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At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources
USGS2019

Left out in the rain: Comparing productivity of two associated species exposes a leak in the umbrella species concept

Multi-species approaches to wildlife management have become commonplace and purport to benefit entire biological communities. These strategies aim to manage different, often taxonomically distant species under a single regime based on shared habitat associations and/or co-occurrence in the landscape. We tested the efficacy of multi-species management in the context of creating and maintaining early-successional forest cover types using two species of migratory birds that breed in eastern North America and are each the focus of intensive, concurrent, and overlapping management. American woodcock ( Scolopax minor ) and golden-winged warblers ( Vermivora chrysoptera ) breed in similar diverse-forest landscapes. Each species purportedly benefits from management for the other species and both are often used as flagship species for the creation of young forest and the conservation of associated avian communities. However, the landscape-species relationships that drive reproductive success and population stability in these species have not been explicitly compared. Here, we use previously published spatially-explicit models of productivity (the number of juveniles raised to a biologically significant milestone) to identify the relationship(s) between productivity of American woodcock and golden-winged warblers across a shared landscape. We found productivity to be negatively associated between these species on the same landscape at all spatial scales we modelled (1 m 2 –100 ha). Our results suggest that, with regards to productivity, American woodcock and golden-winged warblers have opposing relationships with the composition of the landscapes in which they coexist and therefore should not be assumed to benefit similarly from any individual management action at any relevant spatial scale.

Biological Conservation↗
USGS2014

The persistent problem of lead poisoning in birds from ammunition and fishing tackle

Lead (Pb) is a metabolic poison that can negatively influence biological processes, leading to illness and mortality across a large spectrum of North American avifauna (>120 species) and other organisms. Pb poisoning can result from numerous sources, including ingestion of bullet fragments and shot pellets left in animal carcasses, spent ammunition left in the field, lost fishing tackle, Pb-based paints, large-scale mining, and Pb smelting activities. Although Pb shot has been banned for waterfowl hunting in the United States (since 1991) and Canada (since 1999), Pb exposure remains a problem for many avian species. Despite a large body of scientific literature on exposure to Pb and its toxicological effects on birds, controversy still exists regarding its impacts at a population level. We explore these issues and highlight areas in need of investigation: (1) variation in sensitivity to Pb exposure among bird species; (2) spatial extent and sources of Pb contamination in habitats in relation to bird exposure in those same locations; and (3) interactions between avian Pb exposure and other landscape-level stressors that synergistically affect bird demography. We explore multiple paths taken to reduce Pb exposure in birds that (1) recognize common ground among a range of affected interests; (2) have been applied at local to national scales; and (3) engage governmental agencies, interest groups, and professional societies to communicate the impacts of Pb ammunition and fishing tackle, and to describe approaches for reducing their availability to birds. As they have in previous times, users of fish and wildlife will play a key role in resolving the Pb poisoning issue.

The Condor↗
USGS2025

Sapsucker wells as a keystone nutritional resource: Evaluating methods for detection of secondary sap consumers

North American sapsuckers are considered double keystone species because they (1) excavate nest cavities that are used by other birds, small mammals, and invertebrates, and (2) create and maintain sap wells, a temporary nutritional resource available to a variety of secondary consumers. Most previous reports of secondary sap consumption relied on human observers and were based on either brief or incidental observations. However, modern technology can greatly enhance observational techniques and provide additional insights into the functional, community-level importance of sap wells. We used visual surveys, camera traps, and environmental DNA (eDNA) to identify secondary consumers of sap from wells created by red-naped ( Sphyrapicus nuchalis ) and Williamson's ( S. thyroideus ) sapsuckers among three functional groups of shrubs and trees in south-central Colorado: shrub willows ( Salix spp.), Rocky Mountain maple ( Acer glabrum ), and conifer trees (Pinopsida). Camera traps and eDNA revealed additional sap-well visitors not identified from direct observations. Camera traps were effective for detecting nocturnal sap-well visitors such as small rodents as well as occasional diurnal visitors. Environmental DNA analyses corroborated findings from other methods and identified four additional taxa as possible sap consumers. The physiology of sap-well visitors, such as the ability to taste and assimilate compounds within sap, may aid in determining consumption versus contact when evaluating the results of eDNA analyses. Total vertebrate taxa detected using all 3 methods included 17 bird taxa in 10 families within 3 orders and 8 mammal taxa in 6 families within 4 orders. Shrub-willow sap wells attracted the most diverse vertebrate taxa (23), followed by Rocky Mountain maple (13) and conifer trees (10). Invertebrates in 13 families within 3 orders were observed feeding from sap wells during visual surveys. Because many secondary sap consumers perform ecological services such as pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control, the methods described here may aid in elucidating the importance of sap-well creators in supporting biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

