Abstract
This paper reports on new discoveries and new possibilities
due to the deployment of the UvA Bird Tracking System
(UvA-BiTS; Bouten et al. 2013) in our investigations of
the behavioural ecology of Oystercatchers. This GPS tracker
is powered by solar cells and not only stores GPS locations,
but also measurements with a tri-axial accelerometer, which
can be used to infer behaviour (Shamoun-Baranes et al. 2012;
fig. 4). Since 2008, 72 Oystercatchers were fitted with such
GPS trackers.
Contrary to our expectations, Oystercatchers breeding in the
polder of Ameland, where they can feed on earthworms and
tipulid larvae, continued to visit the Wadden Sea mudflats
throughout the breeding season, just like birds breeding on
the saltmarsh of Schiermonnikoog (Fig. 1). We were equally
surprised to learn that the breeding populations on both
islands included migrants. Whereas many breeding birds
remained within 10 km of the breeding territory throughout
the winter (Fig. 2), a minority moved much greater distances
to a clearly distinct wintering area (Fig. 4). Fidelity to a
particular wintering area was high, irrespective of distance
moved.
We also show examples of the potential of UvA-BiTS to address
important scientific questions. Young birds must find
a good place to learn how to survive and Fig. 5 shows the
behaviour of such a bird: it stays for several months in a particular
location and then moves to a new location. Once an
individual is sufficiently proficient at surviving, it can enter
the competition for breeding territories as a club-bird, usually
at the age of three years. Figure 6 compares the ranging
behaviour of a non-breeder to that of a breeder at the height
of the breeding season
due to the deployment of the UvA Bird Tracking System
(UvA-BiTS; Bouten et al. 2013) in our investigations of
the behavioural ecology of Oystercatchers. This GPS tracker
is powered by solar cells and not only stores GPS locations,
but also measurements with a tri-axial accelerometer, which
can be used to infer behaviour (Shamoun-Baranes et al. 2012;
fig. 4). Since 2008, 72 Oystercatchers were fitted with such
GPS trackers.
Contrary to our expectations, Oystercatchers breeding in the
polder of Ameland, where they can feed on earthworms and
tipulid larvae, continued to visit the Wadden Sea mudflats
throughout the breeding season, just like birds breeding on
the saltmarsh of Schiermonnikoog (Fig. 1). We were equally
surprised to learn that the breeding populations on both
islands included migrants. Whereas many breeding birds
remained within 10 km of the breeding territory throughout
the winter (Fig. 2), a minority moved much greater distances
to a clearly distinct wintering area (Fig. 4). Fidelity to a
particular wintering area was high, irrespective of distance
moved.
We also show examples of the potential of UvA-BiTS to address
important scientific questions. Young birds must find
a good place to learn how to survive and Fig. 5 shows the
behaviour of such a bird: it stays for several months in a particular
location and then moves to a new location. Once an
individual is sufficiently proficient at surviving, it can enter
the competition for breeding territories as a club-bird, usually
at the age of three years. Figure 6 compares the ranging
behaviour of a non-breeder to that of a breeder at the height
of the breeding season
| Translated title of the contribution | Using the UvA Bird Tracking Systeem (UvA-BiTS) in oystercatcher haematopus ostralegus research |
|---|---|
| Original language | Dutch |
| Pages (from-to) | 117-128 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Limosa |
| Volume | 87 |
| Issue number | 2-3 |
| Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Keywords
- national