Life Sciences Commons^™

Using Scissors To Quantify Hardness Of Insects: Do Bats Select For Size Or Hardness?, Patricia W. Freeman, Cliff A. Lemen

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Scissors are used to determine the hardness of fresh insects of different size and taxa. Our results indicate a strong relationship between the size of an insect and its hardness, which can be expressed as log(F_max) = 0.65 × log(V) + α. F_max is the maximal force needed to cut the insect and is our measure of insect hardness. V is the volume of the insect and α is a constant that can be derived for different insect taxa. The value of 0.65 was found as an average of beetle and moth samples, and this …

Nebraska Bird Review (December 2007) 75(4), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Fall Field Report, August-November 2007 by W. Ross Silcock ... 98

Eurasian Tree Sparrow—A First Record for Nebraska by Mark A. Brogie ... 118

NOU Fall Field Days at Halsey, September 28-30, 2007 ... 121

Index to Volume 75 ... 125

Subscription and Organization Information ... 135

Subscription And Organization Information [December 2007]

Nebraska Bird Review

The Nebraska Bird Review is published quarterly by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., as its official journal, and is sent to members not in arrears of dues. Annual subscription rates (on a calendar-year basis only): $15 in the United States, $18 in Canada and $30 in all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $4 each, postpaid, in the United States, $5 in Canada, and $8 elsewhere. Send orders for back issues to Mary Lou Pritchard, NOU Librarian, c/o University of Nebraska State Museum, W-436 Nebraska Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0514.

Memberships in the NOU (on a calendar-year basis only): …

Index To Volume 75

Nebraska Bird Review

Accipiter species 22-23

Ahlering, M. A. 60

Alexander, Irene 19

Allen, Sue 19

Allwine Prairie Preserve 15

American Ornithologists' Union 93

Ames CBC 17-30

Amiotte, Sue 61

Anderson, Chris 19

Anderson, T. R. 120

Ani, Groove-billed 88

Aubushon, Kathy 18

Avocet, American 41, 76, 106, 122

Eurasian Tree Sparrow—A First Record For Nebraska, Mark A. Brogie

Nebraska Bird Review

On Thursday, 01 February 2007, Scott Raasch of rural Madison County called to say he had what he believed to be a Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) coming to a feeder at his house just east of Enola. The bird had been present for about a week, although he had just identified the species upon purchasing a new field guide. He reported that the bird was very wary and only stayed for a short time at the feeder. The bird was most often observed in the early morning or just before dusk.

Dave Heidt and I arrived the …

Fall Field Report, August-November 2007, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

This was essentially a normal fall season in Nebraska, with no major weather events or significant shifts in breeding or migration ranges, although a possible exception is a first record of Lesser Goldfinch breeding in the state. One observer made the point, though, that the hard freeze in the spring affected seed and fruit crops for fall, most conspicuously resulting in fewer large American Robin flocks. Excellent water conditions in the Rainwater Basin were welcome, but few herons and egrets were present, and no unusual breeding events were reported there.

As winter approached, however, increased numbers of a few finch …

Halsey Fall Field Days

Nebraska Bird Review

The 2007 NOU Fall Field Days were held at the 4-H Camp in the Nebraska National Forest near Halsey on September 28-30, 2007. Among the approximately 45 in attendance were two first time attendees: Juanita Rice of Fairmont and Tim Hajda of Broken Bow.

Wayne Mollhoff spoke on Friday night about the progress on the new breeding bird atlas: "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Atlas," and on Saturday night, Bob Rooney did a multimedia presentation entitled "A Sandhills Odyssey."

Field trips to Cherry, Logan, and Brown Counties were led by Clem Klaphake, Mark Brogie, and Dave …

The Trade-Off Between Tooth Strength And Tooth Penetration: Predicting Optimal Shape Of Canine Teeth, Patricia W. Freeman, Cliff A. Lemen

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

We investigate the shape of canine teeth under the assumption that the tooth’s morphology is optimized by the evolutionary trade-off to minimize breakage and maximize ease of the penetration of prey. A series of experiments using artificial teeth to puncture the hides of a deer Odocoileus virginianus and pig Sus scrofa domesticus were conducted to establish the relationships between the tooth shape and the force needed to puncture the hide. The shapes of these teeth were also used in a beam theory analysis to calculate the strength of the teeth. Because the relative costs of puncturing and breakage were not …

Bats Of Anguilla, Northern Lesser Antilles, Hugh H. Genoways, Carleton J. Phillips, Scott C. Pedersen, Linda K. Gordon

