How to cope in a Changing Environment, Behavioural Strategies of the Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthopygos: a Field and Experimental Approach (original) (raw)

Aim: We tried to find out breeding biology and behavioral strategies of the YellowventedBulbul, Pycnonotus xanthopygos, both in the field and in captivity Methods: Campus of Akdeniz University and its vicinity were selected to field study.During the field study, possible territorial areas of the species were checked daily to find nests and to observe behavioral activities at the beginning of March to end ofAugust in 2013. Each nest was observed every second days to get breeding data. Adults were captured by using mist nests and ringed to individual identification. Ringed individuals were measured to classify individual quality. At the end of breeding season of the species, we captured individuals from Çakırlar, 20 km far from Antalya, districtand put them to aviaries to study behavior of the species in captivity . Results: Territorial and nesting tree features of the species were determined. It was found out that pairing was formed at the beginning of the breeding season and both male and female were selected territory and females decided to nesting tree. Male and female were built nest together and they were showed parental care till fledglings can survive alone at the territory. A total of 35 nests were found at the campus during first breeding season. Of the 35 nests; 16 were abandoned and 6 were failed. The breeding success of the species by clutch size was 3 ± 0.2 (2-4), hatching was % 96.6 ± 3.3 and fledgling was % 90,6 ± 2.1 (n:11). Captured individuals are adjusted to the aviaries and are ready to behavioral experiments. . Conclusion: Although P. xanthopygos is considered as an adapted species to the urban ecosystems, result of the first breeding season showed that 45 % of the nests were abandoned by human activities. This indicate that P. xanthopygos is very sensitive to human activities. The question is that how P. xanthopygos cope with human activities and expand its distribution zone. We will conduct behavioral experiments in field and captivity to understand this phenomenon. Key words: Yellow-vented bulbul, Pycnonotus xanthopygos, behaviour of birds,ethology, parental care, ornament

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