112 NEWS AND NOTES

Condor, 82:112-115 0 The Cooper Ornithological Society 1980

NEWS AND NOTES

NORTHERN CHAPTER OF THE C.O.S. Wildlife Research Center at Patuxent, Maryland; and The next seminar sponsored by the Chapter will be: Craig C. McFarland, for his efforts as director of the Charles Darwin Research Station in the Galapagos Is- 19 May Seabirds in the Alaskan Gulf: how lands. “Encouragement and participation in conser- many, where, and their future in oil. vation of endangered wildlife by zoos is not entirely Scott Hatch, Museum of Vertebrate new,” Gildred said. “Since 1966, the Zoological Soci- Zoology ety of San Diego has given its highest conservation Meetings of the Chapter are held in 2503 Life Science award to those men and women who have, through Building, University of California, Berkeley. The sem- lifelong dedication to the cause, made a significant inar begins at 8 pm and is preceded by a business contribution to preserving the worlds’ wildlife.” meeting at 7:30. All Cooper Society members visiting “More than any other person, William Conway has the San Francisco Bay area are invited to attend. We been a leader in the conservation movement through also encourage visitors to contact us about presenting the countless articles and lectures proclaiming the ne- seminars. cessity of captive breeding as a means of preserving endangered species,” Gildred said. “To demonstrate his convictions, this man has altered the famed Bronx CARL B. KOFORD, 1915-1979 Zoos’ collection to emphasize captive breeding Carl B. Koford, a member of the C.O.S. since 1939 and groups.” a life member since 1944, died December 3, 1979 at Erickson, influenced by the plight of the Whooping the age of 64. He had been a Research Associate of the Crane in the 1950s,’ spent 10 years urging his U.S. De- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology for many years, and at partment of the Interior superiors and legislative rep- various times had held appointments in the Museum resentatives to initiate a government program devoted and in the Department of Forestry and Conservation to saving endangered wildlife. Through his persis- on the Berkeley Campus of the University of Califor- tence, the Endangered Wildlife Research Program at nia. Patuxent, Maryland, was established and Erickson Dr. Koford was most widely known for his mono- served as the programs’ head scientist for 15 years be- graohic studv of the California Condor. based on direct fore becoming assistant director. observation over‘ a period of several years,‘ and pub- As director of the Charles Darwin Research Station lished in 1953. In subsequent years he made major in the Galapagos Islands, McFarland set up breeding contributions to our knowledge of several species of and rearing programs to save the giant tortoises and a mammals. unique species of land iguanas. McFarland is currently Carl was born in Oakland on September 3, 1915. He head of the Wildlands Management Unit for the gov- attended Piedmont High School and the University of ernment of Costa Rica. Washington. In 1950 he received a Ph.D. degree from A financial and scientific commitment on the scale the University of California, Berkeley. During the Sec- of the U.S. governments’ space exploration program is ond World War he was in the United States Navy, and desperately needed to save thousands of the worlds’ achieved the rank of Commander. He served for a year wild animal species from becoming extinct by the year as Director of the Canal Zone Biological Area for the 2000, Conway told the conferees. Citing a two-year Smithsonian Institution, and was supervisor of the study commissioned by President Carter which pre- Cayo Santiago Field Research Unit of the National In- dicts approximately 600,000 species of plants and an- stitute of Health in Puerto Rico for an eight-year pe- imals will be extinct by the dawn of the 21st century, riod. He lived in Berkeley since 1967. he called for “a new federal commitment to our van- The Carl B. Koford Memorial Fund has been estab- ishing biota so that the next few generations of human lished. Proceeds from the fund will be used to sponsor beings will be inheritors and not just survivors.” field research on vertebrates, in accordance with the While acknowledging “the magnitude of our aspi- wishes of Dr. Koford. Donations may be sent to the rations compared to the paucity of our resources,” Con- fund, in care of the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, way explained that “the preservation of a small number University of California, Berkeley. of species even if only for a generation or two is the preservation of options.” As examples, he noted recent benefits for human medicine discovered from endan- CONFERENCE ON BREEDING ENDANGERED gered species research. “There are strong grounds for SPECIES IN CAPTIVITY the fear that the loss of species ultimately may have The director of the Bronx Zoo and two prominent wild- very serious consequences for man, but most of these life researchers were presented with gold Conserva- seem to be unconvincing alternatives against short- tion Medals on 15 November 1979 by George L. term exploitation. There is little current market for the Gildred, first vice president of the Zoological Society goods and services represented by some vanishing of San Diego. The awards were given at the concluding species outside of zoos.” banquet of World Conference III on Breeding Endan- Yet Conway said the worlds’ zoos are “desperately gered Species in Captivity, a week-long gathering of tiny and mostly dependent on municipal governments more than 300 zoo directors, curators, biologists, con- with no commitments to international wildlife preser- servationists and interested oarties from around the vation.” He noted a “frightening gap in the national world. and international concern with the preservation of the Honored were: William G. Conway, general director works of nature in zoological gardens compared with of the New York Zoological Park (also known as the the more common concern with preservation of the Bronx Zoo); Ray C. Erickson, assistant director for en- works of man in museums of art and history.” dangered wildlife research at the U.S. governments’ “Suppose we selected” he said, “2,000 species

