Roosting Behavior of the Okinawa Rail.

DOI 7 Citations Open Access

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Other Title
  • ヤンバルクイナの就塒行動

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Description

Roosting behavior of the Okinawa Rail Rallus okinawae was investigated by driving along the forest roads at night using powerful spotlights to locate the birds. The birds were commonly found to climb trees to roost on branches. This behavior was observed throughout the year, but declined somewhat in winter. Their preferred roosting trees were mainly chinquapin, camphor or pine that were either dead or alive. The height of the roosting trees averaged 10.6m, while the branches were 6.7m. The diameter of roosting tree trunks averaged 29.2cm, while the diameter of the branches averaged 12.7cm. The rails were found on trunks leaning at angles 30° to 80° (average 67.2°), which the birds could climb easily. Similarly, the angle of roosting branches varied from horizontal to 70° (average 27.7°). Data collected during this study suggest that roosting in the tree by Okinawa Rail may be predator avoidance behavior. The rail distributed only the northern part of Okinawa Island, where Itajii Castanopsis siebold forest predominated. Conservation of the rail's diminishing remaining habitat is necessary to preserve the species. Development of techniques for captive breeding the Okinawa Rail are recommended.

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Details 詳細情報について

  • CRID
    1390282680015049472
  • NII Article ID
    130003572768
  • DOI
    10.3312/jyio1952.25.40
  • ISSN
    18833659
    00440183
    http://id.crossref.org/issn/13485032
  • Text Lang
    en
  • Data Source
    • JaLC
    • Crossref
    • CiNii Articles
    • OpenAIRE
  • Abstract License Flag
    Disallowed

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