Tweets and OBOLers,

I thought that folks might be interested in the following bird-related =
journal articles in:

The Journal of Wildlife Management, Vol. 60, No. 1, January 1996

Single-Tree Selection Sylviculture Affects Cavity Resources in Mixed =
Deciduous Forests in Thailand. Anak Pattanavibool and W. Daniel Edge. =
pp 67-73. Single-tree cutting reduced cavity densities in these forests =
- 92 percent of cavity trees there are alive (dead cavity trees are =
uncommon due to annual ground fires). =20

Shorebird Use of South Carolina Managed and Natural Coastal Wetlands. =
Louise M Weber and Susan M Haig. pp 73-82. During February, shorebird =
frequency was higher in natural wetland and lower in managed (diked) =
areas than expected. However, from March to May, shorebird frequency =
was higher in managed wetland and lower in natural mudflats than =
expected - presumably due to higher invertebrate densities in managed =
wetlands from March to May.

Wintering Diving Duck Use of Coastal Ponds: An Analysis of Alternative =
Hypotheses. Stephen E Adair, Joseph L Moore and Wm H Kiel Jr. pp =
83-93. Three hypotheses have been proposed to explain coastal =
(freshwater) pond use by wintering diving ducks - (1) Alternative Food =
Hypothesis suggests that ducks feed in ponds to obtain supplementary =
nutrients not provided by estuarine foods. (2) Disturbance Hypothesis =
suggests that diving ducks are displaced from estuaries to ponds by =
human disturbance and/or severe weather. (3) Dietary Freshwater =
Hypothesis proposes that diving ducks feeding in estuaries ingest salt =
loads that are diluted by drinking freshwater from ponds. "Further =
research is necessary..."

Nesting Biology of Mallards in California. M Robert McLandress, Gregory =
S Yarris, Alison EH Perkins, Daniel P Connelly, and Dennis G Raveling. =
pp 94-107. General nesting biology in Suisun Marsh, Sacramento Valley, =
San Joaquin Valley and the intermountain region of NE Calif. Mallard =
production in Calif. is greater than previously recognized, and =
reproductive characteristics differ from those observed at northern =
breeding grounds.

Habitat Use and Nest Success of Overwater Nesting Ducks in Westcentral =
Minnesota. Stephen J Maxon and Michael R Riggs. pp 108-119. Located =
155 nests of Mallard, Redhead, Canvasback, Ring-necked and Ruddy ducks =
in rooted stands of cattails, bulrush, phragmites, floating mats of =
sedge, wet sedge/grass meadows and willow swamps. Divers have =
relatively higher success nesting overwater than do 'upland' nesters.

Survival of Radiomarked Canvasback Ducklings in Northwestern Minnesota. =
Carl E Korschgen, Kevin P Kenow, Wm L Green, Douglas H Johnson, Michael =
D Samuel and Louis Sileo. pp 120-132. Total brood loss occurred in 35 =
percent of 52 marked broods released, due to predation (mink) and =
exposure to precipitation and cold temperatures. Females had lower =
survival than males.

Implanting Intra-Abdominal Radiotransmitters with External Whip Antennas =
in Ducks. Carl E Korschgen, Kevin P Kenow, Annette Gendron-Fitzpatrick, =
Wm L Green and F Joshua Dein. pp 132-137. Transmitters were implanted =
in the abdominal cavity; antennas exited through the caudal abdominal =
wall and skin. Birds developed mild to moderate localized air sac =
reactions. "Casual observation indicated that neither behavior nor =
activity of the birds was altered by the histological reaction to the =
transmitter implant." Pretty weird... Do we scientists get 'dinged' for =
this one, too..?

Habitat Characteristics of American Woodcock Nest Sites on a Managed =
Area in Maine. Daniel G McAuley, Jerry R Longcore, Greg F Sepik and =
Grey W Pendleton. pp 138-148. Moosehorn NWR. Woodcock nest in several =
types of habitat but seem to prefer young, open second-growth hardwood =
stands. Aspen, alder and tamarack habitats, mostly in clearcuts less =
than 10 years old.

Adult Mourning Dove Survival During Spring/Summer in Northcentral =
Missouri. John H Schulz, Ronald D Drobney, Steven L Sheriff, and Wesley =
J Fuemmeler. pp 148-154. Overall survival of 315 radiomarked doves was =
0.716. =20

Ecological and Behavioral Correlates of Variation in Seasonal Home =
Ranges of Wild Turkeys. Alexander V Badyaev, Wm J Etges, and Thomas E =
Martin. pp 154-164. Adult turkeys had smaller home ranges during the =
breeding season and grater overlap among seasonal ranges than did =
yearlings.

Effects of Red Imported Fire Ants on Newly-Hatched Northern Bobwhite. =
Ellen K Pedersen, Wm E Grant and Michael T Longnecker. pp 164-169. =
"Time spent responding directly to fire ants affected the allotment of =
time to other behaviors...." (Heavy stuff here, folks :-)) Fire ants =
are less attracted to protein foods during cooler portions of the year =
when brood production is low.

Nest-Site Preference of Northern Goshawks in Southcentral Wyoming. John =
R Squires and Leonard F Ruggiero. pp 170-177. Nest trees were larger =
(dbh) and taller than trees in the nest-tree area or in random stands. =
Nest stands were in even-aged, single-storied, mature forest stands of =
lodgepole pine with high canopy closure and clear forest floors.

Mercury Concentrations in Tissues of Florida Bald Eagles. Petra Bohall =
Wood, John H White, Anthony Steffer, John M Wood, Charles F Facemire and =
H Franklin Percival. pp 178-185. Blood/feather samples taken from =
nestlings; liver/feather/blood samples taken from 33 carcasses. =
Although mercury concentrations in Florida eagles are below those that =
cause mortality, they are in the range of concentrations that can cause =
behavioral changes or reduce reproduction.

Radiocesium Patterns in Wood Duck Eggs and Nesting Females in a =
Contaminated Reservoir. Sheila V Colwell, Robert A Kennamer and I Lehr =
Brisbin Jr. pp 186-194. At Savannah River Site in Georgia. "While =
female ducks and their eggs examined in this study would not have posed =
a health hazard to persons consuming them as food, we suggest that 137Cs =
levels in breeding female wood ducks and their clutches may be =
indicators of foraging habitat selection ... during the laying cycle."

Hope that some of you found this stuff interesting.

Jon. Anderson
Olympia, Wash.
festuca at olywa.net