DOCSLIB.ORG

Spider Webs and Windows As Potentially Important Sources of Hummingbird Mortality

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Spider Webs and Windows As Potentially Important Sources of Hummingbird Mortality J. Field Ornithol., 68(1):98--101 SPIDER WEBS AND WINDOWS AS POTENTIAIJJY IMPORTANT SOURCES OF HUMMINGBIRD MORTALITY DEVON L. G•nqAM Departmentof Biology Universityof Miami PO. Box 249118 Coral Gables,Florida, 33124 USA Abstract.--Sourcesof mortality for adult hummingbirdsare varied, but most reports are of starvationand predation by vertebrates.This paper reportstwo potentiallyimportant sources of mortality for tropical hermit hummingbirds,entanglement in spiderwebs and impacts with windows.Three instancesof hermit hummingbirds(Phaethornis spp.) tangled in webs of the spider Nephila clavipesin Costa Rica are reported. The placement of webs of these spidersin sitesfavored by hermit hummingbirdssuggests that entanglementmay occur reg- ularly. Observationsat buildingsalso suggest that traplining hermit hummingbirdsmay be more likely to die from strikingwindows than other hummingbirds.Window kills may need to be consideredfor studiesof populationsof hummingbirdslocated near buildings. TELAS DE ARAI•A Y VENTANAS COMO FUENTES POTENCIALES DE MORTALIDAD PARA ZUMBADORES Sinopsis.--Lasfuentes de mortalidad para zumbadoresson variadas.Pero la mayoria de los informes se circunscribena inanicitn y a depredacitn pot parte de vertebrados.En este trabajo se informan dos importantesfuentes de mortalidad para zumbadorestropicales (Phaethornisspp.) como los impactoscontra ventanasy el enredarsecon tela de arafia. Se informan tres casosde zumbadoresenredados con tela de la arafia Nephila clavipesen Costa Rica. La construccitn de las telas de arafia en lugares frecuentadospot los zumbadores sugiereque el enredarseen la tela de los arAcnidospudiera ocurrir regularmente.Obser- vacionesen edificiostambitn sugierenque las especiesde Phaethornispudieran estarm•s propensasa motif como resultadode impactoa ventanasque otrasespecies de zumbadores. Se debe considerarla mortalidad causadapot colicionescontra ventanascuando se hagan estudiospoblacionales de zumbadoresen lugarescercanos a edificios. Documentedsources of adult hummingbird (Trochilidae) mortalityin- clude starvation (Stiles1992) and predation by raptors (Beebe 1950, Low- ery 1938, MayT 1966, Peeters1963, Sick 1993, Sprot 1927, Stiles 1978), other birds (Sick 1993, Wright 1962), frogs (Monroe 1957, Norris-Elye 1944), snakes(Sick 1993), manfids (Butler 1949, Hildebrand 1949, Murray 1958), fish (Lockwood 1922), and mammals (Bent 1964, Sick 1993). Most predatorsappear to be opportunistic.However, the Tiny Hawk (Accipiter superciliosus)may specializein hunting hummingbirds(Stiles 1978). I report two additional sourcesof mortality, entanglement in spider webs and window kills, from observationsduring field work (June-July 1990;June 1991-December 1992; March-June 1993) at the La SelvaBi- ological Station, Costa Rica. I suggestthat both sourcesof mortality may be important for some speciesor populationsof hummingbirds. Spiderwebs.--Many hummingbirds regularly use spider webs for nesting material, and forage for insectstrapped in spider webs (Reinsen et al. 1986, Stiles1995, Wagner 1946, Young 1971). In primary forestundersto- ry at La Selva,two speciesof hermit hummingbirds,Long-tailed Hermits (Phaethornissuperciliosus) and Little Hermits (P long'uemareus),visit spi- 98 Vol.6a, •o. I HummingbirdMortality [99 der websincluding those of the large Golden Orb Spider, Nephila clavipes (hereafterNephila) (Stiles1995, Young 1971, pers. obs.). For both her- mits, lek and nestingsites are located in the understory,and foragingand flight paths are largely confined to trails, streamcourses, and other open areasin the understory (Stiles 1992, 1995; pers. obs.). Nephilais conspicuousthroughout its rangedue to its size(1-2 g), abun- dance, and placementof webs acrosstrails, streams,along ridgetops and acrossnatural gaps in the vegetation(Higgins 1987; Lubin 1978,1983; Ryp- stra 1985). Websare large (to 1 m in diameter),frequently aggregated, and surroundedby a tangleof strongnon-sticky threads. Fresh sticky strands are extremelyviscous (Lubin 1978, 1983;Rypstra 1985, Young 1971). On 16 Jul. 1990, two Long-tailed Hermits were found on the ground tangled in a destroyedNephila web, lessthan 50 m from an active lek. The attention of my party (C. Horvitz, J. LeCorff, M. Molina, and I) was