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At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
USGS1994

Anticholinesterase exposure of white-winged doves breeding in lower Rio Grande valley, Texas

We studied exposure of breeding white-winged doves (Zenaida asiatica) to anticholinesterase compounds (organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides) in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV), Texas. Widespread use of organophosphorus pesticides and dove population declines prompted the study. We collected breeding adult doves in May and July 1991 (n = 28) and July 1992 (n = 33) at 6 locations. We used depression of whole-brain cholinesterase (ChE) activity (2 SD below control mean) to detect exposure; values from 4 hand-reared doves fed commercial pigeon chow served as the control. Mean brain ChE activity was lower (P lt 0.027) than the control sample at all 6 locations in 1991; 79% of the birds were diagnostic of exposure ( gt 16.1% ChE depression). Pooled 1992 field samples also were lower (P lt 0.036) than were control samples; doves from 4 of the 6 locations had brain ChE activity below (P lt 0.088) controls. Overall, 39% of 1992 doves were diagnostic of exposure to anticholinesterase compounds. Higher exposure rates in 1991 were probably due to increased use of organophosphorus pesticides. Research is needed documenting effects of sublethal exposure on white-winged dove productivity.

Texas↗
USGS2008

Use of body mass, footpad length, and wing chord to determine sex in Swainson's Hawks

Many studies of avian ecology require an expedient means to determine sex, and the use of molecular techniques has provided an effective and accurate means to determine sex of raptors in the field ( Sarasola and Negro 2004 , Donohue and Dufty 2006 ). Sometimes investigators need to rely on morphometric measurements to determine sex of monochromatic species such as Swainson's Hawks ( Buteo swainsoni ) because they lack funds or facilities to use molecular techniques or they are analyzing extant data. Discriminant analyses conducted on morphometric measurements have been effective for sexing many raptor species (e.g., Edwards and Kochert 1986 , Bavoux et al. 2006 , Donohue and Dufty 2006 ). Sarasola and Negro (2004) recently reported on the effectiveness of seven morphometric measurements as means to identify sex of Swainson's Hawks on the hawk's austral summer areas in Argentina. They proposed a combination of the length of forearm, wing chord, and tail as an effective means to determine sex, with an overall accuracy of 93%. However, Sarasola and Negro (2004) did not assess the effectiveness of using footpad length (sometimes called toe-pad) to classify sex of these hawks. Footpad length and mass were quite effective in sexing Golden Eagles ( Aquila chrysaetos ), a species with a degree of dimorphism similar to that of Swainson's Hawks ( Snyder and Wiley 1976 ), with an overall accuracy of 98% ( Edwards and Kochert 1986 ). We here report the utility of using footpad length and mass, as well as wing chord length, as a means of sexing Swainson's Hawks on the nesting grounds.

Idaho↗
USGS2000

Efficacy of a type C botulism vaccine in green-winged teal

We tested the efficacy of a single dose of Botumink toxoid for protecting wild green-winged teal (Anas crecca) during botulism epizootics caused by Clostridium botulinum type C. We challenged control and immunized ducks with four different doses of type C botulinum toxin to determine the LD50 for this species and to evaluate vaccine protection. Fewer immunized ducks were affected with botulism than control ducks, indicating that a single dose of Botumink toxoid could increase the survival of ducks during epizootics. However, the frequency of immunized ducks with signs of botulism increased with the challenge dose of botulinum toxin. Even at doses of botulinum toxin approximately 2 to 4 green-winged teal LD50, about 50% of the immunized ducks were affected. We believe an improved vaccine or a better delivery system is required to justify immunization of wild birds for experimental survival studies.

California, Utah↗
USGS1968

Vegetation used for nesting by the red-winged blackbird in Florida

During the breeding season of 1966, as an adjunct to a taxonomic study of Red-winged Blackbirds in Florida, 177 Redwin g nests were found. The general habitat types were noted, and the plant species harboring nests were listed.....Redwing nests were found in 30 genera of plants. Buttonbush was the primary choice; it was used to support 50 of the 177 nests. Silverling and willow were the next most often used plants. Nests also were found in other shrubs and trees, in assorted herbs and grasses, and in fields of sweet corn and sugarcane. The great degree of nesting adaptability of the Red-winged Blackbird is attested by the diversity of nesting site selections in several habitats.

