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At least 1,171 records · Page 65Linked to original sources
USGS1980

Lead residues in sora rails from Maryland

During September and October, mi- grating sora rails (Porzana carolina) use tidal marshes of the Patuxent River in Maryland, where they have been hunted for many years. Spent shot accumulates in the marsh during the rail hunting sea- son, and some shot is ingested by the birds. Twelve percent of gizzards from rails collected at the marsh during 1965- 73 contained lead shot (Artmann and Martin 1975). Effects of ingested lead on waterfowl are well documented (Bellrose 1959), although effects on other species of wild birds are not well known. In this note we report lead residues in liver and bone tissues of sora rails collected at the Patuxent River marshes in 1976.

Journal of Wildlife Management↗
USGS1980

Food use and nutrition of black ducks nesting in Maine

Based on 32 adult black ducks ( Anas rubripes ) collected during the nesting seasons of 1974-76, the proportion of macro invertebrates (as aggregate [average] percent of dry weight) in the diet of males, egg-laying females, and postlaying females was 60, 75, and 55%, respectivey. Sample sizes were small, and the differences associated with sex and reproductive condition were not signficant. Molluscs, Isopods, ephemeropteran and odonate nymphs, and coleopteran, trichopteran, and dipteran larvae contributed 74% of the dry weight and 64% of the gross energy ingested. Data from proximate analyses of 9 invertebrate and 9 plant foods were combined with food habits data to estimate the nutrients available to breeding hens. We concluded that females with access to an adequate amount of natural food including invertebrates and the seeds and tubers of aquatic plants would obtain sufficient minerals, protein, and energy for reproduction. Food quality does not appear to limit the density of black ducks nesting in Maine.

Maine↗
USGS1983

Ferruginous hawk populations and habitat use in North Dakota

Ferruginous hawks ( Buteo regalis ) were studied in central North Dakota on a 1,259-km 2 intensive study block and on a surrounding study area (16,519 km 2 ) from 1977 to 1979. A total of 629 occupied nests was examined. Highest nest densities (0.08 nest/km 2 ) were in the Missouri Coteau in 1979. Few nests were found on the more intensively cultivated Drift Plain. We estimated the breeding population in the study area each year using 148 sample plots ( x̄ = 440 nesting pairs). Pairs that nested on the ground selected only sites on rugged landforms in isolated areas, mostly end and dead-ice moraines. Land use within 1.0 km of nests was mostly (76.5%) pasture and haylands. About 95% of the area around ground nests was grassland. Tree and tower nesting birds appeared less sensitive to surrounding land use. Pairs on the intensive study block used a wide variety of nest sites including trees (63.6%), ground (20.9%), power line towers (8.0%), haystacks (5.4%), and rock piles, utility poles, and shrubs (2.1%). Reoccupancy rates were higher (63.7%) for tower nests than for other sites. Nest success was related to the type of nest site and was highest (86.7%) in certain power line towers. Mean number of young fledged per occupied nest was highest (2.8) for ground nests. Summer storms were a major cause of loss; tree nests were particularly vulnerable. Richardson's ground squirrels ( Spermophilus richardsonii ) were taken as prey most often. Ferruginous hawks are closely associated with grasslands, particularly native prairie.

North Dakota↗
USGS1981

Bobwhite population responses to exploitation: two problems

Recently, Roseberry (1979) attempted to (1) clarify the theoretical basis for harvesting bobwhite ( Colinus virginianus ), (2) assess the impact of varying intensities of harvest on standing densities and long-term yields, and (3) define a harvest strategy appropriate for the bobwhite resource in Illinois. That paper, based on 24 years of field data, unfortunately contains 2 methodological or conceptual errors that are fundamental to the three objectives. Both errors are subtle, and as other have made the same or similar errors in analysis, we identify the problems in a way we hope will be taken constructively.

Journal of Wildlife Management↗
USGS1983

Feeding ecology of mallards wintering in Nebraska

Food use by mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos ) wintering on the Platte River in south central Nebraska was determined from mid-December to early March 1978-80. Mallards foraged in river channels, irrigation drainage canals, and agricultural areas. Plant matter formed 97% of the diet (dry weight) and diets did not vary between sexes (P > 0.05). Waste corn was the principal food consumed and formed 46 and 62% of the diets of males and females, respectively. Milo, common duckweed ( Lemna minor ), smartweed ( Polygonum spp.), and barnyardgrass ( Echinochloa muricata ) composed most of the remaining plant matter ingested. Mallards fed intensively in riparian wetland habitat to obtain invertebrates, but few were consumed because of limited abundance. Dietary protein was lower than reported among mallards wintering in Louisiana. Field feeding occurred primarily in grazed corn stubble and cattle feedlots. The distances traveled to feed, and the duration and timing of feeding varied with snow cover and season phenology. Competition for food was markedly higher during the cold winter of 1979 when heavy snow cover was present.

