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Ornithology Commons™

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2008

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Articles 121 - 138 of 138

Full-Text Articles in Ornithology

Sandhill Crane Wintering Ecology In The Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, California, Gary L. Ivey, Caroline P. Herziger Jan 2008

Sandhill Crane Wintering Ecology In The Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, California, Gary L. Ivey, Caroline P. Herziger

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We studied wintering sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) ecology in 2002–2003 in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta of California, focusing on Staten Island, a corporate farm which was acquired by The Nature Conservancy and managed to promote sustainable agriculture that is beneficial to wildlife. Our purpose was to define habitat conservation needs for cranes, including the state-threatened greater subspecies (G. c. tabida). Research was conducted through intensive surveys by vehicle of crane foraging and roosting behavior. We estimated that about 1,500 greaters used Staten Island, which is a significant portion of the Central Valley Population of greater sandhill …

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Risk Factors Associated With Developmental Limb Abnormalities In Captive Whooping Cranes, Cristin Kelley, Barry K. Hartup Jan 2008

Risk Factors Associated With Developmental Limb Abnormalities In Captive Whooping Cranes, Cristin Kelley, Barry K. Hartup

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

This retrospective survey identifies potential risk factors for developmental limb abnormalities in whooping crane (Grus americana) chicks reared at the International Crane Foundation between 1990 and 2006. We summarized a series of biologicallyrelevant pre- and post-hatch variables from this population using in-house aviculture and veterinary records, and then compared them between chicks with and without developmental carpal, toe and leg deformities. Chi-square analysis revealed associations between 1) rearing style and each type of deformity, 2) egg source and carpal and toe deformities, and 3) the pre-existence of a toe deformity and carpal and leg deformities. Multivariate analyses using …

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Habitat Characteristics Influencing Sandhill Crane Nest Site Selection, Anne E. Lacy, Su Liying Jan 2008

Habitat Characteristics Influencing Sandhill Crane Nest Site Selection, Anne E. Lacy, Su Liying

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The breeding population of greater Sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) in Wisconsin has greatly increased since the population was nearly extirpated in the mid-1930’s (Henika 1936). The International Crane Foundation (ICF) has been studying these birds for over 10 years in an area with one of the highest density of breeding cranes in the Midwest; we have calculated a nesting density of over 5 pairs/km2 (ICF unpublished data). Prior to this study, little was known about the habitat characteristics that may be influencing nest site selection. We conducted nest surveys by helicopter during the last week of April …

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Selection Criteria For Important Sites For Wintering Sandhill Cranes In The Mexican Altiplano, Alberto Lafon Terrazas, Eduardo Carrera Gonzalez Jan 2008

Selection Criteria For Important Sites For Wintering Sandhill Cranes In The Mexican Altiplano, Alberto Lafon Terrazas, Eduardo Carrera Gonzalez

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Conservation of natural resources has increased worldwide, and Mexico shows the same tendency. Unfortunately, selection criteria for conservation areas and objectives do not always follow a methodology that will allow for optimum selection. In Mexico and other countries we have a series of priority sites proposed by experts in various biodiversity areas, based on knowledge of the existing biological resources of the site. This results in two situations: more attention and resources are given to certain areas, but no resources are invested in sites that could be of equal or greater importance than those currently proposed. This leads to knowledge …

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Sandhill Crane Nest Habitat Selection And Factors Affecting Nest Success In Northwestern Minnesota, Stephen J. Maxson, John R. Fieberg, Michael R. Riggs Jan 2008

Sandhill Crane Nest Habitat Selection And Factors Affecting Nest Success In Northwestern Minnesota, Stephen J. Maxson, John R. Fieberg, Michael R. Riggs

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We studied 62 greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis tabida) nests in northwestern Minnesota during 1989-1991 to document nest habitat use and selection, nest success, and factors associated with nest success. We recorded 15 habitat variables at each nest and at a randomly selected site in the same wetland. Nests were in basins 0.01-601 ha (Median = 2.2 ha) and at water depths 0-35.7 cm (Median = 9.7 cm). Cattail (Typha sp.) was the dominant vegetation at 58.0% of nests while 21.0% were at sites dominated by phragmites (Phragmites australis). Conditional logistic regression models indicated …

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Trends In Sandhill Crane Numbers In Eastern New Mexico, James B. Montgomery Jr. Jan 2008

Trends In Sandhill Crane Numbers In Eastern New Mexico, James B. Montgomery Jr.

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Following a 1980s decline in the number of cranes in the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge area of the Pecos River Valley in eastern New Mexico, peak fall migration numbers increased from 5,640 in 1989-90 to 15,790 in 2003-04 and 13,650 in 2004-05. Concurrently, hectares of corn grown for silage to feed dairy cows increased from 1,781 in 1989 to 8,013 in 2003 and 7,325 in 2004. The population goals of the NM Department of Game and Fish are being met but a downturn in the dairy industry could result in a decline in crane numbers.