Colorado↗
USGS2014

The spring migration of adult North American Ospreys

Most North American Ospreys ( Pandion haliaetus ) are migratory, breeding in northern latitudes and migrating long distances to and from their wintering grounds in the tropics. Although fall migration patterns of North American Ospreys have been described and studied, very little has been published about the spring migration of these birds. We used satellite telemetry to: (1) determine the characteristics (timing, duration, migratory routes) of spring migrations of Ospreys; (2) determine if differences in spring migration patterns existed between sexes and among three breeding populations (east coast, midwestern, and western); and (3) compare consecutive fall and spring migrations of individual Ospreys. The median dates for departure from the wintering grounds and arrival on the breeding grounds did not differ significantly between adult male and female Ospreys. Compared to their fall migrations, all male and all east coast Ospreys spent fewer days on migration, fewer days in stopover periods along the migration route, traveled shorter distances overall, and traveled farther (on average) each day during spring. In contrast, fall and spring migration characteristics of all female and western Ospreys were similar. Our findings suggest that, although sex and breeding location might influence the spring migration strategy used by individual Ospreys, both males and females minimize the time spent on migration to ensure a timely arrival on the breeding grounds to establish or defend a nesting territory.

Journal of Raptor Research↗
USGS1983

Habitat suitability index models: redhead (wintering)

The redhead is a North American waterfowl species with economic as well as ecological importance. It is highly desired by hunters. Retrieved redhead kill in the United States averaged 143,000 birds during the three waterfowl seasons from 1975 to 1977 (U.S. Department of the Interior 1981a, 1981b). Populations on the principal breeding grounds of the redhead--the prairie and parkland region of south-central Canada and north-central United States--averaged 710,000 birds from 1955 to 1981 (Bellrose 1976; A. Novara, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS], Jamestown, North Dakota; pers. comm.). Redhead numbers began to decline in the 1960's. Killing redheads became illegal from 1960 to 1963, and strict bag limits were imposed after that (Bellrose 1976). A breeding population low of 387,000 birds occurred in 1963, but prairie populations began to recover after that time. Their numbers peaked in 1980 when 1,146,000 birds were recorded (A. Novara, pers. comm.). During the fall, over a third of the total redhead population uses the migration corridor that extends from the prairie breeding area to the Texas gulf coast. Another migration corridor extends from the second most important breeding area--the Great Salt Basin--to the Texas coast (Bellrose 1976). During the fall, over a third of the total redhead population uses the migration corridor that extends from the prairie breeding area to the Texas gulf coast. Another migration corridor extends from the second most important breeding area--the Great Salt Basin--to the Texas coast (Bellrose 1976).

FWS/OBS↗
USGS2024

Grassland Effectiveness Monitoring (GEM): A tiered approach for habitat treatment assessment across private lands incentive programs

