Birdingonthe.Net

Recent Postings from
Ornithology

Updated on Thursday, October 18 at 05:29 PM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.

The American Ornithologists' Union (which will be celebrating its 125th
anniversary), the Cooper Ornithological Society, and the Society of
Canadian Ornithologists will meet jointly in 2008
in Portland, Oregon.

_Key dates_

Opening reception and start of meeting - Monday, August 4
Plenaries, symposia, paper sessions - Tuesday, August 5 through Friday
August 8 (banquet will be held Friday night)
Poster sessions - tentatively scheduled for Tuesday August 5 and
Wednesday August 6

_Deadlines

_Proposals for symposia: 1 December 2007
Abstracts for papers and posters: 15 April 2008 (special notices
pertaining to submissions by students will be forthcoming soon)

_Registration dates_

Early: until 15 April 2008
Regular: until 15 May 2008
Late: after 15 May 2008


_Call for symposia
_CALL FOR SYMPOSIA AND WORKSHOPS�-NOTE DEADLINE IS EARLIER THAN IN
PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS--We invite proposals for symposia and workshops
for the 126th American Ornithologists' Union Meeting, the 78th Cooper
Ornithological Society Meeting, and the 28th Society for Canadian
Ornithologists Meeting in Portland, Oregon, 5-8 August 2008. Symposia
will normally consist of five or six 30-min talks. Please send a title,
names of organizer(s) and potential participants, tentative titles of
their presentations, and a brief statement on why such a symposium or
workshop would be of interest for this meeting.

Send by 1 DECEMBER 2007 to the Chair of the Scientific Program Committee,
W. DOUGLAS ROBINSON (EM: douglas.robinson AT oregonstate.edu), for
consideration.

_Website_

The website is a work in progress, but you may want to bookmark this
page for future reference: http://www.pdxbirds08.org/
(note that the meeting dates on the website are incorrect; we are aware
of this and will be fixing this ASAP)


Ellen


--
Ellen Paul
Executive Director
The Ornithological Council
Mailto:ellen.paul AT verizon.net
"Providing Scientific Information about Birds"
Ornithological Council: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET

Remember the bad old days when you would join a list, get a welcome message
that you were supposed to save, and that of course you'd lose - the message
that told you how to suspend or unsubscribe? And then you'd have to send a
message to the list, asking how to unsubscribe, and 20 people would blast
you for not having saved the welcome message with the instructions?

Well, no more! Trash that welcome message if you like!

Managing your subscription is now a piece of cake. Follow these steps:

1. Bookmark the archives website:
http://si-listserv.si.edu/archives/ornith-l.html

2. That's it.

Really.

Well, OK, there's a tiny bit more. Once you click on any month in the
archives, you will see the join/leave option at the top of the screen.
Clicking there will take you to another screen that allows you to change all
your subscription options, including unsubscribe, temporarily or permanently
(though we of course hope you won't!).

And THAT's it. Really.

Try it. You'll like it!

Ellen

Dear Ornith-l List Members,

We have accepted Jeanette's gracious offer to give us "ownership" of
Ornith-l, which we have always considered to be an invaluable resource for
the ornithological community. It is a great honor to be able to continue to
provide this resource.

I hope you will all join me in extending a hearty thanks to Jeanette for
founding and maintaining Ornith-l for eleven years.

We consider the OC to be an owner in name only. We consider the members to
be the owners, and we are merely stewards. Ornith-l will continue as
Jeanette created it, and we will moderate with the same light, judicious
hand. If you - the membership - want to see a change in Ornith-l's direction
(such as the topics that are appropriate for posting) or style, please let
me know and we can open the question for discussion by the community.

We will continue to ask that matters pertaining to bird conservation be
discussed on the policy listserv that OC maintains, as Ornith-l is intended
for the discussion of ornithology as a science. We would be delighted to
have you join OCNET if you want to discuss bird conservation and other
policy matters related to ornithology.

You can join OCNET by visiting https://listserv.umd.edu/archives/ocnet-l.html

Meanwhile, please be sure to let your friends know about Ornith-l!

Ellen
======
Ellen Paul
Executive Director
The Ornithological Council
Mailto:ellen.paul AT verizon.net
"Providing Scientific Information about Birds"
Ornithological Council: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET

The changes in Clements' 6th edition posted by Cornell on October 8
are  now in our October 15 data updates for BirdBase and BirdArea.
For information  go to the Users Bulletin Board of our web site, whose
address is below.