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Five species of bats are known in the literature from Anguilla—Monophyllus plethodon, Brachyphylla cavernarum, Artibeus jamaicensis, Natalus stramineus, and Molossus molossus. These records are scattered in the literature as parts of simple reports of the species from the island or included in revisions of taxonomic groups that occur on the island, but the first comprehensive study of bats of Anguilla is presented herein. In addition to providing morphometric and natural history information for the five species of bats previously known from the island, records of a species of bat new to the fauna of the island of Anguilla—Tadarida …

Bats Of Barbuda, Northern Lesser Antilles, Scott C. Pedersen, Peter A. Larsen, Hugh H. Genoways, Matthew Morton, Kevel C. Lindsay, Jerry Cindric

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Five species of bats are known to occur on the Lesser Antillean island of Barbuda—Noctilio leporinus, Monophyllus plethodon, Brachyphylla cavernarum, Tadarida brasiliensis, and Molossus molossus. During the present study, two additional species of bats—Artibeus jamaicensis and Natalus stramineus—were added to the chiropteran fauna of the island. Although the ecological diversity of Barbuda is limited, this bat fauna matches those of islands in the region such as Antigua, Nevis, and St. Kitts. It is proposed that this biodiversity of bats is maintained because of the geology of Barbuda provides ample roosting sites and access to freshwater …

2006 (18th) Report Of The Nou Records Committee, Mark A. Brogie

Nebraska Bird Review

The functions and methods of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union (NOU) Records Committee are described in its bylaws (NOU Records Committee 1986). The committee's purpose is to provide a procedure for documenting unusual bird sightings and to establish a list of all documented birds for Nebraska. The "'Official List of the Birds of Nebraska" was first published in 1988 (NOU Records Committee 1988) and has been updated two times (NOU Records Committee 1997, 2004).

The "Official List" has been appended sixteen times: (Mollhoff 1989; Grenon 1990, 1991; Gubanyi 1996a, 1996b, 1996c; Brogie 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006; Jorgensen 2001, …

Subscription And Organization Information [September 2007]

Nebraska Bird Review

The Nebraska Bird Review is published quarterly by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., as its official journal, and is sent to members not in arrears of dues. Annual subscription rates (on a calendar-year basis only): $15 in the United States, $18 in Canada and $30 in all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $4 each, postpaid, in the United States, $5 in Canada, and $8 elsewhere. Send orders for back issues to Mary Lou Pritchard, NOU Librarian, c/o University of Nebraska State Museum, W-436 Nebraska Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0514.

Memberships in the NOU (on a calendar-year basis only): …

Summer Field Report, June-July 2007, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

This summer was a "something for everyone" season. Ecologists, already excited by the apparent ability of Greater Prairie-Chickens to lek in improbable habitats, such as corn fields and dirt edges of Rainwater Basin playas, will welcome the use by Lark Buntings and Vesper Sparrows of wheat stubble fields with a growing corn crop. The Vesper Sparrows of the east, a different subspecies from those in the north and west, have been at the mercy of full-tillage cropping systems, but now have a reprieve and may even be increasing because of no-till and minimum tillage methods currently in vogue due to …

Nebraska Bird Review (September 2007) 75(3), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Summer Field Report, June-July 2007 by W. Ross Silcock ... 70

2006 (18th) Report of the NOU Records Committee compiled by Mark A. Brogie ... 86

Subscription and Organization Information ... 95

"Species Accounts," From Nebraska Bird Review (September 2007) 75(3)., Nebraska Ornithologists' Union

Nebraska Bird Review

Greater White-fronted Goose: Summer stragglers are rare, but one was in Clay Co 17 Jun (JGJ).

Snow Goose: About 25 stragglers or non-migrants were found; largest group was 20 at Harvard Marsh 2 Jun (PD), and westerly, where rare, was one at LM 10 Jun (SJD).

Ross's Goose: One at LM 9 Jun (SJD) was only the 3rd Jun record.

Canada Goose: Routine reports.

Trumpeter Swan: Routine reports.

Wood Duck: Routine reports.

Gadwall: Routine reports.

American Wigeon: A male at LM 9 Jun (SJD) was likely a late migrant; breeding is not known …

2006 (18th) Report Of The Nou Records Committee, Mark A. Brogie

Nebraska Bird Review

The functions and methods of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union (NOU) Records Committee are described in its bylaws (NOU Records Committee 1986). The committee's purpose is to provide a procedure for documenting unusual bird sightings and to establish a list of all documented birds for Nebraska. The "Official List of the Birds of Nebraska" was first published in 1988 (NOU Records Committee 1988) and has been updated two times (NOU Records Committee 1997, 2004).

