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2001

Ornithology

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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

The History Of Life In Nebraska: A Time-Travel Adventure, Paul A. Johnsgard Dec 2001

The History Of Life In Nebraska: A Time-Travel Adventure, Paul A. Johnsgard

Papers in Ornithology

It is difficult for humans, whose lives are measured in years and decades, to fathom the age of the Earth, whose history is patiently but inexorably written on thin pages of landscape, each lasting millions of years or more. As an exercise in Earth-time, let a single mile represent a million years. Thus .5 mile would represent 500,000 years, .10 mile equals 100,000 years, .01 mile (52 feet) equals 10,000 years; .001 mile (5.2 feet) equals 1,000 years, and about 6 inches equal 100 years. A decade would equal about half an inch. It is 450 miles from the 60th …

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Kentucky Warbler (Vol. 77, No. 4), Kentucky Library Research Collections Nov 2001

Kentucky Warbler (Vol. 77, No. 4), Kentucky Library Research Collections

Kentucky Warbler

No abstract provided.

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High Frequency Of Extra-Pair Paternity In Eastern Kingbirds, Michael T. Murphy, Diane L. Rowe, Robert C. Fleischer, Paul G. Wolf Nov 2001

High Frequency Of Extra-Pair Paternity In Eastern Kingbirds, Michael T. Murphy, Diane L. Rowe, Robert C. Fleischer, Paul G. Wolf

Biology Faculty Publications

Genetic parentage in the socially monogamous and territorial Eastern Kingbird( Tyrannust tyrannus) was examined in a central New York population by multilocus DNA fingerprinting. Extra-pair young were identified in 60% (12 of 20) of nests. Of the 64 nestlings profiled, 42% were sired by extra-pair males, but no cases of conspecific brood parasitism were detected. These results are markedly different from a previous electrophoretic study of the same species in a Michigan population, which reported 39% of nestlings were unrelated to one (typically the mother, quasiparasitismo)r both (conspecificb roodp arasitism) of the putative parents. In the New York population, extra-pairp …

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High Frequency Of Extra-Pair Paternity In Eastern Kingbirds, Diane L. Rowe, Michael T. Murphy, Robert C. Fleischer, Paul G. Wolf Nov 2001

High Frequency Of Extra-Pair Paternity In Eastern Kingbirds, Diane L. Rowe, Michael T. Murphy, Robert C. Fleischer, Paul G. Wolf

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Genetic parentage in the socially monogamous and territorial Eastern Kingbird( Tyrannust tyrannus) was examined in a central New York population by multilocus DNA fingerprinting. Extra-pair young were identified in 60% (12 of 20) of nests. Of the 64 nestlings profiled, 42% were sired by extra-pair males, but no cases of conspecific brood parasitism were detected. These results are markedly different from a previous electrophoretic study of the same species in a Michigan population, which reported 39% of nestlings were unrelated to one (typically the mother, quasiparasitismo)r both (conspecificb roodp arasitism) of the putative parents. In the New York population, extra-pairp …

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Summer Field Report, June And July 2001, W. Ross Silcock Sep 2001

Summer Field Report, June And July 2001, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

Jaeger at Lake McConaughy; the continuing advance of the Eurasian Collared-Dove; possible breeding or hybridization with Eurasian Collared-Dove of White-winged Dove at Kearney; a resurgence of Black-billed Cuckoos; breeding of Long-eared Owl in Knox County; hummingbirds (including Calliope) in the Panhandle; and interesting information on the Red Crossbills on the Pine Ridge.

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Kentucky Warbler (Vol. 77, No. 3), Kentucky Library Research Collections Aug 2001

Kentucky Warbler (Vol. 77, No. 3), Kentucky Library Research Collections

Kentucky Warbler

No abstract provided.

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A Cytochrome-B Perspective On Passerina Bunting Relationships, John Klicka, Adam J. Fry, Robert M. Zink, Christopher W. Thompson Jul 2001

A Cytochrome-B Perspective On Passerina Bunting Relationships, John Klicka, Adam J. Fry, Robert M. Zink, Christopher W. Thompson

Ornithology Program (HRC)

We sequenced the complete mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene (1,143 nucleotides) for representatives of each species in the cardinalid genera Passerina (6 species), Guiraca (1 species), and Cyanocompsa (3 species), and used a variety of phylogenetic methods to address relationships within and among genera. We determined that Passerina, as presently recognized, is paraphyletic. Lazuli Bunting (P. amoena) is sister to the much larger Blue Grosbeak (Guiraca caerulea). Indigo Bunting (P. cyanea) and Lazuli Bunting are not sister taxa as generally thought. In all weighted parsimony trees and for the gamma-corrected HKY tree, Indigo Bunting is …

