The Use of Sheep Wool in Nest Construction by Hawaiian Birds

Reports were scanned in black and white at a resolution of 600 dots per inch and were converted to text using Adobe Paper Capture Plug-in.The utilization of sheep wool as a nesting material was examined from 1969 through 1975 on the island of Hawaii. Of the 10 bird species studied, six incorporated wool into their nests. Both introduced and endemic birds use wool, with a significantly greater usage by endemic birds. Use of wool in nest construction appears correlated with the intricacy of the nest that a species builds, with a significant difference between degree of usage in complex and simple nests. Roughly built nests, like those of the Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), contained no wool whereas the complex nest of the Elepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis) had a great deal of wool. Wool is apparently used by the birds because it is a readily available material in certain areas, and because of its binding quality. The wool is gathered from tufts that snag on branches as the sheep pass or from dried skins on the ground. The amount of wool utilized in each nest varies both interspecifically and intraspecifically, but in all nests only the body of the nest contained wool, the lining always being of other materials. A separate study was conducted to determine if wool is used only when available nearby or is a sought-after material. Only the Elepaio was found to consistently travel distances to procure wool, whereas the other species studied used it only when available within their territories.This work was supported by the Frank M. Chapman Memorial Fund, the International Council for Bird Preservation, NSF grant GB 23230, and The World Wildlife Fund

Composition and Phenology of the Dry Forest on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, as Related to the Annual Cycle of the Amakihi (Loxops virens) and Palila (Psittirostra bailleui)

Reports were scanned in black and white at a resolution of 600 dots per inch and were converted to text using Adobe Paper Capture Plug-in.An intensive 19 month phonological was carried out on the southwestern slope of Mauna Kea, Hawaii, from March 1973 through October 1974. This study was part of a larger six year project on the breeding ecology of two native birds in the region, and is only a preliminary report. Study areas were established at approximately 6,500, 7,000, and 7,500 feet elevation; five 100 x 100 feet (30.5 m x 30.5 m) phenology plots were measured within each study area and all the trees were tagged and measured. Percentage of canopy cover, flowering, and fruit production were measured monthly; index values were established for each phenophase so that they could be expressed graphically as well as analyzed statistically. The forest on this slope of Mauna Kea is composed almost entirely of mamane (Sophora chrysophylla) and naio (Myoporum sandwicense). Each of the three elevations studied has a significantly different composition of tree species; the birds present at each elevation appear to reflect the composition of the forest. The Palila (Psittirostra bailleui) and Akiapolaau (Hemignathus wilsoni) seem to be confined to the higher elevations where mamane is dominant (7,400 to 8,400 feet). Tree height and circumference at breast height (CBH) increase with elevation, although not significantly. Tree density in phenology plots decreases with higher elevation. Decreased density and the location of seedlings only in open areas suggest that water may be a limiting factor. Reproduction of mamane is severely curtailed in areas of high sheep-grazing pressure, but shows good regeneration in enclosed areas. Phenological data from Mauna Kea are similar to those from Mauna Loa. There appears to be seasonality in flowering, fruiting, and leaf fall in both mamane and naio, but seasonality is more difficult to interpret in the latter. Phenophases start gradually and are protracted; flushing and flowering show an inverse relationship. Precipitation peaks coincide with flowering peaks and may trigger this phenophase. Heavy rain may cause a decrease in flowering and an almost total loss of the pod crop in mamane. Behavioral patterns of both the Amakihi (Loxops v. virens) and Palila seem to be influenced by phenological patterns on Mauna Kea. The extended bloom period of mamane correlates with the protracted nesting season of the Amakihi. Canopy cover is at its maximum density when nesting starts, and remains fairly dense throughout the breeding cycle of the Amakihi. Surplus Amakihi leave an area when mamane bloom ceases, leaving only a few permanent residents; naio blossom visitation increases at this time. Palila nest throughout the period of peak pod production. When mamane pods are present the Palila was found to utilize mamane flowers young leaves, and naio berries. Phenological aspects of mamane appear to be much more important to the birds on Mauna Kea than those of naio. It would appear that naio serves only as a supplemental food source; naio berries are taken by Palila, House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis), and Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) in dry periods.Financial support was provided by The Hawaii Audubon Society, The International Council for Bird Preservation, The Frank M. Chapman Memorial Fund, and NSF grant GB 23230

