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At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources
USGS1981

Censusing wading bird colonies: An update on the 'flight-line' count method

1. Thirteen mixed-species heronries (10 in Florida, two in Virginia, one in North Carolina) were studied in 1980 as part of a project begun in 1979 aimed at evaluating the 'flight-line' census method..2. Standardized counts of Snowy and Cattle Egrets, Louisiana and Little Blue Herons flying to and from the nesting colony were made for three hr periods, followed by a nest count of the colony. 3.Significant differences were found in the flight rates (number of birds per nest x hour) of the four species at the Chincoteague colony. However, when Cattle Egrets and Louisiana Herons were compared at all 13 colonies, their respective flight rates were in opposite rank to those at Chincoteague. Colony differences, then, may mask species differences. 4. A linear regression model showed a strong fit (R2=0.92) between the hourly flight number (3 hr means) and the nest number, but point estimates (single colony) had very large confidence limits. A given colony might be over-or underestimated by a factor of 2, using the regression equation as a predictive model. 5. A more appropriate application of the method would be to determine regionwide (e.g., state), rather than colony-specific, population estimates. 'Total' estimates for all (n= 13) colonies were within 10% of the actual nest number.

Colonial Waterbirds↗
USGS1981

Common tern colonies along the mid-Atlantic coast. I. Nestling chronology

1. Sixteen Common Tern colonies in Rhode Island, New Jersey, Virginia, and North Carolina were studied from May through July 1980 by four investigators. Nests were marked during egg laying and were monitored every 5-7 days until fledging of young. 2. Results from 1980 indicate that ambient temperature differences in the four study areas account for differences in the onset of egg laying with North Carolina and Virginia colonies beginning 12-16 days before New Jersey and Rhode Island birds. Temperature alone, however, does not seem to have a significant effect on either median egg-laying dates or total duration of the season. 3. The low frequency of late-season nesting was not correlated with colony size or success of peak nests in 1980, but renesting (or late nesting) in all study areas was rare because of the benign weather conditions during the spring. Similarly, no significant correlation was found between success of nests and colony size.

Colonial Waterbirds↗
USGS1986

Hatching success of Caspian terns nesting in the lower Laguna Madre, Texas, USA

The average clutch size of Caspian Terns nesting in a colony in the Lower Laguna Madre near Laguna Vista, Texas, USA in 1984 was 1.9 eggs per nest. Using the Mayfield method for calculating success, one egg hatched in 84.1% of the nests and 69.8% of the eggs laid hatched. These hatching estimates are as high or higher than estimates from colonies in other areas.

Texas↗
USGS1986

A summary of alcid records from Hawaii

Abstract.-Four species of alcids have now been recorded frorn Hawaii. Two of them, the Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata and the Cassin's Auklet (Ptychoramchus aleuticus) have been found only once; the occurrence of the latter is reported here for the first time. two other alcids, the Horned Puffin (Fratercula arctica) and the Parakeet .Auklet (Cyclorrhynchus psittacula) have been recorded frorn Hawaii in greater numbers; the latter may be of regular occurrence in subtropical waters near the northwestern portion of the Hawaiian archipelago. Occurrence in Hawaii does not appear to be strongly related to size of populations to the north but instead to the extent to which the species are known to disperse.

Hawaii↗
USGS1986

Range extension for the gray-backed tern in the western Pacific

About 75 pairs of Gray-backed Terns (Sterna lunata) nested on Guguan in the Northern Mariana Islands in 1979. This locality represents a breeding range extension of about 2000 km to the west of the westernmost previously known colony. The species is also reported for the first time from Uracas, northernmost of the Northern Mariana Islands, where it may also breed.

Colonial Waterbirds↗
USGS1986

Nesting of the masked booby on the Dry Tortugas, Florida: The first record for the contiguous United States

In both 1984 and 1985 Masked Boobies ( Sula dactylatra ) attempted to nest on sandy islets at the Dry Tortugas, Florida. Nesting attempts failed because the nest sites were washed away by summer storms. It seems likely that this species will eventually nest there successfully and will establish a small breeding population. This is the first documented nesting by this species in the contiguous United States.

