Birding Shanghai in March 2024

Birding Shanghai has its personal particular annoyances aside from birds not displaying up. One is the persevering with destruction of a lot of its atmosphere. Anyplace that was good for an fascinating species final 12 months is more likely to have been changed into one other development website this 12 months. The opposite is that increasingly more locations are closed to the general public, jealously guarded by black-clad, Mussolini-inspired watchmen who with none trace of irony inform you {that a} particular place is privately owned even though personal land possession doesn’t exist on this supposedly socialist nation. Lastly, there are particular restrictions for foreigners – I assume we’d steal some important state secrets and techniques which have some type of relationship with the native birds.

However anyway, Shanghai in March. Just a few modifications occur in March – for instance, many European nations and the USA swap to sunlight financial savings time. On Chongming Island, some birds change their first names – specifically, the Northern Lapwings change their names to Gray-headed Lapwings.

Gray-headed Lapwings are listed as Least Concern, which is a bit puzzling because the species was categorised as Close to Threatened, and the HBW doesn’t sound too constructive about their inhabitants measurement and growth: “Beforehand thought-about Close to Threatened. Inhabitants, excluding Japan, numbers lower than 10,000–25,000 birds, and possibly lowering”.

Gray Herons flaunt their magnificence fairly brazenly (I’m nonetheless pondering of Gustav Klimt when seeing the patterns on the wings) …

… whereas different birds like Black-crowned Night time Herons present their magnificence a bit extra rigorously.

Tianmashan had two fascinating birds in March. One, a Ryukyu Minivet.

The scientific identify tegimae honors Seiichi Tegima (1850-1918), a Japanese educationalist, bureaucrat, and museum director. I don’t assume many different chook species are named after Japanese residents.

Tegima was a key determine in establishing the Japanese pavilion on the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago (source). After his arrival in Chicago in preparation for the exhibition, he was featured in Arthur’s House Journal, Vol 62 (which to me doesn’t sound like essentially the most thrilling publication on the earth) and described as “a most courtly, elegant gentleman, who, besides on events of maximum ceremonial, appeared in European costume.  He was wined and dined on the Chicago golf equipment and in essentially the most unique properties.”

I type of like birds named after nasty guys (makes for higher tales), however Tegima (additionally named Tejima, see here) was not considered one of them. He was a powerful promoter of technical schooling and one of many founders of a girls’s college. Actually not a lot enjoyable to write down about good guys.

Till lately, the Ryukyu Minivet was thought-about a subspecies of the Ashy Minivet, and certainly the variations from that species – as described within the HBW – appear comparatively refined. Additionally, there are fairly some variations inside every species – for particulars, see here. The writer of that paper proudly states “This work, counting on a comparatively massive knowledge set, significantly improves our understanding of the geographic sample in morphometric variation in Pericrocotus spp. in northeast Asia.”

Whereas range-restricted, it’s apparently widespread on Ryukyu Island – however a uncommon sight right here in Shanghai.

The opposite fascinating species – additionally on Tianmashan – was a Verditer Flycatcher. As I didn’t discover any new and fascinating details about the species, I did what all people does lately – I requested ChatGPT. It appears to be impressed by the species: “The Verditer Flycatcher (Eumyias thalassinus) is a strikingly stunning chook present in South Asia.” And concludes “General, the Verditer Flycatcher shouldn’t be solely admired for its gorgeous look but additionally performs an essential ecological position as an insect predator in its native habitats.”

Bonus birds on Tianmashan: Gray-capped Greenfinch …

… a species that – whereas described by eBird as gregarious – appears to choose nesting in obscurity, with the three components of environmental concealment, nest location concealment, and nest location inaccessibility listed as the primary nest location choice standards in a paper …

… and Black-throated Bushtit. That is considered one of my favorites amongst cute birds – however that’s simply my private opinion. So, once more I requested ChatGPT a query: “Is the Black-throated Bushtit a cute chook?”

