Ornithology Commons^™

Survey Of The Interior Least Tern On The Arkansas And White Rivers In Arkansas, Kenneth L. Smith

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

The Ecology Of Foraging Behavior: Implications For Animal Learning And Memory, Alan Kamil, Herbert L. Roitblat

Avian Cognition Papers

In his recent Annual Review of Psychology article, Snowdon (1983) discussed the synthesis of ethology and comparative psychology. A similar synthesis of behavioral ecology and animal learning is beginning to take place. This article reviews developments in the behavioral ecology and ethology of foraging behavior relevant to psychological research on animal learning. The psychological literature shows that animals possess a wide range of learning abilities, including “simple” classical and operant conditioning; they acquire spatial, nonspatial, and temporal discriminations; they exhibit various forms of rule learning (e.g. matching-to-sample and learning set), and may even in certain senses learn language. Why does …

Nearshore Foodwebs And The Distribution Of Acanthocephalan Parasites In Antarctic Seabirds, Eric P. Hoberg

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Field studies, in the vicinity of Palmer Station during the austral summer of 1982— 1983, yielded an extensive collection of acanthocephalans and other parasites from seabirds, fish and invertebrates. The continuing analysis of this material has resulted in the elucidation of factors that control the occurrence of Corynosoma spp. in Antarctic seabirds. Notably, the host-distribution of Corynosoma spp. suggested that these parasites were being acquired from piscine or possibly amphipod prey, generally in nearshore habitats.

Determinants Of Variation In Avian Mobbing Behavior, Charles Ray Chandler Jr.

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Using three combinations of two experimental stimuli, I initiated mobbing behavior in various species of birds. The objectives of this research were to test the effects of stimuli on mobbing, the predictions of the hypothesis that mobbing functions to drive a predator away, and the effect of other species and individuals on the mobbing behavior of a bird. Mobbing experiments were conducted in a variety of habitats and locations from January 1983 through February 1984.

Only 6.5% of all trials with the mount-only stimulus were successful in attracting birds. Tape-only and mount-and-tape stimuli were equally effective in attracting birds, but …

Muscongus Bay, Marine Wildlife Inventory And Evaluation, Alan E. Hutchinson, Sandra J. Lovett

Maine Collection

Muscongus Bay, Marine Wildlife Inventory and Evaluation

by Alan E. Hutchinson and Sandra J. Lovett

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Augusta, Maine, February, 1984.

Contents: Preface / Acknowledgment / List of Tables / List of Figures / Introduction / Resource Inventory / Resource Evaluation / Resource Impact Assessment / Conclusions and Recommendations / References / Appendix

Summary Account Of The Carolina Parakeet In Arkansas, Daniel Mckinley, Douglas A. James

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The extinct Carolina Parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis) once was part of the Arkansas avifauna. The first two reports of the species in what is now Arkansas were made in 1673 and 1718 by early French explorers. The remaining records are from the 1800s when parakeets were found in nearly all parts of the state, often in abundance. The last literature reference for the species still definitely occurring in Arkansas pertains to birds present in the summer of 1885 along the White River at Newport

The Secretive Silvereyes, I J. Rooke

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Durinf the past five years the agricultural Protection Board, in co-operation with scientists from CSIRO's Division of Wildlife Research and the University of Western Australia, had studied the biology and control of the silvereye in the South-West of Western Asustralia. The project was partially funded by a voluntary levy on vignerons in the Margaret River and Mt Barker areas.

The first part of the study investigated the bird's bioloogy - its food requirements, reproductive rate, how it interacted with other birds and its seasonal movements, It was hoped that this knowledge would help develop effective techniques for either controlling the …

Preventing Vineyard Damage By Silvereyes, I J. Rooke

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

In the previous article, Dr I Rooke outlined the studies which helped to devise practical ways of controlling attacks by silvereyes on vineyards in the South-West of Western Australia. The preventative methods vignerons can use are discussed here.

A Closer Look At Parrots As Pests, John L. Long

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Small parrots have been attacking fruit and grain crops in the south of Western Australia at least since agriculture expanded into their native habitats in the early 1900s. The parrots are capable of quickly adapting to new situations so it is not surprising that they have eaten crops.

It is not known whether parrot numbers have increased since European settlement began, but this appears likely. The present landscape of islands of uncleared country interspersed with areas of agriculture appears to favour the survival of the red-capped parrot, western rosella and the Port Lincoln parrot. These species were investigated during a …

Keeping Starlings Out Of W.A, John L. Long

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

In Europe and North America huge flocks of starlings cause millions of dollars worth of damage to grain and fruit crops each year and large sums of money are spent trying to control them.

