Ornithology Commons^™

Kentucky Warbler (Vol. 85, No. 2), Kentucky Library Research Collections

The Kentucky Warbler

No abstract provided.

The Oldest Romance In The West, Paul A. Johnsgard

Paul Johnsgard Collection

FOR A FEW SHORT WEEKS each June, the stately flowering spikes of Great Plains yuccas illuminate Nebraska’s Sandhills and western plains. On each plant, spires of 20 to 60 ivory-white flowers emerge from a radiating array of needle-sharp leaves. The flowers rise above the rest of the vegetation like Roman candles freeze-framed in flight. Entire hillsides are sometimes transformed by this sudden flower display – often along with sprinklings of blue spiderworts, golden yellow hoary puccoons and white daisy fleabanes. After a few weeks the spectacular show is over, but for the yucca the story’s best chapter has barely begun. …

Yolk Androgens And Development In American Kestrel Nestlings, Melanie Dawn Berg

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Maternally derived yolk androgens affect many aspects of phenotypic development. To explore this phenomenon I injected clutches of American kestrels (Falco sparverius) with one of three different dosages of testosterone + androstenedione or with vehicle. Morphological measurements taken from nestlings 26 days after hatching showed no significant treatment effect. In 2007, nestlings with more yolk androgens had lower hatching mass and higher hematocrit levels 15 days after hatching than nestlings with less yolk androgens, but the effects disappeared by day 26. In 2008, there were no effects of androgens on mass or hematocrit. Because the results were not …

Sociality And Reconciliation In Monk Parakeets (Myiopsitta Monachus), Lynnsey Lee Morrison

School of Biological Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

For animals living within socially complex groups, it is beneficial for all individuals to maintain group cohesion. Conflicts often arise in groups, which could potentially have high costs both to the subordinate and dominant members, and could lead to group instability. It has been shown numerous times that highly social group members participate in affiliative relationships with other group members discriminately. They also perform related behavior patterns such as reconciliation at a high rate, which could strengthen group stability. Reconciliation occurs when an affiliative interaction takes place between two individuals following an agonistic encounter. The rate of affiliation is higher …

Diet And Behavior Of Ferruginous Hawks Nesting In Two Grasslands In New Mexico With Differing Anthropogenic Alteration, William Hanlon Keeley

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

I analyzed regurgitated pellets, prey remains, and video recordings to describe Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) diet in two grasslands in New Mexico, USA, the Estancia Valley and the Plains of San Agustin, that differed in anthropogenic alteration. Video monitoring revealed Ferruginous Hawks provisioned nestlings with more biomass than pellet analysis estimates from the same nests. Three mammalian prey species, Botta’s pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae), Gunnison’s prairie dog (Cynomys gunnisoni), and desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii)contributed similar proportions to Ferruginous Hawk diet in percent biomass while Botta's pocket gopher dominated diet in percent frequency. …

Historical Information On Bird Distributions Indicates That Mute Swans Were Introduced To North America, Robert A. Askins

Biology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Differential Use Of Agricultural Fields And Rangeland Nesting Habitat By Mccown’S Longspur (Calcarius Mccownii) And Chestnut-Collared Longspur (Calcarius Ornatus) In Western Nebraska, Larry Snyder, Bartholomew L. Bly

Nebraska Bird Review

The Nebraska Natural Legacy Plan (NNLP) lists both McCown's Longspur and Chestnut-collared Longspur as Tier I and Tier II species of conservation concern, respectively (Schneider et al. 2005). McCown's Longspur is listed as a Tier I species (highest conservation priority) in Nebraska because of regional population declines (Schneider et al. 2005), and because it is also listed on the Partners in Flight WatchList (Fitzgerald and Pashley 2000). The breeding distribution of McCown's Longspur in Nebraska is suggested to be the westernmost counties of the Panhandle (With 1994), although limited information on the breeding ecology of this species exists for Nebraska. …

Subscription And Organization Information [March 2009]

Nebraska Bird Review

The Nebraska Bird Review is published quarterly by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., as its official journal, and is sent to members not in arrears of dues. Annual subscription rates (on a calendar-year basis only): $15 in the United States, $18 in Canada and $30 in all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $4 each, postpaid, in the United States, $5 in Canada, and $8 elsewhere. Send orders for back issues to Mary Lou Pritchard, NOU Librarian, c/o University of Nebraska State Museum, W-436 Nebraska Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0514.

Memberships in the NOU (on a calendar-year basis only): …

Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Treasurer’S Report, December 31, 2008

Nebraska Bird Review

One-page spreadsheet constituting the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union treasurer's report at year end (December 31) of 2008. The grand total is $57,072.48.

