Beck, K.B.; Firth, J.A.; McMahon, K.; Croft, S.; Cole, E.F.; Sheldon, B.

Local population density of woodland birds from a manipulation experiment in Wytham Woods, Oxfordshire, UK 2021

Name: Local population density of woodland birds from a manipulation experiment in Wytham Woods, Oxfordshire, UK 2021
Published: 2022-02-24
License: https://eidc.ceh.ac.uk/licences/OGL/plain

https://doi.org/10.5285/1a4dcbb3-c4fb-4bd4-acb3-d03932de9323 Cite this dataset

This dataset contains information about local population densities of great tits, blue tits, marsh tits and nuthatches from a manipulation experiment. The time, location and bird species were recorded using a Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag attached to each bird and the information recorded using a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) antenna within the feeder. Population density was manipulated by programming automated feeders to only open for a specific set of individuals (creating low- and high-density treatments). Local population densities were recorded using automated bird feeders at six experimental and two control sites prior to and during the manipulation. The experiment took place in Wytham Woods, Oxfordshire, UK between January and March 2021, as part of a study on the effects of ecological factors on social structure and information transmission. The work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (Grant NE/S010335/1, The ecology of behavioural contagion in natural systems.)

Publication date: 2022-02-24

Format

Comma-separated values (CSV)

Where/When

Study area
Temporal extent: 2021-01-01 to 2021-03-31

Provenance & quality

Automated bird feeders were used to collect the described data. Each of the feeders had one access hole with a clear flap and an inbuilt Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) antenna within the perch. All birds equipped with a Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag that landed on the perch got recorded, and the time and date of visits stored on a Secure Digital (SD) card. The flap can be programmed to open only for specified PIT tagged individuals. This allowed us to manipulate local densities by specifically restricting access to each feeder. Feeders were visited every two to three days, to refill food, check feeder performance and collect data. For the final dataset, erroneous recordings (e.g. entries with a wrong date or tag number) were removed. Data are provided as comma separated value files for deposit into the EIDC.