Starlings were introduced into australia in the late 1890s when more than 200 birds were released near Melbourne. They are now well established over much of eastern Australia, ranging from central Queensland, south to Tasmania and along the Great Australian Bight to the South Australian-Western Australian border, occasionally crossing it and sometimes moving as far west as the Esperance region on the south coast.

Some people …

Seasonal Lekking Behavior Of The Greater Prairie-Chicken In Illinois, Scott A. Simpson

Masters Theses

Spring behavior of prairie-chickens (Tympanuchus cupido) has been studied extensively, however there is little information on fall-winter lekking activity. Greater prairie-chickens were observed weekly on a lek from 25 September 1982 to 23 June 1983 during morning and evening hours in Jasper County, Illinois. The peak number of prairie-chicken males on the lek occurred in February although hen attendance did not occur until 10 March 1983. All spring lekking activities were higher compared to that of the fall-winter period. Fall-winter lek activity was aggression which centered on probably brief, less intense male aggression which probably establishes or maintains …

Helminths Of Common Grackles (Quiscalus Quiscula-Versicolor, Viellot) In Central Arkansas, Arthur A. Johnson

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Breeding Birds In Cedar Stands In The Great Dismal Swamp, Karen A. Terwilliger, Robert K. Rose

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The Great Dismal Swamp located in the coastal plain on the Virginia- North Carolina border, has long been recognized as a vegetationally distinctive region with many unusual geological and biological features. Formerly at least twice the currently estimated size of 85,000 hectares (Carter 1979), the Great Dismal Swamp is still shrinking because of a dropping water table caused by more than 200 years of logging, ditching, and other human activities. In 1973, the Union Camp Corporation donated a 19,871-hectare tract located near Suffolk, Virginia. to The Nature Conservancy, which transferred the land to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This …

Alcataenia Campylacantha (Krabbe, 1869) From Pigeon Guillemots, Cepphus Columba Pallas, And Black Guillemots, Cepphus Grylle (Linnaeus), And Alcataenia Sp. Indet. (Cestoda: Dilepididae) From Kittlitz's Murrelets, Brachyramphus Brevirostris (Vigors) In Alaska, Eric P. Hoberg

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Alcataenia campylacantha (Krabbe, 1869) is redescribed and reported for the first time from pigeon guillemots, Cepphus columba Pallas, in Alaska. Specimens of this cestode were also found in black guillemots, Cepphus grylle (Linnaeus) at Point Barrow, Alaska. There were no substantial differences in morphological characters between populations of this cestode from the North Atlantic and North Pacific basins. Additionally, Alcataenia sp. indet. is reported, with a partial description, from Kittlitz's murrelets, Brachyramphus brevirostris (Vigors), in Alaska. This constitutes the first record of dilepidid cestodes from birds of the genus Brachyramphus Brandt.

French abstract:

On trouvera ici une nouvelle description d’ …

Alcataenia Longicervica Sp. N. From Murres, Uria Lomvia (Linnaeus) And Uria Aalge (Pontoppidan) In The North Pacific Basin, With Redescriptions Of Alcataenia Armillaris (Rudolphi, 1810) And Alcataenia Meinertzhageni (Baer, 1956) (Cestoda: Dilepididae), Eric P. Hoberg

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Alcataenia longicervica sp. n. (Cestoda: Dilepididae) is described from murres, Uria spp., in Alaska and other localities in the Pacific basin. From Alcataenia armillaris (Rudolphi, 1810), which it most closely resembles, A. longicervica is distinguished by larger size of organs (cirrus sac, vitelline gland, and seminal receptacle), greater number of testes, and extremely long neck. In specimens of A. longicervica there are 22-27 rostellar hooks distributed in two rows. Hooks in the anterior row measure 41-49 μm in length while those in the posterior are 38-48 μm. Two species of Alcataenia, A. armillaris and A. meinertzhageni (Baer, 1956), both …

Operant Conditioning In The Psittacine, Amazona Amazonica, Gloria J. Nadolski

Masters Theses

Two Orange-winged Amazon Parrots, (Amazona amazonica) were subjected to operant conditioning involving three tests: two-choice spatial discrimination and reversal, three-choice color discrimination and reversal, and the oddity principle. Results of the habit reversal tests were compared to those of Gossett (1968) to determine the phylogenetic ranking of the learning capabilities of psittacines. In the first two habit reversal tests, the subjects completed twenty reversals using sunflower seeds as positive reinforcements. In the oddity principle test, the parrots completed the equivalent of 20 reversals, again using sunflower seeds. Criterion was met when they completed 8 consecutive correct choices with …

