Diurnal patterns at an autumn migration ringing site near the Sudan Red Sea coast

Abstract

During August to October in 1982 and 1983 large numbers of migrating Palaearctic passerines were trapped and ringed after their early morning arrival in a small watered garden at Khor Arba’at near the Sudan Red Sea coast (Nikolaus 1983). Numbers within this small site varied throughout the day according to a regular pattern, and it was noted that different species peaked in the catch at different times of the morning. In 1984 the site was worked systematically with a constant number of mist-nets over the main migration period, from 17 August to 23 September. Times of capture were noted and the temporal capture profile, from dawn to midday, was determined for each species. Nocturnal migration was also investigated during September 1984 by observing birds crossing the face of the full or near full moon.