DOCSLIB.ORG

Body Size, Nest Predation, and Reproductive Patterns in Brown Thrashers and Other Mimids

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Body Size, Nest Predation, and Reproductive Patterns in Brown Thrashers and Other Mimids View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by PDXScholar Portland State University PDXScholar Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations Biology 11-1986 Body Size, Nest Predation, and Reproductive Patterns in Brown Thrashers and Other Mimids Michael T. Murphy Portland State University, [email protected] Robert C. Fleischer Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy . Follow this and additional works at: http://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/bio_fac Part of the Biology Commons, and the Ornithology Commons Citation Details Murphy, M. T., & Fleischer, R. C. (1986). Body size, nest predation, and reproductive patterns in Brown Thrashers and other mimids. Condor, 446-455. This Article is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Condor88:446-455 ? The CooperOrnithological Society 1986 BODY SIZE, NEST PREDATION, AND REPRODUCTIVEPATTERNS IN BROWN THRASHERS AND OTHER MIMIDS' MICHAELT. MURPHY2 AND ROBERTC. FLEISCHER3 Departmentof Systematicsand Ecology,Museum of NaturalHistory, Universityof Kansas,Lawrence, KS 66045 Abstract. We describethe breedingbiology of BrownThrashers (Toxostoma rufum) in Kansas, and combine this with data from other temperate-zonebreeding Mimidae to characterizerepro- ductive patternsin this group.Brown Thrashers produced clutches of 3 to 6 eggs, but clutchesof 4 predominated.Most pairsraised 2 broodsper year.Incubation required between 13 and 14 days, and hatchingwas usually asynchronous.Though sample size was small, asynchronyappeared to increasein frequencytowards the end of the breedingseason. Nestlings grew rapidly,and in 10 days or less most pre-fledginggrowth was completed. Young fledgednormally at 11 days of age at 65% of aduli weight, but with the tarsi near adult size. Nestlings starved in 27% of nests, but predatorswere responsiblefor most nest failures.Overall nest success was 43%. BrownThrashers are typical of other temperate-zonemimids. Modal clutch sizes are of either 3 or 4 eggs and all species are multi-brooded.Mimids from the southwesternUnited States and Mexico lay normally 3 egg clutches, but elsewhere4 eggs are most common. Incubationlength and nestlinggrowth rate vary significantlywith adult weight,but on average,incubation is 3 days shorter and nestlings grow 36% faster than predicted. Relative incubation length and relative fledgingweight both declined significantlywith adult weight, whereas daily nest mortality rate increasedsignificantly with adult size. Althoughour data are consistent with the hypothesisthat heavy nest predationhas favored rapid nestlinggrowth and completion of development outside of the nest, rapid growth may also function in brood reduction.Present data are insufficientto exclude conclusivelyeither factor in the evolution of rapid developmentin mimids. Key words: Broodreduction; growth; hatching asynchrony; Mimidae; nest predation; Toxostoma. INTRODUCTION either exploiting unpredictablefood supplies, Variability of growth rates and hatching pat- or sufferinghigh ratesof nest predation.Hatch- terns in altricial nestlings have been related ing asynchrony,however, possibly occurs for chiefly to featuresof their food supply and the other reasons(Richter 1982, Clarkand Wilson frequency of nest loss to predators. Growth 1985, Hussell 1985, Mead and Morton 1985). rates determine peak nestling energy demand In this report we describe the breeding bi- (O'Connor1977, Ricklefs 1984) and time spent ology of Brown Thrashers(Mimidae: Toxos- in the nest, thereby influencingboth the par- toma rufum)in eastern Kansas, including the ent'sability to eliminatestarving young through first data on nestling growth. Aspects of their brood reduction (O'Connor 1977), and the reproductivebiology have been documented probabilitythat predatorswill locate and de- in a portion of their range (Erwin 1935), but stroynests beforefledging (Lack 1968, Ricklefs only fragmentaryinformation exists for Brown 1969a, 1984). Hatching asynchronyresults in Thrashers breeding west of the Mississippi size differencesamong young which has tra- River (Gabrielson 1912, Johnston 1958). In ditionally been viewed as an adaptationto fa- conjunctionwith data on hatchingand growth cilitate brood reduction (Lack 1954, Ricklefs patterns, and sources of nestling mortality in 1965, Howe 1976, Richter 1984). It may also othertemperate-zone breeding mimids, we also shorten exposure time for nest contents, and describe and attempt to identify the selective give the earliest hatching young growth ad- basis for breedingpatterns in this group. vantages to increase their probabilities of es- One possible contributor to variability in capinga predationattempt on the nest (Hussell reproductionis body size (Ricklefs 1968, Rahn 1972, Clarkand Wilson 1981). Existingtheory et al. 1975, Blueweisset al. 1978, Westernand thus predicts the evolution of hatching asyn- Ssemakula 1982, Calder 1984). Comparative chrony and rapid nestling growth in species breedingstudies must thereforecontrol for dif- ferencesin size. Comparisonsof allometric(i.e., size-dependent) relations of specific taxa to Received22 November1985. Final acceptance 3 March "average,"empirically derived allometric re- 1986. lations are in fact preferableto single species 2 Departmentof Life Sciences,Indiana State University, comparisons because they are less subject to TerreHaute, IN 47809. error. Our results suggest that reproductive 3 Hawaiian EvolutionaryBiology Program,University