The migration starting date (MSD) of 30 Eurasian Teal and 8 Eurasian Stone-curlews was estimated by processing tracking data with four methods. A significant difference was found for Teal, with methods fitting models on Net Square Displacement postponing MSD compared to distance threshold methods. In Stone-curlews the four methods provided comparable MSD estimates. The reliability of Teal MSD was evaluated comparing the estimated ratio between time at stopover/time in flight with the ratio expected from the optimal migration theory. Threshold methods provided estimates closer to the ratio expected for time-minimizing migrants and therefore seems the most reliable approach, especially for datasets with irregular sampling and variable migratory strategies.

In this study, we aimed to characterise the genetic diversity of Italian pigeon breeds and describe the relationships among them and other European lineages, conjecturing which processes have led to actual breeds. We analysed the eight most diffused Italian pigeon breeds in addition to 11 foreign lineages that could have shared common ancestors or have been used in the creation of the Italian breeds. We analysed 12 autosomal microsatellite loci in 427 samples collected from 19 breeds belonging to six main groups of domestic pigeons (tumblers and highflyers, structure, owls, wattle, utility and hen). Genetic variability did not differ considerably among breeds, with an average observed heterozygosity (HO) of 0.550 ± 0.072 (max = 0.661 in breed Sottobanca; min = 0.411 in breed Frillback). The 21.34% of total genetic variation found was partitioned among breeds. Italian pigeon breeds were assigned coherently to their respective groups of origin. The analysis supports the origin of homing pigeons from English Carrier and the existence of a close relationship between Old Dutch Capuchine and Italian Owl. Despite the differences in body size, pigeons of the breeds belonging to the hen group are genetically very similar. The sub-populations recognised by breeders inside Italian Owl and Triganino are not genetically supported and their identification as new breeds ought not to be yet proposed, although they are morphologically distinguishable. Consequently, it could also be discussed how the genetic characterisation of domestic lineages could give useful information in breeding and selection processes.

Different hypotheses exist to explain the ability of individuals or species to modify their behaviours in response to the urban environment. Our study addresses risk-taking in urban birds as an essential behavioural change in cities allowing the species to manage living in anthropic habitats. Specifically, we tested role of phylogeny and the environment on risk-taking, expressed in lower escape distances. We adopted a comparative approach and compared the flight distance of urban pigeons and urban crows in Paris with rural wild rock doves and crows in Sardinia, thus contrasting environmental conditions (urban or rural), species (columbids vs. corvids) and type (feral or wild). Pigeons had lower flight distance than crows in both rural and urban environments, and rural individuals of both species had higher flight distance than urban individuals. However, this intraspecific difference was higher in pigeons than in crows, and the interspecific difference was higher in urban than in rural areas. Our study shows that risk-taking in birds is the outcome of a complex interplay between several environmental and phylogenetic factors, and confirms the hypothesis of increased risk-taking in urban pigeons as a result of a pre-adaptation due to artificial selection, as often suggested but never scientifically demonstrated.

The countryside is visited daily by feral pigeons that find in agricultural habitat an important and well exploited source of food. These feeding flights are a significant source of damage to agriculture and for this reason a plan for pigeons culling has been drawn by the Pisa Province for crop protection. In order to better assess interactions between pigeons and agriculture, three major topics have been investigated, namely: census of urban population of pigeons, study of their home range and of their habitat preferences in the countryside.

SUMMARY Rhythmic synchronous flashing in flying males has been observed in a race of Luciola mingrelica Men. of the Sarajevo area. The synchronous flashing displays, which involve several specimens, are short and infrequent; the degree of synchrony is variable. Synchronous flashing may also be induced by rhythmically repeated light pulses. In the process of synchronization between two males, after an initial phase in which one of the specimens responds with a short delay to the flashes of the other, the two partners often get into a synchrony which is apparently perfect to visual observation. Actually a phase difference estimated to be no greather than 130 msec might occur. The mechanisms by which synchrony may be initiated and maintained are discussed.

SUMMARY Some observations have been made on foraging flights of a colony of rock pigeons in North-West Sardinia. The birds made daily flights of distances up to about 20 km. Homing experiments have been conducted on rock pigeons coming from two different demes. The birds used were born and bred in captivity in two separate lofts (Amino, near Pisa; and Rome). The results show that for distances up to approximately 10 km, the homing performances are not very inferior to those of the homing pigeons of the control group. From greater distances (15–80 km) the rock pigeons performed worse, with long re-entry times (days or weeks) and higher losses with respect to the control group. Some rock pigeons, however, had good performances even at considerable distances with re-entry from up to about 80 km. At the release site the rock pigeons desplayed a tendency to land, often after having flown more or less extensively over the release site itself. However, in those cases in which they took off immediately after the ...