The Wilson Bulletin↗
USGS1976

Nationwide residues of organochlorines in wings of adult mallards and black ducks, 1972-73

Organochlorine residues in wings of adult mallards and black ducks were monitored during the 1972-73 hunting season. DDE, DDT, DDD, dieldrin, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) were present in all samples. Mallard wings from Alabama contained the highest mean levels of DDE, DDT, DDD, dieldrin, and PCB's. Mallards and black ducks from the Atlantic Flyway and mallards from the Pacific Flyway contained significantly lower DDE residues than in 1969-70. Black ducks from the Atlantic Flyway contained significantly less dieldrin than in 1969-70, and mallards in the Central and Pacific Flyways contained significantly lower levels of PCB's. As in 1969-70, DDE residues were lowest in the Central Flyway and highest in the Atlantic Flyway. The average PCB level remained unchanged in the Atlantic Flyway but was higher in the Mississippi Flyway than in 1969-70, probably because of the unusually high levels in Alabama samples. All organochlorine residues in black ducks from the Atlantic Flyway significantly correlated. DDE concentrations in mallards from the Atlantic Flyway significantly correlated with those of DDT, DDD, and PCB's.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1981

Nationwide residues of organochlorine compounds in wings of adult mallards and black ducks, 1979-80

Organochlorine residues in wings of adult mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and black ducks (Anas rubripes) were monitored nationwide from birds harvested during the 1979-80 hunting season. DDE residues were found in all samples. DDT residues had declined from levels reported in 1976 on a flyway basis but the decline was significant (P less than 0.05) only in the Pacific Flyway. Levels of DDT, DDE, TDE, and dieldrin were low on a flyway basis, and all but DDE declined significantly (P less than 0.05) in the percent occurrence. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) levels were lower in mallard wings from all flyways compared with 1976 data, but percent occurrence had significantly (P less than 0.05) increased. Pools from Alabama and New Mexico continued to show higher DDE residues than pools from other areas.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS2016

Survival and habitat use of fledgling Golden-winged Warblers in the western Great Lakes region

Postfledging habitat use and fledgling survival remain unstudied for most songbirds, but this period is critical for understanding breeding habitat associations and full-season productivity. We used radiotelemetry to study movements, cover-type selection, and survival of fledgling Golden-winged Warblers ( Vermivora chrysoptera ) during the dependent postfledging period in managed forest landscapes of the western Great Lakes region. We used logistic exposure models to determine the relative importance of various habitat characteristics for explaining fledgling survival. In addition, we used compositional analysis, corrected for age-specific fledgling movement capabilities, to test for resource selection, as use versus availability, among cover types. We estimated that 48% of fledglings were depredated before independence from adult care at 25 days after fledging. Fledgling survival was lowest immediately after fledging, and 86% of predation occurred in the first 8 days following fledging. Distance from the nest to forest-shrubland edge was the strongest predictor of young fledgling survival, as survival decreased with nest distance into shrubland cover types and increased with nest distance into forest cover types. Fledglings from nests in shrubland cover types moved toward the nearest forest-shrubland edge, whereas fledglings from nests in forest cover types did not move toward edge. Fledglings selected mature forest and sapling-dominated clear-cuts over all other cover types during the early postfledging period, and fledgling survival in mature forest and sapling-dominated clearcuts was greater than in shrub-dominated clearcuts or wetland shrublands. Fledglings that were 9–25 days postfledging experienced high survival (daily survival >0.99) that was independent of any habitat variables we measured, and birds selected mature forest and shrub-dominated clear-cuts over all other cover types during that period. We conclude that sapling-dominated clear-cuts or mature forest with dense understory and shrub layers, cover types traditionally not associated with breeding, are important for fledgling survival, and therefore full-seasonal productivity in Golden-winged Warblers

Studies in Avian Biology↗
USGS2017

Allowable take of a population of red-winged blackbirds in the northern Great Plains

Red-winged blackbirds ( Agelaius phoeniceus ) are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), which has provisions against take. Blackbirds may be taken legally without a Federal permit, however, under an existing Depredation Order (50 CFR 21.43), which allows for take of blackbirds that are in the process of doing, or about to do, agricultural damage. Modeling the effect of take on blackbird population allows us to balance the conservation protections of the MBTA with the protection of agricultural interests. A quantitative framework based on harvest theory, demography, and population status has been used to assess the allowable take of a number of species of birds under the MBTA. In this chapter, we calculate allowable levels of take for two populations of red-winged blackbirds in the northern Great Plains from estimates of intrinsic growth rate and population size.

Book chapter↗
USGS1993

Observations on sexing and aging ducks using wings

This report presents information on the development, testing, and limitations of procedures described in the report titled: "Species, age and sex identification of ducks using wing plumage" (Carney 1992). Studies of duck wings begin in 1958 led to the development of most of these procedures (Carney and Geis 1960, Carney 1964) and the details of the development and functioning of the annual Waterfowl Parts Collection Survey have been presented elsewhere (Martin and Carney 1977, Carney 1984, Crissey 1984) and are not included here.

