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Articles 1501 - 1530 of 4554

Full-Text Articles in Ornithology

The Response Of Nesting Mississippi Sandhill Cranes To Growing Season Prescribed Fires, Lauren Billodeaux, Scott Hereford, Sami Gray Jan 2010

The Response Of Nesting Mississippi Sandhill Cranes To Growing Season Prescribed Fires, Lauren Billodeaux, Scott Hereford, Sami Gray

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Prescribed burning is the most natural and cost effective method of restoring and maintaining the coastal longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) savannah ecosystem that provides feeding and nesting areas for the critically endangered Mississippi sandhill crane (MSC, Grus canadensis pulla). Though growing season burns have shown the greatest results in controlling encroaching shrubs and pines as compared to dormant season burns, burning in the spring and early summer has the potential to disrupt the nesting activities of the MSC population. In order to address both the short and long term needs of this crane population, we make every …


Influence Of Landscape Features Of Wetlands On Nesting Patterns Of Sandhill Cranes In Central Wisconsin, Su Liying, Anne E. Lacy, Jeb A. Barzen Jan 2010

Influence Of Landscape Features Of Wetlands On Nesting Patterns Of Sandhill Cranes In Central Wisconsin, Su Liying, Anne E. Lacy, Jeb A. Barzen

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We studied the relationship between landscape features and nesting patterns of greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) in central Wisconsin for 3 years. Our study covered 9,840 ha, including about 50% agricultural fields, 20% forest, and 20% wetlands. We analyzed landscape features and nesting patterns at the wetland complex level. Landscape features included size, shape, and type of cover for each wetland complex. Nesting patterns included nesting density and the spatial pattern of the nest locations in a wetland among years. Nest density varied among wetland complexes and years. Mean nest densities in wetlands surveyed were 0.037, 0.033, …


Eastern Equine Encephalitis In Florida Whooping Cranes, Marilyn G. Spalding, Lillian M. Stark Jan 2010

Eastern Equine Encephalitis In Florida Whooping Cranes, Marilyn G. Spalding, Lillian M. Stark

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Two whooping cranes (Grus americana) that were part of separate projects to reintroduce whooping cranes in eastern North America died suddenly in Florida following a few days of abnormal behavior. The first case was a semi-captive bird on ultralight-led migration from Wisconsin to Florida in December 2004. The second case was a molting 10-year-old male and successful wild breeder that died in May, 2005. Clinical signs were lethargy, abnormal posture, isolation followed by attack by other birds, collapse, heart murmur, and death. Eastern equine encephalitis virus (alphavirus) was isolated from the liver of both birds. The most severe …


Sandhill Cranes Of Coastal British Columbia: Results Of Helicopter Surveys And Preliminary Observations Of Habitat Use, Krista Roessingh, Briony Penn Jan 2010

Sandhill Cranes Of Coastal British Columbia: Results Of Helicopter Surveys And Preliminary Observations Of Habitat Use, Krista Roessingh, Briony Penn

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

A pilot study on sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) was conducted on the central coast of British Columbia in May 2006, followed by 2 summers of inventory and observation in 2007 and 2008. Fieldwork consisted of gathering local knowledge of crane locales, helicopter and boat surveys, and observations from blinds. We located 29 nest sites on 14 different islands and 1 mainland peninsula, as well as several beach foraging areas and bog roost sites. Observed average crane and nest density in areas of suitable habitat was 0.21/km2 and 0.044/km2, respectively, for 2007 and 2008. Nest and …


Preliminary Wintering Counts And New Locations Of Sandhill Cranes In Mexico, Ingrid Barceló, Edgar G. López, Felipe Chávez-Ramírez Jan 2010

Preliminary Wintering Counts And New Locations Of Sandhill Cranes In Mexico, Ingrid Barceló, Edgar G. López, Felipe Chávez-Ramírez

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) undertake a migration twice a year, when more than 400,000 cranes cross the United States from the Arctic of North America and Eastern Siberia to the southwest U.S. and north central Mexico. Although the sandhill crane has been studied intensely, few studies have been done on their Mexican wintering grounds. Little is known about what proportion of the sandhill crane population migrates to Mexico, and there is even less information regarding its dispersion. During winter 2007-2008 we surveyed 30 wetlands in the Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion in northern Mexico, recording presence/absence and number of sandhill …


Evaluating Chemical Deterrence At Two Spatial Scales: The Effectiveness Of Chemical Deterrence For Sandhill Cranes In Cornfields, Anne E. Lacy, Jeb A. Barzen Jan 2010

