Black kites of different age and sex show similar avoidance responses to wind turbines during migration.

Populations of soaring birds are often impacted by wind-power generation. Sex and age bias in turbine collisions can exacerbate these impacts through demographic changes that can lead to population decline or collapse. While several studies have reported sex and age differences in the number of soaring birds killed by turbines, it remains unclear if they result from different abundances or group-specific turbine avoidance behaviours, the latter having severer consequences. We investigated sex and age effects on turbine avoidance behaviour of black kites (Milvus migrans) during migration near the Strait of Gibraltar. We tracked the movements of 135 individuals with GPS data loggers in an area with high density of turbines and then modelled the effect of proximity of turbines on bird utilization distribution (UD). Both sexes and age classes showed similar patterns of displacement, with reduced UD values in the proximity of turbines and a clear peak at 700-850 m away, probably marking the distance at which most birds turn direction to avoid approaching the turbines further. The consistency of these patterns indicates that displacement range can be used as an accurate proxy for collision risk and habitat loss, and should be incorporated in environmental impact assessment studies.

The gateway to Africa: What determines sea crossing performance of a migratory soaring bird at the Strait of Gibraltar?

Large bodies of water represent major obstacles for the migration of soaring birds because thermal updrafts are absent or weak over water. Soaring birds are known to time their water crossings with favourable weather conditions and there are records of birds falling into the water and drowning in large numbers. However, it is still unclear how environmental factors, individual traits and trajectory choices affect their water crossing performance, this being important to understand the fitness consequences of water barriers for this group of birds. We addressed this problem using the black kite Milvus migrans as model species at a major migration bottleneck, the Strait of Gibraltar. We recorded high-resolution GPS and triaxial accelerometer data for 73 birds while crossing the Strait of Gibraltar, allowing the determination of sea crossing duration, length, altitude, speed and tortuosity, the flapping behaviour of birds and their failed crossing attempts. These parameters were modelled against wind speed and direction, time of the day, solar irradiance (proxy of thermal uplift), starting altitude and distance to Morocco, and age and sex of birds. We found that sea crossing performance of black kites is driven by their age, the wind conditions, the starting altitude and distance to Morocco. Young birds made longer sea crossings and reached lower altitude above the sea than adults. Crosswinds promoted longer sea crossings, with birds reaching lower altitudes and with higher flapping effort. Birds starting at lower altitudes were more likely to quit or made higher flapping effort to complete the crossing. The location where birds started the sea crossings impacted crossing distance and duration. We present evidence that explains why migrating soaring birds accumulate at sea passages during adverse weather conditions. Strong crosswinds during sea crossings force birds to extended flap-powered flight at low altitude, which may increase their chances of falling in the water. We also showed that juvenile birds assume more risks than adults. Finally, the way in which birds start the sea crossing is crucial for their success, particularly the starting altitude, which dictates how far birds can reach with reduced flapping effort.

Morphometry of pectoral muscle fiber and intestinal villi of Calidris pusilla during the wintering period in Brazil / Morfometria da fibra muscular peitoral e das vilosidades intestinais de Calidris pusilla durante o período de invernada no Brasil

Migration is an event observed in several animals, such as shorebirds moving between the northern and southern hemispheres, during breeding and wintering intervals. Morphophysiological adaptations are necessary to allow the maintenance of migratory cycles and, therefore, studies with this focus can help clarify biological aspects related to migration. We analyzed the morphology variation in pectoral muscles and intestinal mucosa of Calidris pusilla, during different phases of the wintering period on the coast of Brazil. Fragments of pectoral muscles and duodenal were collected, fixed and processed for histology according to standard procedure, from specimens captured in a locality on the Brazilian coast. Modifications were found in the measured parameters among the three phases of wintering, arrival in Brazil (October, mid-period), January and departure to the Northern Hemisphere - May. The registered structural dynamism characterizes the growth of flight musculature and intestinal changes related to nutrition. Such changes occur temporarily due to the activities of preparation and migration between the northern and southern hemispheres.(AU)

A migração é um evento observado em vários animais, como as aves limícolas que se deslocam entre os hemisférios norte e sul, durante os intervalos de reprodução e invernada. Adaptações morfofisiológicas são necessárias para permitir a manutenção dos ciclos migratórios e, portanto, estudos com esse enfoque podem ajudar a esclarecer aspectos biológicos relacionados à migração. Analisamos a variação morfológica nos músculos peitorais e mucosa intestinal de Calidris pusilla, durante diferentes fases do período de invernada no litoral brasileiro. Fragmentos de músculos peitorais e duodenais foram coletados, fixados e processados ​​para histologia de acordo com o procedimento padrão, a partir de espécimes capturados na localidade da costa brasileira. O dinamismo estrutural registrado caracteriza o crescimento da musculatura de vôo e as alterações intestinais relacionadas à nutrição. As mudanças nos parâmetros medidos entre as três fases do inverno, chegada ao Brasil (outubro, meio período), janeiro e saída para o Hemisfério Norte. Tais mudanças ocorrem temporariamente devido às atividades de preparação e migração entre os hemisférios norte e sul.(AU)

