Genetic And Ecological Drivers Of Molt In A Migratory Bird,
2023
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Genetic And Ecological Drivers Of Molt In A Migratory Bird, Andrea Contina, Christen M. Bossu, Daniel Allen, Michael B. Wunder, Kristen Ruegg
School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications
The ability of animals to sync the timing and location of molting (the replacement of hair, skin, exoskeletons or feathers) with peaks in resource availability has important implications for their ecology and evolution. In migratory birds, the timing and location of pre-migratory feather molting, a period when feathers are shed and replaced with newer, more aerodynamic feathers, can vary within and between species. While hypotheses to explain the evolution of intraspecific variation in the timing and location of molt have been proposed, little is known about the genetic basis of this trait or the specific environmental drivers that may result …
Avian Community Response To Oak Savanna Management In West Michigan,
2023
Grand Valley State University
Avian Community Response To Oak Savanna Management In West Michigan, Abigail Elaine Fischer, Paul W. Keenlance, Alexandra B. Locher, Joseph J. Jacquot
Masters Theses
In the midwestern United States, oak savanna ecosystems have experienced steep declines over the past century due to loss of disturbances and changes in land use. This loss coincides with the decline in avian communities across North American and has negatively impacted taxa that associate with open vegetation cover types. Expanding efforts to restore and manage oak savanna ecosystems has resulted in increased open habitat which has positively impacted these avian communities, resulting in increased species diversity. While numerous studies within the Midwest have observed similar results, there have been no studies in Michigan that have formally assessed the impact …
Sense-Able Hauntings: Ethics And Narratives In Ornithological Specimen Preservation At Yale's Peabody Museum,
2023
Yale University
Sense-Able Hauntings: Ethics And Narratives In Ornithological Specimen Preservation At Yale's Peabody Museum, Elaina Foley
Kaplan Senior Essay Prize for Use of Library Special Collections
Until I was standing in between the rows of towering metal specimen cabinets, I didn’t understand how many birds the Yale Peabody Museum holds. Like most people, I had only experienced the display side of museums: its dioramas and glass cases. These displays, while made to embody a certain set of interests, priorities, and values, still serve an obscuring function—they vastly underrepresent the museum’s total collections. In their ornithology collection alone, the Peabody currently holds more than 152,000 bird skins, bones, eggs, nests, and other avian fragments. The Peabody staff members who maintain the ornithology specimen collections are distinct from …
Can The Food Preparation Hypothesis Account For Anting Behavior In Birds?,
2023
Paul D. Camp Community College
Can The Food Preparation Hypothesis Account For Anting Behavior In Birds?, Ella Brady
2023 REYES Proceedings
This report discusses the food preparation hypothesis, one of several proposed hypotheses to explain anting behavior in birds. A brief review of the theory’s history and development, as well as an assessment of evidence for and against such a function of anting, is provided. Although there are indeed experimental data supporting food preparation as the purpose of anting behavior, there is also conflicting evidence which complicates the theory. Ultimately, it is suggested that food preparation is a secondary function of anting – a pleasant but latent “side effect” achieved alongside the behavior’s primary purpose, which is still unknown.
