J Berton C Harris1, David G Haskell. 1. Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco, Quito, Ecuador ; Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America.
Abstract
Although recreational birdwatchers may benefit conservation by generating interest in birds, they may also have negative effects. One such potentially negative impact is the widespread use of recorded vocalizations, or "playback," to attract birds of interest, including range-restricted and threatened species. Although playback has been widely used to test hypotheses about the evolution of behavior, no peer-reviewed study has examined the impacts of playback in a birdwatching context on avian behavior. We studied the effects of simulated birdwatchers' playback on the vocal behavior of Plain-tailed Wrens Thryothorus euophrys and Rufous Antpittas Grallaria rufula in Ecuador. Study species' vocal behavior was monitored for an hour after playing either a single bout of five minutes of song or a control treatment of background noise. We also studied the effects of daily five minute playback on five groups of wrens over 20 days. In single bout experiments, antpittas made more vocalizations of all types, except for trills, after playback compared to controls. Wrens sang more duets after playback, but did not produce more contact calls. In repeated playback experiments, wren responses were strong at first, but hardly detectable by day 12. During the study, one study group built a nest, apparently unperturbed, near a playback site. The playback-induced habituation and changes in vocal behavior we observed suggest that scientists should consider birdwatching activity when selecting research sites so that results are not biased by birdwatchers' playback. Increased vocalizations after playback could be interpreted as a negative effect of playback if birds expend energy, become stressed, or divert time from other activities. In contrast, the habituation we documented suggests that frequent, regular birdwatchers' playback may have minor effects on wren behavior.
Although recreational birdwatchers may benefit conservation by generating interest in birds, they may also have negative effects. One such potentially negative impact is the widespread use of recorded vocalizations, or "playback," to attract birds of interest, including range-restricted and threatened species. Although playback has been widely used to test hypotheses about the evolution of behavior, no peer-reviewed study has examined the impacts of playback in a birdwatching context on avian behavior. We studied the effects of simulated birdwatchers' playback on the vocal behavior of Plain-tailed WrensThryothorus euophrys and Rufous Antpittas Grallaria rufula in Ecuador. Study species' vocal behavior was monitored for an hour after playing either a single bout of five minutes of song or a control treatment of background noise. We also studied the effects of daily five minute playback on five groups of wrens over 20 days. In single bout experiments, antpittas made more vocalizations of all types, except for trills, after playback compared to controls. Wrens sang more duets after playback, but did not produce more contact calls. In repeated playback experiments, wren responses were strong at first, but hardly detectable by day 12. During the study, one study group built a nest, apparently unperturbed, near a playback site. The playback-induced habituation and changes in vocal behavior we observed suggest that scientists should consider birdwatching activity when selecting research sites so that results are not biased by birdwatchers' playback. Increased vocalizations after playback could be interpreted as a negative effect of playback if birds expend energy, become stressed, or divert time from other activities. In contrast, the habituation we documented suggests that frequent, regular birdwatchers' playback may have minor effects on wren behavior.
Recreational birdwatchers potentially benefit conservation by generating interest in
birds and natural habitats. For example, citizen scientist birdwatchers are the
primary data collectors for biodiversity monitoring programs such as the North
American Breeding Bird Survey [1] and eBird
(www.ebird.org), and birdwatchers collect point locality data that supplements
dwindling museum collecting effort [2,3]. In addition, touring birdwatchers–the
largest, best-educated, and wealthiest ecotourist group–support economic networks
in the developing world, and promote land conservation as a result [4,5].
Although birdwatching likely has a net positive influence on birds and habitats,
some birdwatchers’ actions may negatively affect the environment (e.g. [6]), yet birdwatchers’ impacts are rarely
quantified.One potentially harmful activity of birdwatchers is the use of recorded
vocalizations, or “playback,” to attract species of interest. Territorial songs or
contact calls are used to either draw a species into the open or stimulate a bold
territorial response [7]. Playback is used by
recreational birdwatchers and tour companies worldwide, but it is especially common
in the tropics where secretive, forest interior species such as the Grallaridae are
difficult to locate without playback. Some tropical destinations such as the Canopy
Tower, Panama, can daily receive dozens of birders and annually receive over ten
tours from a single tour company [8].