The "Official List" has been appended sixteen times: (Mollhoff 1989; Grenon 1990, 1991; Gubanyi 1996a, 1996b, 1996c; Brogie 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006; Jorgensen 2001, …

Spring Field Report, March-May 2007, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

Extremes of weather conditions and resulting variation in water conditions were noteworthy this spring. The west was very dry, but the Rainwater Basin had ample rains resulting in excellent breeding conditions for various waterbirds, notably Eared Grebe and American Coot. Shorebird numbers were unremarkable, although there was plenty of variation between species. Indeed, Dunlin, with record numbers, and Ruddy Tumstones were numerous. Arrival dates were pushing early, but not record early. Species earlier than average were American Golden-Plover, Mountain Plover, Black-necked Stilt, White-rumped Sandpiper, and Stilt Sandpiper.

Increasingly associated with wetlands, albeit unrelated to water levels, Greater Prairie-Chicken continued to …

Nebraska Bird Review Whole Issue (June 2007) 75(2)

Nebraska Bird Review

Spring Field Report, March–May 2007 ... 34

A Preliminary Survey of Southeast Nebraska Grassland Habitat and Potential Henslow’s Sparrow Habitat ... 53

Remembering Sue Amiotte, Mildred Gross, and Izen Ratzlaff ... 61

NOU Annual Meeting at North Platte, May 18–20, 2007 ... 63

Subscription and Organization Information [masthead] ... 67

Spring Field Report, March–May 2007, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

INTRODUCTION

Extremes of weather conditions and resulting variation in water conditions were noteworthy this spring. The west was very dry, but the Rainwater Basin had ample rains resulting in excellent breeding conditions for various waterbirds, notably Eared Grebe and American Coot. Shorebird numbers were unremarkable, although there was plenty of variation between species. Indeed, Dunlin, with record numbers, and Ruddy Turnstones were numerous. Arrival dates were pushing early but not record early. Species earlier than average were American Golden-Plover, Mountain Plover, Black-necked Stilt, White-rumped Sandpiper, and Stilt Sandpiper.

Increasingly associated with wetlands, albeit unrelated to water levels, Greater Prairie-Chicken continued …

Remembering Sue Amiotte, Mildred Gross, And Izen Ratzlaff

Nebraska Bird Review

This past spring the NOU lost three longtime members whose contributions to the organization are noteworthy. In March, Amelia "Sue" Amiotte passed away in Kearney. In April, we lost another loyal member in the person of Mildred Gross. Mildred was born in 1920 and, with her husband Everett, was a familiar sight at NOU meetings for decades. In May, Izen Ratzlaff lost her battle with cancer.

Masthead From Nebraska Bird Review (June 2007)

Nebraska Bird Review

The Nebraska Bird Review is published quarterly by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., as its official journal, and is sent to members not in arrears of dues. Annual subscription rates (on a calendar-year basis only): $15 in the United States, $18 in Canada, and $30 in all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $4 each, postpaid, in the United States, $5 in Canada, and $8 elsewhere. Send orders for back issues to Mary Lou Pritchard, NOU Librarian, c/o University of Nebraska State Museum, W-436 Nebraska Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0514.

Memberships in the NOU (on a calendar-year basis only): …

A Preliminary Survey Of Southeast Nebraska Grassland Habitat And Potential Henslow’S Sparrow Habitat, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

INTRODUCTION

The decline in numbers of Henslow’s Sparrows in North America (Sauer et al. 2001) is generally considered to be due to reduction in the extent of its preferred breeding habitat, “relatively large fields consisting of tall, dense grass, a well-developed litter layer, standing dead vegetation, and sparse or no woody vegetation” (Herkert et al. 2002). Since 1985, however, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has allowed payments to landowners by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to idle croplands and to seed them to various grasses. This has provided habitat that appears to …

[Nou] Annual Meeting At North Platte [May 18-20, 2007]

Nebraska Bird Review

The 108th Annual Meeting of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union was held in North Platte at the Sandhills Convention Center/Quality Inn on May 18–20, 2007. Field trips to surrounding counties for the 60 members and friends in attendance were organized by T. J. Walker and led by Robin Harding. Lanny Randolph, Wayne Mollhoff, and T. J. Walker.

Friday evening’s speaker was John Sidle, Threatened and Endangered Species Specialist with the United States Forest Service in Chadron, who spoke about efforts to monitor populations of Burrowing Owls and associated species, such as Ferruginous Hawks and Black-footed Ferrets.