drawn by the birds' distresscalls. One bird freed itself as we approached, the other was thickly coated with stickywebs, gluing it to severaldead twigsand leaves.When we removed the webbing,this bird could not fly, but recuperatedafter 2-3 min and two extended drinks of proffered Ga- torade©;it would certainly have died without intervention. In November 1992, L. Vargasand I observeda single Long-tailedHer- mit tangled in a Nephilaweb 4-5 m off the ground. This bird freed itself after about 30 s (assumingit began giving distresscalls the moment it became entangled), and the web was not totally destroyed.The third record of which ! am aware was of a Little Hermit found tangled in a Nephilaweb in 1977 by L. McDade (A. Mack, pers.comm.). This bird was releasedand presumablysurvived. Considering the rarity with which pre- dation events are witnessed, or dead birds encountered in forest habitats, I suggestthat these observationsare significant. For hummingbirds that forage in locationsfavored by Nephila such as forest understoryand edges,entanglement in spider webscould be an underrated or unacknowledgedsource of mortality. During periods of food scarcity,weakened birds might be especiallylikely to die. When hit- ting a web, a bird's momentum may either carry it through the web, or, when websare aggregated,cause it to becomecoated with both the sticky strandsof the inner web and the strong supporting strands.Humming- birdsare much larger than recordedNephila prey items (Higgins1987, Rypstra1985), and it is unlikely that Nephilaprey on birds. Entrapment of hummingbirds in spider webs has been reported repeatedly,but is usuallytreated as a rare, chance occurrence.Accounts of entrapment in Argiopeand Nephilawebs are related by Bent (1964), Baird et al. (1905), McCook (1889), Skutch (1973), Sick (1993), and Teixeira et al. (1991). In addition to death from exhaustion and shock, trapped humming- birds may be subjectto predation. Raptorsare often attracted to mist- netted birds (B. Loiselle, pers. comm.; pers. obs.), and trapped hermits are typicallyconspicuous, struggling vigorously and giving repeated dis- tresscalls. Small trapped birds are alsoopen to attackby other avianand mammalian predators. 100] D.L. Graham J.Field Ornithol. Winter 1997 Windows.--Observationsat La Selvasuggest that window-killsmay be a significantsource of mortalityfor local hummingbird populations.During two yearsat La Selva,birds hit windowsdaily. While some birds suffered glancing blowsand flew awayapparently uninjured, otherswere stunned or killed outright. Basedon dead birds found beneath windows,I estimate that 2-3 birds were killed weekly.Two sidesof a laboratory with large windowswere checked on a near-dailybasis while other locationswere checked irregularly; 2-3 deaths per week may thus be an underestimate. The birds most commonlyimpacting windows were hummingbirds,es- pecially the abundant Rufous-tailedHummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl)and the Long-tailed Hermit. These two speciesaccounted for about one-third of birds observedor known to hit windows.Only two impacts by the Rufous-tailedHummingbird are known to have resultedin death. In con- trast,dead Long-tailedHermits were found beneath windowsat leastonce a month, and stunnedindividuals every 1-3 wk. The massof Long-tailed Hermits (6.0 g; Stilesand Skutch 1989) and long traplining flights may mean that this speciesis more likely to hit windowswith lethal force than many other hummingbird species. Stunnedbirds that eventuallyflew awaymay have sustained injuries fatal in the short term. One Long-tailed Hermit bent half of the lower and upper mandiblesat a 30ø angle to the side,for instance,and Klem (1990a) documentsnon-apparent internal injuries in birds that hit windows.In- jured birds may alsobe vulnerable to predator attack, or be killed by fire ants (Solenopsissp.) which scavangeddead birds. For speciessuch as the Long-tailedHermit, even a mortalityrate of one individual per month might affect local populations.At La Selva, Stiles (1992) estimated that despite their seeming abundance,there may be only a few hundred individualson the 1500 ha property.Window mor- tality could conceivablyaffect demographicsof nearbyleks if, for instance, wider-rangingmales (Stiles and Wolf 1979) are more likelyto impactwin- dows,or if naivejuveniles suffer disproportionatemortality. Given that window-killsmay be the greatestsource of human-relatedbird mortality in the United States(Klem 1990b), and that populationsof dif- ferent bird speciesmay be affectedto different degreesby window-induced mortality,investigation into window-killsat tropical sitesis warranted.Ad- ditionally,research stations, private individualsand othersshould consider methodsof reducingwindow-kill deaths (see Klem 1979, 1990b). ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This paper wasimproved by commentsby C. R. Chandler,E Chavez-Ramirez,I4L Lips, D. McKey,E G. Stilesand one anonymousreviewer. This work wassupported by grantsto the author from the Organizationfor Tropical Studies(Pew Charitable Trust), and the National ScienceFoundation (DissertationImprovement Grant 4/9123052). LITERATURE CITED BAIRD.S. F., T. M. BREWER,AND R. RIDGEWAY.1905. A historyof North Americanbirds. Vol. II, Land birds. Little, Brown, and Company,Boston, Mass. Vol.68, No. 1 HummingbirdMortality [ 101
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Attracting Hummingbirds to Your Garden Using Native Plants
    United States Department of Agriculture Attracting Hummingbirds to Your Garden Using Native Plants Black-chinned Hummingbird feeding on mountain larkspur, fireweed, and wild bergamot (clockwise from top) Forest National Publication April Service Headquarters Number FS-1046 2015 Hummingbird garden guide Many of us enjoy the beauty of flowers in our backyard and community gardens. Growing native plants adds important habitat for hummingbirds and other wildlife—especially pollinators. Even small backyard gardens can make a difference. Gardening connects us to nature and helps us better understand how nature works. This guide will help you create a hummingbird- What do hummingbirds, friendly garden. butterflies, and bees have in common? They all pollinate flowering plants. Broad-tailed Hummingbird feeding on scarlet gilia Hummingbirds are Why use native plants in restricted to the Americas with more your garden? than 325 species of Hummingbirds have evolved with hummingbirds in North, Central, and native plants, which are best adapted South America. to local growing seasons, climate, and soil. They prefer large, tubular flowers that are often (but not always) red in color. In this guide, we feature seven hummingbirds that breed in the United States. For each one, we also highlight two native plants found in its breeding range. These native plants are easy to grow, need little water once established, and offer hummingbirds abundant nectar. 2 Hummingbirds and pollination Ruby-throated Hummingbird feeding on the At rest, a hummer’s nectar and pollen heart beats an of blueberry flowers average of 480 beats per minute. On cold nights, it goes into What is pollination? torpor (hibernation- like state), and its Pollination is the process of moving pollen heart rate drops to (male gamete) from one flower to the ovary of another 45 to 180 beats per minute.
    [Show full text]
  • Paper Describing Hummingbird-Sized Dinosaur Retracted 24 July 2020, by Bob Yirka
    Paper describing hummingbird-sized dinosaur retracted 24 July 2020, by Bob Yirka teeth. Some in the field were so sure that it was a lizard and not a dinosaur that they wrote and uploaded a paper to the bioRxiv preprint server outlining their concerns. The authors of the paper then published a response addressing their concerns and refuting the skeptics' arguments. That was followed by another team reporting that they had found a similar fossil and after studying it, had deemed it to be a lizard. In reviewing both the paper and the evidence presented by others in the field, the editors at Nature chose to retract the paper. A CT scan of the skull of Oculudentavis by LI Gang, The researchers who published the original paper Oculudentavis means eye-tooth-bird, so named for its appear to be divided on their assessment of the distinctive features. Credit: Lars Schmitz retraction, with some insisting there was no reason for the paper to be retracted and others acknowledging that they had made a mistake when they classified their find as a dinosaur. In either The journal Nature has issued a retraction for a case, all of the researchers agree that the work paper it published March 11th called they did on the fossil was valid and thus the paper "Hummingbird-sized dinosaur from the Cretaceous could be used as a source by others in the future—it period of Myanmar." The editorial staff was alerted is only the classification of the find that has been to a possible misclassification of the fossil put in doubt.
