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Abstract
The genus Newtonia (Sylviidae) is endemic to Madagascar. In this paper, the distribution of Archbold's newtonia Newtonia archboldi and common newtonia N. brunneicauda in the region of the Mangoky river is presented. For the first time observations on the breeding biology of representatives of the genus Newtonia are described. N. archboldi is found in the southwestern and western areas of the Mangoky region, in the South (floristic) Domain and partially in the West Domain. The type locality of N. archbold is Tabiky (in the Mangoky region), c.30 km NW of Ankazoabo-Sud, not 'Tabity ouest de Vondrozo' as mentioned in the first description. A nest of N. archboldi was found during the southern summer (7 December 1961) in an undisturbed, luxuriant, mainly deciduous forest, which was in leaf at the moment. The very small, bowl-like, loosely built nest stood 95 cm above the leaf-covered ground in an evergreen shrub. It contained 3 oval-shaped eggs with average measures of 15.7 × 11.4 mm; they were reddish-white with a high number of small light-brown and mat spots and dots concentrating in a ring around the blunt pole. Both mates were incubating. N. brunneicauda is found in the whole region of the Mangoky, but is rarer in the eastern area, because there are fewer suitable habitats there, 5 nests of N. brunneicauda were found in the (floristic) South Domain and in the West Domain. They contained eggs or chicks from the beginning to the middle of the hot time (southern summer), from October to December. Two nests in construction were found in November, 1 nest with eggs in November and another one in December; 1 nest with 2 chicks was found at the end of October. Feeding of chicks was observed twice in December and once in January. A nest with chicks was found on a small bare tree in the still completely leafless forest of the 'Domaine du Sud'. The other nests had been built in trees with leaves or in almost shrub-like small trees, after the forest or the savanna had turned - in whole or in part - green after the dry season. They were situated 1.2-15.0 m above ground. The nests were very small, bowl-like, built between small twigs. Tiny white cobweb lumps were scattered over the outer surface. The 2 clutches that were inspected contained 3 eggs each. These were elliptical-oval, with average measures of 16.7 × 12.9 mm. They were reddish-white, with brown and grey small spots forming a ring around the larger pole. Both mates took part in the nest building, the providing of nest material and breeding. The population of the two species of Newtonia in the Mangoky region is decreasing by the progressive destruction of forests. It is, to my knowledge, the first time that photographs of representatives of the genus Newtonia are published.
This contribution is not to be seen as the still missing history of Swiss Ornithology. (1) Basically there is no space for it here. (2) The Ala was founded as a countrywide society. However, after the foundation of «Nos Oiseaux» in 1913, it became more and more restricted to the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Therefore this contribution focuses on this part of Switzerland, although the French- or Italian-speaking ornithologists have greatly contributed to the advancement of ornithology in Switzerland. The characteristic fields of Swiss ornithologists are faunistics, migration, conservation biology, morphology and moult. Switzerland belongs to the leading countries with regard to knowledge on the status of birds, their occurrence, their numbers, their breeding biology and migration. The tradition of counting waterbirds is nearly 60 years old. The results have been the basis for a number of important papers on the ecology of waterbirds. The passage of migrants has been studied intensively on several mountain passes. The Col de Cou and Col de Bretolet belong to the most important sites for studying bird migration in Europe. Another long lasting and impressive tradition is the radar ornithology which began about 1955. It evolved as one of the most successful fields of Swiss ornithology with astonishing contributions not only in or near the Alps but also on the Mediterranean coasts, in the Middle East and in the Mauritanian Sahara. Moult and ageing of birds belong to the topics where a number of Swiss ornithologists are esteemed specialists. Studies on breeding biology and territory mapping have lost some of their importance in favour of monitoring. Other fields, such as evolutionary biology, ethology, physiology, genetics, parasitology are covered by some individuals or some university research groups only. In the last two decades the number of applied research projects to minimise the negative effects on biodiversity by new trends in land use has increased. There is, however, a huge disparity between recommendations by scientists and their application. Some scientists and amateurs - dealt with in detail - had either a strong influence on the evolution of Swiss ornithology or are good examples for outstanding achievements, not only by well equipped laboratories, but also by non-professionals captivated by a fascinating research idea or with a long lasting endurance contrasting with the claim for innovation in science.
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