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An audio–visual nest monitoring system for the study and manipulation of siblicide in bearded vultures Gypaetus barbatus on the island of Crete (Greece)

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Abstract

We describe here an automated surveillance system that was installed in a bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) nest in Crete during 2003–2006 with the aim of studying siblicide in this species. The system caused only minimal levels of disturbance to the birds and was capable of operating autonomously for more than 1 week. It comprised (1) a nest monitoring subsystem (camera, microphone, battery with a charge controller and a transmitter together with an antenna), which was supported by a solar panel, and (2) a recording subsystem (antenna receiver, video signal controller and a remote controlled PC through a GSM modem) that compressed the audio–video signal and provided real time monitoring. Two-egg clutches with a 7-day laying and hatching interval were recorded while hatching asynchrony was also determined through an analysis of the bioacoustic data. Food delivery rate and number of feeds to the first chick increased after the hatching of its sibling although not significantly so. Of the aggressive interactions recorded, 98% were initiated by the dominant chick and resulted in an average of 246 ± 157 peckings per day. Supplementary feeding did not produce any significant correlation between feeding rate and sibling aggression. The second chick survived 5 days and died as a result of starvation accelerated by sibling aggression. Intervention measures aimed at increasing the survival chance of the second chick should be undertaken when the latter is 1–2 days old.

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Acknowledgments

We thank G. Andreou, G. Arnelos, A. Katakaleou, O. Hilitidis and G. Vasiliadis for their assistance in the fieldwork; V. Grivas, R. Heredia, A. Margalida, M. Nikolakakis, G. Sourlatzis, I. Stathi, G. Tsenes and G. Verakis for technical advice; the Hellenic Telecommunication and the Public Electricity Companies for technical support. We are also grateful to J. Ganey, A. Margalida and three anonymous reviewers for commenting on an earlier draft of the manuscript. Victoria Soravia-Mullin edited the English text. The study was funded by the European Union (LIFE02NAT/GR/8492 conservation project) and the University of Crete.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural History Museum of Crete, University of Crete, P.O. Box 2208, 71409, Crete, Heraklion, Greece

    Costas Grivas, Stavros M. Xirouchakis & Michalis Probonas

  2. Hellenic Center of Marine Research, Thalassocosmos Gournes Pediados, P.O. Box 2214, 71003, Crete, Heraklion, Greece

    Costas Christodoulou

  3. WWF-Hellas, Dadia Soufliou, 68400, Athens, Greece

    Beatriz Carcamo-Aboitiz

  4. Department of Biology, University of Crete, P.O. Box 2208, 71409, Crete, Heraklion, Greece

    Panagiotis Georgiakakis

Authors
  1. Costas Grivas
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  2. Stavros M. Xirouchakis
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  3. Costas Christodoulou
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  4. Beatriz Carcamo-Aboitiz
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  5. Panagiotis Georgiakakis
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  6. Michalis Probonas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stavros M. Xirouchakis.

Appendix

Appendix

Components of the monitoring system (2003 prices)

Description

Manufacturer

Model

Dimensions (cm)

Mass (kg)

Price (€)

Nest subsystem

 Solar panel

Shell

SQ75

120 × 52.7 × 3.4

7.5

306

 Microphone

Country

Capacity preamplified mono

1 × 0.03 × 0.03

0.002

13

 Camera

KOCOM

KCC-1000 W Pal

8.5 × 3.7 × 3.7

0.5

255

 Video signal converter (2)

Custom made

–

15 × 11 × 7

0.2

70

 12-V AC 100 Ah battery

Carrefour

–

35 × 19 × 17

22.5

68

 Charge controller

Custom made

–

15 × 11 × 7

0.2

500

 Radio link antenna (1) plus

Harris microwave

Antenna off set

67 × 53

4

250

 Transmitter set

Harris microwave

2,4 GHz

11 × 11 × 5

0.8

 

 Cables

TELE

SP-200, RG59, CBL650, S/UTP

–

20

55

 Iron constructions

Custom made

–

–

12

120

Local subsystem

 Radio link antenna (1) plus

Harris microwave

Antenna off set

67 × 53

4

250

 Receiver set

Harris microwave

2,4 GHz

11 × 11 × 5

0.8

 

 UPS

MGE

Pulsar ellipse premium 650S DIN

–

–

210

 PC (1)

Plato

–

–

–

830

 GSM/ GPRS modem

Siemens

MC35

–

–

285

 GSM antenna

E-Lead

–

–

–

35

 GSM modem adapter

Scientific enterprises

MC35/TC35 adapter

8 × 7.5 × 5

–

16

 Removable hard disks (4)

Maxtor

DiamondMax Plus 9 200 GB

–

–

900

 VA compression card

Chateau technical corp.

VGuard VG4C-XP

–

–

935

 External fuse

Hager

MW106 6A

17 × 15 × 10

–

12

 Kilowatt counter

PFN

CG 11, 10/30–40A

20 × 14 × 12

–

8

Central subsystem

 PC (1)

Plato

–

–

–

830

 Safety rack

Custom made

–

50 × 60 × 119

–

200

 PSTN modem

PCTel

HSP56 micromodem

–

–

13

 DVDs (1535)

Verbatim and TDK

DVD ± R single layer 4.7 GB

–

–

474

 DVD cases (1535)

Connect

CD/DVD thin single case

–

–

162

 DVD recorder

Sony

DRU510A

–

–

320

Total

    

7117

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Grivas, C., Xirouchakis, S.M., Christodoulou, C. et al. An audio–visual nest monitoring system for the study and manipulation of siblicide in bearded vultures Gypaetus barbatus on the island of Crete (Greece). J Ethol 27, 105–116 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-008-0091-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-008-0091-2

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