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Charles J. Henny

Publications and source records attributed to Charles J. Henny.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Osprey distribution, abundance, and status in western North America: III. The Baja California and Gulf of California population

An estimated 810 ± 55 pairs (minimum estimate) of ospreys ( Pandion haliaetus ) were nesting in the study area during our survey (24 March-1 April 1977). Approximately 174 pairs nested along the Pacific side of Baja California, 255 pairs along the gulf side, 187 pairs on the Midriff Islands, and 194 pairs in coastal Sonora and Sinaloa. Most nested on cliffs adjacent to the sea (59%); some nested on cactus in flat terrain (26%). Seven per cent nested on the ground, three percent nested in mangroves and other trees in the southern portion of the study area, and four percent nested on man-made structures. The extreme northwestern Baja California population that was extirpated early in this century has not recovered. However, several populations immediately to the south along the Pacific Coast now appear stationary. Pesticide residues in osprey eggs from Mexico were among the lowest reported for the species in North America.

Baja California

Response of breeding birds to aerial sprays of trichlorfon (Dylox) and carbaryl (Sevin-4-Oil) in Montana forests

Breeding density, food, nesting success, and mortality of 20 bird species were monitored at Beaverhead National Forest, Montana, in 1975 in conjunction with experimental applications of trichlorfon (Dylox) and carbaryl (Sevin-4-oil) to western budworms (Choristoneura occidentalis). Bird species on nine 350- to 550-ha forested plots (three controls and three treated with each pesticide) were studied before and for 14 days after the spraying of trichlorfon at 1.1 kg in?9.4 L of Panasol AN3 per ha (1 pound active ingredient in 1.0 gallon/acre) and of carbaryl at 1.1 kg in 4.7 L of diesel oil per ha (l pound active ingredient in 0.5 gallon/acre). No significant decrease in bird numbers was detected from breeding-pair estimates or live bird counts after the spraying. Of the breeding pairs present before spraying, 92% remained on control plots, 89% on trichlorfon plots, and 92% on carbaryl plots. Counts of live birds made before and after spraying in three types of habitat supported the. results of the breeding-pair estimates. Nests with eggs or with young at the time of spraying were 74 and 97% successful, respectively, in control plots, 83 and 100% in plots sprayed with trichlorfon, and 86 and 100% in plots sprayed with carbaryl. No sick or dead birds were found after the spraying, although budworms were found in bird stomachs, and tracer-dye from the pesticide occurred on the feathers or feet of 74% of the 202 birds collected. Species dwelling in the tree canopy encountered the dye (and thus the pesticide) at a slightly higher rate (80%) than did species below the treetops (71 %) or near the ground and in open areas (70%).

Special Scientific Report - Wildlife

Osprey distribution, abundance, and status in western North America: I. The northern California population

An estimated 355 ± 40 pairs (95 percent C.I.) of Ospreys (<i>Pandion haliaetus carolinensis</i>) nested in the northern California survey area in 1975. Eighty-one pairs were estimated along the extreme northern coast in Del Norte and Humboldt Counties. One hundred and forty-four pairs were estimated along California's northern coast in Mendociuo, Sonoma, and Marin Counties. The northern interior region, primarily in Siskiyou, Trinity, Shasta, Lassen, and Plumas Counties, contained an estimated 130 pairs. Forty-nine percent of the interior Osprey population is associated with reservoirs that were not present in 1900. We believe more Ospreys are present in the interior now than 75 years ago because of the increase in suitable habitat; nevertheless, populations at Shasta Lake and Clair Engle Lake are now exhibiting below-normal production rates and local declines. The long-term status of the coastal population, nesting along rivers, streams, and bays, is not clear. Recent production rates from two segments of the coastal population appear to be normal, but production at Usal Creek is below normal.

California

Serum proteins of Canada goose (Branta canadensis) subspecies

Serum proteins from nine subspecies of Canada Geese (Brunta canadensis) were analyzed through the use of column and slab acrylamide electrophoresis. Variation was minimal within a subspecies, although all the subspecies were closely related. B. c. leucopareia appeared to be the most distinct subspecies, while maxima and moffitti were the most similar. Our preliminary findings suggest that the electrophoresis techniques are sensitive enough to identify some of the subspecies; however, baseline data from breeding ranges of all subspecies are required.

Condor

Mid-Atlantic coast osprey population: Present numbers, productivity, pollutant contamination, and status

An estimated 233 + 16 (95% C.I.) pairs of ospreys ( Pandion haliaetus ) nested in coastal New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia in 1975. The present populations were considerably smaller than those reported for selected locations at the turn of the century in these four states. The New Jersey population has continued to decline during the last 25 years, although it showed some signs of improved production in 1974-75. The insecticide DDT was used intensively in New Jersey for mosquito control from about 1946 until 1966; its use in the other states was much less intensive, and of shorter duration. In a segment of the pelaware population of ospreys, production was normal and numbers increased slightly in 1970-75. Fragmentary information from Maryland suggests that the number of pairs nesting on duck blinds was about the same in 1958 and 1975. The population in coastal Virginia north of Cape Henry increased from 1970 to 1975. DDE residues in osprey eggs were highest in the areas showing the greatest population declines and the lowest production rates.

