and the brown rat Rattus rattus (Linnaeus, 1758), together with low risk of human-induced mortality.
Larus : godišnjak Zavoda za ornitologiju Hrvatske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti, 2016
Museum skins of the Black-eared Wheatear Oenante hispanica from the eastern Adriatic coast were e... more Museum skins of the Black-eared Wheatear Oenante hispanica from the eastern Adriatic coast were examined in order to identify subspecies. All 91 examined skins belong to O. h. melanoleuca. Wing lengths (88-96 mm in adult males, 87-93.5 mm in 2 nd year males and 84-92 mm in females) are among the longest for this species. The proportion of the black-throated morph was 56.5% in males and 40.9% in females. Biometric measures and variability in tail pattern are described.
The distribution and abundance of woodpecker species in the mountain forests of Croatian Karst re... more The distribution and abundance of woodpecker species in the mountain forests of Croatian Karst region were studied from 2004 to 2007. The aim was to establish the basis for monitoring populations of woodpeckers as part of an extensive Karst Ecosystems Conservation Project. Since woodpeckers are regarded as a key forest species, they were used as indicators of forest biodiversity and naturalness. The study was conducted in the highest part of the Croatian Dinaric Alps. Four mountain forest habitats types were covered: beech forests, fir-beech forests, beech-pine forest and spruce forests. Woodpeckers were counted on nine transects. Each transect contained 15 standpoints for census. Sound luring was used. Six species of woodpeckers were found in the research area: Lesser Spotted, Great Spotted, White-backed, Three-toed, Grey-headed and Black Woodpecker. The former four species were selected for future monitoring. Results of the census – that is, the distribution and the abundance of w...
Prikazana su kretanja crnoglavog batica na temelju stogodisnjih podataka o prstenovanim i nađenim... more Prikazana su kretanja crnoglavog batica na temelju stogodisnjih podataka o prstenovanim i nađenim pticama.
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