Ornithology Commons^™

[Nou] Annual Meeting At North Platte [May 18-20, 2007]

Nebraska Bird Review

The 108th Annual Meeting of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union was held in North Platte at the Sandhills Convention Center/Quality Inn on May 18–20, 2007. Field trips to surrounding counties for the 60 members and friends in attendance were organized by T. J. Walker and led by Robin Harding. Lanny Randolph, Wayne Mollhoff, and T. J. Walker.

Friday evening’s speaker was John Sidle, Threatened and Endangered Species Specialist with the United States Forest Service in Chadron, who spoke about efforts to monitor populations of Burrowing Owls and associated species, such as Ferruginous Hawks and Black-footed Ferrets.

Saturday evening, Dr. Josef Kren, …

Remembering Sue Amiotte, Mildred Gross, And Izen Ratzlaff

Nebraska Bird Review

This past spring the NOU lost three longtime members whose contributions to the organization are noteworthy. In March, Amelia "Sue" Amiotte passed away in Kearney. In April, we lost another loyal member in the person of Mildred Gross. Mildred was born in 1920 and, with her husband Everett, was a familiar sight at NOU meetings for decades. In May, Izen Ratzlaff lost her battle with cancer.

Bilateral Gynandromorphy In A White-Ruffed Manakin (Corapipo Altera), Jeffrey M. Dacosta, Garth M. Spellman, John Klicka

Ornithology Program (HRC)

We report bilateral gynandromorphy in a White-ruffed Manakin (Corapipo altera) collected near Santa Fé, Panamá in 2004. The specimen had an oviduct and ovary on the left side and a single testis on the right. The plumage was phenotypically female on the right side and male on the left. The weight and genetic affinity of the specimen were characteristically female. Both Z and W chromosomes were detected in genetic samples from multiple tissue types and toe pads from both feet. This report is a novel record of gynandromorphy in a suboscine passerine.

Kentucky Warbler (Vol. 83, No. 2), Kentucky Library Research Collections

The Kentucky Warbler

No abstract provided.

Importance Of Early Successional Forest For Wildlife In Southern New England, Amy Wynia

Senior Honors Projects

Many bird species that require early successional forest are declining in the Northeast U.S. because such habitat is relatively rare and when they inhabit the more common mature forests or suburban areas they are less successful. Early successional forest is maintained by regular disturbance (wind, fire, clear-cutting, and flooding) which has been happening less frequently during the past 50 years. Bird species that have declined during this time and which inhabit early successional forest include ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata), chestnut-sided warbler (Dendroica pensylvanica), gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis), field sparrow (Spizella pusilla), golden-winged warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera), eastern …

First Slaty-Backed Gull For Minnesota, Philip C. Chu

Biology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Cautionary Tale: Cryptic Sexual Size Dimorphism In A Socially Monogamous Passerine, Michael T. Murphy

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Among socially monogamous birds, standard metrics suggest that males are only ∼5% larger than females. An untested assumption is that, with the exception of reproductive systems, males and females are scaled mirror images of one another. I used external morphological and skeletal data, and information on muscle mass and organ size, to test this assumption in a population of breeding Eastern Kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus). Male and female Eastern Kingbirds exhibited no differences in body mass or standard measures of size, except in a longer (∼6%) wing chord and tail in males. However, keel length, a character rarely measured …

A Molecular Evaluation Of The North American “Grassland” Sparrow Clade, John Klicka, Garth M. Spellman

Ornithology Program (HRC)

Because they share several morphological and ecological characters, the North American sparrow (Emberizidae) genera Ammodramus, Passerculus, and Xenospiza have historically been considered members of a well-defined “grassland” sparrow assemblage. Relationships among the 11 members of this group have been the subject of much taxonomic debate, yet no comprehensive molecular assessment of relationships has been done. We investigated these relationships using mitochondrial DNA sequence data that included complete cytochrome-b and ND2 genes. Phylogenetic reconstructions derived via parsimony, likelihood, and Bayesian methods were congruent. The grassland sparrows, as presently configured, are polyphyletic. Pooecetes gramineus, Amphispiza belli (but not A. …