Birdwatchers often select tours based on previous bird lists, and they expect to see
the rare, and often threatened, birds located on the previous tour. In many cases,
difficult species are located with playback which may be used for over 1 hour until
every person in the tour group has seen the bird well (J.B.C.H. pers. obs.).The possible consequences of simulated territorial intrusions produced by
birdwatchers’ playback are poorly understood. Birds may take time away from
foraging, expend energy, or make themselves vulnerable to predation or extra-pair
copulations when responding to playback [9,10]. Playback (in a
non-birdwatching context) may cause elevated corticosterone and testosterone levels
in birds [11,12], which could have fitness consequences [13]. Furthermore, one study found that female Black-capped
Chickadees Poecile atricapilla listen to interactions between males
and broadcast vocalizations, and tend not to mate with high-ranking males that lose
standoffs with simulated aggressive males [14].In contrast to the above cases, birdwatchers’ playback could have negligible or even
positive impacts on birds. For example, Mota and Depraz [15] found that male Serin Serinus serinus
vocal behavior did not change in response to playback. Mennill et al. [14] showed that chickadee responses depended on
the details of the stimulus and status of the male; high-ranking males lost
paternity from aggressive playback (matched pitch and overlapped songs), but not
submissive playback, and playback did not change paternity in low-ranking males.
Wingfield et al. [12] reviewed the literature
and found that hormonal responses to playback tended to depend on breeding strategy,
with monogamous species showing the strongest responses and polygynous species
(males uninvolved in parental care) showing the weakest responses. For example, male
polygynous Japanese Bush-warblersCettia diphone showed no increase
in plasma corticosterone in response to playback [16]. Additionally, visual as well as auditory stimuli may be required to
elicit hormonal changes [17]. In a
potentially positive case, Mota and Depraz [15] found that female Serins spend 35% more time nest building in
response to playback of stranger male song, which could potentially lead to faster
nest completion and higher fitness, given that earlier hatched young may have higher
survival (e.g. [18]). In a final case, Ward
and Schlossberg [19] found that playing song
of the imperiled Black-capped Vireo Vireo atricapilla for 6.5 hours
daily over 3.5 months can attract vireos to vacant territories. The new territories
resulted in successful nesting and appeared to lead to population increases.
Interestingly, the vireos appeared to regard the continued playback as small
territories and habituated to the playback as they would normal neighbors [19].The potential effects of playback on birds have been reviewed by several popular
articles (e.g. [7,10]), and hotly debated on ornithology and birdwatching forums
such as Neotropical Ornithology ()
and Birding Australia (), but no
peer-reviewed studies have examined the effects of birdwatchers’ playback on birds.
Despite this lack of information, several organizations have assumed playback is
harmful. For example, playback was characterized as a substantial threat to species
of conservation concern in the United States, including Rose-throated Becard
Pachyramphus aglaiae [20,21], and Kirtland’s Warbler
Dendroica kirtlandii [22]. The American Birding Association’s “Code of ethics” also calls for
limited use of playback [23]. Furthermore,
Sen [10] found that many regional and
species-specific playback restrictions have been enacted. Two of the many
restrictions detailed by Sen [10] are the
United Kingdom’s Wildlife and Countryside Act’s rule against playback of all birds
listed in schedule 1 [24], and Melbourne
Water’s ban on playback for any species of crake at the Western Treatment Plant,
Australia [25]. Until the effects of playback
are objectively evaluated, restrictions on birdwatchers’ behavior may be poorly
justified. Furthermore, if negative impacts are identified, then regulations should
be guided by quantified costs and benefits of birdwatching activity.In this paper we first evaluate the effects of simulated birdwatchers’ playback on
vocal behavior of Plain-tailed WrensThryothorus euophrys and
Rufous Antpittas Grallaria rufula. Secondly, we test for changes in
response over time with repeated playback trials in Plain-tailed Wrens. Considering
the results of previous playback studies, we predicted that both wrens and antpittas
would change their vocal behavior in response to playback, and that strength of wren
response would decrease over time in the repeated trials due to habituation.
