DOCSLIB.ORG

SEEKING to UNDERSTAND the LIVING BIRD the 1997 Margaret Morse Nice Lecture

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
SEEKING to UNDERSTAND the LIVING BIRD the 1997 Margaret Morse Nice Lecture Wilson Bulletin, 110(l), 1998, pp. 28-44 SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND THE LIVING BIRD The 1997 Margaret Morse Nice Lecture NICHOLAS E. COLLIAS.2’ AND ELSIE C. COLLIAS ’ For over 50 years the classic study by Mar- bird, an impression still fresh after three-quar- garet Morse Nice on the life and behavior of ters of a century. I was not then aware that the Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) has anyone in my world had any real interest in given a basic orientation and ideas for re- birds aside from myself and Peter Rabbit, the search to investigators of the natural behavior hero of the bedtime stories by Thornton W. of birds. She made the first detailed, long-term Burgess. It was far from my thoughts that any- study of the behavior of wild birds color- one could make a living watching birds, until banded for individual identification (Nice years later when a scholarship to the Univer- 1933, 1934). She had an excellent education sity of Chicago made possible for me a career and the two volumes of her monograph on the in zoology and ornithology. Song Sparrow (Nice 1937, 1943), one on pop- The situation was different for Elsie, some ulations, one on behavior, are written from the of whose ancestors, like those of Margaret viewpoint of basic biological problems, enliv- Nice, arrived in New England in the 1600s. ened by her profound curiosity about the life Eventually, Elsies’ family settled in Tiffin, of birds. Mrs. Nice was a firm believer in con- Ohio, near the Sandusky River. Her parents firming for herself any important published encouraged her early interests in nature and fact about bird behavior, which is the reason taught her the local birds. Her father, Heath why research was a passion with her (Nice K. Cole, was a lawyer with a strong interest 1979). In this spirit of direct scientific inquiry, in the natural sciences. Elsie, before she start- we wish to present some highlights of our ed school, developed a great interest in insect own research. life, and readily prevailed on her father to We have spent much of our lives trying to make her an insect net. She eventually donat- understand the biology of avian behavior, es- ed a substantial insect collection to Heidelberg pecially the function, causes, ontogeny and College, her alma mater in Tiffin. After a year evolution of social behavior at the physiolog- in research on malarial mosquitoes with the ical, individual and population levels of or- United States Public Health Service, Elsie ganization (N. Collias 1991). The first part of went back to finish her Ph.D. work in zoology this presentation will be given by Nicholas, at the University of Wisconsin, where we met. the second by Elsie, but we have generally Our friendship included getting up well before worked together. dawn to watch the prairie-chickens dance near Let me briefly introduce ourselves. My ear- Plainfield, Wisconsin, where we were two of ly childhood was in Chicago Heights, then a the thousands of guests that Fran and Fred small town, where my family lived on the Hamerstrom introduced to these fascinating edge of town. Soon after learning to read, I birds over the years. After Elsie and I were discovered in the local library “The Burgess married we did our research together on birds. Bird Book for Children” (Burgess 1919) with UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO (1937-1942). its magnificent color plates by Louis Agassiz HORMONES AND BEHAVIOR Fuertes. These plates gave me names for the common birds that I encountered in the nearby Mrs. Nice and her family moved to Chicago fields and woods. I vividly recall my first in 1936 and bought a house near the Univer- glimpse of a bluebird in an orchard. It seemed sity of Chicago where I was a student, and we as if a fragment of the blue sky had fallen and became friends. was flying about on the back and wings of a My research career began after graduation in 1937 when Professor W. C. Allee of the ’ ’ Univ. of California, Dept. of Biology, Los Angeles, University of Chicago zoology department CA 900951606. hired me as his research assistant to work on * Corresponding author. the effects of hormones on the peck order of 28 Collias and CoZZiasl THE LIVING BIRD 29 SYNCHRONY - GONADOTROPHIN - SEXUAL BEHAVIOR general way with more current evidence as OF INTERNAL 4 f CYCLES WITH