The First Mangrove Swallow Recorded in the United States
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Costa Rica 2020
Sunrise Birding LLC COSTA RICA TRIP REPORT January 30 – February 5, 2020 Photos: Talamanca Hummingbird, Sunbittern, Resplendent Quetzal, Congenial Group! Sunrise Birding LLC COSTA RICA TRIP REPORT January 30 – February 5, 2020 Leaders: Frank Mantlik & Vernon Campos Report and photos by Frank Mantlik Highlights and top sightings of the trip as voted by participants Resplendent Quetzals, multi 20 species of hummingbirds Spectacled Owl 2 CR & 32 Regional Endemics Bare-shanked Screech Owl 4 species Owls seen in 70 Black-and-white Owl minutes Suzy the “owling” dog Russet-naped Wood-Rail Keel-billed Toucan Great Potoo Tayra!!! Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher Black-faced Solitaire (& song) Rufous-browed Peppershrike Amazing flora, fauna, & trails American Pygmy Kingfisher Sunbittern Orange-billed Sparrow Wayne’s insect show-and-tell Volcano Hummingbird Spangle-cheeked Tanager Purple-crowned Fairy, bathing Rancho Naturalista Turquoise-browed Motmot Golden-hooded Tanager White-nosed Coati Vernon as guide and driver January 29 - Arrival San Jose All participants arrived a day early, staying at Hotel Bougainvillea. Those who arrived in daylight had time to explore the phenomenal gardens, despite a rain storm. Day 1 - January 30 Optional day-trip to Carara National Park Guides Vernon and Frank offered an optional day trip to Carara National Park before the tour officially began and all tour participants took advantage of this special opportunity. As such, we are including the sightings from this day trip in the overall tour report. We departed the Hotel at 05:40 for the drive to the National Park. En route we stopped along the road to view a beautiful Turquoise-browed Motmot. -
2016 Checklist of Florida'a Birds
Artwork by Ann Marie Tavares 2016 Checklist of Florida’s Birds Prepared by Dr. Greg Schrott and Andy Wraithmell The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida’s wild places are home to an incredible diversity of birds. Over 500 native bird species or naturally occurring strays have been recorded in the state in historic times, and about 330 native species commonly occur here (four have gone extinct). A further 14 nonnative species are considered to have established large, stable populations in Florida. More than 70 natural community types support this diversity, from the pine flatwoods of Apalachicola National Forest, to the scrub communities of the Lake Wales Ridge, and the vast sawgrass marshes and mangrove swamps of Everglades National Park. Our natural areas harbor many bird species seen nowhere else in the United States such as the Florida Scrub-Jay, Mangrove Cuckoo, and Snail Kite. In addition, Florida’s birdlife changes with the cycle of the seasons. A constant turnover of breeding, wintering and migratory species provides new birding experiences throughout the year. To help you keep track of the spectacular range of birdlife the state has to offer, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has published this checklist. The first edition of Checklist of Florida’s Birds was prepared by Dr. Henry M. Stevenson in 1986. During his lifetime, Dr. Stevenson made many contributions to the field of ornithology, culminating with his writing The Birdlife of Florida with Bruce H. Anderson (1994). This book offers the most comprehensive information published on the lives of Florida’s birds. -
Barn Swallows AKA: Mud Swallows
Barn Swallows AKA: Mud Swallows. Close relatives: Purple Martin, Cliff Swallow, Tree Swallow Scientific Classification: Animalia, Chordata, Aves, Passeriformes, Hirundinidae; Hirundo; H. rustica. Bird Size & Markings: Adult Barn Swallows are about 7” long, stand 4” high and have a 13” wingspan. They weigh less than 1 ounce. Males have metallic blue back, wings, and tail with rufous to tawny underside. The blue crown and face is contrasted with the cinnamon forehead and throat. Females are not as brightly colored. Habitat: You can find Barn Swallows feeding in open habitats such as fields, parks, marshes, meadows, ponds, and coastal