• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.96 no.1
• /
• pp.77-82
• /
• 2007

This study was conducted to clarify the differences in egg-laying characters of Varied tit (Parus varius) as elevation in the Mt. Jirisan. We set up 144 artificial nest-boxes at three sites located in 300, 900, 1400m in elevation and checked egg size, clutch size and first date of egg-laying. At a result, There was no difference in egg size as elevation. But clutch size at high elevation was lower than at low elevation. Also, first date of egg-laying at high elevation was later than at other sites. In this research, we think that difference of clutch size at three sites result from 'individual adjustment hypothesis' and difference of first date of egg-laying have relation to sprouting date of leaves and distribution of insects.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.19 no.11
• /
• pp.1611-1616
• /
• 2009

This study was conducted to determine the characteristics in breeding of the little tern Sterna albifrons in Shinja-do and Doyo-Deung in Nakdong estuary. The data was obtained in the middle and late 1990's and in the mid 2000's, which were analysed for the breeding information of the little tern. In Shinja-Do, a total of 638 nests were observed in 1995, and the average numbers of eggs laid per nest were 2.48. In 2004 and 2005, 94 and 456 nests were observed, and the average number of eggs laid per nest was 2.16 and 2.53, respectively. There was a significant difference between the average numbers of eggs laid per nest for the 3 respective years. In Doyo-Deung, a total of 269 nests were observed in 1998, and the average number of eggs laid per nest was 2.16. In 2004 and 2005, 1,023 and 1,123 nests were observed, and the average numbers of eggs laid per nest were 2.33 and 2.52, respectively. There was a significant difference (p<0.001) between the average number of eggs laid per nest as well. Hatching success rate by nesting site in Shinja-Do was calculated in 1995. Type A nest (nest located on dry sand land) showed a 56.8% success rate, and type B nest (nest located on the land with dwarf grass), type C nest (nest located on moist land) and type D nest (nest located on the land with shells) showed 55.3%, 36.6% and 59.3% success rates, respectively. The average hatching success rate in Shinja-Do was 54.5%. The most crucial factor for hatching failure was flood, especially, for the type C nests. The hatching success rate by the nesting site in Doyo-Deung showed an average of 73.2%. It was high in type D nest (83.8%) and type A nest (75.9%), and low in type C nest (59.7%). Again, the most crucial factor for hatching failure was flood, especially, for the type C nests. Nakdong estuary has been through many changes over time, particularly in recent. Therefore, continuous efforts to keep it a breeding place for the little tern are urgently required, including overall management of land, protection of reef and sand, etc.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.345-350
• /
• 2010

In the Vinous-throated Parrotbill Paradoxornis webbianus, potential intraspecific nest parasitism was observed in four nests (0.38%, n=1,062) during twelve breeding seasons between 1988 and 2007. At first, a nest involved 9 white eggs was found in Puyong-ri, Yangpyong-gun, Kyonggi Province in 1995. This nest would be parasitized by the same species, given that this is out of range of normal clutch size (5 eggs) in Vinous-throated Parrotbills. The second and third cases were recorded in 2001 and 2005 in Sa-dong, Ansan City, Kyonggi Province, respectively. In these nests, two eggs were added to the clutch in a single day. The final observation was made in Puyong-ri in 2007, in which one white egg was laid in the nest at the pre-laying stage. The color of the egg was different from that of the original clutch (blue). The above four things suggest that intraspecific nest parasitism can occur in Vinous-throated Parrotbills although it is an uncommon phenomenon in their life history.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.100 no.3
• /
• pp.397-401
• /
• 2011

This study was conducted to clarify the breeding ecology of tits Parus spp. used artificial nest boxes in a deciduous forest at the Ansung Campus, Chung-Ang University from March through July, 2006 to 2010. Varied tit Parus varius, marsh tit P. palustris and great tit P. major bred in artificial nest boxes during our study period. There were no differences in number of breeding bird pairs among different entrance diameters of artificial nest boxes. The number of breeding pairs of great tits was the most highest among tits and that of varied tits was the least. Great tits mainly used 40 mm and 35 mm artificial nest box entrance diameter and marsh tits preferred 30 mm entrance diameter. In three tits species, there were differences in first egg date, clutch size, brood size, egg incubation period, nestling care period and breeding success among study years. It is needed the study on long-term ecological research about breeding ecology of tits related with habitat conditions.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.666-675
• /
• 2013

