AMADOR TRACKS Monthly Newsletter of the Amador Bird Club March, 2015 The Amador Bird Club is a group of people who share an interest in and is open to all.

“home of the rare President’s Message Amadorian Combo Parrot”

Hi All, The Amador Bird Club meeting will be held on: I assume that everyone is enjoying our EARLY spring weather. I hear the birds are even Friday, March 13th, 2015 confused and starting their breeding efforts at 7:30 PM earlier, oh well Mother nature fooled us again !!! Enough of my prattling on I need to remind those Place : Administration Building, members who haven't paid their annual dues that Amador County Fairgrounds, they are indeed due. Plymouth Dates of bird club Last month we had an interesting DVD on “A meetings this : Murder of Crows”, this month I have just received DVD "A selection of from Australia today a DVD on "A Selection of Activity : Finches"? March 13* Finches." I have not yet viewed it but it is

April 10** produced by a very knowledgeable avian May 8 specialist named Peter Odekerken. It is a rather Refreshments: Persons with June 12 long DVD of about 1Hr. 20Mins. so we can decide last names beginning with S-Z. July 10 if we want to view it in it's entirety on one night or August 14 do it on two nights. If two nights, it will cover September 11** June’s meeting also, if we decide to view it all on Officers for 2014 - 2015 October 9 one night we will get it rolling hopefully about 7:45 November 13* to allow everyone to get away at a reasonable President Blue Wrigley December 12 hour. I am hoping to get John York to give us a Treasurer Cathy Hooper (Xmas party) presentation for our May meeting, combined with Secretary Terry Ryan our Pizza night. Newsletter Todd Sargent *Friday -the -13 th : drive Enough, actually, probably too much! Webmaster Kim Schmutzler -Agee carefully! See you all again on Fri. 13th

** Semi -Annual —Blue Raffle Membership Dues are Birds and now Due! As recently as a decade ago, the proposition that birds evolved from dinosaurs was a contentious and unproven issue. After a century of Family $15, Single $10, Jr. $7.50 hypotheses without conclusive evidence, well -preserved exhibiting There is also a new $5.00 postage fee remarkable richness and completeness of feathered dinosaurs were discovered for those who wish to receive the during the 1990s in , China. Direct evidence of now newsletter by snail mail. exists for at least 40 species of , and evidence of many more Please give dues to Treasurer Cathy at features that lead to the evolution of birds continues to come in. The the meeting or send by mail. following article offers more detail.

1 Amador Bird Club Newsletter March 2015 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Although growing evidence of the relationship of non -avian dinosaurs to birds raised the possibility of feathered dinosaurs over the twentieth century, it was not until the mid -1990s that clearly non -avian dinosaur fossils were discovered with preserved feathers. Since then, feathers or -like integument have been discovered on dozens of genera of dinosaurs via both direct and indirect evidence.

The fossil feathers of one specimen of the alvarezsaurid deserti have tested positive for beta -keratin , the main protein in bird feathers. [1] Fossil of gui includes impressions of feathered wings (see arrows) Although the vast majority of feather discoveries have been for coeleurosaurian theropods , the discoveries of integument on at least three ornithschians raise the likelihood that proto -feathers were present in dinosaurs, and perhaps even a more ancestral , in light of the pycnofibers of .

Early

Shortly after the 1859 publication of Charles Darwin 's On the Origin of Species , British biologist Thomas Henry Huxley proposed that birds were descendants of dinosaurs. He compared the skeletal structure of , a small theropod dinosaur, and the 'first bird' lithographica (both of which were found in the Upper Bavarian limestone of Solnhofen ). He showed that, apart from its hands and feathers, Archaeopteryx was quite similar to Compsognathus . Thus Archaeopteryx represents a . In 1868 he published On the which are most nearly intermediate between Birds and Reptiles , making the case. [2][3] The leading dinosaur expert of the time, Richard Owen , disagreed, claiming Archaeopteryx as the first bird outside dinosaur lineage. For the next century, claims that birds were dinosaur descendants faded, with more popular bird - ancestry hypotheses including 'crocodylomorph' and ' thecodont ' ancestors, rather than dinosaurs or other archosaurs .