Evaluating Chemical Deterrence At Two Spatial Scales: The Effectiveness Of Chemical Deterrence For Sandhill Cranes In Cornfields, Anne E. Lacy, Jeb A. Barzen

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

From 2006 through 2008, 9,10 anthraquinone (sold as Avitec™) was used as a deterrent on planted corn seed in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. ICF conducted field trials in Wisconsin to determine efficacy of Avitec™ to repel sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) from germinating corn. We assessed crane use at 2 levels: between and within habitats by crane population surveys to determine crane use of fields, and corn density surveys to assess possible damage within fields. In addition, corn seed samples were taken to assess amount of active ingredient on treated corn seeds in the ground. In 2008 the concentrations …


Sandhill Crane Staging And Whooping Crane Migratory Stopover Dynamics In Response To River Management Activities On The Central Platte River, Nebraska, Usa, Felipe Chavez-Ramirez Jan 2010

Sandhill Crane Staging And Whooping Crane Migratory Stopover Dynamics In Response To River Management Activities On The Central Platte River, Nebraska, Usa, Felipe Chavez-Ramirez

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The Central Platte River Valley (CPRV) is a critical stopover for migrating whooping cranes (Grus americana) and the most important staging area for sandhill cranes (G. canadensis) in North America. Due to reduced water flows caused by human activities, the Platte River no longer follows its traditional hydrograph which consisted of high spring flows that produced scouring action that eliminated vegetation. To provide adequate crane roosting habitat during stopover and staging periods, annual and woody vegetation has been mechanically cleared on eastern portions of the CPRV since 1980. Staging sandhill crane riverine roosting area has decreased …


Evaluating Propagation Method Performance Over Time With Bayesian Updating: An Application To Incubator Testing, Sarah J. Converse, Jane N. Chandler, Glenn H. Olsen, Charles C. Shafer Jan 2010

Evaluating Propagation Method Performance Over Time With Bayesian Updating: An Application To Incubator Testing, Sarah J. Converse, Jane N. Chandler, Glenn H. Olsen, Charles C. Shafer

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

In captive-rearing programs, small sample sizes can limit the quality of information on performance of propagation methods. Bayesian updating can be used to increase information on method performance over time. We demonstrate an application to incubator testing at USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. A new type of incubator was purchased for use in the whooping crane (Grus americana) propagation program, which produces birds for release. We tested the new incubator for reliability, using sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) eggs as surrogates. We determined that the new incubator should result in hatching rates no more than 5% lower …


Video Surveillance Of Nesting Whooping Cranes, Timothy A. Dellinger, Martin J. Folk Jan 2010

Video Surveillance Of Nesting Whooping Cranes, Timothy A. Dellinger, Martin J. Folk

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The primary objective of the whooping crane (Grus americana) recovery plan is to establish and maintain 3 selfsustaining wild populations, 1 being a non-migratory Florida population. From 1993 to 2005, we released 289 captive cranes in central Florida, with 31 surviving as of 1 June 2008. From 1995 to 2008 we monitored 68 nests of the Florida population; from those, only 32 chicks hatched and 9 fledged. It often was not apparent why nests failed, and it was not practical to conduct labor-intensive observations at nests; therefore, we collected behavioral data using 12-volt VHS video surveillance cameras at …


Assessing Sandhill Crane Flight Alterations To Power Lines In Southcentral Wisconsin, Kimberly H. Ness, Anne E. Lacy Jan 2010

Assessing Sandhill Crane Flight Alterations To Power Lines In Southcentral Wisconsin, Kimberly H. Ness, Anne E. Lacy

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We examined how weather and power line type affected abrupt flight alterations of sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) near electric lines in south-central Wisconsin at 4 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fall crane roost count sites near the Wisconsin River in Adams, Columbia, and Iowa counties between September and November 2007. We selected 4 distribution (10-12 m tall, <50 kV) and 2 transmission lines (>20 m tall, >110 kV) in high crane density areas near corn fields within 1.6 km of either the Wisconsin River or local roosting wetland. We recorded frequencies of 3 types of abrupt flight alterations near power lines across 1-2 …


Mississippi Sandhill Crane Chicks Produced From Cryopreserved Semen, Anahid M. Pahlawanian, Megan L. Savoie, Vanessa Peery, Betsy L. Dresser, S. P. Leibo Jan 2010