Offspring recognition has been confirmed in many bird species, and vocal signatures appear to be its major component. Up to now most studies dealt with colonial species, but recent findings indicate that similar recognition is also present in non-colonial birds. By integrating spectrographic analysis and playback experiments, we investigated for the first time parent–offspring vocal recognition in the Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus), a highly vocal, crepuscular-nocturnal species that usually rears a maximum of two precocial and nidifugous chicks. Even though the species is usually non-colonial and non-cooperative, in Taro River Regional Park, Parma, Italy, breeding territories are densely packed with distances between simultaneously active nests as close as 40 m, which creates the possibility that chicks might be exchanged. Our analysis identified two main vocalizations in the chick call repertoire: (1) the S-call, a brief strangled soft sound often uttered when parents and chicks were at close quarters; and (2) the C-call, a chirping sound with a complex structure, which seems to be a long-distance contact vocalization. Our acoustic analysis showed that, even though the structure was remarkably different between chicks, C-calls were an unreliable individual signature given their high intra-individual variability. This was confirmed by playback experiments. Indeed, when presented with simulated C-calling chicks, adults approached both their own and foreign chicks with equal responses. These results suggest that parent Stone Curlews are unable to recognize their offspring by voice. Furthermore, experiments are needed to test whether the chicks are able to recognize their parents' voice and, more generally, to understand the details of parent–offspring communication in this species.

The red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa, Linnaeus 1758, Phasianidae) is a common game bird in Europe and it is classified as SPEC 2 (Species of European Conservation Concern), that is, a species with unfavorable conservation status due to a marked population decline. Loss of suitable habitat and hunting management are considered among the major causes of its decline. Such a decline can be also related to agriculture intensification, changes in agricultural practices and the abandonment of less productive lands. Habitat suitability models are an important management tool to define the potential distribution range of a given species, design a protected area network, and plan appropriate management actions and evaluate their effects. This study was conducted on Elba Island (Tuscany) in spring 2011 to define the habitat factors that affect the A. rufa distribution in a typical Mediterranean landscape. On this island the species is declining, as it is in other areas of Europe. We carried out point counts in a survey stratified according to vegetation. We formulated Resource Probability Selection Functions following a presence vs. availability design by Binary Logistic Regression Analysis to obtain a map of potential distribution of the species. We observed that the red-legged partridge distribution was mainly linked to the natural habitat with garrigue and perennial meadows, whereas woody landscape had a negative effect. To stop the species decline on the island habitat improvement actions are needed, such as the cutting of dense vegetation to create open areas.

SUMMARY A description has been given of the communicative activities and colour patterns occurring during the reproductive behaviour of Tilapia mariae (Boulanger). The temporal relationships between the various activities and between the activities and colour patterns in this fish has been quantitatively studied with the aim of testing whether behaviour systems can be distinguished which, in interaction with each other, bring about agonistic, sexual and parental behaviour. The evidence obtained fits the hypothesis that at least three factors are involved in the causation of the reproductive displays, namely a tendency to stay in, and defend a territory (characterized by colour pattern B in Fig. 4), a tendency to stay in a certain place but to escape attack (characterized by overall darkness of the body, colour pattern C in Fig. 4), and a tendency to move about and aggregate in a school (characterized by colour pattern A in Fig. 4).

The use of chemosterilisation for controlling feral pigeon populations was investigated by: (1) quantifying the reproductive activity of pigeons in two Italian cities; (2) testing the efficacy of nicarbazin, an anticoccidial drug with rapid and reversible effects on the reproduction of laying hens, on groups of paired pigeons maintained in open aviaries; and (3) simulating the effects of the use of nicarbazin on a hypothetical population, allowing for the reproductive productivity recorded in (1) and the ef.cacy of this drug as obtained in (2). Breeding attempts were recorded all year round in both study sites with a minimum peak in September-October, a maximum in March-July, but with active nests in winter too. In terms of the sterility activity of the drug, the results showed only a partial inhibition of reproduction of pigeons fed similar to 38-82 mg nicarbazin day(-1) (kg bodyweight)(-1) (500 and 800 ppm in feed), which, according to the simulations, would produce only a fleeting reduction of their abundance in the field. Data do not seem to support the use of this drug as an effective control method for feral pigeons, and they cast doubts on the opportunity to make use of chemosterilants, which produce only partial and reversible effects. The use of this drug could perhaps be considered only as part of an integrated pest-management program, which necessarily has to include the reduction of carrying capacity of the urban environment.

(1986). Vertebrate ecology and ethology. Bollettino di zoologia: Vol. 53, No. sup001, pp. 83-91.

1.1. The different views concerning the cues involved in pigeon navigation are briefly reviewed.2.2. In the position-finding mechanism, olfactory or magnetic cues seem to play a central rôle; on this basis some perspectives that may lead to future improvements of the matter are stated.

Three series of test releases were performed in which homing pigeons were subjected to an altered magnetic field during displacement. The results confirm that magnetic disturbance during the outward journey influences the initial orientation of pigeons. The effect of the treatment, however, is transitory as homing performances are at most marginally influenced. The possibility is discussed that magnetic information picked up en route is used by pigeons for orientation.

In a first series of nine experiments homing pigeons were prevented from smelling during passive displacement. The initial orientation of experimentals proved to be significantly different from that of controls and the value of the homeward component always higher in controls than in experimentals.