Introduction The decline of North American grasslands is a topic of increasing interest as agencies and organizations work to address subsequent declines in wildlife species, including grassland birds (Rosenberg et al. 2019), pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) (Gedir et al. 2015), and other grassland-dependent taxa. In response to grassland habitat loss, conservation programs and policies have been developed to provide biologists and landowners mechanisms to restore grassland habitat on private lands. These range from federal programs such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Partners for Fish and Wildlife program (PFW) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentive Program, state programs such as Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Pastures for Upland Birds, and partnership-based programs such as the Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture’s Grassland Restoration Incentive Program (GRIP). When managing and restoring grassland habitat, these programs typically utilize the same set of practices: prescribed grazing, prescribed fire, herbicide, brush management, and range planting. To restore grasslands at scale, large sums of funding have been invested into these programs. For example, approximately $1 million is spent by PFW in Texas annually (D. Wilhelm, USFWS, personal communication). However, it is rare for these conservation programs to have associated monitoring efforts that are consistently used to assess the effectiveness of the aforementioned practices in achieving program and project objectives. As such, it is difficult to communicate to funders and the public whether these conservation programs are successfully addressing grassland decline. Similar objectives and practices across programs, however, provide a unique opportunity for developing an innovative monitoring methodology that focuses on providing a collaborative solution to this dilemma. Our objective is to develop a grassland monitoring program that can be used across agencies, organizations, and conservation programs to assess the effectiveness of practices and programs in restoring healthy grasslands. In addition, we seek to develop a program that maintains consistency to allow for regional to national-scale reporting while also allowing flexibility for achieving local and partner monitoring objectives. Our vision is for this program to be used across North American grasslands to improve our ability to address the questions: “Is it actually working?” and “How can we improve habitat delivery?”

Conference Paper↗
USGS2009

Avian influenza at both ends of a migratory flyway: characterizing viral genomic diversity to optimize surveillance plans for North America

Although continental populations of avian influenza viruses are genetically distinct, transcontinental reassortment in low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses has been detected in migratory birds. Thus, genomic analyses of LPAI viruses could serve as an approach to prioritize species and regions targeted by North American surveillance activities for foreign origin highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). To assess the applicability of this approach, we conducted a phylogenetic and population genetic analysis of 68 viral genomes isolated from the northern pintail (Anas acuta) at opposite ends of the Pacific migratory flyway in North America. We found limited evidence for Asian LPAI lineages on wintering areas used by northern pintails in California in contrast to a higher frequency on breeding locales of Alaska. Our results indicate that the number of Asian LPAI lineages observed in Alaskan northern pintails, and the nucleotide composition of LPAI lineages, is not maintained through fall migration. Accordingly, our data indicate that surveillance of Pacific Flyway northern pintails to detect foreign avian influenza viruses would be most effective in Alaska. North American surveillance plans could be optimized through an analysis of LPAI genomics from species that demonstrate evolutionary linkages with European or Asian lineages and in regions that have overlapping migratory flyways with areas of HPAI outbreaks.

Alaska, California↗
USGS2009

Feeding ecology of long-tailed ducks Clangula hyemalis wintering on the Nantucket Shoals

A substantial proportion, perhaps 30%, of the North American breeding population of Long-tailed Ducks ( Clangula hyemalis ) winter in the vicinity of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. These birds spend the night on Nantucket Sound and commute during daylight hours to the Nantucket Shoals, which extend about 65 km offshore from the southeastern corner of Nantucket. Strip transects done from a single-engine plane in 1997 and 1998 indicated that Long-tailed Ducks foraged over the shallower (≤ 20 m depth) portions of the Nantucket Shoals, up to 70 km offshore. Diet analyses of ten birds collected in February 1999 and five in December 2006 showed that they fed principally (106.6 /- 42.0 individuals per crop) on Gammarus annulatus , a pelagic amphipod that often forms large aggregations, and is consumed by several species of fish and marine mammals. Our findings emphasize the importance of conservation of the Nantucket Shoals and the prevention of oil spills or other potentially harmful accidents.