critically reviewed in 1996 by Buntin, who ENVIRONMENT I-) I /G0NAGSi also brings out the variation between different PROLACTIN _ PARENTAL BEHAVIOR species of birds. FIG. I. Interactions between hormones and behav- There are two general phases in the breed- ior in the control of breeding behavior in doves and ing cycle of birds, a sexual phase stimulated pigeons. Inhibition indicated by minus (-) sign. (After by pituitary gonadatrophin and gonadal ste- N. E. Collias 1952 and Collias and Collias 1984). roid hormones, and a parental phase dominat- ed by pituitary prolactin. The gonadal hor- mones stimulate pair formation, nest building hens. Testosterone and estradiol had been iso- and copulation. Male Ring Doves stimulate lated in pure form in 1935 (Martian 1950). In the females to lay eggs, as I found in a con- chickens, the cocks’ testes secrete testoster- trolled experiment (N. Collias 1950), confirm- one, the hens’ ovary secretes testosterone, es- ing Wallace Craigs’ demonstration of the same tradiol, and progesterone (reviewed in Collias thing in 1911. Gonadal hormones, together and Collias 1984). with the mate, nest and eggs, also help bring We found that ovariectomized hens injected about onset of incubation. with testosterone became more aggressive and In 1935, Oscar Riddle and his colleagues rose in the peck order, some from the bottom discovered that prolactin injected into laying to the top (Allee et al. 1939). Ovariectomized hens stimulates maternal behavior, i.e., incu- hens injected with the female sex hormone, bation and care of chicks. Sitting on eggs in estradiol, became sexually receptive but they turn stimulates prolactin secretion. However, did not rise in the peck order (Allee and Col- a hypophysectomized male pigeon that I in- lias 1940). jected with estradiol thereupon paired with a Rank in the peck order is decided by fight- normal female and helped her incubate her ing or passive submission at the initial en- eggs for over a month, showing that prolactin counter of each pair of birds. Success in initial is not absolutely necessary for parental be- encounters between normal hens is correlated havior (N. Collias 1950), although it normally with larger comb size, a specific indicator of stimulates it (Buntin 1996). By inhibiting go- testosterone. In my Ph.D. thesis, using the nadotrophin, rising prolactin levels help end path coefficient method of Professor Sewall the sexual phase of breeding. Wright and with his advice, I found that a Today, comparative endocrinology of wild much greater percentage of the variance in birds in nature is a relatively new and flour- success was determined by differences in ishing field of research, made possible by such comb size than in body weight or in previous techniques as radioimmunoassay of minute success, while molt had a depressing effect on hormone levels in the blood, a technique for success (N. Collias 1943). which Rosalyn Yalow of New York received Mrs. Nice, who was president of the Chi- a Nobel Prize in 1977. For many species of cago Ornithological Society from 1939 to birds it has now been amply confirmed that a 1941, invited me to speak before that society, sexual phase dominated by steroid sexual hor- and I spoke about hormones and behavior of mones is succeeded by a parental phase more birds as a self-regulating system with positive or less dominated by prolactin (Buntin 1996), and negative feedback relations. Ten years lat- for example, in the Song Sparrow (Wingfield er (N. Collias 1950), I reviewed the literature and Goldsmith 1990). on the subject in some detail. Figure 1 shows the interactions between the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN environment, hormones, and behavior. Origi- (1947-1951). ANALYSIS OF FAMILY nally it was based largely on pigeons and INTEGRATION AND VOCAL doves (N. Collias 1952), but indications now COMMUNICATION are that it may apply to many other birds as I served as Instructor in Zoology at the Uni- well. This figure was confirmed by a review versity of Wisconsin for four years. After 3 of more recent literature in 1984 (Collias and and l/2 years in the Army in World War II, I Collias 1984), and I think is consistent in a was more interested in family life than in peck 30 THE WILSON BULLETIN * Vol. IZO, No. I, March 1998 orders. Like Mrs. Nice, who as a young girl (3-4 days) some specific individuals may lead raised chickens, my first acquaintance with the other chicks to maternal clucking (from a details of individual bird behavior was with speaker) or to a source of warmth (warm chickens. The focus of my research at Wis- lamp) in a cool room. A chick that forges very consin was on family integration, and this led far ahead of the others, however, may utter to an interest in vocal communication. distress cries and is likely to turn back to re- Family integration and leadership.