Hypotheses Related To Anting By Birds,
2023
Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán
Hypotheses Related To Anting By Birds, Helena Flores
2023 REYES Proceedings
“Anting” is a widespread behavior among bird species and mammals. Due to the various characteristics of this behavior, numerous hypotheses have been proposed to explain it. This behavior can be classified as “active”, in which birds take a bill full of ants and rub them into their feathers, or “passive” when birds let ants wander through their plumage. The hypotheses state that anting may be performed as an (1) antiparasitic behavior, for (2) feather grooming, as a way of (3) food preparation or to (4) decrease skin irritation during molt, even as a (5) sensory stimulation tool. This review compiles …
The Effects Of Chemical Secretions By Millipedes On Anting Behaviour In Birds And Other Animals,
2023
The University of Edinburgh
The Effects Of Chemical Secretions By Millipedes On Anting Behaviour In Birds And Other Animals, Theo Fraser
2023 REYES Proceedings
Birds perform a behavior known as anting in which they actively rub ants in their feathers or allow ants to crawl over their bodies. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain this behavior, but no one hypothesis can account for all cases of anting that have been observed. Anting behavior has been recorded in species other than birds including primates, and substances other than ants such as millipedes may be used. This paper explores the use of millipedes in anting by birds, capuchin monkeys and lemurs. The three hypotheses supported by these studies include 1) anting serves as food preparation …
Potential Effect Of The Proposed R-Project Transmission Line On The Aransas-Wood Buffalo Whooping Crane Population,
2023
Private Lands Conservation
Potential Effect Of The Proposed R-Project Transmission Line On The Aransas-Wood Buffalo Whooping Crane Population, Jeb A. Barzen, J. Michael Engels, Lisa H. Elliott, Douglas H. Johnson
Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop
Whooping cranes (Grus americana) frequently encounter electrical transmission or distribution lines located throughout most of their range. We estimated the probability of at least 1 whooping crane being killed by colliding with a proposed transmission line (the R-project) planned to cross the primary whooping crane migration corridor in Nebraska. We also estimated the number of individuals that might be killed by the line. We used telemetry data provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and its partners, collected from 2009 to 2018, as well as published data, to estimate: 1) the probability that a migrating whooping crane would stop within the …
Thirteen-Year Status Of The Louisiana Nonmigratory Whooping Crane Reintroduction,
2023
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Thirteen-Year Status Of The Louisiana Nonmigratory Whooping Crane Reintroduction, Eva K. Szyszkoski, Sara E. Zimorski, Hillary L. Thompson
Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop
During 2011–2023, 167 captive-reared whooping cranes (Grus americana) were released in the Louisiana Nonmigratory Population: 157 were costume-reared and 10 were parent-reared. There were 5 additional whooping cranes translocated to Louisiana from the Florida Nonmigratory Population. Approximately 68.7% of released cranes survived 1 year post-release and 51.3% survived 3 years following release. During 2011–2017, large cohorts of captive-reared cranes were released and the population size increased rapidly. The population grew more slowly during 2018–2023 when cohort sizes were smaller but there were more wild-hatched cranes that fledged. There were 114 mortalities, and of the 85 where remains were recovered, the …
Releases Of After Hatch Year And Adult Whooping Cranes In The Reintroduced Eastern Migratory Population,
2023
International Crane Foundation
Releases Of After Hatch Year And Adult Whooping Cranes In The Reintroduced Eastern Migratory Population, Stephanie M. Schmidt, Hillary L. Thompson
Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop
The reintroduced Eastern Migratory Population of whooping cranes (Grus americana) experiences low recruitment and high mortality. To support and supplement this population’s growth, ex-situ breeding and release programs prioritizing the release of juvenile whooping cranes (121.1 ± 2 days after hatch) are used. However, extenuating circumstances have resulted in the release of 4 after-hatch-year and 1 adult whooping crane between 2018 and 2022. Although the sample size is small, these unique cases are informative for future management and release, revealing lower survival 1 year after release (20%) than traditional release methods (parent-reared: 69.0%; costume-reared: 64.4%), and average post-release survival of …
