Life Sciences Commons^™

A Report On Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs In Nebraska-- Their Biology, Behavior, Ecology, Management, And Responses To A Visual Barrier Fence, Nancy S. Foster

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

I examined the effects of a visual barrier fence, which had a see-through visibility of 600/0, on the foraging, vigilance, and aggressive behaviors of adult female black-tailed prairie dogs from June through August 1990 in central Nebraska. I also examined changes in their home ranges and use of an area in response to this fence. Prairie dogs prefer an open view of their surroundings. Therefore, I expected animals near a visual barrier to spend more time in vigilance and aggression, and less time foraging. Adult female prairie dogs exposed to the visual barrier devoted more time to foraging and less …

Effects Of Errors In Pedigree On Three Methods Of Estimating Breeding Value For Litter Size, Backfat And Average Daily Gain In Swine, T. E. Long, R. K. Johnson, J. W. Keele

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Estimated breeding value (EBV) was calculated based on either individual phenotype (SP), an index of individual phenotype and full- and half-sib family averages (SI) or Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP). Calculations were done with correct data or data with 5, 10, 15 or 20% of the records per generation containing pedigree errors. Traits considered were litter size (LS), backfat (BF) and average daily gain (ADG). When data were correct, BLUP resulted in an advantage in expected genetic gain over SP of 22, 7.2 or 30.8% for LS, BF and ADG, respectively, and over SI of 9.6, 3.8 or 21.4%. When …

Index To Volume 58 (December 1990)

Nebraska Bird Review

Index

A-Z

9 pages

Significant (?) Modifications In Bird Sightings At Wolff Lake (Fall 1979 To Spring 1990), Thomas A. Hoffman

Nebraska Bird Review

One of the problems of having a computer handy is that you begin to start organizing your notes. Recently I began to organize the notes I had taken since 1979 for the Nebraska Bird Review's semi- annual occurrence reports. Partly I wanted to verify my suspicions about variation in the occurrence of several species during that period of time. I try to visit the area called Wolff Lake (a sand-arid-gravel operation on the south side of the Platte River in northwestern Saunders Co. each weekend. But there are many variations, and there are periods of prolonged absences. I average about …

"Notes," From Nebraska Bird Review (December 1990)

Nebraska Bird Review

THE TABLES FOR THE 1990 SPRING OCCURRENCE REPORT were poorly printed, for unexplained reasons. The tables did not match across the "gutter"; it will help to draw a line from the first line on one page to the first line on the facing page, and then draw a line across for every third line. That way, the line for each species will either have a line across, or be just above or just below one. The headings for the left-hand pages after page 60 were omitted. The headings for pages 58 and 60 are correct for the rest of the …

1990 Fall Field Days (December 1990)

Nebraska Bird Review

1990 FALL FIELD DAYS

The registration for the1990 Fall Field Days, held 7 to 9 September at the 4-H Camp in the National Forest near Halsey, was 57. The weather was clear, in the 80's during the day, but cool nights, and even during the day the Lodge was pleasant because of the ventilation and the fans. Friday night there was a slide show, Saturday night Gerry Toll told about the Peregrine Falcon project in Omaha, with slides. Mrs. Green banded birds, as usual, showing interesting specimens to those who were near. On Saturday some took a canoe trip down …

Mountain Plover Sighted In Kimball County, Mary Clausen

Nebraska Bird Review

In late April of 1990 I went to Kimball Co. to search for Mountain Plovers. Over a period of a week I walked several sections where Mountain Plovers have been sighted in the past. No Plovers were found at that time.

After I returned to my office in Lincoln, Fritz Knopf (Avian Studies Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Colorado) contacted me to discuss Mountain Plover nesting habitat and behavior. Fritz offered to make a quick drive around Kimball Co. to see how the habitat in Nebraska compared to that used by nesting Mountain Plovers in Colorado.

On 3 May …

Laughing Gull In Cedar County, Nebraska, Mark A. Brogie

Nebraska Bird Review

Laughing Gull in Cedar County, Nebraska

Johnsgard's (1986) A Revised List of the Birds of Nebraska and Adjacent States considers the Laughing Gull (Larus atricilia) an extremely rare vagrant in Nebraska. Bray, Padelford, and Silcock (1986), in The Birds of Nebraska: a Critically Evaluated List, consider this species as accidental, with only one of 13 records accepted - the description of a specimen of one taken 2 April 1915 at Inland, Clay Co. This specimen was once in the Hastings Municipal Museum, but was sold and its current location is unknown.