Mississippi Sandhill Crane Chicks Produced From Cryopreserved Semen, Anahid M. Pahlawanian, Megan L. Savoie, Vanessa Peery, Betsy L. Dresser, S. P. Leibo

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The Mississippi sandhill crane (MSC, Grus canadensis pulla), 1 of 6 subspecies of sandhill cranes, is classified as critically endangered and was placed on the United States' List of Endangered Fish and Wildlife in 1973. For 13 years starting in 1996, the Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species (ACRES) and Freeport-McMoran Species Survival Center (SSC) in New Orleans have been contributing to the MSC Recovery Program. Through successful captive propagation of MSCs by use of natural breeding and artificial insemination, more than 150 chicks raised at SSC have been released into the wild population at the MSC National …


The Effects Of Anticoagulant Choice And Sample Processing Time On Hematologic Values Of Juvenile Whooping Cranes, Joan Maurer, Betsy Reichenberg, Cristin Kelley, Barry K. Hartup Jan 2010

The Effects Of Anticoagulant Choice And Sample Processing Time On Hematologic Values Of Juvenile Whooping Cranes, Joan Maurer, Betsy Reichenberg, Cristin Kelley, Barry K. Hartup

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Blood collected from juvenile whooping cranes (Grus americana) in 2007 and 2008 was divided and placed in either the anticoagulant lithium heparin (LiHep) or tri-potassium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (K3EDTA) for diagnostic hematology. Thin smears were prepared from the anticoagulated blood in the field with no delay and in the laboratory after a 4-6-hour delay, and then used to determine differential and total leukocyte counts. Manual heterophil and eosinophil counts were greater in LiHep-treated samples compared to K3EDTA samples (P < 0.05), but there was no difference in the total leukocyte concentration or differential leukocyte counts between anticoagulants based on blood smears prepared with no delay (n = 15). Marked differences were noted in relative heterophil (P < 0.05) and lymphocyte (P < 0.05) counts and total leukocyte (P < 0.05) concentrations of K3EDTA-treated samples processed after the delay (n = 7), suggesting a negative effect on lymphocyte integrity from the anticoagulant. Microscopically, lymphocytes were more intact and easily differentiated from thrombocytes in LiHep-treated samples than K3EDTA, but modest thrombocyte clumping in the LiHep samples was a concern. Either anticoagulant appears adequate for diagnostic hematology in juvenile whooping cranes based on this limited analysis, but blood smears should be prepared immediately under controlled conditions for best results.


Reproductive Health And Performance Of The Florida Flock Of Introduced Whooping Cranes, Marilyn G. Spalding, Martin J. Folk, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Richard Kiltie Jan 2010

Reproductive Health And Performance Of The Florida Flock Of Introduced Whooping Cranes, Marilyn G. Spalding, Martin J. Folk, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Richard Kiltie

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We retrospectively examined the reproductive parameters of 122 breeding-age whooping cranes (Grus americana) in a reintroduced flock in central Florida from 1992 to 2007. The flock performed poorly when compared with an existing wild flock for all reproductive parameters when controlled for age. Pairs first formed in 1995, nested in 1999, and the first chick fledged in 2002. By 2007, 19 of 63 clutches produced 25 chicks, 9 of which fledged. Drought conditions were ruled out as the sole cause of failure when the drought lessened and productivity increased, but not in all years. We examined adult health, …


A Retrospective Of Whooping Cranes In Captivity, Cindi Barrett, Thomas V. Stehn Jan 2010

A Retrospective Of Whooping Cranes In Captivity, Cindi Barrett, Thomas V. Stehn

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Early records of captive whooping cranes (Grus americana) were compiled from historical files kept at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and other literature. Additional early records of captive whooping cranes in Europe were discovered. Annual numbers and location for all captive whooping cranes were tabulated. Starting in 1949, initial attempts at breeding the species in captivity were conducted opportunistically with a few injured birds captured from the wild. Acaptive breeding flock was started in 1966 at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Maryland, from second eggs collected in Canada from the only remaining wild flock. In 1989, the flock …


Changes In Winter Whooping Crane Territories And Range 1950–2006, Thomas V. Stehn, Felipe Prieto Jan 2010

Changes In Winter Whooping Crane Territories And Range 1950–2006, Thomas V. Stehn, Felipe Prieto