Comparisons Of Habitat Use Between Parent-Reared And Costume-Reared Whooping Cranes In The Eastern Migratory Population, 2012–2023,
2023
United States Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Laurel, Maryland and Oregon State University
Comparisons Of Habitat Use Between Parent-Reared And Costume-Reared Whooping Cranes In The Eastern Migratory Population, 2012–2023, Mary Anderson, Glenn H. Olsen, Susie Dunham, Hillary L. Thompson, Marianne M. Wellington
Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop
Different rearing and release methods have been used to introduce captive-raised whooping cranes (Grus americana) into eastern North America. One method, parent-rearing, coupled with direct release into the wild, offers several benefits over costume-rearing cranes coupled with guided migration by ultralight aircraft. However, little research has compared how these different rearing methods may influence post-release behavior of cranes in the wild. We compare habitat use between costume and parent-reared cranes. Habitat use is an expression of behavior, where cranes choose which habitats in which to spend their time. Using leg-band-mounted satellite transmitters, we documented habitat use patterns of costume-reared and …
Maximum Daily Dispersal Distance Of Wintering Whooping Cranes At Goose Pond Fish And Wildlife Area, Indiana,
2023
International Crane Foundation
Maximum Daily Dispersal Distance Of Wintering Whooping Cranes At Goose Pond Fish And Wildlife Area, Indiana, Alicia M. Ward, Hillary M. Thompson, Allisyn-Marie T. Y. Gillet, Amy J. Kearns, Andrew J. Caven
Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop
Whooping cranes (Grus americana) are an endangered species consisting of 4 populations, including the Eastern Migratory Population (EMP), a reintroduced experimental population that is not yet self-sustaining. The EMP breeds in Wisconsin and winters primarily in Indiana and Alabama. The International Crane Foundation and its partners release captive-reared chicks into the EMP annually to support the growth of the population. This population continues to face multiple threats throughout its flyway, including habitat loss and degradation, and collision mortalities. By analyzing global positioning system (GPS) data from whooping cranes at a primary wintering site, Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area (FWA, …
The Diets Of Wild And Reintroduced Whooping Cranes,
2023
Hood College
The Diets Of Wild And Reintroduced Whooping Cranes, Heather A. Neri, Glenn H. Olson, Eric C. Kindahl, Susan L. Carney
Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop
We characterized the diets of the recently established Eastern Migratory Population (EMP) and the extant Aransas-Wood Buffalo population (AWBP). Starting in 2013, frozen proventriculus and ventriculus contents from previously collected dead whooping cranes from both populations were examined to identify dietary items and quantity. EMP whooping cranes (n = 29) consumed benthic macro-invertebrates, beetles, crabs/crayfish, vegetation, seeds, mollusks, and unidentifiable vertebrates. The diets of AWBP whooping cranes (n = 7) examined included all the same food items except benthic macro-invertebrates. Both populations also consumed a variety of non-food items, including plastic and metal. Our data suggests that the wild and …
Lead And Mercury Exposure In Eastern Whooping Cranes: Cause For Concern?,
2023
International Crane Foundation
Lead And Mercury Exposure In Eastern Whooping Cranes: Cause For Concern?, Barry K. Hartup, Anne E. Lacy, Hillary L. Thompson
Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop
The dietary uptake of lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) risks limiting population growth of reintroduced whooping cranes (Grus americana) in the Eastern Migratory Population (EMP). We evaluated these potentially toxic trace elements in blood and marginal covert feathers of wild-hatched juvenile and adult cranes sampled in the Wisconsin breeding range between 2016 and 2023. Samples were obtained at live capture events, and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry for Pb and Total Hg (THg). Blood Pb concentrations from adults were greater than those of juveniles, but feather Pb concentrations were similar between age classes. Blood and feather THg concentrations were …
Evidence Of Polygyny In A Greater Sandhill Crane,
2023
International Crane Foundation
Evidence Of Polygyny In A Greater Sandhill Crane, Gary L. Ivey, Chad W. August
Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop
No abstract provided.