Bird-Friendly Development Guidelines

Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP)

INTRODUCTION
• Background
• Need for Policy and Action
• Policy Context
• Relevance to New, Existing and Heritage Buildings

DESIGN-BASED DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES FOR BIRD-FRIENDLY BUILDINGS
• Glass
• Visual Markers
• Strategies for Creating Visual Markers
• Strategies for Muting Reflections

LIGHT POLLUTION
• External Lighting Fixtures
• Types of Lighting
• Preferred Lighting
• Discouraged Lighting

BUILDING MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS
• Reducing Light Pollution from Interior Lights
• Cleaning During the Day
• Internal Location of Greenery

SITE DESIGN STRATEGIES
• Lighting
• Other Site Features
• Comprehensive Bird-Friendly Site Strategy

CONCLUSION
• Glossary

Henslow’S Sparrow Status In Nebraska, W. Ross Silcock, Joel G. Jorgensen

Nebraska Bird Review

Henslow's Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) is a grassland species of considerable conservation concern endemic to southern and eastern North America (Herkert et al. 2002; Reinking 2002). Annual declines of about 7.5% from 1966 to 2000 (Sauer et al. 2001) and the extirpation of breeding birds from large portions of the historic range have led to the sparrow being listed as a species of "Highest Concern"' on the Partners in Flight National Watch List (PIFNWL:http://www.partnersinflight.org/cont_plan/PIF3_Part2WEB.pdf).

While the Henslow's Sparrow is not listed as federally threatened or endangered, most species on this list are prime candidates for such consideration. The Nebraska …

2006–2007 Christmas Bird Counts In Nebraska

Nebraska Bird Review

Despite snow and ice storms which forced postponement of several counts and prevented participation by a number of birders, all 14 counts which were held last winter took place again this winter. The total number of species (131) was two more than last year's 129, and the total number of individuals was 177,590, down some 30,000.

Waterfowl numbers were about normal. Canada Goose numbers were down 16,000 from last year, but this is a number which fluctuates on that scale from year to year. Northern Pintails are becoming more abundant on Christmas Counts. Their tallies in the early 1990s were …

Nebraska Bird Review Whole Issue (March 2007) 75(1)

Nebraska Bird Review

NOU Annual Treasurer’s Report for 2006 ... 2

Winter Field Report, December 2006 to February 2007 ... 4

Henslow’s Sparrow Status in Nebraska ... 13

2006–2007 Christmas Bird Counts in Nebraska ... 17

Subscription and Organization Information [masthead] ...31

Masthead From Nebraska Bird Review (March 2007)

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): …

Winter Field Report, December 2006 To February 2007, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

INTRODUCTION

Although temperatures varied substantially during the winter, the winter average temperature was above normal. There were noticeably more individuals of "half-hardy" species reported, possibly as a consequence. These included Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Mourning Dove, Loggerhead Shrike, Hermit Thrush, and Yellow-rumped Warbler. Otherwise, the period was unremarkable ornithologically.

…

SPECIES ACCOUNTS

Greater White-fronted Goose: Unexpectedly late were 2 at LO 28 Dec (SJD) and 5 at Desoto NWR 3 Jan (BB). First arrivals reported were in Gage and Lancaster Cos 26 Feb (WF); several hundred were between North Platte and York 27 Feb (AO).

Snow Goose: Large numbers arrived "overnight" in …

Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Treasurer’S Report, December 31, 2006

Nebraska Bird Review

Two-page spreadsheet constituting the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union treasurer's report at year end (December 31) of 2006. The grand total is $56,183.12.

Kentucky Warbler (Vol. 83, No. 1), Kentucky Library Research Collections

The Kentucky Warbler

No abstract provided.