    [Show full text]
  • Observebserve a D Dinosaurinosaur
    OOBSERVEBSERVE A DDINOSAURINOSAUR How did ancient dinosaurs move and behave? To fi nd out, paleontologists look for clues in fossils, such as fossilized footprints, eggs, and even dung. They also observe and analyze the movement and behavior of living dinosaurs and other animals. These data help paleontologists interpret the fossil evidence. You can also observe living dinosaurs. Go outdoors to fi nd birds in their natural habitat. (Or you can use online bird videos, such as the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s video gallery at www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/ BirdGuide/VideoGallery.html) 1. Record Your Observations What Evidence IndiCates In a notebook, fi rst record information That Birds Are Dinosaurs? about the environment: Over 125 years ago, paleontologists made a startling discovery. They • Date and Time recognized that the physical characteristics of modern birds and a • Location and Habitat species of small carnivorous dinosaur were alike. • Weather and temperature Take a look at the skeletons of roadrunner (a modern bird) and Coelophysis (an extinct dinosaur) to explore some of these shared Then observe a bird and record: characteristics. Check out the bones labeled on the roadrunner. • How does the bird move? Can you fi nd and label similar bones on the Coelophysis? • What does the bird eat? ROADRUNNER • Is the bird alone or in a group? S-shaped neck • How does the bird behave with Hole in hip socket members of its species? • How does the bird behave with members of other species? V-shaped furcula Pubis bone in hip (wishbone) points backwards Tips: • Weather conditions can affect how animals behave.
    [Show full text]
  • Tinamiformes – Falconiformes
    LIST OF THE 2,008 BIRD SPECIES (WITH SCIENTIFIC AND ENGLISH NAMES) KNOWN FROM THE A.O.U. CHECK-LIST AREA. Notes: "(A)" = accidental/casualin A.O.U. area; "(H)" -- recordedin A.O.U. area only from Hawaii; "(I)" = introducedinto A.O.U. area; "(N)" = has not bred in A.O.U. area but occursregularly as nonbreedingvisitor; "?" precedingname = extinct. TINAMIFORMES TINAMIDAE Tinamus major Great Tinamou. Nothocercusbonapartei Highland Tinamou. Crypturellus soui Little Tinamou. Crypturelluscinnamomeus Thicket Tinamou. Crypturellusboucardi Slaty-breastedTinamou. Crypturellus kerriae Choco Tinamou. GAVIIFORMES GAVIIDAE Gavia stellata Red-throated Loon. Gavia arctica Arctic Loon. Gavia pacifica Pacific Loon. Gavia immer Common Loon. Gavia adamsii Yellow-billed Loon. PODICIPEDIFORMES PODICIPEDIDAE Tachybaptusdominicus Least Grebe. Podilymbuspodiceps Pied-billed Grebe. ?Podilymbusgigas Atitlan Grebe. Podicepsauritus Horned Grebe. Podicepsgrisegena Red-neckedGrebe. Podicepsnigricollis Eared Grebe. Aechmophorusoccidentalis Western Grebe. Aechmophorusclarkii Clark's Grebe. PROCELLARIIFORMES DIOMEDEIDAE Thalassarchechlororhynchos Yellow-nosed Albatross. (A) Thalassarchecauta Shy Albatross.(A) Thalassarchemelanophris Black-browed Albatross. (A) Phoebetriapalpebrata Light-mantled Albatross. (A) Diomedea exulans WanderingAlbatross. (A) Phoebastriaimmutabilis Laysan Albatross. Phoebastrianigripes Black-lootedAlbatross. Phoebastriaalbatrus Short-tailedAlbatross. (N) PROCELLARIIDAE Fulmarus glacialis Northern Fulmar. Pterodroma neglecta KermadecPetrel. (A) Pterodroma
    [Show full text]
  • Hummingbird Haven Backyard Habitat for Wildlife
    U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Hummingbird Haven Backyard Habitat for Wildlife From late March through mid November, if you and then spending their winters in Mexico. look carefully, you may find a small flying Beating their wings 2.7 million times, the jewel in your backyard. The ruby-throated ruby-throated hummingbird flies 500 miles hummingbird may be seen zipping by your nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico during porch or flitting about your flower migration. This trip averages 18-20 hours garden. Inquisitive by nature, these but with a strong tail wind, the flight takes tiny birds will fly close to investigate ten hours. To survive, migrating hummers your colorful blouse or red baseball cap. must store fat and fuel up before and right The hummingbird, like many species of after crossing the Gulf—there are no wildlife is plagued by loss of habitat. sources of nectar over the ocean! However, by providing suitable backyard habitat you can help this flying jewel of a bird. Hummingbird Flowers Flowers Height Color Bloom time Hummingbird Habitat A successful backyard haven for hummingbirds contains a Herbaceous Plants variety of flowering plants including tall and medium trees, Bee Balm 2-4' W, P, R, L summer shrubs, vines, perennial and annual flowers. Flowering plants Blazing Star 2-6' L summer & fall provide hummers with nectar for energy and insects for Cardinal Flower 2-5' R summer protein. Trees and shrubs provide vertical structure for nesting, perching and shelter. No matter what size garden, try Columbine 1-4' all spring & summer to select a variety of plants to ensure flowering from spring Coral Bells 6-12" W, P, R spring through fall.
