Ornithology Commons^™

Nest-Defense Behavior Of Mississippi Kites In Urban And Exurban Areas, Ben R. Skipper, Clint W. Boal

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Mississippi kites (Ictinia mississippiensis) have become an abundant raptor in many urban and exurban areas throughout the Southern Great Plains of the United States. Unfortunately, human–wildlife conflicts have resulted from this juxtaposition of suitable breeding areas for kites and areas that humans frequent, with some kites responding aggressively to humans near nests. To date, there are no data describing the prevalence of aggressive nest defense in the species, making informed management of human and kite conflicts difficult. We assessed and compared the prevalence of aggressive nest-defense by Mississippi kites in an urban area and an exurban area by …

Comparison Of Conservation Policy Benefits For An Umbrella And Related Sagebrush-Obligate Species, Jonathan B. Dinkins, Jeffrey L. Beck

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Many conservation strategies promote the potential of multiple species benefitting from protection of large areas necessary for the continued viability of 1 species. One prominent strategy in western North America is Wyoming’s Sage-grouse Core Area Policy, which was designed to conserve greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter, sage-grouse) breeding habitat, but may also serve as an umbrella to conserve other sagebrush (Artemisia spp.)-obligate wildlife, including songbirds. Sagebrush-obligate songbirds and sage-grouse have undergone population declines throughout the western United States attributed to similar habitat issues. We compared trends of sagebrush-obligate songbirds from the Breeding Bird Survey and sage-grouse lek …

European Starlings Fly Before They Fledge, Jeremiah L. Psiropoulos, Lisa A. Selner

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Aircraft bird strikes are increasing globally. Bird strikes constitute a major human health and safety risk and result in millions of dollars in economic impacts. Invasive avian species, such as the European starling (Sturnus vulgaris; starlings), have been implicated in bird strikes in North America. Because this species is highly adaptive and has been successful at establishing in new areas, such as airports, it is essential that managers better understand the potential risks and how to mitigate them. Herein we present a case study regarding a novel observation of unique starling nesting behavior that may pose a risk …

Identifying And Assessing Conflicts Between Future Development And Current Migratory Bird Habitat Around Farmington Bay, Utah, Aubin A. Douglas

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Every year, the Great Salt Lake (GSL) and its associated wetlands provide critical habitat for over 250 migratory bird species from both the Pacific and Central Flyways. The GSL borders the Wasatch Front, which is the fastest growing and most populous region in Utah. To support the ever-increasing working population, the government of Utah aspires to increase the robust economic growth of the region through economic incentives and development of infrastructure. As this area continues to develop, greater pressure will be placed on the surrounding natural resources, including the GSL, its wetlands, and the open space and agricultural land that …

Large Birds Of Prey, Policies That Alter Food Availability And Air Traffic: A Risky Mix For Human Safety, Rubén Moreno-Opo, Antoni Margalida

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Raptors are considered to pose one of the greatest aviation bird strike risk. We investigated raptor bird strikes reported at the largest Spanish airport (Adolfo Suárez Madrid Barajas; AS-MB) from 2009 to 2016 to determine the factors contributing to the increased incidences and develop recommendations to mitigate the risks. We hypothesized that increased raptor bird strikes resulted from changes in foraging and dispersal patterns of Iberian Peninsula vultures (Aegypius spp. and Gyps spp.) after 2004-2005. We used information on raptor bird strikes obtained from official databases and published studies, reported incidences of raptor bird strikes and their characteristics (i.e., …

High Frequency Of Extra-Pair Paternity In Eastern Kingbirds, Michael T. Murphy, Diane L. Rowe, Robert C. Fleischer, Paul G. Wolf

Biology Faculty Publications

Genetic parentage in the socially monogamous and territorial Eastern Kingbird( Tyrannust tyrannus) was examined in a central New York population by multilocus DNA fingerprinting. Extra-pair young were identified in 60% (12 of 20) of nests. Of the 64 nestlings profiled, 42% were sired by extra-pair males, but no cases of conspecific brood parasitism were detected. These results are markedly different from a previous electrophoretic study of the same species in a Michigan population, which reported 39% of nestlings were unrelated to one (typically the mother, quasiparasitismo)r both (conspecificb roodp arasitism) of the putative parents. In the New York population, extra-pairp …

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 …

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 …

The Social Organization Of Wild Turkeys On The Welder Wildlife Refuge, Texas, Charles Robert Watts

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study is of the social organization of the wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia Sennett) on the Welder Wildlife Refuge in southern Texas.

The earliest turkey nests hatched in April, with the peak of hatching a month or more later. These poults may remain with their mother until winter. This brood flock, however, often combined with other brood flocks to form composite brood flocks when the poults were a few weeks old. Hens not successful in rearing young combined into broodless flocks.

The juvenile males left the brood flocks in late fall or winter. They remained a distinct unit, …

Evidence Against The Transmission Of Staphylococci By The Mosquito Culex Tarsalis, John R. Molenda

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Staphylococcal synovitis is a pathological condition of birds involving primarily the wing and leg joints. It is frequently referred to as arthritis, osteoarthritis, bursitis, hock disease, staphylococcosis, and weak leg.

The disease has been reported throughout various parts of the world as having been found in a great variety of avian hosts including pheasants, chickens, pigeons, canaries, geese, ducks, grouse, and turkeys.

Miner (1945) presented results of a survey made on turkey diseases in Sanpete County, Utah, which indicated staphylococcal synovitis to be responsible for the greatest numbers of deaths. His report cites this infection as having been found in …

Factors In The Development And Restoration Of Waterfowl Habitat At Ogden Bay Refuge Weber County, Utah, Noland F. Nelson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Millions of acres of marshland have been destroyed by the industrial and agricultural development of this continent. Drainage, water diversion, land leveling, and some other factors which destroyed waterfowl habitat were in most instances essential steps in man's progress; but water pollution, unwise drainage, and other soil and water abuses were tragic and unessential steps in our history of land exploitation that have destroyed vast acreages of habitat. The future of waterfowl on this continent hinges upon the success of restoration or new marsh development to replace this destroyed habitat.