Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Discipline
-
- Environmental Sciences (21)
- Life Sciences (5)
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (4)
- Natural Resources and Conservation (4)
- Animal Sciences (3)
-
- Environmental Health and Protection (3)
- Natural Resources Management and Policy (3)
- Biodiversity (2)
- Botany (2)
- Medicine and Health Sciences (2)
- Other Environmental Sciences (2)
- Other Veterinary Medicine (2)
- Plant Sciences (2)
- Population Biology (2)
- Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology (2)
- Veterinary Infectious Diseases (2)
- Veterinary Medicine (2)
- Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology (2)
- Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health (2)
- Zoology (2)
- Anthropology (1)
- Education (1)
- Ornithology (1)
- Science and Mathematics Education (1)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (1)
- Systems Biology (1)
- Weed Science (1)
- Publication Year
- Publication
- Publication Type
Articles 1 - 22 of 22
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Using Bioenergetics And Radar-Derived Bird Abundance To Assess The Impact Of A Blackbird Roost On Seasonal Sunflower Damage, Bonnie A. Clark, Page E. Klug, Phillip M. Stepanian, Jeffrey F. Kelly
Using Bioenergetics And Radar-Derived Bird Abundance To Assess The Impact Of A Blackbird Roost On Seasonal Sunflower Damage, Bonnie A. Clark, Page E. Klug, Phillip M. Stepanian, Jeffrey F. Kelly
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
Methods aimed at reducing avian damage to agricultural crops are routinely implemented in situations where efficacy can be assessed by quantifying blackbird (Icteridae) abundance relative to environmental variables and extrapolating to ensuing crop damage. Concomitantly, Weather Surveillance Radar (WSR) data may have potential to enhance crop damage mitigation through improved monitoring of nuisance wildlife populations. We used WSR to derive daily abundance estimates of blackbirds at a fall roost in North Dakota, USA from 2012 to 2019. We integrated these estimates with previously developed bioenergeticseconomic models to estimate local sunflower (Helianthus annuus) damage. The greatest losses usually occurred during …
Evaluation Of Elevated Bait Trays For Attracting Blackbirds (Icteridae) In Central North Dakota, George M. Linz, Jamison B. Winter, William J. Bleier
Evaluation Of Elevated Bait Trays For Attracting Blackbirds (Icteridae) In Central North Dakota, George M. Linz, Jamison B. Winter, William J. Bleier
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) became an economically important crop in North Dakota in the 1970s, providing a major source of food for post-breeding blackbirds (Icteridae). Reducing local blackbird populations with rice grains treated with an avicide is one proposed alternative for reducing sunflower damage. In fall 2007 and 2008, we evaluated the idea of attracting blackbirds to rice-baited trays attached to wire cages supplied with live blackbirds. During our observations (1011 h), we saw 3888 birds, consisting of 25 species and 12 families, on the bait trays. Blackbirds made up 90.4% of the bird observations, whereas sparrows (Emberizidae) made …
Are Sunflower Fields For The Birds?, Heath M. Hagy, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier
Are Sunflower Fields For The Birds?, Heath M. Hagy, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
The northern Great Plains are home to a variety of birds throughout the year, particularly during migration. Migratory species use native and restored grasslands, shelterbelts, and agricultural fields for food and shelter in North Dakota. Blackbirds (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) have been documented to cause economically important damage to some crops and thus, are sometimes the target of concerted harassment efforts. Few studies have assembled an inventory of nonblackbirds using small grain fields during the fall and spring in North Dakota that may be inadvertently affected by blackbird management. At least 94 nonblackbird species use crop fields in the spring …
Evaluation Of Two Perch Deterrents For Starlings, Blackbirds, And Pigeons, Thomas W. Seamans, Scott C. Barras, Glen E. Bernhardt
Evaluation Of Two Perch Deterrents For Starlings, Blackbirds, And Pigeons, Thomas W. Seamans, Scott C. Barras, Glen E. Bernhardt
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