Aspects Of The Nesting Ecology Of Least Terns And Piping Plovers In Central Nebraska, Craig A. Faanes

Papers in Ornithology

Breeding habitat of the least tern is made up primarily of coastal beaches and inland river sandbars. Populations of the interior (Sterna antillarum athalassos) and east coast (S. a. antillarum) subspecies are now declining (Marshall et al. 1975, Duffy 1977, Jernigan et al. 1978) and the western subspecies (S. a. browni) is endangered (Wilbur 1974). Although coastal populations have received considerable attention (Wolk 1974, Atwood et al. 1977, Blodgett 1978), little research has been conducted on the interior race (Hardy 1957, Downing 1975).

The piping plover inhabits river sandbars and sand beaches and, like …

Scaring Of Carrion Crows (Corvus Corone Corone) By Species-Specific Distress Calls And Suspended Bodies Of Dead Crows, Luzia Naef-Daenzer

Bird Control Seminars Proceedings

In Switzerland, carrion crows can cause considerable damage to sprouting corn fields when feeding on the germinated corn. I tried to evaluate a method to prevent these damages. The use of species-specific distress calls, for the first time described by Frings and Jumber (1954), seemed to be the most promising method. Agronomes and biologists have applied it in field studies to several different bird species causing damage in agriculture and on airports (e.g., Gramet, 1962; Brough, 1968). However, the literature either describes single actions or several different scaring devices being used together. To be able to judge the method, quantitative …

Optimal Foraging Theory And The Psychology Of Learning, Alan Kamil

Avian Cognition Papers

The development of optimization theory has made important contributions to the study of animal behavior. But the optimization approach needs to be integrated with other methods of ethology and psychology. For example, the ability to learn is an important component of efficient foraging behavior in many species, and the psychology of animal learning could contribute substantially to testing and extending the predictions of optimal foraging theory.

Spatial Learning As An Adaptation In Hummingbirds, Susan Cole, F. Reed Hainsworth, Alan Kamil, Terre Mercier, Larry L. Wolf

Avian Cognition Papers

An ecological approach based on food distribution suggests that hummingbirds should more easily learn to visit a flower in a new location than to learn to return to a flower in a position just visited, for a food reward. Experimental results support this hypothesis as well as the general view that differences in learning within and among species represent adaptations.

The Red-Tailed Hawk On Sauvie Island, Oregon, Kevin J. Lien

Dissertations and Theses

A study was undertaken to determine the abundance, distribution, perching heights, diets and territory sizes of Red-Tailed Hawks on Sauvie Island, Oregon. Sauvie Island supported a large wintering population of non-territorial Red-Tailed Hawks. The establishment of territories began around 10 January. Average perch height was found to be 14.2 m. Average perch height increased from fall to spring, corresponding-to the onset of the breeding season and to the onset of egg-laying and incubation. Voles (Microtus spp.) were the principal prey year-round, though waterfowl were more important in terms of biomass in the winter and early spring. Territory sizes on the …

Die Erforschung Der Herpetofauna Der Mongolischen Volksrepublik: Situation Und Perspektiven, Günther Peters

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

First paragraph:

Die Landschaften der Mongolei sind arm an Reptilien- und Amphibienarten. Dieser Umstand mag die Frage aufwerfen, ob herpetologische Untersuchungen in Beschränkung auf das Territorium der MVR eine nennenswerte Perspektive haben könnten, nachdem Artenspektrum und Verbteitung der Species annähernd vollständig erkundet sind. Ein Herpetologe wird zweifellos für seine Arbeit auch in diesem Land eine Zukunft sehen, doch muß wohl von vornherein eingestanden werden, daß das Volumen der Probleme dieses Faches hinter denen der übrigen Disziplinen der Vertebratenzoologie und der Entomologie in einem bescheidenerem Rahmen verbleibt. Dies gilt sowohl im rein wissenschaftlichen als erst recht auch im angewandten Bereich ihrer …

Resource Partitioning In Breeding Populations Of Marsh Hawks And Short-Eared Owls, Susan C. Linner

