Life Sciences Commons^™

Resource Partitioning Between Kit Foxes (Vulpes Macrotis) And Coyotes (Canis Latrans): A Comparison Of Historical And Contemporary Dietary Overlap, P. A. Byerly, R. C. Lonsinger, E. M. Gese, A. J. Kozlowski, L. P. Waits

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Range expansions by generalists can alter communities and introduce competitive pressures on native species. In the Great Basin Desert, USA, coyotes (Canis latrans Say, 1823) have colonized and are now sympatric with native kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis Merriam, 1888). Since both species have similar diets, dietary partitioning may facilitate coexistence.Weanalyzed coyote and kit fox diets, then compared our results to an earlier study. Because populations are dynamic, we expected that decreases in prey or increases in predator abundance could alter dietary patterns. We found no significant changes in population-level prey diversity for kit foxes or coyotes, but found …

Book Review, Are R. Berentsen

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The tropics and subtropics are found between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn and are home to approximately 75% of the world’s human population. The region boasts an impressive biodiversity but also contains some of the world’s poorest communities, which in some regions are growing at a faster rate than in other areas of the world. As regional and global human populations continue to grow, so do the impacts on natural resources and biodiversity. These impacts can be felt on both global and local levels. Tropical Conservation: Perspectives on Local and Global Priorities provides well-referenced information on a variety of …

Research Priorities For Managing Invasive Wild Pigs In North America, James C. Beasley, Stephen S. Ditchkoff, John J. Mayer, Mark D. Smith, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

With recent increases in distribution and numbers of feral pigs (Sus scrofa; invasive wild pigs) in North America, there has been a concurrent increase in the ecological and economic effects they have had on native and anthropogenic ecosystems. Despite the amplified interest in invasive wild pig research, there remains a significant knowledge gap regarding their basic biology and ecology, the scope of the damage they cause, and the efficacy of many control strategies. Such information is important to support the successful management of invasive wild pigs throughout North America and other areas. In 2016, members of the National …

Book Review, Jimmy D. Taylor

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Like its congener in North America (North American beaver [Castor canadensis]), the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) was locally extirpated from many parts of its range, largely because of over harvest and changing land use practices in the presence of an increasing human population. Similarly, both species also have responded well to changes in environmental awareness and wildlife management practices. Presently, both species are managed for the ecosystem services that they provide and the conflicts, or disservices, they create with humans (e.g., excessive flooding). The release of The Eurasian Beaver Handbook: Ecology and Management of Castor fiber …

Cottontail Rabbits Shed Clade 2.3.4.4 H5 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A Viruses, J. Jeffrey Root, Angela M. Bosco-Lauth, Nicole L. Marlenee, Richard A. Bowen

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

During 2014-2015, clade 2.3.4.4 H5Nx highly pathogenic (HP) avian influenza A viruses (IAV) were first detected in North America and subsequently caused one of the largest agricultural emergencies in U.S. history. Recent evidence has suggested that cottontail rabbits can shed multiple IAV subtypes. We experimentally infected cottontail rabbits with three HP H5Nx IAVs. All rabbits tested shed virus on at least one day by at least one route. Cottontail rabbits appear to be an exception to the limited capacity for replication that has been previously reported for certain other mammalian species inoculated with clade 2.3.4.4 HP H5Nx avian influenza A …

Clinostomum Poteae N. Sp. (Digenea: Clinostomidae), In The Trachea Of A Double-Crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax Auritus Lesson, 1831 And Molecular Data Linking The Life-Cycle Stages Of Clinostomum Album Rosser, Alberson, Woodyard, Cunningham, Pote & Griffin, 2017 In Mississippi, Usa, Thomas G. Rosser, Wes A. Baumgartner, Neely R. Alberson, Travis W. Noto, Ethan T. Woodyard, D. Tommy King, David J. Wise, Matt J. Griffin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Clinostomum spp. (Digenea: Clinostomidae) are a group of trematodes commonly found in the buccal cavity and oesophagus of a variety of piscivorous birds. The metacercariae, colloquially known as ‘‘yellow grubs,’’ have been reported from a diverse group of freshwater fishes worldwide. In the catfish farming region of the southeastern USA, piscivorous birds present a continuous challenge for aquaculturists in the form of fish depredation and the introduction of trematodes into these static, earthen pond systems. Clinostomum spp. are commonly encountered in farmraised catfish. While generally considered pests of minimal importance, heavy infections can result in unmarketable fillets. Of the piscivorous …

