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At least 1,333 records · Page 74Linked to original sources
USGS1979

Multiple-factor influences upon feeding flight rates at wading bird colonies (Alias: Are flight-line counts useful?)

The temporal patterns of feeding, resting, and reproductive behavior in colonial wading birds have been studied by a number of investigators (Recher and Recher 1972, King 1974, Capen 1978, Custer and Osborn 1978, Kushlan 1978) both on a short-term (daily) and long-term (annual) basis. In coastal marine environments, activities at colonies are influenced by tides (Recher and Recher 1972, Krebs 1974, Custer and Osborn 1978), time of day (Kushlan 1978) and phase of the nesting cycle (Kahl 1964). The purpose of this paper is twofold: (1) to examine the effects of tide, time of day (physical factors), nesting phase, colony site, and spe cies identity (biological factors) on feeding flight rates at breeding col onies and, as a result of this, (2) to evaluate the usefulness of feeding flight counts as an index of the number of nests in the colony. Earlier work suggests that the relationship between the number of in dividuals flying to and from the nesting colony may be quite consistent with nest numbers. Thus, by monitoring flights from remote locations, ob servers might obtain relatively accurate census data while minimizing time and disturbance at colonies. Recent concern for the deleterious impact of humans at waterbird colonies (Buckley and Buckley 1976, Ellison and Cleary 1978) underscores the need to investigate alternative census methods.

Conference Paper↗
USGS1976

Mercury in eggs of aquatic birds, Lake St. Clair-1973

Eggs from four species of aquatic birds inhabiting waterways of the Lake St. Clair region were collected in 1973 and analyzed for mercury. Species analyzed were mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos), common terns (Sterna hirundo), black-crowned night herons (Nycticorax nycticorax), and great egrets (Casmerodius albus). Mallard eggs contained relatively low residue levels, less than 0.05-0.26 ppm, and common tern eggs contained the highest residues, ranging up to 1.31 ppm. Mercury levels in the eggs were appreciably lower than those in the same species in 1970. The declines are attributed to the 1970 restrictions placed on industrial discharges of mercury into the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1979

Organochlorine residues in six species of estuarine birds, South Carolina, 1971-75

In South Carolina between 1971 and 1975, authors evaluated the occurrence of organochlorine residues in the laughing gull (Larus atricilla), white ibis (Eudocimus albus), glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus), willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus), and ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres). Tissues of birds found dead and eggs were analyzed, eggshell thicknesses were measured, and incidental observations were made of reproductive success and population status. Eggshell thickness of the white bis, American oystercatcher, and laughing gull were not significantly different (P less than 0.05) from the pre-1947 norms. DDE and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were found most frequently and at the highest concentration in eggs. DDE residues declined significantly in oystercatcher eggs, and declined slightly in laughing gull eggs; no change was noted in white ibis eggs. No consistent trends were found for dieldrin and PCBs. Authors found no obvious problems with reproductive success of any species. Populations of the five species breeding in South Carolina appear stable. The white ibis and laughing gull in South Carolina have experienced population explosions over the past 50 years; the glossy ibis has increased substantially since the first documented breeding records in 1947.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1980

Consistency in habitat preference of forest bird species

The important management conclusion that follows from our results is that the habitat requirements of most forest bird species, although quite specific for each species, apply generally throughout their breeding ranges. Thus a habitat management program that proves beneficial in one part of the breeding range of a species has a high likelihood of success in an area hundreds of kilometers away. Site-specific programs may be necessary for successful management of species whose habitat preferences change across their range. Alternatively, geographical variation in habitat use may indicate that a species' habitat requirements are easily met and that effective management for the species is more readily attained. Close monitoring of a species' response to specific management programs will be required to resolve whether species showing geographic variation in habitat preference are habitat specialists or simply habitat generalists with varying responses to habitat structure

Transactions of the North American Wildlife and Na↗
USGS1984

DDE in birds' eggs: Comparisons of two methods for estimating critical levels

The sample egg technique and eggshell thickness-residue regression analysis were comparatively evaluated as tools in estimating critical levels of DDE in birds? eggs that seriously affect reproductive successa nd population starts....In comparing critical values of DDE that were derived from the two methods, the estimates were lower using the sample egg technique for both the Brown Pelican (3 ?g/g vs 8 ?g/g) and the Black-crowned Night-Heron (12?g/g/ vs 54 ?g/g) assuming a critical value of eggshell thinning at 20%....Extension of the regression line beyond the eggshell thickness-DDE residue data base is likely to result in spurious critical values of DDE. When sufficient thickness and residue data are available for estimating critical values of DDE from the regression equation, the estimates are meaningful but are likely to be inflated because adverse effects unrelated to eggshell thinning such as parental behavior and embryotoxicity unrelated to eggshell deficiencies are not taken into account.....Establishing critical levels of pollutants in eggs and tissues is a necessary procedure in assessing effects of these chemicals on individuals and populations of sensitive species. There are inherent difficulties in quantifying the effects of any pollutant on population trends and declines in productivity. The sample egg technique is apparently a more sensitive method for estimating critical levels of DDE, but some subjective interpretation is required for results obtained by both methods.