Journal of Wildlife Management

Research, management, and status of the osprey in North America

Osprey populations were studied throughout North America during the last decade as a result of dramatic declines reported along the North Atlantic Coast in the1950s and early 1960s. Researchers used banding, localized studies, aerial surveys, and pesticide analyses to identify factors influencing regional populations. Declining populations showed extremely poor production, contamination by environmental pollutants (including DDT and its metabolites, dieldrin, and polychlorinated biphenyls) and thin-shelled eggs. Following the reduced use and eventual ban of DDT and dieldrin, productivity began to improve. Improvement in affected populations, mainly those along the Atlantic Coast and in the Great Lakes region, began in the late 1960s and is continuing in the 1970s. Most populations in the South Atlantic region, in Western North America, and in Florida and the Gulf of California appeared to be producing at normal or near-normal rates in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Although some of the most severely affected populations are still not producing at normal rates, the pattern of improvement and an increase in management activities, including provision of nesting platforms and establishment of Osprey management zones, allow cautious optimism about the future of the species in North America. With its low recruitment potential, however, recovery will be slow.

Book chapter

Conservation committee report. Falconry: Effects on raptor populations and management in North America

The art of falconry in North America, practiced by a few individuals for many years, attracted little attention until the 1960?s. Presently about 2800 falconers are licensed in the United States with less than one half considered to be active. While interest in this art is expected to increase, we believe growth will be slow, probably 5 to 10% per year, due to rigorous demands on time and equipment required and restrictive regulations.....Many different species of raptors have been used in falconry. Presently 6 species are commonly used, especially the Red-tailed Hawk and American Kestrel. Present evidence suggests that only 2 races of the Peregrine Falcon are threatened in North America, and declines may have occurred in local populations of other species. Declines in populations of Peregrines are attributed to pesticide contamination of food chains. Apparent declines in other populations of raptors are also attributed to pesticides and locally to changes in land use and possibly indiscriminate shooting. Removal of raptors from wild populations for falconry has not had documentable adverse effects except possibly at local nesting sites. Continuation of the art of falconry under the framework of the recent federal regulations is not expected to have measurable impacts on region-wide populations. Management of raptors is poorly developed and relatively unexplored. Captive breeding of raptors holds much promise for production of birds both for re-establishment and as a source of birds for falconry. Falconers have contributed much to the continued improvement of the Cornell University Peregrine program in terms of breeding stocks and technique development.

The Wilson Bulletin

Biochemical identification of the mallard, Anas platyrhynchos , and black duck, A. rubripes

1. Eleven tissue systems from mallards and black ducks were examined for soluble proteins, lactate dehydrogenases and non-specific esterases through discontinuous polyacrylamide techniques. 2. Biochemical relationships between the black duck and mallard are extremely similar. 3. Hemoglobins and lactate dehydrogenase appear to be common in electrophoretic mobility between the two species. 4. Approximately 89% of the soluble proteins and 58% of the non-specific esterases are common among the two species, indicating both biochemical similarity at the genus level and species-specificity.

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part B: C

A reward band study of mallards to estimate band reporting rates

Reward bands ($10) were placed on 2,122 hatching-year mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos ), and an additional 11,490 received conventional bands (controls) to estimate band reporting rates. An analysis of band recoveries indicated that the reporting rate was dependent primarily upon three factors: (1) the distance banded birds were recovered from the banding site, (2) band collecting activities of conservation agencies (usually near banding sites), and ( 3) the intensity of banding effort in the region (frequency of banded birds in the population of the region). Reporting rates were uniformly depressed near the banding sites, but they showed an east-west cline at distances greater than 80 km from the banding sites. The reporting rate was highest in the west. Limited data on historical band reporting rates were compiled. Recommendations are given for adjusting band recoveries to account for the nonreporting of bands for 1957-73.

Journal of Wildlife Management

Thermal adaptiveness of plumage color in screech owls

Clinal variation in the relative proportions of red and gray plum- age phases in Screech Owls ( Otus asio ) was analyzed by Owen (1963) and Marshall (1967). This variation was well known prior to Owen's work, but was misinterpreted (Baird, et al. 1874, Hasbrouck 1893, Allen 1893).] Laurel VanCamp and Charles Henny (MS) have 30 years of data on a northern Ohio Screech Owl population. They observed an over- winter decline (from about 25% to 15%) in the proportion of red phase birds in the winter of 1951-52. This decline was correlated with a severe winter of above normal snowfall and below average temperatures. They examined banding and recovery data and found overwinter survival of red and gray birds to be the same except for this one severe winter when 44% more red phase birds were lost than grays (VanCamp and Henny MS). Differential mortality was reported by Gullion and Marshall (1968) for red and gray phase Ruffed Grouse ( Bonasa umbellus ) where snow conditions for roosting is apparently the critical factor for grouse overwinter survival and is related to predation. Snow- roosting has not, to our knowledge, been observed in Screech Owls. VanCamp and Henny (MS) discuss the observations of Ruffed Grouse and Screech Owls and suggest that possible thermoregulatory differences between red and gray phase birds could account for differential overwinter survival. Our objective was to test for differences between color phase in oxygen uptake at several ambient temperatures. We hypothesized that oxygen uptake would be greater by red phase birds, especially at lower temperatures.

The Auk