Experimental And Modeled Thermoregulatory Costs Of Repeated Sublethal Oil Exposure In The Double-Crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax Auritus, Paul D. Mathewson, Katie C. Hanson-Dorr, Warren P. Porter, Steven J. Bursian, Karen M. Dean, Kate Healy, Katherine Horak, Jane E. Link, K. E. Harr, Brain S. Dorr

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

To fully understand the impact of oil exposure, it is important to understand sublethal effects like how increased thermoregulatory costs may affect survival and reproduction. However, it is difficult and time-consuming to measure these effects in wild animals. We present a novel use of a bioenergetics model, Niche Mapper™, to estimate thermoregulatory impacts of oiling, using data from captive Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) experimentally exposed to oil. Oiled cormorants had significant increases in surface body temperatures following exposure. Niche Mapper accurately predicted surface temperatures and metabolic rates for unoiled and oiled cormorants and predicted 13–18% increased daily energetic …

A Molecular Analysis To Assess Codling Moth Cydia Pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Predation By Orchard Birds, Anna M. Mangan, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Matthew W. Hopken, Scott J. Werner, Liba Pejchar

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The codling moth Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is a major economic pest in organic apple orchards. Observational methods, prey removal experiments and correlative experiments with exclosures or nest boxes have demonstrated that birds contribute to the removal of this insect pest. However, the majority of research conducted in the last several decades has taken place outside of the United States and methods for studying biological pest control have advanced dramatically and now include molecular techniques. We conducted a proof-of-concept study to test a DNA-based approach to detect C. pomonella prey in the diets of birds occupying organic apple orchards. …

Post‑Fledging Movement And Spatial Ecology Of The Endangered Cape Vulture (Gyps Coprotheres), Francis R. Martens, Morgan B. Pfeiffer, Colleen T. Downs, Jan A. Venter

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The post-fledging dependence period (PFDP) is one of the most critical stages in the life history of some avian species. Birds are particularly sensitive to mortality during this stage as they must learn essential skills, such as efficient locomotion, proficient food location and predator avoidance. Knowledge of the PFDP would provide valuable information for conservation management of endangered species, many of which experience high juvenile fatality rates. Post-fledging movements of five endangered Cape Vultures were recorded using Global Positioning System/Global System for Mobile communication telemetry in South Africa. Home range sizes, distances travelled from the nest and habitat use were …

Assessing Ecological And Social Outcomes Of A Bear-Proofing Experiment, Heather Johnson, David L. Lewis, Stacy A. Lischka, Stewart W. Breck

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Human-black bear conflicts within urban environments have been increasing throughout North America, becoming a high priority management issue. The main factor influencing these conflicts is black bears foraging on anthropogenic foods within areas of human development, primarily on residential garbage. Wildlife professionals have advocated for increased bear-proofing measures to decrease the accessibility of garbage to bears, but little research has been conducted to empirically test the effectiveness of this approach for reducing conflicts. Between 2011 and 2016, we conducted a before-after-control-impact experiment in Durango, Colorado where we distributed 1,110 bear-resistant trash containers, enhanced education, and increased enforcement to residents in …

Assessment Of Zinc Phosphide Bait Shyness And Tools For Reducing Flavor Aversions, Katherine Horak, N. M. Hofmann, B. A. Kimball