    [Show full text]
  • Provisional List of Birds of the Rio Tahuauyo Areas, Loreto, Peru
    Provisional List of Birds of the Rio Tahuauyo areas, Loreto, Peru Compiled by Carol R. Foss, Ph.D. and Josias Tello Huanaquiri, Guide Status based on expeditions from Tahuayo Logde and Amazonia Research Center TINAMIFORMES: Tinamidae 1. Great Tinamou Tinamus major 2. White- throated Tinamou Tinamus guttatus 3. Cinereous Tinamou Crypturellus cinereus 4. Little Tinamou Crypturellus soui 5. Undulated Tinamou Crypturellus undulates 6. Variegated Tinamou Crypturellus variegatus 7. Bartlett’s Tinamou Crypturellus bartletti ANSERIFORMES: Anhimidae 8. Horned Screamer Anhima cornuta ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae 9. Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata 10. Blue-winged Teal Anas discors 11. Masked Duck Nomonyx dominicus GALLIFORMES: Cracidae 12. Spix’s Guan Penelope jacquacu 13. Blue-throated Piping-Guan Pipile cumanensis 14. Speckled Chachalaca Ortalis guttata 15. Wattled Curassow Crax globulosa 16. Razor-billed Curassow Mitu tuberosum GALLIFORMES: Odontophoridae 17. Marbled Wood-Quall Odontophorus gujanensis 18. Starred Wood-Quall Odontophorus stellatus PELECANIFORMES: Phalacrocoracidae 19. Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus PELECANIFORMES: Anhingidae 20. Anhinga Anhinga anhinga CICONIIFORMES: Ardeidae 21. Rufescent Tiger-Heron Tigrisoma lineatum 22. Agami Heron Agamia agami 23. Boat-billed Heron Cochlearius cochlearius 24. Zigzag Heron Zebrilus undulatus 25. Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 26. Striated Heron Butorides striata 27. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 28. Cocoi Heron Ardea cocoi 29. Great Egret Ardea alba 30. Cappet Heron Pilherodius pileatus 31. Snowy Egret Egretta thula 32. Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea CICONIIFORMES: Threskiornithidae 33. Green Ibis Mesembrinibis cayennensis 34. Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja CICONIIFORMES: Ciconiidae 35. Jabiru Jabiru mycteria 36. Wood Stork Mycteria Americana CICONIIFORMES: Cathartidae 37. Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 38. Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture Cathartes burrovianus 39.
    [Show full text]
  • Hummingbirds for Kids
    Hummingbird Facts & Activity for Kids Hummingbird Facts: Georgia is home to 11 hummingbird species during the year: 1. ruby-throated 2. black-chinned 3. rufous 4. calliope 5. magnificent 6. Allen's 7. Anna's 8. broad-billed 9. green violet-ear 10. green-breasted mango 11. broad-tailed The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only species of hummingbird known to nest to Georgia. These birds weigh around 3 grams-- as little as a first-class letter. The female builds the walnut-sized nest without any help from her mate, a process that can take up to 12 days. The female then lays two eggs, each about the size of a black-eyed pea. In Georgia, female ruby-throated hummers produce up to two broods per year. Nests are typically built on a small branch that is parallel to or dips downward. The birds sometimes rebuild the nest they used the previous year. Keep at least one feeder up throughout the year. You cannot keep hummingbirds from migration by leaving feeders up during the fall and winter seasons. Hummingbirds migrate in response to a decline in day length, not food availability. Most of the rare hummingbirds found in Georgia are seen during the winter. Homemade Hummingbird Feeders: You can use materials from around your home to make a feeder. Here is a list of what you may use: • Small jelly jar • Salt shaker • Wire or coat hanger for hanging • Red pipe cleaners Homemade Hummingbird Food: • You will need--- 1 part sugar to 4 parts water • Boil the water for 2–3 minutes before adding sugar.
