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Geology topics

Colleen M. Handel

Publications and source records attributed to Colleen M. Handel.

79 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
USGS1988

Seasonal occurrence of migrant whimbrels and bristle-thighed curlews on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska

Migrant Whimbrels ( Numenius phaeopus ) and Bristle-thighed Curlews ( N. tahitiensis ) were recorded during five summers along coastal tundra of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska. From June to September, 1975-1979, 358 flocks totalling 1,265 curlews were observed; an additional 54 flocks were identified by vocalization alone. Among the 359 flocks identified to species, 52% were of Whimbrels, 47% were of Bristle-thighed Curlews, and 1% were of both species. Flocks as large as 48 Whimbrels and 33 Bristle-thighed Curlews were recorded, but 87% of the flocks contained five or fewer birds. During 2 years with early springs a few Whimbrels and Bristle-thighed Curlews were recorded on the delta in early June; these may have been late spring migrants, oversummering nonbreeders, or very early failed breeders. Whimbrel numbers peaked twice each summer, first in middle to late July and again in late August. These peaks probably consisted mainly of late failed breeders and of successful breeders with juveniles, respectively. The patterns of occurrence of Bristle-thighed Curlews were more complex, with up to three peaks in abundance each season, probably consisting of the following populational subclasses: (1) early failed breeders from late June to mid-July, (2) late failed breeders in late July, and (3) successful breeders and juveniles in early August. Most Bristle-thighed Curlews were gone by mid-August and Whimbrels, by early September. For both species the earliest juveniles were seen in late July in flocks with adults. The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta is conservatively estimated to support several thousands of both Whimbrels and Bristle-thighed Curlews. This area is considered to be particularly important for Bristle-thighed Curlews because it is the primary of only two known areas used during migration between their nesting grounds in Alaska and the first known stop on their wintering grounds in the Hawaiian Island chain, a transoceanic distance of 3,800 km. Whimbrels are more ubiquitous in their distribution and use of habitats, and their migration strategy may provide more flexibility in choice of timing and routes.

Alaska↗
USGS1988

Factors influencing predation associated with visits to artificial goose nests

Artificial goose nests were used to determine what factors might increase predation after visits to nests of Cackling Canada Geese ( Branta canadensis minima ). We tested whether leaving the nest uncovered, marking the nest location with a flag, or placing the nest on an island or peninsula would increase the rate of predation. Predators destroyed significantly more of the nests with eggs exposed to view (61%) than of the nests with eggs covered with goose down (35%) (P < 0.05). However, the rate of predation was only slightly higher among nests located on peninsulas than on islands and equal proportions of flagged and unflagged nests were destroyed. We also determined that investigators attracted predators to the study area and caused an increase in predation at uncovered nests immediately after the visit. Covering the eggs with down essentially negated the effect of attracting predators when visiting the nest. Among the 46 nests destroyed, 78% were destroyed by birds and 22% by mammals. Results of our study suggested that visibility of exposed eggs rather than nest markers provided important cues to avian predators and that islands probably provided some refuge from mammalian predators. Investigators can take steps to minimize their impact on nesting success and should incorporate a measure of that impact in their studies.

Alaska↗
USGS1983

Memorial to a Black Turnstone: An examplar of breeding and wintering site fidelity

Most of us who have banded long-distance migrants are aware, through recaptures of individuals, of the high degree of site fidelity exhibited by many bird species. It is not uncommon for a bander to have a marked bird remain in the vicinity of its banding site throughout a season and then to recapture or sight the bird there during the following season, or occasionally for several successive seasons. However, these "special" birds are rarely encountered away from the banding site and, if they are, it is usually because they have died and the band has been reported. Rarely do we get multiple recaptures or resightings of an individual bird that allow us to compare site fidelity at the two ends of its migration route or to determine the timing of movements between these points. Here we describe an instance of a uniquely marked Black Turnstone ( Arenario melanocephola) that was studied on both its breeding and wintering grounds for 5 consecutive years. We believe this represents one of the most detailed accounts of this nature for a North American bird.

North American Bird Bander↗
USGS1983

Yellow birds stand out in a crowd

Highly visible auxiliary markers, such as neck collars, nasal saddles, patagial tags, and leg streamers, are used regularly and effectively with banding in studying migration and distribution of large birds (e.g. waterfowl, birds of prey, wading birds). Simply stated, a large bird can accommodate a marker that is large enough to be seen readily by an observer but still small enough not to alter behavior or impair flight (see Marion and Shamis 1977 for review). Such is not true with smaller birds, and consequently information on their migration routes and distribution is usually poorer than for larger birds. The use of colored leg bands increases the frequency of detection of small birds that have been banded; however, a large percentage of such marked birds is usually still overlooked. Only by using highly visible techniques, such as plumage dyes and bleaches in conjunction with leg bands, can one obtain significant numbers of sightings of small birds. Here we present information from sightings of large numbers of marked Dunlins ( Calidris alpina ) and Western Sandpipers ( C. mauri ) that dramatically demonstrates this.

North American Bird Bander↗
USGS1981

An annotated bibliography of literature on Alaska water birds

The demand for information on birds in Alaska has surged within the past few years, primarily because of the need to adequately assess the impacts of a wide range of planned developments. The accompanying increase in studies of avian populations has resulted in a growing need for a comprehensive bibliography of Alaska ornithology. An initial effort by Bartonek and Lensink (1978) provided a list of published and unpublished references on marine birds, but this list was only marginally useful because it lacked adequate indexing and annotation of references cited. Their bibliography, however, plus those of Cade (1953) and Gabrielson and Lincoln (1959), provided the basis and primary reference sources for our work. In the present bibliography we have attempted to compile all substantive references addressing water birds in Alaska because this group of birds appears to be most Vulnerable to repercussions of development, particularly along the coast. However, the works cited make up an estimated 70-80% of all literature on birds in Alaska, and this volume thus provides an initial source of references on terrestrial birds. This bibliography, which contains 1554 citations, is current for most journal sources through 1979 and most of 1980. The content of each paper has been summarized, and we have indexed the citations by subject, species, and geographic location to make the bibliography a more useful reference. Furthermore, the bibliography has been designed to facilitate future inclusion of references that have been omitted or that will be published in the rapidly growing body of literature on Alaska birds.

Alaska↗