<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Inter-seasonal changes of biometry and preferred migration directions of Robins were studied according to data collected during autumn migration in northern Italy at the Arosio Bird Observatory (45°43'N, 9°12'E). Altogether 598 immature Robins were caught and 187 orientation tests were performed. Wing, tail and tarsus length, wing shape and weight were analysed in subsequent five migration waves distinguished according to migration dynamics. General pattern of migration as well as graphs with distribution of preferred directions in subsequent waves were prepared. In the case of tail length and weight their average values in subsequent waves were significantly different. Decrease of wing length was noted along the season. On the contrary, increasing trend was observed in the case of tail length and wing shape. Results of orientation tests showed that SSE direction was predominant (34%). SW direction was not clearly marked and its percentage was 23%. Distribution of directions slightly changed in subsequent migration waves. Noted results suggest passage of Robins heading to the Mediterranean basin and Apennine winter quarters. Obtained inter-seasonal changes of biometry and preferred directions can be an effect of differences in migration time between this groups or gradual inflow of more northern populations what the authors discuss here.</abstract>

Biometrics Variation and Directional Preferences of Immature Robins (<italic>Erithacus rubecula</italic>) Caught in Northern Italy during Autumn Migration in 2005

<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Migration routes and origins of the Reed Warbler (<italic>Acrocephalus scirpaceus</italic>), Great Reed Warbler (<italic>A. arundinaceus</italic>) and Sedge Warbler (<italic>A. schoenobaenus</italic>) populations migrating through the eastern Adriatic coast were investigated by analysing recoveries of birds ringed or found at two eastern Adriatic wetlands during autumn migration. There were 75, 104 and 63 long-distance recoveries for these three species, respectively. Great Reed Warblers from central and eastern Europe and Sedge Warblers from countries surrounding the Baltic Sea use the eastern Adriatic wetlands as stopover sites and continue their migration across the Mediterranean. Some Great Reed Warblers use south-western route during their return migration. Reed Warblers of unknown origin, presumably from eastern Europe continue their migration through south-western route to Spain (mean distance - 1329.3 ± 118.0 km, <italic>n</italic> = 20; mean azimuth - 251.05 ± 4.91°, <italic>n</italic> = 20; mean velocity - 63.25 km/day, <italic>n</italic> = 16). Local breeding Reed Warblers migrate southeast along the eastern Mediterranean (azimuth 117.53°). Eastern Adriatic coast represents a crossroads for migratory warblers using south-western, south-eastern and central Mediterranean flyways.</abstract>

Migration of Central and East European <italic>Acrocephalus</italic> Warblers at the Eastern Adriatic Coast: An Analysis of Recoveries

<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Biometrical and morphological differentiation in sex-age groups of Robins migrating through the Polish Baltic coast was studied. Altogether 446 dead birds were collected in 1963-2004 during spring or autumn migration. Dead Robins were measured (wing and tail lengths and wing formula) and additionally in 2002-2004 leg colour and amount of grey colour on head and flanks were determined. After the measurements were taken, individuals were sexed by dissection.Birds were divided in four sex-age classes: immature females, immature males, adult females and adult males. Wing length, tail length, index of asymmetry (<italic>E</italic>') and pointedness (<italic>L</italic>) were compared among this classes using <italic>t</italic>-test. <italic>G</italic>-test was used to compare leg colour and greyness on head and flanks between the sexes for immature Robins. With a method of correlative topography charts showing combination of two parameters - wing and tail lengths - in different sex-groups of immatures were prepared.Obtained results indicate that sexes differ in wing and tail length and greyness on head and flanks. Males have longer wings and tails and bigger amount of greyness than females. The overlap of females and males is rather large, <italic>i.e.</italic> in the case of wing length 69-75 mm in immature and 71-74 mm in adult birds and in the case of tail length 55-67 mm in immature and 57-64 mm in adult birds. High probability of sex determination according to wing or tail length is found only in extremes. Combination of these two features only slightly increases possibility of sex determination.The Robin is a monomorphic species, therefore biometrical differences between males and females could be helpful in sexing. In some studies Robins were sexed according to criteria proposed by J. Pettersson referring to wing length, but only 29% of birds analysed here could be sexed when applying this criterion. These differences may result from varying composition of populations coming from different breeding areas. According to the charts presenting correlation between wing and tail length, three "biometrical" groups are distinguishable in both sexes.</abstract>

