THE BLACK NODDYANOUS TENUIROSTRISON ASCENSION ISLAND PART 1. GENERAL BIOLOGY

Abstract

SUMMARY Several colonies of Black Noddies Anous tenuirostris on Boatswain Bird Island, off Ascension, were studied for almost a year, including the whole of one breeding period and the start of another. Between the breeding periods the noddies roosted on their ledges in the breeding colonies, so observations could be made throughout the year. The single eggs were laid on small ledges, usually on steep cliffs; nest material was scarce, and some eggs fell off the ledges during incubation, but many young were reared successfully in the first part of the breeding period. However, food shortage resulted in slow growth and eventual death of all the chicks hatched later in the season, and the weights of adults were also low at this time. It was shown that individual noddies sometimes bred at intervals of much less than a year, and that breeding occurs in different months in different years; however, the interval between the start of breeding in 1958 and 1959 was almost a year, and i, t is suggested that this was unusual, and a result of the food shortage late in 1958. The moult of the noddies was studied in detail; it was found that individuals were either involved in breeding activities, or were in process of moult, almost all the time, while a few birds started breeding well before they had finished their moult. The discussion concerns the reason for the rough synchrony in breeding among the Black Noddies on Ascension, and the relation between breeding and moult cycles in the population.

Primary moult, body mass and migration of Grey Plovers Pluvialis squatarola in Britain

“…Primary moult scores were recorded according to Ashmole (1962): old feathers were scored 0, new feathers 5 and growing feathers from 1 to 4 depending on their stage of growth. Primary feathers older than those of the previous moult were scored 8.…”

Importance of Intertidal Wetlands for the French Coastal Endemic Bluethroat Cyanecula svecica namnetum and Conservation Implications in the Context of Global Changes

“…During all mid-July to mid-September ringing sessions, PP and SS feathers were scored for each mist-netted adult bird identified as belonging to C. s. namnetum. Feather scoring followed the method described by Ashmole (1962) with moult score 0 assigned to an old unmoulted feather; 1 to a missing or fully in pin feather; 5 to a new full-grown feather; and 2 to 4 to feathers in intermediate stages. Feather scores were added to determine the overall moult score of flight feathers (see details in Supplementary Material, appendix 2).…”

First records from the Mediterranean of a Sooty Shearwater Ardenna grisea caught accidentally by a surface longline

“…The feathers reflected strong natural wear, being in general very brownish with deteriorated edges. All primary feathers were old and hence the moult score was 0 (Ashmole 1962). The cause of death was probably due to internal haemorrhaging caused by the hook.…”