Florida↗
USGS1988

Organochlorines and mercury in eggs of coastal terns and herons in California, USA

In San Franciso Bay, California, USA, concentrations of DDE and mercury in eggs differed among Caspian Tern, Forster's Tern, Black-crowned Night-Heron, and Snowy Egret in 1982. Geometric mean DDE concentrations were higher (P < 0.05) in Caspian Tern eggs (6.93 ppm, wet weight) than in eggs of other species (1.92-2.84 ppm). Mean mercury concentrations were significantly greater in Caspian Tern (1.25 ppm) and forster's Tern (0.90 ppm) eggs than in night-herons (0.41 ppm), but night-heron eggs contained higher concentrations of mercury than did the eggs of Snowy Egrets (0.21 ppm). There were no significant differences among species for mean concentrations of trans-nonachlor or PCBs; other organochlorines occurred in fewer than half of the samples, so means were not compared. Caspian Tern eggs from San Francisco Bay had higher PCB concentrations (4.85 ppm) than did eggs of this species from San Diego Bay, California (1.70 ppm) or Elkhorn Slough, California (1.83 ppm), but we detected no significant differences in mean concentrations of other organochlorines. DDE concentrations in 5 of 47 (10.6%) night-heron eggs from San Francisco Bay exceeded 8 ppm, a level associated with impaired reproduction in this species. DDE concentrations were negatively correlated with eggshell thickness in night-herons and egrets.

California↗
USGS1985

Reproduction and organochlorine contaminants in terns at San Diego Bay

In 1981, we studied Caspian Terns (Sterna caspia) and Elegant Terns (S. elegans) nesting at the south end of San Diego Bay, California. Randomly collected Caspian Tern eggs contained signficantly (P < 0.05) higher mean concentrations of DDE (9.30 ppm) than did Elegant Tern eggs (3.79 ppm). DDE may have had an adverse effect on Caspian Tern reproduction but the relationship between hatching success and DDE concentration was not clear. We found an unusually high incidence of chicks (4.6%) that died in hatching. Caspian Tern eggs that broke during incubation or contained chicks that died while hatching had shells that were significantly (P < 0.05) thinner than eggs collected before 1947, and DDE was associated with reductions in shell thickness index (i.e., lowered eggshell density). Fish brought to Caspian Tern chicks contained up to 3.0 ppm DDE and 1.1 ppm PCBs. Organochlorine concentration brains of terns found dead were not high enough to suggest such poisoning as a cause of death.

California↗
USGS1987

The feeding habits of the snail kite in Florida, USA

The feeding habits of the Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) were observed intermittently from 1967-1980 in Florida, USA. Approximately 97% of all observed foraging bouts were over marshes having sparse emergent vegetation. The visually-hunting kite was unable to forage over floating mats of exotic water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). Male kites had shorter hunting bouts than females. For still-hunting, the birds' perches ranged from 0.15-4.6 m high and captures occurred an average of 5.8 m from perches. Females were significantly more successful (70%) for course-hunting than males (48%), but I found no difference for still-hunting. Birds tended to forage throughout the day, except for occasional inactive periods by some individuals during midday. On cooler days, foraging commenced slightly later in the morning than on warmer days. Kites probably capture freshwater apple snails (Pomacea paludosa) as deep as 16 cm. Capture rates for adults generally ranged from 1.7-3.4 snails per hour. Kites usually foraged over a common hunting area, and defense of foraging sites was rare. Handling of snails, from the kite's arrival at the feeding perch unit consumption, averaged 2.7 min, with no significant difference between sexes. However, adult females were more efficient at the extraction portion of this process than were adult males. Snails were usually extracted before being brought to the nest, except in the latter part of the nestling period when some snails were extracted at or near the nest and some were brought intact. Adults feed small chicks bill to bill, and both parents generally shared equally in care of the young, except at two nests where the females did 67% or more of the feeding. Mean length of snails taken by kites was 42.8 mm (range 25.2-71.3 n=697) and mean diameter was 45.8 mm (range 27.4-82.4, n=697). The most common size classes tkaen were 30-60 mm in length and diameter. Nutritional and gross energy values were determined for apple snails. Female snails with albumen glands removed (versus males or mixed samples of both sexes of complete tissue or with viscera removed) had the highest caloric value (.hivin.x=4.04 kcal/g, n=10). Kites cast pellets, a behavior documented here for the first time.