A Laughing Gull documentation by Steve …

Third Report Of The N.O.U. Records Committee, Alan G. Grenon

Nebraska Bird Review

The functions and methods of the N.O. U. Records Committee (henceforth, "the committee") have been described previously (NBR 54:72-4).

This report includes accounts of records evaluated by the committee in the last year, covering mostly records with accessions numbers 151-245. All records mentioned here are available to interested persons at the N.O.U. archives at the University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln.

State List

With this report, the following changes are made in the official list of the birds of Nebraska. These include changes in common and scientific names (American Ornithologists Union (AOU), 1989, NBR 57:58), additions to the state …

Whole Issue Nebraska Bird Review (December 1990)

Nebraska Bird Review

Table of Contents

Third Report of the N.O.U. Records Committee.................... 90

1990 Fall Field Days.................... 97

Mountain Plover Sighted in Kimball County ....................98

Laughing Gull in Cedar County, Nebraska ....................99

A Comparison of Historic and Modern Birdlife at an Eastern Sand Hills Lake In Nebraska ....................100

Significant (?) Modifications in Bird Sightings at Wolff Lake (fall 1979 to spring 1990) ....................104

Notes ....................106

Index to volume 58 ....................108

Alternative Methods Of Selection For Litter Size In Mice: I. Characterization Of Base Population And Development Of Methods, A. C. Clutter, Merlyn K. Nielsen, R. K. Johnson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Studies on a base population of mice were used to establish an index of components of litter size and a physiological model for measuring uterine capacity to be used subsequently in a selection experiment evaluating alternative methods for practicing selection to increase litter size. Heritability estimates of litter size, ovulation rate and ova success (fraction of ova resulting in fully formed pups) were .18, .33 and .15, respectively. No significant genetic or phenotypic correlation was found between overall ovulation rate and ova success. Phenotypic means and genetic variances were higher for characteristics measured on the right than on the left …

Animal Science Newsletter, Fall 1990

Department of Animal Science: Departmental News

Contents:

Art For the Animal Science Complex
New Faculty
R. B.’s Judging Teams Reunion
R. B. Warren Retires
Department Awards and Recognition
Non-Academic Staff
Graduate Student
Low Input Sustainable Agriculture Program
New Programs in Department
Project: Class (Communication Literacy in the Animal Sciences)
Enrollment Trends
Judging Teams Have a Successful Year
Block and Bridle Club
Block and Bridle Activities for 1990-1991
Alumni News
Calendar of Events for 1990-1991
Alumni Information

1991 Beef Cattle Report, Darrell W. Nelson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A two-year study tested the hypothesis that growth rate interacts with bull exposure to influence age at puberty in heifers. Heifers exposed to sterile bulls and fed to achieve a high growth rate (1.8 lb/day) attained puberty 73 days earlier than heifers not exposed to bulls and fed to a moderate growth rate (1.3 lb/day). Heifers exposed to bulls and fed to achieve a moderate growth rate attained puberty at ages similar to heifers not exposed to bulls and fed to a high growth rate. Furthermore. heifers receiving these two treatments attained puberty 23 days earlier than heifers not exposed …

Pheasants In Asia 1989, David A. Hill, Peter J. Garson, David Jenkins

Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies: Conference Proceedings

Section 1: Studies of Pheasants in China

Distribution and Status

An overview of research on pheasants in China, 1978-88, Cheng Tso-Hsin

Pheasant conservation in Asia:Ssome introductory remarks, Keith Howman and Lew Young

The distribution of pheasants and partridges in China, Tang Chan-Zhu

The ecological and geographical distribution of pheasants in Wolong Nature Reserve, Deng Wei Jie

The gamebirds of Boaxing, Sichuan, China, He Fen-Qi and Cui Xie-Zhen

Galliformes of Yunnan Province in China, Yang Lan

Pheasant and partridge species of the Nu River Autonomous Region, Northwestern Yunnan, China, He Fen-Qi, Gao Ying-Xing and Zheng Yang-Zhi

Pheasants on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, …

Sex Reversal Of Tilapia In Earthen Ponds, Tom Popma, Bartholomew Green

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

This Aquacultural Production Manual from the International Center for Aquaculture at Auburn University is oriented towards field application rather than rigorous scientific evaluation of the described techniques. The management practices have been field tested and proven feasible at the described scale of production.

The intended readers are intermediate to upper level technicians with experience in related aquacultural activities. As such, a basic understanding of the principles of aquatic production and of the life history and environmental requirements of tilapia is presumed.