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

During the 1979 breeding season four pairs of northern harriers, or marsh hawks (Circus cyaneus) and four pairs of short-eared owls (Asio flammeus) were studied in Cache Valley, Utah. The study was concerned solely with diurnal resource utilization, and did not examine the owls' nocturnal activities. The home range of each harrier pair overlapped substantially with that of an owl pair. Percent habitat overlap for hawk-owl pairs varied from 39 percent to 72 percent. Observations were made to determine if differences existed in their utilization of habitat and food resources, or in their daily and seasonal …

Metabolism And Solar Radiation In Dark And White Herons Nesting In Hot Climates, Hugh I. Ellis

Biology: Faculty Scholarship

Metabolism, body temperature (Tb), and feather reflectance was measured for dark Louisiana herons (LOU), little blue herons (LB), snowy egrets (SE), and cattle egrets (CE); only LOU nest preferentiallyin shade. The reflectance of LOU and adult LB was 13%-15%; it was 80%-82% for SE, CE, and immature (white) LB. Tb for all four species approximated 40 C; hypothermy was never observed. Basal metabolism (HJb) was 107% of the expected level for LOU, 85% for SE and CE, and 66% for LB. Minimal thermal conductance (C) was calculated as approximately 131% of the expected value for LOU, 115% for SE and …

Evaluation Of Potential Wild Turkey Habitat In Eastern Illinois, Cara B. Daugherty

Masters Theses

Reestablishment of the wild turkey has been successful in the southern part of Illinois where large established tracts of woodland occur. However, turkeys are capable of surviving in areas with less forest cover, if food, nesting materials and protection are available. This project evaluated the potential turkey habitat of a 14-county area of eastern Illinois along the drainage of the Wabash River. Six potential release sites were selected and the habitat evaluated. In these areas, oak (Quercus spp.) and hickory (Carya spp.) were the dominant tree species. Disturbance from human populations was determined in each of …

Status Of The Red-Cockaded Woodpecker At The Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge In Arkansas, Douglas A. James, Fred L. Burnside Jr.

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The Red-cockaded Woodpecker is an endangered species that is endemic to mature pine forests of the southeastern United States. In Arkansas it presently occurs only in pinelands of the Ouachita Province and Gulf Coastal Plain. Cavity trees for nesting and roosting must be mature pines diseased with red-heart fungus. Due to recent forestry practices mature pine stands are disappearing thus reducing numbers of needed cavity trees. The Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Arkansas contains high densities of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers and because of favorable management priorities there the survival of the woodpecker seems assured. Populations of the species in other …

Seasonal Abundance And Habitat Distribution Of Birds In Northeastern Arkansas, Earl L. Hanebrink, Alan F. Posey

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Bird sighting records from 1964 through 1978 for 17 northeastern Arkansas counties were compiled according to the seasonal status, relative abundance and habitat distribution of each species. The five seasonal occurrence categories and their relative species composition were: transient visitant (46.6%), summer resident (20.3%), winter resident (14.8%), permanent resident (17.2%) and winter visitant (1.0%). The seven seasonal abundance categories and their relative species composition were: very rare (13.9%), rare 15.9%), uncommon (30.7%), fairly common (10.5%), common (25.6%), very common (1.7%) and abundant (1.7%). Eleven habitat categories were included: campestrian, abandoned fields, forest edge, lowland woods, upland woods, riparian woods, marshes, …

A Discriminant Function Model Of Gray-Headed Junco Habitat, Andrew R. Grainger

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This paper presents a description of gray-headed junco habitat in the form of a model based on discriminant function analysis. Junco nests were found by searching randomly located grids on a 7.8 km² study area in central Utah. Vegetation data was gathered on 500 m² circular plots surrounding nests and contrasted with similar data from searched grids where nests were not found. The model explains 28 percent of the between-groups variance and correctly classifies 68 percent of the plots.

Plant cover types are good predictors of areas where gray-headed juncos nest, while plant community type descriptions do not …

Visual Detection Of Cryptic Prey By Blue Jays (Cyanocitta Cristata), Alexandra T. Pietrewicz, Alan Kamil

Avian Cognition Papers

Blue jays learned to respond differentially to the presence or absence of Catocala moths in slides. This detection of the moths by the jays was affected by the background upon which the moth was placed and its body orientation, thus providing an objective measure of crypticity. These procedures are useful for the study of visual detection of prey.

Breeding Birds And Vegetation Of The Central Illinois Floodplain Forest, Daniel Edward Varland

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.