In 1969, John Ostrom described antirrhopus , a theropod that he had discovered in Montana in 1964 and whose skeletal resemblance to birds seemed unmistakable. Ostrom became a leading proponent of the theory that birds are direct descendants of dinosaurs. Further comparisons of bird and dinosaur skeletons, as well as cladistic analysis strengthened the case for the link, particularly for a branch of theropods called maniraptors . Skeletal similarities include the neck , the pubis , the wrists (semi -lunate carpal ), the ' arms ' and pectoral girdle , the shoulder blade , the clavicle and the breast bone . In all, over a hundred distinct anatomical features are shared by birds and theropod dinosaurs. FACT: Other researchers drew on these shared features and other aspects of dinosaur All birds reproduce by laying eggs. biology and began to suggest that at least some theropod dinosaurs were feathered. Eggs vary in size and color The first restoration of a feathered dinosaur was Sarah Landry's depiction of a depending on species. Although feathered "Syntarsus" (now renamed or considered a synonym of there is a wide range of egg colors, ), in Robert T. Bakker 's 1975 publication Dinosaur Renaissance .[4] Gregory S. Paul was probably the first paleoartist to depict maniraptoran dinosaurs only two pigments contribute to the with feathers and protofeathers, starting in the late 1970s. color of the shell. The first pigment is derived from hemoglobin and the By the 1990s, most paleontologists considered birds to be surviving dinosaurs and second from bile. Most species lay referred to 'non -avialan dinosaurs' (all extinct), to distinguish them from birds their eggs in a nest. Nests may vary ( ). Before the discovery of feathered dinosaurs, the evidence was limited to in size, shape, and construction Huxley and Ostrom's comparative anatomy . Some mainstream ornithologists, including Smithsonian Institution curator Storrs L. Olson , disputed the links, material, but the most common nest specifically citing the lack of fossil evidence for feathered dinosaurs. shape is cup -shaped.

2 Amador Bird Club Newsletter March 2015 Fossil discoveries

After a century of hypotheses without conclusive evidence, well -preserved fossils of feathered dinosaurs were discovered during the 1990s, and more continue to be found. The fossils were preserved in a Lagerstätte — a sedimentary deposit exhibiting remarkable richness and completeness in its fossils — in Liaoning , China. The area had repeatedly been smothered in volcanic ash produced by eruptions in Inner Mongolia 124 million ago, during the Early epoch. The fine -grained ash preserved the living organisms that it buried in fine detail. The area was teeming with life, with millions of leaves, angiosperms (the oldest known), insects , fish , frogs , salamanders , mammals , turtles , and lizards discovered to date. fossil, first fossil of a definitively non - avialan dinosaur with feathers The most important discoveries at Liaoning have been a host of feathered dinosaur fossils, with a steady stream of new finds filling in the picture of the dinosaur –bird connection and adding more to theories of the evolutionary development of feathers and flight. Turner et al . (2007) reported quill knobs from an ulna of mongoliensis , and these are strongly correlated with large and well -developed secondary feathers. [5]

Behavioural evidence, in the form of an oviraptorosaur on its nest, showed another link with birds. Its forearms were folded, like those of a bird. [6] Although no feathers were preserved, it is likely that these would have been present to insulate eggs and juveniles. [7]

