Horns, teeth, claws, beaks… Given this mighty arsenal it’s a wonder there isn’t more physical conflict in the animal world, such as among birds.

Florfenicol is a broad-spectrum bacteriostatic antibiotic commonly used for the treatment of systemic infections in farm animals. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of florfenicol on the percentage of T lymphocytes (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, TCRgd+ cells) and B lymphocytes (Bu-1+ cells) and on total serum anti - sheep red blood cell (SRBC) haemagglutinin titer in the peripheral blood of SRBC–immunized broiler chickens. The study included three groups of broiler chickens differentiated by weight (0.5, 1.2, 2.4 kg). Florfenicol was administered orally at a dose of 30 mg/kg. The drug was administered eight times at 24 h intervals. The chickens were immunized with SRBC 24 h after administration of the third dose of florfenicol. Florfenicol increased the percentage of CD3+ blood lymphocytes with a corresponding decrease in the percentage of B lymphocytes in birds weighing 0.5 and 2.4 kg. Florfenicol reduced the production of total anti SRBC-haemagglutinins on day 5 after antigen injection in all three body weight groups of the broiler chickens. In conclusion, florfenicol exerted a modulating effect on the immune response of the birds and this should be taken into consideration when using this antibiotic for certain indications.

In 1989/90, in the region of SSSI 8 situated on King George Island 21 bird species were observed, 12 species were breeding. Dominants were 3 Pygoscelis species (19229 pairs). Five species of pinnipedians were noticed. Mirounga leonina was most abundant in January (623 individuals), Arctocephalus gazella — in February and March (890 individuals), Hydrurga leptonyx in October (39 individuals). The abundance of Leptonychotes weddelli was low and rather stable. As a result of mild winter during the study period such birds as Sterna vittata and Pygoscelis adeliae stayed near their breeding places. The scarcity of Lobodon carcinophagus was probably also a result of this mild winter.

A serological study to detect antibodies against microbes in avian mycoplasmosis (Mycoplasma gallisepticum and M. synoviae), and salmonellosis (Salmonella gallinarum and S. pullorum) was carried out. A hundred and twelve Antarctic birds (42 Adelie penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae, 30 southern giant petrels, Macronectes giganteus and 40 skuas, Catharacta antarctica and C. maccormicki) from King George Island, the South Shetland Islands, and Laurie Island, the South Orkney Islands in Antarctica were studied. The serological test used in this study was a rapid agglutination test. According to the results and considering the number of samples analysed, it is reasonable to believe that Adelie penguins, southern giant petrels, and skuas populations of the areas mentioned above are free from mycoplasmosis and salmonellosis.

In the breeding season 1988/89, within the region of SSSI No. 8, nesting of 12 species of birds was observed. The highest number of nests — 24430 — belonged to three species of pygoscelid penguins; 77.1% were the Adelie penguin. Relatively high fluctuations in the number of penguins in some rookeries in particular breeding seasons were confirmed. During regular countings of mammals' in 1988 the presence of 5 species of Pinnipedia was noted, of which the southern elephant seal was most numerous in the summer season, whereas crabeater seal — in winter. In the region of SSSI No. 8, breeding of southern elephant seal and Weddell seal was observed. Fluctuations in the number of seals in this region in the period 1977—1988 were insignificant.

The red blood picture was studied in 7 species of the Antarctic birds from the regions around Arctowski Station. King George Island (South Shetland Islands). The values of hematological indices were analysed, dependent on the mode of life and body weight of the examined species.

The observations carried out on Haswell Island on 20—24 January 1979 showed the occurrence of 7 species of nesting birds: Pygoscelis adeliae — about 36000 individuals including about 11300 young. Stercorarius skua maccormicki— 76 adults and 15 young, Daption capensis — 220+/- 10 nests, Fulmarlus glacialoides — 3150 +/- 200 nests, Thalassoica antarctica — 250 +/- 10 nests, Oceanites oceanicus — about 500 nests and Pagodroma nivea — about 10 nests. The time of hatching and moulting was found to be 15—20 days earlier, and the percentage of two-egg clutches in nests of Procellariidae was lower as compared with the literature data. More of the two-egg clutches were found for Stercorarius skua maccormicki. The krill dominated in the food of studied species of Procellariidae. Biometrical data for eggs of the majority of studied bird species were gathered.

