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The Nebraska Bird Review (March 2006)- Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Table of Contents

NOU Annual Treasurer's Report for 2005......................2

Winter Field Report, Dec. 2005- Feb. 2006 by W. Ross Silcock......................4

Recent Changes in Winter Bird Numbers at Lincoln, Nebraska
by Paul A. Johnsgard......................16

Corrections to 2004-2005 Christmas Bird Count data......................23

2005-2006 Christmas Bird Counts in Nebraska......................23

Subscription and Organization Information......................35

Estimates Of Breeding Bird Populations In The Sheyenne National Grassland, North Dakota, Mary Ann Cunningham, Douglas Johnson, Daniel N. Svingen

The Prairie Naturalist

We conducted a two-year survey of breeding birds in the Sheyenne National Grassland, North Dakota, to estimate total populations of breeding birds. The Grassland is of interest because it provides wildlife habitat and recreational birding opportunities. Indicated breeding pairs were counted on 100-m wide belt transects during morning surveys from late May to early July in 2002 and 2003. We surveyed approximately 6 to 7% of the Grassland each year. The most abundant species in both years were grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), claycolored sparrow (Spizella pallida), Savannah sparrow (Passerculus …

Coordinated Spring Survey Of Mid-Continent Sandhill Cranes

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

The aerial transect portion of the coordinated spring survey of mid-continent sandhill cranes was conducted on 23 March in Nebraska’s Platte and North Platte River valleys. The 2005 photo corrected aerial estimate was 491,900 birds. Outside the traditional aerial transect portion, observers utilized both ground and air coverage during the period 5 – 25 March. From this region, observers in the Official Survey Area (OSA) of Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas reported an additional 38,700 cranes. The 2005 total estimate (530,600) increased 18% since 2004 and is the fourth highest in twenty-four years of comparable figures. The current three-year average (2003 …

Development Of Successful Sex Determination Method Of Bovine Embryos Utilizing Embryo Biopsy And Pcr, William E. Plummer, Debbie Beckett

Animal Science

Producers of domestic livestock strive to improve genetic influences in their herds. This requires identification, and propagation of animals that demonstrate desirable characteristics. The more animals available from which to select, the greater the opportunity to discover high-performance animals. Predetermination of the sex of offspring would provide a greater number of males or females from which to select the top individuals that will contribute the genetics to the next generation. Many attempts at sexing semen and identification of sex in preimplantation embryos have been mildly successful. However, recent advances in gene amplification enable investigators to use sex-specific probes to determine …

The Distress Calls Of Leptodactylus Chaquensis Cei, 1950 And Leptodactylus Elenae Heyer, 1978 (Anura: Leptodactylidae), José M. Padial, Rafael O. De Sá, Ignacio De La Riva

Biology Faculty Publications

We describe the distress calls of Leptodactylus chaquensis and Leptodactylus elenae. They each consist of a single, long, tonal sound with complex harmonic structure and complex frequency modulation. The distress calls of both species are different from their respective advertisement calls. Moreover, there are also clear interspecific differences. Harmonic frequencies in L. elenae are higher, there are fewer emphasized harmonics and the call is shorter and repeated at a higher rate (sometimes paired) than the call of L. chaquensis. Call duration, call rate, and position of the dominant harmonic change with the strength of the stimulus that the …

Evolution Of The Nanog Pseudogene Family In The Human And Chimpanzee Genomes, Daniel J. Fairbanks, Peter J. Maughan

Faculty Publications

The NANOG gene is expressed in mammalian embryonic stem cells where it maintains cellular pluripotency. An unusually large family of pseudogenes arose from it with one unprocessed and ten processed pseudogenes in the human genome. This article compares the NANOG gene and its pseudogenes in the human and chimpanzee genomes and derives an evolutionary history of this pseudogene family. Results: The NANOG gene and all pseudogenes except NANOGP8 are present at their expected orthologous chromosomal positions in the chimpanzee genome when compared to the human genome, indicating that their origins predate the human-chimpanzee divergence. Analysis of flanking DNA sequences demonstrates …