Investigation of Avian Malaria in Hawai'i's National Parks

Western Region, National Park Servic

Speech Pathology and Audiology at Western: A Brief History

This historical telling of Western Michigan University\u27s Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences was written by Dr. Charles Van Riper and Dr. Frank B. Robinson. The brief history describes how Dr. Van Riper built a clinic and developed fledgling profession of speech pathology. Hired in 1936 by Dr. Sangren, Van Riper used his skills as a clinician and as a gifted teacher to recruit students, design courses and acquaint the public with the services offered at a mobile speech clinic. By 1938, the first students majoring in “speech correction” were graduated and employed in public schools. By 1939, the speech clinic was relocated to Health Service Building, later the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology. Since then, Western’s substantive contributions have expanded its services into an internationally known clinic and graduate program

OBSERVATIONS ON THE RANGE AND NESTING BIOLOGY OF THE MEXICAN ENDEMIC RUFOUS-CAPPED BRUSH-FINCH (ATLAPETES PILEATUS PILEATUS)

Abstract ∙ The Rufous-capped Brush-finch (Atlapetes pileatus) is a species endemic to Mexico, whose breeding biology has received little attention. We studied two nests of the nominate subspecies from the mountains of southern Sonora. Nests were untidy, broad, open cups, placed in low, thick vegetation. Clutch size at one nest consisted of three immaculate white eggs. The second nest contained two Brush-finch nestlings and one cowbird (Molothrus sp.) nestling. Both parents brought food to the nestlings, but delivered significantly more food to the cowbird nestling. Most of our observations of nest architecture, egg coloration, and adult behaviors are consistent with previous descriptions for Rufous-capped Brush-finch and other members of the genus Atlapetes. This is the first report of cowbird brood-parasitism on the Rufous-capped Brush-finch, as well as the first confirmed record of breeding by this species in Sonora.Resumen ∙ Observaciones sobre el rango y biología reproductiva del Atlapetes Gorrirrufo (Atlapetes pileatus pileatus) El Atlapetes Gorrirrufo (Atlapetes pileatus) es una especie endémica de México cuya biología reproductiva ha recibido poca atención. Estudiamos dos nidos de la subespecie nominal en las montañas del sur de Sonora. Los nidos eran tazas abiertas, desordenadas, anchas, y colocados en vegetación baja y espesa. El tamaño de postura en un nido era de tres huevos blancos inmaculados. El segundo nido contenía dos polluelos del Atlapetes Gorrirrufo y un polluelo del tordo (Molothrus sp.). Ambos padres llevaron comida a los pichones, entregando significativamente más comida al polluelo del tordo. La mayoría de nuestras observaciones sobre la arquitectura de los nidos, la coloración de los huevos y los comportamientos de los adultos son congruentes con las descripciones anteriores del Atlapetes Gorrirrufo y otros miembros del género Atlapetes. Este es el primer informe de parasitismo de nido de Atlapetes Gorrirrufo por un pájaro tordo, así como el primer registro confirmado de la reproducción de esta especie en Sonora

A review of current knowledge concerning the breeding and summer distribution of the cordilleran flycatcher (\u3cem\u3eEmpidonax occidentalis\u3c/em\u3e) in Mexico