waters. Their nests are often easy to spot under protected overhangs. Nesting/Dens: Barn Swallows lay 3 to 7 eggs in each brood and can hatch broods twice a year. Brood fledge in about 2 weeks. Both sexes construct the nest of mud pel- lets. If attached to a wall or beam, the nest is half-cup shaped. If on top of a surface, A mating pair of Barn Swallows. They prefer to the nest forms a perfect small cup about 3” wide. Nest sites are almost exclusively at- build their nests where there is overhead pro- tached to man made structures with overhead protection; roof eaves, the underside tection from the weather. of bridges, inside barns and stables, etc. Food: Barn Swallows eat insects - both flying and terrestrial. They usually take rela- tively large, single insects rather than feeding on swarms of smaller prey. They typi- cally feed just above shallow waters or turf. They have been known to follow tractors and livestock, eating the insects that are flushed out by their movement. -
Aves: Hirundinidae)
1 2 Received Date : 19-Jun-2016 3 Revised Date : 14-Oct-2016 4 Accepted Date : 19-Oct-2016 5 Article type : Original Research 6 7 8 Convergent evolution in social swallows (Aves: Hirundinidae) 9 Running Title: Social swallows are morphologically convergent 10 Authors: Allison E. Johnson1*, Jonathan S. Mitchell2, Mary Bomberger Brown3 11 Affiliations: 12 1Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago 13 2Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan 14 3 School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska 15 Contact: 16 Allison E. Johnson*, Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, 1101 E 57th Street, 17 Chicago, IL 60637, phone: 773-702-3070, email: [email protected] 18 Jonathan S. Mitchell, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, 19 Ruthven Museums Building, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, email: [email protected] 20 Mary Bomberger Brown, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Hardin Hall, 3310 21 Holdrege Street, Lincoln, NE 68583, phone: 402-472-8878, email: [email protected] 22 23 *Corresponding author. 24 Data archiving: Social and morphological data and R code utilized for data analysis have been 25 submitted as supplementary material associated with this manuscript. 26 27 Abstract: BehavioralAuthor Manuscript shifts can initiate morphological evolution by pushing lineages into new adaptive 28 zones. This has primarily been examined in ecological behaviors, such as foraging, but social behaviors 29 may also alter morphology. Swallows and martins (Hirundinidae) are aerial insectivores that exhibit a This is the author manuscript accepted for publication and has undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. -
Cave Swallow Range Continues to Expand
CaveSwallow range continues to expand Cliff and Barn swallows may be displaced from their former nesting sites by the continued expansion of the Cave Swallow Paul C. Palmer Swallows was noted in American Birds Nancy and I set out in the afternoon to tin and many others have docu- in 1984 not only in Jim Hogg, Brooks, test that hypothesis.Within two hours INCEmentedTHE a phenomenalEARLY 1970S, expansion R.F.MAR-of and Duval counties,but in Kleberg,one we found mixed breeding coloniesof the rangeof the Cave Swallow(Hirundo of the counties of the Texas Coastal Barn and Cave swallows at five locations fulva) in Texas. That range expansion Bend. Steve Labuda of Santa Ana Na- along US 77 in Kleberg and Kenedy hasbeen accompaniedby a pronounced tional Wildlife Refuge discoveredand counties. breakdownof the former segregationof ThomasPincelli reporteda nestingcol- US 77 is the only north-south h•gh- the speciesfrom othersof its genus;most ony, including all three species,under a way through thosecounties. The swal- of the new nesting colonies have in- concrete bridge on SH 285 at Salado low colonies were located under con- cludedBarn Swallows(Hirundo rustica) Creek, west of Riviera in southernKle- crete bridgesalong the highwayand •n and many have included Cliff Swallows berg County (Lasley and Sexton 1984; concrete culverts under it. One of the (H irundopyrrhonota ) (Oberholser1974; Pincelli per& comm.). Cave Swallows sites was at Ebanito Creek, 3.5 kdo- Martin 1974; Martin and Martin 1978; returned to that site in 1985 and 1986, meters south of Ricardo. Another was Kutac 1982). The new nestingsites have despite destruction of the original 8.75 kilometers south of Ricardo. -