The Wilson Bulletin↗
USGS1989

Additional records of birds from Cat Island, Bahamas

During 11-15 March 1986, we visited Cat Island in the Bahamas. Here we report on 27 species of birds whose status on Cat Island is poorly known, including eight for which no pervious records exist.

The Wilson Bulletin↗
USGS1993

Evaluation of three elevated mist-net systems for sampling birds

Three light-weight, low-canopy mist-net systems were developed and tested in dry tropical scrub, mangrove and forest habitats. One plastic (polyvinyl chloride) and two aluminum pole systems (with and without pulleys) were used to support mist nets to heights of up to 7.3 m. Although the aluminum telescoping-pole system (without pulleys) was expensive initially ( 79-141/unit (US)), its use reduced capture of nontarget species and may have increased capture of target species when compared with ground-level netting. In one year, its use also reduced labor costs by 756, which completely offset the higher cost of the aluminum telescoping-pole system when compared to the plastic-pole system ( 19/unit). Unlike the plastic-pole system, the aluminum telescoping-pole system was adjustable to any height within its range of 1.8 to 7.3 m, was 1.5 m higher, was more efficient to operate in the field, and was easily moved to new locations. For capture of psittacines, the pulleys of the aluminum telescoping-pole system were not necessary, but their use may assist in efficiently retrieving large numbers of birds from the nets. The aluminum telescoping-pole system was efficient in capturing psittacines, columbids, passerines and possibly chiropterans in habitats with canopies lt 10 m or in the forest subcanopy.

Journal of Field Ornithology↗
USGS1995

Comments on the status of revived old names for some North American birds

We discuss 44 instances of the use of generic, specific, or subspecific names that differ from those generally in use for North American (sensu AOU 1957) birds. These names are generally older than the names presently used and have been revived on the basis of priority. We examine the basis for the proposed changes and make recommendations as to which names should properly be used in an effort to promote nomenclatural stability in accordance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

The Auk↗
USGS1995

Reliability of the Breeding Bird Survey: Effects of restricting surveys to roads

Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS), which are widely used to monitor trends in avian populations (e.g. Robbins et al. 1989, Sauer and Droege 1993), are conducted along roads but are used to infer changes in regionwide populations. Such inferences may be inaccurate if trends in habitat along roads differ from regionwide trends. For example, if forest cover regionwide remained constant but forest cover along roads declined (due for example to development), then BBS data for species found primarily in the forest might show declines despite regional populations being stable. We investigated this issue by measuring change in forest cover in western (i.e. unglaciated) Ohio (Fig. 1). Change in forest cover between 1963 and 1988 was determined for: (a) the complete study area; (b) areas 0 to 140 m from a road (inner roadside strip); and (c) areas 141 to 280 m from a road (outer roadside strip).

The Auk↗
USGS1989

Longevity records of North American birds. Supplement 1

This is the first supplement to the previous published four-part series on avian longevities (Clapp et al. 1982, 1983; Klimkiewicz et al. 1983; Klimkiewicz and Futcher 1987). R ecords processed in the Bird Banding Laboratory through August 1988 are included, as well as several corrections to the original series. One hundred-seven of the 147 entries in this supplement are new longevity records for species or forms listed previously. Another 37 entries represent taxa not listed before, and the remaining three records correct previous listings that were in error.

Journal of Field Ornithology↗
USGS1978

The breeding bird atlas of Montgomery and Howard Counties, Maryland

A pilot Breeding Bird Atlas was initiated during 1971 in Montgomery County. A second atlas was begun during 1973 in Howard County. The Montgomery project was completed in 1973 and the Howard project in 1975......A total of 138 species were recorded for the two counties (129 confirmed, 7 probable, 2 possible). Montgomery County had 135 species recorded (122 confirmed, 9 probable, 4 possible) and Howard County had 127 species (110 confirmed, 7 probable,10 possible)......Thirty-two species were found in all 5-km blocks and eight were found in all 5-krn and 21/2-km blocks. Two species were confirmed in all blocks.......There were 11 new Montgomery County breeding records and eight new Howard County records. Nine species were found only in Montgomery County and two only in Howard County. Twelve species were confrmed in Montgomery County but not in Howard; five were confirmed in Howard County but not in Montgomery. Ninety-eight species were confirmed on active nests in Montgomery County and 85 in Howard County.