High-Risk Human Papilloma Virus Infection Decreases The Frequency Of Dendritic Langerhans’ Cells In The Human Female Genital Tract, Rafael Jiménez-Flores, Rene Mendez-Cruz, Jorge Ojeda-Ortiz, Rebeca Muñoz-Molina, Oscar Balderas-Carrillo, Maria De La Luz Diaz-Soberanes, Serge Lebecque, Sem Saeland, Adrian Daneri-Navarro, Alejandro Garcia-Carranca, Stephen E. Ullrich, Leopoldo Flores-Romo

Dairy Science

Dendritic cells (DC) are often arranged in planar layers in tissues with high antigenic exposure, such as skin and mucosae. Providing an en face view, this arrangement optimizes in situ analysis regarding morphology (even of individual dendrites), topographic distribution (regular/clustered) and quantification. The few reports on human genital DC usually utilize single markers and conventional sections, restricting immunolabelling only to cell parts sectioned by the cut. To better assess DC in situ, we labelled epithelial sheets, prepared from fresh cervix biopsies, with antibodies to major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-CII, CD1a and Langerin, revealing (with each of these markers) a dense …

Kentucky Warbler (Vol. 82, No. 1), Kentucky Library Research Collections

The Kentucky Warbler

No abstract provided.

Grey Parrot (Psittacus Erithacus) Numerical Abilities: Addition And Further Experiments On A Zero-Like Concept, Irene M. Pepperberg

Sentience Collection

A Grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus), able to quantify 6 or fewer item sets (including heterogeneous subsets) by using English labels (I. M. Pepperberg, 1994), was tested on addition of quantities involving 0–6. He was, without explicit training, asked, “How many total X?” for 2 sequentially presented collections (e.g., of variously sized jelly beans or nuts) and required to answer with a vocal English number label. His accuracy suggested (a) that his addition abilities are comparable to those of nonhuman primates and young children, (b) some limits as to his correlation of “none” and the concept of zero, and (c) a …

Species Richness And Nesting Success Of Migrant Forest Birds In Natural River Corridors And Anthropogenic Woodlands In Southeastern South Dakota, Dale J. Gentry, David L. Swanson, Jay D. Carlisle

Intermountain Bird Observatory Publications and Presentations

Forest fragmentation is thought to be partially responsible for declines in many Neotropical migrant birds due to the combined effects of higher rates of brood parasitism and increased predation near forest edges. A majority of the forested habitat in the northern prairie region is found in riparian corridors, but this native habitat has been much reduced from its historical extent. However, additional woodland nesting habitat has been established within the last century in the form of isolated woodlots on farms. We compared abundance, species richness, and nesting success of migrant forest birds breeding in native riparian corridors and anthropogenic woodlots. …

Recommended Management Arrangements For The Gascoyne Commercial 'Wetline' Fishery. A Report To The Minister For Fisheries., West Coast And Gascoyne Management Planning Panel.

Fisheries Management Papers

The ‘Wetline Review’ was established to implement an effective management framework for the commercial scalefish sector. It must be stressed at the outset that this review is focussed on the take of scalefish by the commercial sector. The levels of use between the various user groups in the Gascoyne region will be examined under the new IFM initiative.

Fisheries Research Report No. 153 - A 12-Month Survey Of Recreational Fishing In The Pilbara Region Of Western Australia During 1999-2000, P C. Williamson, Neil R. Sumner, B E. Malseed

Fisheries Research Reports

A 12-month creel survey of recreational boat-based and shore-based fishing in the Pilbara region (Onslow to Broome inclusive) of Western Australia was conducted between December 1999 and November 2000. During the survey 3,085 boat crews were interviewed at public boat ramps when they returned from their fishing trips. Patrols conducted along the coastline interviewed 73 groups of boat-based fishers and 569 groups of shore-based fishers at fishing locations and camp sites.