Not all of the Chinese fossil discoveries proved valid however. In 1999, a supposed fossil of an apparently feathered dinosaur named " Archaeoraptor liaoningensis ", found in Liaoning Province , northeastern China, turned out to be a forgery. Comparing the photograph of the specimen with another find, Chinese paleontologist came to the conclusion that it was A nesting osmolskae specimen, at the AMNH . composed of two portions of different fossil animals. His claim made National Geographic review their research and they too came to the same [8] Minutes for meeting February 13, 2015 conclusion. The bottom portion of the "Archaeoraptor" composite came President Blue called the meeting to order at 7:30pm. from a legitimate feathered dromaeosaurid now known as Microraptor , and Members in attendance were: Blue, Sarah, Terry, the upper portion from a previously -known primitive bird called Y anornis . Sherri, Jack, Jackie, Chris Virginia, Daryl, Kim and Doug & Ingrid. In 2011, samples of amber were discovered to contain preserved feathers The minutes were approved as written. Terry gave the from 75 to 80 million years ago during the Cretaceous era, with evidence Treasurer’s report in Cathy’s absence. that they were from both dinosaurs and birds. Initial analysis suggests that - - [9] Meeting plans: March ?, April Semi Annual Raffle, some of the feathers were used for insulation, and not flight. More May -Pizza Night & John York complex feathers were revealed to have variations in coloration similar to We adjourned for refreshments and to watch the modern birds, while simpler protofeathers were predominantly dark. Only DVD “Murder of Crows!” 11 specimens are currently known. The specimens are too rare to be broken Sorry, I forgot who won the Lucky Door Prize! open to study their melanosomes , but there are plans for using non - destructive high -resolution X -ray imaging. [10] From the American Society of Crows and Ravens

A Murder of Crows is based on the persistent but fallacious folk tale that crows form tribunals to judge and punish the bad behavior of a member of the flock. If the verdict goes against the defendant, the bird is killed or murdered by the flock. The basis in fact is probably that occasionally crows will kill a dying crow who doesn’t belong in their territory or much more commonly feed on the carcasses of dead crows. Also, both crows and ravens are associated with battle fields, medieval hospitals, execution sites and cemeteries because they scavenged on remains, In England, a tombstone is sometimes called a Ravenstone.

3 Amador Bird Club Newsletter March 2015 List of dinosaur species preserved with evidence of feathers

A number of non -avialan [11] dinosaurs are now known to have been feathered. Direct evidence of feathers exists for the following species, listed in the order currently accepted evidence was first published. In all examples, the evidence described consists of feather impressions, except those genera inferred to have had feathers based on skeletal or chemical evidence, such as the presence of quill knobs (the anchor points for wing feathers on the forelimb) or a pygostyle (the fused vertebrae at the tail tip which often supports large feathers). … the article is too long for this newsletter. It continues 1. portentosus (inferred 1987: quill knobs) [12][13] with discussion of primitive feather types and phylogeny and 2. Pelecanimimus polydon ? (1994) [14] the inference of feathers in other dinosaurs. The reader may [15] view the entire article by going to http://en.wikipedia.org/ 3. Sinosauropteryx prima (1996) wiki/Feathered_dinosaur. Suffice to say that truth to the [16] 4. robusta (1997) hypothesis that birds are descended from dinosaurs is no 5. GMV 2124 (1997) [17] longer in doubt. The evolution of parrots is yet another saga. 6. zoui (1998) [18] 7. ostromi (inferred 1998: quill knobs; possibly avialan [19] )[20] 8. Shuvuuia deserti (1999) [1] 9. millenii (1999) [21] 10. inexpectus (1999) [22] 11. Caudipteryx dongi (2000) [23] 12. Caudipteryx sp. (2000) [24] 13. Microraptor zhaoianus (2000) [25] 14. gobiensis (inferred 2000: pygostyle) [26] 15. Psittacosaurus sp.? (2002) [27] 16. heilmanni (2002; possibly avialan) [28] 17. Yixianosaurus longimanus (2003) [29] 18. Dilong paradoxus (2004) [30] 19. daohugouensis (2005; possibly avialan [31] )[32] [33][34] 20. Jinfengopteryx elegans (2005) Cast of a Caudipteryx fossil with feather impressions and [35][36] 21. starki (2006) stomach content 22. gigas (2007) [37] 23. Velociraptor mongoliensis (inferred 2007: quill knobs) [5] 24. hui (2008; possibly avialan) [38] 25. Similicaudipteryx yixianensis (inferred 2008: pygostyle; confirmed 2010) [39][40] 26. huxleyi (2009; possibly avialan) [41] 27. Tianyulong confuciusi ? (2009) [42] 28. zhengi (2011; possibly avialan) [43] 29. huali (2012) [44] 30. Sciurumimus albersdoerferi (2012) [45] 31. edmontonicus (2012) [46] 32. Ningyuansaurus wangi (2012) [47] 33. brevipenna (2013; possibly avialan) [48] 34. Jianchangosaurus yixianensis (2013) [49] 35. Aurornis xui (2013; possibly avialan) [50] 36. yangi (2014) [51] 37. Kulindadromeus zabaikalicus ? (2014) [52] 38. Citipati osmolskae (inferred 2014: pygostyle) [53] 39. gracilis (inferred 2014: pygostyle) [53] 40. mirificus (inferred 2014: pygostyle) [54] Note that the filamentous structures in some ornithischian dinosaurs ( Psittacosaurus , Tianyulong and Kulindadromeus ) and the pycnofibres found in some pterosaurs may or may not be homologous with the feathers of theropods. [42][55]