Maryland Birdlife↗
USGS1983

[Book review] A coded workbook of birds of the World, Vol. 1: Non-passerines (2 nd edition)

With a slight change in title, this is the second edition of Edwards' (1974) Coded List, from which it differs significantly. First, it covers only nonpasserines instead of all the birds of the world; presumably a list of the passerines will follow soon. The code is different, the format is expanded, and the information content is greater (3,798 species are listed as opposed to 3,656). This edition is clearly a new entry in the world-list field.

The Auk↗
USGS2000

Evaluating cytochrome P450 in birds by monooxygenases and immunohistochemistry: possible nonlethal assessment by skin immunohistochemistry

Six month old Lesser Scaup and nestling Tree Swallows were injected intraperitoneally with beta-naphthoflavone (BNF) or vehicle. Nestling Tree Swallows were also collected from five sites with differing levels of contaminants. Liver samples were taken and stored at -80C until microsome preparation and monooxygenase (MO) assay. Skin and heart samples were placed in buffered formalin until immunohistochemical (IMHC) analysis for cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A). Scaup treated with BNF at 20 or 100 mg/kg body weight showed approximately 20- to 65-fold increases in four MOs. Responses of two of the four MOs were as high at 20 mg/kg as at 100mg/kg. There was no IMHC response in the vehicle-injected ducks, while in skin the IMHC response was the same for both dose levels of BNF and in heart there was response in two of four samples at 20 mg/kg and in all five samples at 100mg/kg. Tree Swallows injected with BNF at 100, but not at 20 mg/kg showed significant increases (ca.5-fold) in two MO activities. There was no IMHC response in control swallows. In skin and heart there were IMHC responses in one of five swallows at 20 mg/kg and four of five swallows at 100mg/kg. There was poor correlation between individual skin IMHC responses and MO activities and PCB concentrations in 47 field-collected Tree Swallow samples, but 14 of the 16 skin samples with positive IMHC responses were from the location with the highest MO activities and PCB concentrations. Although present data do not allow construction of significant dose response curves, the responses in skin make it well worth continuing study on this potential nonlethal technique for biomonitoring contaminant exposure of birds.

Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry,↗
USGS2000

Seasonal distribution of bird populations at the Patuxent Research Refuge

High concentrations of mercury from past mining activities have accumulated in the food chain of fish-eating birds nesting along the mid to lower Carson River. Activities of nine plasma and tissue enzymes, and concentrations of other plasma and tissue constituents were measured for black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax, (BCNH) and snowy egret, Egretta thula, (SE) nestlings from two high mercury sites and one low mercury site. Geometric mean blood Hg concentrations for BCNHs at the high mercury sites were 2.6 and 2.8 ppm (ww) and 0.6 ppm at the low mercury site. Blood concentrations for SEs were 3.6 and 1.9 ppm at the high mercury sites and 0.7 ppm at the low mercury site. In BCNHs plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSH peroxidase) activity was lower in both high mercury sites relative to the low mercury site. Butyryl cholinesterase (BuChe), ALT, glutathione reductase (GSSG-reductase) and LDH-L activities were lower in one high mercury site. In SEs significant differences were lower BuChe and LDH-L, but elevated GGT activities. Evidence of renal stress in both species at high mercury sites included increased plasma uric acid, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine concentrations as well as oxidative stress in the kidney tissue itself where oxidized glutathione increased. A number of the mercury site-related effects, including decreased plasma GSH-peroxidase and hepatic G-6-PDH activities, higher GSSG-reductase activity, and lower hepatic concentrations of reduced thiols have been reported in methylmercury feeding studies with great egrets and mallards. These findings suggest the utility of herons and egrets for monitoring mercury sites.

Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry,↗
USGS2006

A hierarchical model for regional analysis of population change using Christmas Bird Count data, with application to the American Black Duck

Analysis of Christmas Bird Count (CBC) data is complicated by the need to account for variation in effort on counts and to provide summaries over large geographic regions. We describe a hierarchical model for analysis of population change using CBC data that addresses these needs. The effect of effort is modeled parametrically, with parameter values varying among strata as identically distributed random effects. Year and site effects are modeled hierarchically, accommodating large regional variation in number of samples and precision of estimates. The resulting model is complex, but a Bayesian analysis can be conducted using Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques. We analyze CBC data for American Black Ducks (Anas rubripes), a species of considerable management interest that has historically been monitored using winter surveys. Over the interval 1966-2003, Black Duck populations showed distinct regional patterns of population change. The patterns shown by CBC data are similar to those shown by the Midwinter Waterfowl Inventory for the United States.

Condor↗