Hi folks,

The January 1997 issue (Volume 114 No 1) of the Auk just came in. This =
is the quarterly journal of the American Orinithologists' Union. Enjoy.

Jon. Anderson
Olympia, Washington
festuca at olywa.net


New Aethopyga sunbirds (Aves: Nectariniidae) from the island of =
Mindanao, Phillipines. Robert S Kennedy, Pedro C Gonzales and Hector C =
Miranda Jr. pp 1-10. =20
One new species, A. linaraborae from eastern Mindanao and a new =
subspecies A. boltoni tibolii from the southern part of the island.

Determinants of intraspecific brood amalgamation in waterfowl. Guy =
Beauchamp. pp 11-21. Pre-hatching amalgamation (when females lay eggs =
in nests of conspecifics) and post-hatching (when females abandon their =
young to the care of other conspecific families); results of literature =
study suggest that opportunities for successful amalgamation are higher =
in colonial- or cavity-nesting species and acts as a determinant for the =
amalgamation; posthatching amalgamation most often occurred in lineages =
carrying the prehatching amalgamation state, suggesting that =
posthatching amalg. represents an extension of the behavior that =
increases the window of opportunity for brood mixing.

Sex differences in the vocalizations and syrinx of the Collared Dove =
(Streptopelia decaocto). Mechteld R Ballintijn and Carel ten Cate. pp =
22-39. =20
In general, the syrinx of females is a reduced copy of the one found in =
males; the combination of vocal and anatomical data provides evidence =
that morphology contributes to sexual dimorphism in vocalizations.

Habitat associations of song characteristics in Phylloscopus and =
Hippolais warblers. Alexander V Badayev and Elizabeth S Leaf. pp 40-46.=20
Habitat structure was strongly correlated with temporal characteristics =
of songs, but not with most frequency attributes; Species occupying =
closed habitats had song structures that minimized reverberation; =
Smaller species used higher frequencies and had more notes in their =
songs compared with larger species.

The effects of hatching date and parental quality on chick growth and =
creching age in the Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica): A field =
experiment. Juan Moreno, Andres Barbosa, Jaime Potti and Santiago =
Merino. pp 47-54. =20
On Deception Island (South Shetlands), late-hatched chicks had smaller =
sizes and were left unguarded at earlier ages than early-hatched ones; =
Seasonal changes in chick growth and creching age are related to =
hatching date, not to differences in parental quality.

Does human intrusion alter the seasonal timing of avian song during =
breeding periods? Kevin J Gutzwiller, Elizabeth A Kroese, Stanley H =
Anderson and Charles A Wilkins. pp 55-65.=20
Study of Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Dark-eyed =
Junco in Wyoming to determine whether repeated intrusion influences =
singing or behavior; Didn't detect difference in seasonal timing of =
singing activity between control/intruded sites - except; Earlier =
singing date for RCKI at intruded sites; proportion of intruded sites =
with singing by YRWA was smaller than that for control sites during =
mid-June. Curtailment of singing on intruded sites may have reduced =
breeding activity.

Are cowbird eggs ususually strong from the inside? Jaroslav Picman. pp =
66-73.=20
Yes. Shells of *outside* of BHCowbirds are especially strong to reduce =
chances of puncture ejection by small hosts; Cowbird eggs tolerated 1.7 =
times greater pressure from the *inside* than eggs of 9 control species, =
strength is related to thickness of shell; Hatching from cowbird eggs is =
more difficult than might be expected for eggs of their size.

Changes in breeding bird populations in North Dakota: 1967 to 1992-93. =
Lawrence D Igl and Douglas H Johnson. pp 74-92.=20
Species exhibiting declines were primarily grassland- and =
wetland-breding birds; Species exhibiting increases were primarily those =
associated with human structures and woody vegetation; closely related =
to habitat changes.