ChatGPT first replies in a barely evasive method however then will get virtually annoyingly constructive:

“Opinions on whether or not the Black-throated Bushtit is cute could differ relying on private preferences and views. Nevertheless, many individuals discover this chook cute on account of its small measurement, fluffy look, and energetic habits. With its distinctive markings and sociable nature, it usually captivates birdwatchers and nature lovers alike.”

Personally, I’m a bit anxious that when completely everybody makes use of ChatGPT, sentences corresponding to “captivates birdwatchers and nature lovers alike” will change into much more widespread than they already are.

The variety of Hooded Cranes on Chongming is scaling down …

… and there additionally appear to be fewer Eurasian Spoonbills.

They nonetheless combine with Black-faced Spoonbills, which in any other case would presumably really feel reasonably lonely given their low international numbers.

I’m certain some individuals will hate this photograph of a Eurasian Hoopoe, framed as it’s by human artifacts. After all, me being me, this can be a good purpose to indicate it.

As I’m certain I’ve talked about earlier than, loads of science work appears to purpose to show the plain – although the researchers nonetheless phrase their outcomes very rigorously. For instance, here’s a assertion primarily based on analysis on the Goldcrest (source): “These outcomes recommend that the power to deposit fats within the face of an energetically demanding migration could also be affected by a person’s state of well being.” Or in my phrases: In case you are sick, it’s arduous to get fats (however please don’t take this as dietary recommendation).

Another paper – additionally marginally mentioning goldcrests – describes how totally different tit species keep away from one another, very like I attempt to keep away from different individuals when birdwatching, if potential:

“Nice tits happen solely in forests close to homes, and the crested tit prevented the foraging websites of the nice tit in these forests. The willow tit prevented timber utilized by the crested tit when each have been foraging collectively. In the very best studied case, willow tits moved to outer and higher components of spruce within the presence of nice tits, which forage in decrease and interior components, however within the presence of crested tits, which choose higher and outer components of timber, willow tits moved to interior and decrease sections of spruce.”

Aren’t all of us at the least a bit of bit fascinated by psychology? So, when papers on the Eurasian Siskin, I used to be joyful to search out one with the title “Antipredator behavioral compensation of proactive persona trait in male Eurasian Siskins“.

Apparently, male siskins which have a bigger black bib are extra proactive, which makes them extra liable to predation. Nevertheless, they compensate by being extra vigilant when feeding, thus compensating for the elevated dangers. The authors (who presumably consider themselves as proactive as properly) conclude that the proactive males are “not reckless”.

Somewhat similarly, male Eurasian Siskins – that are a lot brighter coloured than the females – additionally typically present better vigilance than the females, presumably as compensation for his or her larger visibility

Little Grebes are already turning into a bit extra engaging than in mid-winter …

… whereas Pied Avocets look excellent all 12 months spherical anyway.

Just a few pictures of species that I can’t consider writing something fascinating proper now …

Yellow-bellied Tit

Reed Parrotbill

Daurian Redstart

Silver-throated Bushtit

Yellow-throated Bunting

Little Bunting (considerably surprisingly not consuming seed regardless of the winter season)

Oriental Magpie (probably contributing to China’s actual property points by including one other nest)

Widespread Moorhen

Siberian Rubythroat ( admittedly not an ideal instance, however nonetheless)

… and an outdated favourite of mine, White’s Thrush.

And to finish the publish, some raptors, by no means a quite common sight in Shanghai.

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Based mostly on one paper, one would possibly suggest this feminine to breed in a metropolis as apparently city nesters have larger breeding success (although admittedly, that paper checked out rural vs. city in Scotland, not China).

One thing comparable appears to use to the Northern Goshawk: “… goshawks seem to thrive in some city environments, almost definitely because of excessive native availability of worthwhile pigeon prey. We conclude that the Northern Goshawk could be categorised as an city exploiter in components of its distribution.” (source).

Lastly, there’s the Jap Marsh Harrier. As there are hardly ever any marshes in city areas, I assume this species higher stays outdoors of the cities.

Due to Paul for the assistance with getting info on Mr. Tegima.