Nou Participation In Academy Of Science Meeting

Nebraska Bird Review

NOU PARTICIPATION IN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE MEETING

In 1990, NOU resumed active participation in the Annual Meeting of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences. Mr. Thomas E. Labedz, President of NOU, was chairman of the session, which was held in the afternoon of 20 April. The following papers were presented:

SOLlTARY VS. GREGARIOUS NESTING IN BURROWING OWLS. Martha Desmond and Julie Savidge, Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Wildlife, IANR, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583-0819.

In the Great Plains region, Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia) will nest as isolated pairs in abandoned badger burrows, but are most commonly …

Survey For Least Terns And Other Birds On The North And South Platte Rivers, Eastern Keith County

Nebraska Bird Review

SURVEY FOR LEAST TERNS ANO OTHER BIROS ON THE NORTH ANO SOUTH PLATTE RIVERS, EASTERN KEITH COUNTY

The Interior Least Tern (Sterna antillarum athalassos) is considered a nationally endangered subspecies, and except for a sighting of this form on Lake McConaughy during the summer of 1977 by Fretwell (Rosche and Johnsgard, 1984) and a more recent sighting of a pair with an unfledged chick between Arthur and Martin bays of Lake McConaughy in 1989 (Czaplewski, 1989), there have been no other published records of this species in Keith County.

Because of a chance sighting on 20 May 1990, …

Whooping Crane Report (Sept 1990)

Nebraska Bird Review

WHOOPING CRANE REPORT The Grand Island office of the US Fish and Wildlife Service reported three confirmed sightings of Whooping Cranes in Nebraska in the spring of 1990, seven probable and 14 unconfirmed sightings. Confirmed sightings are:

Three adults, Buffalo Co., 14-15 April,.5 mi. e. of N 10 bridge, Platte River. TSN, R14W, S1S.

Four adults, Clay Co., 15 April, 3 mi. nw of Harvard Marsh, TSN, RSW, S22. Flying.

One adult, Cherry Co., 9-10 May, 26 mi. s. and 16 w. of Valentine, Lone Tree Lake. T29N, R30W, SS, S ½.

1990 (Sixty-Fifth) Spring Occurrence Report

Nebraska Bird Review

1990 (SIXTY-FIFTH) SPRING OCCURRENCE REPORT

Two hundred and ninety species are listed on this report from 13 locations plus 17 counties reported in five "spot check" counties. The 1989 figures were 289 species from 13 locations, plus 7 "spot check" columns involving 36 counties; in 1988, 306 from 15 locations, plus 13 "spot check" columns involving 34 counties; in 1987, 288 from 13 locations and 6 "spot check" columns involving 9 counties; and 1986, 304 from 13 locations and 9 "spot check" columns involving 24 counties.

The "spot check" columns are for infrequent visits to an area and the la …

"Book Reviews" From Nebraska Bird Review (September 1990)

Nebraska Bird Review

BOOK REVIEWS

A Parrot without a Name The Search for the Last Unknown Birds on Earth

Don Stap, 240 pp. index, 6 x 9, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, $19.95

This is an account of a 1987 collecting expedition to Peru for Louisiana State University, led by John O'Neill. He had already described 11 new species of birds and was still looking. Peru has 1700 known species of birds and still counting. It took them two days by outboard-powered dugouts to get to the camp site from the last settlement. Later, with higher water, two natives made it in a …

"Corrections To 1989 Fall Occurrence Report," From Nebraska Bird Review (September 1990)

Nebraska Bird Review

CORRECTIONS TO 1989 FALL OCCURRENCE REPORT

On NBR 58:25, the final date of Au 12 for Bank Swallow in Lancaster Co. should be moved to Dakota Co. and the Sp 12 for Doug/Sarpy should be moved squarely under that column. The final date for Eastern Bluebird for Lancaster should be Ot 29.

First Nebraska Kittiwake Specimen, Paul A. Johnsgard

Nebraska Bird Review

FIRST NEBRASKA KITTIWAKE SPECIMEN

The Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) has previously been known from Nebraska only from a few sight records. Dr. George Hudson observed one at Oak Creek Park, Lincoln, in March, 1939 (NBR 5:57). Another individual was seen at Branched Oak Lake, Lancaster County, during April of 1976. Thirdly, an immature was seen and photographed at Oak LakePark, Lincoln, on April 20-21, 1981 (NBR 49:41). Lastly, during the fall occurrence report for 1988 (NBR 57: 16, 53) Kittiwakes were reported from Cedar and Douglas-northern Sarpy counties, the Cedar County sightings involving up to …

Indigo Bunting

Nebraska Bird Review

INDIGO BUNTING John Lueshen reported that a male Indigo Bunting was found dead in the front yard of his place (Route 2, Wisner - Ed.) It had band number 81-44804, put on by Willetta Lueshen on July 2, 1985. It was at least a year old when banded, making it at least six years old. Another male Indigo Bunting was attacking the dead bird when John first saw it.

