10.5061/DRYAD.34DN2
Bäckman, Johan
Lund University
Andersson, Arne
Lund University
Alerstam, Thomas
Lund University
Pedersen, Lykke
University of Copenhagen
Sjöberg, Sissel
Lund University
Thorup, Kasper
University of Copenhagen
Tøttrup, Anders P.
University of Copenhagen
Data from: Activity and migratory flights of individual free-flying
songbirds throughout the annual cycle: method and first case study
Dryad
dataset
2016
activity migration songbird behaviour
Lanius collurio
2016-06-28T16:50:48Z
2016-06-28T16:50:48Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/jav.01068
337072 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
We describe a method and device (< 1.2 g) for recording, processing
and storing data about activity and location of individuals of free-living
songbirds throughout the annual cycle. Activity level was determined every
five minutes from five 100 ms samples of accelerometer data with 5 s
between the sampling events. Activity levels were stored on an hourly
basis throughout the annual cycle, allowing periods of resting/sleep,
continuous flight and intermediate activity (foraging, breeding) to be
distinguished. Measurements from a light sensor were stored from
preprogrammed key stationary periods during the year to provide control
information about geographic location. Successful results, including
annual actogram, were obtained for a red-backed shrike Lanius collurio
carrying out its annual loop migration between northern Europe and
southern Africa. The shrike completed its annual migration by performing
> 66 (max. 73) nocturnal migratory flights (29 flights in autumn
and > 37, max. 44, in spring) adding up to a total of > 434
(max. 495) flight hours. Migratory flights lasted on average 6.6 h with
maximum 15.9 h. These flights were aggregated into eight travel episodes
(periods of 4–11 nights when flights took place on the majority of
nights). Daytime resting levels were much higher during the winter period
compared to breeding and final part of spring migration. Daytime resting
showed peaks during days between successive nocturnal flights across
Sahara, continental Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, indicating that the
bird was mostly sleeping between these long migratory flights. Annual
activity and flight data for free-living songbirds will open up many new
research possibilities. Main topics that can be addressed are e.g.
migratory flight performance (total flight investment, numbers and
characteristics of flights), timing of stationary periods, activity
patterns (resting/sleep, activity level) in different phases of the annual
cycle and variability in the annual activity patterns between and within
individuals.
SuppInfo_accelerometer_data_dryadDatafile in plain text containing
detailed accelerometer data. First two columns are Date/Time. Act0 means
number of sequences that scored 0 during the preceding hour (12
measurement sequences). Next columns Act1 to Act5 follow the same way.
Column "check" is the sum of all activity counts and should be
12 if all sampling worked as intended. See doi: 10.1111/jav.01068 for
details on data collection and compilation.
Europe
Africa