SANTA BARBARA SOFTWARE PRODUCTS
Our world birding software is  demonstrated at
Web site: _http://members.aol.com/sbsp_ (http://members.aol.com/sbsp)
E-mail: _sbsp AT aol.com_ (mailto:sbsp AT aol.com)



************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Colleagues -- Please pass this announcement to colleagues that might be
interested in a microbiology position.  Thank you for your time and
effort.  mas tarde, mas tarde, EJF

Hello, Ornithologists.

I append below an announcement for the new book RARE BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA,
authored by Robert A. Hamilton, Michael A. Patten, and Richard A. Erickson,
and published by Western Field Ornithologists. It's a remarkable book in and
of itself, but it's also an inspiration for all of us outside California.
Most states and provinces are at the point now where they could produce such
a book. The Californians are leading the way, as usual, and I hope the rest
of us will follow their lead. I can easily see a cottage industry of state
and provincial "Rare Birds of..." titles coming out in the next decade or
so. Of course, the California model ought not to be applied in a blanket
fashion to every state and province. "Rare Birds of Mississippi" or "Rare
Birds of Ontario" or "Rare Birds of Nevada" will entail different
assumptions, meet different needs, require different scholarship, and demand
different technologies than "Rare Birds of Colorado." But the basic concept
is solid, and "Rare Birds of California" demonstates compellingly that such
a book can be done, and done well. This is a book for every birder.

Ted Floyd
tedfloyd57 AT hotmail.com
Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Rare Birds of California, by Robert A. Hamilton, Michael A. Patten, and
Richard A. Erickson, has just been published by Western Field
Ornithologists. Six hundred pages long and with an appendix current to 2006,
Rare Birds of California is the first of its kind, a detailed history of the
California Bird Record Committee's long tradition of documenting birds rare
to California. Hardbound, with color and black-and-white plates, extensive
maps for reference, and a delightful history of California birds and
birders, this book is a must-have reference. Whether you are a serious
lister, have a California life list, are seeking a reference for unusual
birds to the state, and/or are an ornithologist/biologist requiring
documentation and references about tracking vagrant trends in the Golden
State--this is the book for you.

For any questions about Rare Birds of California, please see the WFO
website, www.wfo-cbrc.org. Direct any other inquiries to
rarebirdsofcalifornia AT yahoo.com.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

_________________________________________________________________
Peek-a-boo FREE Tricks & Treats for You!
http://www.reallivemoms.com?ocid=TXT_TAGHM&loc=us

Hola ORNITHers and NEOORNers,

Now that the final list has been compiled, I have one more observation to add. 
Over the weekend, while working in primary rainforest at La Selva Biological 
Station in Costa Rica, I heard a Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher (Terenotriccus 
erythrurus) calling repeatedly from nearby. I went to take a look and noticed 
that its right wing was extended, caught up in a spiderweb strand and attached 
to the branch. It kept trying to pull the wing in but couldn't seem to break 
the strand. I broke the strand with a PVC pipe (the bird was about 3m up) and 
it fluttered to a lower branch, where it preened the wing and kept calling 
repeatedly. I watched it for ~15 minutes then was about to leave, but had to 
pass under it to get to the trail. As I approached it attempted to fly off but 
fell to the ground. I caught it and its wing was completely coated in sticky 
web, so much so that all the wing feathers were stuck together and an ~4mm 
diameter ball of web was glueing the secondaries to the belly. I scraped most 
of the stickiness off the feathers and reshaped them enough that the bird was 
able to fly off again after a few minutes. 


The spider was not present at the time, but I'm fairly certain that it was 
built by a large Araneidae which is common in the understory here and builds 
very strong and sticky webs (as I know from personal experience). It's not a 
Nephila, but otherwise I haven't been able to have it identified to species as 
of yet. 


Cheers,
Nicole Michel

**************************************************
Nicole Michel
Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
400 Boggs
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA 70118
Fax:
Phone:
**************************************************

Study in Africa in 2008





Conservation and Biodiversity in South African Parks and Nature Reserves




May 10 to June 5, 2008





Have you always wanted to go to Africa?  To see, study, and explore the rich
diversity of wildlife and natural resources?  Here's an amazing opportunity
to do just that!





In Summer 2008, the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, through the Office
of Study Abroad, at Michigan State University will be making it's 4th,
4-week excursion to South Africa, to explore the Conservation and
Biodiversity of their Parks and Nature Reserves.  We'll tour various parks
and nature reserves throughout South Africa, including Timbavati Private
Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park, Manyeleti Nature Reserve, Pilanesberg
Game Reserve, Kalahari Transfrontier Park, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Agulhas
National Park, Boulders African Penguin colony, Cape of Good Hope, Table
Mountain National Park and Robben Island.