Nebraska↗
USGS1983

Effects of heptachlor on American kestrels in the Columbia Basin, Oregon

Wheat seeds treated with heptachlor to control wireworms (Ctenicara pruinina) resulted in American kestrels (Falco sparverius) in the Columbia Basin accumulating residues of heptachlor epoxide (HE) that reduced productivity and caused some adult mortality. The kestrel is more sensitive to HE residues in eggs than the Canada goose (Branta canadensis moffitti), i.e., reduced productivity occurs at > 1.5 ppm in kestrel eggs vs. > 10 ppm in Canada goose eggs. Neither kestrel eggshells nor Canada goose eggshells were thinned by HE. The reduced use of heptachlor in 1979, because of a partial ban, resulted in an immediate lowering of HE concentrations in kestrel eggs the following year.

Oregon↗
USGS1983

Response of American black ducks to dietary uranium: A proposed substitute for lead shot

Lead (Pb) shot has been associated with mortality in waterfowl (Trainer and Hunt 1965, Anderson 1975, Stout and Cornwell 1976) and other avian species (Benson et al. 1974, Kaiser et al. 1980, Pattee et al. 1981). Bellrose (1959) indicated that between 2 and 3% of waterfowl populations may be lost yearly to lead poisoning. Incidence of lead shot in waterfowl and estimates of mortality from lead poisoning have decreased slightly (Trost 1980) or not at all (Longcore et al 1982) in local areas since 1976, when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated certain wetland areas in 32 states as steel shot zones. Studies in specific areas do not give a complete national picture, but do point to remaining problems. Steel shotshells are more expensive than Pb shotshells when purchased in a retail outlet; they cannot be used in all guns and have not been well received by some hunters who question their performance on ducks and geese (Humburg et al 1982).

Journal of Wildlife Management↗
USGS1982

Behavioral interactions of penned red and arctic foxes

Expansion of the geographical distribution of red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ) into the far north tundra region may lead to competition between arctic ( Alopex lagopus ) and red foxes for space and resources. Behavioral interactions between red and arctic foxes were evaluated during 9 trials conducted in a 4.05-ha enclosure near Woodworth, North Dakota. Each trial consisted of introducing a male-female pair of arctic foxes into the enclosure and allowing them to acclimate for approximately a week before releasing a female red fox into the enclosure, followed by her mate a few days later. In 8 of 9 trials, red foxes were dominant over arctic foxes during encounters. Activity of the arctic foxes decreased upon addition of red foxes. Arctic foxes tried unsuccessfully to defend preferred den, resting, and feeding areas. Even though the outcome of competition between red and arctic foxes in the Arctic is uncertain, the more aggressive red fox can dominate arctic foxes in direct competition for den sites and other limited resources.

North Dakota↗
USGS1982

Age-class determination of canvasbacks

A technique was developed to distinguish yearling from adult canvasbacks ( Aythya valisineria ) in the field during spring on the basis of white flecking on the distal ends of selected wing feathers. Covert feathers from adults had well-defined vermiculation patterns whereas feathers from yearlings lacked such markings. These age-related characters were confirmed by paired comparisons of feathers from the same captive birds in consecutive years and by discriminant analysis of feathers using densitometric measurements from known-age wild birds. Reflective densitometric measurements of greater secondary coverts for females and males were significantly different between 1- and 2-year-old and between 2- and 3-year-old canvasbacks. Greater secondary coverts were the best feathers for recognizing age-classes of males and females. Densitometric values indicate low variability among different observers and within samples.

Journal of Wildlife Management↗
USGS1982

Additional comments on the assumption of homogeneous survival rates in modern bird banding estimation models

We examined the problem of heterogeneous survival and recovery rates in bird banding estimation models. We suggest that positively correlated subgroup survival and recovery probabilities may result from winter banding operations and that this situation will produce positively biased survival rate estimates. The magnitude of the survival estimate bias depends on the proportion of the population in each subgroup. Power of the suggested goodness-of-fit test to reject the inappropriate model for heterogeneous data sets was low for all situations examined and was poorest for positively related subgroup survival and recovery rates. Despite the magnitude of some of the biases reported and the relative inability to detect heterogeneity, we suggest that levels of heterogeneity normally encountered in real data sets will produce relatively small biases of average survival rates.

Journal of Wildlife Management↗