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Publications

These publications showcase the significant science conducted in our Science Centers.

Filter Total Items: 16786

Response to Dufour and Ankney

No abstract available.
Authors
D.G. Krementz, R. J. Barker, W. A. Link, J. E. Hines, P.O. Corr, R.B. Owen

Notes on longevity and flightlessness in bristle-thighed curlews

Bristle-thighed Curlews (Numenius tahitiensis) are among the least-studied shorebirds in the world. They have a highly restricted breeding range in western Alaska and winter exclusively on remote islands in the central and south Pacific (AOU 1983, Kessel 1989). The status of these birds is not known, but they are considered to be rare throughout their range (Johnsgard 1981). We describe two unusu
Authors
J.S. Marks, R. L. Redmond, P. Hendricks, R. B. Clapp, Robert E. Gill

Surveying woodland raptors by broadcast of conspecific vocalizations

We surveyed for raptors in forests on study areas in five of the eastern United States. For Cooper's Hawks (Accipiter cooperi), Red-shouldered Hawks (Buteo lineatus), and Barred Owls (Strix varia) the contact rates obtained by broadcasting taped vocalizations of conspecifics along roads were significantly greater than contact rates obtained by only looking and listening from the roadside. Broad-wi
Authors
J. A. Mosher, M.R. Fuller, M. Kopeny

Capture-recapture estimation of prebreeding survival rate for birds exhibiting delayed maturation

Many species of seabirds exhibit delayed maturity and do not return to the natal colony to breed for several years after fledging. Capture-recapture studies are frequently conducted at such breeding colonies and often include marking of young birds. However, because of the absence of these birds from the natal colony during the first few years after banding, the data do not fit neatly into exist
Authors
J. D. Nichols, J. A. Spendelow, J. E. Hines

Survival and band recovery rates of mallards in New Zealand

Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos ) were banded at 4 discrete study areas in New Zealand. We used hunting season recoveries in conjunction with band recovery models to estimate annual survival and recovery rates and to test hypotheses about sources of variation in these rates. Recovery rates varied among the 4 areas and from year to year within areas. Recovery rates were generally higher for young m
Authors
J. D. Nichols, M. Williams, T. Caithness

Fat scoring: Sources of variability

Fat scoring is a widely used nondestructive method of assessing total body fat in birds. This method has not been rigorously investigated. We investigated inter- and intraobserver variability in scoring as well as the predictive ability of fat scoring using five species of passerines. Between-observer variation in scoring was variable and great at times. Observers did not consistently score spec
Authors
D.G. Krementz, G.W. Pendleton

Renesting by American woodcocks (Scolopax minor) in Maine

The American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) is one of the earliest ground-nesting birds in the northeastern United States. In Maine, nesting begins in early April when temperatures can drop below freezing and significant snowfall can accumulate. Nests are usually in open woods, where eggs are laid on the ground in a shallow depression (Pettingill 1936, Mendall and Aldous 1943, Sheldon 1967). Peak hatc
Authors
D.G. McAuley, J. R. Longcore, G.F. Sepik

Field testing of commercially manufactured capture collars on white-tailed deer

We conducted 31 tests of commercially manufactured capture collars on female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the Superior National Forest, Minnesota, under temperatures from -37C to 22C. Deer were recaptured in 28 of the 31 tests; in the 3 failures, we remotely released the collars from the deer. Communication with the collars was achieved from up to 3.0 km on the ground and 26.5 k
Authors
L. D. Mech, K. E. Kunkel, R.C. Chapman, T.J. Kreeger

Wildlife toxicology. Part 3

No abstract available.
Authors
D. J. Hoffman, Barnett A. Rattner, R.J. Hall

Ecology, behavior, and conservation of the Poo-uli (Melamprosops phaeosoma)

Studies of the population density, habitat structure, foraging behavior, and activity budgets of the Poo-uli (Melamprosops phaeosoma) were conducted intermittently between 1973 and 1985 in a 50-ha study area in the upper Hanawi watershed, island of Maui, Hawaii. Poo-uli have apparently declined in density on this site by 80% from 1975 to 1981 and by 90% from 1975 to 1985. During this period, pig a
Authors
S. Mountainspring, T.L.C. Casey, C.B. Kepler, J. M. Scott

Evidence of prey-caused mortality in three wolves

Two alpha male wolves and a pup in separate incidents were killed by large prey, further indicating the degree of risk wolves face while hunting.
Authors
L. David Mech, Michael E. Nelson