At a time when natural resource managers are asked to consider global
contexts of biodiversity and ecosystem approaches to management, this course
will expose students to various South African ecosystems and will broaden
students' scope of management by taking into account the impacts that
land-based activities and international policies have on the natural
communities in these ecosystems. The role of game reserves, nature reserves,
and national parks as management tools will be investigated and students
will be introduced to social issues that are encountered when protection of
biodiversity restrictions are imposed on a society.  We will also address
the role of hunting as a management tool of big game species on private game
reserves and the impact of hunting on the surrounding communities.



Students will familiarize themselves with the flora and fauna of the
different ecosystems visited; will interact with government officials and
land managers; and will participate in hands-on learning, including
bushwalks, habitat sampling, population surveys and other field experiments.





This program is perfectly suited for undergraduate students studying
ecology, natural resources, and wildlife biology, ecology and/or management.
We can take a maximum of 12 students.  Preference is for Wildlife/Natural
Resource type students with an ecology background, but students from other
biological majors that are passionate and excited about exploring South
African wildlife and natural resources are also encouraged to apply.



Each student participating in this programs enrolls in 6 credits of FW 480 -
International Studies in Fisheries and Wildlife at MSU.  While this is a
Michigan State University program, students from non-MSU colleges and
universities are welcome and encouraged to apply.  Over the past 3 summers
students from Ball State University, Central Michigan University, Paul
Smith's College, University of Tennessee, and the University of Vermont have
participated in this program.  Non-MSU students enroll as Lifelong Education
students and tuition rates are nearly equal to those of in-state MSU
students.  Students also must pay a program fee (last year it was $3,633),
which covers almost everything (transportation, lodging, field trips, park
fees, and most meals) while you're in country, and their airline ticket
(approximately $1,600).  While it sounds like a lot of money, for everything
you get to see and do for 4 weeks in Africa, it's truly a bargain.



It's truly a life altering experience.  Join Us!!



See the following OSA website for some additional information -
http://studyabroad.msu.edu/programs/safricacon.html



Don't wait to apply.  We expect to be full by January 2008.



Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or want more details.



Jim Schneider

schne181 AT msu.edu



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jim Schneider - Academic Adviser
Undergraduate Advising Center
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife
Michigan State University
40 Natural Resources Building
East Lansing, MI 
Office:     
Fax:        
E-Mail:      schne181 AT msu.edu
FW Web Site:   http://www.fw.msu.edu/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Colleagues,



Because of sabbatical leaves, etc., the Department of Biology at Villanova is 
need of an instructor to offer at least one course in some aspect of ecology 
next semester (Spring 2008; 15 Jan. - early May). This could be a course with a 
laboratory for undergraduate biology majors (e.g., Animal Behavior, Behavioral 
Ecology, or Introductory Ecology), or a course for Masters-level graduate 
students (with or without laboratory). 




If anyone on the list is a recent Ph.D. or other person with expertise 
appropriate for teaching one or more courses on a part-time basis, or knows of 
such a person, please contact me by email (robert.curry "at" villanova.edu). 
Our campus is 12 miles west of Philadelphia. 




We will be filling 2 full-year postdoc positions for the 08-09 academic year. 
These are 50% research, 50% teaching positions, intended to help post-docs gain 
real teaching experience while also making progress on research and 
publication. Anyone who started out on a part-time basis in Spring 2008 would 
be welcome to apply for the full-year fellowship for the following year. 


Robert. L. Curry, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Biology
Villanova University
800 Lancaster Avenue
Villanova, PA  19085 USA

Tel.
Fax 

Council, American Ornithologists' Union, 
Council, Wilson Ornithological Society, 
Board of Directors, Ornithological Council, representing WOS
Chair, Committee on Local Arrangements, AOU2009, Philadelphia

Colleagues -- Please pass this announcement to colleagues that might be 
interested in a microbiology position.  Thank you for your time and 
effort.  mas tarde, mas tarde, EJF

MICROBIOLOGIST 
  
Position Description: Full time 9-month tenure-track microbiologist with 
specialization in contemporary bacteriology, virology, mycology, 
protozoology, or other compatible area of expertise. Appointment date: 
August 2008. 
  
Responsibilities: This position will require teaching majors and 
non-majors microbiology courses and related specialty courses based on the 
qualifications of the successful applicant and departmental needs. 
Teaching a course in introductory biology or environmental science for 
non-majors may be required. Teaching three different courses per semester 
is a typical load. The successful applicant will be encouraged to develop 
upper division specialty courses within their area of expertise. Such 
courses could include, but are not limited to: microbial ecology, 
environmental microbiology, industrial microbiology, microbial physiology, 
or eukaryotic microbiology. Emphasis is on teaching and active 
participation with students in courses and lab or field experiences. 
Research activity with M.S. students in the departmental graduate program 
and with undergraduates is expected. In addition, faculty members are 
actively involved in student recruitment and academic advising. The 
successful applicant also will be expected to contribute service to the 
department, University, community, and their profession. 
  