The total annual recreational fishing effort for the Pilbara region was estimated to be 201,000 fisher days (95%CI: 193,000 – 210,000). This comprised 109,000 fisher days by boats launched …

The Mayfly Newsletter, Peter M. Grant

The Mayfly Newsletter

The Mayfly Newsletter is the official newsletter of the Permanent Committee of the International Conferences on Ephemeroptera.

Selachohemecus Benzi N. Sp. (Digenea: Sanguinicolidae) From The Blacktip Shark Carcharhinus Limbatus (Carcharhinidae) In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Stephen A. Bullard, Robin M. Overstreet, John K. Carlson

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Selachohemecus benzi Bullard & Overstreet n. sp. infects the heart and kidney of the blacktip shark Carcharhinus limbatus in the northern Gulf of Mexico off Florida and Mississippi, USA. Specimens of S. olsoni Short, 1954, the only congener and only other named blood fluke reported from a chondrichthyan in the Gulf of Mexico, were collected from the heart of the Atlantic sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon terraenovae from two new localities, Apalachicola Bay, Florida, and Mississippi Sound, Mississippi, USA. The new species differs from S. olsoni by having a larger body (1.4–3.8 mm long), robust tegumental body spines numbering 51–63 along each …

Taxonomy Of Short-Tailed Shrews (Genus Blarina) In Florida, Russell A. Benedict, Hugh H. Genoways, Jerry R. Choate

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Three nominal taxa of short-tailed shrews historically were recognized in Florida: Blarina carolinensis carolinensis in the north, Blarina carolinensis peninsulae on the southern peninsula, and Blarina carolinensis shermani in the vicinity of Fort Myers. The taxonomy of these shrews is complex, and researchers have suggested they may represent one, two, or even three species. To assess relationships among these taxa, we measured eight cranial characters on 363 specimens from Florida and used discriminant function analysis to characterize the mensural features of reference samples and to assign unknown specimens to a particular taxon. The reference sample of shermani averaged 7.8% larger …

Opportunities Farm Update, Erik Loe, Robbi Pritchard, Matt Loewe

South Dakota Beef Report, 2006

Opportunities Farm allows comparisons of different feedlot facilities located on one site for use in teaching and outreach. The three facilities are: 1) bed-pack confinement, 2) dirt-mound open pens, and 3) partially-covered pens. The first cattle were placed in Opportunities Farm in February 2004. There have been 3,023 head of steers and heifers marketed from Opportunities Farm through June 2006.

Sdsu Cow/Calf Teaching And Research Unit, Dick Pruitt

South Dakota Beef Report, 2006

The SDSU Cow Calf Teaching & Research Unit (CCU) provides cattle and facilities for numerous Animal Science and Range Science classes and a variety of research projects. The CCU also provides cattle for the SDSU Little International, Block & Bridle activities, numerous judging team workouts, and other activities that bring potential students to the SDSU campus. Kevin VanderWal and Anna Drew, along with part time student employees, manage the herd and assist with beef cattle activities throughout the year. Faculty members that have conducted or contributed to research in recent years include: Dick Pruitt, George Perry, Sandy Smart, Jeff Clapper, …

North Central Water Quality Survey¹, Lanette Butler, Cody L. Wright

South Dakota Beef Report, 2006

This survey was conducted to determine the water quality in north central South Dakota. Twenty-one water sources from 16 different livestock operations were surveyed for this project. The water sources included five runoff-fed dugouts, 6 spring-fed dugouts, 4 deep wells (> 1000 ft), 3 medium-depth wells (100 to 500 ft) and 3 shallow wells (< 100 ft). Each water sample was initially tested with a hand-held Hanna Dist WP4 electroconductivity (EC) meter and the readings were recorded. Samples were then shipped to Servi-Tech Laboratories in Hastings, NE, where they were tested for EC, total dissolved solids (TDS), hardness, pH, calcium (Ca), chloride (Cl), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), sulfate (SO4), sulfate-sulfur (SO4-S), and sodium (Na). Water quality indicators and mineral concentrations were not different over time when analyzed across all water sources or within each water source independently. Water from runoff-fed dugouts was lower (P < 0.05) in pH than water from spring-fed dugouts or wells. Well water contained greater (P < 0.05) concentrations of Cl than water from either runoff-fed or spring-fed dugouts. Potassium concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) in water from runoff-fed dugouts than in water from spring-fed dugouts or well water. Estimation of water quality without testing is highly inaccurate and variable. Livestock producers should obtain water samples for determination of water quality and adjust management to account for poor-quality water sources.

