Tichodroma 24 (2012)
Pôvodné
práce
Krátke správy
Ostatné
Abstrakty
Nepůvodní
druhy vodních ptáků zimující v České a
Slovenské republice
Non-native waterbirds wintering in
the Czech Republic and in Slovakia
Petr
Musil,
Zuzana Musilová,
Jozef Ridzoň,
Katarína Slabeyová & Veronika Hodková
Katedra
ekologie, Fakulta životního prostředí, Česká
zemědělská universita, Kamýcká 1176, Praha 6 – Suchdol
CZ-165 21, Česká republika; p.musil@post.cz,
iwccz@post.cz; Katedra zoologie, Přírodovědecká
fakulta, Universita Karlova, Viničná 7, Praha 2,
CZ- 128 44, Česká republika;
veronika.hodkova@gmail.com, ridzon@vtaky.sk;
Katedra ekologie, Přírodovědecká fakulta,
Universita Karlova, Viničná 7, Praha 2, CZ- 128
44, Česká republika;
katarina.slabeyova@gmail.com; SOS/Birdlife
Slovensko, SOS/BirdLife Slovensko, Mlynské nivy
41, 82109 Bratislava, Slovensko
Abstract. Biological invasions
belong to the most focused current issues in
ecology. Investigation of dispersion of
non-native species and of their possible
interactions with native species seems to be
very important. The numbers of wintering
non-native waterbird species were analyzed using
data from January Mid-winter International
Waterbird Census carried out in Czechia and in
Slovakia. The TRIM software was used to
calculate the trends in numbers of individuals
and in numbers of species. The additive ratio of
changes (i.e. the change in indices from one
year to the next) was the value used to express
the population trends over the study period. The
TRIM classification of the species trends was
used in the following categories: strong
increase (> 5% per year), moderate increase
(< 5% per year) or uncertain trend with
large values of confidence interval. Moreover,
time totals of non-native waterbirds were
assessed to calculate the wintering numbers in
the case of complete coverage of IWC sites. In
total, there were 14 non-native waterbird
species in Czechia and five in Slovakia.
Anserini and Cairini were represented by four
species. The numbers of birds of almost all
non-native waterbird species as well as the
number of non-native species were significantly
higher in Czechia than in Slovakia. Ruddy
Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) was the only
exception with more records in Slovakia than in
the Czech Republic. Therefore, analysis of
long-term trends of non-native waterbirds was
restricted only on the data from the Czech
Republic. The numbers of individuals and species
of non-native waterbirds increased in Czechia,
especially in Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
and Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata).
Moreover,
the numbers of non-native waterbird species as
well as the numbers of individual birds were
found increasing especially in long data series
(1966–2011). In short-term data sets (i.e
2003–2011), only the total numbers of
individuals of non-native waterbirds were
increasing.
Keywords:
waterbirds, wintering, monitoring, temporal
trends
Reakcia
samcov európskeho poddruhu dudka chochlatého (Upupa epops epops) na nahrávku
spevu vlastného a cudzieho poddruhu (U. e. marginata)
The response of males belonging to
the European subspecies of Hoopoe to the
playback of song of their own and foreign
subspecies (U. e.
marginata)
Lucia
TURČOKOVÁ, Ľudovít KOCIAN, Alexander KÜRTHY
& Csaba BALÁZS
Ornitologická
stanice muzea Komenského, Bezručova 10, Přerov
750 02; turcokova@prerovmuzeum.cz; Katedra
zoológie, Prírodovedecká fakulta univerzity
Komenského, Mlynská dolina, 842 15 Bratislava 4;
Bilíkova 20, 841 01 Bratislava; Správa CHKO
Cerová vrchovina, Železničná ul. 31, 979 01
Rimavská Sobota
Abstract.