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Comments On Nebraska's Falconiform And Strigiform Bird Fauna, Paul A. Johnsgard Jun 2001

Comments On Nebraska's Falconiform And Strigiform Bird Fauna, Paul A. Johnsgard

Papers in Ornithology

Owing to a lack of long-term survey data, determining whether Nebraska's raptor numbers are stable, increasing, or decreasing is difficult. Unlike our relatively well-monitored gamebirds, no regular surveys have been performed, and raptors barely register on the state's Breeding Bird Surveys or Christmas Bird Counts, owing to their relative rarity. However, a few data-points of interest do exist, which might be worth summarizing.

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Ecology Of Audubon's Shearwaters (Puffinus Lherminieri) At San Salvador, Bahamas, Neville Anthony Trimm Jr. Jun 2001

Ecology Of Audubon's Shearwaters (Puffinus Lherminieri) At San Salvador, Bahamas, Neville Anthony Trimm Jr.

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The Audubon's Shearwater (Pqffinus lherminieri), nearly pantropical in distribution, remains a poorly studied species. The subspecies P. l. lherminieri is endemic to the West Indies region. An estimated 5,000 pairs inhabit the Caribbean, but there has been a substantial decline with many colonies becoming extirpated. It is thought that as many as 3,000 pairs (60% of the West Indian population) nest in the Bahamas. In May and June of 2000, I collected data on shearwater demographics, colony site selection, burrow microhabitat, chick behavior and the effect of moonlight on the onset of calling of the Audubon's Shearwaters nesting on …

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Spring Field Report, March-May 2001, W. Ross Silcock Jun 2001

Spring Field Report, March-May 2001, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

As this is being written (July 2001 ), the new book Birds of Nebraska (Sharpe, Silcock, Jorgensen; University of Nebraska Press) has just been released. From now on everyone can check early and late dates and high counts as well as distribution within the state and have a much better feel for which sightings are significant. Probably the most outstanding ornithological events this spring were a few record early arrivals (Western and Clark's Grebes, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting) and a large number of "rather early" arrivals; "rather early" means not record early but right up there. There were also some …

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First Nesting Records Of The Black Phoebe (Sayornis Nigricans) In Southernmost Texas, Timothy Brush Jun 2001

First Nesting Records Of The Black Phoebe (Sayornis Nigricans) In Southernmost Texas, Timothy Brush

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

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The Taxonomic Rank Of Spizella Taverneri: A Response To Mayr And Johnson, John Klicka, Robert M. Zink, Jon C. Barlow, W. Bruce Mcgillivray, Terry J. Doyle May 2001

The Taxonomic Rank Of Spizella Taverneri: A Response To Mayr And Johnson, John Klicka, Robert M. Zink, Jon C. Barlow, W. Bruce Mcgillivray, Terry J. Doyle

Ornithology Program (HRC)

Mayr and Johnson suggest that Spizella taverneri should be a subspecies of the biological species S. breweri, because it is possibly not reproductively isolated. We originally concluded that evidence from mitochondrial DNA sequences, habitat preferences, timing of breeding, vocalizations, and morphology supported the recognition of S. taverneri as a phylogenetic and biological species. Nothing in the commentary by Mayr and Johnson causes us to change that conclusion. We believe that it is probable that these two allopatric taxa are isolated. Contrary to Mayr and Johnson, we believe that more information is given by ranking S. taverneri as a species, because …

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Kentucky Warbler (Vol. 77, No. 2), Kentucky Library Research Collections May 2001

Kentucky Warbler (Vol. 77, No. 2), Kentucky Library Research Collections

Kentucky Warbler

No abstract provided.

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Heeding The Call Of The Sandhill Cranes, Malcolm G. Scully, Paul A. Johnsgard Apr 2001

Heeding The Call Of The Sandhill Cranes, Malcolm G. Scully, Paul A. Johnsgard

Paul Johnsgard Collection

Paul A. Johnsgard has made this trip almost 200 times—as many as five times each March for the past 40 years. He leaves Interstate 80 near this central-Nebraska city and follows Platte River Road along the southern banks of the braided river toward Kearney, some 40 miles to the west. On one such trip this year, the ornithologist and professor of zoology at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln talks about a career that began in 1961 and has produced an average of a book a year ever since.