Massachusetts↗
USGS1995

Shorebirds: East of the 105th meridian

The North American group of shorebirds includes 48 kinds of sandpipers, plovers, and their allies, many of which live for most of the year in coastal marine habitats; other live principally in nonmarine habitats including grasslands, freshwater wetlands, and even second-growth woodlands. Most North American shorebirds are highly migratory, while others are weakly migratory, and even nonmigratory in some parts of their range. Here we discuss shorebirds east of the 105th meridian (roughly east of the Rocky Mountains). Historically, populations of many North American species were dramatically reduces by excessive gunning (Forbush 1912). Most populations recovered after the passage of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, although some species never recovered and others have declined again. High proportions of entire populations of shorebirds migrate by visiting one or a small number of "staging sites", areas where the birds accumulate fat to provide fuel before continuing with their long-distance, nonstop flights to the next site (Morrison and Harrington 1979; Senner and Howe 1984; Harrington et al. 1991). Growing evidence (Schneider and Harrington 1981) indicates that staging areas are unusually productive sites with highly predictable but seasonally ephemeral "blooms" of invertebrates, which shorebirds use for fattening. In some cases, especially for "obligate" coastal species, specific sites are traditionally used; even other species sites may shift between years. Because pf this, conservationists believe some species are at risk through loss of strategic migration site (Myers et al. 1987). Other species are threatened by the less of breeding and wintering habitats (Page et al. 1991; Haig and Plissner 1993; B. Leachman and B. Osmundsom, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, unpublished data). The predicted consequences of global warming, such as sea-level change, will also strongly affect the intertidal marine habitats, which many species of shorebirds depend upon. Some of the strongest warming effects will be at high latitudes, including those where many shorebirds migrate to breed, as well as south temperate latitudes, where many of them winter.

Book chapter↗
USGS2008

Wildlife values of North American ricelands

Ricelands have become an indispensable component of waterbird habitat and a leading example of integrating agricultural and natural resource management in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, Gulf Coast, and Central California. Residual rice, weed seeds, and invertebrates provide food for many avian species during fall and winter. In North America, considerable information exists on the use of ricefields by wintering waterbirds, the value of ricelands as breeding habitat for birds, and the effects of organic chemicals on birds that- feed in ricefields. Recent research has also examined the influence of field management practices, such as winter flooding and post-harvest straw manipulation, on the suitability of ricefields for wildlife. Whereas early studies focused on detrimental effects of wildlife on rice production (e.g., crop depredation), it has become apparent that waterbirds may benefit producers by enhancing straw decomposition, reducing weed and pest pressure, and providing additional income through hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities. A comprehensive evaluation of agronomic and environmental issues is needed to meet the challenges of producing food and sustaining wildlife in twenty-first-century rice lands. Changes in agricultural markets, pressures of increased urban development, conflicting needs for limited resources such as water, endangered species constraints, and concerns over water quality must be addressed in developing a sustainable, mutually beneficial partnership among the rice industry, wildlife, and environmental interests. Research is also needed to evaluate potential reductions in the wildlife carrying capacity of ricelands resulting from new harvest and field management techniques, crop conversion, or loss of rice acreage. Key uncertainties include: (1) changes in waste grain abundance and availability due to various harvest and post-harvest management practices; (2) evaluating food depletion by birds feeding in rice6elds and derermining threshold food levels required to maintain bird use; (3) quantifying use of ricefields by nonwaterfowl species throughout the year; and (4) determining the amount and distribution of rice habitat needed to meet objectives of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and the United States Shorebird Conservation Plan.

Book chapter↗
USGS2026

Leucism in a family group and a review of color aberrations in Burrowing Owls ( Athene cunicularia )

Avian color aberrations capture public interest and sometimes indicate ecological problems. Diagnosing color aberration type can be difficult because nomenclature is inconsistent, appearance of color aberrations vary, typical coloration varies, and there are many undocumented color aberration types. One type of recognized avian color aberration is leucism. Leucism is often colloquially used to refer to all birds that are paler than normal but not albino, but it specifically refers to a plumage aberration in which, from hatching onward, birds are either all white or have patches of bilaterally symmetrical white feathers mixed with normally colored feathers, while retaining black pupils. Here, we document a case of leucism in a family of North American Burrowing Owls ( Athene cunicularia ). We observed a family group (two adults and five juveniles) of five leucistic, nearly all white owls, and two typically colored owls, in the Conata Basin, South Dakota, USA, in summer 2024. We also compiled all searchable records of color aberrations in Burrowing Owls across their North and South American range. We found 60 records of color aberrations, seven of which were cases of potential leucism. Twenty-five color aberrations were an unknown type in which only eye color was affected, all of them in Florida (USA) or south/central Brazil. Documenting color aberrations in birds can help expand our understanding of the types, causes, and consequences of color aberrations as well as the pigments and genetics that underly normal coloration.