Changes in the red blood picture were studied during the development of Pygoscelis adeliae, P. antarctica and P. papua. It has been found that the respiratory function of a unit of the blood volume increases with the age of the investigated birds. The mechanism of this changes is described.

Observations were carried out in Penguin Island on 27 January 1979. The results of the birds census were as follows: Pygoscelis adeliae— 1710 pairs, P. antarclica— 7058 pairs, Macronecles giganteus—512 pairs, Oceanites oceanicus — 47 pairs, Chionis alba — 5, Stercorarius skua lonnbergi — 6 pairs, Larus dominicanus — 63 pairs, Sterna vittata—18. Other species showed different requirements as regards breeding grounds. Simultaneously the following Pinnipedia were observed on Penguin Island: Mirounga leonina — 202 specimens, Arctocephalus gazella — 48 adult and 6 young individuals, Leptonychotes weddelli — 2, Lobodon carcinophagus — 1.

Flying bird counts were carried out at Esperanza Bay (62°24'S, 56°59'W), Antarctic Peninsula, between November 1989 and February 1990. Six breeding species (Oceanites oceanicus, Chionis alba, Catharacta lonnbergi, Catharacta maccormicki, Larus dominicanus and Sterna vittata) and six visitor species (Macronectes giganteus, Fulmarus glacialoides, Daption capense, Pagodroma nivea, Fregetta tropica and Phalacrocorax atriceps) were recorded. Kelp gull and Antarctic tern populations have decreased in relation to the data by previous authors, perhaps as a result of the increased activity at Esperanza Station. Cygnus melanocoryphus was recorded for the first time at Esperanza Bay.

Energy delivered to the nests of Wilson's storm petrel, Oceanites oceanicus (Kuhl, 1820), was evaluated by measurement of the oxygen consumption of brooding adult birds and nestlings of different ages. During the brooding period adult birds have to deliver more than 180 kJ per visit to the nest vs. less than 170 kJ during the rest of the nesting period. It seems likely that the parental ability to deliver large quantities of food per visit affects the duration of the brooding period and therefore also affects growth rates of Wilson's storm petrel chicks and the duration of their nesting period.

A survey of breeding birds was carried out during the summer 1997-98 in several localities of the northern Danco Coast, Antarctic Peninsula. A total of 10 species were recorded: Pygoscelis antarctica (3234 pairs), P. papua (1888), Macronectes giganteus (76), Daption capense (61), Oceanites oceanicus (104), Phalacrocorax bransfieldensis (92), Ononis alba (15), Catharacta maccormicki (168), Lams dominicanus (583) and Sterna vittata (160 pairs).

In the region of the Admiralty Bay 12 nesting bird species were encountered of a total abundance of 40890 pairs and biomass amounting to about 395000 kg Three penguin species constituted 91.7% in abundance, their biomass constituting 98.7% of the whole community. Densities of abundance and biomass of adult birds in relation to the living area of penguins (i.e. 775 km2) ranged from 32.3 to 121.4 indiv. km-2 and from 115.1 to 4730 kg k m-2.

In the last two decades several new concepts of photodetectors to improve their performance have been proposed. New strategies are especially addressed to the group of so called high-operating-temperature detectors where - apart from increasing of operating temperature - both the size and power consumption reduction is expected. In this paper a new strategy in the photo-detector design is presented - the barrier detectors: CnBn; CnBnN+, CpBn and unipolar barrier photodiodes. In spite of considering barrier detectors based on AIIIBV bulk compounds and type-II superlattices as having theoretically a better performance than those based on HgCdTe, the latter compound is also used to fabricate barrier detectors. Among many new applications of barrier detectors the detection of explosives can be extremely important due to an increased threat of terrorist attacks. This paper presents the status of the barrier detectors and compares the performance of mid-wave HgCdTe barrier detectors and unipolar barrier photodiodes.