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Effects Of Human Disturbances On The Behavior Of Dabbling Ducks, Melissa Lynn Pease Apr 2001

Effects Of Human Disturbances On The Behavior Of Dabbling Ducks, Melissa Lynn Pease

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Disturbance of wintering and migrating birds by human activities can cause birds to expend energy in avoidance of humans and reduces the time available for resting and feeding at a time in the annual cycle when fat deposition and energy conservation are important. Also, human disturbances can effectively cause habitat loss by displacing birds from feeding or resting habitat. Managers of natural resources are increasingly faced with decisions about the types and amounts of public use that should be allowed without lowering the value of the resource for wildlife. In order for managers to make decisions about how to minimize …

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Kentucky Warbler (Vol. 77, No. 1), Kentucky Library Research Collections Feb 2001

Kentucky Warbler (Vol. 77, No. 1), Kentucky Library Research Collections

Kentucky Warbler

No abstract provided.

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Mortality Of Whooping Crane Colts In Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada, 1997-99, Douglas G. Bergeson, Brian W. Johns, Geoffrey L. Holroyd Jan 2001

Mortality Of Whooping Crane Colts In Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada, 1997-99, Douglas G. Bergeson, Brian W. Johns, Geoffrey L. Holroyd

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Twenty-two whooping crane (Grus americana) pairs with 2 young were monitored in Wood Buffalo National Park (WBNP) over 3 years to determine causes of colt mortality. The family groups were monitored from the ground, air, and with the aid ofradioteiemetry. We attached transmitters to 18 colts: 5 (28%) fledged, 5 (28%) succumbed to cumulative effects (head trauma, stress, exposure and/or infection), 4 (22%) were lost to unknown causes (3 of these went missing after they had lost their transmitters), 2 (11%) were taken by foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 1 (5.5%) was lost to raven (Corvus corax …

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Translocation Of Florida Sandhill Cranes To Georgia, Wesley A. Abler, Stephen A. Nesbitt Jan 2001

Translocation Of Florida Sandhill Cranes To Georgia, Wesley A. Abler, Stephen A. Nesbitt

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Wild Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pratensis) were captured in Florida during 3 years and translocated to Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area (GBWMA), Georgia, in an attempt to establish a resident population of Florida sandhill cranes in a location with suitable habitat but no known population of resident sandhill cranes. Translocated second-year subadult cranes commingled with migratory greater sandhill cranes (G. c. tabida) yet remained on GBWMA each year after the migratory birds left the area. Twenty-one of 35 released cranes were visually identified at least 5 months after release, 3 cranes more than 15 months …

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Nocturnal Roost Site Selection And Diurnal Habitat Use By Sandhill Cranes During Spring In Central Nebraska, Craig A. Davis Jan 2001

Nocturnal Roost Site Selection And Diurnal Habitat Use By Sandhill Cranes During Spring In Central Nebraska, Craig A. Davis

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

During spring 1998 and 1999, the Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust conducted ground and aerial surveys of staging sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis; hereafter, cranes) to detennine roost site selection and habitat-use patterns along a l20-Ian stretch of the Platte River in south-central Nebraska. Cranes peaked at 232,023 during 22-28 March 1998 and 206,074 during 28 Februaty-6 March 1999 in the study area, a portion of the total crane staging area in the Platte River Valley. Diurnal observations showed that 48% of the cranes were in com fields, 34% in lowland grasslands, 13% in alfalfa fields, and 5% …

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The Effects Of Semen Collection On Fertility In Captive, Naturally Fertile, Sandhill Cranes, Guojun Chen, George F. Gee, Jane M. Nicolich, Joanna A. Taylor Jan 2001

The Effects Of Semen Collection On Fertility In Captive, Naturally Fertile, Sandhill Cranes, Guojun Chen, George F. Gee, Jane M. Nicolich, Joanna A. Taylor

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We tested to see if semen collection interferes with fertility in naturally fertile pairs of cranes. We used 12 naturally fertile, Florida sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pratensis) pairs for this study, 6 control and 6 experimental. All pairs had previously produced fertile eggs. Semen was collected on Tuesday mornings and Friday afternoons from 26 February 1993 to 4 June 1993. We used standard artificial insemination methods to collect and to evaluate the semen and spermatozoa. Semen collection had minimal effect on semen quality and semen quantity. Semen volume, sperm density, sperm motility, sperm morphology, sperm viability, sperm number …