Materials and Methods
Study site
From 15 September to 15 November 2006, we (fieldwork done by J.B.C.H.) studied
the effects of (1) single bouts of playback on vocal behavior of 24 groups of
Plain-tailed Wrens and 12 groups of Rufous Antpittas, and (2) repeated playback
over 20 days in five wren groups. We worked in Fundación Jocotoco’s Tapichalaca
Biological Reserve (4°29’S, 79°07’W; 2,400–2,600 m.a.s.l.) in Zamora-Chinchipe
province, southern Ecuador. The upper subtropical forest in the area has an
average canopy height of approximately 10 m, with 20 m tall emergent crowns, and
receives c. 4,000 mm of rainfall annually [26].We began by spending two weeks covering much of the reserve to find sites where
Plain-tailed Wrens and Rufous Antpittas consistently vocalized. If an individual
was heard vocalizing on at least two days from the same site, it was considered
to comprise a resident group. The average distance to the nearest neighboring
group was 195 m ± 89 SD for wrens and 389 m ± 159 SD for antpittas. The study
period coincided with a peak of breeding activity for many species in the
reserve, including wrens and antpittas [27,28].
Single bout experiments
In this study our goal was to mimic playback by birdwatchers, where a short bout
of song is played to elicit a territorial response. Birdwatchers’ playback can
involve self or stranger song played anywhere from a few seconds to a few hours
(J.B.C.H. pers. obs.). In self song playback, birdwatchers record a vocalizing
bird and play the vocalization. On the other hand, stranger song playback (which
we used in this study) usually involves birdwatchers playing vocalizations of
the same species recorded at another site (from a bird song CD or online
source). Technically, “playback” should refer to self song playback alone, but
here we use the word to refer to self and stranger song broadcast, as is done in
the birdwatching community. Our five minute treatments might be characterized by
many birdwatchers as the “judicious use of playback” of the kind that is thought
to have minor effects on bird behavior [7].For the single bout experiments we monitored the vocal behavior of 24 groups of
wrens and 12 groups of antpittas for an hour after playing five minutes of song
(“playback treatment”) and after a five minute control treatment of background
noise. Background noise broadcast was used to control for the effects of
disturbance by the observer and noise from the speaker. Trials were done from
5:50–11:00, except during heavy rain or wind (greater than 15 km/hr) [29]. Recordings were made with a Sennheiser
ME 66 shotgun microphone and an M-Audio Microtrack digital recorder. Stimuli
were broadcast with a small portable speaker and standardized using a sound
pressure meter at approximately 60 decibels. J.B.C.H. sat 50 cm from the speaker
during the experiments to simulate a birdwatcher.Treatment (playback) stimuli were randomly selected from song recordings of five
groups of each study species that had territories in distant parts of the
reserve and were not included in the study. Thus, all stimuli were stranger song
and none were neighbors of study groups. Control stimuli were randomly selected
from five recordings of background noise in the reserve. These recordings were
made in the afternoon and included only insect sounds and wind noise, with no
bird vocalizations. We provide sonograms and samples of treatment and background
stimuli, and summary measurements of treatment stimuli in the Supporting
Information (Tables S1 and Figures S1–S3 in File S1;
supporting sound
files S1–S3). We measured low, center, high, peak, and delta
frequency (Hz) as well as delta time (s) in Raven Pro 1.5 Build 11 (2012,
Bioacoustics Research Program, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology), using
spectrograms with a Hann window, and a 3 dB filter with the bandwidth set at
90.6 Hz. All measurements were taken from fundamental frequencies (not from
harmonics) of individual phrases (n = 30 per species, 6 phrases for 5 different
stimuli).We measured playback response by comparing the number of vocalizations produced
and the number of repetitions of each vocalization after each playback trial