Birds Along Lehi's Trail
Journal of Book of Mormon Studies Volume 15 Number 2 Article 10 7-31-2006 Birds Along Lehi's Trail Stephen L. Carr Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jbms BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Carr, Stephen L. (2006) "Birds Along Lehi's Trail," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies: Vol. 15 : No. 2 , Article 10. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jbms/vol15/iss2/10 This Feature Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Book of Mormon Studies by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Title Birds Along Lehi’s Trail Author(s) Stephen L. Carr Reference Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 15/2 (2006): 84–93, 125–26. ISSN 1065-9366 (print), 2168-3158 (online) Abstract When Carr traveled to the Middle East, he observed the local birds. In this article, he suggests the possi- bility that the Book of Mormon prophet Lehi and his family relied on birds for food and for locating water. Carr discusses the various birds that Lehi’s family may have seen on their journey and the Mosaic law per- taining to those birds. Birds - ALOnG LEHI’S TRAIL stephen l. cARR 84 VOLUME 15, NUMBER 2, 2006 PHOTOGRAPHy By RICHARD wELLINGTOn he opportunity to observe The King James translators apparently ex- birds of the Middle East came to perienced difficulty in knowing exactly which me in September 2000 as a member Middle Eastern birds were meant in certain pas- Tof a small group of Latter-day Saints1 traveling in sages of the Hebrew Bible. -
Of New Zealand Volume 31 Part 3 September 1984
NOTORNIS Journal of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand Volume 31 Part 3 September 1984 OFFICERS 1984 - 85 President - B. BROWN, 20 Redmount Place, Red Hill, Papakura Vice-president - R. B. SIBSON, 580 Remuera Road, Auckland 5 Editor - B. D. HEATHER, 10 Jocelyn Crescent, Silverstream Treasurer - D. F. BOOTH, P.O. Box 35337, Browns Bay, Auckland 10 Secretary - R. S. SLACK, c/o P.O., Pauatahanui, Wellington Council Members: SEN D. BELL, Zoology Dept, Victoria University, Private Bag, Wellington BRIAN D. BELL, 9 Ferry Road, Seatoun, Wellington P. C. BULL, 131A Waterloo Road, Lower Hutt D. E. CROCKETT, 21 McMilIan Avenue, Kamo, Whangarei P. D. GAZE, Ecology Division, DSIR, Private Bag, Nelson J. HAWKINS, 772 Atawhai Drive, Nelson P. M. SAGAR, 38A Yardley Street, Christchurch 4 Conveners and Organisers: Rare Birds Committee: Secretary, J. F. M. FENNELL, 224 Horndon Street, DarfieId, Canterbury Beach Patrol: R. G. POWLESLAND, Wildlife Service, Dept. of Internal Affairs, Private Bag, Wellington Librarian: A. 3. GOODWIN, R.D. 1, Clevedon Nest Records: D. E. CROCKETT Classified Summarised Notes - North Island: L. HOWELL, P.O. Box 57, Kaitaia South Island: P. D. GAZE, Ecology Division, DSIR, Private Bag, Nelson S.W. Pacific Islands Records: J. L. MOORE, 32 Brook St, Lower Hutt Assistant Editor: A. BLACKBURN, 10 Score Road, Gisborne Reviews Editor: D. H. BRATHWAITE, P.O. Box 31022 Ilam, Christchurch 4 Editor of OSNZ news: P. SAGAR, 38A Yardley St, Christchurch 4 SUBSCRIPTIONS AND MEMBERSHIP Annual Subscription: Ordinary member $20; Husband & wife mem- bers $30; Junior member (under 20) $15; Life Member $400; Family member (one Notornis per household) being other family of a member in the same household as a member $10; Institution $40; Overseas member and overseas institution $5.00 extra (postage). -
The Evolution of Nest Construction in Swallows (Hirundinidae) Is Associated with the Decrease of Clutch Size
© Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; download unter www.biologiezentrum.at Linzer biol. Beitr. 38/1 711-716 21.7.2006 The evolution of nest construction in swallows (Hirundinidae) is associated with the decrease of clutch size P. HENEBERG A b s t r a c t : Variability of the nest construction in swallows (Hirundinidae) is more diverse than in other families of oscine birds. I compared the nest-building behaviour with pooled data of clutch size and overall hatching success for 20 species of swallows. The clutch size was significantly higher in temperate cavity-adopting swallow species than in species using other nesting modes including species breeding in evolutionarily advanced mud nests (P<0.05) except of the burrow-excavating Bank Swallow. Decrease of the clutch size during the evolution of nest construction is not compensated by the increase of the overall hatching success. K e y w o r d s : Hirundinidae, nest construction, clutch size, evolution Birds use distinct methods to avoid nest-predation: active nest defence, nest camouflage and concealment or sheltered nesting. While large and powerful species prefer active nest-defence, swallows and martins usually prefer construction of sheltered nests (LLOYD 2004). The nests of swallows vary from natural cavities in trees and rocks, to self-exca- vated burrows to mud retorts and cups attached to vertical faces. Much attention has been devoted to the importance of controlling for phylogeny in com- parative tests (HARVEY & PAGEL 1991), including molecular phylogenetic studies of swallows (WINKLER & SHELDON 1993). Interactions between the nest-construction va- riability and the clutch size, however, had been ignored. -
Head-Scratching Method in Swallows Depends on Behavioral Context
SHORT COMMUNICATIONS 679 shoulder-spot display during their observations of behavior in partridges. In all cases that I observed, the shoulder spot appeared to be a fear or flight intention display as described by Lumsden (1970). However, the display seemed secondary in importance compared to vocalizations and “tail flicking” during periods of extreme alarm. Examination of the shoul- der spot of a partridge confirmed the realignment of white underwing coverts to the top of the wing in the patagial region. The manipulation by the bird of underwing feathers appeared to be identical to that of Ruffed Grouse (Bonusa umbellus)(Garbutt 198 1). Since “display” implies actual communication between individuals further investigation is needed to de- termine if, in fact, the shoulder spot actually is serving a communication function in Gray Partridge. The shoulder spot in Gray Partridges and the display seen in grouse are morphologically similar. Lumsden (1970) concluded that the widespread occurrence of this display among grouse indicated it appeared relatively early in evolution. The morphological and behavioral similarities between the display in grouse and partridges suggest that the shoulder spot may have evolved even earlier. Since this is an escape behavior, and since many species of partridges and pheasants are difficult to observe in the wild, it may have been overlooked. Acknowledgments.-Theseobservations were made while the author was supported by funds from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department through Pittman-Robertson Project W-67-R. Additional support was provided by the Biology Department and Institute for Ecological Studies at the University of North Dakota. Helpful editorial comments were provided by R. -
Bolivia 2007 © Birdfinders 2007
Bolivia 7–25 September 2007 Participants: Didier Godreau Rolf Gräfvert Helge Grastveit Andrew Self Dennis and Margaret Weir Leader: Nick Acheson and Leo Catari (driver) Yellow-tufted Woodpecker Day 1 Overnight flight from London via Miami. Day 2 Having arrived smoothly courtesy of American Airlines, we immediately set to work in the savannahs surrounding the Viru Viru airport. Here we were delighted to see Greater Rhea, Red-winged Tinamou, Campo Flicker and flocks of Blue-crowned Parakeets. After a fine lunch in Santa Cruz we headed for the Piraí River on the west side of the city, and the Urubó savannahs beyond it. Once we found a sheltered spot out of the wind we had great birding, seeing, among many others, Speckled Chachalaca, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Blue-winged Parrotlet, Green-cheeked Parakeet, Golden-collared and Chestnut-fronted Macaws, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Thrush-like