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Timing Of Molt In Florida Sandhill Cranes, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Stephen T. Schwikert Jan 2008

Timing Of Molt In Florida Sandhill Cranes, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Stephen T. Schwikert

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We observed feather molt in Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pratensis) between 1978 and 1997. We report data from 4 feather groups: remiges, rectrices, wing coverts and contour feathers. In all feather groups, the median date of ecdysis preceded endysis by about 30 days. Endysis in adults was generally later than it was in first- or second-year subadults. Remiges grew at a rate of 4.72 ± 1.56 SD mm per day. We estimated that primary and secondary wing feathers were usually regenerated within 45 to 70 days.

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Body Mass Index (Bmi) Of Normal Sandhill Cranes, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Marilyn G. Spalding, Kristen L. Candelora, Paul S. Kubilis, Stephen T. Schwikert Jan 2008

Body Mass Index (Bmi) Of Normal Sandhill Cranes, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Marilyn G. Spalding, Kristen L. Candelora, Paul S. Kubilis, Stephen T. Schwikert

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We used linear and mass measurements to construct a body mass index (BMI) for 2 subspecies of sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis). We found that BMI declined during the spring and early summer period. We used the BMI to show that juvenile Florida sandhill cranes (G. c. pratensis) reach their full mass at about 270 days of age, near the age at which they begin to leave the company of their parents. We used mensural data to predict a minimum expected mass for normal sandhill cranes which could be then used to evaluate the relative health of …

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Behavior Comparisons For Whooping Cranes Raised By Costumed Caregivers And Trained For An Ultralight-Led Migration, Glenn H. Olsen, John B. French Jan 2008

Behavior Comparisons For Whooping Cranes Raised By Costumed Caregivers And Trained For An Ultralight-Led Migration, Glenn H. Olsen, John B. French

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The successful reintroduction program being run by the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership using whooping cranes (Grus americana) trained to fly behind ultralight aircraft depends on a supply of these trained crane colts each year. The crane colts are hatched from eggs contributed by the various partners and trained to follow costume clad humans and ultralight aircraft at USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Maryland, USA. After several seasons of raising small numbers of crane colts (7-14), we wanted to increase the number of birds being trained, but were restrained by limits in our facilities. By altering the established …

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Safety Of West Nile Virus Vaccines In Sandhill Crane Chicks, Glenn H. Olsen, Kimberli J. Miller, Douglas E. Docherty, Valerie Bochsler Jan 2008

Safety Of West Nile Virus Vaccines In Sandhill Crane Chicks, Glenn H. Olsen, Kimberli J. Miller, Douglas E. Docherty, Valerie Bochsler

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

West Nile virus arrived in North America in 1999 and has spread across the continent in the ensuing years. The virus has proven deadly to a variety of native avian species including sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis). In order to provide safe and efficacious protection for captive and released populations of whooping cranes (G. americana), we have conducted a series of four research projects. The last of these was a study of the effects of two different West Nile virus vaccines on young Florida sandhill crane (G. c. pratensis) chicks and subsequent challenge with the virus. …

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Use Of Clap Traps In Capturing Nonmigratory Whooping Cranes In Florida, Jeannette M. Parker, Martin J. Folk, Stephen B. Baynes, Kristen L. Candelora Jan 2008

Use Of Clap Traps In Capturing Nonmigratory Whooping Cranes In Florida, Jeannette M. Parker, Martin J. Folk, Stephen B. Baynes, Kristen L. Candelora

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Between March 2001 and April 2005 we captured 28 nonmigratory Florida whooping cranes (Grus americana) with clap traps. Out of the 6 different capture methods we employed, the clap trap accounted for 42% of our birds captured. Its ability to safely capture one crane or multiple cranes simultaneously, flexibility in size and placement, and low cost make it an important tool to facilitate transmitter replacements and health checks among the experimental Florida whooping crane population.

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A Low Intensity Sampling Method For Assessing Blue Crab Abundance At Aransas National Wildlife Refuge And Preliminary Results On The Relationship Of Blue Crab Abundance To Whooping Crane Winter Mortality, Bruce H. Pugesek, Michael J. Baldwin, Thomas V. Stehn Jan 2008

A Low Intensity Sampling Method For Assessing Blue Crab Abundance At Aransas National Wildlife Refuge And Preliminary Results On The Relationship Of Blue Crab Abundance To Whooping Crane Winter Mortality, Bruce H. Pugesek, Michael J. Baldwin, Thomas V. Stehn

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We sampled blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) in marshes on the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas from 1997 to 2005 to determine whether whooping crane (Grus americana) mortality was related to the availability of this food source. For four years, 1997 - 2001, we sampled monthly from the fall through the spring. From these data, we developed a reduced sampling effort method that adequately characterized crab abundance and reduced the potential for disturbance to the cranes. Four additional years of data were collected with the reduced sampling effort methods. Yearly variation in crab numbers was high, ranging …

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Whooping Crane Collisions With Power Lines: An Issue Paper, Thomas V. Stehn, Tom Wassenich Jan 2008

Whooping Crane Collisions With Power Lines: An Issue Paper, Thomas V. Stehn, Tom Wassenich

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Collision with power lines is the greatest source of mortality for fledged whooping cranes (Grus americana) in the Aransas-Wood Buffalo population (AWBP) that migrate between the Northwest Territories, Canada to the Texas coast. This paper compiles 45 documented whooping crane mortalities from power line strikes in North America and provides known information on crane / power line interactions. A map of the AWBP whooping crane migration corridor was derived with 100 and 200-mile wide corridors delineated showing the location of known mortalities. Recommendations are provided to try to reduce this major threat facing whooping cranes.

