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THE GREAT REED WARBLER’S (ACROCEPHALUS ARUNDINACEUS) BEHAVIOR IN THE PRESENCE OF MAN


CONSTANTIN ION

Issue:

SCSB, Volume XI

Section:

Animal biology

Abstract:

The Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) is one of the most common passerine birds from the wet areas of Moldavia (Ion, 2005). His breeding places are established in reed beds, very close to the regions where people live.

The ornithological specialists (Cramp, 1992, Dowsett, 1978) have distinguished in The Great Reed Warbler’s ethogram (Cociu, 1999), a special behavior in the presence of man. The Great Reed Warblers display different postures and songs when a man appears around their nest, than in the situations when other vertebrate species, mammals or birds come to their territories. It perceives the man like a huge animal, bigger than those animals it enters in contact with, usually: birds, Muskrats or snakes.

When a bird appears, (a Heron or a Cuckoo), or mammals, (a Muskrat), The Great Reed Warbler’s reaction is to attack immediately, and to try to chase the intruder.

On the other hand, when close to him come big mammals, The Great Reed Warbler’s behavior changes, as it depends on the breeding stage.

Man’s presence in its territories produces a great curiosity, but it also produces fear. In many situations we need to expect minutes or even hours in order to observe the Great Reed Warblers near their nests, because they express a lot of circumspection in the presence of man. As the broods hatch, the adult’s behavior becomes more and more brave.

Keywords:

The Great Reed Warbler, behavior, man.

Code [ID]:

SCSB200611V11S01A0007 [0002525]


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