• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.344-352
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• 2015

This study aims to identify the difference in the starting time of the dawn chorus of different species of birds and related environmental conditions. For this study, the bird songs were recorded every 2 hours a day starting from 2 hours before sunrise for a whole spring season (from April to June, 2014) in Korea. The recorded sounds were analyzed to find the starting time of each species' song by sonogram pattern using a sound analyzing program (Adobe Audition CC). To analyze the relationship between the environmental conditions and the time of the birdsong of each species, we collected the data of environmental conditions: daily precipitation, Julian date, time of sunrise and moonrise, temperature data and twilight time from the Korea Meteorological Office. As a result of this study, it was found that there are several statistical correlation between the starting time of the birdsong and environmental conditions (every environmental condition except daily precipitation and time of moonrise). Also, the difference of the starting time among each species were identified. The species were divided into 3 groups (early, mid and late) by their wake-up time. Ring-necked pheasant and yellow-throated bunting were categorized as 'Early' group and all woodpeckers were categorized as'Late' group. This study is significant as it first presented a classification of wild birds in Korea by the starting time of their dawn chorus. However, further studies are required to identify why each species to do their dawn singing at different times.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.411-418
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• 2014

This study seeks to identify the effects of light pollution and environmental factors on Great Tits(Parus major) bird's chirping at dawn. For this research, the campus of Sanji University, Wonju, South Korea was selected as the area with light pollution and the western forest of the Chiaksan National Park was chosen as the natural area herein. The Recording period was between March 26th and May 30th, 2014. As a result of analyzing the chirping time according to light pollution, it was found that the light pollution area clearly showed earlier chirping time than the natural area (p<0.05). Great Tits(P. major) normally start their first chirping before sunrise and in most of the days under investigation of this research, those in Sanji University started to chirp earlier. This faster chirping time seems to improve the chance for the female birds to mate with immature males thus, baby birds hatch earlier than the appropriate breeding season and results in the lack of feed resources. The correlation between Great Tits'(P. major) dawn chirping and environmental factors were investigated herein including the time of sunrise, civil twilight, navigation twilight, astronomical twilight, average temperature, highest temperature, lowest temperature, time of moonrise and cloudiness. The first chirping time of wild birds in the day was found to have correlations with all of the environmental factors excluding the time of moonrise and cloudiness. Great Tits(P. major) started their first chirping before sunrise when the day started to break around civil twilight. Along with the earlier sunrise and higher air temperature, their dawn chirping time was also quickened. The time of moonrise and cloudiness did not show a correlation and further follow-up studies will be necessary in this regard.