Use of RFID technology to characterize feeder visitations and contact network of hummingbirds in urban habitats.

ABSTRACT: Despite the popular use of hummingbird feeders, there are limited studies evaluating the effects of congregation, sharing food resources and increased contact when hummingbirds visit feeders in urban landscapes. To evaluate behavioral interactions occurring at feeders, we tagged 230 individuals of two species, Anna's and Allen's Hummingbirds, with passive integrated transponder tags and recorded their visits with RFID transceivers at feeders. For detecting the presence of tagged birds, we developed an RFID equipped feeding station using a commercially available antenna and RFID transceiver. Data recorded included the number of feeder visits, time spent at the feeder, simultaneous feeder visitation by different individuals, and identifying which feeders were most commonly visited by tagged

SUBMITTER: Bandivadekar RR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6291107 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature