I played a new entry, and this of Sison was not planned, but I received a request for cooperation on this issue and take the opportunity to anticipate something. It is dedicated to Rodrigo Hernandez and its efforts to keep alive, against all odds (or more properly speaking "against pixel and network) is a magnificent publication Wild Vision. They leave the rest.
of little bustard male
flying.
"SISON": A SUCCESSFUL NAME.
Often some birds have an onomatopoeic name in Spain, and known by the sound they make. The Sison (Tetrax tetrax) is one of these birds, named since ancient times with a name that is associated with the curious whistle (hiss) that produces the fly. This is because it has one of the primaries of each wing shorter than the other and extremely low-cut, so that lets the air to fly producing the characteristic if-if-if-if-if, that would serve to warn conspecifics of their presence. The flapping of its wings has another characteristic that is to stop seeing a white wing patches that once posed are hidden. Macho
between pastures.
back cryptic plumage the male protects and allows you to carry out their tasks during heat without having to be aware of hazards that can come from behind.
BUSTARD
A MINIATURE.
Another name quite right (although its simplicity) is the recipient in English: Little Bustard (which could be translated as Little Bustard, to distinguish it from the other species they designated as Great Bustard, or what is the same Great Bustard). And actually, both by blood, such as morphology, behavior and habitat type, we can consider Sison as the younger brother of the Great Bustard.
However, unlike that sexual dimorphism of Sison is only noticeable during courtship, because once over the feathers of the male are taking the same tones that have the female, and during the winter is not easy to distinguish them unless that we have very close or hand.
Its smaller size than the Great Bustard has been seeking a different defense strategy, based largely on a quick flight, which would be associated with those sound systems and visual communication, and also in a much more social. Male in oteadero
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ORIGINS AND ADAPTATIONS TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
Otidae Family (to which they belong Bustards and Sison) consists of twenty-four species, which comprises mostly of African lands, but also occur in Europe, Asia and Australia. They are birds typical of open terrain, from semi-desert to savannah or steppe zones and areas dedicated crops. In the Western Palearctic are located three: The Great Bustard, the Houbara Bustard and. Of these, the Houbara lives in the Canary Islands, as well as in Barbary and the Middle East, so that only the Houbara Bustard and the Europeans would be considered.
Like other birds of treeless habitats, its origin seems to be in the steppes of Asia, from where they were to expand by taking advantage of deforestation and the gradual development of grassland and arable crops that took place back in the Middle Ages.
The little bustards developed a number of changes to the new environment. Starting with its plumage is cryptic, based on shades of brown, black and white, allowing them to some extent overlooked in spaces where there are not many natural elements that could offer shelter.
His beak is short, yet strong, very useful for both starting to crush the seeds to insects and small invertebrates that tend to feed.
have long, powerful legs, feet thick and heavy in the rear finger missing, with only three toes directed forward. This adaptation allows them to walk more easily for a long time.
courtship.
The birds are a little bustards extremely faithful to their breeding areas, which come year after year, and which the males perform their unique traditional displays to attract females. An original courtship, flashy, complex and above all very specialized.
Usually this colorful event begins at the end of March (although annual depend on the weather). At this time, most of our steppe zones may hear a strange sound (prrret) that repeats every few seconds. Even knowing that this is a male of Sison, it may take time, its location and the sound is so strong that it comes perfectly audible to many hundreds of meters. At last I discovered in an open and often slightly elevated, which will several weeks trying to attract the attention of females.
Their cryptic plumage most of the year (very similar to females) has become these days as a bridal dress. Still retains the mottled brown on the back (although the colors are more intense) that will largely continue to serve as camouflage in the rear, which can not be precisely controlled. In contrast, the front has become a very intense white tone on which stands a black neck swollen in which two white stripes, the top is thinner and has V-shaped, while the bottom has a thicker and flows horizontally like a collar. A tie and a collar, is how these drawings have been described many times.