--When join its companions. A good leader has both a baby chick is lost, cold, hungry, thirsty, or independence, and empathy with companions in pain, it utters distress cries (chirps). When or young ones (N. Collias 1952). the chick is returned to its mother or to its Social guidance by the parent bird or other siblings, or the specific distress is relieved, the individuals enters into every stage of social chick promptly switches to pleasure notes development, and climaxes when birds learn (twitters).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Species List (Note, There Was a Pre-Tour to Kenya in 2018 As in 2017, but These Species Were Not Recorded
    Tanzania Species List (Note, there was a pre-tour to Kenya in 2018 as in 2017, but these species were not recorded. You can find a Kenya list with the fully annotated 2017 Species List for reference) February 6-18, 2018 Guides: Preston Mutinda and Peg Abbott, Driver/guides William Laiser and John Shoo, and 6 participants: Rob & Anita, Susan and Jan, and Bob and Joan KEYS FOR THIS LIST The # in (#) is the number of days the species was seen on the tour (E) – endemic BIRDS STRUTHIONIDAE: OSTRICHES OSTRICH Struthio camelus massaicus – (8) ANATIDAE: DUCKS & GEESE WHITE-FACED WHISTLING-DUCK Dendrocygna viduata – (2) FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCK Dendrocygna bicolor – (1) COMB DUCK Sarkidiornis melanotos – (1) EGYPTIAN GOOSE Alopochen aegyptiaca – (12) SPUR-WINGED GOOSE Plectropterus gambensis – (2) RED-BILLED DUCK Anas erythrorhyncha – (4) HOTTENTOT TEAL Anas hottentota – (2) CAPE TEAL Anas capensis – (2) NUMIDIDAE: GUINEAFOWL HELMETED GUINEAFOWL Numida meleagris – (12) PHASIANIDAE: PHEASANTS, GROUSE, AND ALLIES COQUI FRANCOLIN Francolinus coqui – (2) CRESTED FRANCOLIN Francolinus sephaena – (2) HILDEBRANDT'S FRANCOLIN Francolinus hildebrandti – (3) Naturalist Journeys [email protected] 866.900.1146 / Caligo Ventures [email protected] 800.426.7781 naturalistjourneys.com / caligo.com P.O. Box 16545 Portal AZ 85632 FAX: 650.471.7667 YELLOW-NECKED FRANCOLIN Francolinus leucoscepus – (4) [E] GRAY-BREASTED FRANCOLIN Francolinus rufopictus – (4) RED-NECKED FRANCOLIN Francolinus afer – (2) LITTLE GREBE Tachybaptus ruficollis – (1) PHOENICOPTERIDAE:FLAMINGOS
    [Show full text]
  • Download Download
    Biodiversity Observations http://bo.adu.org.za An electronic journal published by the Animal Demography Unit at the University of Cape Town The scope of Biodiversity Observations consists of papers describing observations about biodiversity in general, including animals, plants, algae and fungi. This includes observations of behaviour, breeding and flowering patterns, distributions and range extensions, foraging, food, movement, measurements, habitat and colouration/plumage variations. Biotic interactions such as pollination, fruit dispersal, herbivory and predation fall within the scope, as well as the use of indigenous and exotic species by humans. Observations of naturalised plants and animals will also be considered. Biodiversity Observations will also publish a variety of other interesting or relevant biodiversity material: reports of projects and conferences, annotated checklists for a site or region, specialist bibliographies, book reviews and any other appropriate material. Further details and guidelines to authors are on this website. Paper Editor: Les G. Underhill OVERVIEW OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE WEAVERS H. Dieter Oschadleus Recommended citation format: Oschadleus HD 2016. Overview of the discovery of the weavers. Biodiversity Observations 7. 92: 1–15. URL: http://bo.adu.org.za/content.php?id=285 Published online: 13 December 2016 – ISSN 2219-0341 – Biodiversity Observations 7.92: 1–15 1 TAXONOMY Currently, 117 living species of weavers in the Ploceidae family are recognised. Hoyo et al. OVERVIEW OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE WEAVERS (2010) listed 116 species but Safford & Hawkins (2013) split the Aldabra Fody Foudia H. Dieter Oschadleus aldabrana from the Red- headed Fody Foudia Animal Demography Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, eminentissima. Dickinson & University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 South Africa Christidis (2014) also listed 117 species.