South Dakota↗
USGS1984

A survey of North American migratory waterfowl for duck plague (duck virus enteritis) virus

A survey of migratory waterfowl for duck plague (DP) virus was conducted in the Mississippi and Central flyways during 1982 and in the Atlantic and Pacific flyways during 1983. Cloacal and pharyngeal swabs were collected from 3,169 migratory waterfowl in these four flyways, principally mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos L.), black ducks ( Anas rubripes Brewster), and pintails ( Anas acuta L). In addition 1,033 birds were sampled from areas of recurrent DP outbreaks among nonmigratory and captive waterfowl, and 590 from Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge, the site of the only known major DP outbreak in migratory waterfowl. Duck plague virus was not found in any of the samples. Results support the hypothesis that DP is not established in North American migratory waterfowl as an enzootic disease.

Pacific, Central, Mississippi, and Atlantic Flyway↗
USGS1968

Blood parasites in North American waterfowl

One thing seems to stand out in the overall knowledge we have of the blood parasites of waterfowl, as previously noted by Herman and Wehr, (1954): the greatest potential of losses is in the younger age groups, usually those birds 5-10 weeks old. In Leucocytozoon infections, death occurs as early as the first or second week of the bird's life. As a conclusion to this presentation, I wish to emphasize that there are many gaps in our knowledge of these parasites and that the answers are to be obtained by further studies in the young birds. Data obtained from studies of birds shot by hunters or from specimens taken during fall or winter banding operations can be expected to be far less rewarding and significanf than studies of goslings and ducklings. We need much more knowledge of these parasites and their vectors and other relationships before we can develop management procedures to combat or contain them. It will require many more studies in depth to achieve this goal, but the facts are there waiting to be uncovered. These parasites will have to be regulated along with breeding habitat, hunter take, and other factors that all add up to maintenance and management of waterfowl.

Transactions of the North American Wildlife and Na↗
USGS2015

Prevalence and genetic diversity of haematozoa in South American waterfowl and evidence for intercontinental redistribution of parasites by migratory birds

To understand the role of migratory birds in the movement and transmission of haematozoa within and between continental regions, we examined 804 blood samples collected from eleven endemic species of South American waterfowl in Peru and Argentina for infection by Haemoproteus , Plasmodium , and/or Leucocytozono blood parasites. Infections were detected in 25 individuals of six species for an overall apparent prevalence rate of 3.1%. Analysis of haematozoa mitochondrial DNA revealed twelve distinct parasite haplotypes infecting South American waterfowl, four of which were identical to lineages previously observed infecting ducks and swans sampled in North America. Analysis of parasite mitochondrial DNA sequences revealed close phylogenetic relationships between lineages originating from waterfowl samples regardless of continental affiliation. In contrast, more distant phylogenetic relationships were observed between parasite lineages from waterfowl and passerines sampled in South America for Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon , suggesting some level of host specificity for parasites of these genera. The detection of identical parasite lineages in endemic, South American waterfowl and North American ducks and swans, paired with the close phylogenetic relationships of haematozoa infecting waterfowl on both continents, provides evidence for parasite redistribution between these regions by migratory birds.

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites ↗
USGS1990

Survival and band recovery rates of mallards in New Zealand

Mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos ) were banded at 4 discrete study areas in New Zealand. We used hunting season recoveries in conjunction with band recovery models to estimate annual survival and recovery rates and to test hypotheses about sources of variation in these rates. Recovery rates varied among the 4 areas and from year to year within areas. Recovery rates were generally higher for young mallards than for adults, and recovery rates of males were higher than those of females. Survival rates varied among the 4 areas and from year to year within some areas. Survival rates of females were lower than those of males, but survival rates of young birds were not consistently lower than those of adults. Average survival rates over all 4 areas were generally lower than averages for North American mallards.

Journal of Wildlife Management↗