Qualifications: Minimal qualifications include an earned Ph.D. in 
microbiology or an appropriate subdiscipline; post-doctoral research 
experience preferred. The applicant must provide evidence of teaching 
experience and scholarship, including peer-reviewed publications and 
professional presentations, and the ability to acquire research funding. 
Other necessary qualifications include strong communication skills, a 
commitment to excellence in teaching and advising, active participation 
with students in laboratory and field settings, the ability to interact 
with a diverse faculty, and the ability to develop a research program that 
includes undergraduate as well as graduate students. 
  
Contact: Dr. Eric Gillock, Chair of Microbiology Search Committee, 
Department of 
Biological Sciences, Fort Hays State University, 600 Park Street, Hays, KS 
 
Phone:, Fax:, email: egillock AT fhsu.edu 
  
Fort Hays State University does not discriminate on the basis of gender, 
race, religion, national origin, age, disability, Vietnam era veteran 
status or special disabled veteran status in its programs and activities. 
The University employs only United States citizens and aliens who are 
lawfully authorized to work in the United States. The director of 
affirmative action, coordinator of Title IX, Title VI, Section 504 and ADA 
regulations, may be contacted at 600 Park St., Hays, KS 67601, . FHSU is committed to the cultural enrichment of its student 
body and work force through Affirmative Action and Equal 
Education/Employment Opportunity. Members of historically underrepresented 
social groups in higher education, women, and persons with disability or 
veteran status are encouraged to apply. 
  
Preference will be given to applications postmarked by November 26, 2007. 
No electronic applications will be accepted. Applications must include at 
minimum: 
  
1. Curriculum vita 
2. Photocopies of all post-secondary transcripts 
3. Statement of teaching interests and philosophy 
4. Separate statement of proposed research involving students 
5. Copies of representative scholarly work 
6. Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of four references 
Please do NOT request letters of recommendation.   
  
Check Details at: http://www.fhsu.edu/positions/pos.shtml 
  
The Department of Biological Sciences has 13 full-time faculty positions 
representing the disciplines of botany, ecology, evolutionary biology, 
microbiology, anatomy and physiology, range management, and vertebrate 
zoology. A minimum of seven GTAs assist with teaching undergraduate labs. 
The Department offers B.S. and M.S. degrees in biology. Available 
departmental research resources include a scanning electron microscope; a 
newly developed microbiology, cell, and molecular research lab; excellent 
computing facilities; extensive museum collections; a 1,000-acre tract of 
native prairie; a new greenhouse; and other related resources. The 
Department is housed in the recently renovated (2001) Albertson Hall, 
which includes fully mediated classrooms and laboratories. The Department 
employs a fulltime lab coordinator and office manager, and a half-time 
greenhouse manager. 
  
Fort Hays State University is a state-supported liberal and applied arts 
institution governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. It primarily serves 
the western one-half of Kansas. Approximately 10,000 students are enrolled 
in four colleges (Arts and Sciences, Business and Leadership, Education 
and Technology, and Health and Life Sciences) and a Graduate School, which 
have a combined total of 340 full-time faculty members. The campus is 
modern, spacious (4,160 acres), and attractive, and has outstanding 
museums, galleries, and cultural and recreational facilities. A unit of 
the AAUP represents the faculty through a formal negotiated labor 
agreement. Kansas State University’s Agricultural Research Center at Hays 
is adjacent to the campus. Fort Hays State University is committed to the 
cultural enrichment of its student body and work force through Affirmative 
Action and Equal Education/Employment Opportunity. Members of historically 
underrepresented groups in higher education, women, and persons with 
disability or veteran status are encouraged to apply. 
  
Hays, Kansas is a city of approximately 20,000 located roughly midway 
between Kansas City and Denver on I-70. It is a regional center serving 
the cultural, health, educational, business, service, and transportation 
needs of much of western Kansas. Medical and educational facilities are 
superior. Manufacturing, medical, education, retail, farming, ranching, 
and oil comprise a large part of the local economy. One public elementary 
school was recently rated among the top 25 in the country by a national 
publication. 
  

During fall migration, thousands--maybe millions--of spot-breasted
thrushes pass through the Carolina Piedmont. Despite their similar
appearances, with a little effort one can easily differentiate the
birds to species--as was demonstrated by some ten-year-old science
students who visited with us "This Week at Hilton Pond."