This research was carried out from March 2009 to July 2012 to explicate the height change based breeding-ecological characteristics of Titmice that were breeding in the artificial nests installed in the Halla Mountain. The first egg-laying day was delayed as the height of the area under investigation increased, and it turned out that the decrease in temperature due to the elevated height had influence on that delay (p<0.05). Generalizing the annual results of the analyses, we see that there was no significant correlation occurring between the average temperatures and egg-laying days in the breeding season (April~June) (p>0.05). The rate of artificial nest use was not different among areas and among year, but between the species, Parus major and Parus varius. There were differences in clutch sizes among species (p>0.05), but no differences in heights and years (p<0.05). The hatching-, fledging-, and breeding-success rates were 67.3%, 99.5%, and 67.0% respectively in 2011, and 71.3%, 96.8%, 69.0% respectively in 2012, from which we can tell that the fledging-success rate was high but the hatching- and breeding-success rates were similar. Though we confirm that temperature changes due to height differences had influence on breeding periods, but we cannot identify a significant correlation with other breeding-ecological characteristics. Thus, in order to more precisely explicate the influence of temperature changes due to heights on Titmice's breeding, long-term research is needed in terms of the investigation of microclimatic factors and food resource.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.59-65
• /
• 2008

This study is mainly focused on the mating of 9 couples of Eagle Owl Bubo bubo habitating in Paju, Ganghwa Island, Icheon, Sihwa Lake, Chungju. For this study, from 2005 to 2007, regular filming and mornitoring for the breeding ecology and copulation behavior of 9 couples of Eagle Owl in the nest and near area had been done. Clutches ranged in size from one to four eggs but averaged 2.27 eggs(n=15), hatching success rate was 71 %(n=34) and fledgling success rate was 83%(n=23). Through the filming and mornitoring, it was found that Eagle Owl continued to copulate each other even after hatching and kept its copulation until the chicks left their nest($7\sim8$ weeks after hatching). This copulation behaviour without fertilization seems to be done for confirming, maintaining and strengthening of pair-bond by the necessity of both male and female, and to aim at stable breeding of their chicks.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.97 no.1
• /
• pp.83-87
• /
• 2008

This study was conducted to clarify the use of artificial nest boxes of tits in coniferous and deciduous forests from March to June 2006 and 2007. Tree species richness, tree species diversity and total basal area were higher in deciduous forest than in coniferous forest. Except the bush-ground layer (<1 m), the other vertical layers were more developed in deciduous forest. Varied tit Parus varius, marsh tit P. palustris, coal tit P. ater and major tit P. major used the artificial nest boxes in this study. Number of breeding pairs of tits were higher in deciduous than in coniferous forest. Clutch size, brood size and breeding success of coal tits were higher in coniferous forest. Brood size and breeding success of major tits were higher in deciduous forest. Characteristics of habitat and niche partition would be influenced on tits' use of artificial nest boxes. The more detailed researches on artificial nest boxes would be needed for management and conservation of birds.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.528-534
• /
• 2009