Repellent usage against rodents is almost not provided anymore. Permission to use many rodent repellent substances under European Union (EU) plant protection regulations has not been renewed in recent years. Some approval for chemical substances have not been renewed due to their toxicological properties, and for some biorational approvals have also not been renewed due to lack of financial support together with other concerns. Some other rodent repellent substances possessing accurate properties in a secondary way have also been withdrawn. Thus, the use of almost ten active substances is now illegal. The lack of support and the resultant orphan use may be explained by the relatively small market and possible business together with the expectations of modern substance application requirements. As a result, the opportunity to consider new biorational substances as candidates is therefore open. Plant based food substances are preferred candidates for plant protection considering their favourable toxicological characteristics. Capsicum oleoresin, a mixture obtained from two spice species (Capsicum annuum and C. frutescens), is one of them with appropriate repellent properties. An application under EU Plant Protection Product regulation has recently been submitted and may become a new repellent for biological control agent against seed predators.

Fossil bird remains assignable to ratites (palaeognathous birds) are described from the Paleogene strata of the La Meseta Formation of Seymour Island, Antarctic Peninsula. This record sheds new light on Gondwana's avian history.

The arylsulphatase activity (E. C. 3. 1.6. 1.) was compared in different species ol Antarctic mammals, birds of the genus Pygoscelis, fish of the genus Notothenia and two crustaceans oi the genus Euphausia. The role of arylsulphatase in the hydrolysis of sulphate phenol esters was pointed out. Considerable differences were observed in the arylsulphatase activity both within genera and species. But no differences in the activity of the enzyme examined were observed in relation to the sex or maturity stage of gonads of chosen Antarctic animals. The activity of arylsulphatase from liver and hepato- pancreas homogenates оf Antarctic animals was lower than the activity of this enzyme in similar animals of the temperate zone.

Studies of the chemical composition of surface freshwaters of the Fugleberget drainage basin, Spitsbergen, were performed in the summer of 1979. It was found that activity of birds (little auk) is the main factor differentiating the chemical properties of waters of the drainage basin. The birds faeces cause the enrichment of waters with nutrients, fertilizing the environment. There is a dependence of the concentration of determined water chemistry parameters on the distance from the bird colony.

The purpose of the work is to provide a comprehensive review of the available historical and current records of vagrant and visiting individuals sighted at the Haswell archipelago, near the Russian Antarctic station Mirny (Davis Sea, southern Indian Ocean), from 1956 to 2016. Three rare vagrant species (eight observations) were recorded: the Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica), Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) and Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus). The Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus; ten observations) and Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus; a single observation) were visitors of the archipelago. Southern Giant Petrels and all vagrant individuals are of southern origin, the Pomarine Jaeger is a Holarctic breeding species. A single vagrant (and one uncertain case) appeared in the austral spring, and another eight – in the summer. Three cases of visitors were recorded in the austral spring, and eight in the summer. Records of vagrancy and visitors cover the dynamic period of changes in ice conditions. While most vagrants and visitors were sighted only for one day, two Macaroni Penguins stayed for several days at the archipelago. The most detailed issues in this work are those related to the study of vagrancy. I evaluate the possibilities of limited existence of vagrants and visitors into groups of endemic species as well as interspecific interactions. I also discuss the physical condition of vagrant individuals and factors contributing to their survival, ponder on the origin of vagrant individuals and visitors, their association with specific populations and causes of vagrancy.

Contents of PCBs was investigated using the gas chromatography method in the tissue of four Antarctic migratory birds: Oceanites oceanicus, Larus dominicanus, Catharacta skua and Sterna vittata, and the three penguin species: Pvgoscelis adeliae, P. papua and P. antarctica. Samples were collected at King George Island in February 1978 and, for comparison, in March 1983. The highest PCBs content was recorded in the adipose tissue of O. oceanicus and C. skua (15.7 and 1.2 ppm). Differences in the content of these compounds in the tissue of various penguin species in 1978 was observed. The mean cumulation level of PCBs in the adipose tissue of penguins was higher in 1983 than in 1978. Differences in the level of PCBs contents in the tissue of migratory birds were related to their winter migrations to areas polluted to various degress with PCBs remains. A tendency to the increase of the contamination of penguin tissues with PCBs was observed. This tendency was related to the increase of vhe pollution of the Antarctic environment with these compounds.