compared to the same variables after control trials. All data were recorded in
real time in the field in a notebook. We defined vocalizations as cohesive
series of notes separated by a period of silence. Repetitions were the number of
notes in each vocalization. Definition of these variables depended on the
species and vocalization type (see below). Increasing the number of
vocalizations or the number of repetitions per vocalization are positively
correlated with the costs of singing [30,31].Rufous Antpittas probably form monogamous groups comprised of one male and one
female [32]. We never saw more than two
individuals together. The most commonly heard vocalization of
Grallariar. rufula at our study site was
the short song (referred to as “alternative song” in Krabbe and
Schulenberg [32]) that consists of a loud
note followed by 4–5 lower pitched, descending, accelerating notes (see
recording XC17548 by A. Spencer at ). Rufous
Antpittas also produced long songs (longer versions of short
songs; J. King recording XC101056) and ringing trills (c. 2 sec
long, c. 20 notes; N. Athanas recording XC32383) [32]. The functions of these different vocalizations types
are apparently unstudied. Recordings of short songs were used
as stimuli in antpitta playback experiments because they are commonly heard and
likely are used in territorial interactions (J.B.C.H. pers. obs.). The number of
short songs, long songs,
trills, and total vocalizations, as well
as the number of repetitions per vocalization for each type, were the response
variables for the antpitta experiments.Plain-tailed Wrens form groups of 2–7 individuals comprised of a pair and its
offspring [33]. Wren groups sing
exceptionally complex songs with four-part, synchronized, chorusing
duets (ref [33].;
recording XC4198 by W. Halfwerk). At our study site, duets were the most
commonly heard vocalization from Thryothorus euophrys longipes
(subspecies taxonomy follows Ridgely and Greenfield [34]). Duets in this species are hypothesized to be used for
territorial defense and/or to synchronize reproductive efforts in the group
[33]. Plain-tailed Wrens also
produced double contact calls (paired “choo-chip”
vocalizations; W. Halfwerk recording XC4199), melody songs
(songs similar to duet phrases but produced by single birds at lower volume and
well separated by pauses; F. Lambert recording XC38858), and fast, harsh
chatters (L. Ordóñez-Delgado recording XC78746) [35]. Recordings of duets
were used as stimuli in wren playback experiments; as in the antpitta
experiments, we selected a commonly heard vocalization type that likely serves
to maintain territorial boundaries. The response variables for Plain-tailed
Wrens were the number of duets, double contact
calls, melody songs, chatters,
and total vocalizations, and repetitions per vocalization for
each type. We also grouped all non-duet vocalizations as a
response variable because these vocalizations were quieter, produced by single
birds, and likely to differ in function from duets.We used Gaussian general linear models in a maximum likelihood framework to test
for playback-induced changes in vocal behavior. For each response variable, we
used Akaike’s Information Criterion corrected for small sample sizes to compare
support for group models (playback vs. control) to null models [36,37]. For all analyses we examined diagnostic plots that show the
relationship between the fitted values and residuals, the quantiles in the data
against theoretical normal quantiles, and the relationship between leverage and
standardized residuals for all fitted models, and found that all assumptions of
the Gaussian error struture were met [38]. All statistical modeling was done in R v.2.14.1 [39].
Repeated playback experiments
In the second part of the study, we monitored the effects of daily playback on
five groups of Plain-tailed Wrens. Study groups were randomly selected from
groups studied in the single bout experiments. Two groups had two individuals;
the other three groups had three individuals. As in the single bout experiments,
we played song stimuli for five minutes and recorded bird responses for an hour.
