AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Habitatwahl nachtziehender Kleinvögel bei Bodennebel

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1996
Authors:Jenni, L
Journal:Journal of Ornithology
Volume:137
Issue:4
Date Published:1996
ISBN Number:2193-7192
Keywords:Acrocephalidae, Acrocephalus, Acrocephalus scirpaceus, Erithacus, Erithacus rubecula, Merula, Muscicapidae, Notiocichla scirpacea, Sollicitus scirpaceus, Sylvia, Sylvia atricapilla, Sylviidae, Turdidae, Turdus, Turdus merula
Abstract:Night migrants generally terminate migration during the night or before sunrise and usually land in their species-specific habitats. In order to get insights into their behaviour during and after landing, habitat selection of small passerines was examined during ground fog in a sequence of habitats at the shores of Lake Neuchâtel. On days with ground fog, Erithacus rubecula , Turdus merula and Sylvia atricapilla , depending on wood and bushes, were caught in higher relative and absolute numbers on the dune and in the reed-beds which they meet first when flying across the lake, than on days without ground fog. Acrocephalus scirpaceus , a typical reed species, however, was more concentrated in the reed-belt during ground fog than without fog. A day-migrant and a group of sedentary species showed no significant differences. This indicates that visual cues are important when selecting habitats during nocturnal landing. The diurnal distribution of captures and the fat scores of Erithacus rubecula indicate that most individuals caught in the reed-bed and many on the dune had been migrating the previous night. During the first day-light hours, Robins in the reed-bed disperse, probably to more appropriate habitats, irrespective of fog, while Robins that have landed on the dune wait until fog has dissolved.
URL:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01661099
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith