North-eastern Mongolia is an important breeding area for the globally threatened White-naped Crane Grus vipio. We studied reproductive performance and the influence of factors related to livestock grazing on reproduction and nest-site selection of the White-naped Crane population in the Ulz river valley, north-eastern Mongolia in 2000 and 2001. In 2001, 42 territorial pairs were found in 270 km of river basin. Recruitment was 18–22% resulting in 0.5–0.6 juveniles per territorial pair. The years 2000 and 2001 were within a dry period and recruitment might have been below the long-term average. White-naped Crane nests were significantly associated with river basin sections containing shallow water-bodies. The number and extent of shallow water-bodies are likely to be a limiting factor for breeding population size. Nest-sites in water-bodies were selected for high nest concealment, but nests were initiated even when concealing vegetation was not available. Only 26% of nests were >90% concealed suggesting that appropriate cover was often not available. Nest-sites were also selected for low grazing intensity. No correlation was found between hatching or fledging success and nest concealment or grazing intensity. Brood-size of successful pairs was higher if the home range was ungrazed, but further investigations are needed to clarify whether this was caused by absence of livestock grazing or other factors. Both because of internationally important numbers and because of a potentially high reproductive output, the study area is of high importance for the species.

Hill Mynah Gracula religiosa is one of the most popular bird pets worldwide due to its ability to mimic diverse sounds, especially human speech. However, Mynahs have rarely been bred in captivity, so nestlings from natural populations are in large demand, resulting in many populations being threatened with extinction. Both subspecies in Thailand, intermedia and religiosa, are costly and desired in the pet market. Captive breeding is one of the most practical strategies to solve a conservation problem of this nature and this report describes a success in breeding Hill Mynahs in captivity. Mated pairs were given free access to food, nest-cavities and nest materials. Reproductive behaviour in captivity was not different from that in the wild, with the exception that breeding occurred throughout the year, even during the non-breeding season for wild populations. Although there are doubts concerning the reintroduction of captive-bred birds and whether successful Hill Mynah breeding in captivity is an economically competitive alternative to poaching, it ensures species survival in captivity as the risk of extinction increases.

We investigated the reproductive success of Campo Suiriri (Suiriri affinis) and Chapada Flycatcher (S. islerorum) in the Estação Ecológica de Águas Emendadas, Central Brazil. Between June and December 2003, we monitored 25 nests of Campo Suiriri and 20 nests of Chapada Flycatcher. The simple percentage of successful nests was 32% for Campo Suiriri and 10% for Chapada Flycatcher, whereas the reproductive success calculated by the Mayfield method was 19% for Campo Suiriri and 14% for Chapada Flycatcher. The estimated values of daily survivorship rate (DSR) for Campo Suiriri are as follows: egg period 0.971 and nestling period 0.944. For Chapada Flycatcher the figures were 0.964 and 0.930, respectively. No differences in DSRs between species or periods were statistically significant. All nest losses of Campo Suiriri were due to predation, while for Chapada Flycatcher predation accounted for 78% of nest losses and the remaining 22% was due to parasitism by botfly larvae (Philornis sp.). The low reproductive success of Chapada Flycatcher is close to the lowest values recorded for Neotropical birds and might be a threat to this species and an important variable in the determination of its conservation status.

We studied nest-site selection and nesting success in the critically endangered Yellow-crested Cockatoo Cacatua sulphurea throughout a breeding season in Manupeu-Tanadaru National Park, Sumba. Within a 6 km2 study area, which supported about 60 birds, cockatoos displayed disproportionate interest in cavities in trees containing other active nests, and cavities already actually occupied by parrots or owls. Actual nesting attempts were made at only eight cavities, and a single chick fledged. Interspecific interactions were observed at every one of these nests. Breeding activity was negatively correlated with monthly rainfall, which was the heaviest for at least 10 years, and it is possible that adverse weather conditions disrupted cockatoo nesting this season. Whether this is the case or not, our study shows how low reproductive output can be in the species and this has serious implications for survival of the population on Sumba.

Bolivia holds one of the world's richest avifaunas, but large areas remain biologically unexplored or unsurveyed. This study carried out the first ornithological inventory of one of the largest of these unexplored areas, the yungas forests of Cordilleras Cocapata and Mosetenes. A total of 339 bird species were recorded including 23 restricted-range, four Near-Threatened, two globally threatened, one new to Bolivia and one that may be new to science. The study extended the known altitudinal ranges of 62 species, 23 by at least 500 m, which represents a substantial increase in our knowledge of species distributions in the yungas, and illustrates how little is known about Bolivia's avifauna. Species characteristic of, or unique to, three Endemic Bird Areas (EBAs) were found. The Cordilleras Cocapata and Mosetenes are a stronghold for yungas endemics and hold large areas of pristine Bolivian and Peruvian Upper and Lower Yungas habitat (EBAs 54 and 55). Human encroachment is starting to threaten the area and priority conservation actions, including designation as a protected area and designation as one of Bolivia's first Important Bird Areas, are recommended.

Since 1950, the annual rainfall in the habitat of Black-cheeked Lovebirds Agapornis nigrigenis has decreased, increasing dependence on artificial water supplies. In this study, the seasonal water requirements and drinking behaviour of the lovebirds in their natural habitat were investigated. During the dry season, lovebirds drank at the same water-point in the early morning and late afternoon. Flock sizes of birds at drinking sites ranged from 1 to 175 individuals. Birds from one locale all drank at the same waterhole. Black-cheeked Lovebirds were vigilant and highly cautious drinkers that did not drink at waterholes when disturbed by humans or livestock. The implications for conservation of the species are discussed. Since water availability is a limiting factor for the Black-cheeked Lovebird, gradual desiccation of its habitat has caused the reduction of its small distributional range. Because of increasing dependence on artificial water supplies in a highly localized distribution the priority for conservation management of the species must be creating and maintaining water resources with minimal external disturbance.

We analysed the trend of the number of singing males of Cantabrian Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus cantabricus in 207 leks on the southern slope of the Cantabrian mountains, north-west Spain, in the period 1981 to 2003. The area of occupancy in 1981–1982 covered up to approximately 2,070 km2, but in 2000–2003 it was 693 km2, a 66% area reduction in 22 years. The 1981–1982 census estimated a minimum number of 274 singing male Capercaillie on the southern slope, but in 2000–2003 only an estimated 81 males were recorded, a reduction of 70%. A linear regression was used to detect and describe the changes in the size of the total population of the southern slope as well as individual subpopulations. The overall trend for the total subpopulations was a significant decrease in the number of males (y = 39.94−0.018x; R2 = 0.944, P < 0.001). The negative regression slopes indicated that the number of males had fallen in all the subpopulations considered. In the western core area the greatest annual mean rate of decline was detected in the Sierra de Picos de Ancares subpopulation (−6.22%) and in the eastern core in the Sierra de Riaño subpopulation (−3.43%). The principal local limiting factors (habitat fragmentation, human disturbance, small population size and competition) that have caused the population decline are discussed, together with the demographic, genetic and evolutionary consequences for the surviving subpopulations.