Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Publications

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

Filter Total Items: 16786

New records of birds for Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands

No abstract available.
Authors
R. B. Clapp, William L. Schipper

Taxonomic status of the rufous-bellied chachalaca (Ortalis wagleri)

The Rufous-bellied Chachalaca, Ortalis wagleri, of northwestern Mexico was merged with the morphologically different West Mexican Chachalaca, Ortalis poliocephala, on the basis of hybrids taken in the vicinity of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco (Moore and Medina 1957). Eight specimens from that vicinity vary in appearance chronologically, from an individual similar to wagleri in 1892 through skins appear
Authors
R.C. Banks

American woodcock winter distribution and fidelity to wintering areas

We examined winter distribution and fidelity to wintering areas for the American Woodcock (Scolopax minor), which exhibits reversed, sexual size dimorphism. Band-recovery data revealed no difference in winter distributions of different age/sex classes for woodcock from the same breeding ares. Similarly, band recoveries from woodcock banded on wintering grounds revealed no difference in fidelity to
Authors
D.R. Diefenbach, E.L. Derleth, W. Matthew Vander Haegen, J. D. Nichols, J. E. Hines

Flexible models for analysing ring recovery data to estimate survival rates

We describe MULT, a flexible procedure for analysing ring recovery data. The procedure starts with parametric structures similar to, but more general than, those described by Brownie et al. (1985). Particular models, including those in Brownie et al. (1965), can be obtained by imposing constraints on the general parametric structures. Examples of models that are available in MULT include: analysis
Authors
M.J. Conroy, J. E. Hines

Within- and among-clutch variation of organochlorine residues in eggs of black-crowned night-herons

Within-clutch variability of DDE and PCB residues in eggs from 62 clutches of black-crowned night-herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) was small (12% and 17%) compared to among-clutch variability (88% and 83%). Significant correlations between concentrations of DDE (median r=0.8885) and of PCBs (median r=0.8244) occurred when 501 correlations were run on two randomly selected eggs from within the same c
Authors
T. W. Custer, G. Pendleton, H. M. Ohlendorf

Effects of arsenate on growth and physiology in mallard ducklings

Arsenic (As) has been found at elevated concentrations in irrigation drainwater and in aquatic plants utilized by waterfowl. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) ducklings received an untreated diet (controls) or diets containing 30, 100 or 300 ppm As added as sodium arsenate. After 10 weeks blood and tissue samples were collected for biochemical and histological examination. Arsenic accumulated significa
Authors
M.B. Camardese, D. J. Hoffman, L. J. LeCaptain, G.W. Pendleton

Organochlorines, mercury, and selenium in wintering shorebirds from Washington and California

Dunlins Caldris alpina, and black-bellied plovers, Pluvialis squatarola, were collected in Washington and California during the winter of 1984-85; long-billed dowitchers, Limnodromus scolopaceus, were collected in California. Pooled breast muscles (by species, location, and date) were analyzed for organochlorines and pooled livers for mercury and selenium. DDE was detected in all eight dunlin, thr
Authors
T. W. Custer, J.P. Meyers

Evidence for a fall raptor migration pathway across the South China Sea

While conducting seabird surveys along the cruise track of the Soviet oceanographic Research Vessel Akademlk Korolev in the South China Sea in late October, 1988, we encountered about 150 land birds, including about 40 raptors. Most of the raptors were small accipiters, but we also recorded small numbers of Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) and Oriental Scops Owls (Otus sunia). We saw most of t
Authors
D. H. Ellis, A.K. Kepler, C.B. Kepler

Dicofol (Kelthane®)-induced eggshell thinning in captive american kestrels

Reproductive parameters of American kestrels (Falco sparverius) were measured through two breeding seasons. Exposure to Kelthane® (containing no DDT-related compounds) at dietary concentrations of 0 (control), 1,3, 10 and 30 μg/g (wet weight) began in late November before, and continued through, the second season. Kelthane thinned eggshells and lowered the thickness index at dietary concentrations
Authors
D. R. Clark, J. W. Spann, C. M. Bunck

Egg size and laying order of snowy egrets, great egrets, and black-crowned night-herons

The nesting biology of the family Ardeidae (bitterns, herons, and egrets) has been intensively studied (e.g., Owen 1960, Milstein et al. 1970, Werschkul 1979), but egg size in relation to laying order bas not received attention. The last egg laid in gull and tern clutches is generally smaller than preceding eggs (e.g., Parsons 1970, Nisbet 1978). The relative size of the final egg in a clutch de
Authors
T. W. Custer, P. C. Frederick

Trace elements in soil and biota in confined disposal facilities for dredged material

We studied the relation of trace element concentrations in soil to those in house mice (Mus musculus), common reed (Phragmites australis) and ladybugs (Coccinella septempunctata) at five disposal facilities for dredged material. The sites had a wide range of soil trace element concentrations, acid soils and a depauperate fauna. They were very poor wildlife habitat because they were dominated by
Authors
W. N. Beyer, G. Miller, J.W. Simmers