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster Wagner) cause extensive damage in agricultural, suburban, and urban environments. Control of these animals has historically relied on the use of anticoagulant rodenticides and zinc phosphide. However, shyness to zinc phosphide baits has reduced its efficacy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors involved in zinc phosphide bait shyness through preference testing. Baits were made using a rolled oat base and contained various combinations of the components of zinc phosphide baits such as lecithin, magnesium carbonate and known flavor modulators sodium cyclamate and zinc sulfate. Encapsulation of zinc phosphide was also tested …

Efficacy Of Ontario Rabies Vaccine Baits (Onrab) Against Rabies Infection In Raccoons, Amy Gilbert, Shylo Johnson, Nikki Walker, Chad Wickham, Alex Beath, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In the US, rabies lyssavirus (RABV) only circulates in wildlife species and the most significant reservoir from a public and animal health perspective is the raccoon (Procyon lotor). Management of wildlife rabies relies principally on oral rabies vaccination (ORV) strategies using vaccine-laden bait delivery to freeranging target hosts, in order to reduce the susceptible population to prevent the spread of and eliminate RABV circulation. Our objective was to evaluate efficacy of the Ontario Rabies Vaccine Bait (ONRAB) against a lethal RABV challenge in captive raccoons. Sham or live vaccine baits were offered to 50 raccoons and efficacy was …

Prevalence And Amount Of Feral Swine Damage To Three Row Crops At Planting, Richard M. Engeman, Jason Terry, Leif R. Stephens, Kenneth S. Gruver

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Feral swine damage to corn, cotton and peanut crops at planting was assessed for 46 fields in Alabama. Damage was assessed on the basis of prevalence among fields and the quantity lost within each damaged field. Feral swine control by professionals dedicated to that task appeared to greatly reduce the prevalence of damage among fields, as the 14 fields which were within the areas where professional swine control operations took place were not damaged. For the 32 fields not receiving such protection, seven (21.9%) received some level of damage. Of those, 40% (four of 10) peanut fields, 15.4% (two of …

Potential Of Double-Crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax Auritus), American White Pelicans (Pelecanus Erythrorhynchos), And Wood Storks (Mycteria Americana) To Transmit A Hypervirulent Strain Of Aeromonas Hydrophila Between Channel Catfish Culture Ponds, Fred L. Cunningham, Madison M. Jubirt, Katie C. Hanson-Dorr, Lorelei Ford, Paul Fioranelli, Larry A. Hanson

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Aeromonas hydrophila is a Gramnegative bacterium ubiquitous to freshwater and brackish aquatic environments that can cause disease in fish, humans, reptiles, and birds. Recent severe outbreaks of disease in commercial channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) aquaculture ponds have been associated with a hypervirulent Aeromonas hydrophila strain (VAH) that is genetically distinct from less virulent strains. The epidemiology of this disease has not been determined. Given that research has shown that Great Egrets (Ardea alba) can shed viable hypervirulent A. hydrophila after consuming diseased fish, we hypothesized that Doublecrested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus), American White Pelicans ( …

Short Communication: A Countrywide Survey Of Antimicrobialresistant Indicator Bacteria In Kosovo’S Dairy Farms, Jeffrey C. Chandler, Sulaiman F. Aljasir, Afrim Hamidi, Driton Sylejmani, Kenneth G. Gerow, Bledar Bisha

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The World Health Organization recently recognized the Republic of Kosovo as one of the highest consumers per capita of antibiotics for human use among non- European Union Eastern European countries; however, data are limited regarding antimicrobial usage and antimicrobial resistance in the livestock sector for this recently formed country. The objective of this study was to conduct the first nationwide survey of antimicrobial resistance phenotypes in indicator bacteria collected from dairy farms in Kosovo. Composite fecal samples were collected from 52 farms located within all 7 administrative districts of Kosovo in the summer of 2014. Isolation and characterization of the …

Identifying Individual Cougars (Puma Concolor) In Remote Camera Images – Implications For Population Estimates, Peter D. Alexander, Eric M. Gese