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The whooping crane (Grus americana) winters on the Texas coast primarily in salt marsh habitat. The location of adult whooping crane winter territories during 9 winters between 1950 and 2006 was derived from aerial census data digitized onto infrared photos using GIS software. Range expansion, including changes in distribution and size of winter territories, was analyzed over a 57-year period as flock size increased by 765%. Crane pairs have opted to establish territories in or close to the traditional winter area rather than moving long distances along the coast. This distribution seems based on the preference of the …


Habitat Selection Of Eastern Migratory Whooping Cranes On Their Wintering Grounds, Lara E. A. Fondow, Stanley A. Temple Jan 2010

Habitat Selection Of Eastern Migratory Whooping Cranes On Their Wintering Grounds, Lara E. A. Fondow, Stanley A. Temple

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

As a monitoring technician for the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership, I (LEAF) noted that birds in years following release selected wintering habitats that differed greatly from those into which they were initially released. An analysis of the habitat preferences of these birds was needed in order to determine any possible implications to the reintroduction efforts. During the winters of 2004-2005 and 2005-2006, I recorded the locations, habitat use, social associations, and behaviors of all migratory whooping cranes (Grus americana) at known locations in Florida. I used compositional analysis to determine whether habitat use was random at the following …


Waterfowl Of North America: Frontmatter & Preface, Paul A. Johnsgard Jan 2010

Waterfowl Of North America: Frontmatter & Preface, Paul A. Johnsgard

Waterfowl of North America, Revised Edition (2010) by Paul A. Johnsgard

Contents
Lists of tables and maps
List of plates
Preface

It was with a considerable degree of hesitation that, during the winter of 1970-71, I sat down and contemplated the scope and structure of a possible book on the waterfowl of North America. On my bookshelf behind me were copies of A. C. Bent's Life Histories of North American Wild Fowl, F. H. Kortright's The Ducks, Geese, and Swans of North America, and Jean Delacour's The Waterfowl of the World. My task, as I saw it, was to try to develop a book that might be useful …


Waterfowl Of North America: Identification Key To North American Waterfowl, Paul A. Johnsgard Jan 2010

Waterfowl Of North America: Identification Key To North American Waterfowl, Paul A. Johnsgard

Waterfowl of North America, Revised Edition (2010) by Paul A. Johnsgard

The key on the following pages provides an efficient means of identifying virtually all North American waterfowl that may be examined in the hand. The procedure for using it is comparable to that used for all such dual-choice or "dichotomous" keys. One simply chooses which of the initial descriptive couplets (A or A') best fits the unknown bird. Having chosen one of these, the pair of descriptive couplets (a and a') immediately below the chosen alternative is next considered, without further regard for the rejected one. Subsequent choices, which are sequentially numbered (1 and 1', 2 and 2', etc.) must …


Waterfowl Of North America: Waterfowl Distributions And Migrations In North America, Paul A. Johnsgard Jan 2010

Waterfowl Of North America: Waterfowl Distributions And Migrations In North America, Paul A. Johnsgard

Waterfowl of North America, Revised Edition (2010) by Paul A. Johnsgard

The species of waterfowl breeding in North America have distribution patterns that collectively reflect the past geologic and ecological histories of this continent. In general, our waterfowl species may be grouped into those that are limited (endemic) to North America, those that are shared between North and South America, and those that are shared with Europe and/or Asia. Of the forty-four species known to breed in continental North America, the resulting grouping of breeding distributions is as follows:
Limited to North America: Snow goose (also on Greenland and Wrangel Island) , Ross goose, Canada goose (also on Greenland), wood duck, …


Waterfowl Of North America: Name Derivations, Paul A. Johnsgard Jan 2010

Waterfowl Of North America: Name Derivations, Paul A. Johnsgard

Waterfowl of North America, Revised Edition (2010) by Paul A. Johnsgard

Excluding extralimital species and most subspecies unless these are sometimes considered full species.

Aix [through] Spatula


Waterfowl Of North America: Pochards (Fresh Water Diving Ducks), Tribe Aythyini, Paul A. Johnsgard Jan 2010

Waterfowl Of North America: Pochards (Fresh Water Diving Ducks), Tribe Aythyini, Paul A. Johnsgard

Waterfowl of North America, Revised Edition (2010) by Paul A. Johnsgard

Until recent classifications by Jean Delacour and others, the pochard group was not taxonomically distinguished from the more marine-adapted sea ducks, here included in the following tribe Mergini. Nevertheless, the pochards are a readily definable group of mostly medium-sized ducks that differ from their close relatives, the surface-feeding ducks, in several respects. Their legs are situated somewhat farther back on the body, so that they are less adept at walking on land; their feet and associated webs are larger, increasing diving effectiveness (reflected by the increased length of the outer toes); and their bills are generally broad, heavy, and adapted …