Experiments were done from 11:10–15:00 over 20 consecutive days, and each group
received playback at the same time daily (± 20 minutes). Each group received
different stimuli (see ‘single bout experiments’), but the same stimuli each
day. The study groups for the repeated experiments received their single bout
treatments on 13–17 October, and the repeated experiments began on 19 October.
Groups were located far enough apart (320–840 m) that playback at one group was
inaudible to others.We used three metrics to gauge responses to repeated playback: closeness of
approach to the speaker, latency of vocal response (time to first vocalization),
and latency of visual response (time to first sighting of a responding bird). On
the first day, we used a tape measure to quantify the distance from the speaker
to where the bird approached. Subsequently we used flagging to label radii from
the speaker at 2, 5, 8, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 m, in order to facilitate
distance estimates. We recorded responses for 60 minutes after the start of
playback; if none of the study birds were seen or heard, the maximum distance
(50 m) or time (3600 sec) were recorded, respectively. There was no control in
the repeated playback experiments (we only recorded closeness of approach or
latency of response after playback). Again, all data were recorded in a field
notebook.We used Gaussian mixed-effect models with log-transformed response variables to
compare playback response ~ time to playback response ~
null models. Non-responses in the repeated playback experiments lead
to violated assumptions for ordinary Gaussian general linear models (strong
patterns in residuals of fitted models). We corrected this by natural log
transforming the response variables [38].
Mixed-effect modeling is an appropriate method to account for correlations in
repeated measurement datasets, such as in the current study where we repeatedly
played songs to the same groups [40].
Following Zuur et al. [40], we checked
the support for using mixed-effect models by comparing global models fit with
generalized least squares regression, random intercept (wren group as the random
effect), and random slope (time | group) in the nlme package [41]. We used AIC calculated with restricted
likelihood to compare the models [40],
and also checked the support for a random intercept with restricted likelihood
ratio tests in the RLRsim package [42].
There was strong support for mixed-effect models over generalized least squares
regression, and random intercept was top-ranked for all three response variables
(Δ AIC of random intercept model ranged from 3.6–26.8 compared to second highest
ranked model; restricted likelihood ratio test P <
3x10-16 for random intercept). For the final analysis we compared
playback response ~ time + (1 | group), playback response
~ 1 + (1 | group), and playback response ~ 1 + (1 |
null), where “null” was a column of 1s, to evaluate the relative impacts
of the fixed and random effects in the lme4 package [43]. Model diagnostics showed the data generally met the
necessary assumptions for Gaussian models. Nonetheless, trends in the residuals
and minor departure from normality for latency of visual response are reasons
for caution in interpretation.
Results
Both Rufous Antpittas and Plain-tailed Wrens changed their vocal behavior in response
to a single bout of simulated birdwatchers’ playback. Rufous Antpittas produced more
short songs, long songs, and total vocalizations, but not more trills, after
playback treatments compared to controls (Figures 1, Tables 1). Evidence for a difference in the
number of vocalizations between treatments was strong for total vocalizations
(wAIC for the group model of
0.996) and long songs (wAIC = 0.939), but rather weak
for short songs (wAIC = 0.703). Antpittas also produced
more repetitions per vocalization after playback than after controls for the same
three vocalization types (wAIC
0.708–0.999; Table S2 in File S1). Plain-tailed Wrens produced more duets
and total vocalizations after playback, but there was no difference for other
vocalization types (Figures 2,
Tables 2). Evidence was
strong for both duets (wAIC = 1.0) and total
vocalizations (wAIC = 0.984). The large difference in
the number of duets produced after playback likely had a substantial impact on the
total vocalizations result. Wrens produced more repetitions per vocalization only in
duets (wAIC = 1.0; Table S3 in File S1).
