Eilat Campus

Biometric analysis helps in sex differentiation, understanding development and for studies of avian biology such as foraging ecology, evolutionary ecology, and survivorship. We suggest that biometry can also be a reliable, practical and inexpensive tool to determine the age of nestlings in the field by non-invasive methods. As an example we studied the biometry of wing, culmen, talon, tarsus and body mass of nestling southern Indian Spotted Owlets (Athene brama brama). Based on the growth pattern analysis using logistic growth model, discriminant analysis and CHAID (Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detection) based decision tree, we show that biometry of nestling Spotted Owlets is an easy, reliable and inexpensive method to determine nestling age and to assess growth rate and relative nutritional status. These biometric parameters also allow us to predict their ability to initiate first flight from the nest site. This method is described here for the first time and we postulate tha...

Yosef R., Tryjanowski P., Remisiewicz M. 2002. Migration characteristics of the Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) at Eilat (Israel). Ring 24, 1: 61-67. The Wood Sandpiper is a common passage migrant in Israel. However, the relative importance of this flyway remains unknown. Here, we present a general overview of Wood Sandpiper migration at Eilat (Israel). A total of 214 Wood Sandpipers were caught, ringed and measured at the IBRCE ringing station in years 1984-2001. Most of Wood Sandpipers were caught in ...