Florida↗
USGS1987

Industrial, agricultural, and petroleum contaminants in cormorants wintering near the Houston Ship Channel, Texas, USA

Double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus ) collected in the Houston Ship Channel, Texas, USA, in November shortly after their fall migration contained residues of several industrial, agricultural, and petroleum contaminants including polychlorinated styrenes (PCS's), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), DDE, and petroleum hydrocarbons. PCS concentrations in over-wintering birds collected in late February were three times higher than those in birds collected in November. PCB and petroleum concentrations remained at about the same level throughout the 3-month winter period. Petroleum hydrocarbons were present in all cormorants and residues in some individuals exceeded 25 ppm (wet weight). Mean DDE residues in samples collected in November and February were less than 1 ppm. Low concentrations of five other organochlorine compounds, not detected in cormorants collected in November, were recovered in birds collected in February.

Texas↗
USGS1991

Growth rates of great egret, snowy egret and black-crowned night-heron chicks

Growth rates of Great Erget (Casmerodius albus), Snowy Erget (Egretta thula), and Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) chicks to 18 days-of-age were estimated from repeated measurements of chicks in broods of three young. Weight gain (g/day) or increase in length (mm/day) of forearm, tarsus, or culmen did not between Black-crowned Night-Heron chicks at a colony in Rhode Island and a colony in Texas (USA). In Black-crowned night-Herons and Great Egrets, the last chick (C-chick) to hatch had lower growth rates than the first (A-) or second (B-) hatched chick. Black-crowned Night-Heron and Great Egret A-chicks gained weight faster than Snowy Egret A-chicks; however growth rates of the forearm, tarsus, or culmen each were not different among the three species. Equations based on the growth rate of culmen, forearm, or tarsus for repeatedly measured A-chicks estimated age of Great Egret, Snowy Egret, and Black-crowned Night-Heron chicks collected elsewhere to within two days of known age.

Colonial Waterbirds↗
USGS1994

American White Pelicans at the Molly Islands, in Yellowstone National Park: Twenty-two years of boom-and-bust breeding, 1966-87

Systematic monitoring of nesting and fledging of American White Pelicans ( Pelecanus erythrorhynchos ) breeding on the Molly Islands In Yellowstone Lake was carried on for 20 years between 1966 and 1987. The mean number of pelicans fledged during those years was 214 (±196 SD). In five of those years the number of pelicans fledged was at or near zero. In six other years, the number of young pelicans fledged ranged from 302-650, with four of those years producing record numbers of successfully fledged young. Maximum seasonal levels of Yellowstone Lake reaching 1.6 m or more produced complete or near complete reproductive failures. Conversely, years with maximum lake levels never reaching 1.4 m were most likely to have very good to outstanding fledging success. Also, numbers of days when air temperatures of -8.8° C or colder and daily temperature minimums of -16.6° C, as well as the duration of ice cover on Yellowstone Lake were important modifiers of the numbers of pelicans fledged. Unexpected crustal deformations adjacent to and within the Yellowstone Lake basin induced flooding, representing serious geologic threats to the long-term well being of the Molly Island pelican colony. A baseline breeding population of 546 (± 183 SD) adult pelicans was calculated to have supported this Molly Island colony. Also, the percentage of population change in the computed annual life cycle for 1966-87 was +5%.

