Hi folks,

Just got in the September 1996 issue of the Wilson Bulletin (Vol 108, No =
3). This journal is published quarterly by the Wilson Ornithological =
Society. Enjoy.

Jon. Anderson=20
Olympia, Washington
festuca at olywa.net


A new genus and species of Furnariid (Aves: Furnariidae) from the =
cocoa-growing region of southeastern Bahia, Brazil. Jose' Fernando =
Pacheco, Bret M Whitney and Luiz Gonzaga. pp 397-433. From the =
Atlantic Forest of Bahia; aspects of morphology, vocalizations and =
behavior suggest a phylogenetic position close to Asthenes and =
Cranioleuca - also close to Xenerpestes and Metopothrix. Authors note =
that this new furnariid could, if not safeguarded immediately (by =
acquiring habitat), disappear in the coming decade. "We will never cease =
to be amazed at how this striking little bird that constructs =
conspicuous stick-nests in treetops along the congested highway BR-101 =
could have been overlooked so completely. Its discovery serves to remind =
us of how much remains to be learned, even as it fades from existence."

The nest and nesting ecology of Acrobatornis fonsecai (Furnariidae), =
with implications for intrafamilial relationships. Bret M Whitney, =
Jose' Fernando Pacheco, Paulo Sergio Moreira da Fonseca and Robert H =
Barth Jr. pp 434-448. Postulate that stick-nesting in Furnariidae =
arose in a pre-Andean, Chaco-Patagonian/Pantanal center, and provide =
theories on evolution of this behavior.

Woodpecker excavation and use of cavities in polystyrene snags. Richard =
N Conner and Daniel Saenz. pp 449-456. 23 of 47 artificial snags on =
S.F. Austin Experimental Forest, Nacogdoches Co., Texas were used by =
Downy Woodpeckers - the only woodpecker among 7 species in area to =
excavate burrows in the polystyrene "snags". Other species to =
secondarily use Downy Woodpecker holes were Carolina Chickadees, =
Prothonotary Warblers, flying squirrels and red wasps.

Nesting success of the Prothonotary Warbler in the upper Mississippi =
River bottomlands. David J Flaspohler. pp 457-466. Study at margin of =
species' breeding range on upper Mississippi and Black rivers in =
west-central Wisconsin; during severe flooding in 1993, success was =
reduced to 1/3 of level of that in 1994 - a more "typical" year; cowbird =
parasitism was 26.9%; House Wrens suspected of having a larger role in =
nest failures, even though only one nest was observed destroyed by this =
species.

Factors affecting food provisioning of nestling Black-throated Blue =
Warblers. Catherine O'Neill Goodbred and Richard T Holmes. pp 467-479. =
Study from Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, West Thornton, New =
Hampshire; larval Lepidoptera (moth, butterfly) comprised 60-87% of prey =
biomass brought to nestlings; female and male parents delivered about =
equal amounts of food.

Breeding biology and natural history of the Bahama Swallow. Paul E =
Allen. pp 480-495. Species is an obligate secondary cavity-nester =
endemic to pine forests in N Bahamas; depressed population status due to =
limited extent of breeding habitat (2042 km2), logging history and =
competition from exotics (House Sparrows and European Starlings); =
population density of 0.18-0.25 pairs/km along transects. If habitat =
loss can be minimized and mitigated (nest box and snag management =
programs), species does not seem likely to become endangered.

Neotropical migratory breeding bird communities in riparian forests of =
different widths along the Altamaha River, Georgia. Malcolm F Hodges Jr =
and David G Krementz. pp 496-506. Species richness and abundance =
increased with increasing forest corridor width; suggest that if =
Neotropical breeding bird communities are a target group, land managers =
should consider leaving a 100m buffer strip along riparian areas.

Dawn and dusk singing of male American Robins in relation to female =
behavior. Tore Slagsvold. pp 507-515. April 1994 study in mixed =
deciduous-coniferous woodland in St. Edward State Park near Seattle, =
Washington; Egg laying occured close to noon, however, males had a peak =
song activity near dawn but sang little around noon; Idea that mated =
males sing primarily to deter other males just before the 'fertilization =
window' was not supported.

Breeding biology of the Crested Caracara in south Texas. Vanessa M =
Dickinson and Keith A Arnold. pp 516-523. Study in Austin and Colorado =
Counties, south Texas at Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR; Egg-laying =
between 17 Jan and 23 June; eggs hatched from February to April and iin =
June for 2 second-nesting efforts; Young fledged from 1st nesting =
efforts from April to June; by August young and adults not seen in natal =
area; Nest success was 73% for 1st nesting attempts; nestlings hatched =
in June were killed by fire ants.