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Context. Several studies have estimated cougar (Puma concolor) abundance using remote camera trapping in conjunction with capture–mark–recapture (CMR) type analyses. However, this methodology (photo-CMR) requires that photo-captured individuals are individually recognisable (photo identification). Photo identification is generally achieved using naturally occurring marks (e.g. stripes or spots) that are unique to each individual. Cougars, however, are uniformly pelaged, and photo identification must be based on subtler attributes such as scars, ear nicks or body morphology. There is some debate as to whether these types of features are sufficient for photo-CMR, but there is little research directly evaluating its feasibility …

Bad Dog: Feral And Free-Roaming Dogs As Agents Of Conflict, Julie K. Young, D. L. Bergman, M. Ono

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Domestic dogs are ubiquitous where humans reside. While typically considered a companion animal, their ability to thrive as feral and free-roaming animals often results in conflict with wildlife and is an impediment to conservation goals (Gompper, 2013). Home, Bhatnagar & Vanak (2018) provides evidence for this in India, illustrating the role of feral and free-roaming dogs as an invasive species with negative impacts on endemic wildlife, including threatened and endangered species. The authors found that the majority of wildlife attacks by dogs happen when dogs are not with people. It seems that this is the true canine conundrum: humans value …

An Assessment Of The Us Endangered Species Act Recovery Plans: Using Physiology To Support Conservation, Jessica L. Mahoney, Page E. Klug, Wendy L. Reed

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Applying physiology to help solve conservation problems has become increasingly prominent. It is unclear, however, if the increased integration into the scientific community has translated into the application of physiological tools in conservation planning. We completed a review of the use of animal physiology in the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Endangered Species Act (ESA) recovery plans released between 2005 and 2016. Over those 11 years, 135 of the 146 recovery plans mentioned physiology, with 56% including it as background information on the natural history of the species and not as part of …

Assessing Owl Collisions With Us Civil And Us Air Force Aircraft, Kimberly E. Linnell, Brian E. Washburn

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Collisions between wildlife and aircraft (wildlife strikes) pose notable risks. Previous research has found that a variety of birds and mammals are involved in wildlife strikes, but no comprehensive evaluation of collisions between owl and aircraft (owl strikes) has been conducted. We queried the Federal Aviation Administration’s National Wildlife Strike Database (from 1 January 1990 to 30 June 2014) and the US Air Force’s Birdstrike Database (from 1 January 1994 to 30 June 2014) to characterize owl strikes. We found 2531 owl strikes involving at least 20 species of owls. Barn Owls (Tyto alba) were the most frequently …

Modeling The Distributions Of Tegu Lizards In Native And Potential Invasive Ranges, Catherine S. Jarnevich, Mark A. Hayes, Lee A. Fitzgerald, Amy A. Yackel Adams, Bryan G. Falk, Michelle A. M. Collier, Lea R. Bonewell, Page E. Klug, Sergio Naretto, Robert N. Reed

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Invasive reptilian predators can have substantial impacts on native species and ecosystems. Tegu lizards are widely distributed in South America east of the Andes, and are popular in the international live animal trade. Two species are established in Florida (U.S.A.) - Salvator merianae (Argentine black and white tegu) and Tupinambis teguixin sensu lato (gold tegu) – and a third has been recorded there—S. rufescens (red tegu). We built species distribution models (SDMs) using 5 approaches (logistic regression, multivariate adaptive regression splines, boosted regression trees, random forest, and maximum entropy) based on data from the native ranges. We then projected …

Accounting For Location Uncertainty In Azimuthal Telemetry Data Improves Ecological Inference, Brian D. Gerber, Mevin B. Hooten, Christopher P. Peck, Mindy B. Rice, James H. Gammonley, Anthony D. Apa, Amy J. Davis

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Background: Characterizing animal space use is critical for understanding ecological relationships. Animal telemetry technology has revolutionized the fields of ecology and conservation biology by providing high quality spatial data on animal movement. Radio-telemetry with very high frequency (VHF) radio signals continues to be a useful technology because of its low cost, miniaturization, and low battery requirements. Despite a number of statistical developments synthetically integrating animal location estimation and uncertainty with spatial process models using satellite telemetry data, we are unaware of similar developments for azimuthal telemetry data. As such, there are few statistical options to handle these unique data and …