of Hawaii, 3050 Maile Way, 310 Gilmore, Honolulu, HI patterns in mimids exhibit size dependence, 96822. but that a combination of ecological pressures [446] MIMID REPRODUCTION 447 have probablyacted in concert to produce the A group of nests that survived incubation characteristicmimid pattern of rapid nestling was used to measure nestling growth. Most growth and short nest occupancy. nests were visited daily. Nestlings were iden- tified by clipping toenails at the first visit. At the firstand all subsequentvisits, nestlingswere weighedto the nearest0.1 g (50 or 100 g Pesola METHODS Scale) and tarsus and eighth primary lengths BROWN THRASHERS measured to the nearest 0.1 mm. Adult sizes were obtainedfrom specimensin the KUMNH Field studies were conducted from the end of from eastern Kansas. April through July, 1981 and 1982 in mod- erately grazed pasture located 6.5 km west of the city of Lawrence,Douglas County, Kansas INTERSPECIFICSTUDIES (38057'N and 95019'W).Scattered shrubs and We restrictedour analysisto species that breed trees were found throughoutthe site, but hab- in temperate-zoneregions. Our sample includ- itats with a closed canopy comprised less than ed all 10 species of Mimidaebreeding in North 5% of the total area. Virtually all nests were America,and one SouthAmerican species. Due located within an intensively studied area to varying degrees of completeness, sample measuringabout 740 x 540 m (40 ha). sizes for differentanalyses varied. We treated Nests were located by observing females in Arizonaand south Texaspopulations of Curve- transit to either existing nests or those under billedThrashers (T. curvirostre)separately since construction. We visited nests every 2 to 3 adult body size, clutch and egg sizes, and nest- days until eggs were laid, and then followed ling growth all showed distinct differences. them until fledgingof young or destructionof Adult weights were taken from original the nest. Dates of clutch initiation were ob- sourceswhen given. Otherwise,we used Durin's tained either by direct observationor by back- (1984) compilation, or the field records of as- datingfrom hatchingdate of clutches.Clutches sociates to obtain weightsfor adults. Adult tar- observed duringegg-laying were consideredto sus lengths were measured (nearest 0.1 mm) be complete if successive visits indicated no from 5 male and 5 female specimens for each change in egg number. Heavily incubated species with data on growthof the tarsus(study clutches were also assumed to be complete. skins from the KUMNH). We estimatedmean Because eggs were always laid on successive egg weight for each species using the egg mea- days during laying, and because we had no surements given in Bent (1948) and Fraga evidence for egg removal by the brood-para- (1985), and the conversion factors described sitic Brown-headedCowbird (Molothrus ater), above for Brown Thrashers.This was justified we assumed that clutchesfirst observed during by comparison of calculatedegg weight to ac- incubationrepresented fuli clutches.Nests that tual fresh egg weight for CrissalThrashers (T. fledged at least one nestling were considered dorsale)and Chalk-browedMockingbirds (M. successful. We corrected nest success for ex- saturninus)given by Finch (1982) and Fraga posure time using Mayfield's(1961) method. (1985), respectively.In both cases, calculated Additional clutch size data were obtained and observedweights differed by less than 1%. from nest recordsat the University of Kansas Clutch size, incubation and nestling period Museum of Natural History (KUMNH, Law- lengths, weight gain and tarsus growth, and rence, Kansas). For the nest recordsto be sat- nest successwere takenfrom originalliterature isfactory for use, we required that successive sources.We used Bent's (1948) summariesfor visits had been made to each nest that indi- the formerthree variables only when data were cated no changein egg
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Predation by Gray Catbird on Brown Thrasher Eggs
    March 2004 Notes 101 PREDATION BY GRAY CATBIRD ON BROWN THRASHER EGGS JAMES W. RIVERS* AND BRETT K. SANDERCOCK Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506 (JWR) Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506 (BKS) Present address of JWR: Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106 *Correspondent: [email protected] ABSTRACT The gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) has been documented visiting and breaking the eggs of arti®cial nests, but the implications of such observations are unclear because there is little cost in depredating an undefended nest. During the summer of 2001 at Konza Prairie Bio- logical Station, Kansas, we videotaped a gray catbird that broke and consumed at least 1 egg in a brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) nest. Our observation was consistent with egg predation because the catbird consumed the contents of the damaged egg after breaking it. The large difference in body mass suggests that a catbird (37 g) destroying eggs in a thrasher (69 g) nest might risk injury if caught in the act of predation and might explain why egg predation by catbirds has been poorly documented. Our observation indicated that the catbird should be considered as an egg predator of natural nests and that single-egg predation of songbird nests should not be attributed to egg removal by female brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) without additional evidence. RESUMEN El paÂjaro gato gris (Dumetella carolinensis) ha sido documentado visitando y rompien- do los huevos de nidos arti®ciales, pero las implicaciones de dichas observaciones no son claras porque hay poco costo por depredar un nido sin defensa.