Figures 1
Boxplots of vocalizations produced by 12 groups of Rufous Antpittas
Grallaria rufula in an hour after playback (P) and
control (C) treatments.
Boxes show the 25th and 75th percentiles, the center
line shows the median, whiskers show the 10th and 90th
percentiles, and points show outliers. Antpittas produced more short songs,
long songs, and total vocalizations, but not trills, after playback.
Tables 1
Evidence for playback-induced changes in the number of short songs, long
songs, trills, and all vocalizations in Rufous Antpitta Grallaria
rufula produced in an hour period.
Model
Δ AICc
wi
k
% DE
all vocalizations
group
0[a]
0.996
3
43.7
null
11.1
0.004
2
0
short songs
group
0
0.703
3
16.6
null
1.7
0.297
2
0
long songs
group
0
0.939
3
28.6
null
5.5
0.061
2
0
trills
null
0
0.657
2
0
group
1.3
0.343
3
5.4
All song types except trills increased after playback (control vs.
playback group effect ranked above null). Δ
AIC shows the difference between the
model AIC (Akaike’s Information Criterion
corrected for small sample sizes) and the minimum
AIC in the set of models;
AIC weights
(w
) show the
relative likelihood of model i; k
indicates the number of parameters; % DE is percent deviance explained
by the model.
a Lowest AIC = 152.7 (all
vocalizations), 156.5 (short songs), 99.2 (long songs), and 76.2
(trills).
Figures 2
Boxplots of vocalizations produced by 24 groups of Plain-tailed Wrens
Thryothorus euophrys in an hour after playback (P) and
control (C) treatments.
Boxes show the 25th and 75th percentiles, the center
line shows the median, whiskers show the 10th and 90th
percentiles, and points show outliers. Wrens produced more duets and total
vocalizations, but not other vocalization types after playback.
Tables 2
Evidence for playback-induced changes in the number of three individual
vocalization types, non-duet vocalizations, and all vocalizations in
Plain-tailed Wren Thryothorus euophrys produced in an hour
period.
Model
Δ AICc
wi
k
% DE
all vocalizations
group
0[a]
0.984
3
19.8
null
8.3
0.016
2
0
non-duet vocalizations
null
0
0.673
2
0
group
1.4
0.327
3
1.7
duets
group
0
1
3
35.5
null
18.8
0
2
0
double contact calls
null
0
0.506
2
0
group
0.05
0.494
3
4.5
chatters
null
0
0.747
2
0
group
2.2
0.253
3
0.23
melody songs
null
0
0.721
2
0
group
1.9
0.279
3
0.8
Duets and all vocalizations increased after playback (control vs.
playback group effect ranked above null). Δ
AIC shows the difference between the
model AIC (Akaike’s Information Criterion
corrected for small sample sizes) and the minimum
AIC in the set of models;
AIC weights
(w
) show the
relative likelihood of model i; k
indicates the number of parameters; % DE is percent deviance explained
by the model.
Boxplots of vocalizations produced by 12 groups of Rufous Antpittas
Grallaria rufula in an hour after playback (P) and
control (C) treatments.
Boxes show the 25th and 75th percentiles, the center
line shows the median, whiskers show the 10th and 90th
percentiles, and points show outliers. Antpittas produced more short songs,
long songs, and total vocalizations, but not trills, after playback.All song types except trills increased after playback (control vs.
playback group effect ranked above null). Δ
AIC shows the difference between the
model AIC (Akaike’s Information Criterion
corrected for small sample sizes) and the minimum
AIC in the set of models;
AIC weights
(w
) show the
relative likelihood of model i; k
indicates the number of parameters; % DE is percent deviance explained
by the model.a Lowest AIC = 152.7 (all
vocalizations), 156.5 (short songs), 99.2 (long songs), and 76.2
(trills).
Boxplots of vocalizations produced by 24 groups of Plain-tailed Wrens
Thryothorus euophrys in an hour after playback (P) and
control (C) treatments.