Populations of the same species occupying
different habitats can modify the acoustic
parameters of their song to increase the
effectiveness of signal transmission. The
changed song features may cause situations in
which individuals of one population are not able
to recognize individuals belonging to the other
population. Weaker recognition ability of
individuals can play the key role in the
establishment of the reproduction barrier
between populations of the same species and
leads to the separation of the new species. For
the study of song divergence and recognition
ability we choose the Hoopoe (Upupa
epops) subspecies complex, which consists
of 10 subspecies occupying a large area from
Eurasia to Africa. All subspecies have a very
similar acoustic performance except one
subspecies from Madagascar (U. e.
marginata). We carried out a playback
experiment in which we focused on the
recognition ability of the European subspecies (U. e. epops) of the Hoopoe. We
tested males to two types of playbacks – one was
the song of their own subspecies and the other
was the song of the Madagascar subspecies. Of 24
experimental male subjects, 20 males responded
to the playback of their own subspecies by a
song. None of the experimental males responded
to the other subspecies song. Our results
suggest about the speciation process between the
two Hoopoe subspecies.
Key
words:
acoustic divergence, Hoopoe, recognition,
subspecies, speciation
Biológia
hniezdenia muchárika bielokrkého (Ficedula
albicollis) v troch odlišných regiónoch
Slovenska
Breeding biology of the Collared
Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis)
in three different regions of Slovakia
Michal
Baláž,
Roman Slobodník
& Vladimír Slobodník
Katedra
biológie a ekológie, Pedagogická fakulta KU,
Ružomberok; michal.balaz@ku.sk; Katedra ekológie
a environmentalistiky, Fakulta prírodných vied
UKF, Nitra; roman.slobodnik@ukf.sk;
Krasku 8/5, Prievidza;
vladimir.slobodnik@gmail.com
Abstract.
Breeding biology of the Collared Flycatcher
(Ficedula albicollis) was studied within several
populations breeding in Slovakia in three
regions with different climate and altitude. We
analyzed more than 500 nests in the years
2001–2012, and we found differences in some
aspects of breeding biology caused most probably
by different climate characteristics associated
witch altitude of the studied sites. Flycatchers
started to lay eggs earlier in the lower
elevated sites (the earliest first egg days for
Horná Nitra, the Kremnické vrchy Mts. and Dolný
Liptov were 17.4., 27.4. and 5.5., respectively)
and the mean clutch size decreased with
increasing altitude (6.1 eggs per nest in Horná
Nitra, 5.8 in Kremnické vrchy Mts. and 5.4 in
Dolný Liptov). Moreover, the breeding success
was higher in lower situated Horná Nitra (69.1%)
than in the Kremnické vrchy Mts. at higher
altitude (57.7%). Differences in egg mass
between the higher and lower elevated sites were
not found.
Key
words:
flycatcher,
breeding success, ecology, altitude, Central
Europe
Potrava
sovy obyčajnej (Strix aluco) v
urbánnom a lesnom prostredí
Diet of the Tawny Owl (Strix
aluco) in urban and forest environment
Miroslav
POLÁČEK, Michal BALÁŽ & Ján OBUCH
Ústav
zoológie SAV, Bratislava, Slovensko;
f.subbuteo@gmail.com; Konrad Lorenz Institute of
Ethology, Vetmeduni, Viedeň, Rakúsko; Katedra
biológie a ekológie, Pedagogická fakulta KU,
Ružomberok, Slovensko; michal.balaz@ku.sk;
Botanická záhrada UK, Blatnica, Slovensko;
obuch@rec.uniba.sk
Abstract.
The diet of the Tawny Owl (Strix
aluco) was studied in the Banská Bystrica
town and in forests of the Kremnické vrchy Mts.
The species Apodemus flavicollis,
Microtus arvalis and Turdus pilaris were the dominant
prey species in both sites (N = 1091 prey
items). The diet in Banská Bystrica was composed
of several synanthropic small mammal species (Crocidura suaveolens, Rattus norvegicus), Microtus
arvalis, one bat species (Nyctalus
noctula) and a higher than expected
proportion of birds (mainly Turdus
merula, T. pilaris, Parus major, Carduelis
carduelis and C. chloris).
Mainly forest-dwelling small mammal species (Sorex araneus, Muscardinus
avellanarius, Apodemus
flavicollis, Clethrionomys
glareolus, Glis glis and
Microtus subterraneus) were
characteristic prey items in the Kremnické vrchy
Mts. The diversity index values and the number
of species were higher in the urban than in the
forest environment.