Report↗
USGS1992

Food preferences of spring-migrating blue-winged teal in southwestern Louisiana

We studied effects of pair status, molt intensity, and year on food selection by migrating male blue-winged teal (Anas discors) in southwestern Louisiana during springs 1990 and 1991. Diets consisted primarily of animal foods; but plant material, consisting mostly of seeds, comprised as much as 44%. There was no difference in animal food consumption by paired and unpaired males; however, the proportion of animal material in the male diet was greater in 1990 than in 1991. Animal food consumption was not positively correlated with mean molt intensity. Food preferences of paired and unpaired males were similar in both years. Animal foods, especially benthos and organisms associated with vegetative substrates, were preferred to seeds and freeswimming invertebrates. We recommend that habitat management for spring-migrating blue-winged teal focus on production of invertebrates, especially long-lived forms such as dragonflies, hemipterans (except water boatmen), midges, and other dipterans.

Louisiana↗
USGS2024

Sampling for disease surveillance: Assessing effects on blue-winged teal survival and recovery

Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in wild animals highlight the need for disease surveillance in wild birds to improve our understanding of their role as reservoirs and dispersers, and potential threats to domestic poultry and wild bird populations. Surveillance for avian influenza varies in its approach, objectives, and coordination with other monitoring efforts. For waterfowl, a common host to avian influenza viruses, banding represents a concerted effort of capturing and marking thousands of individuals annually to estimate survival and harvest rates, but users of these data have generally taken a conservative approach to remove any banded birds from analyses that had a sample taken for disease surveillance during capture. We tested for differences in survival and encounter probabilities of blue-winged teal ( Spatula discors ) marked ( n = 21,702 teal) and sampled for disease surveillance ( n = 4,216) during the nonbreeding season in Louisiana, USA, from 2016 to 2023. Although we found no consistent effect of collecting biological samples on survival probability, including an additional test showing no detectable effects of sampling for disease surveillance with oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs versus sampling with swabs and a syringe-drawn blood sample, wide 95% credible intervals on the posterior survival estimates (mean 0.36 difference between upper and lower values across all year-sex-sampling groups; 0.44 for sampling type groups) indicated low statistical power to detect an effect. Seber recovery probability during the first interval following sampling was lower among birds sampled using swabs only, but we assume this stems from low sample sizes rather than an effect of collecting biological samples. Because recovery probabilities can vary as a function of individual covariates, we also examined direct recovery probabilities and observed no meaningful effect of disease surveillance sampling type but strong effects of capture date, suggesting the effect on Seber recovery probability may have been due to heterogeneity in exposure to natural and harvest mortality risks. Although we suggest that aligning disease surveillance sample collection efforts with landscape-scale waterfowl banding efforts may have little effect on observed demographic rates, additional studies with larger sample sizes are likely needed to provide the statistical power necessary to formally conclude no effect of biological sampling on survival probabilities.

Louisiana↗
USGS2004

Contaminant exposure and effects in Red-Winged Blackbirds inhabiting stormwater retention ponds

Stormwater wetlands are created to retain water from storms and snow melt to reduce sediment, nutrient, and contaminant pollution of natural waterways in metropolitan areas. However, they are often a source of attractive habitat to wetland-associated wildlife. In this study of 12 stormwater wetlands and a larger, older reference site, elevated concentrations of zinc and copper were found in sediments and carcasses of 8-day-old red-winged blackbird ( Agelaius phoeniceus ) nestlings inhabiting stormwater sites. Although nesting success in the stormwater wetlands was comparable to national averages, sediment zinc concentrations correlated with clutch size, hatching success, fledgling success, and Mayfield nest success, suggesting that the nestlings may have been stressed and impaired by elevated zinc. This stress may have been direct on the nestlings or indirect through effects on the availability of food organisms.

Environmental Management↗
USGS1975

Hepatic microsomal N-oxidation and N-demethylation of N,N-dimethylaniline in red-winged blackbird compared with rat and other birds

Hepatic microsomes prepared from red-winged blackbirds and albino rats were incubated with N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA)_in complete incubation mixtures at pH 7.9 and 37?C for 10 min. Formaldehyde and N,N-dimethylaniline--oxide produced from DMA were measured. Redwings were found to have significantly lower N-demethylation activities than rats, and redwings had only marginal or no N-oxidation activities. Hepatic microsomes from redwings did not further metabolize the N-oxide. The N-oxidation and N-demethylation activities of brown-headed cowbirds, common grackles, and starlings were similar to those of redwings.