Bird-aircraft collisions are costly and potentially deadly to people and wildlife. From 1990 through 2004, 57,702 bird collisions with aircraft were reported within the USA to the US Federal Aviation Administration. Approximately 82% of the strikes occur below 305 m height about ground level; therefore bird deterrents on airfields that reduce the quality of the birds’ habitat are critical to safe airport operation. One management approach is to reduce perching sites within the airport premises. We tested two anti-perching devices (BirdwireTM and BirdbloxTM) in an aviary setting. As an ancillary test, we determined which wire in a …
Habitat Characteristics Of Spring Blackbird Roosts In East-Central South Dakota, H. Jeffrey Homan, Richard S. Sawin, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier
Habitat Characteristics Of Spring Blackbird Roosts In East-Central South Dakota, H. Jeffrey Homan, Richard S. Sawin, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier
The Prairie Naturalist
In the northern Great Plains, blackbirds (Icteridae) roost almost exclusively in emergent-dominated wetlands. The physical characteristics of wetland roosts are not well understood. From March 20 to April 20, 1999, we studied 16 wetlands used as blackbird roosts in east-central South Dakota. Six wetlands had major roosts (range: 102,000-298,000 blackbirds); whereas, 10 wetlands had minor roosts (range: 2,010-34,000 blackbirds). Maximum roost size was correlated directly with emergent vegetation area (P = 0.05) and possibly with wetland basin area (P ≤ 0.10). Water depths were greater at used sites within wetlands of major roosts (median = 44 cm) than …
Feeding Habitats Of Spring-Migrating Blackbirds In East-Central South Dakota, Richard S. Sawin, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier, H. Jeffrey Homan
Feeding Habitats Of Spring-Migrating Blackbirds In East-Central South Dakota, Richard S. Sawin, George M. Linz, William J. Bleier, H. Jeffrey Homan
The Prairie Naturalist
Between March 27 and April 21, 1998, we monitored blackbird (Icteridae) activity and habitat selection at a migratory staging area in east-central South Dakota. We used fixed-area observation points located within 20 l-km2 circular plots centered on four wetland basins that were used as night roosts. Each roost was surveyed four times, with the surveys spread evenly throughout the blackbird migration. We recorded the number of blackbird flocks, flock size and composition, habitat used, and behavior (e.g., loafing and feeding). Fifty percent (n = 242) of the 482 flocks recorded in the quadrats was observed loafing in trees …
Evaluation Of Different Rice Baits And Chemicals To Improve Efficacy Of 2% Drc-1339 To Reduce Blackbird Damage To Rice, Patricia A. Pipas, John L. Cummings, Jerry C. Hurley, Karen H. Sheffer
Evaluation Of Different Rice Baits And Chemicals To Improve Efficacy Of 2% Drc-1339 To Reduce Blackbird Damage To Rice, Patricia A. Pipas, John L. Cummings, Jerry C. Hurley, Karen H. Sheffer
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
Blackbird damage to sprouting rice can be locally severe and costs Louisiana growers an estimated $4 million/year and Texas growers $4.4 million/year. DRC-1339 blackbird baiting programs probably will continue until available alternative control techniques (i.e., repellents) become available. We conducted 3 studies to evaluate different rice baits and chemicals to improve efficacy of DRC-1339 for use at staging areas. During the first study, individually caged red-winged blackbirds preferred untreated medium grain brown rice over long grain brown rice, rough rice, or rough rice soaked with sodium bisulfite. Of birds offered only medium (control), long, rough, and rough rice soaked with …
Using Fatty Acid Profiles To Assess Dietary Intake Of Sunflower In Red-Winged Blackbirds , Randal S. Stahl, H. Jeffrey Homan, George M. Linz, John J. Johnston
Using Fatty Acid Profiles To Assess Dietary Intake Of Sunflower In Red-Winged Blackbirds , Randal S. Stahl, H. Jeffrey Homan, George M. Linz, John J. Johnston
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
In late summer, red-winged blackbirds forage heavily on ripening sunflower crops in the Dakotas. Sunflower achenes have a distinct fatty acid profile that should influence the fatty acid composition in tissues of these buds. To determine if fatty acid composition in tissue could be used as a biomarker indicating dietary history, we fed 18 red-winged blackbirds a sunflower diet for 2 weeks and compared fatty acid profiles in their muscle and liver tissues to a control group of red-winged blackbirds (n = 15) fed a birdseed mix supplemented with safflower seed. Three subjects from each treatment group were sacrificed at …