Key
words:
food,
foraging ecology, owls, mammals, birds, habitats
Urbanizácia
holuba hrivnáka (Columba palumbus): príklad
industriálnej zóny Atómových elektrární
Jaslovské Bohunice (západné Slovensko)
Urbanization of the Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus): an example of
the industrial zone of the Nuclear Power Plant
Jaslovské Bohunice (W Slovakia)
Dušan
Briedik
& Ivan Šipkovský
16.
apríla 360/16, Vrbové, Slovensko;
columbaaves@gmail.com; 2919 33 Trakovice 58,
Slovensko; ivan.sipkovsky@centrum.sk
Abstract.
Wood
Pigeons were observed around the nuclear power
plant in Jaslovské Bohunice since 1987, when the
first two pairs were nesting in the trees. Since
then, the population has grown to the current
level of 80 pairs. In 1991, one pair was nesting
on an iron construction. The ratio of nests laid
in trees and on the constructions was assessed
3:7 recently. The population density of 0.67
pairs/ha is one of the highest values recorded
in Slovakia.
Key
words: Wood
Pigeon, species expansion, breeding, density,
habitat
Vplyv
veku porastu na hniezdne zoskupenie vtákov
mladých dubových lesov
Influence of stand age on the
breeding bird assemblages of young oak forests
Peter
LEŠO
Katedra
ochrany lesa a poľovníctva, Lesnícka fakulta TU
vo Zvolene, Masarykova 20, 960 53 Zvolen,
Slovensko; leso@tuzvo.sk
Abstract.
The
aim of this study was to record and explain
changes in the qualitative-quantitative
structure of breeding bird assemblages in a
forest stand after 15 years of the stand
development. The bird census was performed on a
9.7 ha study plot representing young oak
commercial forest two times: firstly at the
stand age of 17 years (thicket stage) and,
repeatedly, at the stand age of 32 years (small
pole stage). After 15 years, the number of the
breeding species showed a slight increase (from
20 to 23 species), whereas the overall bird
density had decreased dramatically from 60.6 to
31.3 pairs/10 ha. The species similarity
measured by Sörensen index was 64%, the density
similarity only 45%. Comparing the structure of
birds within the given study plot with the
results published for other plots representing
young oak forests, the forest age has been
proved to be the more important factor than the
character of the plot. Fringilla
coelebs, Coccothraustes
coccothraustes, Oriolus
oriolus, Phylloscopus
sibilatrix, Sitta europaea
and Dendrocopos major may be
considered as differential species occurring
only in the small pole stage and lacking in the
thicket stage. On the contrary, some species
recorded in the thicket stage may be considered,
based on their presence (Emberiza
citrinella, Lanius collurio,
Phylloscopus trochilus, Prunella modularis and Sylvia curruca), and/or high
density (Erithacus rubecula, Phylloscopus collybita and Sylvia atricapilla) as typical
for this stage.
Key
words:
breeding birds, forest succession, ecology,
Central Europe
Vtáctvo
agrocenóz chráneného vtáčieho územia
Špačinsko-nižnianske polia (západné Slovensko)
Birds of agrocoenoses of the
Special Protected Area Špačinsko-nižnianske
polia fields (W Slovakia)
Peter
PUCHALA
ŠOP
SR, Správa CHKO Malé Karpaty, Štúrova 115, 900
01 Modra, Slovensko; peter.puchala@sopsr.sk
Abstract.
Presented
are birds’ monitoring results in the Special
Protection Area Špačinsko-nižnianske polia
fields in agricultural landscape of the northern
part of the Trnavská pahorkatina, hills. The
study was carried out from May 2006 to June 2007
using point census method. Totally, 82 species
were found (41 of them nidificants). The most
abundant species were Sturnus
vulgaris (48,3%), Passer
montanus (12,0%), Carduelis
carduelis (5,9%), Alauda
arvensis (4,8%) and Hirundo
rustica (3,0%). The most frequent were Passer montanus (100%), Pica pica, Carduelis
carduelis, Buteo buteo
(91,3%), Falco tinnunculus and Fringilla
coelebs (78,3%). The higher species
diversity was found at points with heterogenous
habitats such as small field forest, greenery
lines and alleys. The highest number of species
was observed in May, the highest number of
individual birds in July and August. There were
found several bird species with higher
conservation importance, such as Falco
cherrug, Aquilla heliaca,
Circus pygargus and Lanius
minor. Occurence of these species is
discussed in the paper.