---Lueshen's Birders Newsletter, June 1990

More On The Whistling Duck Article

Nebraska Bird Review

MORE ON THE WHISTLING DUCK ARTICLE In the report on the Whistling-Duck, Mr. Labedz mentioned a sighting in Minnesota (NBR 58:51.) He now adds that a more recent issue of The Loon (62: 109) reports this was an escapee. Some skeptics noted that the site was near a game farm and called the farm. The farm owner reported that the bird escaped while its pen was being constructed, but was recaptured a couple of days later. There are approximately 1,100 game farms in Minnesota.

Nebraska Bird Review, Whole Issue (September 1990) 58(3)

Nebraska Bird Review

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1990 (Sixty-fifth) Spring Occurrence Report .................58

Corrections to 1989 Fall Occurrence Report .................73

First Nebraska Kittiwake Specimen .................75

NOU Participation in Academy of Science Meeting .................75

Book Reviews .................83

Survey for Least Terns and Other Birds on the North and South Platte Rivers, Eastern Keith County .................84

Notes .................88

Heterogeneous Within-Herd Variance. 1. Genetic Parameters For First And Second Lactation Milk Yields Of Grade Holstein Cows, T. H. Short, R. W. Blake, R. L. Quaas, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Genetic and environmental (co)variance components for 4% FCM yield were simultaneously estimated by REML for grade cows from herds stratified by within-herd SD for 305d mature equivalent milk and time period. Data were lactation records from 299,441 daughters of 2489 AI b d s that calved for the first time from 1970 to 1985 in California, New York, or Texas.
Sire and residual variance components for FCM increased with SD in all time periods and were slightly larger for second than for first lactations. Residual components were of uniform size across time periods within each SD class, but sire components …

Heterogeneous Within-Herd Variance. 2. Genetic Relationships Between Milk Yield And Calving Interval In Grade Holstein Cows, T. H. Short, R. W. Blake, R. L. Quaas, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Genetic and phenotypic (co)variances for mature equivalent yield of 4% FCM and calving interval were simultaneously estimated by REML for grade Holstein cows in first and second parity. Data were 305d mature equivalent lactation records and calving dates for 299,441 daughters of 2489 AI sires first calving from 1970 to 1985 in California, New York, or Texas. Data were divided into three time periods, and herds were partitioned into three within-herd-year phenotypic SD classifications for milk yield. Average FCM yield and calving interval increased with SD in all time periods for both parities. Genetic variance of calving interval showed no …

Additional Observations On The Birds Of The Lake Mcconaughy Region, Paul A. Johnsgard

Nebraska Bird Review

Since the publication more than five years ago (NBR, 52:26-35, 1984) of an earlier list of the birds of the North Platte Valley between Oshkosh and Keystone, many new records have been obtained. Additionally, since 1982 Dr. Charles Brown of Yale University has spent every summer doing ornithological fieldwork in the area, and has kindly contributed many of his observations. This abundance of new information appears to warrant some additions and modifications to the original list, most of which simply involve changes in occurrence or status information for previously recorded species. However, three previously unreported species have also …

Notes Nebraska Bird Review (June 1990)

Nebraska Bird Review

Notes

EAGLE SURVEY NOTE. This part of the Eagle Survey report was lost between the bottom of page 29 and the top of page 31 of the March issue (NBR 58:29-31):

*The unknown eagle under Niobrara was not identified as either Bald or Golden; all others were Bald Eagles.

--- Greg Wingfield, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Rt. 4, North Platte, NE 69101

PAINTED BUNTING On 21 May 1988 I spotted a Painted Bunting in the cemetery (nearest to the road leading to the Monument) on the western edge of Gering, Scotts Bluff Co. I saw the bird at …

Nebraska Bird Review (June 1990) 58(2), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Table of Contents

1989 Nebraska Nesting Survey..............38

The Eighty-ninth (1990) Annual Meeting ..............46

Book Reviews ..............48

A Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Specimen from Nebraska:
A First State Record ..............49

Additional Observations on the Birds
of the Lake McConaughy Region ..............52

Notes ..............54