    [Show full text]
  • Bird) Species List
    Aves (Bird) Species List Higher Classification1 Kingdom: Animalia, Phyllum: Chordata, Class: Reptilia, Diapsida, Archosauria, Aves Order (O:) and Family (F:) English Name2 Scientific Name3 O: Tinamiformes (Tinamous) F: Tinamidae (Tinamous) Great Tinamou Tinamus major Highland Tinamou Nothocercus bonapartei O: Galliformes (Turkeys, Pheasants & Quail) F: Cracidae Black Guan Chamaepetes unicolor (Chachalacas, Guans & Curassows) Gray-headed Chachalaca Ortalis cinereiceps F: Odontophoridae (New World Quail) Black-breasted Wood-quail Odontophorus leucolaemus Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge Dendrortyx leucophrys Marbled Wood-Quail Odontophorus gujanensis Spotted Wood-Quail Odontophorus guttatus O: Suliformes (Cormorants) F: Fregatidae (Frigatebirds) Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens O: Pelecaniformes (Pelicans, Tropicbirds & Allies) F: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets & Bitterns) Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis O: Charadriiformes (Sandpipers & Allies) F: Scolopacidae (Sandpipers) Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius O: Gruiformes (Cranes & Allies) F: Rallidae (Rails) Gray-Cowled Wood-Rail Aramides cajaneus O: Accipitriformes (Diurnal Birds of Prey) F: Cathartidae (Vultures & Condors) Black Vulture Coragyps atratus Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura F: Pandionidae (Osprey) Osprey Pandion haliaetus F: Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles & Kites) Barred Hawk Morphnarchus princeps Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus Double-toothed Kite Harpagus bidentatus Gray-headed Kite Leptodon cayanensis Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus Ornate Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus ornatus Red-tailed
    [Show full text]
  • Ecological, Behavioral, and Distributional Notes on Some
    SHORT COMMUNICATIONS ECOLOGICAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND Other localities mentioned are as follows: DISTRIBUTIONAL NOTES ON SOME Chiva Chiva Road (9”0356”N,’ 79”3413”W),’ an CENTRAL PANAMA BIRDS area on the drier Pacific slope of the Canal Zone, is composed of second growth woodland mixed with JAMES R. KARR ’ grassy clearings. This site was about 7.5 km from Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute the origin of C21, about 3.5 km NW of the main P. 0. Box 2072 entrance to Fort Clayton, Canal Zone. Balboa, Canal Zone Cerro Azul, Province of Panama (9”13N,’ 79”23W),’ is the westernmost of the montane areas east of the While studying avian populations in the Canal Zone Canal Zone, reached by highway east of Panama City. and the central part of the Republic of Panama from Under this name I include the elevated areas referred 1 July 1968 to 31 July 1969, I observed the ecology to as Cerro Azul, Cerro Jefe, and other peaks on the and behavior of several little-known birds and estab- same ridge (maximum elevation about 1000 m). lished new distributional records. Wetmore ( 1965, Mature, humid forest is still present in some areas 1968) summarizes the ranges of the non-passerine although much of the area consists of cut-over forest species, so this note will emphasize only new data. and forest-edge. Additional information on recorded status is based on Cerro Campana, Province of Panama (8”41N,’ Eisenmann and Loftin (1968). 79”56W)’ is a mountain rising about 1000 m at the eastern terminus of the chain running through southern STUDY AREAS Central America.
    [Show full text]
  • Attracting Hummingbirds
    BirdNotes 02 Attracting Hummingbirds ♂ RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD The tiniest birds in the world are also among the most fascinating and the easiest to watch, sometimes from inches away in your window feeders. Feeding hummingbirds is fun and rewarding and, when done properly, can also make life easier for hummingbirds. Hummingbirds get quick energy from sugar-water feeders, energy that fuels their search for the insects and flowers which provide most of their nourishment. selecting feeders he most important feature of a Tgood hummingbird feeder is that it be easy to open and to clean. If you can’t easily reach every bit of inside surface with a bottle brush, the feed- er will soon foster bacteria, fungi, and other harmful organisms. Feeders should have red parts. Flowers pollinated by hummingbirds are often red, and hummingbirds are attracted to that color. Hamster water bottles and similar items are much more likely to attract hummingbirds if part of the Recipe for success: There’s no need to add red food color to sugar water, or to use red- glass is painted with red nail polish or colored commercial mixes. Flower nectar is clear and red food coloring may be harmful something red is placed on them. to hummingbirds. Some feeders come with bee guards— bird tongues have no trouble, so these Hummingbirds are exceptionally plastic screens that fit over the feed- feeders are often the best choice for territorial and often fight with one ing ports. When these are yellow, they discouraging flying insects. another. You will attract more hum- may actually attract yellow jacket mingbirds that can feed with fewer Some feeders have ant moats.
