Antipredační chování ptáků

Abstract

This thesis is focused on the antipredation behaviour of birds, factors that influence differences in their behaviour, and it shows different approaches to study manners of behaviour. In general, all studies included in the thesis are related to antipredation behaviour of three bird species - Red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio), Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) and Common raven (Corvus corax). The first study describes possibilities of using dummies of nest predator that are made from different materials. Further, the effect of priming for cognitive abilities of Red-backed shrikes is discussed. The second and the fourth studies show the problem of multiple predator conflict and alternative strategies in nest defence of Red-backed shrikes. The third study is focused on Arctic terns and their reaction to human disruption in two colonies with varying frequency of contact with people. Moreover, the study addresses the ability of Arctic terns to adapt to a new predator (human) in the high Arctic. Finally, the last study compares the reaction of Common ravens to conspecific and various heterospecific alarm calls