Bats Of Antigua, Northern Lesser Antilles, Scott C. Pedersen, Peter A. Larsen, Hugh H. Genoways, Kevel Lindsay, Matthew Morton, Rick Adams, Vicki J. Swier, Jon Appino

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

No comprehensive survey of the chiropteran fauna of the Antillean island of Antigua has been undertaken in the past. Seven species of bats have been reported in the literature from the island previously, but these have appeared in scattered reports. The first report of bats from Antigua was by Allen (1 890) when he reported a single specimen of Noctilio leporinus and two of Artibeus jamaicensis obtained during an ornithological survey of Antillean islands. Subsequent collections of bats on Antigua were incidental to herpetological work or paleontological surveys of Antiguals limestone cave systems. We found 138 voucher specimens from Antigua …

Rye And Turnips To Extend The Grazing Season For Weaned Calves, Alexander J. Smart, Richard J. Pruitt

South Dakota Beef Report, 2006

As part of a series of studies to determine the feasibility of short season crops to extend the grazing season for weaned calves, planting date studies and a grazing trial were conducted near Brookings, SD. Small plots of turnips were seeded with a no-till drill into oat stubble on Aug 1 and 15 in year 1. In year 2, rye and turnips were seeded on July 20, Aug 1, and Aug 15. Based on forage yield, planting these crops on or before August 1 in eastern South Dakota is recommended. In late September of year 3, 44 weaned heifers were …

Predicting Forage Production, Stocking Rate, And Beef Production In Eastern South Dakota: A Case Study, Alexander J. Smart, Eric Mousel

South Dakota Beef Report, 2006

In the summer of 1999, the Hand and Hyde County Bootstraps group met to form a working group to better understand “Management Intensive” Grazing (MIG) systems. From this working group of ranchers and state and federal agency personnel, evolved a goal to establish six demonstration sites in South Dakota (Figure 1). In 2000, the first demonstration site was established by Jim Faulstich near Highmore, SD in Hyde County. This site is a 320 acre pasture dominated by native mixed-grass prairie vegetation with some introduced species such as smooth bromegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and crested wheatgrass. The pasture was fenced into 21 …

Assessment Of Anadromous Alewife And Blueback Herring Populations In Connecticut Coastal Streams And Connecticut River Tributaries, Justin P. Davis, Eric T. Schultz

EEB Articles

Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and blueback herring (A. aestivalis) occur in anadromous populations that have a largely overlapping distribution from Florida to Newfoundland (Loesch 1987). Anadromous populations of these species are commonly collectively referred to as “river herring”. Adults inhabit coastal shelf waters until sexual maturity is reached at age 3-5 (Neves 1981). Sexually mature individuals make spawning migrations, commonly referred to as “runs”, into freshwater systems during spring months (Loesch 1987). Spawners can survive and return to spawn in subsequent years (Mullen et al. 1986). Juveniles reside in freshwater for 3-7 months, at which time they undertake a gradual migration …

Effect Of An Injection Of Gnrh At Time Of Insemination Following Detection In Standing Estrus On Beef Cow And Heifer Pregnancy Rates, G. A. Perry