Using Geographic Information System (Gis) Software To Predict Blackbird Roosting Locations In North Dakota, Ryan L. Wimberly, Tony A. Slowik, H. Jeffrey Homan, Linda B. Penry
Using Geographic Information System (Gis) Software To Predict Blackbird Roosting Locations In North Dakota, Ryan L. Wimberly, Tony A. Slowik, H. Jeffrey Homan, Linda B. Penry
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
Cattail stands provide roosting and staging areas for large congregations of blackbirds in North Dakota in late summer and early fall. Since 1991, the U.S. Depamnent of Agriculture, Ammal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services (WS) program has conducted a cattail management program in North Dakota to alleviate blackbird damage to ripening sunflower. To extend the capabilities of the program, a geographical mformation system (GIS) will be incorporated to help WS personnel find blackbird roosts more effectively. We will use the GIs to construct field maps showing the association between areas of moderate to hgh sunilower damage (>5%) …
Nontarget Bird Exposure To Drc-1339 During Fall In North Dakota And Spring In South Dakota, Thomas W. Custer, Christine M. Custer, Paul M. Dummer, George M. Linz, Louis Sileo, Randal S. Stahl, John J. Johnston
Nontarget Bird Exposure To Drc-1339 During Fall In North Dakota And Spring In South Dakota, Thomas W. Custer, Christine M. Custer, Paul M. Dummer, George M. Linz, Louis Sileo, Randal S. Stahl, John J. Johnston
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
Blackbirds frequently use ripening sunflower (Helianthus annuus)as a food source in the northern Great Plains. In 1999 and 2000, the avicide DRC-1339 (3-chloro-4-methylaniline hydrochloride) was used experimentally on fall-ripening sunflower fields in North Dakota so researchers could evaluate its effectiveness for reducing crop depredations by blackbirds DRC-1339 was applied to rice and broadcast on the ground in a confined area within ripening sunflower fields. One objective of this study was to determine if nontarget birds, birds other than blackbirds, were eating rice and were exposed to DRC 1339. In 1999, 8 of 11(73%) sparrows collected by shotgun in sunflower fields …
Reducing Blackbird-Human Conflicts In Agriculture And Feedlots: New Methods For An Integrated Management Approach, George M. Linz, H. Jeffrey Homan, Linda B. Penry, Philip Mastrangelo
Reducing Blackbird-Human Conflicts In Agriculture And Feedlots: New Methods For An Integrated Management Approach, George M. Linz, H. Jeffrey Homan, Linda B. Penry, Philip Mastrangelo
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
In the United States, blackbirds are abundant and widely distributed. with their winter populations estimated to be between 500 million and 1 billion. Annual damage to grain, fruit, and berry crops from blackbirds exceeds $100 million in direct costs. Additional costs, not estimated, include those spent to prevent human health and safety hazards and those from damage abatement efforts. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services (WS) is charged with reducing the magnitude of health. safety, nuisance, agriculture, and feedlot/dairy problems caused by these birds. WS' goal is to improve profitability to agricultural producers, enhance the human health and safety, …
Nontarget Bird Use Of Drc-1339 Bait Sites During Operational Baiting Programs In Louisiana And Texas, Patricia A. Pipas, John L. Cummings, John D. Eisemann, Richard M. Engeman
Nontarget Bird Use Of Drc-1339 Bait Sites During Operational Baiting Programs In Louisiana And Texas, Patricia A. Pipas, John L. Cummings, John D. Eisemann, Richard M. Engeman
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
Nontarget bird use of DRC-1339 bait sites was assessed during operational baiting programs from 2000-2002 in Louisiana and from 2001-2002 in Texas. DRC-1339 is an avicide registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to manage blackbirds causing damage to agriculture. It was used in Louisiana between 15 February to 15 March and in Texas from January though March to protect newly planted rice. In Louisiana, there were 55 bait sites observed during 316 observation periods (158 observation hours) and 312 flush-counts conducted from 2000-2002. In Texas, there were 26 bait sites observed during 182 observation periods (91 observation hours) and …
Blackbird And Starling Strikes To Civil Aircraft In The United States, 1990-2001, Scott C. Barras, Sandra E. Wright, Thomas E. Seamans
Blackbird And Starling Strikes To Civil Aircraft In The United States, 1990-2001, Scott C. Barras, Sandra E. Wright, Thomas E. Seamans