Winter Field Report, December 2008 To February 2009, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

This was one of the more "normal" winters for some time; I base this conclusion on the lack of unusually early or late dates or exceptional counts, as well as the lack of rarities. Although there were 11 species of gulls reported, perhaps we have become jaded by the gull extravaganza that is Lake McConaughy. It was a great winter for Common Redpolls and Snow Buntings as well, which was welcome as these birds do not appear in any numbers most winters. Perhaps the only group of birds that exhibited consistent aberration from the "norm" (I prefer "average") was the …

Nebraska Bird Review (March 2009) 77(1), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Treasurer’s Report, December 31, 2008 ... 2

2008–2009 Christmas Bird Counts in Nebraska ... 3

Winter Field Report, December 2008 to February 2009 ... 18

Differential Use of Agricultural Fields and Rangeland Nesting Habitat by McCown's Longspur (Calcarius mccownii) and Chestnut-Collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus) in Western Nebraska ... 35

75 Years Ago in The Nebraska Bird Review ... 42

Subscription and Organization Information ... 43

2008-2009 Christmas Bird Counts In Nebraska

Nebraska Bird Review

Thirteen Christmas Bird Counts were held in Nebraska in the 2008–09 season, one less than last year. (Beaver Valley was not run this year.) This year fewer participants (184, the fewest since 2000) found more individual birds than last year (146,635 vs 133,106) but fewer species (126, the fewest since 2000).

Temperatures were about like last year, with an average high of 29°F. Most counts reported some snow cover, frozen still water, and some open running water. On the day of the Branched Oak–Seward count, a balmy 51°F was recorded in Lincoln shortly after midnight. By afternoon, the temperature had …

75 Years Ago In The Nebraska Bird Review

Nebraska Bird Review

The following [General Notes] [are] from the Nebraska Bird Review of January 1934 (Volume 11, No. 1), which was sent then, as it is now, to all members of the NOU not in arrears for dues, which in 1934 were $1.00 per year.

Celebrating Darwin's Legacy: Evolution In The Galapagos Islands And The Great Plains, Paul A. Johnsgard

Papers in Ornithology

An exhibition of photographs by Linda R. Brown, Josef Kren, Paul A. Johnsgard, Allison Johnson, and Stephen Johnson; paintings by Allison Johnson; drawings by Paul A. Johnsgard; and related Darwiniana. Sponsored by the Center for Great Plains Studies, James Stubbendieck, director, and the Great Plains Art Museum, Amber Mohr, curator, in honor of the bicentennial of Charles Darwin's birth (1809-2009) and the 150th anniversary of The Origin of Species (1859).

EXHlBlTORS
Linda R. Brown, Lincoln, Nebraska. B.S. (Pharmacy) University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 1965.
Paul A. Johnsgard, Lincoln, Nebraska. Foundation Professor Emeritus, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. B.S. (Zoology) North Dakota State …

Four Decades Of Christmas Bird Counts In The Great Plains: Ornithological Evidence Of A Changing Climate, Paul A. Johnsgard, Thomas G. Shane

Papers in Ornithology

The rationale for this book has its origins in Terry Root’s 1988 Atlas of North American Wintering Birds, which provided a baseline landmark for evaluating the nationwide winter distributions of North American birds, using data from the National Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Counts birds from 1962-63 through 1971-72. Tom Shane and I speculated that an updated analysis might shed light on the possible effects of more recent climatic warming trends on bird migration and wintering patterns in the Great Plains, a region known for its severe winters and also one of our continent’s important migratory pathways and wintering regions. …

Kentucky Warbler (Vol. 85, No. 1), Kentucky Library Research Collections

The Kentucky Warbler

No abstract provided.

2009 Interior Least Tern And Piping Plover Monitoring, Research, Management, And Outreach Report For The Lower Platte River, Nebraska, Mary Bomberger Brown, Joel G. Jorgensen

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

This document reports on our monitoring, research, management, and outreach activities during the past 12 months (2009). We prepared it to inform our partners, cooperating agencies, funding sources, and other interested parties of our activities and to provide a preliminary summary of our results.

The Tern and Plover Conservation Partnership (TPCP), based at the University of Nebraska–School of Natural Resources, and the Nongame Bird Program (NBP), based at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) work cooperatively on Interior Least Tern and Piping Plover monitoring, research, management, and education-outreach activities. While the proximate focus of our work is the Lower …

Lithobates Catesbeianus (American Bullfrog) Predation On Cliff Swallows, Mary Bomberger Brown, Charles R. Brown

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

During a 25-year study of Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) in southwestern Nebraska, we observed Lithobates catesbeianus prey on, or attempt to prey on, Cliff Swallows. As we were mist-netting Cliff Swallows at a 10-nest colony on 7 July 1998, a L. catesbeianus attempted to eat a Cliff Swallow that was caught in the net.