Effectiveness Of Gonacon As An Immunocontraceptive In Colony-Housed Cats, Amy Fischer, Valerie A.W. Benka, Joyce R. Briggs, Marc-Antoine Driancourt, Joanne Maki, Darcy S.O. Mora, Kevin N. Morris, Kayla A. Myers, Linda Rhodes, Lindsey M. Vansandt, George Robert Weedon, Julie Wolf, Julie K. Levy

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Objectives Non-surgical contraceptive management of free-roaming cat populations is a global goal for public health and humane reasons. The objectives of this study were to measure the duration of contraception following a single intramuscular injection of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone-based vaccine (GonaCon) and to confirm its safe use in female cats living in colony conditions.

Methods GonaCon (0.5 ml/cat) was administered intramuscularly to 20 intact female cats (queens), and saline was administered to 10 queens serving as sham-treated controls. Beginning in late February, 4 months after injection, all cats were housed with fertile male cats in a simulated colony environment. Time …

Reimmunization Increases Contraceptive Effectiveness Of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Vaccine (Gonacon-Equine) In Freeranging Horses (Equus Caballus): Limitations And Side Effects, Dan L. Baker, Jenny G. Powers, Jason I. Ransom, Blake E. Mccann, Michael W. Oehler, Jason E. Bruemmer, Nathan L. Galloway, Douglas C. Eckery, Terry M. Nett

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Wildlife and humans are increasingly competing for resources worldwide, and a diverse, innovative, and effective set of management tools is needed. Controlling abundance of wildlife species that are simultaneously protected, abundant, competitive for resources, and in conflict with some stakeholders but beloved by others, is a daunting challenge. Free-ranging horses (Equus caballus) present such a conundrum and managers struggle for effective tools for regulating their abundance. Controlling reproduction of female horses presents a potential alternative. During 2009±2017, we determined the long-term effectiveness of GnRH vaccine (GonaCon-Equine) both as a single immunization and subsequent reimmunization on reproduction and side …

Evolutionary Pathway For The 2017 Emergence Of A Novel Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H7n9) Virus Among Domestic Poultry In Tennessee, United States, Lei Li, Thomas J. Deliberto, Mary L. Killian, Mia K. Torchetti, Xiu-Feng Wan

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In March 2017, a novel highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H7N9) virus was detected at two commercial broiler breeder facilities in Tennessee, United States. In this study, a wild bird low pathogenic avian influenza A virus, A/blue-winged teal/Wyoming/AH0099021/2016(H7N9), was shown to be the probable precursor of the novel H7N9 virus; this low pathogenic virus has eight possible progenitor genes sharing> 99% sequence identity with the novel H7N9 virus. Phylogeographic analyses showed that viral gene constellations that formed and circulated among dabbling ducks contributed to the emergence of the novel H7N9 virus. This is in contrast to the virus that caused the …

Influence Of Behavioral State, Sex, And Season On Resource Selection By Jaguars (Panthera Onca): Always On The Prowl?, Eric M. Gese, Patricia A. Terletzky, Sandra M. C. Cavalcanti, Christopher M. U. Neale

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

How a predator uses its landscape to move through its territory and acquire prey is a fundamental question for scientific research. The influence of abiotic and biotic factors on space use of large carnivores has profound implications for their future management and conservation. In the Pantanal, Brazil, jaguars (Panthera onca) are the apex predator, but conflicts with cattle depredations pose a risk to their future conservation. We examined whether behavioral state, sex, and season influenced how jaguars used the landscape in the Pantanal. To accomplish this, we radio-collared four females and six males; radiocollared jaguars were monitored for 76 radio-months …

Nutritional Depletion Of Total Mixed Rations By Red-Winged Blackbirds And Projected Impacts On Dairy Cow Performance, James C. Carlson, Randal S. Stahl, John J. Wagner, Terry E. Engle, Shelagh T. Deliberto, Dustin A. Reid, Scott J. Werner

