Seasonal activity levels of a farm-island population of striated caracaras (Phalcoboenus australis) in the Falkland Islands

May combine two claims.

During austral winter, caracaras' diets include native upland geese, feces and carrion of resident southern fur seals, southern sea lions, and gentoo penguins, as well as beetles and subsidies provided by farms.

“During austral winter, when most seabirds migrate offshore, caracaras' diets include native upland geese (Chloephaga picta), the feces and carrion of resident southern fur seals (Arctocephalus australis), southern sea lions (Mirounga leonina) and gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua), as well as beetles and subsidies provided by farms [17,28,31].”

• cites [17] Harrington KJ, Pole-Evans S, Reeves M, Bechard M, Bobowski M, Barber DR, Rexer-Huber K, Lecomte N, Bildstein KL. Seasonal micro-migration in a farm-island population of striated caracaras (Phalcoboenus australis) in the Falkland Islands. Mov Ecol. 2018;6:4. sourcePartly supported

  The Discussion (page not provided) describes winter use of farm scraps and upland-goose carcasses, and the Background says some caracaras switch to invertebrates. But the Discussion places reliance on pinniped feces and carcasses historically, while the study-area passage mentions gentoo penguins in summer; the copy does not establish beetles or the named mammals and penguins as current winter foods. (LLM, conf=0.88)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
• cites [28] Strange IJ. The Striated Caracara Phalcoboenus australis in the Falkland Islands. Warrington: Philip Myers; 1996.Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites [31] Rexer-Huber K, Bildstein KL. Winter diet of Striated Caracara Phalcoboenus australis (Aves, Polyborinae) at a farm settlement on the Falkland Islands. Polar Biol. 2013;36:437–43. sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Prior to deployment, all loggers were spherically rotated to pass through all combinations of pitch and roll to record reference values to calibrate accelerometer data for inherent sensor variability.

“Prior to deployment, we spherically rotated all loggers to pass through all combinations of pitch and roll to record reference values to calibrate accelerometer data to account for inherent sensor variability (i.e., due to manufacturing) [64].”

• cites [64] Wilson RP, White CR, Quintana F, Halsey LG, Liebsch N, Martin GR, Butler PJ. Moving towards acceleration for estimates of activity-specific metabolic rate in free-living animals: the case of the cormorant. J Anim Ecol. 2006;75:1081–90. sourcePartly supported

  The laboratory methods and Fieldwork passages (pages unavailable) describe rotating loggers through all combinations of pitch and roll to calibrate accelerometer output, and the Fieldwork data-processing passage says those calibrations were used to convert readings from millivolts to g. The paper does not say that the purpose was to account for inherent sensor variability due to manufacturing. (LLM, conf=0.84)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

May combine two claims.

It was not possible to trap at both sites during the same season because the birds seasonally migrate between the two sites.

“It was not possible to trap at both sites during the same season, because the birds seasonally migrate between the two sites [17].”

• cites [17] Harrington KJ, Pole-Evans S, Reeves M, Bechard M, Bobowski M, Barber DR, Rexer-Huber K, Lecomte N, Bildstein KL. Seasonal micro-migration in a farm-island population of striated caracaras (Phalcoboenus australis) in the Falkland Islands. Mov Ecol. 2018;6:4. sourcePartly supported

  The Results (page unavailable) show seasonal movement between the farm and seabird-colony sites, with more resightings at the colonies in summer and at the farm in winter. The paper does not say that trapping at both sites in the same season was impossible because of that movement; its Methods describe surveys at both sites in each season. (LLM, conf=0.85)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

For other species, predictable food resources have encouraged residency.

“For other species, predictable food resources have encouraged residency (e.g., [16,53,54]).”