Sources of variation in waterfowl survival rates. David G Krementz, =
Richard J Barker and James D Nichols. pp 93-102.=20
Geography, body mass, and tribe (phylogeny) were important in =
explaining variation in average survival rates; data from band recovery =
analyses.

Effects of acute thermal stress on the immune system of the Northern =
Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). CB Dabbert, RL Lochmiller and RG Teeter. =
pp 103-109. =20
Disease resistance to Pasturella multocida was not influenced by heat =
stress but increased after cold stress; a decrease in lymphocyte numbers =
suggested that resistance to viral pathogens was compromised during cold =
stress (our mothers always told us that this is the case....)

In Memoriam: Theodore A Parker III, 1953-1993. John M Bates and Thomas S =
Schulenberg. pg 110.=20
Class birder and investigator of Neotropical ornithology; died in plane =
crash near Guayaquil, Ecuador.

In Memoriam: Merrill Wood, 1908-1992. Edward H Burtt Jr. pg 111. =20
Author of "A Bander's Guide to Determining the Age and Sex of Birds" =
and "Birds of Pennsylvania" and instructor at Penn State.

A sexually selected paradox in the Pied Flycatcher: Attractive males are =
cuckolded. Jan T Lifjeld, Tore Slagsvold, Svein Dale and Hans Ellegren. =
pp 112-115.=20
Using DNA fingerprinting, black (i.e., attractive) males are at a =
selective disadvantage in sperm competition compared to brown, =
female-like males; authors left without adequate explanation for this =
paradox; results contrast with study in Finland (Ratti et al 1995).

Nest-site selection and reproductive success in Common Ravens. Jeffrey R =
Dunk, Roger N Smith and Steven L Cain. pp 116-120.=20
At Grand Teton Natl Park; increase in raven population in past 50 =
years, also had Red-tailed Hawk population decline over same period; =
Generally, ravens nested in isolated stands of trees or on the edges of =
larger stands; Extreme variation in nesting success during 1992-94.

Social and sexual monogamy in translocated New Zealand Robin populations =
detected using minisatellite DNA. Simone L Ardern, Wei Ma, John G Ewen, =
Doug P Armstrong and David M Lambert. pp 120-126.=20
Parentage of Petroica australis studied on Motuara and Tiritiri Matangi =
Islands (N and S Islands, respectively); No instances of extrapair =
fertilization or intraspecific brood parasitism were identified, =
indicating social and sexual monogamy among all pairs studied.

Skin from feet of museum specimens as a non-destructive source of DNA =
for avian genotyping. Nicholas I Munday, Philip Unitt and David S =
Woodruff. pp 126-129.
Use of polymerase chain reaction to sample genetics of San Clemente =
Loggerhead Shrike from museum collection (1915); Feet generally =
untreated, whereas old skins often treated with chemicals (arsenic) that =
degrade DNA; damage to specimens is negligible with this method.

Influence of hatch date versus maternal and genetic effects on growth of =
Black Brant goslings. James S Sedinger, Mark S Lindberg, Michael =
Eichholz and Nathan Chelgren. pp 129-132.
Size of goslings at end of first summer is important determinant of =
fitness; Authors experimentally delayed hatching dates of brant eggs; =
Delayed goslings were smaller than control birds at 24-34 days of age; =
experiment strengthens case for an environmental explanation for =
seasonal decline in growth rate, which is driven by declining quantity =
and quality of food after hatch.

Is the energy cost of begging by nestling passerines surprisingly low? =
Wesley W Weathers, Peter J Hodum and David J Anderson. pg 133.
Oxygen consumption of begging and resting nestlings similar (McCarty =
1996), and begging may have little energy cost; However, costs could be =
much higher if the energy is supplied anerobically; testing this =
hypothesis would require measuring concentration of lactic acid before =
and after begging; until proper experiments are performed, it is =
premature to conclude that begging has little energy cost.