To learn about these brown and white birds with spots--and how the
kids identified them--please visit our photo essay for 22-30
September 2007 at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek070922.html

As always we include a tally of birds banded and recaptured, plus
some miscellaneous nature notes--one about a Purple Finch banded
locally and found far from Hilton Pond.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL
--

RESEARCH PROGRAM
c/o BILL HILTON JR. Executive Director
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA
research AT hiltonpond.org,, eFax:

Please visit our web sites (courtesy of Comporium.net):
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History at http://www.hiltonpond.org
"Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project" at http://www.rubythroat.org

**********

What is the procedure for getting off of this list?

Peace & May the Light be With You,
Gustav W. Verderber, M.S.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
www.SojournsInNature.com
www.Railscenics.com
P.O. Box 153
Lowell, VT��05847
Sojourns AT PShift.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi,
 Thanks, Allen, for your right-on guess on the photo's origin. With your 
information, I googled the digest and one of theURL titles was about this 
incident that happened not far north of where I live in central MD. I read the 
short article at 
http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/backyardbirds/hummingbirds/mantis-hummer.aspx 

  Joyce

Allen Chartier  wrote:
  Debbie,

If I'm not mistaken, this photo was originally published in Birdwatcher's
Digest. What I am more certain of is that it is a Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Allen Chartier
amazilia1 AT comcast.net
1442 West River Park Drive
Inkster, MI 48141
Website: http://www.amazilia.net
Michigan HummerNet: http://www.amazilia.net/MIHummerNet
===============================================
Every day, the hummingbird eats its own weight in food.
You may wonder how it weighs the food. It doesn't.
It just eats another hummingbird.
---Steven Wright

----- Original Message -----
From: "debbie viess"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 7:15 PM
Subject: Re: FW: Birds as insect prey


> Who took the photo? Looks like a juvenile or female
> hummer of some sort, in some sort of manicured garden,
> which means that the vegetation could be from anywhere
> in the world; goodness knows that's true of MY garden.
>
> I believe that the tropical bird spiders are ambush
> predators, not webspinners. Still waiting to hear back
> if anyone knows of a fatal, spider-related (not just
> mortality due to entanglement) bird/web encounter.
>
> Shades of "Arachniphobia" (which, by the way, is a
> pretty good horror movie, with a leavening sense of
> humor).
>
> Debbie Viess
>
> --- "Erixon-Stanford, Mignon" wrote:
>
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: Greenway [mailto:pequaywn AT yahoo.com]
>> > Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 11:39 PM
>> > To: ORNITH-L: the scientific discussion of
>> Ornithology
>> > Subject: Birds as insect prey
>> >
>> > Hi All,
>> > On my website page
>> > http://www.greenwayld.com/naturephotography.htm at
>> very
>> > bottom is a photo of a praying mantis hanging from
>> a plant
>> > and clutching a small bird. Can anyone venture an
>> intelligent
>> > guess of the bird and/or insect species and and
>> the
>> > geographical habitat by examining the bird and the
>> flower in
>> > the photo?
>> >
>> > I had not known of birds getting caught in
>> single or
>> > communal spider webs and enjoyed the threads. But
>> I have long
>> > been fascinated by the tropical bat-eating
>> spiders.
>> >
>> > Joyce
>> >
>>
>
>
>
>
> 
____________________________________________________________________________________ 

> Don't let your dream ride pass you by. Make it a reality with Yahoo!
> Autos.
> http://autos.yahoo.com/index.html
>





---------------------------------
Building a website is a piece of cake.
Yahoo! Small Business gives you all the tools to get online.

There is a possibility that, if not examined carefully, some of the
reported entanglements of birds in spider webs actually may have been
caught in hip chain. (Hip chain is a thread used in land measurement,
especially in forested survey plots, and a known cause of bird
mortality.)

In New Brunswick, Canada, on 22 August 2007, two biologists
encountered a dead Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas), hanging
by one wingtip, which they believed was tangled in a line of spider
silk. Being engaged in a dragonfly survey, they did not take time to
examine the bird and line carefully but took a few photos.

When I saw one of the photos of the bird, I recognized the line as
likely hip-chain. Emily McKinnon, a graduate student at the
University of New Brunswick, came to the same conclusion. Our friends
were deceived by spider silk present at the site (and visible in the
photos) and hadn't noticed that the line restraining the bird was
different.

David Christie


At 10:19 PM +0000 9/28/07, Dan Brooks wrote:

>Well, about a week ago I posted a query to NeoOrn-L, Ornith-L and =
>African Birding-L requesting info on cases of birds trapped in a spider =
>web.  My interest was piqued after we witnessed a fairly large bird =
>(Catharus ustulatus ~25 g.) trapped in a spider web in Texas coastal =
>forest.  The number of responses I received was overwhelming, and I've =
>been busy tabularizing the data as it came in this past week.  In sum 50 =
>cases of 41 species in 21 Families have been trapped in a spider web...

