Simulated Birdwatchers’ Playback Affects the Behavior of Two Tropical Birds

Abstract

Although recreational birdwatchers may benefit conservation by generating interest in birds, they may also have negative effects. One such potentially negative impact is the widespread use of recorded vocalizations, or “playback,” to attract birds of interest, including range-restricted and threatened species. Although playback has been widely used to test hypotheses about the evolution of behavior, no peer-reviewed study has examined the impacts of playback in a birdwatching context on avian behavior. We studied the effects of simulated birdwatchers’ playback on the vocal behavior of Plain-tailed Wrens Thryothorus euophrys and Rufous Antpittas Grallaria rufula in Ecuador. Study species’ vocal behavior was monitored for an hour after playing either a single bout of five minutes of song or a control treatment of background noise. We also studied the effects of daily five minute playback on five groups of wrens over 20 days. In single bout experiments, antpittas made more vocalizations of all types, except for trills, after playback compared to controls. Wrens sang more duets after playback, but did not produce more contact calls. In repeated playback experiments, wren responses were strong at first, but hardly detectable by day 12. During the study, one study group built a nest, apparently unperturbed, near a playback site. The playback-induced habituation and changes in vocal behavior we observed suggest that scientists should consider birdwatching activity when selecting research sites so that results are not biased by birdwatchers’ playback. Increased vocalizations after playback could be interpreted as a negative effect of playback if birds expend energy, become stressed, or divert time from other activities. In contrast, the habituation we documented suggests that frequent, regular birdwatchers’ playback may have minor effects on wren behavior.

No Sex Bias in Wood Thrushes (Hylocichla mustelina) Captured by Using Audio Playback during the Non-breeding Season

“…Birds may take time away from foraging, expend energy, or make themselves vulnerable to predation or extra-pair copulations when responding to playback. Rufous Antpittas (Grallaria rufula) and Plain-tailed Wrens (Pheugopedius euophrys) altered their singing behavior in response to playback by increasing vocalizations (Harris and Haskell 2013). Since birds may expend extra energy, become stressed, or divert time from other activities to respond to playback, this method should be used at a minimum to limit such costs, especially for vulnerable species or those for which other behavioral data are being collected (e.g., nest success).…”

Is tourism damaging ecosystems in the Andes? Current knowledge and an agenda for future research

“…Studies assessing birds included those that compared bird diversity and abundance on trails with control sites (Heil et al 2007), in an intensively used area during periods with no visitation and with high visitation (Llavallol et al 2012), bird tolerance of humans in a range of situations (Lambertucci and Speziale 2009;Herrmann et al 2010;Vazquez et al 2011) and the effect of simulated bird watching (using playbacks) on the vocal behaviour of two species of birds (Harris and Haskell 2013).…”

“…1700 visitors per day during summer) and no visitation. The study assessing bird tolerance of humans in Tromen Provincial Park in Argentina (Vazquez et al 2011) found that the alert distance of birds varied among species, with some birds affected at distances of 180 m. The study in Tapichalaca Biological Reserve in Ecuador assessing the effects of simulated bird watching using playback (Harris and Haskell 2013) found that playbacks could induce bird habituation and change bird vocal behaviour. Two studies examined the effects of tourism on the Andean Condor in the Patagonian region, including their response to humans and impacts on roost sites (Lambertucci and Speziale 2009;Herrmann et al 2010).…”

Vocal behavior of Crested Guineafowl (Guttera edouardi) based on visual and sound playback surveys in the Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa

“…The latter would introduce bias into a followup study (Harris and Haskell 2013). In order to use sound playbacks as an ethical conservation tool, it is important to assess the effect of playback on Crested Guineafowl and establish a protocol (Harris and Haskell 2013).…”

“…The latter would introduce bias into a followup study (Harris and Haskell 2013). In order to use sound playbacks as an ethical conservation tool, it is important to assess the effect of playback on Crested Guineafowl and establish a protocol (Harris and Haskell 2013). The aims of the study reported in this paper were (1) to describe the calls of Crested Guineafowl in a social context; (2) to interpret calls in an evolutionary context; and (3) to demonstrate that playbacks can be used to locate and count Crested Guineafowl in small isolated forests.…”