The Cordilleran Flycatcher (Empidonax occidentalis) is one of many North American birds whose distribution crosses the US–Mexican border and for which little is presently known about summer distribution and breeding biology south of this border. In addition, the Cordilleran Flycatcher presents ornithologists with a number of challenging questions surrounding its taxonomy, migration, distribution, population structure, and species limits. In particular, there remains a good deal of uncertainty concerning the species-level relationships, seasonal movements, and the wintering and breeding distributions of both recognized subspecies of Cordilleran Flycatcher in Mexico. Using field observations, a thorough review of the literature, and the examination of several distributional databases, we compile current knowledge on Mexican populations during the summer months and emphasize directions for future research. We document the northern limit of confirmed breeding Cordilleran Flycatchers in Mexico and point to gaps in our understanding of its summer range south of the US border. Currently available data point to a potential migratory divide in northern Mexico, which has implications for species limits and evolutionary dynamics within the Cordilleran Flycatcher. El mosquero barranqueño (Empidonax occidentalis) es una de varias especies de aves norteamericanas cuya distribución cruza la frontera entre México y los Estados Unidos, y de la cual se conoce poco acerca de su distribución durante el verano y su biología reproductiva al sur de esta frontera. Además, el mosquero barranqueño presenta a los ornitólogos una serie de preguntas acerca de su taxonomía, migración, distribución, estructura poblacional, y límites taxonómicas adentro de la especie. En particular, sigue bastante incierto nuestro conocimiento sobre las relaciones filogenéticas entre ambas subespecies del mosquero barranqueño, sus movimientos estacionales, sus distribuciones durante el verano, y su reproducción adentro de México. Usando observaciones de campo, una revisión exhaustiva de la literatura, y examinación de varias bases de datos distribucionales, recompilamos el conocimiento actual sobre las poblaciones mexicanas durante la temporada reproductiva y sugerimos direcciones para investigaciones futuras. Documentamos el límite norte de reproducción del mosquero barranqueño confirmado en México y señalamos vacíos en nuestra comprensión de su rango estival al sur de la frontera con los Estados Unidos. Los datos actualmente disponibles apuntan a la posibilidad de una brecha migratoria en el norte de México, la existencia de cual tiene implicaciones para los límites de las especies y la dinámica evolutiva dentro del mosquero barranqueño

Some General and Specific Factors in Transfer of Training

Two groups were used, one of which was trained in a right hand clockwise, and the other in a right hand counter-clockwise direction of motor skill. The transfer to the untrained hand in both groups was greatest in the direction opposite to training, although every case improved in both directions. The improvement due to the specific training was felt to account for the higher scores in the opposite direction, the remainder being due to general transfer

WATER-VAPOR PRESSURE IN NESTS OF THE SAN MIGUEL ISLAND SONG SPARROW'

Abstract. The water-vapor pressure (Pd in nests of the San Miguel Island race of Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia micronyx) averaged 16 torr, but varied considerably between nests and within individual nests during successive days of incubation. Large daily fluctuations occurred throughout the incubation period and did not parallel concurrent changes in ambient vapor pressure (P,). Daily rates of water loss from nest eggs (hjl~~o) averaged 28 mg day-' , but also varied considerably within and between nests and did not correlate with changes in P!. I~H,o increased 6-33% after the third day of incubation. P, was significantly higher and MH~O significantly lower in nests located in sheltered gullies than in nests from a windswept slope. These data suggest that Song Sparrows do not regulate P, to achieve hatching success

Landbird Migration in the American West: Recent Progress and Future Research Directions

Our knowledge of avian behaviors during the non-breeding period still lags behind that of the breeding season, but the last decade has witnessed a proliferation in research that has yielded significant progress in understanding migration patterns of North American birds. And, although the great majority of migration research has historically been conducted in the eastern half of the continent, there has been much recent progress on aspects of avian migration in the West. In particular, expanded use of techniques such as radar, plasma metabolites, mist-netting, count surveys, stable isotopes, genetic data, and animal tracking, coupled with an increase in multi-investigator collaborations, have all contributed to this growth of knowledge. There is increasing recognition that migration is likely the most limiting time of year for migratory birds, and this places increasing importance on continuing to decipher patterns of stopover ecology, identifying critical stopover habitats, and documenting migration routes in the diverse and changing landscapes of the American West. Here, we review and briefly synthesize the latest avian migration findings and advances and consider research needs to guide future research on migration in the West