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Platte River Cooperative Agreement And Proposed Program: Efforts To Protect, Restore, And Manage Habitat For Whooping Cranes, Least Terns, And Piping Plovers, Clayton Derby, Dale Strickland Jan 2001

Platte River Cooperative Agreement And Proposed Program: Efforts To Protect, Restore, And Manage Habitat For Whooping Cranes, Least Terns, And Piping Plovers, Clayton Derby, Dale Strickland

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

On 1 July 1997 the states of Nebraska, Wyoming, and Colorado and the U.S. Department of the Interior signed the "Cooperative Agreement for Platte River Research and Other Efforts Relating to Endangered Species Habitats Along the Central Platte River, Nebraska" (Cooperative Agreement). In the Cooperative Agreement, the four parties set forth a "Proposed Platte River Recovery Implementation Program" (Program). The proposed incremental Program uses adaptive management to provide benefits to whooping cranes (Grus americana), least terns (Sterna albifrons), and piping plovers (Charadrius melodus). The proposed Program will also test the assumption that it is possible …

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Results Of The Utah-Arizona Stage-By-Stage Migrations, David H. Ellis, Carolee Mellon, Matthew Kinloch, Tressa Dolbeare, Damien P. Ossi Jan 2001

Results Of The Utah-Arizona Stage-By-Stage Migrations, David H. Ellis, Carolee Mellon, Matthew Kinloch, Tressa Dolbeare, Damien P. Ossi

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

In an effort to find a safer means of teaching cranes new migration routes, each year (in 1998 and 1999) we transported a group of greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) stage-by-stage, in a horse trailer, with stops for brief flights at about 30-km intervals, along a 1300-1400-km fall migration route from Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge (Fish Springs) in west-central Utah to the vicinity of Gila Bend, Arizona. Thereafter, we released them into a wild flock of sandhill cranes. All stage-by-stage birds were hand-reared with both a plastic crane decoy (to encourage them to roost in water) …

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Minimum Survival Rates For Mississippi Sandhill Cranes: A Comparison Of Hand-Rearing And Parent-Rearing, David H. Ellis, George F. Gee, Glenn H. Olsen, Scott G. Hereford, Jane M. Nicolich, Nancy J. Thomas, Meenakshi Nagendran Jan 2001

Minimum Survival Rates For Mississippi Sandhill Cranes: A Comparison Of Hand-Rearing And Parent-Rearing, David H. Ellis, George F. Gee, Glenn H. Olsen, Scott G. Hereford, Jane M. Nicolich, Nancy J. Thomas, Meenakshi Nagendran

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Hand-reared (56) and parent-reared (76) juvenile Mississippi sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pulla) were produced at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (patuxent), Laurel, Maryland over a 4-year period (1989-92) and released at the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge), Gautier, Mississippi in a controlled experiment. Hand-reared survival rates proved higher than for parent-reared survival for each time category: 6 months, 86% versus 75%; 1 year, 77% versus 68%; 2 years, 66% versus 53%; 3 years, 55% versus 43%: partial data for fourth and fifth years were 57% versus 31 % and 48% versus 37%.

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Lessons From The Motorized Migrations, David H. Ellis, George F. Gee, Kent R. Clegg, Joseph W. Duff, William A. Lishman, William J. L. Sladen Jan 2001

Lessons From The Motorized Migrations, David H. Ellis, George F. Gee, Kent R. Clegg, Joseph W. Duff, William A. Lishman, William J. L. Sladen

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Ten experiments have been conducted to determine if cranes can be led on migration and if those so trained will repeat migrations on their own. Results have been mixed as we have experienced the mishaps common to pilot studies. Nevertheless, we have learned many valuable lessons. Chief among these are that cranes can be led long distances behind motorized craft (air and ground), and those led over most or the entire route will return north come spring and south in fall to and from the general area of training. However, they will follow their own route. Groups transported south and …

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Proceedings Of The Eighth North American Crane Workshop, 11–14 January 2000: Preface And Contents Jan 2001

Proceedings Of The Eighth North American Crane Workshop, 11–14 January 2000: Preface And Contents

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

This volume includes reports from the January 2000 conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, 2 papers not included in the previous proceedings, and a small number of invited papers intended to broaden the scope of the volume and to replace the few papers presented at the conference but withdrawn from publication. In serving as Editor, I wish, first of all, to express thanks to the many authors, reviewers, and associate editors, and to Gary Lingle who hosted the conference and was the intended Chief Editor: Gary underwent an employment change early in 2001 and so passed the task to me. I …