Styan's Grasshopper Warblers (Locustella pleskei) are vulnerable species distributed in East-Asia only. Its known breeding sites in Korea are remote islets including Hongdo Islet, Chilbal Islet, Mara Islet, and Chuja Islets, and, therefore, the breeding biology of this species is still poorly known. This study was conducted on Mara Islet (N $33^{\circ}$ 06', E $126^{\circ}$ 16') from May to September 2008 to investigate the breeding status and breeding site characteristics of the grasshopper warblers. A total of 11 breeding pairs and their nests were found on trees and shrubs at artificially planted forests and hedges of Pinus thunbergii. The grasshopper warblers preferentially utilized the shrub trees for nesting places, and major nesting trees were Camellia japonica, Pittosporum tobira and Pinus thunbergii as nesting trees. Average heights of nesting trees and nests were $2.77{\pm}1.10m$ and $1.75{\pm}0.56m$, respectively. The grasshopper warblers selected lower shrubs and trees for nesting than randomly selected ones around them, probably to avoid strong and prevailed winds in flat and un vegetated environments on Mara Islet. The shape of nests was a round bowl-type, and measurements of nests were $11.9{\pm}0.5cm$ in exterior nest diameter, $11.1{\pm}1.1cm$ in height of exterior nest, $5.8{\pm}0.4cm$ in interior nest depth, and 6.0cm in interior nest diameter. It incubated eggs until the early August on Mara islet, and incubation periods of Mara Islet was possibly later than that of other areas. Furthermore, the clutch size in the study area was three, and they laid smaller number of eggs than normal clutch size (4~5 eggs) reported in other areas. Although we could not observe any nest predator on this species in the study area, selective cutting and pruning of trees will diminish dense shrub layer of forests. Therefore, it may affect the breeding of this threatened species which prefers dense shrubs of artificially planted forest of Pinus thunbergii. This study suggests that detailed and consistent further research on breeding biology and habitats of the grasshopper warblers are needed to conserve and manage of Pinus thunbergii forests on Mara Islet as an important breeding site of Styan's Grasshopper Warblers.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.24-29
• /
• 2017

This study was conducted to identify nesting habits and breeding biology of barn swallow in Gwangju, Korea, for the breeding season 2012 to 2014. All nests were attached to vertical walls and roofs of buildings and situated at mean height $2.9{\pm}0.3m$ above ground with nest diameter $18.2{\pm}3.2cm$, nest depth $9.8{\pm}3.1cm$, nest cup diameter $11.2{\pm}1.5cm$ and nest cup depth $3.27{\pm}0.80cm$. Nests were attached to cemented walls (44.9%), wooden materials (23.1%), bricks (21.8%) and lighting (6.4%). The average clutch size was 4.5 and ranged 2~5. Mean egg length was $18.23{\pm}0.73mm$, breadth $13.11{\pm}0.25mm$, volume $1.60{\pm}0.11cm^3$, shape index $1.39{\pm}0.05$ and weight $1.69{\pm}0.15g$. Hatching and fledgling success rate were 89.1% and 84.5%. Main causes for reproductive failures were unhatched eggs, predation, nest destruction and desertion. These results are expected to be widely used as data for habitat preservation and species management of barn swallows.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.93-100
• /
• 2007

This study was based on the breeding process of the Pacific Reef Herons (Egretta sacra) bred in Aewol-eup, Jeju Island, for two years from February 2004 to June 2005. The clutch size of the pacific reef herons was $3.24{\pm}0.75$(N=17, range: $2{\sim}4$), and the egg-laying was at dawn or night intervals of one to three days. The major diameter of the egg(N=39) was $46.73{\pm}1.91mm$, the minor diameter thereof $34.06{\pm}0.83mm$, the weight thereof $27.67{\pm}3.12g$, and the thickness of the egg shell thereof $0.26{\pm}0.03mm$. In relation to the breeding cycles of the Pacific Reef Herons, the nesting or nest repairing was made from February to the end of April each year, the egg laying from the beginning of March to the beginning of May, the hatching from the beginning of April to the middle of May, and the nest departure from the middle of May to the end of July. The supplement brood was started immediately from May to June when the first brood had failed. The incubation period was $28.17{\pm}4.12(N=6)$ days, and hatched asynchronously. The fledgling period was $40.00{\pm}6.84(N=5)$ days, and bill, wing, tarsus and weight developments of early hatched nestlings were the fastest among the same brood. Compared with other egret species, the egg laying period of the Pacific Reef Heron was faster than that of the Black-crowned Night Heron, Little Egret and Great Egret, but later than that of Grey Heron, in Korea.