Boxes show the 25th and 75th percentiles, the center
line shows the median, whiskers show the 10th and 90th
percentiles, and points show outliers. Wrens produced more duets and total
vocalizations, but not other vocalization types after playback.Duets and all vocalizations increased after playback (control vs.
playback group effect ranked above null). Δ
AIC shows the difference between the
model AIC (Akaike’s Information Criterion
corrected for small sample sizes) and the minimum
AIC in the set of models;
AIC weights
(w
) show the
relative likelihood of model i; k
indicates the number of parameters; % DE is percent deviance explained
by the model.a Lowest AIC = 401.8 (all
vocalizations), 264.7 (non-duet vocalizations), 377.6 (duets), 253.0
(double contact calls), 193.1 (chatters), and 339.4 (melody songs).In repeated playback experiments, the five Plain-tailed Wren groups showed reduced
responses to playback over time, indicating habituation (Figures 3, Tables 3). Wrens responded strongly at first, but
responses had already begun to decline by day five, and after approximately day 12,
wrens showed little or no response. In Figures 3, data points with maximum values on the y-axis indicate no
response (i.e. latency of response of 3,600 seconds or closeness of approach of 50
m). Evidence of declining responses over time was strong for all three response
variables (wAIC = 1.0 for time model). Fitted trend
lines for each wren group were widely spaced in all repeated playback response
variables, which agrees with the strong support for random intercept models we
observed (Figures 3).
Figures 3
In repeated playback experiments, Plain-tailed Wren Thryothorus
euophrys groups showed weaker responses over time measured by
(a) closeness of approach to the speaker, (b) latency of vocal response, and
(c) latency of visual response.
In each figure the red line shows the population trend line (all wren groups
combined) and the other lines show fitted trend lines for each group from
Gaussian mixed-effect models with random intercepts. Data points with
maximum values on the y-axis indicate no response (i.e. latency of response
of 3,600 seconds or closeness of approach of 50 m).
Tables 3
Evidence for habituation in five Plain-tailed Wren Thryothorus
euophrys groups that experienced playback once a day for 20
days.
Model
ΔAICc
wi
k
% DE
closeness of approach
time + (1 | group)
0
1.0
4
17.2
null + (1 | group)
38.4
0.0
3
3.6
null + (1 | null)
49.1
0.0
3
0
latency of vocal response
time + (1 | group)
0
1.0
4
10.4
null + (1 | group)
30.3
0.0
3
2.4
null + (1 | null)
40.0
0.0
3
0
latency of visual response
time + (1 | group)
0
1.0
4
18.8
null + (1 | group)
64.0
0.0
3
2.8
null + (1 | null)
75.5
0.0
3
0
Birds waited longer to respond and did not approach the speaker as
closely over time. The random effect “null” is a column of 1s.
In repeated playback experiments, Plain-tailed Wren Thryothorus
euophrys groups showed weaker responses over time measured by
(a) closeness of approach to the speaker, (b) latency of vocal response, and
(c) latency of visual response.
In each figure the red line shows the population trend line (all wren groups
combined) and the other lines show fitted trend lines for each group from
Gaussian mixed-effect models with random intercepts. Data points with
maximum values on the y-axis indicate no response (i.e. latency of response
of 3,600 seconds or closeness of approach of 50 m).Birds waited longer to respond and did not approach the speaker as
closely over time. The random effect “null” is a column of 1s.Interestingly, one of the wren groups built a nest approximately 10 m from the
speaker site during the study. We observed the birds carrying nesting material
during the song treatment on days 13 and 14, apparently unaffected by the
playback.
Discussion
Rufous Antpittas produced more songs, but not trills, and Plain tailed-Wrens produced
more duets, but not other vocalization types, after simulated birdwatchers’ playback
compared to controls. In addition, antpittas and wrens produced more repetitions per
vocalization after playback for the same vocalization types. These results suggest
that birdwatchers’ playback affects vocal behavior of these two tropical passerines.