Birds Of The Great Plains: Family Gaviidae (Loons), Paul A. Johnsgard

Birds of the Great Plains (Revised Edition, 2009) by Paul Johnsgard

Common Loon

Birds Of The Great Plains: Family Phalaropodidae (Phalaropes), Paul A. Johnsgard

Birds of the Great Plains (Revised Edition, 2009) by Paul Johnsgard

Wilson Phalarope

Birds Of The Great Plains: Family Tytonidae (Barn Owls), Paul A. Johnsgard

Birds of the Great Plains (Revised Edition, 2009) by Paul Johnsgard

Barn Owl

Birds Of The Great Plains: Family Alaudidae (Larks), Paul A. Johnsgard

Birds of the Great Plains (Revised Edition, 2009) by Paul Johnsgard

Horned Lark

Aggressive Response Of Adult Bobolinks To Neck Ligatures On Nestlings, Lynn P. Little, Allan M. Strong, Noah G. Perlut

Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

We monitored provisioning behavior at 18 Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) nests during 240.5 min of videotape data from June to July 2006, and observed 64 nest visits by adults while nestlings were fitted with neck ligatures. Adults pecked or pulled at the ligatures, often aggressively, at 72% of nests (n = 18) and 52% of visits (n = 64). These behavioral responses by adults indicate the neck ligature technique is more invasive than previously believed. We documented no mortality as a result of ligature placement, but researchers should minimize the time that ligatures are in place to reduce stress …

Birds Of The Great Plains: Family Bombycillidae (Waxwings), Paul A. Johnsgard

Birds of the Great Plains (Revised Edition, 2009) by Paul Johnsgard

Cedar Waxwing

Annual Review Of The World Pheasant Association 2008/2009, World Pheasant Association

Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies: Reports and Other Materials

Chairman of Trustees' report, Tim Lovel

Treasurer's report for the year ended April 30, 2009, Ian Hoggarth

Welcome, Philip J. K. McGowan

Where are they now? Peter J. Garson and Philip J. K. McGowan

Report from the European Conservation Breeding Group, Heiner Jacken

The IUCN-SSC/WPA Galliformes Specialist Group: A global network of technical excellence, Peter J. Garson and Ilse Storch

WPA around the world: Highlights from the chapters

The European Galliformes census, Siro Serena

Managing captive populations sustainably, Simon Mayes

Training in captive management in Malaysia, Gary Robbins

Blyth's tragopan: Up and down--and up again? Heiner Jacken

Non Detriment Findings …

Birds Of The Great Plains: Family Sittidae (Nuthatches), Paul A. Johnsgard

Birds of the Great Plains (Revised Edition, 2009) by Paul Johnsgard

White-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Pygmy Nuthatch

Birds Of The Great Plains: Family Vireonidae (Vireos), Paul A. Johnsgard

Birds of the Great Plains (Revised Edition, 2009) by Paul Johnsgard

Black-capped Vireo
White-eyed Vireo
Bell Vireo
Gray Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Solitary Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Warbling Vireo

Birds Of The Great Plains: References, Paul A. Johnsgard

Birds of the Great Plains (Revised Edition, 2009) by Paul Johnsgard

A 21-page bibliography, including REGIONAL AND STATE REFERENCES and REFERENCES ON INDIVIDUAL SPECIES. Approximately 400 entries, through 1979.

An updated list of references will be found at the end of the new essay "Three Decades of Change in Great Plains Birds."

Birds Of The Great Plains: Frontmatter, Contents, Preface, Introduction, Paul A. Johnsgard

Birds of the Great Plains (Revised Edition, 2009) by Paul Johnsgard

Nebraska and its adjoining states represent a nearly unique ornithological situation. Although they are almost entirely grassland, the plains states are variably dissected by river-bottom forests that provide natural passageways for forest-adapted species to enter the plains and sometimes to cross them. Although eastern and western bird faunas tend to be separated by the plains, they often mingle to some degree, resulting in competition and sometimes hybridization. The central Great Plains thus are exceedingly interesting from ecological, evolutionary, and zoogeographic perspectives, and the plains bird fauna is significant both for what is present and for what has been variably excluded. …

Birds Of The Great Plains: Family Recurvirostridae (Avocets And Stilts), Paul A. Johnsgard

Birds of the Great Plains (Revised Edition, 2009) by Paul Johnsgard

American Avocet
Black-necked Stilt