Bird Movement Predicts Buggy Creek Virus Infection In Insect Vectors, Charles R. Brown, Mary Bomberger Brown, Amy T. Moore, Nicholas Komar

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Predicting the spatial foci of zoonotic diseases is a major challenge for epidemiologists and disease ecologists. Migratory birds are often thought to be responsible for introducing some aviozoonotic pathogens such as West Nile and avian influenza viruses to a local area, but most information on how bird movement correlates with virus prevalence is anecdotal or indirect. We report that the prevalence of Buggy Creek virus (BCRV) infection in cimicid swallow bugs (Oeciacus vicarius), the principal invertebrate vector for this virus, was directly associated with the likelihood of movement by cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota), an amplifying host …

Ecological Correlates Of Buggy Creek Virus Infection In Oeciacus Vicarius, Southwestern Nebraska, 2004, Amy T. Moore, Eric A. Edwards, Mary Bomberger Brown, Nicholas Komar, Charles R. Brown

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Buggy Creek virus (family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, BCRV) is an alphavirus within the western equine encephalitis virus complex whose primary vector is the swallow bug, Oeciacus vicarius Horvath (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), an ectoparasite of the colonially nesting cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota, that is also a frequent host for the virus.We investigated ecological correlates of BCRV infection in 100-bug pools at 14 different swallow colony sites in southwestern Nebraska from summer 2004, by using plaque assay on Vero cells to identify cytopathic virus and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to identify noncytopathic viral RNA. We found 26.7% of swallow bug pools …

Grouse Status Survey And Conservation Action Plan, 2006-2010, Ilse Storch, Iucn Species Survival Commission, Grouse Specialist Group, World Pheasant Association

Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies: Reports and Other Materials

Executive Summary

Grouse have long attracted and fascinated people. Their display behaviour, and particularly their traditional communal mating grounds or "leks,” have inspired poetry and folklore as well as scientific theories on sexual selection and the evolution of mating systems. In many parts of their range, grouse hunting still plays a major role in the culture, economy, and subsistence of local communities.

The 2006-2010 Grouse Action Plan provides an overview to the distribution, status and threats to all 18 grouse species worldwide and identifies the most immediate conservation needs. It is a product of the joint expertise of the Grouse …

Annual Review Of The World Pheasant Association 2006/2007, World Pheasant Association

Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies: Reports and Other Materials

Chairman of Trustees' report, G. R. (Dick) Potts

Treasurer's report for the year ended April 30, 2007, J. A. Sampson

Welcome, Philip J. K. McGowan

Report from the European Conservation Breeding Group, John Corder

Specialist groups: Global networks of technical excellence

WPA around the world: Highlights from the chapters

The studbook for the Edwards' pheasant Lophura edwardsi: 15 years on, Alain Hennache

Key findings from the 2006 annual species surveys in WPA-UK, WPA-Germany and WPA-France, Dick Potts and Simon Mayes

Neotropical quail researchers meet in Veracruz, Mexico, Juan Cornejo and Jack Eitniear

WPA's human legacy: Teaching and learning on …

First Breeding Of The Snowy Plover In Minnesota, Philip C. Chu

Biology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

First Records And First Proven Breeding Of Lesser Grey Shrike, Lanius Minor, In Mongolia, Markus Deutsch, Axel Bräunlich

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

During a trip to the Dzungarian Gobi in southwestern Mongolia, a group of German birdwatchers found several territorial lesser grey shrikes, Lanius minor, and documented an active nest. The species had not previously been recorded from Mongolia. Observations were made near Bulgan gol (Bulgan river; nest coordinates: 46°6’N 91°32’E, 1190 m a.s.l.) in Khovd aimag (Khovd province) on June 24, 2006. Besides two territorial pairs, of which a female could be photographically documented on the nest, at least four more territorial adults were found within an area of about 1.5 km². Based on these records, an abundance …

Biodiversity In Space And Time: Towards A Grid Mapping For Mongolia, Michael Stubbe, Annegret Stubbe, Henrik Von Wehrden, Nayamsuren Batsaikhan, Ravčigijn Samjaa

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

In the future, grid mapping of animal and plant organisms will also play a major role in Mongolia. Based on geographical coordinates, a grid with a resolution of 100 x 100 km was created, which contained 561 cells. Methods and level of current understanding are exemplified by means of two raptors and three mammal species. This establishes a basis for an initial project, which will summarize all breeding occurrences of raptors based on all records, publications, or diary notes. For the first time, the short toed eagle was verified in Mongolia as a breeding bird in 2004. By 2006, ten …