    [Show full text]
  • Species Assessment for Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes Montanus) in Wyoming
    SPECIES ASSESSMENT FOR SAGE THRASHER (OREOSCOPTES MONTANUS ) IN WYOMING prepared by 1 2 1 REBECCA S B USECK , DOUGLAS A. K EINATH , AND MATTHEW H. M CGEE 1 Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave, Dept. 3381, Laramie, Wyoming 82071; 307-766-3023 2 Zoology Program Manager, Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave, Dept. 3381, Laramie, Wyoming 82071; 307-766-3013; [email protected] prepared for United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Wyoming State Office Cheyenne, Wyoming December 2004 Buseck, Keinath, and McGee – Oreoscoptes montanus December 2004 Table of Contents SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................................... 3 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 3 NATURAL HISTORY ........................................................................................................................... 4 Morphological Description ...................................................................................................... 4 Taxonomy and Distribution ..................................................................................................... 6 Habitat Requirements............................................................................................................. 8 General .............................................................................................................................................8
    [Show full text]
  • Fitness Costs and Benefits of Egg Ejection by Gray Catbirds
    FITNESS COSTS AND BENEFITS OF EGG EJECTION BY GRAY CATBIRDS BY JANICE C. LORENZANA Ajhesis presented to the University of Manitoba in fulfillment of the thesis requirements for the degree of Master of Science in the Department of Zoology Winnipeg, Manitoba Janice C. Lorenzana (C) April 1999 National Library Bibfiot hèque nationale 1*1 of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395,rue Wellington Ottawa ON K 1A ON4 Onawa ON KIA ON4 Canada Canada Your ble Vorre derence Our fi& Narre fetefmce The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sel1 reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microforni. vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fi-orn it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or othenvise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. Canada THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA FACULTY OF GRADUATE STZTDIES ***** COPYRIGEIT PERMISSION PAGE Fitness Costs and Benefits of Egg Ejection by Gray Catbirds BY Janice C. Lorenzana A Thesis/Practicurn submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial Mfiilment of the requirements of the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Permission has been granted to the Library of The University of Manitoba to lend QB sell copies of this thesis/practicum, to the National Library of Canada to microfilm this thesis and to lend or seli copies of the film, and to Dissertations Abstracts International to publish an abstract of this thesis/practicum.
    [Show full text]
  • Factors Affecting Feeding and Brooding of Brown Thrasher Nestlings.-The Nest- Ling Period Is a Particularly Stressful Time in the Lives of Birds
    GENERAL NOTES 297 wind. An adult California Gull (Larus c&ornicus) was flying east 5 m above the water, 50 m from the shore, close to 150 Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) that were foraging low over the water. One swallow, heading west, passed 1 m below the gull, which dropped suddenly and caught the swallow with its bill, glided for a few meters and settled on the water. The gull proceeded to manipulate the swallow in its bill for 30 set before swallowing the still moving bird head first. The gull sat on the water for 20 min, then continued its flight to the east. Most reports of adult birds being taken by gulls have occurred while the prey were on land or water, e.g., Manx Shearwater (Puffi nus &&us) and Common Puffins (Fratercula arctica) in nesting colonies as they go to and from their burrows (Harris 1965), sick or injured birds up to the size of geese (Witherby 1948), Rock Doves (Columba &via) (Jyrkkanen 1975) and Eurasian Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) (Drost 1958) at grain piles and ground-dwelling birds which associate with gulls (e.g., Witherby 1948). Gull predation of adult birds on water is much rarer but does occur (Hafft, Condor 73:253, 1971). Attacks and capture of avian prey on the wing has rarely been reported and generally occurs over sea on migration (Drost 1958). Bannerman (1962) reports Herring Gulls (L. argentatus) capturing and eating Redwings (Turdus musicus) and Eurasian Blackbirds (2.’ merula) as they migrate over water by knocking the weary birds into the water.