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
Bird-aircraft collisions (bird strikes) pose hazards to aircraft and cost civil aviation hundreds of millions of dollars in repairs and logistical expenses annually in the United States. Blackbirds and starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) in particular have caused some of the most devastating aircraft accidents related to bird strikes in the United States and Europe. To determine the impacts of blackbirds and starlings to aviation in the United State, we searched the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) National Wildlife Strike Database for all reported strikes involving these species. During 1990-2001, 1,704 strikes involving blackbirds and starlings were reported to the FAA …
Are Birds Scared By Rotating Mirrors?, Thomas W. Seamans, Scott C. Barras, Zachary J. Patton
Are Birds Scared By Rotating Mirrors?, Thomas W. Seamans, Scott C. Barras, Zachary J. Patton
2003 Bird Strike Committee USA/Canada, 5th Joint Annual Meeting, Toronto, ONT
Blackbirds (Icteridae) create human health and safety concerns when roosting in large numbers near airports or other urban areas. Therefore, there is considerable demand for effective nonlethal techniques to deter these birds. We tested the effectiveness of rotating mirrors (Peaceful Pyramid®) to keep blackbirds away from decoy traps. Mirrors were in place on traps for 5 consecutive days with control traps having similar a device in place but without mirrors. The total number of birds captured in traps with clear mirrors and control traps did not (P = 0.62) differ. When red mirrors were used, the total number of birds …
Baiting Blackbirds (Icteridae) In Stubble Grain Fields During Spring Migration In South Dakota, G. M. Linz, G.A. Knutsen, H.J. Homan, W.J. Bleier
Baiting Blackbirds (Icteridae) In Stubble Grain Fields During Spring Migration In South Dakota, G. M. Linz, G.A. Knutsen, H.J. Homan, W.J. Bleier
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
Blackbirds (Icteridae) annually damage US$5–8 million of ripening sunflower in the northern Great Plains. Baiting blackbirds with avicide-treated rice during spring migration might reduce the regional breeding population. In March and April 1996–1997, we simulated a baiting program in eastern South Dakota to compare attractiveness of rice-baited plots placed in fields of corn and soybean stubble. Blackbirds used plots in corn stubble more often than plots in soybean stubble and chose rice-baited plots over unbaited reference plots. We conclude that blackbirds can be successfully baited with avicide-treated rice placed in corn stubble. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
An Overview Of Current Blackbird Research In The Southern Rice Growing Region Of The United States, John L. Cummings, Michael L. Avery
An Overview Of Current Blackbird Research In The Southern Rice Growing Region Of The United States, John L. Cummings, Michael L. Avery
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
Red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus), common grackles (Quiscalus quiscula), and brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) cause extensive damage to newly planted and ripening rice. The blackbird-rice problem has generated considerable public pressure in states such as Louisiana, Texas, California, Arkansas and Missouri, to find more effective methods of reducing damage caused by blackbirds. USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) works closely with various state rice growers associations and the USDA Wildlife Services (WS) state operational programs to address this high-priority issue. NWRC conducts a multi-faceted research program aimed at resolving blackbird-rice problems. Research focuses on determining …
Characteristics Of Spring And Fall Blackbird Roosts In The Northern Great Plains, George M. Linz, Richard S. Sawin, Mark W. Lutman, H. Jeffrey Homan, Linda B. Penry, William J. Bleier
Characteristics Of Spring And Fall Blackbird Roosts In The Northern Great Plains, George M. Linz, Richard S. Sawin, Mark W. Lutman, H. Jeffrey Homan, Linda B. Penry, William J. Bleier
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
To successfully reduce blackbird (Icteridae) damage to sunflower crops in the northern Great Plains, wildlife damage managers must be able to identify sites where large roosts could form in spring and fall. In 1998 and 1999, we measured several habitat and land-use characteristics of spring and fall blackbird roosts. Our objective was to quantify the relationship between roost formation and wetland habitat and land-use. We used data from 7 spring roosts and 12 fall blackbird roosts to set search guidelines that might increase the efficacy of locating potential roost sites in the Prairie Pothole Region of the northern Great Plains. …