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A Year-Long Study Of Food Consumption By Captive Whooping Cranes At The International Crane Foundation, Jessica J. Stocking, Michael S. Putnam, Nathanial B. Warning Jan 2008

A Year-Long Study Of Food Consumption By Captive Whooping Cranes At The International Crane Foundation, Jessica J. Stocking, Michael S. Putnam, Nathanial B. Warning

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Throughout 2002, we recorded daily food consumption by 12 pairs of captive whooping cranes (Grus americana). For 7 pairs we recorded food consumption throughout the entire year while there were large continuous gaps in measurements of food consumption for 5 pairs that raised chicks that year. Birds received both a maintenance and breeder diet, and for both we converted food consumption to energy intake (Joules/g body mass) using the combined fall weights of female and male. We compared daily energy intake with 6 meteorological variables (involving temperature, wind speed and humidity), photoperiod (natural and artificial) and egg laying …

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Resolutions Passed By The North American Crane Working Group, Tenth North American Crane Workshop Zacatecas City, Zacatecas, Mexico, North American Crane Working Group Jan 2008

Resolutions Passed By The North American Crane Working Group, Tenth North American Crane Workshop Zacatecas City, Zacatecas, Mexico, North American Crane Working Group

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Florida Crane habitat resolution
Florida has the largest population of non-migratory sandhill cranes in the world and winters a significant portion of the eastern population of greater sandhill cranes. And in Florida, efforts are underway to introduce migratory and non-migratory whooping cranes. In order to successfully establish and sustain these populations, appropriate habitat needs to be available. About 40% of Florida’s best crane habitat has been lost between 1973 and 2003, and the amount has increased since then. Because of this, these valuable populations of cranes are finding it more difficult to locate suitable habitat. We the NACWG by this …

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Simultaneous Incubation By Two Females And Nestling Provisioning By Four Adults At A Savannah Sparrow Nest, Nathan J. Zalik, Noah G. Perlut Jan 2008

Simultaneous Incubation By Two Females And Nestling Provisioning By Four Adults At A Savannah Sparrow Nest, Nathan J. Zalik, Noah G. Perlut

Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

We present the first observations of misdirected parental care by Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) including a rare occurrence of simultaneous incubation. Two females simultaneously incubated eggs, brooded, and fed nestlings, and two males fed nestlings in one nest. These behaviors may have been prompted by strong parental instincts in combination with a stressful breeding environment mediated by hayfield management, as any genetic benefits were unlikely.

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Volatile Compounds From The Integument Of White Leghorn Chickens (Gallus Gallus Domesticus L.): Candidate Attractants Of Ornithophilic Mosquito Species, Ulrich R. Bernier, Sandra A. Allan, Brian Quinn, Daniel Kline, Donald Barnard, Gary Clark Jan 2008

Volatile Compounds From The Integument Of White Leghorn Chickens (Gallus Gallus Domesticus L.): Candidate Attractants Of Ornithophilic Mosquito Species, Ulrich R. Bernier, Sandra A. Allan, Brian Quinn, Daniel Kline, Donald Barnard, Gary Clark

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Candidate kairomones of ornithophilic mosquito species are reported from GC/MS analysis of compounds from the skin on the back, the feet, and feathers from the back of White Leghorn chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus). Hexane and ether extracts of chicken feathers differ significantly in attractiveness of Culex spp. mosquitoes. The active (hexane) extracts contained an abundance of alcohols, ketones, and diones. The inactive (ether) extracts contained aldehydes, which also were in the hexane extracts. Analysis of hexane extracts from chicken feet, skin, and feathers demonstrated the qualitative similarity in the compounds collected with subtle differences observed in the quantitative …

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Additions To The Breeding Avifauna Of The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of Texas, Timothy Brush Jan 2008

Additions To The Breeding Avifauna Of The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of Texas, Timothy Brush

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

The breeding avifauna of the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of Texas has experienced many changes during the 20th century, primarily because of declines in native habitats due to land being converted to agriculture and urban habitats. This paper summarizes changes in breeding avifauna from 2003–2007 in the area. Breeding has been confi rmed for Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii), Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto), and Mangrove Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia oraria) for the fi rst time, and for Gray-crowned Yellowthroat (Geothlypis poliocephala) and Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium brasilianum) after periods of apparent absence. Short-tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus) is a possible breeder, based …

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