• cites [16] Gilbert NI, Correia RA, Silva JP, Pacheco C, Catry I, Atkinson PW, Gill JA, Franco AM. Are white storks addicted to junk food? Impacts of landfill use on the movement and behaviour of resident white storks (Ciconia ciconia) from a partially migratory population. Mov Ecol. 2016;4:7. sourcePartly supported

  The Conclusions say landfill food resources likely facilitated the establishment of resident white storks. The Discussion (Winter nest use) describes those resources as reliable in space and time. This supports the example, but the claim states the causal link more definitely than the paper does. (LLM, conf=0.82)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
• cites [53] Plummer KE, Siriwardena GM, Conway GJ, Risely K, Toms MP. Is supplementary feeding in gardens a driver of evolutionary change in a migratory bird species? Glob Chang Biol. 2015;21:4353–63. sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites [54] Baskin Y. Trumpeter swans relearn migration. Bioscience. 1993;43:76–9. sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

During austral winter, most seabirds migrate offshore.

“During austral winter, when most seabirds migrate offshore, caracaras' diets include native upland geese (Chloephaga picta), the feces and carrion of resident southern fur seals (Arctocephalus australis), southern sea lions (Mirounga leonina) and gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua), as well as beetles and subsidies provided by farms [17,28,31].”

• cites [17] Harrington KJ, Pole-Evans S, Reeves M, Bechard M, Bobowski M, Barber DR, Rexer-Huber K, Lecomte N, Bildstein KL. Seasonal micro-migration in a farm-island population of striated caracaras (Phalcoboenus australis) in the Falkland Islands. Mov Ecol. 2018;6:4. sourceSupported
• cites [28] Strange IJ. The Striated Caracara Phalcoboenus australis in the Falkland Islands. Warrington: Philip Myers; 1996.Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites [31] Rexer-Huber K, Bildstein KL. Winter diet of Striated Caracara Phalcoboenus australis (Aves, Polyborinae) at a farm settlement on the Falkland Islands. Polar Biol. 2013;36:437–43. sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Vectorial dynamic body acceleration (VeDBA) is an index of activity measured in gravitational g.

“Accelerometers, for example, record high-resolution three-dimensional movement, which can be used to calculate an index of activity, such as vectorial dynamic body acceleration (VeDBA, measured in gravitational g) [40,41].”

• cites [40] Qasem L, Cardew A, Wilson A, Griffiths I, Halsey LG, Shepard EL, Gleiss AC, Wilson R. Tri-axial dynamic acceleration as a proxy for animal energy expenditure; should we be summing values or calculating the vector. PloS ONE. 2012;7:e31187. sourceSupported
• cites [41] Bidder OR, Qasem LA, Wilson RP. On higher ground: how well can dynamic body acceleration determine speed in variable terrain. PloS ONE. 2012;7:e50556. sourceSupported

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

An animal's time-activity budget can be estimated using a hidden Markov model (HMM) to decode behavioral state from acceleration.

“Furthermore, an animal's time-activity budget can be estimated using a hidden Markov model (HMM) to decode behavioral state from acceleration [42,43].”

• cites [42] Leos-Barajas V, Photopoulou T, Langrock R, Patterson TA, Watanabe YY, Murgatroyd M, Papastamatiou YP. Analysis of animal accelerometer data using hidden Markov models. Methods Ecol Evol. 2017;8:161–73. sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites [43] Papastamatiou YP, Watanabe YY, Demšar U, Leos-Barajas V, Bradley D, Langrock R, Weng K, Lowe CG, Friedlander AM, Caselle JE. Activity seascapes highlight central place foraging strategies in marine predators that never stop swimming. Mov Ecol. 2018;6:9. sourceSupported

May combine two claims.

Tag version had a significant effect in both models; for daily index tag version accounted for additional 13% of variation (p=0.039, t=2.20), for daytime average VeDBA additional 6% (p<0.05, t=2.24).

“Tag version had a significant effect in both models; however, for the daily index (i.e., 24-h average VeDBA) tag version only accounted for an additional 13% of the variation (p = 0.039, t = 2.20), and for the daytime average VeDBA, tag version only accounted for an additional 6% of the variation (p < 0.05, t = 2.24).”

May combine two claims.

During summer all tagged birds remained tightly clustered at the seabird colonies site; in winter, caracaras were more loosely clustered at the farm settlement and one bird traveled 16 km northwest to the seabird colonies site.

“During summer all tagged birds remained tightly clustered at the seabird colonies site (Fig. 4b), while in winter, caracaras were more loosely clustered at the farm settlement (Fig. 4a, lower right) and one bird traveled 16 km northwest to the seabird colonies”

May combine two claims.

The one male sampled during winter traveled from the farm settlement to the seabird colonies, increasing his 95% KDE twofold over the ranges of females who remained at the settlement (male 95% KDE: 3.85 km2, female 95% KDE: 1.98 ± 0.54 km2 [n=4]).

“However, the one male sampled during winter traveled from the farm settlement to the seabird colonies, increasing his 95% KDE twofold over the ranges of females who remained at the settlement (male 95% KDE: 3.85 km 2 , female 95% KDE: 1.98 ± 0.54 km 2 [n = 4]).”

May combine two claims.

During winter, both sexes increased the percentage of daylight spent in high activity (state 4): winter males 35 ± 5%, summer males 21 ± 3%, winter females 25 ± 6%, summer females 16 ± 3%; ANOVA p < 0.001.

“During winter, both sexes increased the percentage of daylight spent in high activity (winter males: 35 ± 5%, summer males: 21 ± 3%, winter females: 25 ± 6%, summer females: 16 ± 3%, p < 0.001)”

• Also stated in: § Daily activity budgets · plain

  “during winter, both sexes increased the percentage of daylight hours spent in state 4 (winter males: 35 ± 5%, summer males: 21 ± 3%, winter females: 25 ± 6%, summer females: 16 ± 3%; ANOVA, p < 0.001, t = 6.12;Fig. 3b).”

May combine two claims.

During both seasons, over 90% of night was spent in resting states (states 1 and 2), even though winter nights were nearly two times longer (winter 13.2 h, summer 7.2 h mean).

“Using the state-labeled data, we found that during both seasons, over 90% of night was spent in resting states (i.e., states 1 and 2), even though winter nights were nearly two times longer (winter 13.2 h, summer = 7.2 h [mean]).”

May combine two claims.

During winter, both sexes increased the percentage of daylight spent in low activity (state 3): winter males 30 ± 5%, summer males 28 ± 3%, winter females 27 ± 6%, summer females 21 ± 2%; ANOVA p < 0.05.

“though during winter both sexes increased the percentage of daylight hours spent in state 3 (winter males: 30 ± 5%, summer males: 28 ± 3%, winter females: 27 ± 6%, summer females: 21 ± 2%; ANOVA, p < 0.05, t = 2.25; Fig. 3b).”

May combine two claims.

A 4-state HMM fit the data best and comprised interpretable states: rest, rest with noise, low activity, high activity.

“We found that a 4-state HMM fit the data best (Fig. 2a) while comprising clearly interpretable states: (1) rest (e.g., sleep or a similar motionless posture); (2) rest with noise (e.g., preening or daytime rest); (3) low activity (e.g., walking or raking); and (4) high activity (e.g., flight, running, or antagonistic behavior) (Fig. 2b).”

May combine two claims.

During winter, juvenile caracaras increased average daytime activity (VeDBA) relative to summer: winter males 0.16 ± 0.03 g, summer males 0.09 ± 0.01 g, winter females 0.12 ± 0.02 g, summer females 0.08 ± 0.01 g; ANOVA p < 0.001.

“However, during winter, caracaras made the most of limited daylight by increasing average daytime activity (winter males: 0.16 ± 0.03 g, summer males: 0.09 ± 0.01 g, winter females: 0.12 ± 0.02 g, summer females: 0.08 ± 0.01 g).”

• Also stated in: § Daily time-activity allocation · plain

  “However, during winter, caracaras made the most of limited daylight by increasing their average daytime activity by 71% for males and 60% for females (winter males: 0.16 ± 0.03 g [n = 5], summer males: 0.09 ± 0.01 g [n = 5], winter females: 0.12 ± 0.02 g [n = 7], summer females: 0.08 ± 0.01 g [n = 7]; ANOVA, p < 0.001, t = 7.05).”

May combine two claims.

There was no statistically significant seasonal difference in juvenile caracaras' mass, although there was a trend for both males and females to weigh less in winter (males summer 1498 ± 169 g n=11, winter 1424 ± 104 g n=33; females summer 1772 ± 108 n=19, winter 1717 ± 121 g n=29).

“We did not observe a significant seasonal difference in mass.”

• Also stated in: § Seasonal mass · plain

  “Contrary to our prediction, we found no statistically significant seasonal difference in juvenile caracaras' mass, although there was a trend for both males and females to weigh less in winter (males summer: 1498 ± 169 g [n = 11], males winter: 1424 ± 104 g [n = 33]; females summer: 1772 ± 108 [n = 19], females winter: 1717 ± 121 g [n = 29]).”

May combine two claims.

Caracaras slept in social roosts at night during both seasons, though GPS tracks suggest interindividual variation in daytime space use.

“Caracaras slept in social roosts at night during both seasons, though GPS tracks suggest interindividual variation in daytime space use.”

May combine two claims.

The authors observed no adverse effects of trapping and handling, with many individuals continuing to feed immediately upon release.

“We observed no adverse effects of trapping and handling, with many individuals continuing to feed immediately upon release.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Caracaras have distensible crops, so the authors visually assessed crop size and restricted mass analysis to birds without distended crops to control for added mass of food storage.

“Caracaras have distensible crops, thus we visually assessed crop size and categorized as not distended, partially distended, or distended, which allowed us to control for the added mass of food storage by restricting our mass analysis to birds that did not have distended crops.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Striated caracaras exhibit reverse sexual size dimorphism.

“They are long-lived [Amy Wallace pers.comm] with extended periods of adolescence [28] and exhibit reverse sexual size dimorphism [KH unpubl.data].”

• cites [KH unpubl.data]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The study targeted juvenile caracaras (second year birds) to remove the effect of breeding on seasonal movement, activity levels, and mass.

“We targeted juvenile caracaras (i.e., second year birds, aged by plumage per [28]) to remove the effect of breeding on seasonal movement, activity levels, and mass.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted). The quote only partly states this claim.

Human subsidies may mitigate the effect of seasonal food limitations for juvenile caracaras on Saunders.

“We hypothesize that human subsidies may mitigate the effect of seasonal food limitations.”

• Also stated in: § Discussion · hedged

  “We hypothesize that resources available at the nearby farm settlement may be mitigating the effect of seasonal food limitations.”

May combine two claims.

During austral summer, caracaras primarily feed on eggs, chicks, and dead or dying adults of breeding colonial seabirds, the afterbirth, feces, and carrion of resident pinnipeds, and invertebrates including limpets and kelp fly larvae.

“During austral summer, caracaras primarily feed on eggs, chicks, and dead or dying adults of breeding colonial seabirds, the afterbirth, feces, and carrion of resident pinnipeds, and invertebrates including limpets and kelp fly larvae [17,[28][29][30].”

• cites [17,[28][29][30]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

After deployment, all instrumented individuals resumed normal activity.

“After deployment, all instrumented individuals resumed normal activity.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted). May combine two claims.

Male caracaras in the Falklands weigh 200 g less than females, and because cost of transport scales positively with mass, their smaller size could facilitate their higher activity levels.

“On average, male caracaras in the Falklands weigh 200 g less than females, and as cost of transport scales positively with mass, we hypothesize their smaller size could facilitate their higher activity levels [50][51][52].”

• cites [50][51][52]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

When seabirds migrate offshore, caracaras vacate their summer roost and move 16 km SE to the farm settlement, where they overwinter at a roost adjacent to the settlement.

“When this happens, caracaras vacate their summer roost and move 16 km SE to the 2.5-km 2 farm settlement, where they overwinter at a roost adjacent to the settlement.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

It is possible the tag version effect was due to year rather than tag version, and the authors could not include year and tag version in the same model because they did not use both tag versions in all years.

“It is possible the effect was due to year and not tag version, though we were unable to include year and”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted), S3 (load-bearing).

A previous study posited that population recovery may be limited by winter food stress.

“While the caracaras in the Falklands are now protected, a previous study posited that population recovery may be limited by winter food stress [31].”