Our findings agree with previous studies that indicated playback in a
non-birdwatching context can affect avian vocal behavior (e.g. [14]).Playback affected the delivery rate of duets but had no effect on contact calls or
other non-duet vocalizations in wrens. It is possible that these differences were
caused by the function of these different vocalizations. Contact calls serve as
intragroup signals and might therefore not be expected to increase during the
territorial incursion that playback simulates.The changes in vocal behavior and habituation we observed suggest that scientists may
need to consider the effects of birdwatchers’ playback when censusing populations or
designing behavioral experiments. It may be important to study naïve bird
populations that do not experience frequent birdwatching in order to work with
baseline conditions. Accordingly, Lima and Roper [44] found that naïve passerines in Brazil responded more eagerly than
birds exposed to frequent playback over approximately three weeks a month earlier.The repeated playback experiments suggest that Plain-tailed Wrens may habituate to
repeated short bouts of birdwatchers’ playback after just 12 days of playback. This
finding suggests that repeated playback may not have stronger effects on wren vocal
behavior than single bout playback. It is possible that repeated short bouts of
birdwatchers’ playback could lead to birds treating playback as normal neighbors, as
was apparently the case in Ward and Schlossberg’s [19] long-term experiments. The wren nest building that we observed near
the playback speaker supports this possibility. Habituation could explain why
particular bird pairs that are repeatedly targeted by birdwatchers with playback
stop responding and seem to “disappear” [45].
Considering the above, irregular playback could potentially have a greater impact on
bird behavior if individuals do not encounter playback often enough to habituate,
and respond strongly in each instance of playback. On the other hand, if habituated
birds show less pronounced responses, they might be less effective at defending
their territories from true rivals [46].
These alternative hypotheses require further investigation.Our findings are from a limited sample of 12 groups of antpittas and 24 groups of
wrens. Furthermore, playback impacts may vary depending on taxonomic group, song
complexity, social behavior, and time of year (e.g. [12]), so additional studies in other taxa are needed to establish the
generality of our findings. Although our data show that bird behavior changes in
response to playback, we did not measure the effects of playback on components of
fitness such as survival or reproductive success.Our results indicate that birdwatchers’ playback affects the vocal behavior of two
species of Neotropical songbirds. This result suggests that playback could
negatively affect species if they become stressed, expend energy, or take time away
from other activities to respond to playback. By contrast, the habituation results
we present suggest that frequent birdwatchers’ playback may have minimal impacts on
wren behavior.Table S1, Summary measurements of stimuli used for playback experiments.
Table S2, Evidence for playback-induced changes in the number repetitions
per vocalisation in Rufous Antpitta Grallaria rufula. Table
S3, Evidence for playback-induced changes in the number repetitions per
vocalisation in Plain-tailed WrenThryothorus euophrys.
Figure S1, Sonograms of samples of five stimuli used for Rufous Antpitta
Grallaria rufula playback treatments. Figure S2,
Sonograms of samples of five stimuli used for Plain-tailed WrenThryothorus euophrys playback treatments. Figure S3,
Sonograms of samples of five background noise recordings broadcast in single
bout experiments.(DOCX)Click here for additional data file.Rufous Antpitta(WAV)Click here for additional data file.Plain-tailed Wren(WAV)Click here for additional data file.Background noise sample.(WAV)Click here for additional data file.
Authors: Elizabeth H Boakes; Philip J K McGowan; Richard A Fuller; Ding Chang-qing; Natalie E Clark; Kim O'Connor; Georgina M Mace Journal: PLoS Biol Date: 2010-06-01 Impact factor: 8.029
Authors: Mia Ray; John G White; Michael A Weston; Anthony R Rendall; Simon D Toop; Heath Dunstan; Jordan O Hampton; Raylene Cooke Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-07-22 Impact factor: 3.752