Animal Sciences Commons^™

Brown-Headed Cowbird (Molothrus Ater) Range Expansion Into The Southeast: Effects On The Passerine Populations Using North American Breeding Bird Survey Data, Elizabeth Pruitt Henderson

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

North American Breeding Bird Survey data that were collected from 1971-1992 in Virginia, North Carolina, south Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Tennessee were used in this analysis of the impact of Brown-headed Cowbird range expansion on four warbler and four vireo host species.

Maps of mean cowbird abundances were produced using kriging for the periods 1971-1975, 1976-1980, 1981-1985, 1986-1990 and 1991-1992. These maps illustrated a complex invasion of the southeastern United States by Brown-headed Cowbird.

Linear regression analyses of host and cowbird abundances within physiographic strata, showed no species to be in decline or increasing in abundance over the entire …

Communities Of Cloacal Bacteria In Tree Swallow Families, Michael P. Lombardo, Patrick A. Thorpe, R. Cichewicz, M. Henshaw, C. Millard, C. Steen, T. K. Zeller

Peer Reviewed Publications

Our aim in this study was to survey the communities of bacteria found in the cloacae of adult and nestling Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), determine if there were familial patterns of prevalence, and determine if there were relationships between bacteria loads and nestling size when 12 days old and fledging success.

Disaccharide Intolerance Of European Starlings, Leonard R. Askham

Proceedings of the Seventeenth Vertebrate Pest Conference 1996

The use of disaccharides to discourage bird depredation to agricultural crops has elicited some interest during the last few years. Data developed in these trials indicate that several avian species are intolerant to sucrose because of the lack of sucrase enzymes in their digestive systems. Based on this research it is hypothesized that progressively increasing rates and volumes of solutions would elicit consistent adverse stress reactions. Furthermore, that if birds were intolerant to sucrose, because of their co-evolutionary development with plants, then they should lack the ability to digest lactose. The data developed in these trials does not support either …

Introducing The National Wildlife Research Center, Richard D. Curnow

Proceedings of the Seventeenth Vertebrate Pest Conference 1996

The paper summarizes the background and historical events leading to the creation of the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) and describes the status of its research program and facilities development in Fort Collins, Colorado. Also, the relationship of the NWRC to the Denver Wildlife Research Center is presented.

Nest Material As A Delivery Method For Avicides: Preliminary Tests With African Weaver Finches, Stephen A. Shumake, Peter J. Savarie

Proceedings of the Seventeenth Vertebrate Pest Conference 1996

To evaluate the potential of using nesting material as a medium for avicide delivery, five organophosphates (Dasanit^®, Volaton^®, fenthion, parathion, and Cyanophos^®) were tested on small groups of paired male-female quelea (n = 4 to 9). Toxicants were presented to each pair of birds on five 13-cm strands of cotton string after a preliminary screening for male nest weaving behavior. Tested concentrations ranged from 100% technical grade to 0.003 % compound diluted with acetone. Dasanit^® was found to be the most effective candidate with some lethal effects noted at 0.012%. An optimal concentration …

Plant Secondary Chemicals As Non-Lethal Vertebrate Repellents, Richard W. Watkins, David P. Cowan, Elaine L. Gill

Proceedings of the Seventeenth Vertebrate Pest Conference 1996

Few effective repellents are currently available for the non-lethal management of vertebrate pests. This is perhaps not surprising considering the ad hoc nature of past applications which assumed that the target pest species would have the same attraction/aversion preferences as man. A more rational approach is to identify compounds that have real biological significance for the pest species. Plants have evolved an array of defense chemicals (secondary plant compounds) that inhibit the feeding of vertebrate herbivores, because they are either innately aversive or they generate a conditioned aversion. These compounds are, therefore, ideally suited for use in the reduction of …