Has An Integrated Pest Management Approach Reduced Blackbird Damage To Sunflower?, George M. Linz, Brian D. Peer, H. Jeffrey Homan, Ryan L. Wimberly, David L. Bergman, William J. Bleier
Has An Integrated Pest Management Approach Reduced Blackbird Damage To Sunflower?, George M. Linz, Brian D. Peer, H. Jeffrey Homan, Ryan L. Wimberly, David L. Bergman, William J. Bleier
Human Conflicts with Wildlife: 2002 Symposium
Since the mid-1970s many new and modified damage abatement methods have been implemented to reduce blackbird damage to ripening sunflower in the northern Great Plains. Concurrently, estimates were made of breeding blackbird densities and sunflower damage to track changes in population size and chart progress toward reducing damage. Breeding density estimates were made at both the regional and county levels, whereas sunflower damage estimates were made at the county level only. Periodic regional estimates of breeding densities, between 1967 and 1998, showed that numbers of red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) and yellow-headed blackbirds (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) did not …
Tracing The History Of Blackbird Research Through An Industry's Looking Glass: The Sunflower Magazine, George M. Linz, H. Jeffrey Homan
Tracing The History Of Blackbird Research Through An Industry's Looking Glass: The Sunflower Magazine, George M. Linz, H. Jeffrey Homan
Proceedings of the Eighteenth Vertebrate Pest Conference (1998)
The Sunflower magazine, the voice of the National Sunflower Organization, featured articles in January 1978 and December 1996 that began with these words, "If Old King Cole was a merry old soul, it was probably because he had only four and twenty blackbirds to contend with, and they were all out of commission!" This quotation captures the sentiments of sunflower growers, who have identified blackbirds as a major production problem since the 1960s. The National (formerly Denver) Wildlife Research Center, a unit within the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services, is charged with both …
Nonlethal Control Techniques Used To Manage Blackbird Damage To Sunflower, David L. Bergman, Timothy L. Pugh, Louis E. Huffman
Nonlethal Control Techniques Used To Manage Blackbird Damage To Sunflower, David L. Bergman, Timothy L. Pugh, Louis E. Huffman
Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings
Since 1986, nonlethal management techniques have been used by the North Dakota and South Dakota Animal Damage Control programs to reduce blackbird damage to sunflower. The use of propane cannons, pyrotechnics, hazing, and cattail management is discussed. Currently, the primary program for both States is cattail management.
Birds Associated With Blackbird Spring Feeding Sites In South Dakota, George M. Linz, David L. Bergman, William J. Bleier
Birds Associated With Blackbird Spring Feeding Sites In South Dakota, George M. Linz, David L. Bergman, William J. Bleier
USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
From 2 to 16 April 1993, we conducted road-side surveys of birds using harvested fields of small grains, soybeans, and wm within 8 km of two blackbird roosts in east central South Dakota. Blackbirds, waterfowl, killdeer, homed larks, ring-necked pheasants, and western meadowlarks were the most common buds recorded. The frequencies of blackbirds, non-game birds, terrestrial game birds, and waterfowl was not equally distributed within the three habitats (P = 0.U.23).
Range Expansion Of The Great-Tailed Grackle In The 1900s, James J. Dinsmore, Stephen J. Dinsmore
Range Expansion Of The Great-Tailed Grackle In The 1900s, James J. Dinsmore, Stephen J. Dinsmore
Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS
In 1900, the range of the Great-tailed Grackle extended north of the Mexican border only into Texas. Since then, it has expanded its range greatly. It now nests in 14 states and has strayed to an additional eight states and three Canadian provinces. Much of this expansion has occurred since 1960. Great-tails often stray far from their normal range, especially in spring. Most of these strays are single individuals. In states where they have nested, breeding birds typically reach the state a few years after the first reports of the species. Great-tailed Grackles do well in a variety of human …