Waterfowl Of North America: Stiff-Tailed Ducks, Tribe Oxyurini, Paul A. Johnsgard Jan 2010

Waterfowl Of North America: Stiff-Tailed Ducks, Tribe Oxyurini, Paul A. Johnsgard

Waterfowl of North America, Revised Edition (2010) by Paul A. Johnsgard

This bizarre group of diving ducks differs from the rest of the Anatidae in so many respects that by any standard it demands special attention. Of the eight species that are presently recognized, most are placed in the genus Oxyura, which name refers to the stiffened, elongated tail feathers typical of the group. In these species the tail feathers extend well beyond the rather short tail coverts and are usually narrow-vaned, so that the individual rectrices tend to separate when spread. The feet are unusually large, and the legs are placed farther to the rear of the body than …


Waterfowl Of North America: Hunting And Recreational Values Of North American Waterfowl, Paul A. Johnsgard Jan 2010

Waterfowl Of North America: Hunting And Recreational Values Of North American Waterfowl, Paul A. Johnsgard

Waterfowl of North America, Revised Edition (2010) by Paul A. Johnsgard

It is almost as difficult to find individuals opposed to waterfowl conservation as it is to hear Americans speaking out against motherhood or corn on the cob. Yet, in a real sense, it has been the American tradition of unchecked population expansion, taming the wilderness, and converting prairies and marshes into cornfields that has nearly spelled disaster for some of our native waterfowl. Of a wetland area in the United States that originally covered some 127 million acres, nearly 50 million acres have already been drained and lost as waterfowl habitat. Marshes have not only been converted to farmland but …


Waterfowl Of North America: Black & White Photographs (Following Page 450), Paul A. Johnsgard Jan 2010

Waterfowl Of North America: Black & White Photographs (Following Page 450), Paul A. Johnsgard

Waterfowl of North America, Revised Edition (2010) by Paul A. Johnsgard

Steller Eider, Pair
Spectacled Eider, Adult female
Spectacled Eider, Adult male
Oldsquaw, Male in Summer
Oldsquaw, Male in Winter
Oldsquaw, Female in late Spring
Harlequin Duck, Adult male
Harlequin Duck, Pair
American Black Scoter, Male (Courtesy Felix Neck Wildlife Trust)
European Black Scoter, Pair
Surf Scoter, Male (San Diego Zoo Photo)
Surf Scoter, Pair
White-winged Scoter, Male (Courtesy Felix Neck Wildlife Trust)
White-winged Scoter, Adult female
Bufflehead, Adult males
Bufflehead, Pair
Barrow Goldeneye, Adult male
Common Goldeneye, Pair
Common Goldeneye, Courting pair
Smew, Pair
Smew, Adult male
Hooded Merganser, Adult female
Hooded Merganser, Adult male
Red-breasted Merganser, Adult male
Red-breasted …


Waterfowl Of North America: Black & White Photographs (Following Page 210), Paul A. Johnsgard Jan 2010

Waterfowl Of North America: Black & White Photographs (Following Page 210), Paul A. Johnsgard

Waterfowl of North America, Revised Edition (2010) by Paul A. Johnsgard

Fulvous Whistling Duck, Pair
Cuban Whistling Duck, Pair
Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Pair
Mute Swan, Subadult
Mute Swan, Adults
Trumpeter Swan, Pair
Whistling Swan, Adult
White-fronted Goose, Adult
White-fronted Goose, Adult
Lesser Snow Goose, Adult
Lesser Snow Goose, Adults
Ross Goose, Adults
Emperor Goose, Adult
Aleutian Canada Goose, Adult
Cackling Canada Goose, Adult
Atlantic Canada Goose, Pair
Baffin Island Canada Goose, Pair
Barnacle Goose, Female and brood
Pacific Brant Goose, Pair at nest
Pacific Brant Goose, Adult
Muscovy Duck, Adult male
Wood Duck, Adult male
Wood Duck, Pair resting
European Wigeon, Adult males
European Wigeon, Pair
American Wigeon, Adult male
American …


Ducks, Geese, And Swans Of The World: Tribe Dendrocygnini (Whistling Or Tree Ducks), Paul A. Johnsgard Jan 2010

