[Book review] Stokes field guide to birds, by Donald Stokes and Lillian Stokes
Review of: Stokes field guide to birds. Donald Stokes and Lillian Stokes.
Prairie Naturalist↗
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[Book review] The encyclopedia of birds, by Christopher M. Perrins and Alex L. A. Middleton
Review of: The Encyclopedia of birds. Perrins, Christopher M.; Middleton, Alex L.A. New York, Facts on File, 1985. 463 p., illus. ISBN: 0-8160-1150-8.
Prairie Naturalist↗
The five elements process: Designing optimal landscapes to meet bird conservation objectives
In February 2004 at Port Aransas, Texas, Partners in Flight (PIF) and representatives from the other NABCI bird initiative met to discuss the process of stepping down PIF continental population objectives (Rich et al. 2004) to regional and local scales. Participants also discussed rolling up local population estimates and targets to assess the feasibility of the landscape changes necessary to meet continental objectives. Since the process of stepping-down/rolling-up population objectives shifts focus from identifying priority species to formulating quantitative estimates of how much habitat was needed, where, and by when the Port Aransas group called the stepping-down/rolling-up process a??stepping forward.a?? Participants agreed that stepping forward objectives was the beginning of an inevitably iterative dialog necessary to evaluate the assumptions of PIF population estimates and objectives as well as the methods used to monitor local implementation. To facilitate the translation of continental population objectives into biologically sound, measurable regional and local population-based habitat targets the Port Aransas group recommended a process no commonly referred to as the Five Elements Processa?|
Partners in Flight Technical Series↗
A.B.A. Checklist: Birds of Continental United States and Canada
The 'Summary' in this edition of the A BA Checklist has been greatly expanded to include all properly documented records for each accidental species. These records are published, except for a very few recent ones which are in press or in preparation. Emphasis is on records supported by specimens or photographs, but sight records are also included. To make these accounts more useful to researchers, a reference has been given for each record. All records, except those identified as '(photo)' or '(specimen)', or by some other type of objective evidence, are sight records. Because of the interest shown in this section of the Checklist, coverage has not been confined to accidental species (defined as those which have occurred fewer than ten times in the ABA Checklist area during the twentieth century). Accounts are also given for selected rare visitors and native species. Two of the primary references are abbreviated in the accounts: Audubon Field Notes-AFN, and American Birds-AB.
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Effects of sevin-4-oil, dimilin, and orthene on forest birds in northeastern Oregon
The possible harmful effect of insecticides on nontarget organisms should be a prominent concern in all attempts to control forest pests. Although all wildlife must be considered, birds are particularly vulnerable. The study reported here was part of the effort to find an environmentally safe method to control one of the major sources of insect damage to forest trees - the Douglas-fir tussock moth ( Orgyia pseudotsugata [McDunnough]). Its larval stage is an important defoliator of true firs ( Abies sp.) and Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca [Beissn.] Franco)in western North America. In Oregon, severe infestations have recurred at intervals of about 10 years since 1936 (Wickman and others 1973).
Oregon↗
Effects of aerial applications of esfenvalerate on small mammals and birds in Douglas-fir seed orchards
Although no adverse effects were documented, this study did not provide data sufficient to adequately test for effects of aerial spraying of esfenvalerate on small mammal populations or nesting of birds in Douglas-fir seed orchards. Small mammal trapping data were too sparse to provide statistical testing with reasonable power. Residues of the R and S forms of fenvalerate were low with maxima of 0.56 and 1.72 ?g/g, respectively in pelage of a deer mouse. No diagnostic residue data are available to interpret our results.
Report↗
Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Maryland and the District of Columbia
This was the result of a 5-year cooperative study with the Maryland Ornithological Society and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Each of Maryland's 1,256 5-km (25 sq km) blocks was surveyed for breeding birds using the standard categories of Possible, Probable, and Confirmed breeding. Special features include: (1) coverage of all blocks instead of a random sample; (2) one-third of the state (including the most rapidly changing counties) was covered in quarterblocks (2.5 km on each side) to facilitate detecting future changes; (3) quantitative sampling (miniroutes) was completed in more than half the blocks; (4) a 2 percent statewide random sample of blocks was searched for about 30 hours each by Patuxent professionals to evaluate efficiency of coverage by the volunteers; (5) besides species maps for 1983-87, the atlas also includes distribution maps from the 1950s; (6) life history data are based largely on unpublished Maryland information.
