Poultry or Avian Science Commons^™

Northern Saw-Whet Owls: A Descriptive Look At Their Anatomy, Behavior, And Migration, Brandon M. Ray

Senior Honors Theses

The Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) is a small species of migratory owl native to North America. Through an analysis of research conducted at Liberty University’s Camp Hydaway in the Piedmont of Virginia as well as comparison studies at owl netting stations in the mountains and the coastal plain, it was shown that the Northern Saw-whet migrates along consistent routes southward while the timing and frequency of the migration varies by several days based on sex, age, owl population fluctuations, weather, and the owls’ physical health. Several years’ worth of owl capture data were compiled from stations across …

Winter Field Report, December 2013 To February 2014, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

This was a low-key winter season in terms of reportable phenomena of any significance, although three species provided food for thought: high numbers of Rough-legged Hawks, the possibility of breeding Northern Saw-whet Owls in the cedar canyons of Lincoln Co, and the possible impending demise of Black-billed Magpie over most of the state. Also noteworthy is the continuing increase in midwinter reports of a wide range of species that previously have accounted for very few such records. Notable in this respect are waterfowl, mimids, non-oriole icterids, and sparrows; a Say's Phoebe in December was the most surprising record in this …

Breeding Season Observations Of Sandhill Cranes On The Niobrara River In Nebraska, Mark Czaplewski, Jim Jenniges, Mark Peyton

Nebraska Bird Review

Central Platte Natural Resources District (CPNRD), Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD), and the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District (Central) have been involved in the monitoring of Interior Least Terns (Sternula antillarum athalassos) and Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) along portions on the lower Niobrara River in northeast Nebraska since 2005. On two occasions, we observed a pair of adult Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) during the breeding season.

A pair of adult cranes was observed on June 8, 2011, on the Niobrara River approximately 7.8 km below the U.S. Route 137 bridge in Holt …

2013 Christmas Bird Counts, Don Paseka

Nebraska Bird Review

Fifteen counts were held during the 2013–2014 season. Following a cold snap in early December, the weather was seasonable and mostly dry, but with very limited open water in most circles. An example of the consequences of this can be seen in the Branched Oak–Seward count tally. Although this count has a history of being very productive for water-related birds in most years, only 3 species were found this year: Canada Goose (16), Mallard (2) and Belted Kingfisher (1). The total species count in all the counts was 135, four less than the past two years and historically ranking sixth …

Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Treasurer’S Report, December 31, 2013

Nebraska Bird Review

One-page spreadsheet constituting the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union treasurer's report at year end (December 31) of 2013. The grand total is $58,106.34.

Nebraska Bird Review (March 2014) 82(1), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Winter Field Report, December 2013–February 2014 ... 2

Breeding Season Observations of Sandhill Cranes on the Niobrara River … 16

2013 Christmas Bird Counts in Nebraska ... 27

NOU Annual Treasurer’s Report for 2013 ... 42

Subscription and Organization Information ... 43

“What Do Birds In Nebraska Eat?” Color Photo Section [March 2014, Pp. 20–26]

Nebraska Bird Review

Photographs of American Robins with Eastern red cedar berry and earthworm and Purple Martins with red admiral butterfly and snowberry clearwing moth (p. 20); Lazuli Bunting with millet, Grasshopper Sparrow with grasshopper, Cedar Waxwing with ornamental crab apples, and Herring Gull with unidentified fish (p. 21); Red-tailed Hawk with Eastern fox squirrel, Sharp-shinned Hawk with Eurasian Collared-Dove, Rough-legged Hawk with small mammal, and Cooper’s Hawk with House Finch (p. 22); Swainson’s Thrush with grain, Orchard Oriole with mulberry, Yellow-throated Vireo with unidentified fly, and Turkey Vulture with unidentified snake (p. 23); Pileated Woodpecker feeding juvenile, Downy Woodpecker feeding juvenile, Northern …

Subscription And Organization Information [March 2014]

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): $25 in the United States and $35 in all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $7 each, postpaid, in the United States and $9 elsewhere. Send orders for back issues to Anita Breckbill, NOU Librarian, c/o Music Library, WMB 30, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588-0101.