    [Show full text]
  • Remote Tanzania
    The wonderful Usambara Eagle Owl... our inevitable bird of the trip! (Pete Morris) REMOTE TANZANIA 27 SEPTEMBER / 1 – 16 / 24 OCTOBER 2016 LEADER: PETE MORRIS Our 2017 tour to ‘Remote Tanzania’ turned out to be a fantastic adventure that way-surpassed most of our expectations. And with the addition of a pre-tour Northern Tanzania endemics extension, and a post-tour Ud- zungwa Mountains extension, the tour really was converted to an ‘Ultimate Tanzania’. For most of the tour we were accompanied by our ever reliable, super friendly and effcient local driver and excellent local guide, and were blessed with largely good weather, most importantly when we were camping up in the mountains. With such a good set up and conditions, there were few excuses, so we effciently set about our task of hoovering up the endemics, whilst enjoying the other wonders that this great country has to offer. 1 BirdQuest Tour Report: Remote Tanzania 2016 www.birdquest-tours.com The stunning Swynnerton’s Robin... a highlight of the Udzungwa Extension (Pete Morris) The pre-tour extension involved a whistle stop trek from Arusha to the Lariboro Plains and then down to Ndutu on the edge of the great Serengeti Plains and back via the amazing Ngorongoro Crater. Our task was to fnd the endemics: Grey-breasted Spurfowl, Yellow-collared and Fischer’s Lovebirds, Beesley’s Lark, Rufous-tailed Weaver and Ashy Starling all performed well alongside an excellent cast of other hoped-for birds and mam- mals. The main tour saw us travelling through arid plains and on to the South Pare Mountains, the East and West Usambaras, the attractive Pemba Island, the remote Uluguru and Ukaguru Mountains, the impressive Mikumi National Park and its surrounding miombo woodlands and the little explored Kilombero Plains.
    [Show full text]
  • Ethology and the Origins of Behavioral Endocrinology
    Hormones and Behavior 47 (2005) 493–502 www.elsevier.com/locate/yhbeh Historical Review Ethology and the origins of behavioral endocrinology Peter MarlerT Section of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, Animal Communication Lab, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA Received 28 September 2004; revised 30 December 2004; accepted 4 January 2005 Abstract The neurosciences embrace many disciplines, some long established, others of more recent origin. Behavioral endocrinology has only recently been fully acknowledged as a branch of neuroscience, distinctive for the determination of some of its exponents to remain integrative in the face of the many pressures towards reductionism that so dominate modern biology. One of its most characteristic features is a commitment to research at the whole-animal level on the physiological basis of complex behaviors, with a particular but by no means exclusive focus on reproductive behavior in all its aspects. The search for rigorously defined principles of behavioral organization that apply across species and the hormonal and neural mechanisms that sustain them underlies much of the research. Their aims are much like those put forth in the classical ethology of Lorenz and Tinbergen, one of the roots from which behavioral endocrinology has sprung. But there are others that can be traced back a century or more. Antecedents can be found in the work of such pioneers as Jakob von Uexkqll, Jacques Loeb, Herbert Spencer Jennings, and particularly Charles Otis Whitman who launched a tradition that culminated in the classical contributions of Robert Hinde and Daniel Lehrman. William C. Young was another pioneer. His studies revolutionized thinking about the physiological mechanisms by which hormones influence behavior.
    [Show full text]
  • Pdf Available
    Animal Behaviour 179 (2021) 235e245 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Animal Behaviour journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/anbehav Differences in flight initiation distances between African and Australian birds * Michael A. Weston a, b, , Anna Radkovic a, b, Lennox Kirao c , Patrick-Jean Guay a, d, Wouter F. D. Van Dongen a, b, Philista Malaki e, Daniel T. Blumstein f , Matthew R. E. Symonds a, b a Deakin University, Geelong, Australia b School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia c A Rocha Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya d Faculty of Arts and Education, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia e National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya f Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A. article info Associations between escape behaviours of birds approached by humans and life history traits differ Article history: between continents. This suggests environment and history have shaped the evolution of escape at the Received 11 October 2020 continental scale. We compared the escape behaviour of birds between eastern Australia (relatively low Initial acceptance 5 January 2021 density and shorter history of human presence) and eastern Africa (high density and substantially longer Final acceptance 31 May 2021 history of human presence), in relation to life and natural history traits known to influence escape behaviour. We examined associations between flight initiation distance (FID) and life and natural history MS. number: 20-00743R variables, using phylogenetically controlled analysis and model selection procedures, for 9372 FIDs from 516 bird species. Overall, African birds had shorter FIDs than Australian birds; however, this difference Keywords: was only observed among nonmigratory (resident) species.
