Automated bird counting with deep learning for regional bird distribution mapping

A challenging problem in the field of avian ecology is deriving information on bird population movement trends. This necessitates the regular counting of birds which is usually not an easily-achievable task. A promising attempt towards solving the bird counting problem in a more consistent and fast way is to predict the number of birds in different regions from their photos. For this purpose, we exploit the ability of computers to learn from past data through deep learning which has been a leading sub-field of AI for image understanding. Our data source is a collection of on-ground photos taken during our long run of birding activity. We employ several state-of-the-art generic object-detection algorithms to learn to detect birds, each being a member of one of the 38 identified species, in natural scenes. The experiments revealed that computer-aided counting outperformed the manual counting with respect to both accuracy and time. As a real-world application of image-based bird counting, we prepared the spatial bird order distribution and species diversity maps of Turkey by utilizing the geographic information system (GIS) technology. Our results suggested that deep learning can assist humans in bird monitoring activities and increase citizen scientists’ participation in large-scale bird surveys.No sponso

Deep learning applications in ornithology

No sponso

Deep learning applications in ornithology

No sponso

Physical characteristics and functional meaning of some vocal signals in white-spectacled bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos)

The study aimed to determine physical characteristics and meaning of different vocal signals of the White-spectacled Bulbul, Pycnonotus xanthopygos, during breeding seasons. Six types of signals were identified in relation to their behavioural context as territory, localisation, alarm, foraging, greeting, and resting. The carrier frequency of the signals varied between 1.27 (min) to 5.35 (max) kHz, and differed between signals as well as shape, number of syllables and elements. Results of the study have shown us information about the vocal communication system of the species, and furthermore, it was determined that the White-spectacled Bulbul could be a good model species to study both acoustic and behavioural topics since they are habituated to human disturbance.No sponso

Geographic genetic structure of alectoris chukar in Türkiye: Post-LGM-induced hybridization and human-mediated contaminations

Türkiye is considered an important evolutionary area for Chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar), since it is both a potential ancestral area and a diversification center for the species. Using 2 mitochondrial (Cty-b and D-loop) and 13 polymorphic microsatellite markers, we investigated the geographic genetic structure of A. chukar populations to determine how past climatic fluctuations and human activities have shaped the gene pool of this species in Türkiye. Our results indicate, firstly, that only A. chukar of the genus Alectoris is present in Türkiye (Anatolia and Thrace), with no natural or artificial gene flow from congenerics. Secondly, the geographic genetic structure of the species in Türkiye has been shaped by topographic heterogeneity, Pleistocene climatic fluctuations, and artificial transport by humans. Third, there appears to be three genetic clusters: Thracian, Eastern, and Western. Fourth, the post-LGM demographic expansion of the Eastern and Western populations has formed a hybrid zone in Central Anatolia (~8 kyBP). Fifth, the rate of China clade-B contamination in Türkiye is about 8% in mtDNA and about 12% in nuDNA, with the Southeastern Anatolian population having the highest contamination. Sixth, the Thracian population was the most genetically distinct, with the lowest genetic diversity and highest level of inbreeding and no China clad-B contamination. These results can contribute to the conservation regarding A. chukar populations, especially the Thracian population.No sponso

Physical characteristics and functional meaning of some vocal signals in white-spectacled bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos)

The study aimed to determine physical characteristics and meaning of different vocal signals of the White-spectacled Bulbul, Pycnonotus xanthopygos, during breeding seasons. Six types of signals were identified in relation to their behavioural context as territory, localisation, alarm, foraging, greeting, and resting. The carrier frequency of the signals varied between 1.27 (min) to 5.35 (max) kHz, and differed between signals as well as shape, number of syllables and elements. Results of the study have shown us information about the vocal communication system of the species, and furthermore, it was determined that the White-spectacled Bulbul could be a good model species to study both acoustic and behavioural topics since they are habituated to human disturbance.No sponso

Plumage Reflectance and Morphometric Variation in the Male and Female Chukar Partridges (Alectoris chukar, Galliformes)

International Health Sciences and Life Congress (4. : 2021 : Burdur)Introduction: The Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar, Galliformes) ranges from the Balkans to eastern Asia including Anatolia where is the western edge of its range. It is an economically important bird for Turkiye since being as a game animal, and thousands of partridges bred in captivity are released to nature by The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for hunting purposes every year. Chukar Partridge is a medium-sized partridge that both sexes are similarly ornamented. In other words, its sexes cannot be discriminated with the naked eye. Aim: We, therefore, examined the plumage reflectance and morphometric variation in the male and female Chukar Partridges whether the sexes of species differ from each other. Method: We measured 9 morphometric characteristics (head height, head width, bill length, bill width, bill height, wing, tail, and shape and length of throat and breast band) of 158 males and 45 females and 5-10 feather samples from 3 different body parts (breast, belly and tail) to measure the classic colourimetric variables (brightness, UV-range and chroma) were collected in this purpose from different parts of Anatolia and Trace. Both nonparametric and multivariant analyses were performed with R 4.0.2. Results: We found that male chukars larger and heavier than females. On the other hand, we found no significant differences in plumage reflectance. Discussion and Conclusion: Our results supported that male chukars larger than females. This means that chukar is a sexually dimorphic species in size. However, Further analyses such as the avian visual models are needed to better understand the colourimetric differences in sexes.This study was supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) under project no: 116Z356 and was conducted with the permission of The Ministry of Forestry and Water affairs (50814/2016) and according to Akdeniz University Ethical Committee on Animal Experiments regulations (15/2016)

Plumage Reflectance and Morphometric Variation in the Male and Female Chukar Partridges (Alectoris chukar, Galliformes)

International Health Sciences and Life Congress (4. : 2021 : Burdur)Introduction: The Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar, Galliformes) ranges from the Balkans to eastern Asia including Anatolia where is the western edge of its range. It is an economically important bird for Turkiye since being as a game animal, and thousands of partridges bred in captivity are released to nature by The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for hunting purposes every year. Chukar Partridge is a medium-sized partridge that both sexes are similarly ornamented. In other words, its sexes cannot be discriminated with the naked eye. Aim: We, therefore, examined the plumage reflectance and morphometric variation in the male and female Chukar Partridges whether the sexes of species differ from each other. Method: We measured 9 morphometric characteristics (head height, head width, bill length, bill width, bill height, wing, tail, and shape and length of throat and breast band) of 158 males and 45 females and 5-10 feather samples from 3 different body parts (breast, belly and tail) to measure the classic colourimetric variables (brightness, UV-range and chroma) were collected in this purpose from different parts of Anatolia and Trace. Both nonparametric and multivariant analyses were performed with R 4.0.2. Results: We found that male chukars larger and heavier than females. On the other hand, we found no significant differences in plumage reflectance. Discussion and Conclusion: Our results supported that male chukars larger than females. This means that chukar is a sexually dimorphic species in size. However, Further analyses such as the avian visual models are needed to better understand the colourimetric differences in sexes.This study was supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) under project no: 116Z356 and was conducted with the permission of The Ministry of Forestry and Water affairs (50814/2016) and according to Akdeniz University Ethical Committee on Animal Experiments regulations (15/2016)

Genetic rescue or human-mediated massive contamination: investigation of genomic differences between farm-reared and wild populations of Alectoris chukar with high-density SNPs data

No sponso