    [Show full text]
  • Birds of Perry County Contact Us the Tell City Ranger District of the Hoosier National Forest Is Open 8-4:30 Monday Through Friday to Serve Visitors
    Birds of Perry County Contact Us The Tell City Ranger District of the Hoosier National Forest is open 8-4:30 Monday through Friday to serve visitors. Tell City Ranger District 248 15th Street Tell City, IN 47586 812-547-7051 Federal relay system for the deaf and hearing impaired: 1-800-877-8339 website: www.fs.usda.gov/hoosier Great Bllue Heron Tufted Titmouse __________________________ vV USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. America’s Great Outdoors Last updated 11/2011 Forest Service United States Department of Agriculture The third and fourth columns are the genus and Using the Checklist species of the bird. The fifth column shows the The first column after the bird’s common name is bird’s status in Indiana as of 2009. (Available at http:// evidence of the bird’s breeding status in our area. www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/files/Birds_Of_Indiana.pdf) CO = Confirmed breeding evidence FC = Federal Candidate FE = Federal Endangered PR = Probable breeding evidence FT = Federal Threatened SC - State Special Concern PO = Possible breeding evidence SE = State Endangered X = Exotic/Introduced OB = Observed, no breeding evidence Bird abundance will vary seasonally, and often from This shows highest breeding evidence value from year-to-year as well. Actual abundance is often dis- published 1985-1990 breeding bird atlas data and tinct from detectability. Some species may be com- draft 2005-2010 atlas data. (Available at http://www. mon but secretive and only rarely seen. Others may pwrc.usgs.gov/bba/) be numerically sparse, yet highly
    [Show full text]
  • Avian Comparisons Between Kingman and Kenilworth Marshes Final Report 2001-2004
    Avian Comparisons between Kingman and Kenilworth Marshes Final Report 2001-2004 Mary Paul, Cairn Krafft, and Dick Hammerschlag musGs science for a changing world 1 CONTRIBUTORS MaryM. Paul USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Beltsville Lab, BARC-East 308 (301) 497-5725 [email protected] Cairn C. Krafft USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Beltsville Lab, BARC-East 308 (301) 497-5546 [email protected] Richard S. Hammerschlag USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Beltsville Lab, BARC-East 308 10300 Baltimore Avenue Beltsville, MD 20705 (301) 497-5555 [email protected] 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Cover page ................................................................................................. 1 Contributors ................................................................................................ 2 Table of Contents ...................................................................................... 3 Abstract .............................................................................................. 4 Introduction... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Methods........................................................................................... 7 Results .............................................................................................. 9 Discussion ............................................... ·..................... : ................ 24 Conclusions . .................................... .. .. .. .. ... 27 References ......................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Guia Para Observação Das Aves Do Parque Nacional De Brasília
    See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234145690 Guia para observação das aves do Parque Nacional de Brasília Book · January 2011 CITATIONS READS 0 629 4 authors, including: Mieko Kanegae Fernando Lima Favaro Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Bi… 7 PUBLICATIONS 74 CITATIONS 17 PUBLICATIONS 69 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE All content following this page was uploaded by Fernando Lima Favaro on 28 May 2014. The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. Brasília - 2011 GUIA PARA OBSERVAÇÃO DAS AVES DO PARQUE NACIONAL DE BRASÍLIA Aílton C. de Oliveira Mieko Ferreira Kanegae Marina Faria do Amaral Fernando de Lima Favaro Fotografia de Aves Marcelo Pontes Monteiro Nélio dos Santos Paulo André Lima Borges Brasília, 2011 GUIA PARA OBSERVAÇÃO DAS AVES DO APRESENTAÇÃO PARQUE NACIONAL DE BRASÍLIA É com grande satisfação que apresento o Guia para Observação REPÚblica FEDERATiva DO BRASIL das Aves do Parque Nacional de Brasília, o qual representa um importante instrumento auxiliar para os observadores de aves que frequentam ou que Presidente frequentarão o Parque, para fins de lazer (birdwatching), pesquisas científicas, Dilma Roussef treinamentos ou em atividades de educação ambiental. Este é mais um resultado do trabalho do Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Vice-Presidente Conservação de Aves Silvestres - CEMAVE, unidade descentralizada do Instituto Michel Temer Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio) e vinculada à Diretoria de Conservação da Biodiversidade. O Centro tem como missão Ministério do Meio Ambiente - MMA subsidiar a conservação das aves brasileiras e dos ambientes dos quais elas Izabella Mônica Vieira Teixeira dependem.