    [Show full text]
  • Checklist of the Birds of Sosian Introduction
    Checklist of the Birds of Sosian Introduction Sosian is a 24,000 acre ranch in the centre of the vast and beautiful landscape known as Laikipia Plateau. Sosian takes pride in its wildlife conservation and the result has seen, in keeping with much of Laikipia, a resurgence in wildlife species and numbers. Whilst mammals tend to be the focus of a visitor’s attention, Sosian bird life is an important attraction, with the ranch having more than 350 Species. This is not surprising given the different habitats that can be encountered and enjoyed. Sosian enjoys at least 5 major ecozones. These can be classified as 1) the Grassland with scattered acacia trees in the North, 2) Rocky Bushland, 3) Acacia Woodland, 4) Acacia Grassland in the South and 5) the Riverine habitat provided by the Ewaso Narok River. In addition there are some major rock outcrops, cliffs and gorges. Use is made of some abbreviations in this checklist. AM = Afrotropical migrant, MM = Malagasy migrant, OM = Oriental migrant, PM = Palearctic migrant, (am) = local birds supplemented by Afrotropical migrant, (mm) = local birds supplement- ed by Malagasy migrant, (om) = local birds supplemented by Oriental migrants and (pm) = local birds supplemented by palearctic migrants. This checklist has been prepared by Brian Finch, Nigel Hunter, Simon Kenyon and Tristan Voorspoy over a period of the last 4 to 5 years. It is not exhaustive and new species will be added to the list over more time. The presence or absence of rain will have its influence as will the timing of migrations. Such records plus support- ing details should be given to Simon Kenyon or whoever is the resident manager at the time of the observation.
    [Show full text]
  • Species Recorded on the Mass Audubon Tour to Kenya and Tanzania October 30-November 20, 2010
    Species Recorded on the Mass Audubon Tour to Kenya and Tanzania October 30-November 20, 2010 BIRDS AVES BIRDS 1 Common Ostrich Struthio camelus 43 Black Kite 2 Somali Ostrich Struthio molybdophanes 44 African Fish Eagle 3 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 45 Palm-nut Vulture 4 Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis 46 Hooded Vulture 5 Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus 47 Egyptian Vulture 6 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 48 White-backed Vulture 7 Long-tailed Cormorant P. africanus 49 Rueppell's Griffon 8 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 50 Lappet-faced Vulture 9 Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala 51 White-headed Vulture 10 Goliath Heron Ardea goliath 52 Black-breasted Snake Eagle 11 Great Egret Ardea alba 53 Brown Snake Eagle 12 Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia 54 Bateleur 13 Little Egret Egretta garzetta 55 Western Marsh Harrier 14 Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides 56 Pallid Harrier 15 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 57 Montagu's Harrier 16 Striated Heron Butorides striata 58 African Harrier-Hawk 17 Hamerkop Scopus umbretta 59 Dark Chanting Goshawk 18 Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis 60 Eastern Chanting Goshawk 19 African Open-billed Stork Anastomus lamelligerus 61 Gabar Goshawk 20 White Stork Ciconia ciconia 62 Shikra 21 Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis 63 Black Goshawk 22 Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumeniferus 64 Eurasian Buzzard 23 Sacred Ibis Threkiornis aethiopicus 65 Mountain Buzzard 24 Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash 66 Augur Buzzard 25 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 67 Lesser Spotted Eagle 26 African Spoonbill
    [Show full text]
  • Behavior, Mimetic Songs and Song Dialects, and Relationships of the Parasitic Indigobirds (Vidua) of Africa
    BEHAVIOR, MIMETIC SONGS AND SONG DIALECTS, AND RELATIONSHIPS OF THE PARASITIC INDIGOBIRDS (VIDUA) OF AFRICA ROBERT B. PAYNE ORNITHOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS NO. 11 PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION 1973 BEHAVIOR, MIMETIC SONGS AND SONG DIALECTS, AND RELATIONSHIPS OF THE PARASITIC INDIGOBIRDS ('?IDU..4,) OF AFRICA ORNITHOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS This series,published by the American Ornithologists'Union, has been establishedfor major paperstoo long for inclusionin the Union's journal, The Auk. Publicationhas been made possiblethrough the generosityof Mrs. Carll Tucker and the Marcia Brady Tucker Foundation, Inc. Correspondenceconcerning manuscripts for publicationin the series shouldbe