Field Studies on the Grey Starling, Sturnus cineraceus Temminck
1. From winter to breeding season
1955 Volume 1 Issue 7 Pages 277-289
Details
1955 Volume 1 Issue 7 Pages 277-289
1. A large bamboo-grove round the Shinhama Duck-netting Pond (Imperial House Hold) at the mouth of River Edo, Gyotoku, Chiba Prefecture, offers roost for many thousands of Grey Starlings, Sturnus cineraceus Temminck, in winter. Evening roosting behabior and the dispersal at dawn to the feeding ground 5-6km. apart, the daytime feeding behavior and its change towards evening to flock on a large tree before leaving at sunset to the roost, are described. The bathing is preferably done in late afternoon.
2. Necessary factors for a feeding ground at paddies with some cultivated area, are: scattered trees to rest on, enough water, big trees or pines (at a private house or a local temple) to gather in the morning and evening, also abundance of food (use of much fertiliger) and least menace by people.
3. They breed scattered at suitable hollow trees within the feeding area. Quarrel was observed between pairs for a hollow and almost 1/4 of the flock seemed to have psychologically returned to non-breeding condition by lack of nesting cite. Before this, the birds which abandon the winter roost increased and they began to overnight at a small bamboo-grove within the feeding area (In another feeding area closer to the winter roost, such spring roost was lacking).
4. The main feeding area studied was north to 6.5km. from the winter roost, and was about 12 square km. within which 800-900 individuals were counted. This area can be sectioned into several subareas different in feeding population, from almost 0 to 3 birds per 100 meter square, by difference of surroundine factors. At 14km, from the winter roost was found a feeding ground of another population. (see next issue for Japanese original)
5. Though often overlooked by some farmers, value of starlings as winter protector of paddies from noxious insects and the larvae and also as eliminators of flies growing from the fertilizer, is to be further studied.
6. Summer to autumnal change of the flock's behavior will be described in the next report.