Ducks, Geese, And Swans Of The World: Tribe Dendrocygnini (Whistling Or Tree Ducks), Paul A. Johnsgard

Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World by Paul A. Johnsgard

Spotted Whistling Duck
Plumed Whistling Duck
Fulvous Whistling Duck
Wandering Whistling Duck
Lesser Whistling Duck
White-faced Whistling Duck
Cuban Whistling Duck
Magellan Goose
Black-bellied Whistling Duck
White-backed Duck

The whistling ducks are a group of nine species, eight of which are readily placed in the single genus Dendrocygna, or "tree ducks." However, they are not primarily perching birds, and thus "whistling ducks" is a better vernacular designation than the frequently used "tree ducks." In nearly all species both sexes utter a clear, often multisyllabic whistle that readily identifies the bird as to its species and apparently provides important communication signals …


Ducks, Geese, And Swans Of The World: Color Photographs, Paul A. Johnsgard Jan 2010

Ducks, Geese, And Swans Of The World: Color Photographs, Paul A. Johnsgard

Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World by Paul A. Johnsgard

1. White-faced whistling duck, adult
2. Magpie goose, pair with male in foreground
3. Spotted whistling duck, female with brood
4. Plumed whistling duck, pair
5. Lesser whistling duck, pair
6. Black-bellied whistling duck, pair dabbling
7. African white-backed duck, adult male
8. Mute swan, male wing-flapping
9. Black swan, female and brood
10. Black-necked swan, pair carrying brood
11. Trumpeter swan, adult and cygnet
12. Whooper swan, pair and four juveniles
13. Bewick swan, adult and brood
14. Coscoroba swan, adult
15. Lesser white-fronted goose, pair
16. Eastern graylag goose, female and brood
17. Lesser snow goose, female and …


Ducks, Geese, And Swans Of The World: Tribe Tadornini (Sheldgeese And Shelducks), Paul A. Johnsgard Jan 2010

Ducks, Geese, And Swans Of The World: Tribe Tadornini (Sheldgeese And Shelducks), Paul A. Johnsgard

Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World by Paul A. Johnsgard

Blue-winged Goose
Andean Goose
Magellan Goose
Kelp Goose
Ashy-headed Sheldgoose
Ruddy-headed Sheldgoose
Orinoco Goose
Egyptian Goose
Ruddy Shelduck
Cape Shelduck
Australian Shelduck
New Zealand Shelduck
Crested Shelduck
Northern (Common) Shelduck
Radjah Shelduck

The most gooselike species of the subfamily Anatinae are the sheldgeese, which together with the closely related shelducks constitute the tribe Tadornini. This group of 14 species has a worldwide distribution except for North America. The typical sheldgeese are grazing birds, the ecological counterparts of the true geese, while the shelducks are mostly wading and dabbling birds, frequently feeding to a large extent on aquatic invertebrates. In all …


Mammalian Nest Predation In Mississippi Sandhill Cranes, Rose Butler Jan 2010

Mammalian Nest Predation In Mississippi Sandhill Cranes, Rose Butler

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Low recruitment is the largest challenge facing the recovery of the critically endangered Mississippi sandhill crane (MSC, Grus canadensis pulla). Lack of information on nest predation and the impacts of specific nest predator species hinder effective management to lower nest predation rates. I have completed my first year of a 2-year research project on mammalian predation at the MSC National Wildlife Refuge in Gautier, Mississippi. I aim to identify common nest predators, determine if nest predation rates are higher in certain nesting habitats than others, and if different mammalian predators are more common in certain nesting habitats than others. …


Effects Of Changes In Agriculture And Abundance Of Snow Geese On Carrying Capacity Of Sandhill Cranes During Spring, Aaron T. Pearse, Gary L. Krapu, David A. Brandt Jan 2010

Effects Of Changes In Agriculture And Abundance Of Snow Geese On Carrying Capacity Of Sandhill Cranes During Spring, Aaron T. Pearse, Gary L. Krapu, David A. Brandt

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The Central Platte River Valley (CPRV) in Nebraska is a key spring staging area for approximately 80% of the midcontinent population of sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis). Evidence that cranes currently are acquiring fat less efficiently than in the past along with a large increase in use of the CPRVby snow geese (Chen caerulescens) led us to evaluate waste-corn availability and index spatial and temporal variation in abundance of sandhill cranes and waterfowl using the CPRV. We also developed a predictive model to assess impact of changes in availability of corn under past, present, and potential future conditions. Predicted …