The new outfit looks quite striking for females, but not enough long distance. To fix this, the male develops a unique strategy Sison, consisting of flapping and making small jumps where visible inside the white plumage of its wings, in this way it could be seen with the naked eye over a mile. The sites chosen for such activity are known to ornithologists as "Cantaderas." Macho
of Sison defiantly
Cantaderas activity starts in about an hour and a half before sunrise, when it is still dark. The male, who has stayed in place, started its activity emitting the characteristic sound of the heat (prrret), once you have placed in the right place, and will be repeated at intervals of about thirty seconds. Around twenty minutes later, when at least clearly seen on the horizon and begin to distinguish the first case, begins flapping, but not lift off the ground. It is curious to observe how suddenly and occur at the time of the characteristic sound, a white spot appears in the midst of darkness, which lasts only a few tenths of a second. This activity will remain until some minutes after sunrise, when it begins the real show: the jumps.
The duration of these is short, if we consider that each one moves around a meter and the maximum elevation is often not even get that close. But it is more than enough to be seen above the pasture and thus are to any female who is in a radius of one kilometer. As for direction, it varies between two and three times during the 50 to 80 minutes is usually prolonged. If during this time has become a nuisance that the bird leaves the place, just continue jumping if they have returned to catadero in the first half hour, if on the contrary it will most likely done after is that merely provide its distinctive sound and occasionally wandering around, but do not jump again, although there are exceptions.
while away, using a suitable optical can be seen as the little bustard male takes a hard kick on the ground that always precedes the leap. If we have the possibility of observing at close range (eg to 40-50 meters in the case of the realization of the photographs illustrating this report), we have the opportunity to clearly hear the drumming that occurs, and the same as the brief hiss of their feathers during the second hard wing movement. The repetitive activity in a particular place for several weeks and make the end of the procession clearly appreciate the results: a small area of \u200b\u200bland completely peeled, compacted soil, and abounding in excrement. In almost 30% of cases the location of Cantaderas chosen to show off and jump in full swing may vary courtship, but always in a radius of 100 meters. There are even cases in which changed after they return to the original place.
As the day progresses, its activity is more relaxed, wandering near the Cantaderas all away and even sometimes the same, it is common feed him or fluff their feathers as a sign of relaxation. However, no guard down, and we can see that initiates a sudden flight apparently without explanation, it is not seen nothing to disturb the site or its surroundings. But Sison has discovered that another male has entered its territory, pursued in the air for some distance. If the density of males is high in the area, it is quite possible that during this persecution cross another territory jealously guarded by its corresponding male who will not hesitate to turn to start a chase of the two intruders. Back to your field, landing at a distance between 100 and 300 meters from Cantaderas, walking tours, with the head forward, slightly bent, and making some stops to scan the immediate advantage.
If, however, and because of their exhibits is a female who is close to its territory, the attitude tends to be different. If that female flight crosses Cantaderas or near, the flight also pursued, but not to eject as in the previous case, but to land next to it and pursue land insistently. Even if the female reached on foot to the scene but comes to take flight, our lover's haunt the air, alternating flights and chases on foot with a duration variable, which depends on the attitude she displayed, reaching some consummated times mating. Even so, females approach a reproductive Cantaderas ideas usually do on the ground, alternating short trips with stops in which IAEA around with an attitude that seems casual and not interested in the male, when this is discovered (usually over 100 meters) runs to meet him so fierce and always in front, showing his bulging neck and drawings of this. When it reaches its height is chasing around after a slight nudge and attempted copulation the female rejects in principle, being able to take flight. If it does not start a chase between the pasture, both head-first until the male reaches his partner and repeat the process. With this attitude may take hours or even several days, which could mean that mating can be repeated several times during that time.
Following completion of copulation, the male and female separate for very different activities. While the male continues his work, eager to attract as many females can, the female has been fertilized section moves to place previously chosen to build the nest, and raise her brood.
If the efforts of all morning in vain and not see any females around, the male will abandon its exhibition as the day progresses. At around 12:00 to 12:30 (official time) gives the feeling that has disappeared from the area, and may have done on a temporary basis, although it is more likely to be missed and hidden by the grass, both avoid detection by potential predators, to combat the heat, in the absence of shadows where you hide. However, about 5 or 6 hours (late afternoon) the activity will grow as the heat is less intense, and it hides the sun revert to the fluttering and even jumping, which will run until almost dark reign .
Cantaderas They are usually used by little bustards year after year, although they may abandon repeated nuisance or the construction of buildings or infrastructure
Despite the territoriality of the males during courtship, there may be cases such as parts of La Serena, where the density of these can reach ten per square kilometer.
The insistence of "jumping" typically bear fruit, females end up closer.
More information on Sison and Bustards in this book:
