Jasmina Mužinić

Julije Klović: the first colour drawing of Greater Bird of Paradise Paradisaea apoda in Europe and its model

The prayer book The Hours of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as The Farnese Hours, was illustrated by the Croatian miniaturist, Julije Klović, between 1539 and 1546 in Rome. In this masterpiece of Renaissance miniature art, Klović drew in colour a bird of paradise. In 2001, the pictured bird was determined to be a Raggiana Bird of Paradise, Paradisaea raggiana P. L. Sclater 1873. Our later determination shows that it is actually a Greater Bird of Paradise Paradisaea apoda (Linnaeus 1758) and the first drawing of this species in colour in Europe. Klović’s model for the Greater Bird of Paradise was one of the first trade skins of birds of paradise that, from 1522, had been arriving in Europe. Revision of the early drawings of the birds of paradise species in Europe, relevant to the Klović drawing model, has also been carried out and is discussed.

Population Size And Nest Site Selection Of The Spanish Sparrow Passer Hispaniolensis In The Region Of The River Krka (Croatia)

Abstract The breeding range of the Spanish sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis, in Croatia is rapidly expanding. We studied the size of the nesting population and selection of nest site in an area partially included in the Krka National Park. Our results confirm that between 2004 and 2007 in the wider area of the Krka National Park the Spanish sparrow had occupied new localities, and that the number of 160 pairs recorded in 2003 had more than doubled (300–350) by 2007. In the study area, Spanish sparrows nest most commonly in the canopies of introduced planted trees (e.g. Morus alba, Platanus occidentalis, Populus nigra cv. italica). This strategy, with a good access to and diversity of potential nesting sites, enables a further expansion of the species.

Daily Survival Rates of Eggs in Artificial Ground and Shrub Bird Nests on Small Adriatic Islands

Summary. Predation may cause important losses to the biodiversity of small islands. In this study we analysed the predation pressure on clutches of nesting birds in two islands of the Zadar Archipelago, Olib and Silba, which belong to an Important Bird Area (IBA) in Croatia. We paid special attention to introduced mammals: black rats Rattus rattus and feral domestic cats Felis silvestris catus. In May 2009, we carried out a study with artificial ground and bush nests. One quail egg and a plasticine egg of similar size were placed in each nest. On Olib, the daily survival rate of quail eggs in ground nests (0.92) was similar to that of nests located in shrubs (0.93), whereas on Silba the daily survival rates of quail eggs in ground (0.94) and shrub nests (0.86) were significantly different. We used the marks left on the plasticine eggs to identify nest predators. Many eggs in shrub nests (40% on Olib and 70% on Silba) were predated by hooded crows Corvus cornix. In ground nests on Olib, 43% of eggs were predated by hooded crows and small mammals, mainly black rats. On Silba Island, eggs in 33% of the ground nests were damaged by the above predators and also by the Montpellier snake Malpolon monspessulanus. Contrary to our expectations, feral cats were not found to be egg predators on either of the islands.