Key
words:
birds,
abundance,
Natura 2000, SPA, monitoring, agrocoenoses
Prírodná
rezervácia Kiarovský močiar (južné Slovensko)
– výsledky odchytov vtáctva metodikou CES v
rokoch 2010 – 2012
The Nature Reserve Kiarovský močiar
marsh (S Slovakia) – results of bird trapping by
using CES scheme in 2010–2012
Dušan
KERESTÚR & Marian MOJŽIŠ
Tolstého
17, 984 03 Lučenec, Slovensko;
chocatabras@gmail.com; Školská 211, 985 31
Mučín, Slovensko; m.mojzis76@gmail.com
Abstract.
Bird
monitoring, using CES scheme methodology, was
carried out on the Kiarovský močiar wetland in
Southern Slovakia, during three breeding periods
(2010–2012). Bird trapping in particular years
was influenced by weather. This was reflected in
the bird species number and abundance.
Altogether 32 bird species and 826 individuals
(417 adults/50.5% and 409 juveniles/49.5%) were
caught. Of them 35 individuals of 11 species
were retrapped (4.24% of all caught
individuals), only three birds from other
countries. The dominant species were there Acrocephalus scirpaceus (the most
abundant with 18.8% of all caught individuals), Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, Acrocephalus arundinaceus, Sylvia atricapilla, Passer
montanus, Locustella
luscinioides and Cyanistes
caeruleus (altogether 68.3% of all caught
birds). Inter-annual changes in the abundance of
adults and juveniles of dominant passerines are
commented.
Key
words:
breeding birds, bird ringing, wetlands,
abundance, CES scheme
Výsledky
monitoringu vtáctva metódou CES na lokalite
Bôrik v rokoch 2008, 2010 – 2012 (západné
Slovensko)
Bird monitoring results according
to CES scheme at the locality Bôrik in years
2008, 2010–2012 (W Slovakia)
Roman
SLOBODNÍK
Katedra
ekológie a environmentalistiky, Fakulta
prírodných vied UKF, Tr. Andreja Hlinku 1, 949
74 Nitra, Slovensko; roman.slobodnik@ukf.sk
Abstract.
A
breeding bird assemblage was monitored near the
Prievidza town in the contact zone between the
Strážovské vrchy Mts and the Nitra basin. The
monitoring was performed in 2008 and in
2010–2012, with using the Constant Effort Sites
(CES) scheme methodology. The mist-nets were 100
m long, most of them were installed in riparian
vegetation along a periodic stream. In 2008,
altogether 231 individuals (130 adults and 101
juveniles) of 32 species were caught during nine
mist-nettings. In 2010, altogether 217
individuals of 28 species were caught; of them
158 were adults and 59 juveniles. In 2011,
altogether 242 individuals of 23 species were
caught; of them 109 were adults and 133
juveniles. In 2012, altogether 278 individuals
of 32 species were caught; of them 180 were
adults and 98 juveniles. The species Sylvia atricapilla, Parus
major, Erithacus rubecula,
Turdus merula and Turdus
philomelos were dominant. The juveniles
represented 43.7% of all caught individuals in
2008, 27.2% in 2010, 55% in 2011 and 35.2% in
2012.
Key
words: bird
ringing, monitoring, CES scheme, Bôrik
Avifauna
vodnej nádrže Sĺňava pri Piešťanoch v rokoch
1959 – 2012
Birds
at the Sĺňava water reservoir near Piešťany (W
Slovakia) in 1959–2012
Pavel
KAŇUŠČÁK
Zavretý
kút 42/16, 921 01 Piešťany, Slovensko; e-mail:
kanuscak@gmail.com
Abstract.
Altogether
243 bird species were found in the Sĺňava
Protected Study Area in 1959–2012. Of them 190
(78.2%) were migrants, 50 (20.6%) were breeding
species, 89 (36.6%) were wintering species, 39
(16.0%) were sedentary species and 16 (6.6%)
occurred erratically. The overview of the
species found and short comments on occurrence
are given.