Boletín De Grupo De Especialistas En Crácidos 23-28 (2007-2009), Iucn, Birdlife International, Cracid Specialist Group

Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies: Newsletters

Volume 23 (Spring 2007)

Registros de anidamiento del pavo de cacho (Oreophasis derbianus) en el Volcan Atitlán, Guatemala, Knut Eisermann, Andy Burge, y Gerardo López

Registros de ninhos de Oreophasis derbianus no Vulcão Atitlan, Guatemala, Knut Eisermann, Andy Burge, e Gerardo López

Nesting records of horned guan (Oreophasis derbianus) on Atitlán Volcano, Guatemala, Knut Eisermann, Andy Burge, and Gerardo López

El redescubrimiento de la chachalaca de la Isla Utila (Ortalis vetula deschauenseei), Sheri L. Glowinski

Redescoberta do aracuã da Ilha Utila (Ortalis vetula deschauenseei), Sheri L. Glowinski

Rediscovery of the Utila Island …

Wpa News 78 (2007), World Pheasant Association

Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies: Newsletters

WPA News (Winter 2007), number 78

Published by the World Pheasant Association

Wpa News 80 (2007/2008), World Pheasant Association

Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies: Newsletters

WPA News (Winter 2007/2008), number 80

Published by the World Pheasant Association

Nest Reuse By Eastern Kingbirds: Adaptive Behavior Or Ecological Constraint?, Lucas J. Redmond, Michael T. Murphy, Amy C. Dolan

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The reuse of old nests by open-cup nesting passerines is a seemingly rare but potentially adaptive behavior if, as a consequence, females begin to breed earlier, lay larger clutches, or fledge more young. We report an unusually high rate of nest reuse (~10% of 341 nests) for Eastern Kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus) breeding at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon. We found no difference in availability of nesting habitat or food abundance in territories in which nests were and were not reused. We also found no support for the hypotheses that kingbirds benefited from nest reuse by breeding earlier, laying …

4th International Galliformes Symposium (October 14-21, 2007 : Gengdu, Sichuan, China): Abstracts, World Pheasant Association

Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies: Conference Proceedings

Introduction

Scientific programme committee chairman's introduction, Stephen J. Browne

Conserving Asia's Galliformes: Progress and challenges, Philip J. K. McGowan

An introduction to research and conservation of China's Galliformes, Zhang Zhengwang and Zheng Guangmei

China talks: session 1

Conservation hotspots and gap analysis of Galliformes in China, Ding Changqing, Zhang Cheng’an and Philip J. K. McGowan

Roosting behavoiur of buff-throated partridge Tetraophasis szechenyii, Xu Yu, Ran Jianghong, Zhou Xin, Yang Nan, Yue Bisong, and Wang Ying

A study of the genetic structure and molecular phylogeography of the Tibetan snowcock Tetraogallus tibetanus in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, An Bei, Zhang Lixun, Ruan Luzhang, …

The Art And Artistic Legacy Of Louis Agassiz Fuertes, Paul A. Johnsgard

Nebraska Bird Review

Perhaps some Nebraska birders will not immediately recognize the name Louis Agassiz Fuertes, as he died almost 80 years ago. Yet he influenced the art of bird painting as much as did John James Audubon, and provided wonderful artwork for many major state bird reference books. He also personally tutored George Miksch Sutton, the Nebraska-born artist and biologist who provided the NOU with its Burrowing Owl logo, and who contributed greatly to American ornithology, especially that of the southern Great Plains.

It is interesting that, like John James Audubon, Roger Tory Peterson, and George Miksch Sutton, we would never think …

The Nebraska Bird Review Whole Issue December 2006

Nebraska Bird Review

Table of Contents

Fall Field Report, Aug.–Nov. 2006 by W. Ross Silcock....................... 110

Fall Field Days at Lincoln, Sept. 15–17, 2006....................... 128

The Art and Artistic Legacy of Louis Agassiz Fuertes by Paul A. Johnsgard ....................... 132

The 2006 Nebraska Nest Report by Wayne J. Mollhoff ....................... 142

Index to Volume 74....................... 148

Subscription and Organization Information....................... 159