Vegetation structure is important in structuring avian communities. In the sagebrush biome, where continued habitat loss is thought to threaten shrusteppe-obligate birds, both remotely sensed and field-acquired measures of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) cover have proven valuable in understanding avian abundance. Differences in structure between the exotic annual cheatgrass (Bromus...
Studying the ecology of endangered species in portions of their range where the population remains abundant can
provide fundamental information for conservation planners. We studied nesting by radio-tagged Marbled Murrelets
(Brachyramphus marmoratus) during 2007 and 2008 in Port Snettisham, a relatively pristine, remote mainland fjord in
southeast Alaska with high...
Potential for large prairie remnants to provide habitat for grassland-obligate wildlife may be compromised by
nonsustainable range-management practices. In 1979–1980, high nesting densities of 3 species of hawks in the genus
Buteo—Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis), Red-tailed Hawk (B. jamaicensis), and Swainson’s Hawk (B. swainsoni)—were
documented on the Zumwalt Prairie and...
Lead (Pb) is a metabolic poison that can negatively influence biological processes, leading to illness and mortality
across a large spectrum of North American avifauna (>120 species) and other organisms. Pb poisoning can result from
numerous sources, including ingestion of bullet fragments and shot pellets left in animal carcasses, spent...
In western conifer-dominated forests where the abundance of old-growth stands is decreasing, species
such as the Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) may be useful as indicator species for monitoring the health
of old-growth systems because they are strongly associated with habitat characteristics associated with old growth
and are especially sensitive to...
We used mark-recapture methods to estimate age-specific apparent survival rates for male Lesser Prairie-Chickens (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus), a gamebird of conservation concern. A total of 311 male prairie-chickens (135 yearlings, 176 adults) were captured and banded during a 5-year study in southwest Kansas. Time-since-marking models were used to estimate apparent survival...
In this issue of The Condor: Ornithological Applications, Haig et al. (2014) summarize negative impacts of lead ammunition and fishing tackle on birds and discuss strategies for mitigating risks to wildlife and human health. Their Review raises an important set of questions for hunters, wildlife managers, and conservation scientists. Effective...
Studies examining the effects of human disturbance on avian parental behavior and reproductive
success are fundamental to bird conservation. However, many such studies fail to also consider the influence of
natural threats, a variable environment, and parental roles. Our work examines interactive relationships of cyclical
(time of day, tide, temperature,...
In the late 1950s, "two California men" came to Oregon to learn if there were abalone here, and found them in the southern part of the state. The resulting publicity and interest inspired this document, an attempt to develop regulations for a new fishery. It is an internal discussion paper...