addressedto the incomingEditor, Dr. John W. Hardy, Moore Laboratoryof Zoology,Occidental College, Los Angeles,California 90041. Copiesof OrnithologicalMorrographs may be orderedfrom the Treasurer of the AOU, Burt L. Monroe, Jr., Box 23447, Anchorage,Kentucky 40223. (See price list on inside back cover.) OrnithologicalMonographs, No. 11, vi + 333 pp. Editor, Robert M. Mengel Editorial Assistant, James W. Parker IssuedJanuary 31, 1973 Price $8.00 prepaid($6.40 to AOU Members) Library of CongressCatalogue Card Number 73-75355 Printedby the Allen Press,Inc., Lawrence,Kansas 66044 Erratum. For a time it was hoped that publicationof OrnithologicalMonographs No. 11 would occur in 1972, the year that appearson the running headsthroughout. Publica- tion in 1972 was not realized, however,and through one of thosenoxious oversights that plague the publication processthe entire work had been printed before the failure to change the running heads was detected.--Ed. G ' I H J Breeding plumages of the males of ten kinds of indigobirds. A, Vidua chalybeata chalybeata, form "aenea" (FMNH 278472, Richard-To!l, Senegal); B, V.
    [Show full text]
  • Kenya: the Coolest Trip in Africa, May 2016
    Tropical Birding Trip Report Kenya: The Coolest Trip in Africa, May 2016 Kenya: The Coolest Trip in Africa 12-28 May 2016 TOUR LEADER: Adam Scott Kennedy Report and photos by Adam Scott Kennedy Gray Crowned Crane in Nairobi National Park Kenya is a mind-blowing birding destination at any time of year but it would seem that our May departure was especially well-timed. Not only did we enjoy the best weather imaginable but we arrived in time to see a majority of resident birds in full breeding plumage, intra-African migrants just arriving and we even caught the tail-end of the Palearctic migration. This classic set departure tour covered a vast array of habitats to be found within Kenya, from the verdant Guinea-Congolese rainforest at Kakamega and the Afro-montane forests of Mount Kenya, the very full Rift Valley lakes and papyrus swamps of Lake Victoria, to the endless plains of the Masai Mara. In total, we recorded 413 bird species of which 398 were seen and 15 were ‘heard only’. In addition, we observed 43 mammal species and 10 reptiles were also noted. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] Tropical Birding Trip Report Kenya: The Coolest Trip in Africa, May 2016 12th May Tom and Suzanne negotiated Kenya customs with diplomatic acuity and were promptly delivered to the Boma Inn by Joseph. After a much needed drink, we turned in for the night and began to dream of what was to come… 13th May The group rendezvoused in the small garden of the Boma Inn for a first taste of African bird life.
    [Show full text]
  • Northern Tanzania Birding & Wildlife in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater & Beyond
    NORTHERN TANZANIA BIRDING & WILDLIFE IN THE SERENGETI, NGORONGORO CRATER & BEYOND FEBRUARY 16–MARCH 4, 2020 Red-and-yellow Barbet (© Kevin J. Zimmer) LEADERS: KEVIN ZIMMER & ANTHONY RAFAEL LIST COMPILED BY: KEVIN ZIMMER VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS INC. 2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78746 WWW.VENTBIRD.COM NORTHERN TANZANIA February 16–March 4, 2020 By Kevin Zimmer Retz’s Helmetshrike, Ngare Sero, February 2020 (© Kevin J. Zimmer) As has become the routine, the entire group arrived in Tanzania at least a day early to recover from the international flights and enjoy some relaxing birding on the lovely grounds of Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge, an old estate converted to an intimate tourist lodge. Here, amidst the spectacular gardens and remnant forest bordering a lily-covered pond and trout stream, we gained an introduction to African birds, including several species that we would not see elsewhere on the trip. Noteworthy among our many prizes were a group of bizarre Retz’s Helmetshrikes, wildly duetting Rüppell’s Robin-Chats, and stunning views of Collared, Amethyst, and Olive sunbirds. More expected, but no less welcome, were such ‘regulars’ as Hamerkop, a trio of African Black Ducks, loads of bickering Little Grebes, Black Crake, unusually confiding Tambourine Doves, numbers of White-eared Barbets, Kenrick’s Starling, Brown-hooded and Giant kingfishers, prehistoric looking Silvery-cheeked Hornbills, dapper Mountain Wagtails, Black-backed Puffbacks, attractive male and female Black-throated Wattle-eyes, and actively nesting Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 2 Northern Tanzania, 2020 Taveta Golden-Weavers (a regional specialty with a highly restricted range) and Grosbeak Weavers.
