The impact of radio-tags on Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris)

The condor

Theodore J. Zenzal, Jr.¹ 

关键词: Archilochus colubris;    behavior;    flight simulations;    migration;    radio-tagging;    radiotelemetry;    radio transmitters;    Ruby-throated Hummingbirds;   

DOI  :  10.1650/CONDOR-13-142.1

学科分类：动物科学

来源: Central Ornithology Publication Office

【 摘 要 】

ABSTRACT Radiotelemetry has advanced the field of wildlife biology, especially with the miniaturization of radio-tags. However, the major limitation when radio-tagging birds is the size of the animal to which a radio-tag can be attached. We tested how miniature radio-tags affected flight performance and behavior of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris), possibly the smallest bird species that has been fitted with radio-tags. Using eyelash adhesive, we fitted hatch-year individuals (n = 20 males, n = 15 females) with faux radio-tags of 3 sizes that varied in mass and antenna length (220 mg, 12.7 cm; 240 mg, 12.7 cm; and 220 mg, 6.35 cm), then filmed the birds in a field aviary to quantify activity budgets. We also estimated flight range using flight simulation models. When the 3 radio-tag packages were pooled for analysis, the presence of a radio-tag significantly decreased both flight time (∼8%) and modeled flight range (∼23%) in comparison to control birds. However, a multiple-comparison anal...

【 授权许可】

CC BY