• cites [31] Rexer-Huber K, Bildstein KL. Winter diet of Striated Caracara Phalcoboenus australis (Aves, Polyborinae) at a farm settlement on the Falkland Islands. Polar Biol. 2013;36:437–43. sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Both tag versions comprised a similar percentage of the average caracaras' mass (2017: 1.2%; 2018/19: 1.5%).

“While the 2018/2019 tags weighed slightly more (2017: 20 g; 2018/2019: 25 g), both versions comprised a similar percentage of the average caracaras' mass (2017: 1.2%; 2018/19: 1.5%).”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The farm settlement provides human subsidies (e.g., animal feed, offal, compost) year-round.

“has a farm settlement that provides human subsidies (e.g., animal feed, offal, and compost) year-round.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Human subsidies have encouraged corvids and canids to reduce and shift their home ranges closer to subsidized resources.

“Human subsidies have also encouraged corvidsscavenging predators that fill a similar ecological niche as the caracaras-and canids to reduce and shift their home ranges closer to subsidized resources [55,56].”

• cites [55] Kristan WB III, Boarman WI. Effects of anthropogenic developments on common raven nesting biology in the west Mojave Desert. Ecol Appl. 2007;17:1703–13. sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites [56] Marzluff JM, Neatherlin E. Corvid response to human settlements and campgrounds: causes, consequences, and challenges for conservation. Biol Conserv. 2006;130:301–14. sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Of the 24 datasets, 12 loggers also recorded GPS data, with 5 in winter and 7 in summer.

“Of these, 12 loggers also recorded GPS data (winter n = 5, summer n = 7).”

• Also stated in: § Data processing · plain

  “From the 2018 and 2019 deployments that included GPS units, we obtained 12 complete sets of tri-axial acceleration and GPS data.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

A 2012 austral winter survey counted 274 caracaras of all age classes on Steeple Jason Island, where they were observed hunting terrestrial invertebrates, foraging in the intertidal and kelp wrack, and scavenging at gentoo colonies.

“For example, a 2012 austral winter survey counted 274 caracaras of all age classes on Steeple Jason Island, a nature preserve 80 km northwest of Saunders, where the caracaras were observed hunting terrestrial invertebrates, foraging in the intertidal and kelp wrack, and scavenging at gentoo colonies [57].”

• cites [57] Woods RW, Meiburg JA, Galloway D. Striated Caracaras Phalcoboenus australis on Steeple Jason, Falkland Islands: winter population, diet, feeding behaviour and potential problems of mouse eradication August–September 2012. Falkland Islands: Falklands Conservation survey report to F.I. Government. Stanley; 2012.Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Only one of the 25 recovered loggers failed to record data.

“Only one of 25 recovered loggers failed to record data.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Cost of transport scales positively with mass.

“as cost of transport scales positively with mass, we hypothesize their smaller size could facilitate their higher activity levels [50][51][52].”

• cites [50][51][52]Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

All dataloggers recorded data for greater than 24 h.

“All dataloggers recorded data for greater than 24 h; although to ensure data were comparable on a daily scale and to minimize the effects of tag deployment, we clipped from the beginning of each dataset to make all files 24 h in length.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The dataset contained only one year per treatment.

“To compare KDEs and MCPs between seasons, we used two-sample t-tests and a Wilcoxon rank sum test, as our dataset contained only one year per treatment.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Sampling rate variability accounted for less than 0.001% of the data.

“Next, we corrected any sampling rate variability, which accounted for less than 0.001% of the data.”

May combine two claims.

Each dataset represented one individual, so all observations were independent.

“Each dataset represented one individual; thus, all observations were independent.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Caracara capture, handling, and instrumentation methods were conducted under Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee protocol #1054 and complied with the conservation of Wildlife and Nature Ordinance of 1999, Section 9, License to carry out Scientific Research permit #R22/2015, Falkland Islands Government.

“Caracara capture, handling, and instrumentation methods were conducted under Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee protocol (#1054) and complied with the conservation of Wildlife and Nature Ordinance of 1999, Section 9, License to carry out Scientific Research permit (#R22/2015, Falkland Islands Government).”