Biometrics and Morphology Variation within Sex-Age Groups of Robins (<italic>Erithacus rubecula</italic>) Migrating through the Polish Baltic Coast

<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The territory of Israel is a route for major bird migration from Europe and certain areas in Asia and Africa and back. During the period of intensive migration, the average density of birds may reach over 500 birds per a square kilometre of the air. These figures, alongside with the fact the air over the country is saturated with aircraft, makes it an urgent task to find solutions for prevention of disasters caused by aircraft-bird collisions.In the present paper, a new algorithm is proposed aimed at identifying bird radar echoes against the background of other reflectors. The implementation of the algorithm has made it possible to improve the computerised radar system for bird monitoring developed earlier in Israel on the basis of MRL-5 meteorological radar station. The time needed for echo selection has been significantly reduced, while the trustworthiness of the ornithological data provided by the algorithm has increased. The new algorithm utilizes several echo properties that have been added to the algorithm previously developed by the authors, the most important of them being the pattern of echo movement. These properties in combination with a set of techniques used for their identification enabled to isolate the echo from moving birds against the background of other objects (ground clutter, clouds, atmospheric inhomogeneities, aircraft, <italic>etc.</italic>) at the accuracy level sufficient for operational purposes. The information on echo movement was used for plotting flight vectors (velocity and direction) of individual birds and bird groups. On the basis of movement pattern, four types of movement were distinguished: straightforward at non-uniform velocity; straightforward at uniform velocity; significant deviation from a straight line, non-uniform velocity and chaotic undirected shifts. The system enables on-line plotting of operational ornithological charts every 15-30 min, including charts that combine meteorological and bird monitoring data, to be provided to air traffic control services. This makes the proposed radar ornithological system an efficient means of maintaining air traffic safety in complicated meteorological and ornithological conditions.</abstract>

Algorithmic System for Identifying Bird Radio-Echo and Plotting Radar Ornithological Charts

<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Turkey is located on one of the major migratory routes between Palearctic and Afrotropical regions. Despite its importance for many species, few studies exist on bird migration over Turkey. In this study, autumn migration dynamics and stopover behaviour of the Willow Warbler, a passage migrant in Turkey, was documented and analysed at Manyas Kuşcenneti National Park (NW Turkey). Birds were mist-netted, ringed, measured, weighed and fat scored from mid-August in 2002 and end of August in 2003 to end of October in both years. Totally, 543 and 929 Willow Warblers were ringed in 2002 and 2003, respectively. For 2002 and 2003 respectively, fat score values (mean ± <italic>SE</italic>) were 4.63 ± 0.06 and 3.84 ± 0.05, while body mass reached 11.38 ± 0.07 and 10.37 ± 0.05 g for birds captured for the first time. Fat scores in 2003 showed a bimodal distribution with peaks of <italic>T2</italic> and <italic>T5</italic>, indicating populations or groups with different migratory strategies. The number of retraps constituted 9.2-12.1% of birds captured. In both years, minimum stopover length ranged from 1 to 15 or 16 days with a median of 5 days (averages 5.26 and 5.54, respectively). The majority of the retraps put on significant fat in both years. Retraps continued to put on weight for up to two weeks after they had arrived. In this second study documenting the Willow Warbler migration in Turkey, it was revealed that such wetlands as Manyas Kuşcenneti National Park provide crucial stopover habitat for possibly several populations of the species enabling them to gain necessary fat loads before crossing two major ecological barriers, the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara.</abstract>