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Exposure of free-flying birds to anticholinesterase insecticides in two conventionally managed fruit orchards
Conventionally managed orchards receive extensive applications of anticholinesterase (anti-ChE) insecticides throughout the growing season. Because many avian species make use of these environments for nesting and foraging, they may receive substantial exposure to anti-ChEs. The model used to assess avian risk in these environments is highly simplified, and indicator species used in risk studies may misrepresent the risk of the species in the field. A better understanding of avian risk is needed, and should begin with a closer examination o# their exposure in these environments. Exposure of free-flying birds was examined in two conventional orchards during the nesting seasons of 1999 and 2000. Our goal was to demonstrate the influences of species and chemical differences on the exposure we observed. Plasma ChE activity and ChE reactivation were used to identify exposure in multiple species following anti-ChE applications (applied singly and in mixtures). Chipping sparrows (Spizella passerina), American goldfinches (Carduelis tristis), and American robins (Turdus migratorius) demonstrated significant ChE activity depression in 1999 (p 0.005), and only chipping sparrows demonstrated significant depression in 2000 (p = 0.0002). These three species demonstrated the highest proportion of exposed individuals among all species examined in both years. Because many chemicals were simultaneously present in each orchard, chemical influences on the exposure we observed could not be discerned. This work does demonstrate, however, that avian species differ significantly in their exposure, and that chipping sparrows demonstrated the greatest exposure among the species analyzed. These results underscore the need for multiple species studies and for choosing indicator species on a biologically relevant basis.
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Recent changes in the ranges of North American birds
The North American Breeding Bird Survey has provided an annual index of population change since 1966. About 2400 randomly distributed roadside routes of 50 three-minute stops each provide the basic data for computer analysis. One of the reports produced shows the percentage of routes on which each species is encountered in each state and each Canadian province. This percentage is used to show expansion and contraction of breeding range and also important changes in frequency of encounter within various portions of the range of each species. Most of the recent changes in range fall in one of these 7 categories: (1) introduced species; (2) species given special protection; (3) species benefiting from artificial feeding in winter; (4) species taking advantage of shelterbelts; (5) species nesting on large highway bridges and dams; (6) species that feed on grain lost during mechanical harvesting: and (7) species losing habitat as a result of urban expansion. Examples of each category are supported by changes in the rate of encounter.
Book chapter↗
DDE and DDD residues correlated with mortality of experimental birds
Nearly everywhere in nature are found DDE and DDD, which are metabolites of DDT, and they often become concentrated through food chains. DDD is also a commercial insecticide. large amounts of both are frequently found in birds, but the significance of these amounts has puzzled many owrkers. Studies at Clear Lake, California 1 gave some data on DDD danger levels, but less is known of DDE, the member of the DDT group that is most frequent and most abundant in nature. Although DDE is toxic, relatively alrge residues are found in apparently healthy animals. As one step in untanglig the problem, it seemed important to determine the residue levels that indicate danger to life. earlier work with DDR and dieldrin has shown the value of this approach. 2-5, 1 2
Conference Paper↗
Summary of bird censusing and atlasing in North America
This paper reviews the historical development, present status and methods of the principal bird census and atlas projects in North America.
Book chapter↗
Techniques and results of nongame bird monitoring in North America
Long-term bird population trends based on accumulated ratios (proportional change) sometimes give a very misleading view of population change. Alternate methods of representing population change, based on the weighted means for the individual years, avoid the dangers of using ratios. Some advantages and disadvantages of various weighting techniques are discussed.