Key
words:
birds, faunistics, long-term research
Skorý
výskyt kulíka vrchovského (Charadrius
morinellus) vo Vysokých Tatrách
Early occurrence of the Eurasian
Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus)
in the High Tatras Mts
Miroslav
SANIGA & Ivo ŠVEC
Ústav
ekológie lesa SAV, Štúrova 2, 960 53 Zvolen,
Slovensko; saniga@savzv.sk; Môťovská 6, 960 01
Zvolen, Slovensko; ivo.svec@gmail.com
Abstract.
Two
specimens of Eurasian Dotterels (Charadrius
morinellus) were found on August 2, 2012
in the High Tatras Mts. The birds (adult and
subadult) were observed on the peak of the
Ľadový štít (2627 m a.s.l.). This is only the
third published observation of this bird species
in the Slovak parts of the High Tatras Mts.
Key
words:
birds faunistics, phenology, migration
Hniezdenie
mlynárky dlhochvostej (Aegithalos
caudatus) v rybníku v poraste pálky
Nesting of Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) in a cattail
stand in a fishpond
Alžbeta
DAROLOVÁ & Ján KRIŠTOFÍK
Ústav
zoológie Slovenskej akadémie vied, Dúbravská
cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovensko;
alzbeta.darolova@savba.sk,
jan.kristofik@savba.sk
Abstract.
A
nest of long-tailed tit (Aegithalos
caudatus) was found in the fishpond in a
cattail tuft above the water level, 15 m from
the bank in 2012.
Key
words:
unusual breeding, Long-tailed Tit, fishponds
Prehľad
krúžkovania vtákov na Slovensku v roku 2011
Bird-ringing results in Slovakia in
2011
Vladimír
SLOBODNÍK & Roman
SLOBODNÍK
ŠOP
SR, Správa CHKO Ponitrie, Dlhá 3, 971 01
Prievidza, Slovensko;
vladimir.slobodnik@sopsr.sk; Katedra ekológie a
environmentalistiky, Fakulta prírodných vied
UKF, Tr. Andreja Hlinku 1, 949 74 Nitra,
Slovensko; roman.slobodnik@ukf.sk
Abstract.
In
2011, 65 members of Slovak Ornithological
Society/BirdLife Slovakia ringed altogether
54,680 birds, of them 3967 were nestlings
(7.2%). The most numerous ringed species were Sylvia atricapilla (5673
individuals), Erithacus rubecula
(4937 ind.), Hirundo rustica
(4730 ind.), Parus major (4477
ind.) and Carduelis spinus
(2789 ind.). The ringed birds belonged to 171
species. The lists of ten most frequently ringed
passerines and ten non-passerines are given. The
most frequently ringed young are also discussed.
The results of 15 individuals re-trapped in
Slovakia and ringed abroad as well as 15
individuals ringed in Slovakia and re-trapped
abroad are given.
Key
words:
bird ringing, re-traps, Slovakia, ornithology
12.
správa Faunistickej komisie Slovenskej
ornitologickej spoločnosti/BirdLife Slovensko
The 12th report of the Rarities
Committee of the Slovak Ornithological
Society/BirdLife Slovakia
Richard
KVETKO & Vladimír ŠRANK
SNP
14, 903 01 Senec, Slovensko;
richard.kvetko@centrum.sk; Zoologická záhrada
Bojnice, 972 01 Bojnice, Slovensko;
vladimir.srank@gmail.com
Abstract.
In
2011, the Rarities Committee of the Slovak
Ornithological Society/BirdLife Slovakia
reviewed 27 records. All of them were accepted.
No new species for the Slovak Republic were
recorded in 2011. The highlights of 2011 are the
records of Pink-footed Goose (Anser
brachyrhynchus, 9th record of Terek
Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus) and
Grey phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius). Other
noteworthy accepted records from the year 2011
are: breeding of Purple Heron in 2010 (Ardea purpurea), one sighting of
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus
fuscus graellsii/intermedius)
in 2011, three records of Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) in 2010 and
2011, Yellow-browed Warbler in 2007(Phylloscopus
inornatus), Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) in 2011, Horned
Lark (Eremophila alpestris) in
2011, Brant Goose (Branta bernicla)
in 2011, Rosy Starling (Pastor
roseus) in 2011, Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) in 2011,
4th and 5th breeding record of Black-winged
Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) in
2010, Egyptian Goose (Alopochen
aegyptiaca) in 2011, Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) in 2011,
breeding record of Ferruginous Duck (Aythya
nyroca) in 2011, breeding record of Pied
Avocet (Recurvirostra avocetta)
in 2010, 2nd record of Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus) in 2011, Barnacle
Goose (Branta leucopsis) in 2011, Red Knot (Calidris canutus) in 2010, hybrid
Azure and European Blue Tit (Parus
cyanus × Parus caeruleus)
in 2011, Eurasian Dotterel (Charadrius
morinellus) in 2011, and two breeding
records of Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus
himantopus) in 2011.