Life Sciences↗
USGS2007

Effects of Phos-Chek® G75-F and Silv-Ex® on red-winged blackbird ( Agelaius phoeniceus ) embryos

Effects of field application levels of wildfire control chemicals, Phos-Chek ® G75-F (PC) and Silv-Ex ® (SE), were examined on red-winged blackbird ( Agelaius phoeniceus ) embryos. Embryos were more sensitive to PC and SE when eggs were immersed for 10 s at an early developmental stage (days 3–5 of incubation) than at a later stage (days 6–9 of incubation). The LC 50 (concentration causing 50% mortality) for early stage embryos exposed to PC was 213.3 g/L (slope = 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 129.1–326.1). The no observed effect concentration (NOEC) was below 135 g PC/L, which caused a significant increase in embryonic mortality and represents the lowest field coverage level of 1 gal/100 feet 2 . The LC 50 for early stage embryos exposed to SE was 19.8 g/L (slope = 1.5; 95% CI = 11.7–52.2). Significant mortality was observed at 10 g SE/L and marginal at 7.5 g SE/L with an apparent NOEC around 5 g SE/L. Neither chemical resulted in apparent developmental malformations.

Environmental Pollution↗
USGS2017

Relative abundance of deformed wing virus, Varroa destructor virus 1, and their recombinants in honey bees (Apis mellifera) assessed by kmer analysis of public RNA-Seq data

Deformed wing virus (DWV) is a major pathogen of concern to apiculture, and recent reports have indicated the local predominance and potential virulence of recombinants between DWV and a related virus, Varroa destructor virus 1 (VDV). However, little is known about the frequency and titer of VDV and recombinants relative to DWV generally. In this study, I assessed the relative occurrence and titer of DWV and VDV in public RNA-seq accessions of honey bee using a rapid, kmer-based approach. Three recombinant types were detectable graphically and corroborated by de novo assembly. Recombination breakpoints did not disrupt the capsid-encoding region, consistent with previous reports, and both VDV- and DWV-derived capsids were observed in recombinant backgrounds. High abundance of VDV kmers was largely restricted to recombinant forms. Non-metric multidimensional scaling identified genotypic clusters among DWV isolates, which was corroborated by read mapping and consensus generation. The recently described DWV-C lineage was not detected in the searched accessions. The data further highlight the utility of high-throughput sequencing to monitor viral polymorphisms and statistically test biological predictors of titer, and point to the need for consistent methodologies and sampling schemes.

Journal of Invertebrate Pathology↗
USGS2003

Effects of the mosquito larvicide GB-1111 on red-winged blackbird embryos

Golden Bear Oil ( GB - 1111 ; legal trade name for GB -1313) is a petroleum distillate that is used in the United States and other countries as a larvicide for mosquito suppression. As part of a multi-species evaluation of the potential effects of GB - 1111 on birds, red - winged blackbird eggs were collected, artificially incubated, and treated with one of five amounts of GB - 1111 varying from 0 to 10 times the expected exposure from a spray application of the maximum recommended amount (X=47 l/ha, 5 gal/ac). The application of 10 X caused a significant reduction in hatching success. A dose-related reduction of hepatic microsomal monooxygenase activity (EROD) was detected. Among body weights, skeletal measurements, and age at death, only crownrump length was different among experimental groups. Overall, the potential hazard to embryos of a representative wetland passerine appears minimal until the application rate exceeds 3 X.

Environmental Pollution↗
USGS1984

Dietary changes and poor reproductive performance in Glaucous-winged Gulls

The breeding phenology of Glaucous-winged Gulls ( Larus glaucescens ) on Squab Island, Aialik Bay, Alaska in 1979 was identical to that in 1980, but clutch sizes and later reproductive performance differed markedly. In 1979, clutch sizes were small, but chick growth rates and survivorship were high. In contrast, clutch sizes were large in 1980, but chick growth rates were slow, and chick survivorship was extremely low. The different patterns of reproductive success appear to be related primarily to annual differences in foods utilized by adults. When adults fed primarily on blue mussels ( Mytilus edulis ), reproductive performance suffered, i.e. at the time of egg laying in 1979 and during the chick period in 1980. A switch to mussels from other prey types thus probably indicates a lack of availability of more suitable or preferred foods. Reproductive success at this colony appears to be strongly food limited; the timing of such limitation is not confined to a particular stage of reproduction.

Alaska↗
USGS1987

Is courtship intensity a signal of male parental care in Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus)?

We studied Red-winged Blackbird ( Agelaius phoeniceus ) behavior in marsh and prairie habitats to determine whether courting males provide cues of their nest defense, whether females prefer males that defend nests vigorously, and whether male nest defense affects nest success. We found no evidence that courtship behavior provides cues of male nest defense, or that females prefer males that court intensely. We found evidence that females nesting in marshes prefer males that defend nests intensely, but no evidence that intensely defending males in the prairie habitat achieve high nest success. We found differences, however, between marsh and prairie habitats that suggest a coarse-grained relationship between male parental quality and female choice of mate in this species.

The Auk↗