Breeding biology of the Jabiru in the southern llanos of Venezuela. =
Jose' A Gonzalez. pp 524-534. At Hapo El Frio, Apure, Venezuela; 22 =
nests were found. Nests were 8-26m from ground in 10 different species =
of trees, with Sterculia apetala most commonly used (36.4%). Storks laid =
eggs between August and November; average clutch size was 3.4 eggs, with =
4 eggs the most frequent. Fledglings left nest in Jan or Feb at age of =
12-13 weeks but were dependent on parents for up to 2 months. Most nests =
(75%) failed; due to abandonment, falling, and predation by Crested =
Caracaras.

Effect of egg size on predation by white-footed mice. R.M. DeGraaf and =
T.J. Maier. pp 535-539. Lab study - mice ate 16 of 18 Zebra Finch eggs, =
but no eggs of Japanese Quail.=20

Can checklist programs be used to monitor populations of birds recorded =
during the migration season? Erica H Dunn, Jacques Larivee and Andre' =
Cyr. pp 540-549. Quebec's E'POQ (Etude des Populations d'Oiseaux du =
Quebec) program compiles birders' checklists, each of which reports =
numbers of birds seen on one day at one site. Checklist data should not =
be relied on for quantitative population monitoring, but do contain =
useful information for detection or corroboration of negative trends.

Effect of mate removal on singing behavior and movement patterns of =
female Northern Cardinals. David B McElroy adn Gary Ritchison. pp =
550-555. Temporary removal of males had no effect on singing rates of =
females; suggests that singing by females is not used to attract new =
mates (females may not actively seek new mates)

Radio telemetry documents 24-hour feeding activity of wintering Lesser =
Scaup. Christine M Custer, Thomas W Custer and Daniel W Sparks. pp =
556-566. 198 hours of feeding behavior on the Indiana Harbor Canal/Grand =
Calumet River, East Chicago, Indiana. Feeding intermittently throughout =
the day, Scaup fed a total of 96 minutes during the day and 226 minutes =
during the night; fed more between sunset and midnight than between =
sunrise and noon or noon and sunset (time spent feeding between midnight =
and sunrise didn't differ from other times of day).

Body mass and carcass composition of fall migrant Oldsquaws. James O =
Leafloor, John E Thompson and C Davison Ankney. pp 567-572. From a =
study on carcasses of birds that struck power lines at Smoky Falls dam, =
Mattagami River, NE Ontario: Lipids comprised 17.5% and 14.1% of mass of =
females and males, respectively, and were sufficient to fuel migration =
to at least the next likely staging area in the Great Lakes. Migrants =
stored substantial lipid and protein reserves after breeding; suggests =
that offshore feeding areas in James and Hudson Bay are critical.=20

Avian nest-site selection and nesting success in two Florida citrus =
groves. Mary Crowe Mitchell, Louis B Best and James P Gionfriddo. pp =
573-583. Study of Common Ground-Doves, N Mockingbirds, Brown Thrashers =
and N Cardinals on Merritt Island in Brevard Co. Predation by Fish =
Crows and rat snakes resulted in loss of more than half the nests. =
Citrus groves seemed to be suitable breeding habitat for songbirds and =
doves.

Short Communications:

Exponential population growth of Monk Parakeets in the United States. =
Sunshine Van Bael and Stephen Pruett-Jones. pp 584-588. Analysis =
indicates that species is currently experiencing exponential growth in =
both population size and geographical range. Evidence suggests that =
increase is due to reproduction within populations rather than increase =
of observer effort or continued releases.

Forest gap use by breeding Black-throated Green Warblers. Robert Smith =
and Matthew Dallman. pp 588-591. Report from northern shoreline of Lake =
Huron in Michigan; gaps result in microhabitats that benefit insects and =
foraging efficiency of birds; suggests that structural heterogeneity in =
mature forest provides this warbler with higher quality habitat than is =
found in less heterogeneous, even-aged stands.

Courtship behavior of Golden-cheeked Warblers. Mark W Lockwood. pp =
591-592. Information from Pedernales Falls State Park, Blanco County, =
Texas. Females observed constructing base platforms of nest before =
observations of courtship behavior. Males sang a 'quiet' song (unlike =
primary songs of species), which the nest-building female seemed to =
ignore. Male quit singing, then approached the female with strips of =
Ashe juniper bark, which she took and placed into the nest. When she was =
done placing the strips, she faced the male, quietly chipped and =
crouched with her wings spread and her head down. Copulation occurred, =
after which the male flew from perch to perch, singing, flitting his =
wings and fanning his tail.=20

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