1. Christine Yen [鄧思婷]
Taiwan Tech Trek Academic Conference August 15, 2014

2. Significance
• Formosan Blue Magpie
1) Endemism
2) First individuals to appear in Taipei
Botanical Garden
3) Inconsistent with general distribution
• Asian Glossy Starling
1) Invasive species
2) Understanding ecological impact
Christine Yen TTT 2014 2

3. Formosan Blue Magpie
(Urocissa caerulea)
• Distinct physical traits
• Taxonomic classification
• Breeding/social behavior
– Monogamous
– Social birds w/ helpers
– Territorial
Christine Yen TTT 2014 3
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7105/7230691272_12b3704357_z.jpg

4. Data collection: methods
• Field research at Taipei
Botanical Garden
– One breeding pair, four
fledglings
– 2.5 hrs/day, 7/2 to 8/8
• Monitoring nest activity
– Initial observations
conducted: nestling stage
– Binoculars, spotting scope
Christine Yen TTT 2014 4

5. Christine Yen TTT 2014 5

6. A most unusual couple
• Atypical physical appearance
– Unusually fragmented/short tail
feathers
• Socially isolated
– No helpers feed nestlings
Christine Yen TTT 2014 6

7. Data collection
• Types of food,
categories
-Fruits, insects/worms,
lizards/amphibians, birds,
unknown
• Other factors
-Size food and party
providing food
Christine Yen TTT 2014 7

8. RESEARCH RESULTS
Christine Yen TTT 2014 8

9. Research Results
Christine Yen TTT 2014 9
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
10 12 18 22 24 26 28 30 36 38
Totalfeedingincidences
Days after hatching
Frequency: feeding incidences
Nestling stage
n=244 feeding incidences

10. Research Results
Christine Yen TTT 2014
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
10 11 12 15 18 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 32 36 37 38 39
Ratio:foodtobeak
Days after hatching
Average size of food fed
10
Nestling stage

11. Research Results
• Comparison: Composition of diet by Stages
Christine Yen TTT 2014 11
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
27%
33%
40%
0% 0%
24%
35%
29%
9%
3%
Nestling Stage vs. Fledgling Stage
Nestling Fledgling

12. 輝椋鳥 Scientific name: Aplonis panayensis

13. Asian Glossy Starling
• Physical traits:
– Adults vs. juveniles
• Distribution
– Origin: Southeast
Asia/Philippines
– Introduced via humans
• Diet/foraging behavior
– Frugivorous
– Forage in groups
Christine Yen TTT 2014 13
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3833/10976177295_32b7dd7499_o.jpg http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5540/11051683564_4d4d2f85e7_z.jpg

14. Data collection: methods
14Christine Yen TTT 2014
• Field research
– Observations: SYS
Memorial Hall
– 1.5 hrs in morning, 3 days
week , (7/2-8/8)
– Binoculars: observe flocks
roosting under roof

15. Data collection
• Objective: assess
competitive fitness
• Recorded factors:
– Starlings foraging fig
trees
– Prevalence other species
in same trees
– Interspecies interactions
– Altitude, position
inhabited in canopy
Christine Yen TTT 2014 15
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5549/11051676104_50ea49a45a_z.jpg

16. Research Results
Christine Yen TTT 2014
16
Prevalence of other bird species on the same tree
0 5 10 15
Japanese White Eye
Taiwan Barbet
Eurasian Tree Sparrows
Chinese Bulbul
Black Bulbul
Common magpie
Mean number populating tree
Typeofbird
http://orientalbirdimag
es.org/images/data/chi
nese_bulbul3.jpg
http://cdn.theanimals.pics/pictures/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/Black_Bulbul_R

17. Christine Yen TTT 2014 17
Research Results
52%
11%
33%
11%
100%
48%
89%
56%
45%
55%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Eurasian Tree
Sparrow
Japanese
White Eye
Chinese Bulbul Taiwan Barbet Common
Magpie
Percentageofinteractions
Flew away Chased away Undisturbed Chased starling away
Breakdown of behavioral responses to interactions with
the Asian Glossy Starling
n=13 n=16 n=5 n=6n=11

18. Christine Yen TTT 2014 18
Asian Glossy Starling: outer/upper
Research Results
25.9%
8.1%
8.6%
15.2%
0.5%
1%
7.6%
0.5%
32.5%

19. Christine Yen TTT 2014 19
22.9%
22.9%
31.4%
5.7%
8.6%
8.6%
0%
0%
0%
Eurasian Tree Sparrow: outer/upper
Research Results

20. Christine Yen TTT 2014 20
29.4%
47.1%
0%
5.9%
5.9%
5.9%
5.9%
0%
0%
Chinese Bulbul: outer/upper
Research Results

21. Christine Yen TTT 2014 21
Japanese White Eye: outer/mid
Research Results
21.1%
42.1%
26.3%
0%
10.5%
0%
0%
0%
0%

22. Conclusion
Formosan Blue Magpie
• Initial decrease: feeding
frequency to fledglings
• Feeding incidences
generally increased
• Size of food increased as
fledglings grew
• Composition of diet: more
varied over time
Asian Glossy Starling
• Species encountered most
frequently when foraging
– Eurasian Tree Sparrows,
Japanese White Eyes, Chinese
Bulbuls
• Tend occupy similar
regions: tree
• Small sample size:
interactions
-Further research needed
Christine Yen TTT 2014 22

23. Acknowledgements
• My appreciation to
 Dr. Chao-Nien Goh for her guidance and
all research associates in the Forestry
Wildlife Lab for their assistance.
 Taiwan Forestry Research Institute,
Counsel of Agriculture
 Taiwan Tech Trek
• Thank you all!
23Christine Yen TTT 2014

24. Transition: nestlings to fledglings
20 days after hatching
• Challenges
• 2nd week field work
• Left the nest, chicks
become independently
mobile; very quiet.
• Increased adults’ degree
territorial aggression
• New Strategy
• Listen for parents’ call to
locate
• Followed on foot; using
binoculars
• Tent
Christine Yen TTT 2014 24
-Poor visibility,
mobility