Is begging cheap? Simon Verhulst and Popko Wiersma. pg 134.
Among developing birds, 13-28% of energy is allocated to growth (the =
rest spent on maintenance and thermoregulation); A chick spending an =
extra 10% of total energy budget on begging may thereby reduce amount of =
energy available for growth by 50%. There is a limit on amount of =
additional energy to be gained from begging.

The role of energetic costs in the evolution of begging behavior of =
nestling passerines. John P McCarty. pp 135-137.
Unlikely that anerobic metabolism has a role in begging; maintains that =
his expressing costs in energetic terms is appropriate; agrees with =
Verhulst and Wiersma that it is necessary to translate energetics to =
fitness to understand the evolutionary implications of the cost of =
begging.

Double jeopardy and the parameterization of brood reduction models: A =
comment on Mock and Forbes (1994). Scott H Stoleson. pp 137-140.
Comment on 1994 arguement that effects on long-term fitness should be =
considered in studies of hatching asynchrony; Used same mathematical =
model as Mock and Forbes on separate set of data; The conclusion that =
brood survival becomes less likely as the proportion of good years =
decreases is not as general as might be inferred from Mock & Forbes.

Abiotic factors and preroosting behavior of Greylag Geese: A comment. =
Stephan G Reebs. pp 140-141.
Argues that Schmitt (1994) did not convincingly show that abiotic =
factors have no influence on flock cohesion during departure to the =
roost, that he did not show which abiotic factors influence departure =
time, and that he had not shown a lack of correlation between departure =
time and flock synchronization.

Abiotic factors and preroosting behavior of Greylag Geese: Response to =
Reebs. Alain Schmitt. pp 142-143.
Thanks Reebs for noting an error in calculation of correlations in =
original paper (that's what happens when you let a university computing =
center perform your analyses?); After re-calculation of regressions, =
Schmitt notes that the abiotic factors "illumination at sunset" and "day =
length" account for 43% of variance in departure time of geese and that =
group cohesion does not contribute to variance in departure time.

Awards: William Brewster Memorial Award, 1996 to Kenneth P Able, and =
1996 Elliott Coues Award to Ellen D Ketterson.

Reviews: The Birds of South America, Vol II. The Suboscine Passerines, =
by RS Ridgely and Guy Tudor, 1994.=20
Swifts: A Guide to the Swifts and Treeswifts of the World, by Phil =
Chantler and Gerald Driessens, 1995.
The Birds of Israel, by Hadoram Shirihai, 1996.
Bird Atlas of Botswana, by Huw Penry, 1994.
Photographic Guide to the Shorebirds of the World, by David Rosair and =
David Cottridge, 1995. (Reviewed by Terrence R Mace of Univ. of Puget =
Sound)
Seabirds on Islands: Threats, Case Studies and Action Plans, by David N =
Nettleship, Joanna Burger and Michael Gochfeld (Eds), 1994.
North American/World BirdArea and BirdBase, by Santa Barbara Software =
Products, Inc., 1996.
Peterson Flash Guides (Hawks, Eastern Trailside Birds, Western =
Trailside Birds, Atlantic Coastal Birds, Pacific Coastal Birds, Backyard =
Birds), by Roger Tory Peterson, 1996.
Bird Identification: A Reference Guide, by Kristian Adolfsson and =
Stefan Cherrug, 1995.
Birds to Watch 2. The World List of Threatened Birds, by Nigel J =
Collar, MJ Crosby and Alison J Stattersfield, 1994.
Shrikes (Laniidae) of the World: Biology and Conservation, by Reuven =
Yosef and Fred E Lohrer (Eds), 1995.
Important Bird Areas in the Middle East, by MI Evans (compiler), 1994.
Songbirds of Turkey: An Atlas of Biodiversity of Turkish Passerine =
Birds, by CS Roselaar, 1995.
US Department of the Interior Biological Report No. 28. Endangered =
Ecosystems of the United States: A Preliminary Assessment of Loss and =
Degradation, by Reed F Noss, Edward T LaRoe III and J Michael Scott, =
1995.

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