--

David Christie
Mary's Point, Harvey, Albert Co., New Brunswick, Canada
http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt

Debbie,

If I'm not mistaken, this photo was originally published in Birdwatcher's
Digest. What I am more certain of is that it is a Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Allen Chartier
amazilia1 AT comcast.net
1442 West River Park Drive
Inkster, MI  48141
Website: http://www.amazilia.net
Michigan HummerNet: http://www.amazilia.net/MIHummerNet
===============================================
Every day, the hummingbird eats its own weight in food.
You may wonder how it weighs the food. It doesn't.
It just eats another hummingbird.
---Steven Wright

----- Original Message -----
From: "debbie viess" 
To: 
Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 7:15 PM
Subject: Re: FW: Birds as insect prey


> Who took the photo? Looks like a juvenile or female
> hummer of some sort, in some sort of manicured garden,
> which means that the vegetation could be from anywhere
> in the world; goodness knows that's true of MY garden.
>
> I believe that the tropical bird spiders are ambush
> predators, not webspinners. Still waiting to hear back
> if anyone knows of a fatal, spider-related (not just
> mortality due to entanglement) bird/web encounter.
>
> Shades of "Arachniphobia" (which, by the way, is a
> pretty good horror movie, with a leavening sense of
> humor).
>
> Debbie Viess
>
> --- "Erixon-Stanford, Mignon"  wrote:
>
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: Greenway [mailto:pequaywn AT yahoo.com]
>> > Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 11:39 PM
>> > To: ORNITH-L: the scientific discussion of
>> Ornithology
>> > Subject: Birds as insect prey
>> >
>> > Hi All,
>> >   On my website page
>> > http://www.greenwayld.com/naturephotography.htm at
>> very
>> > bottom is a photo of a praying mantis hanging from
>> a plant
>> > and clutching a small bird. Can anyone venture an
>> intelligent
>> > guess of the bird and/or insect species and and
>> the
>> > geographical habitat by examining the bird and the
>> flower in
>> > the photo?
>> >
>> >   I had not known of birds getting caught in
>> single or
>> > communal spider webs and enjoyed the threads. But
>> I have long
>> > been fascinated by the tropical bat-eating
>> spiders.
>> >
>> >   Joyce
>> >
>>
>
>
>
>
> 
____________________________________________________________________________________ 

> Don't let your dream ride pass you by. Make it a reality with Yahoo!
> Autos.
> http://autos.yahoo.com/index.html
>

JOYCE . . .

More than likely this is a Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus
colubris) attacked by a Chinese Mantid (Tenodera aridifolia sinensis).

See http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek070901.html

Cheers,

BILL

========


>  -----Original Message-----
>>  From: Greenway [mailto:pequaywn AT yahoo.com]
>>  Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 11:39 PM
>>  To: ORNITH-L: the scientific discussion of Ornithology
>>  Subject: Birds as insect prey
>>
>>  Hi All,
>>    On my website page
>  > http://www.greenwayld.com/naturephotography.htm at very
>>  bottom is a photo of a praying mantis hanging from a plant
>>  and clutching a small bird. Can anyone venture an intelligent
>>  guess of the bird and/or insect species and and the
>>  geographical habitat by examining the bird and the flower in
>>  the photo?
>>
>>    I had not known of birds getting caught in single or
>>  communal spider webs and enjoyed the threads. But I have long
>>  been fascinated by the tropical bat-eating spiders.
>>
>>    Joyce
>>


--

RESEARCH PROGRAM
c/o BILL HILTON JR. Executive Director
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA
research AT hiltonpond.org,, eFax:

Please visit our web sites (courtesy of Comporium.net):
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History at http://www.hiltonpond.org
"Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project" at http://www.rubythroat.org

**********



--
Ellen Paul
Executive Director
The Ornithological Council
Mailto:ellen.paul AT verizon.net
"Providing Scientific Information about Birds"
Ornithological Council: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET

Who took the photo? Looks like a juvenile or female
hummer of some sort, in some sort of manicured garden,
which means that the vegetation could be from anywhere
in the world; goodness knows that's true of MY garden.

I believe that the tropical bird spiders are ambush
predators, not webspinners. Still waiting to hear back
if anyone knows of a fatal, spider-related (not just
mortality due to entanglement) bird/web encounter.

Shades of "Arachniphobia" (which, by the way, is a
pretty good horror movie, with a leavening sense of
humor).

