Environmental correlates of breeding outcomes in Endangered Grey Crowned Cranes Balearica regulorum in agricultural areas of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Bird Conservation International, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 35

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Summary Birds are often used as ecological indicators because they widely distributed across diverse habitats and display distinct behavioural responses to environmental changes. The Endangered Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum is regarded a flagship species of Africa’s wetland grassland habitats, both which undergoing substantial transformation alternative land uses. delayed reproductive strategies habitat specialisation this crane makes them more vulnerable extinction, but risk further compounded by data paucity. We employed traditional contemporary survey methods collect breeding metrics calculate stage transition probabilities (i.e. egg–hatchling, hatchling–juvenile) identify possible macro-environmental factors that either promote or hinder their output in key agricultural area KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. found Cranes have low hatching rate 38.4% (95% confidence interval 29.3–48.4%) show exacerbated under high rainfall intensity. Multivariate analyses multi-model inference revealed successful nest-sites were generally associated with larger open water-bodies, greater distances from shore, increased proximity secondary roads, buildings, natural grasslands. Although activities might foraging opportunities, the overall outcomes poor region. Our findings stress urgent need for fine-scale collection monitoring better inform conservation species. also encourage future studies focus on aspects affecting regions where human inevitable.

Language: Английский

Drone surveys cause less disturbance than ground-based surveys in endangered spectacled flying-foxes (Pteropus conspicillatus)

Australian Mammalogy, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 47(1)

Published: April 2, 2025

Robust population estimates are critical for detecting biodiversity declines. Thermal drones offer a promising alternative to invasive, imprecise ground-based techniques monitoring endangered spectacled flying-foxes (Pteropus conspicillatus). This study evaluated flying-fox behavioural responses address concerns that they will disturb roosting colonies. At two studied roosts, elicited minimal disturbance, whereas surveys triggered alarm and escape responses, particularly among unhabituated flying-foxes. These findings highlight thermal as non-invasive tool Further research is needed evaluate their accuracy precision compared with ground counts.

Language: Английский

Drones as a tool to study and monitor endangered Grey Crowned Cranes (Balearica regulorum): Behavioural responses and recommended guidelines

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Abstract Crane populations are declining worldwide, with anthropogenically exacerbated habitat loss emerging as the primary causal threat. The endangered Grey Crowned ( Balearica regulorum ) is least studied of three crane species that reside in southern Africa. This data paucity hinders essential conservation planning and primarily due to ineffective monitoring methods this species' use inaccessible habitats. In study, we compared behavioural responses different social groupings traditional on‐foot pioneering drones. Cranes demonstrated a lower tolerance for approaches, allowing closer proximity drones (22.72 (95% confidence intervals ‐ 13.75, 37.52) m) than (97.59 (86.13, 110.59) before displaying evasive behaviours. response flocks was minimal at flight heights above 50 m, whilst larger were more likely display behaviours by either method. Families displayed flights, whereas nesting birds sensitive angles drone approaches. Altogether, our findings confirm usefulness wetland‐nesting provide valuable species‐specific guidelines Cranes. However, caution future studies on wetland breeding develop protocols implementing methodologies.

Language: Английский