    [Show full text]
  • Transactions of the Linnaean Society of New York, Volume 6, Studies In
    TRANSACTIONS OF THE LINNAEAN SOCIETY OF NEW YORK Volume VI Studies in the Life History of the Song Sparrow II The Behavior of the Song Sparrow and Other Passerines By Margaret Morse Nice New York September 1943 Generated for member (Columbia University) on 2015-12-16 05:50 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015006891488 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#pd-google 4M PROCLAIMS OWNERSHIP >*n of Generated for member (Columbia University) on 2015-12-16 05:50 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015006891488 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#pd-google TRANSACTIONS OF THE LINNAEAN SOCIETY OF NEW YORK Volume VI * Studies in the Life History of the Song Sparrow II The Behavior of the Song Sparrow and Other Passerines By Margaret Morse Nice New York September 1943 Generated for member (Columbia University) on 2015-12-16 05:50 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015006891488 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#pd-google To my Husband Generated for member (Columbia University) on 2015-12-16 05:50 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015006891488 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#pd-google I i , f W . TABLE OF CONTENTS * O ' o PMe. FOREWORD - - - 1 •0 CHAPTER I "^BIRD BEHAVIOR 4 A. The Observations of Others. , B. The Status of Birds in Comparison with Other Animals. C. Innate and Learned Behavior. D. Releasers, Signals, and the "Companion". ,J E. Summary. CHAPTER II ;, DEVELOPMENT OF THE YOUNG SONG SPARROW 12 A. The Subjects of Study —Table I.
    [Show full text]
  • Diet and Breeding Biology of Asian Golden Weaver (Ploceus Hypoxanthus)
    Bird Conservation International (2008) 18:267–274. ß BirdLife International 2008 doi:10.1017/S0959270908000269 Printed in the United Kingdom Short Communication Diet and Breeding Biology of Asian Golden Weaver (Ploceus hypoxanthus) WANGWORN SANKAMETHAWEE, SOMCHAI NIMNUAN, SIRIYA SRIPANOMYOM, KORAKOCH POBPRASERT, ANDREW J. PIERCE, PHILIP D. ROUND and GEORGE A. GALE Introduction The Asian Golden Weaver (Ploceus hypoxanthus) occurs in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia and inhabits marshes, grasslands, reeds and rice fields close to water in the lowlands (Robson 2000) and natural waterholes in lowland dry dipterocarp forest (Round 1998). It is globally ‘Near-threatened’ due to habitat loss through the conversion of wetlands to agricultural and settlement areas (BirdLife International 2007). In Thailand it is local and uncommon in the north, north-east and central regions (Lekagul and Round 1991, Robson 2000). However, no quantitative data are available regarding its ecological requirements. Our objectives were to collect basic ecological data on: i) population structure, ii) nesting habitat characteristics, iii) food selection and foraging behaviour, and iv) parental care at the nest. Study area and methods Study area The study was conducted on the 32 ha Bangkhuntien Campus of King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Thonburi (KMUTT), Bangkok, Thailand (13u 349 N and 100u 269 E), elevation 2 m asl. The average annual rainfall is approximately 1,600 mm falling mostly between May and October (Meteorological Dept. Thailand, 1995–2004). This region was originally mangrove forest in the brackish coastal zone of the gulf of Thailand but now consists mostly of fish and shrimp-ponds. The campus study area at the time of the study consisted of a mix of grassy, heavily disturbed, unvegetated, filled-in drier areas, with six natural temporary wetlands and five artificial ponds adjacent to the campus buildings.
    [Show full text]