Sandhill Crane Lead Poisonings Linked To A Wetland Restoration,
2023
International Crane Foundation
Sandhill Crane Lead Poisonings Linked To A Wetland Restoration, Andrew J. Caven, Joshua D. Wiese
Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop
Toward the end of the 2018 spring sandhill crane migration on the Platte River in Nebraska, we detected 7 dead cranes near a recently restored wetland within 200 m of the river’s main channel. Topographic recontouring of the soils had occurred in January of 2018 and the area was not yet revegetated. The area had formerly hosted an excavated pond where hunting occurred for many years prior to the 1991 ban on lead ammunition for waterfowl harvest. Two of the cranes with no physical signs of trauma were submitted for necropsy. The cause of death in both cases as lead …
Predators And Scavengers Of Eastern Migratory Whooping Crane Eggs,
2023
International Crane Foundation
Predators And Scavengers Of Eastern Migratory Whooping Crane Eggs, Hillary L. Thompson, Nicole M. Gordon
Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop
The Eastern Migratory Population of whooping cranes (Grus americana) is not yet self-sustaining, primarily due to low recruitment. We deployed 81 cameras on whooping crane nests in Wisconsin during 2019–2024 to determine the fate of each nest. We identified 7 instances of depredation of crane eggs and 10 of abandoned eggs that were later scavenged. Coyotes (Canis latrans, n = 3 nests) and raccoons (Procyon lotor, n = 2) were the primary predators of crane eggs. We documented common ravens (Corvus corax, n = 2 nests), American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos, n = 2), a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus, n = …
Correlates Of Sandhill Crane Off-Channel Roosting Behavior In The Platte Valley,
2023
Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust
Correlates Of Sandhill Crane Off-Channel Roosting Behavior In The Platte Valley, Bethany L. Pstrom, Andrew J. Caven
Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop
During spring migration, more than 1 million sandhill cranes stage along the Platte River in central Nebraska. Appropriate river flows can support ideal depths for roosting and provide protection from terrestrial predators. Cranes and other waterbirds occasionally roost outside of the river channel or reduce diurnal activity therein but conditions under which this occurs remain poorly defined. Despite the ability to influence flows in this highly managed river system, many hydrological factors remain outside of managers’ control. We examine the proportion of sandhill cranes detected in nonriverine habitat during weekly aerial surveys from mid-February to mid-April from 2016 to 2023. …
Population Status Of Pacific Coast Canadian Sandhill Cranes Along The Lower Columbia River, Oregon And Washington, Usa,
2023
Portland, Oregon
Population Status Of Pacific Coast Canadian Sandhill Cranes Along The Lower Columbia River, Oregon And Washington, Usa, Mark A. Stern, Alex Chmielewski, Ginny A. Stern, Kenneth J. Popper, Jen L. Newlin, Mark A. Nebeker, Gary L. Ivey, Gary L. Ivey
Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop
Pacific coast Canadian sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis rowani) breed in coastal regions of British Columbia and southeast Alaska and are considered a unique population within the Pacific Flyway. These cranes stage during fall migration along the Lower Columbia River at Sauvie Island Wildlife Area (SIWA), Oregon, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (RNWR), Washington, and on adjacent lands. Peak numbers of cranes congregate here in late September through mid-October, with most of these cranes continuing south to winter in the Central Valley of California. During 2003–2024, we conducted single-day counts annually of cranes during peak fall migration as cranes flew into their …
Mississippi Sandhill Crane Conservation Update 2020–2023,
2023
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge, Gautier, Mississippi
Mississippi Sandhill Crane Conservation Update 2020–2023, Scott G, Hereford, Angela J. Dedrickson
Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop
The Mississippi sandhill crane is an endangered non-migratory subspecies that primarily occurs on its namesake national wildlife refuge. To manage crane habitat on the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge during 2020–2023, 8,885 ha were treated with prescribed burns, 648 ha of woody vegetation was removed, 234 ha of invasive plants were chemically treated, and 400 ha were mowed. There were 368 target predators removed, including coyotes and bobcats. Forty-six captive-reared juveniles were released. We detected an average of 64 nests per year, with a range of 63–69, the latter a record high. A total of 37 chicks fledged for …
Nocturnal Winter Roost Site Use By Whooping Cranes In The Aransas-Wood Buffalo Population,
2023
International Crane Foundation
Nocturnal Winter Roost Site Use By Whooping Cranes In The Aransas-Wood Buffalo Population, Matti R. Bradshaw, Carter G. Crouch, Katrina M. Fernald, Andrew J. Caven, Dorn M. Moore, Sundas Rehman
Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop
Evaluating site use and fidelity is vital to understanding roosting area needs for individual birds. We used data from wintering Aransas-Wood Buffalo population whooping cranes tracked with Platform Transmitting Terminals to identify roost sites in Texas. We analyzed 86 unique winters across 42 individuals and used a hierarchical clustering approach to group roost locations that were within 100 m of each other to identify unique roost sites by individual (n = 2,608). We found that on average, whooping cranes used 30.3 ± 1.71 SE roost sites per winter (range 8–70; 30 September and 2 May) and spent on average 4.4 …