South Dakota Beef Report, 2006

An injection of GnRH at the initiation of standing estrus has been reported to increase pregnancy and circulating concentrations of progesterone in repeat breeder dairy cows, cows that have normal estrous cycles but will not conceive. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of administering an injection of GnRH at time of insemination on subsequent concentrations of progesterone and conception rates in beef cattle that have exhibited standing estrus. Eighty-two beef heifers at 2 locations were synchronized with the Select Synch-CIDR protocol (n = 42) or the 14-19 MGA protocol (n = 40) and AI was performed …

Effects Of Standing Estrus And Concentrations Of Estradiol On Uterine Ph¹, Josh R. Nelson, Bandi L. Perry, George A. Perry

South Dakota Beef Report, 2006

Research has demonstrated that cows that are in estrus within 24 h of fixed-time AI had elevated concentrations of estradiol and greater pregnancy rates compared to cows that are not in estrus. Our objective was to determine if estradiol and/or estrus had an effect on uterine pH during a fixed-time AI protocol. Non-lactating beef cows (n = 20) were treated with the CO-Synch protocol (100μg GnRH on d -9; 25 mg PG on d -2; and 100μg GnRH on d 0). Half (n = 10) the cows received an injection of estradiol cypionate (ECP; 1mg) 12 h following PG. Cows …

Forage Systems For Minimizing Hay And Concentrate Feed Needs, Glen E. Aiken

Forage Symposium at the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Convention

Cattlemen typically simplify their pasture management by relying on one or two forages that are well adapted and persist under their targeted levels of management and production. The 5.5 million acres of Kentucky-31 tall fescue in Kentucky is a strong indication how producers in the state rely on the cool-season perennial grass, sometimes in mixture with red or white clover, to meet their grazing needs. An advantage of this approach is that fertilization and grazing management is based on a single growth distribution and set of fertilizer needs. Disadvantages are that yield, growth distribution, and quality of forage may not …

How Good Is Your Hay?, Tom Keene

Forage Symposium at the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Convention

All hay that is made or produced should have a value placed on it. Because no matter what livestock enterprise that it is earmarked for, there were significant inputs that went into producing that hay. Therefore, it is imperative that we place a value on the hay product(s) that we have produced.

New Developments In Pasture Weed Control, William W. Witt

Forage Symposium at the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Convention

Weeds in pastures continue to offer challenges to the producer for controlling these unwanted plants. The combination of forage grasses grown in pastures and the climate of Kentucky provides an environment that is conducive for having numerous weedy species. Most pastures have a combination of cool season (those that begin growth in fall and mature in spring or early summer) and warm season (those that begin growth in spring and mature in late summer or fall) weeds. Additionally, some weeds such as thistles severely restrict grazing while other weeds do not. The decision to apply a weed management strategy is …

Roundup Ready® Alfalfa, Novel Endophyte Tall Fescue, Red And White Clover, Bermudagrass, And More, S. Ray Smith

Forage Symposium at the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Convention

Finally, Roundup Ready® alfalfa is now available and currently varieties show excellent tolerance to Roundup, good disease res i stance, and good yield potential. Before making plans to plant 100 acres know that the price in most states is over $7.00 per pound and pre-ordering seed is essential if you want to plant the spring of 2006. Roundup tolerance is a very useful trait in alfalfa, but remember that Roundup Ready ® varieties are not superior for other traits. Some current advertisement s promote Roundup Ready® varieties as higher yielding and higher quality. These statements are not untrue, but they …

Using Legumes To Renew Grass Pastures, Garry D. Lacefield

Forage Symposium at the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Convention

Legume content in Kentucky pastures has been reduced dramatically as a result of the drought and high temperatures of 2005 and very muddy conditions this past winter. In addition, late-winter early-spring seedings during 2004 were not as successful as normal due to excessive moisture during the establishment periods. As a result of our reduced amount of legumes in pasture and the many advantages legumes have for improving Kentucky pastures, serious considerations should be given to renovating pastures in 2006.

Foreword [2006], Garry D. Lacefield, Christi L. Forsythe

Forage Symposium at the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Convention

No abstract provided.