Book chapter↗
Reappraisal of the Winter Bird-Population Study technique
Standardized morning and afternoon counts were conducted in two deciduous forest plots during seven winters. Morning counts yielded more species than afternoon counts, as well as higher counts of most species. A minimum of eight visits is recommended. Six visits yielded 2% to 5% fewer species, depending on the size and bird population of the study plot. Cumulative means for individual species varied erratically for most species when the number of visits was less than seven.
Book chapter↗
Effect of time of day on bird activity
Breeding season activity, based on detections recorded on more than a million 3. minute Breeding Bird Survey stops, reaches a peak for most species during the hour centered at sunrise or in the following hour. Activity of most species then declines gradually as the morning progresses. When large samples are considered, activity patterns for a given species are quite constant from year to year; but each species has its own characteristic pattern and there is much similarity among members of the same genus. Activity reaches a low point in midday, and may almost cease in some habitats (e. g. deserts); but in deciduous forests, activity of many species continues at a reduced rate. By reducing walking rate or lengthening listening periods, productive censusing of many species could be extended into midday. Winter activity is even more strongly oriented toward the early morning.
Book chapter↗
Maximum likelihood methods for investigating reporting rates of rings on hunter-shot birds
It is well known that hunters do not report 100% of the rings that they find on shot birds. Reward studies can be used to estimate what this reporting rate is, by comparison of recoveries of rings offering a monetary reward, to ordinary rings. A reward study of American Black Ducks (Anas rubripes) is used to illustrate the design, and to motivate the development of statistical models for estimation and for testing hypotheses of temporal and geographic variation in reporting rates. The method involves indexing the data (recoveries) and parameters (reporting, harvest, and solicitation rates) by geographic and temporal strata. Estimates are obtained under unconstrained (e.g., allowing temporal variability in reporting rates) and constrained (e.g., constant reporting rates) models, and hypotheses are tested by likelihood ratio. A FORTRAN program, available from the author, is used to perform the computations.
Book chapter↗
Relationships between nesting populations of wading birds and habitat features along the Atlantic Coast
Using previously published atlas data for 122 mixed-species wading bird colonies on islands along the Atlantic coast (Maine to Florida, 1976-77), we examined relationships between population sizes of 11 species of egrets, herons, ibises, and wood storks (Mycteria americana) and nine habitat variables. On nautical charts, we measured four island characteristics (area, length, width, shape), three isolation factors (distances to nearest island, mainland, and a water barrier),, and two variables related to potential feeding habitat within 5 km of the center of the colony (wetland area and land-water interface, i.e., the linear distance between the marsh/upland and all water bodies within the same 5-km radius). One univariable and five multivariable .procedures were used to determine which habitat features were best related to population size .(all species combined). Multicollinearity problems among the variables limited interpretation for most procedures. Both univariable and the multivariable procedures indicated that land-water interface was the most important of the nine variables, but for all models, less than 10% of the total variance was explained (rz is less than 0.10). The size of the colony was not related to the amount of wetland area (within 5-km).per se. Colony data showed better 'structure' when examined on the basis of geographic and disturbance gradients. Population sizes of colonies near man-altered habitats were compared with those surrounded by relatively natural habitats in three geographic zones: north, middle, and south. Significant differences were found in colony size among the three zones (south largest) and between disturbance types. Surprisingly, in all three zones, colonies near man-altered areas were larger on average than those near more natural habitats in this region. A possible reason for this difference is suggested.
Book chapter↗
Reproductive success of birds in the grasslands, 1986
This paper deals with the effects of contaminants, including selenium, in agricultural drainwater on reproduction of aquatic birds in the Grasslands area of western Merced County, California
Book chapter↗
Mapping of bird distributions from point count surveys
Maps generated from bird survey data are used for a variety of scientific purposes, but little is known about their bias and precision. We review methods for preparing maps from point count data and appropriate sampling methods for maps based on point counts. Maps based on point counts can be affected by bias associated with incomplete counts, primarily due to changes in proportion counted as a function of observer or habitat differences. Large-scale surveys also generally suffer from regional and temporal variation in sampling intensity. A simulated surface is used to demonstrate sampling principles for maps.
Book chapter↗