Turkish Bird Research Society (KAD), P.O. Box 311, 06443 Yenişehir, Ankara, Turkey

Bird Migration Research Station, University of Gdańsk, Przebendowo, PL-84-210 Choczewo, Poland

Autumn Migration Dynamics, Body Mass, Fat Load and Stopover Behaviour of the Willow Warbler (<italic>Phylloscopus trochilus</italic>) at Manyas KuşcennetI National Park (NW Turkey)

<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Data were collected during autumn migration at three ringing stations of the Operation Baltic: Bukowo-Kopań, Mierzeja Wiślana and Hel. Apart from different localization at the Polish Baltic coast, these places differ also in topography and habitat. Only data from years with the highest number of caught birds were used in the analyses, thus altogether the data on more than 25 500 ringed Robins and 1700 retraps were included. Based on migration dynamics graphs and number of retraps, a stopover index was calculated. Next, the index values were compared between days with a high and low number of caught birds and also between different fat categories. Differences between birds caught once and retraps were shown in relation to daily activity, age structure and fat level. Additionally changes in weight and fat level between first and last control in retraps were considered. At Mierzeja Wiślana and Hel the stopover index decreased in the course of autumn season in contrast to Bukowo-Kopań where an increasing trend was observed. At Bukowo-Kopań more birds decided to stopover than at Mierzeja Wiślana and Hel but at Mierzeja Wiślana Robins stayed longer than at other stations. Moreover, at Mierzeja Wiślana a half of departing retraps increased in fat level while at the other stations only <italic>ca</italic> 20% of retraps. Our results showed that in Robins the weak body condition is a decisive factor to stopover after crossing the sea. Differentiation in food resources and competition between individuals had an effect on the stopover index. Stopover duration at different ringing stations can depend on distance which birds cover before landing at the coast.</abstract>

Stopover of Robins (<italic>Erithacus rubecula</italic>) On Autumn Migration Through the Polish Baltic Coast

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The Ring

 The on-line version of the journal is a primary one to the printed edition. The Ring is an international journal dealing with problems of bird ringing, migration and monitoring bird numbers. The main fields of interest are original papers, review articles and methodical discussions. Information, progress reports, personal comments and short notes or news are also accepted to the informative columns of the journal. Although papers are refereed, conclusions, opinions and discussion are published on the author's responsibility. Innovative and even controversial ideas are appreciated.  Why subscribe and read  Excellent source of high quality research on bird migration; original articles on:   migration strategies (long jumps vs. short jumps; stopover ecology; fattening strategy; obligatory vs. partial migration, etc.);  migratory patterns (breeding/wintering areas and flyways; migration dynamics and phenology, distances and migration speed, etc.);  populational differentiation of migrating birds (incl. mechanisms isolating different populations, morphological differentiation and morphometrics studies, etc.);  long-term monitoring of migratory bird populations.   Why submit   transparent, comprehensive and fast peer review,  innovative ideas are appreciated.   Rejection Rate   About 10%   Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 

The Ring

Volume 29 (2007): Issue 1-2 (December 2007)

Biometrics Variation and Directional Preferences of Immature Robins (Erithacus rubecula) Caught in Northern Italy during Autumn Migration in 2005

Migration of Central and East European Acrocephalus Warblers at the Eastern Adriatic Coast: An Analysis of Recoveries

Biometrics and Morphology Variation within Sex-Age Groups of Robins (Erithacus rubecula) Migrating through the Polish Baltic Coast

Algorithmic System for Identifying Bird Radio-Echo and Plotting Radar Ornithological Charts

Autumn Migration Dynamics, Body Mass, Fat Load and Stopover Behaviour of the Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) at Manyas KuşcennetI National Park (NW Turkey)

Stopover of Robins (Erithacus rubecula) On Autumn Migration Through the Polish Baltic Coast

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