Key
words:
rarities committee, rarities report, Slovakia
Early
ornithological expeditions to Syrmia and Banat
(1809–1855)
Rané ornitologické expedice do
Syrmie a Banátu (1809 – 1855)
Jiří
MLÍKOVSKÝ
Department
of Zoology, National Museum, Václavské náměstí
68, CZ-115 79 Praha 1, Czech Republic; e-mail:
jiri_mlikovsky@nm.cz
Abstract.
A
report of early ornithological expeditions to
Syrmia and Banat is presented. These lands
currently belong to the southern Vojvodina,
Serbia, but in the past, they were a less safe
region at the border between the Habsburg
Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. The first who
collected birds in the territory of Syrmia and
Banat was Johann Natterer, an Austrian
collector, in 1809. In 1834, Johann Salomon
Petényi assumed the position of a curator of
zoological collections in the Hungarian National
Museum, and his activities opened the territory
Hungary to foreign ornithologists.
Simultaneously, the situation in Syrmia and
Banat turned to the better and became more
suitable for ornithological visits.
Ornithological expeditions visited Syrmia and
Banat in 1835 (Naumann), 1838 (Landbeck), 1840
(von Loebenstein), 1852 (Frič) and 1853–1855
(Zelebor). A first ornithologist, Ettinger,
settled in the region in the mid-1850s.
Consequently, the expedition era of
ornithological explorations of Syrmia and Banat
took its end and the era of standard
ornithological research was commenced.
Key
words:
ornithology, history, faunistics, Serbia,
Romania
Ryšánek’s
collection of birds from the High Tatras
Mountains, Slovakia, from 1935–1938
Ryšánkova zbierka vtákov z Vysokých
Tatier z rokov 1935–1938
Jiří
MLÍKOVSKÝ
Department
of Zoology, National Museum, Václavské náměstí
68, CZ-115 79 Praha 1, Czech Republic;
jiri_mlikovsky@nm.cz
Abstract.
J.
Ryšánek collected in 1935–1938 at Štrba, the
High Tatras Mts, Slovakia, birds for the
National Museum in Prague, Czechia. This
collection, which includes 758 skins of 77
species, has not been published yet, although it
represents a welcome addition to the knowledge
of the avifauna of this part of the High Tatras
Mts. The collected rarities include Red-footed
Falcon (Falco vespertinus) and
Red Knot (Calidris canutus).
Key
words:
ornithology, history, faunistics, Slovakia
O
„chránených“ túlavých domácich mačkách a
vtáctve
On ‘protected’ free-roaming
domestic cats and birds
Benjamín
JARČUŠKA
Ústav
ekológie lesa Slovenskej akadémie vied, Ľ. Štúra
2, 960 53 Zvolen, Slovensko;
benjamin.jarcuska@gmail.com
Abstract.
Free-roaming
(outdoor
pets and feral) domestic cats represent a global
threat to terrestrial vertebrates. Despite the
well-known threats posed by outdoor domestic
cats on birds and other wildlife, the management
of these animals is a long-standing
controversial issue due to conflicts between
nature conservationists and free-roaming cat
advocates. In Slovakia, lethal management of
free-roaming domestic cats by hunters was
permitted in the past. According to the current
amendment of the Slovakian Hunting Act, shooting
of free-roaming cats is not allowed any more.
However, at the same time, no alternatives of
the cat management have been offered or
implemented. Here, I briefly review the impacts
of free-roaming cats on birds. As there has been
uncertainty over the extent of their adverse
effects on bird populations yet, a precautionary
principle regarding cat management is
recommended to use. Therefore, I emphasize the
questionable justification of the existing
status quo and appeal for an action to solve the
present issue of “protected” free-roaming
domestic cats.
Key
words:
Felis catus, outdoor cats,
predation, bird protection
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