    [Show full text]
  • The Relationships of the Starlings (Sturnidae: Sturnini) and the Mockingbirds (Sturnidae: Mimini)
    THE RELATIONSHIPS OF THE STARLINGS (STURNIDAE: STURNINI) AND THE MOCKINGBIRDS (STURNIDAE: MIMINI) CHARLESG. SIBLEYAND JON E. AHLQUIST Departmentof Biologyand PeabodyMuseum of Natural History,Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511 USA ABSTRACT.--OldWorld starlingshave been thought to be related to crowsand their allies, to weaverbirds, or to New World troupials. New World mockingbirdsand thrashershave usually been placed near the thrushesand/or wrens. DNA-DNA hybridization data indi- cated that starlingsand mockingbirdsare more closelyrelated to each other than either is to any other living taxon. Some avian systematistsdoubted this conclusion.Therefore, a more extensiveDNA hybridizationstudy was conducted,and a successfulsearch was made for other evidence of the relationshipbetween starlingsand mockingbirds.The resultssup- port our original conclusionthat the two groupsdiverged from a commonancestor in the late Oligoceneor early Miocene, about 23-28 million yearsago, and that their relationship may be expressedin our passerineclassification, based on DNA comparisons,by placing them as sistertribes in the Family Sturnidae,Superfamily Turdoidea, Parvorder Muscicapae, Suborder Passeres.Their next nearest relatives are the members of the Turdidae, including the typical thrushes,erithacine chats,and muscicapineflycatchers. Received 15 March 1983, acceptedI November1983. STARLINGS are confined to the Old World, dine thrushesinclude Turdus,Catharus, Hylocich- mockingbirdsand thrashersto the New World. la, Zootheraand Myadestes.d) Cinclusis
    [Show full text]
  • Neotropical News Neotropical News
    COTINGA 1 Neotropical News Neotropical News Brazilian Merganser in Argentina: If the survey’s results reflect the true going, going … status of Mergus octosetaceus in Argentina then there is grave cause for concern — local An expedition (Pato Serrucho ’93) aimed extinction, as in neighbouring Paraguay, at discovering the current status of the seems inevitable. Brazilian Merganser Mergus octosetaceus in Misiones Province, northern Argentina, During the expedition a number of sub­ has just returned to the U.K. Mergus tropical forest sites were surveyed for birds octosetaceus is one of the world’s rarest — other threatened species recorded during species of wildfowl, with a population now this period included: Black-fronted Piping- estimated to be less than 250 individuals guan Pipile jacutinga, Vinaceous Amazon occurring in just three populations, one in Amazona vinacea, Helmeted Woodpecker northern Argentina, the other two in south- Dryocopus galeatus, White-bearded central Brazil. Antshrike Biata s nigropectus, and São Paulo Tyrannulet Phylloscartes paulistus. Three conservation biologists from the U.K. and three South American counter­ PHIL BENSTEAD parts surveyed c.450 km of white-water riv­ Beaver House, Norwich Road, Reepham, ers and streams using an inflatable boat. Norwich, NR10 4JN, U.K. Despite exhaustive searching only one bird was located in an area peripheral to the species’s historical stronghold. Former core Black-breasted Puffleg found: extant areas (and incidently those with the most but seriously threatened. protection) for this species appear to have been adversely affected by the the Urugua- The Black-breasted Puffleg Eriocnemis í dam, which in 1989 flooded c.80 km of the nigrivestis has been recorded from just two Río Urugua-í.