Memberships in the NOU (on a calendar-year basis only): Active Household (one or more people) $25; Sustaining …

As The Egg Turns: Monitoring Egg Attendance Behavior In Wild Birds Using Novel Data Logging Technology, Scott A. Shaffer, Corey Clatterbuck, Emma Kelsey, Alex Naiman, Lindsay Young, Eric Vanderwerf, Pete Warzybok, Russell Bradley, Jaime Jahncke, Geoff Bower

Faculty Publications, Biological Sciences

Egg turning is unique to birds and critical for embryonic development in most avian species. Technology that can measure changes in egg orientation and temperature at fine temporal scales (1 Hz) was neither readily available nor small enough to fit into artificial eggs until recently. Here we show the utility of novel miniature data loggers equipped with 3-axis (i.e., triaxial) accelerometers, magnetometers, and a temperature thermistor to study egg turning behavior in free-ranging birds. Artificial eggs containing egg loggers were deployed in the nests of three seabird species for 1–7 days of continuous monitoring. These species (1) turned their eggs …

Exposure Of Workers To Dust And Bioaerosol On A Poultry Farm, Sheryll B. Jerez, Y. Cheng, Joey Bray

Faculty Publications

Poultry houses are known for generating excessive dust, which originates from bedding materials, fiberglass insulations, feed, dried fecal materials, and feather particles. Dust may contain microorganisms, including endotoxins, fungi, and bacteria, that may affect living things when inhaled. Dust that contains living organisms is referred to as bioaerosol, and its particle size may range from 0.5 to 100 µm. Respirable dust, which has an aerodynamic diameter of less than or equal to 4 µm, can travel to and be deposited in the gas-exchange region of the human respiratory system. This is of particular concern because of the greater health hazard …

[Review Of The Book Woodpeckers Of The World: A Photographic Guide, By Gerard Gorman], Walter D. Koenig, Eric L. Walters

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Safety Of Improved Milbond-Tx Mycotoxin Binder When Fed To Broiler Breeders Above Recommended Levels, Michael Schlumbohm, Judy England, Rueben Kriseldi, C. Coon

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

An increasing concern in poultry nutrition is the effects of mycotoxins in contaminated grain. Several new products have come onto the market that chemically bind these toxins preventing mycotoxicosis. However, many of these products have not been tested for safety if accidently overfed to broiler breeders. In order to simulate a feed mixing error at a feed mill, Improved Milbond-TX® was overfed to broiler breeders to see if this would cause any negative effects on bird performance. A typical corn-soybean based diet supplemented with Milbond-TX mycotoxin binder at three different levels of inclusion (0%, 0.5%, and 1%) was fed to …

Within-Season Nest Reuse By Mountain Plovers (Charadrius Montanus) In Eastern Colorado, Lani T. Stinson, Victoria J. Dreitz

Wildlife Biology Faculty Publications

The Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus) is a declining migratory shorebird that nests on shortgrass prairies across the western Great Plains. This ground-nesting species exhibits an uncommon split-clutch mating system, in which each member of a pair simultaneously incubates a nest and uniparental care continues throughout brood-rearing. We report on an observation of within-season nest reuse in this species. To our knowledge, this report includes the first documented occurrence of 2 different Mountain Plovers using the same nest cup in the same breeding season. Nest reuse could represent a time- and energy-saving strategy for renesting individuals.