Morphometry of pectoral muscle fiber and intestinal villi of Calidris pusilla during the wintering period in Brazil / Morfometria da fibra muscular peitoral e das vilosidades intestinais de Calidris pusilla durante o período de invernada no Brasil

Migration is an event observed in several animals, such as shorebirds moving between the northern and southern hemispheres, during breeding and wintering intervals. Morphophysiological adaptations are necessary to allow the maintenance of migratory cycles and, therefore, studies with this focus can help clarify biological aspects related to migration. We analyzed the morphology variation in pectoral muscles and intestinal mucosa of Calidris pusilla, during different phases of the wintering period on the coast of Brazil. Fragments of pectoral muscles and duodenal were collected, fixed and processed for histology according to standard procedure, from specimens captured in a locality on the Brazilian coast. Modifications were found in the measured parameters among the three phases of wintering, arrival in Brazil (October, mid-period), January and departure to the Northern Hemisphere - May. The registered structural dynamism characterizes the growth of flight musculature and intestinal changes related to nutrition. Such changes occur temporarily due to the activities of preparation and migration between the northern and southern hemispheres.(AU)

A migração é um evento observado em vários animais, como as aves limícolas que se deslocam entre os hemisférios norte e sul, durante os intervalos de reprodução e invernada. Adaptações morfofisiológicas são necessárias para permitir a manutenção dos ciclos migratórios e, portanto, estudos com esse enfoque podem ajudar a esclarecer aspectos biológicos relacionados à migração. Analisamos a variação morfológica nos músculos peitorais e mucosa intestinal de Calidris pusilla, durante diferentes fases do período de invernada no litoral brasileiro. Fragmentos de músculos peitorais e duodenais foram coletados, fixados e processados ​​para histologia de acordo com o procedimento padrão, a partir de espécimes capturados na localidade da costa brasileira. O dinamismo estrutural registrado caracteriza o crescimento da musculatura de vôo e as alterações intestinais relacionadas à nutrição. As mudanças nos parâmetros medidos entre as três fases do inverno, chegada ao Brasil (outubro, meio período), janeiro e saída para o Hemisfério Norte. Tais mudanças ocorrem temporariamente devido às atividades de preparação e migração entre os hemisférios norte e sul.(AU)

Navigating north: how body mass and winds shape avian flight behaviours across a North American migratory flyway.

The migratory patterns of birds have been the focus of ecologists for millennia. What behavioural traits underlie these remarkably consistent movements? Addressing this question is central to advancing our understanding of migratory flight strategies and requires the integration of information across levels of biological organisation, e.g. species to communities. Here, we combine species-specific observations from the eBird citizen-science database with observations aggregated from weather surveillance radars during spring migration in central North America. Our results confirm a core prediction of migration theory at an unprecedented national scale: body mass predicts variation in flight strategies across latitudes, with larger-bodied species flying faster and compensating more for wind drift. We also find evidence that migrants travelling northward earlier in the spring increasingly compensate for wind drift at higher latitudes. This integration of information across biological scales provides new insight into patterns and determinants of broad-scale flight strategies of migratory birds.

West Nile Virus in Resident Birds from Yucatan, Mexico.

West Nile virus (WNV) in the Americas is thought to be transported at large spatial scales by migratory birds and locally spread and amplified by resident birds. Local processes, including interspecific interactions and dominance of passerine species recognized as competent reservoirs, may boost infection and maintain endemic cycles. Change in species composition has been recognized as an important driver for infection dynamics. Due to migration and changes in species diversity and composition in wintering grounds, changes in infection prevalence are expected. To these changes, we used PCR to estimate the prevalence of WNV in wild resident birds during the dry and rainy seasons of 2012 in Yucatan, Mexico. Serum samples were obtained from 104 wild birds, belonging to six orders and 35 species. We detected WNV in 14 resident birds, representing 11 species and three orders. Prevalences by order was Passeriformes (27%), Columbiformes (6%), and Piciformes (33%). Resident birds positive to WNV from Yucatan may be indicative of local virus circulation and evidence of past virus transmission activity.