    [Show full text]
  • Alpha Codes for 2168 Bird Species (And 113 Non-Species Taxa) in Accordance with the 62Nd AOU Supplement (2021), Sorted Taxonomically
    Four-letter (English Name) and Six-letter (Scientific Name) Alpha Codes for 2168 Bird Species (and 113 Non-Species Taxa) in accordance with the 62nd AOU Supplement (2021), sorted taxonomically Prepared by Peter Pyle and David F. DeSante The Institute for Bird Populations www.birdpop.org ENGLISH NAME 4-LETTER CODE SCIENTIFIC NAME 6-LETTER CODE Highland Tinamou HITI Nothocercus bonapartei NOTBON Great Tinamou GRTI Tinamus major TINMAJ Little Tinamou LITI Crypturellus soui CRYSOU Thicket Tinamou THTI Crypturellus cinnamomeus CRYCIN Slaty-breasted Tinamou SBTI Crypturellus boucardi CRYBOU Choco Tinamou CHTI Crypturellus kerriae CRYKER White-faced Whistling-Duck WFWD Dendrocygna viduata DENVID Black-bellied Whistling-Duck BBWD Dendrocygna autumnalis DENAUT West Indian Whistling-Duck WIWD Dendrocygna arborea DENARB Fulvous Whistling-Duck FUWD Dendrocygna bicolor DENBIC Emperor Goose EMGO Anser canagicus ANSCAN Snow Goose SNGO Anser caerulescens ANSCAE + Lesser Snow Goose White-morph LSGW Anser caerulescens caerulescens ANSCCA + Lesser Snow Goose Intermediate-morph LSGI Anser caerulescens caerulescens ANSCCA + Lesser Snow Goose Blue-morph LSGB Anser caerulescens caerulescens ANSCCA + Greater Snow Goose White-morph GSGW Anser caerulescens atlantica ANSCAT + Greater Snow Goose Intermediate-morph GSGI Anser caerulescens atlantica ANSCAT + Greater Snow Goose Blue-morph GSGB Anser caerulescens atlantica ANSCAT + Snow X Ross's Goose Hybrid SRGH Anser caerulescens x rossii ANSCAR + Snow/Ross's Goose SRGO Anser caerulescens/rossii ANSCRO Ross's Goose
    [Show full text]
  • Hummingbirds
    Prepared for the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC) Photo Hugh Vandervoort 6 things you can do for hummingbirds 1. Provide food by planting nectar plants or with careful use of feeder 2. Join a citizen science project • www.hummingbirdsathome.org • www.ebird.org • www.rubythroat.org • www.feederwatch.org 3. Provide a water source Promoting (e.g. fountain, sprinkler, or Hummingbirds How You Can birdbath with a mister) 4. Donate to organizations that Help Them support hummingbird and pollinator conservation Why are hummingbirds 5. Join the Million Pollinator important? Garden Challenge at www. Hummingbirds play an important role in the pollinator.org/million food web, pollinating a variety of fl owering plants, some of which are specifi cally adapted 6. Learn more at www.pollinator. to pollination by hummingbirds. Some tropical org/hummingbirds hummingbirds are at risk, like other pollinators, due to habitat loss and changes in the distribution and abundance of nectar plants. Where are they found? There are more than 300 species of hummingbirds in the world, all of which are found only in the western hemisphere, from southeastern Alaska to southern Chile. Many more species can be found in the tropics than in temperate zones. Many North American hummingbird species are migratory, covering enormous distances each year as they journey between summer breeding grounds and NAPPC overwintering areas. Photo Michael Duncan Photo Jillian Cowles Visit www.pollinator.org/brochures.htm to order copies of this brochure. What do they need? Food Hummingbirds feed by day on nectar As a result, many hummingbird species are from fl owers, including annuals, perennials, incredibly sensitive to environmental change trees, shrubs, and vines.
    [Show full text]