4 Amador Bird Club Newsletter March 2015

• March 5, 2015 to March 8 , 2015 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA EGG ARTISTS Egg Show & Sale Crowne Plaza Hotel 5321 Date Avenue Sacramento, CA (916) 338-5800 • March 13, Plymouth, CA Amador Bird Club meeting • March 15, Modesto, CA CCCBC meeting with speaker Mary Anne Buckles! ♦ March 22, Pomona, CA Everybody's Bird Mart - 9:30am-4pm - Building 4 - 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA 91768. All types of birds and supplies for sale. Best prices in town and the biggest show you will ever attend. Hundreds of vendors. $7 per adult admission. For more info call: 805-494-1499 or 909-623-3111 ♦ April 10, Plymouth, CA Amador Bird Club Semi-Annual Raffle ♦ April 19, Newman, CA CCCBC Meeting at the Places’s Place ♦ July 19, Newman, CA CCCBC Meeting at the Faria’s! ♦ August 16, Modesto, CA CCCBC Mini-Bird Mart ♦ August 23, Roseville, CA Foothill Bird Fanciers Bird Mart ♦ October 31, Turlock, CA CCCBC 62nd Annual Bird Show & Mart,

Bourkes Parakeets

Terry Ryan (209) 969 -9030

(530) 621 -4171 Diamond Doves

Get Well Soon, Cindy! Our member, Cindy Diebner, is scheduled to have open heart surgery! - CST 1013939 40 Our thoughts and prayers will be with you!

Bird Placement For information on birds, referrals or the Amador Bird Club, please If you need to place a bird (find a contact: home for a beloved companion), please consider the ABC as a Sherri Elliot (209) 245 -6921 (Amador/Calaveras area) resource. We have several members that are experienced at finding good Jackie Fox (530) 677 -1035 (northwest area) or homes for birds in need. We also have members that take rescue birds Virginia Blake (209) 981 -5016 (Amador/Calaveras area) (already homeless birds, and/or birds with special needs). For more information, please contact: Email: [email protected] Sherri Elliot (209) 245 -6921 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AmadorBirdClub Terry Ryan (209) 969 -9030 (Amador/Calaveras area) Website: www.mycccbc.org/abc

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Glencoe, CA 95232 CA Glencoe,

17706 Hwy 26 Hwy 17706

c/o Terry Ryan Terry c/o

Amador Bird Club Bird Amador

Amador Bird Club Membership Application The Amador Bird Club meets the 2nd Friday of each month, 7:30pm in the Administration Building of the Amador County Fairgrounds!

Name:______Address:______City:______State______Zip______Phone#______Cell#______E-mail address:______Family members:______Birds owned, bird related items made/sold:______New Member______Renewal______Are you a ____breeder and/or____ hobbyist (please check one or both) Do you want your address printed in the membership directory? ___yes ___no Signature:______Date:______Annual Dues: Family: $15.00 Single: $10.00 Junior: $7.50 $______E-mailed newsletters free! Fee for newsletter via US mail: $5.00 $______Please make check payable to club secretary: Total $______Terry Ryan, 17706 Hwy 26, Glencoe, CA 95232

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