[Review Of The Book Rare Birds Of North America, By N.G. Howell, Ian Lewington & Will Russell], Natasha D.G. Hagemeyer, Eric L. Walters

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Environmental Salmonella In Agricultural Fair Poultry Exhibits In Colorado, K. L. Pabilonia, K. J. Cadmus, T. M. Lingus, D. S. Bolte, M. M. Russell, D. C. Van Metre, M. M. Erdman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Salmonella enterica is a common zoonotic pathogen in humans. Transmission typically occurs through consumption of contaminated food products or contact with infected animals, including poultry or their environment. The objective of this study was to estimate the frequency of Salmonella contamination in the environment in poultry exhibits at agricultural fairs. Samples were collected from cages, feed, floors and tables in the exhibit and cultured for Salmonella. At least one environmental sample was positive for Salmonella in 10 of 11 fairs (91%), and Salmonella was isolated from 28 of 55 environmental samples (50.9%). Eleven different serotypes were detected. Results of …

Storage Of Mung Bean (Vigna Radiata [L.] Wilczek) And Pigeonpea Grains (Cajanus Cajan [L.] Millsp) In Hermetic Triple-Layer Bags Stops Losses Caused By Callosobruchus Maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), C. M. Mutungi, H. Affognon, A. W. Njoroge, D. Baributsa, L. L. Murdock

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Dry mung bean and pigeonpea grains that had sustained some insect damage but fumigated before the start of the experiment were stored in triple-layer hermetic bags (Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS™ bags) or woven polypropylene (PP) bags for 6 months. Some of the bags were artificially infested with cowpea bruchid Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (PICS1, PP1) while others were not (PICS0, PP0). In an additional trial, PP bags containing the grains were treated with Actellic Super® dust before being artificially infested (PP1Ac). Moisture content, live adult C.maculatus count, grain damage, weight loss, and seed germination were determined on a monthly basis. …

Northwest Arkansas Consumer Perceptions Of Poultry Production, Stuart Estes

Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology Undergraduate Honors Theses

Poultry production holds an important place in Arkansas economically and as a food source. The importance of poultry production ultimately hinges on the demands of the consumers and the perceptions that drive their purchases. With this in mind, this study surveyed consumers to assess their perceptions of poultry production in Arkansas. The instrument used to survey consumers was created by the researcher and an expert committee at the University of Arkansas. Consumers were interviewed through direct communication at grocery stores in northwest Arkansas. Data gathered from the study were analyzed for descriptive and correlational statistics. Data showed that consumers were …

Correction [December 2013]

Nebraska Bird Review

The first Nebraska record of an Acorn Woodpecker was from Holt Co., 19–22 May 1996, not Cherry Co., as was reported on page 112 of the September 2013 issue of The Nebraska Bird Review.

First Documented Record Of Hooded Oriole (Icterus Cucullatus) In Nebraska, Joseph Gubanyi

Nebraska Bird Review

During May 2013 a very cooperative Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus) provided lots of excitement for Nebraska birders, becoming the first documented record for the species in Nebraska. The bird was first observed 25 May 2013 by Susie and Bill Daro at their residence in Garrison (Butler County). The Daros have several oriole feeders, and Baltimore and Orchard Orioles are common visitors. On the morning of May 25 they noted an unusual oriole visiting their feeders and, after checking the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, concluded it was a Hooded Oriole. They found …

Bridgeport Fall Field Days, Janis Paseka

Nebraska Bird Review

The 2013 NOU Fall Field Days took place at the Prairie Winds Community Center in Bridgeport on Sept. 20–22. The meeting, organized by Kathy DeLara, drew a total of 50 attendees. On Friday evening Luke Hamilton led a group owling to the Bridgeport SRA and to Courthouse Rock. Field trip destinations on Saturday and on Sunday morning included Bridgeport SRA, Fleisbach WMA (aka Facus Springs), Crescent Lake NWR, Hackberry Road in Banner Co., the I-80 Exit I area in Kimball Co, Oliver Reservoir, Wildcat Hills SRA and Wind Springs Ranch. Trips were led by Kathy DeLara, Ann Duey, Cheryl Hamilton, …