Saturday evening, Dr. Josef Kren, …

Phylogenetics And Phylogeography Of The Artibeus Jamaicensis Complex Based On Cytochrome-B Dna Sequences, Peter A. Larsen, Steven R. Hoofer, Matthew C. Bozeman, Scott C. Pedersen, Hugh H. Genoways, Carleton J. Phillips, Dorothy E. Pumo, Robert J. Baker

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

The phylogenetics and phylogeography of the Jamaican fruit-eating bat (Artibeus jamaicensis) were examined based on analysis of DNA sequence variation in the mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene for 176 individuals representing all 13 subspecies of A. jamaicensis (sensu Simmons 2005). Results document that A. jamaicensis (sensu Simmons 2005) comprises 3 monophyletic assemblages that are separated phylogenetically by the presence of A. obscurus, A. lituratus, and . amplus. According to the mitochondrial DNA sequence variation, A. jamaicensis, A. schwartzi, and A. planirostris are appropriate species-level names for these lineages. Haplotypes identifiable as A. jamaicensis were absent east …

Bats Of Saint Martin, French West Indies/Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, Hugh H. Genoways, Scott C. Pedersen, Peter A. Larsen, Gary G. Kwiecinski, Jeffrey J. Huebschman

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Six species of bats have been previously reported from the Antillean island of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten—Artibeus jamaicensis, Brachyphylla cavernarum, Molossus molossus, Tadarida brasiliensis, Noctilio leporinus, and Myotis nigricans nesopolus. Our field research reported herein documents an additional three species of bats from the island for the first time—Monophyllus plethodon, Ardops nichollsi, and Natalus stramineus. Re-examination of the single voucher of Myotis nigricans nesopolus has led us to exclude this species from the fauna of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten. Based on our field research and the study of specimens housed in museum collections, we present information …

Nebraska Bird Review Whole Issue (March 2007) 75(1)

Nebraska Bird Review

NOU Annual Treasurer’s Report for 2006 ... 2

Winter Field Report, December 2006 to February 2007 ... 4

Henslow’s Sparrow Status in Nebraska ... 13

2006–2007 Christmas Bird Counts in Nebraska ... 17

Subscription and Organization Information [masthead] ...31

Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Treasurer’S Report, December 31, 2006

Nebraska Bird Review

Two-page spreadsheet constituting the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union treasurer's report at year end (December 31) of 2006. The grand total is $56,183.12.

Winter Field Report, December 2006 To February 2007, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

INTRODUCTION

Although temperatures varied substantially during the winter, the winter average temperature was above normal. There were noticeably more individuals of "half-hardy" species reported, possibly as a consequence. These included Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Mourning Dove, Loggerhead Shrike, Hermit Thrush, and Yellow-rumped Warbler. Otherwise, the period was unremarkable ornithologically.

…

SPECIES ACCOUNTS

Greater White-fronted Goose: Unexpectedly late were 2 at LO 28 Dec (SJD) and 5 at Desoto NWR 3 Jan (BB). First arrivals reported were in Gage and Lancaster Cos 26 Feb (WF); several hundred were between North Platte and York 27 Feb (AO).

Snow Goose: Large numbers arrived "overnight" in …

Henslow’S Sparrow Status In Nebraska, W. Ross Silcock, Joel G. Jorgensen

Nebraska Bird Review

Henslow's Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) is a grassland species of considerable conservation concern endemic to southern and eastern North America (Herkert et al. 2002; Reinking 2002). Annual declines of about 7.5% from 1966 to 2000 (Sauer et al. 2001) and the extirpation of breeding birds from large portions of the historic range have led to the sparrow being listed as a species of "Highest Concern"' on the Partners in Flight National Watch List (PIFNWL:http://www.partnersinflight.org/cont_plan/PIF3_Part2WEB.pdf).

While the Henslow's Sparrow is not listed as federally threatened or endangered, most species on this list are prime candidates for such consideration. The Nebraska …

2006–2007 Christmas Bird Counts In Nebraska

Nebraska Bird Review

Despite snow and ice storms which forced postponement of several counts and prevented participation by a number of birders, all 14 counts which were held last winter took place again this winter. The total number of species (131) was two more than last year's 129, and the total number of individuals was 177,590, down some 30,000.

Waterfowl numbers were about normal. Canada Goose numbers were down 16,000 from last year, but this is a number which fluctuates on that scale from year to year. Northern Pintails are becoming more abundant on Christmas Counts. Their tallies in the early 1990s were …