11121 NEWS AND NOTES 113 which we wished to sustain at a population of 500 an- of Ring-hilled Gulls will he color-marked with green imals each for the next 20 years at a conservative an- paint. Persons observing these gulls are requested to nual food cost of $625. How much would it cost? The report the date, time, exact location, plumage or age answer is just about ($12.51 $25 billion-or about what class, area of wings and tail marked, activity, and their it cost to put a man on the moon.” name, address and telephone number to the Bird Conway took part in a soon-to-be released govern- Banding Laboratory, Office of Migratory Bird Manage- ment study which projects current population, food, ment, USFWS, Laurel, Maryland 20811. Please send economy and environmental trends into the year 2000. a copy to Betty-Ann Chapman, Biology Department, It predicts a world population increase of 2.5 billion; State University College, Fredonia, NY 14063. a decline in useahle agricultural lands hy 30 percent; a reduction in the worlds’ forest lands by two-thirds; approximately 600,000 species of plants and animals NEW MONOGRAPH SERIES ON EVOLUTION becoming extinct and that “few significant terrestrial Ecolutionary Monographs is a new monograph series eco-systems will survive in their present form.” for all evolutionary biology, sponsored by the Society “Whether we he optimists or pessimists, there is no for the Study of Evolution. The series is designed for reason to believe that long-term ecological decisions monographs and other papers that are too long for un- will soon replace short-term economic ones in human subsidized publication in ordinary journals. Mono- affairs,” Conway concluded. graphs will appear at irregular intervals. All will he reviewed for scientific quality, clarity, and brevity. The monograph series is open to anyone, with no payment FRANK M. CHAPMAN FUND required from authors. Because of this policy, initial The Frank M. Chapman Memorial Fund gives grants costs of monographs will he high. This can he reduced in aid for ornithological research and also postdoctoral if enough subscribers are obtained. Subscriptions are fellowships. While there is no restriction on who may at a 10% discount from the single-copy price, in U.S. apply, the Committee particularly welcomes and favors currency, and individuals receive a 15% discount on applications from graduate students. Projects in game single copies or subscriptions. Subscription is ordinar- management and the medical sciences are seldom ily by deduction from a deposit account (minimum de- funded. Applications are due on 15 September and 15 posit $50). Please usk your institution to subscribe. February. Information on form and content of appli- There will he no informational mailing to libraries. cations may be obtained from the Frank M. Chapman Because of its open policies Evolutionary Monographs Memorial Fund Committee, The American Museum of will probably publish more monographs than any other Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New series. For further information concerning any aspect York, N.Y. 10024. of this series please contact the editor: Leigh Van Va- len, Evolutionary Monographs, University of Chicago, RECORDINGS OF RAPTOR VOCALIZATIONS 915 East 57th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60637. WANTED A technique for censusing hawks and owls is being developed and tested, based on responses to recorded THE CONDOR raptor vocalizations. We seek access to recordings of With this issue, we are beginning to put an abstract at all North American woodland hawks and owls for the head of each major article. Authors who wish to which the following information is available: location submit papers to this journal for consideration are re- and behavioral context of the call, and, if possible, age quested to write their own abstracts. Advice about the and sex. Information and inquiries invited, especially nature qf abstracts and summaries is given in the In- from anyone who is involved in related work. Write to: formation for Contributors (p. 114). Dr. James A. Mosher, Appalachian Environmental The instructions have been revised and expanded so Laboratory, University of Maryland, Frostburg State as to include the Commentary, News and Notes, Bul- College Campus, Frosthurg, Maryland 21532. letin Board, and publication notices, as well as articles. Please check them before submitting material for any of these sections. Following Condor style and speci- RECORDS OF MARKED GULLS WANTED fications, however minor and idiosyncratic they may seem, will aid the editorial operation, save time and During the fall and winter of 1979-80, as part of a two- money, and gratify the Editor. The Information for year study on the comparative winter foraging ecology Contributors will henceforth he published in only the of gulls on southeastern Lake Erie, the wings and tails first issue of each volume.