Wren, and Greater Thornbird. A pair of Titi Monkeys was also popular here. Day 3 This morning was spent at the Jardín Botánico, ten kilometres east of the city of Santa Cruz. By the roadside we saw White Woodpecker and Red-crested Cardinal and around the pond we found a dozy Brown-throated Three- toed Sloth, Social and Rusty-margined Flycatchers (very thoughtfully perched next to each other for ease of comparison), Blue-crowned Trogon, Blue-crowned Motmot and Narrow-billed Woodcreeper. Highlights in the forest included Rufous Casiornis, White-wedged Piculet, White-crested Tyrannulet, Fawn-breasted Wren, Ferruginous Pygmy-owl and a family of Silvery Marmosets. This afternoon we drove to Los Volcanes where we were greeted by Andean Condor, Military Macaw, Channel-billed Toucan, Red-billed and Turquoise-fronted Parrots and noisy, sky-filling flocks of Mitred Parakeets. -
Top 10 Reasons Why People Fail to Attract Purple Martins
Ten Reasons Why People Fail to Attract Purple Martins Over one million North Americans maintain housing for way out in open fields, or next to isolated ponds, rarely lished sites, martins will not recognize, as potential Purple Martins. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of results in successful martin attraction. Martin housing breeding sites, any martin housing with closed holes. these folks successfully attract breeding martins. Below is should be placed in the center of the most open spot A few compartments should be left open on each side a list of the top ten reasons why so many people fail. Your available, about 30’-100’ from human housing. If your of the house. chances of attracting martins will greatly increase if you martin housing hasn’t attracted nesting martins and In contrast, landlords that had breeding martins avoid making these common mistakes. isn’t placed within 100 feet of your house, try moving the previous year can leave their housing completely it closer. closed up, if they choose, until the martins return and 1. Housing placed too close to tall trees or in land on the housing. They can do this because Purple yards that are too enclosed. The main reason people 4. Housing not painted white. Although martins Martins exhibit a very high level of site fidelity — once fail to attract martins is that they place their martin have been known to nest in houses and gourds painted they have bred successfully at a specific location, the housing incorrectly within their yards, or their yards are other colors, white housing seems to attract them best. -
Tree Swallow in Scilly: New to the Western Palearctic Jeremy Hickman
Tree Swallow in Scilly: new to the Western Palearctic Jeremy Hickman The Isles of Scilly is renowned as a haven for displaced migrant birds, and the autumn pilgrimage of observers in September and October is famous in ornithological circles. June is usually a quiet month for numbers of visiting birdwatchers, as are the other months outside the autumn, but June 1990 was the exception. In one five-day period, between 800 and 1,000 people came to see one bird: the first record for Britain & Ireland, Europe and the Western Palearctic of a North American species, Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor. On Wednesday 6th June 1990, having finished my shift behind the bar in the Mermaid Inn, I decided to go to Porth Hellick. I watched from the main hide for a while and could hardly believe how devoid of bird life it was. I could not even console myself by counting the Moorhens Gallinula chloropus. At about 19.00 BST, five hirundines approached low over the pool: one House Martin Delichon urbica, three Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica and another bird. This fifth bird gave the impression of a martin, but with no white rump and a glossy blue-green mantle and crown, and pure white underparts. My heart sank as the bird then flew to the back of the pool and began hawking around the pines and surrounding fields. I rushed to Sluice to obtain closer views and to note its plumage in detail. It appeared slightly bigger and bulkier in the body than a House Martin, with broader-based wings and more powerful flight.