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The Use Of Radio Transmitters To Monitor Survival Of Sandhill Crane Chicks, Marilyn G. Spalding, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Stephen T. Schwikert, Robert J. Dusek Jan 2001

The Use Of Radio Transmitters To Monitor Survival Of Sandhill Crane Chicks, Marilyn G. Spalding, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Stephen T. Schwikert, Robert J. Dusek

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

To determine cause of death of Florida sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pratensis) chicks, in 1996-99 we glued shorttenn transmitters on newly hatched chicks. At about 10 days of age, these were replaced with surgically implanted subcutaneous transmitters in the field. Chicks were then recaptured at 55 to 65 days of age for more pennanent transmitters. This combination of transmitter configurations allowed us to track individuals through their rapid-growth period.

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Multiple Spatial Scale Analysis Of Whooping Crane Habitat In Nebraska, Amy L. Richert, Kevin E. Church Jan 2001

Multiple Spatial Scale Analysis Of Whooping Crane Habitat In Nebraska, Amy L. Richert, Kevin E. Church

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing technologies were used to evaluate whooping crane stopover habitat in Nebraska. The goal of the research was to investigate habitat selection at multiple spatial scales. The GIS database consisted of all confirmed whooping crane sightings reported in Nebraska from 1975-1996 and land cover information delineated from color infrared aerial photographs and Landsat Thematic Mapper data. Results suggest that whooping cranes select roost habitat by recognizing site-level and landscape-scale land cover composition. Wetland is the most strongly selected habitat type at all spatial scales examined. This presentation emphasizes methods used to analyze habitat selection …

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A Reintroduction Experiment Involving Mated Pairs Of Parent-Reared Greater Sandhill Cranes In Northern Arizona, Daniel P. Mummert, David H. Ellis, Carol L. Chambers Jan 2001

A Reintroduction Experiment Involving Mated Pairs Of Parent-Reared Greater Sandhill Cranes In Northern Arizona, Daniel P. Mummert, David H. Ellis, Carol L. Chambers

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

In April 1997, 4 mated pairs of adult greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) were abrupt-released at Monnon Lake, Arizona. Five of 8 adult cranes died within 10 days of release. One crane flew from the release area within 10 days after release and was never relocated. One pair of cranes, with 1 pair member sustaining a broken wing 4 days after release, survived for 4 months and demonstrated the importance of maintaining pair bonds after release. The cause of death of at least 5 birds was predation. The high immediate mortality and complete long-term mortality experienced in …

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Aspects Of Reproduction And Pair Bonds In Florida Sandhill Cranes, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Martin J. Folk, Stephen T. Schwikert, James A. Schmidt Jan 2001

Aspects Of Reproduction And Pair Bonds In Florida Sandhill Cranes, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Martin J. Folk, Stephen T. Schwikert, James A. Schmidt

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

From 1980-98 we captured and uniquely marked more than 400 Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis prafensis). Age ratios of the marked population, excluding juveniles, was 66% adult and 33% subadult, and the sex ratio was 49% male and 51% female. Average clutch size for 210 nests checked from 1983-97 was 1.78 ± 0.18 (SD) and frequency of l-egg clutches varied among years. Average post-fledging brood size from 1991 to 1997 was 1.27 ± 0.17 (SD), included a 3-chick brood. Average percent ofYOlmg from 2 study areas, 1991-97 was 11.9 ± 3.23 (SD). We observed renesting up to 3 …

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Increased Egg Conservation-Is It Essential For Recovery Of Whooping Cranes In The Aransasiwood Buffalo Population?, James C. Lewis Jan 2001

Increased Egg Conservation-Is It Essential For Recovery Of Whooping Cranes In The Aransasiwood Buffalo Population?, James C. Lewis

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The whooping crane (Grus americana) is in a race for survival against adversities (genetic, demographic, and environmental) that are only partially understood. There is increasing evidence of genetic problems (drift, inbreeding, and loss of heterozygosity) in the captive population that likely also exist in the wild Aransas-Wood Buffalo Population (A WP), a consequence of the 1940s population bottleneck. Small populations are vulnerable to extinction through catastrophic events and random changes in productivity or survival. Negative environmental effects faced by whooping cranes include upstream diversion which diminish freshwater (nutrient) inflow into Texas wintering habitats, and expanding human activities along …

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