Wyoming↗
USGS1994

Prevalence of eustrongylidosis in wading birds from colonies in California, Texas, and Rhode Island, USA

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) and Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) nestlings from colonies in Texas, Rhode Island, and California and Great Egret (Casmerodius albus) nestlings from Texas were examined for eustrongylidosis, or infection by the parasitic nematode Eustrongylides spp. In 31% (24/77) of all broods examined, at least one nestling was infected. Snowy Egret broods from Texas were more frequently (100%) infected than those from California (20%) or Rhode Island (10%), and the prevalence of eustrongylidosis in 5- and 10-day-old Snowy Egret nestlings was higher in the Texas colony than the other two. Within the Texas colony, the frequency of eustrongylidosis was greater for Snowy Egret (100%) and Great Egret (80%) broods than for Black-crowned Night-Heron broods (12.5%). Also in Texas, eustrongylidosis was more frequent in 5-day-old Snowy Egret nestlings than 5-day-old Black-crowned Night-Heron or Great Egret nestlings, and in 10-day-old Snowy Egret nestlings than in 10-day-old Black-crowned Night-Heron nestlings. Eustrongylides spp. caused perforations of the gastrointestinal tract and peritonitis, particularly in Snowy Egrets.

California, Rhode Island, Texas↗
USGS1989

Patterns of species co-occurrence of nesting colonial Ciconiiformes in Atlantic coast estuarine areas

Patterns of co-occurrence of 11 species of nesting colonial Ciconiiformes in estuarine areas of the Atlantic coast from Maine to Florida were examined using Reciprocal Averaging and Detrended Correspondence Analyses. The first RA ordination axis categorized the species into two groups: species of large birds that often nest in the tops of large trees, and species of smaller birds that usually nest lower down in trees, bushes, or on the ground. The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) showed the largest positive ordination score on this axis, followed by the Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) and the Great Egret (Casmerodius albus). The other 8 species were clumped on the first ordination axis and showed little separation. The second RA axis showed an ordering of relative species abundances along an apparent north-south gradientThere were no consistent similarities of ordination scores of any species pairs or groups on all the major axes, suggesting that no consistent similarities in relative abundances of 2- or 3-species 'assemblages' were found throughout the entire Atlantic Coastal Plain.

Colonial Waterbirds↗
USGS1989

Remote characterization of marine bird habitats with satellite imagery

Remote sensing techniques such as radar altimetry, synthetic aperture radar, coastal zone color scanning, and infrared radiometry provide effective, instantaneous, and relatively inexpensive means for characterizing critical habitats of marine birds. In order to make optimal use of satellite-derived data, the rationale for marine habitat classification is presented, and advantages and limitations of different remote sensing techniques are discussed. An application of remote characterization is used to test for short-term habitat use and selection by the Black-Capped Petrel ( Pterodroma hasitata ). By comparing synoptic satellite mapping (e.g. infrared radiometry) with ship-board censusing, it was possible to demonstrate that petrels did not use all marine habitats equally, nor did petrels use habitats in proportion to their availability (areal extent).

Colonial Waterbirds↗
USGS1989

Iterative techniques for characterizing marine bird habitats with time-series of satellite images

Demonstrating long-term habitat use of marine habitats by seabirds is often complicated by short-term changes in habitat locations, persistence, and age. This paper describes iterative techniques for characterizing non-static habitats, such as meso-scale (10-100 km) ocean eddies and fronts, using time-series of satellite images that define sea surface conditions. Seabird use of satellite-detected habitats was compared using survey data and imagery from the Gulf of Alaska and southeastern United States. Time-series examination of satellite images combined with long-term seabird censuses allow 1) estimation of the successional state (age) of some marine habitats, 2) detection of recurring habitats, 3) geographically-referenced measurement of habitat location and areal extent, 4) identification of consistently-used habitats, and 5) demonstration of time-dependent use by seabirds associated with seasonal or annual variation in habitat availability.

Colonial Waterbirds↗
USGS1989

Responses to human intruders by birds nesting in colonies: Experimental results and management guidelines

Colonies of nesting wading birds and seabirds were studied at coastal sites in Virginia and North Carolina to determine distances at which birds flushed in response to human intrusion. There were few statistically significant relationships between flushing distances and colony size. Similarly, there were few differences between responses during incubation compared to post-hatching periods.

Colonial Waterbirds↗