    [Show full text]
  • Aullwood's Birds (PDF)
    Aullwood's Bird List This list was collected over many years and includes birds that have been seen at or very near Aullwood. The list includes some which are seen only every other year or so, along with others that are seen year around. Ciconiiformes Great blue heron Green heron Black-crowned night heron Anseriformes Canada goose Mallard Blue-winged teal Wood duck Falconiformes Turkey vulture Osprey Sharp-shinned hawk Cooper's hawk Red-tailed hawk Red-shouldered hawk Broad-winged hawk Rough-legged hawk Marsh hawk American kestrel Galliformes Bobwhite Ring-necked pheasant Gruiformes Sandhill crane American coot Charadriformes Killdeer American woodcock Common snipe Spotted sandpiper Solitary sandpiper Ring-billed gull Columbiformes Rock dove Mourning dove Cuculiformes Yellow-billed cuckoo Strigiformes Screech owl Great horned owl Barred owl Saw-whet owl Caprimulgiformes Common nighthawk Apodiformes Chimney swift Ruby-throated hummingbird Coraciformes Belted kinghisher Piciformes Common flicker Pileated woodpecker Red-bellied woodpecker Red-headed woodpecker Yellow-bellied sapsucker Hairy woodpecker Downy woodpecker Passeriformes Eastern kingbird Great crested flycatcher Eastern phoebe Yellow-bellied flycatcher Acadian flycatcher Willow flycatcher Least flycatcher Eastern wood pewee Olive-sided flycatcher Tree swallow Bank swallow Rough-winged swallow Barn swallow Purple martin Blue jay Common crow Black-capped chickadee Carolina chickadee Tufted titmouse White-breasted nuthatch Red-breasted nuthatch Brown creeper House wren Winter wren
    [Show full text]
  • Wildland Fire in Ecosystems: Effects of Fire on Fauna
    United States Department of Agriculture Wildland Fire in Forest Service Rocky Mountain Ecosystems Research Station General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-42- volume 1 Effects of Fire on Fauna January 2000 Abstract _____________________________________ Smith, Jane Kapler, ed. 2000. Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects of fire on fauna. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-vol. 1. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 83 p. Fires affect animals mainly through effects on their habitat. Fires often cause short-term increases in wildlife foods that contribute to increases in populations of some animals. These increases are moderated by the animals’ ability to thrive in the altered, often simplified, structure of the postfire environment. The extent of fire effects on animal communities generally depends on the extent of change in habitat structure and species composition caused by fire. Stand-replacement fires usually cause greater changes in the faunal communities of forests than in those of grasslands. Within forests, stand- replacement fires usually alter the animal community more dramatically than understory fires. Animal species are adapted to survive the pattern of fire frequency, season, size, severity, and uniformity that characterized their habitat in presettlement times. When fire frequency increases or decreases substantially or fire severity changes from presettlement patterns, habitat for many animal species declines. Keywords: fire effects, fire management, fire regime, habitat, succession, wildlife The volumes in “The Rainbow Series” will be published during the year 2000. To order, check the box or boxes below, fill in the address form, and send to the mailing address listed below.
    [Show full text]
  • Distribution, Ecology, and Life History of the Pearly-Eyed Thrasher (Margarops Fuscatus)
    Adaptations of An Avian Supertramp: Distribution, Ecology, and Life History of the Pearly-Eyed Thrasher (Margarops fuscatus) Chapter 6: Survival and Dispersal The pearly-eyed thrasher has a wide geographical distribution, obtains regional and local abundance, and undergoes morphological plasticity on islands, especially at different elevations. It readily adapts to diverse habitats in noncompetitive situations. Its status as an avian supertramp becomes even more evident when one considers its proficiency in dispersing to and colonizing small, often sparsely The pearly-eye is a inhabited islands and disturbed habitats. long-lived species, Although rare in nature, an additional attribute of a supertramp would be a even for a tropical protracted lifetime once colonists become established. The pearly-eye possesses passerine. such an attribute. It is a long-lived species, even for a tropical passerine. This chapter treats adult thrasher survival, longevity, short- and long-range natal dispersal of the young, including the intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics of natal dispersers, and a comparison of the field techniques used in monitoring the spatiotemporal aspects of dispersal, e.g., observations, biotelemetry, and banding. Rounding out the chapter are some of the inherent and ecological factors influencing immature thrashers’ survival and dispersal, e.g., preferred habitat, diet, season, ectoparasites, and the effects of two major hurricanes, which resulted in food shortages following both disturbances. Annual Survival Rates (Rain-Forest Population) In the early 1990s, the tenet that tropical birds survive much longer than their north temperate counterparts, many of which are migratory, came into question (Karr et al. 1990). Whether or not the dogma can survive, however, awaits further empirical evidence from additional studies.
    [Show full text]