The consumption of insect pests by birds can result in benefits for the farmer. In this sense, the present study aimed to investigate the consumption of insects by wild birds within guava orchards in the upper Sertão Sergipe. The records were conducted from 15 to 30 November 2018, using the direct observation method. 98 feeding events were recorded for 21 bird species. Among the insects consumed by birds, we highlight the caterpillars and bedbugs of the genus Leptoglossus, considered insects harmful to guava. It is possible that birds can reduce the populations of these insects and help with pest control. However, we recommend that experimental studies be performed for confirmation. The results of this research can also be used to change farmers' perceptions of birds, who normally see birds only as animals harmful to crops.
In the present study, we describe the nest, eggs, and nestlings of the Silvery-flanked Antwren, Myrmotherula luctuosa. One nest was found on 08 May 2017 on the edge of one of the forest fragments of the Serra de Itabaiana National Park, in the state of Sergipe, northeast Brazil, and was monitored until 21 May 2017. The nest, presented the following dimensions: external height: 7.6 cm; outside diameter: 21 × 19 cm; internal diameter: 13.3 × 11 cm; depth of the oologic chamber: 4.7 cm; and height in relation to the ground: 84 cm. The two eggs found in the nest were white with reddish-brown dots, patches and stripes and weighed 1.7 and 1.5 g. Incubation was performed by both the male and female, as well as feeding of the nestlings. A single egg hatched, giving rise to a 3.9 cm, 3.7 g nestling. According to our estimates, the young fledged with about 11 days. This is the first study to present information about the reproductive biology of the Silvery-flanked Antwren.
Agricultural intensification negatively affects bird communities, and the response of birds to these changes varies from those that survive and increase their populations (disturb-tolerant species) to those that cannot adapt to new conditions and are regionally extinct (disturb-sensitive species). Thus, the present study sought to investigate the bird community in 39 guava orchards in the semiarid region of the state of Sergipe, northeast Brazil. Field observations were made between July and October 2017, through a one-hour visit to each orchard. Samplings were conducted using the MacKinnon’s List method. In addition to bird sampling, walks were carried out in the orchards to observe nesting. Seventy-six species of birds belonging to 30 families were recorded using the guava orchards. The most frequent species were Vanellus chilensis, Columbina talpacoti, Columbina picui, Crotophaga ani, Pitangus sulphuratus and Sporophila albogularis. Of the 186 nests recorded in the orchards, the majority (n = 144 nests; 77.4%) belonged to Columbina picui, Columbina talpacoti and Columbina minuta. The results demonstrate that the bird community in the guava orchards is formed only by disturb-tolerant species, showing that the studied guava orchards are not favorable to the conservation of disturb-sensitive birds of the Caatinga domain.
A presença de aves em agroecossistemas pode aumentar significativamente a produção agrícola e os valores de marcado, por meio, especialmente, do controle de pragas, importante serviço ecossistêmico, mas que não costuma ser percebido pelos agricultores. Deste modo, esta pesquisa buscou investigar e compreender a percepção dos produtores de goiaba (Psidium guajava L.) do Alto Sertão sergipano sobre a avifauna silvestre local, a fim contribuir para a conservação da avifauna e para o desenvolvimento de práticas agrícolas mais sustentáveis. Os dados foram coletados de julho de 2017 a março de 2018, por meio de entrevistas estruturadas com 85 produtores de goiaba. Foi citado um total de 50 espécies de aves pelos entrevistados. Cerca de 70% dos produtores entrevistados afirmaram que as aves visitam as plantações para se alimentar das goiabas, causando prejuízos econômicos. Poucos produtores percebem as aves como elementos importantes dentro do sistema agrícola, realizando poucas práticas para sua proteção. Assim, faz-se necessário estimular a percepção positiva dos produtores sobre a interação das aves com o ambiente agrícola, uma vez que esses animais podem fornecer importantes serviços ecossistêmicos (ex., controle de pragas).
The Serra de Itabaiana National Park (PARNASI) is known as an important conservation area in the ecotone between the Atlantic Forest and Caatinga in Northeast Brazil and is one of the main areas of fauna and flora studies in Sergipe. For this reason, there are some studies on its avifauna, which date back to its creation in 2005. However, after 15 years of establishment of PARNASI, an update of the inventory of birds is necessary due to adjustments in the management of the park. The present study aimed to update the bird inventory of the Serra de Itabaiana National Park, chronologically comparing the new ornithological records obtained, aiming to contribute to the knowledge and conservation of Sergipe's avifauna. The data were compiled from scientific publications, personal files and from documented records on a specialized website. The resulting list includes 227 bird species belonging to 49 families, including Thraupidae (28 species; 12.4%), Tyrannidae (25 species; 11.1%) and Accipitridae (17 species; 7.5%) as the most representative. The most representative guilds were insectivorous (87 species; 38.3%) and omnivorous (60 species; 26.4%), and by species independent of the forest environment (87 species; 38.3%). Fourteen bird species are threatened with extinction. Nine species are endemic to the Caatinga biome, eight to the Atlantic Forest and one to the Cerrado. We added 104 species to the first checklist produced for the PARNASI created in 2005, including Nyctibius grandis (Nyctibiidae), a new record for the state of Sergipe. PARNASI's updated list of bird species allows for a better assessment of its effectiveness in the conservation of the local avifauna, facilitating management actions that allow the coexistence and perpetuation of species over time.
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