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

This Research Communication describes an investigation of the nutritional depletion of total mixed rations (TMR) by pest birds. We hypothesized that species-specific bird depredation of TMR can alter the nutritional composition of the ration and that these changes can negatively impact the performance of dairy cows. Blackbirds selected the high energy fraction of the TMR (i.e., flaked corn) and reduced starch, crude fat and total digestible nutrients during controlled feeding experiments. For Holsteins producing 37·1 kg of milk/d, dairy production modeling illustrated that total required net energy intake (NEI) was 35·8 Mcal/d. For the reference TMR unexposed to blackbirds and …

European Starling (Sturnus Vulgaris) Reproduction Undeterred By Predator Scent Inside Nest Boxes, Bradley Blackwell, Thomas W. Seamans, Morgan B. Pfeiffer, Bruce N. Buckingham

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Indirect predator cues near nests have been shown to enhance perceived predation risk and associated antipredator behaviours in breeding animals across taxa and particularly with birds. We hypothesized that scent from the raccoon (Procyon lotor (Linnaeus, 1758)) inside nest boxes would, despite being an evolutionarily unique predator, enhance perceived risk to the European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris (Linnaeus, 1758)), thus reducing use of treated sites and reproduction. During early spring, starlings selected from nest boxes treated with equal volumes of predator scent, a novel odour, or water (n = 40 boxes per treatment). We evaluated effects of treatment …

Falcons Using Orchard Nest Boxes Reduce Fruit-Eating Bird Abundances And Provide Economic Benefits For A Fruit-Growing Region, Megan E. Shave, Stephanie A. Shwiff, Julie L. Elser, Catherine A. Lindell

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

1. Suppression of pest species via a native predator is a regulating ecosystem service that has the potential to limit crop damage and produce economic benefits. American kestrels Falco sparverius are widespread, highly mobile, generalist predators that hunt in human-dominated habitats and have the potential to provide previously undocumented ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes.

2. We hypothesized that kestrel activity associated with nest boxes and artificial perches acts to increase perceived predation risk that, in combination with direct predation, can reduce fruit-eating bird abundances in orchards. We used counts and observations of fruit-eating birds from fixed-width transect surveys to investigate …

Detection Of Viruses From Bioaerosols Using Anion Exchange Resin, Joshua W. Schaeffer, Jeffrey C. Chandler, Margaret Davidson, Sheryl L. Magzamen, Alma Perez-Mendez, Stephen J. Reynolds, Lawrence D. Goodridge, John Volckens, Alan B. Franklin, Susan A. Shriner, Bledar Bisha

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

This protocol demonstrates a customized bioaerosol sampling method for viruses. In this system, anion exchange resin is coupled with liquid impingement-based air sampling devices for efficacious concentration of negatively-charged viruses from bioaerosols. Thus, the resin serves as an additional concentration step in the bioaerosol sampling workflow. Nucleic acid extraction of the viral particles is then performed directly from the anion exchange resin, with the resulting sample suitable for molecular analyses. Further, this protocol describes a custom-built bioaerosol chamber capable of generating virus-laden bioaerosols under a variety of environmental conditions and allowing for continuous monitoring of environmental variables such as temperature, …

Efficacy Of Avian Radar Systems For Tracking Birds On The Airfield Of A Large International Airport, Adam C. Phillips, Siddhartha Majumdar, Brian E. Washburn, David Mayer, Ryan M. Swearingin, Edwin E. Herricks, Travis L. Guerrant, Scott F. Beckerman, Craig K. Pullins

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Avian radar technologies have the potential to serve an important role in the quantification of bird movements and determining patterns of bird use in areas where human–wildlife conflicts might occur (e.g., airports, wind-energy facilities). However, capabilities and limitations of these technologies are relatively unknown and ground-truthing studies are needed to help wildlife managers understand the biological meaning of radar information. We evaluated the efficacy of 3 X-band marine radar sensors for tracking birds and flocks of birds observed on the airfield at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, USA, during March 2011– November 2012.We used specific information regarding field observations of birds …