Debbie Viess

--- "Erixon-Stanford, Mignon"  wrote:

> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Greenway [mailto:pequaywn AT yahoo.com]
> > Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 11:39 PM
> > To: ORNITH-L: the scientific discussion of
> Ornithology
> > Subject: Birds as insect prey
> >
> > Hi All,
> >   On my website page
> > http://www.greenwayld.com/naturephotography.htm at
> very
> > bottom is a photo of a praying mantis hanging from
> a plant
> > and clutching a small bird. Can anyone venture an
> intelligent
> > guess of the bird and/or insect species and and
> the
> > geographical habitat by examining the bird and the
> flower in
> > the photo?
> >
> >   I had not known of birds getting caught in
> single or
> > communal spider webs and enjoyed the threads. But
> I have long
> > been fascinated by the tropical bat-eating
> spiders.
> >
> >   Joyce
> >
>



 
____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Don't let your dream ride pass you by. Make it a reality with Yahoo! Autos.
http://autos.yahoo.com/index.html

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Greenway [mailto:pequaywn AT yahoo.com] 
> Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 11:39 PM
> To: ORNITH-L: the scientific discussion of Ornithology
> Subject: Birds as insect prey
> 
> Hi All,
>   On my website page 
> http://www.greenwayld.com/naturephotography.htm at very 
> bottom is a photo of a praying mantis hanging from a plant 
> and clutching a small bird. Can anyone venture an intelligent 
> guess of the bird and/or insect species and and the 
> geographical habitat by examining the bird and the flower in 
> the photo?
> 
>   I had not known of birds getting caught in single or 
> communal spider webs and enjoyed the threads. But I have long 
> been fascinated by the tropical bat-eating spiders.
> 
>   Joyce
> 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: SBSP AT aol.com [mailto:SBSP AT aol.com]
> Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 12:32 PM
> To: ORNITH-L AT SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU
> Subject: Splits and Lumps from Clements' 5th to 6th Editions
>
>
> We have a list, printable by your web browser, of all splits,
> lumps and
> genus revisions made by Dr. James Clements from publication
> of the 5th  edition of
> his "Birds of the World" to publication of the 6th edition.
> There is  also a
> discussion of how to find your way through the maze of name
> changes. If  you
> have kept your life list as check marks next to bird names in
> the 5th  edition
> of the book and want to move it to the 6th edition, this
> information  will be
> invaluable. The same is true if you if have kept your data in
> software  --
> either ours or our competitors.
>
> Go to our web site, whose address is below. From the home
> page take the  link
> labeled Click here for more information. Then the link
> labeled  BirdBase.
> Then the link labeled Features. And then the link  labeled
> Moving your life list
> from the fifth to sixth edition.
>
> SANTA BARBARA SOFTWARE PRODUCTS
> 1400 Dover Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93103  USA
> Phone/Fax:
> E-mail: _sbsp AT aol.com_ (mailto:sbsp AT aol.com)
> Web site: _http://members.aol.com/sbsp_ (http://members.aol.com/sbsp)
>
>

I observed a Brewer's Sparrow _Spizella breweri_  stuck in a spider  
web at Summer Lake Wildlife Area in S.E. Oregon.  The webbing was  
more like a group of long strands that is frequently seen draped  
among the sagebrush in late spring.  I'm not sure what type of spider  
(or other insect?) produces these stringers, but they are quite strong.

We saw the sparrow lazily flapping upside down and hanging stuck and  
apparently exhausted for about a minute while we watched.  I  
approached to get a better look and this frightened the bird so much  
that it's gyrations and flapping caused it to break free and escape.

Dave


david tracy
Bend, OR
davect AT bendnet.com



On Oct 1, 2007, at 8:58 AM, Erixon-Stanford, Mignon wrote:

>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Thomas Riecke [mailto:riecket13 AT yahoo.com]
>> Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 11:07 AM
>> To: ORNITH-L: the scientific discussion of Ornithology
>> Subject: Re: FINAL LIST - birds trapped in spider webs
>>
>> ------------------
>> I have seen a Bewick's Wren trapped in a spider web at
>> Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge in Grayson County, TX.
>> Sorry about the late nature of the reply. It was hanging
>> upside down, and the touch of my finger stimulated it enough
>> for it to free itself. I watched it struggle for about a
>> minute before freeing it.
>> Thomas Riecke
>>   Sherman, TX
>>   Ausin College undergrad
>> Malcolm Ogilvie  wrote:
>>
>> Dan
>>
>> A fascinating list but not quite "final" as I've just discovered an
>> instance of a Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata,
>> entrapped in a web.
>> I've e-mailed you the text.
>>
>> Best wishes
>>
>> Malcolm Ogilvie
>>
>>
>>
>> In message
>> ,
>> Dan Brooks writes
>>> Greetings all
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Well, about a week ago I posted a query to NeoOrn-L, Ornith-L and
>>> African Birding-L requesting info on cases of birds trapped
>> in a spider
>>> web. My interest was piqued after we witnessed a fairly large bird
>>> (Catharus ustulatus ~25 g.) trapped in a spider web in Texas coastal
>>> forest. The number of responses I received was overwhelming, and  
>>> I've
>>> been busy tabularizing the data as it came in this past week. In sum
>>> 50 cases of 41 species in 21 Families have been trapped in a spider
>>> web. The results of the fates of the victims will hopefully shed  
>>> some
>>> interesting life history correlates on this phenomenon that has not
>>> been tapped into quantitatively before. I imagine there are many  
>>> more
>>> cases, but below is what I have so far. A HUGE Thank you to all the
>>> folks that went out of there way to send data or literature sources,
>>> especially to Travis Rosenberry, Librarian at The Peregrine
>> Falcon for
>>> sending me a plethora of articles in old or cryptic journals - he's
>>> been 'busier than a one-armed laundry maid hanging clothes to dry
>>> during a windstorm' this past week! Also to the following  
>>> individuals
>>> for providing unpublished accounts: F. Beaudry, G.S. Cabanne, P.
>>> Clavijo, A.M. Cuervo, D. Forsman, K. Fraser, B. Freeman, R.
>> Hargreaves,
>>> J. Norman, J. Smart, P. Usher, P. Veerman and D. Zetterstr�m, and to
>>> the following individuals for providing literature sources and other
>>> information: R. Arsenault, C. Barlow, A. Cizek, J. Cox, F. Brammer,
>>> G.S. Cabanne, I. Hinze, S. Johnson, C. Levy, M. Ogilvie, B.
>> Pranty, P.
>>> Smith, T. Rosenberry, F. Schmitt, J. Tucker, P. Usher, and
>> T. Zuechner
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks all!
>>>
>>> dan
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Common Name
>>> Latin Name
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Doves
>>> Columbidae
>>>
>>> Laughing Dove
>>> Streptopelia senegalensis
>>>
>>> Hummingbirds
>>> Trochilidae
>>>
>>> Long-billed Hermit (x4)
>>> Phaethornis superciliaris
>>>
>>> Little Hermit
>>> Phaethornis longuemareus
>>>
>>> Vervain Hummingbird
>>> Mellisuga minima
>>>
>>> Copper-rumped Hummingbird Amazilia tobaci
>>>
>>> Anna's Hummingbird (x3) Calypte anna
>>>
>>> Costa's Hummingbird
>>> Calypte costae
>>>
>>> Rubythroated Hummingbird (x2) Archilochus colubris
>>>
>>> Kingfishers
>>> Alcedinidae
>>>
>>> African Pygmy Kingfisher Ispidina picta
>>>
>>> Flycatchers
>>> Tyrannidae
>>>
>>> Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
>>> Empidonax flaviventris
>>>
>>> Acadian Flycatcher
>>> Empidonax virescens
>>>
>>> Fairy-wrens
>>> Maluridae
>>>
>>> Superb Fairy-wren
>>> Malurus cyaneus
>>>
>>> Honeyeaters
>>> Meliphagidae
>>>
>>> Grey-headed Honeyeater
>>> Lichenostomus keartlandi
>>>
>>> Lewins' Honeyeater
>>> Meliphaga lewinii
>>>
>>> Vireos
>>> Vireonidae
>>>
>>> White-eyed Vireo (fledgling) Vireo griseus
>>>
>>> Cuckoo-Shrikes
>>> Campephagidae
>>>
>>> Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike
>>> Coracina novaehollandiae
>>>
>>> Drongos
>>> Rhipiduridae
>>>
>>> Fork-tailed Drongo
>>> Dicrurus adsimilis
>>>
>>> Thrushes
>>> Turdidae
>>>
>>> Swainson's Thrush
>>> Catharus ustulatus
>>>
>>> Wrens
>>> Troglodytidae
>>>
>>> House Wren
>>> Troglodytes aedon
>>>
>>> Bushtits
>>> Aegithalidae
>>>
>>> Bushtit
>>> Psaltriparus minimus
>>>
>>> Swallows
>>> Hirundinidae
>>>
>>> Blue-and-white Swallow
>>> Notiochelidon cyanoleuca
>>>
>>> Kinglets
>>> Regulidae
>>>
>>> Goldcrests
>>> Regulus regulus
>>>
>>> Old World Warblers Sylviidae
>>>
>>> Red-faced Crombec
>>> Sylvietta whytii
>>>
>>> Dusky Warbler
>>> Phylloscopus fuscatus
>>>
>>> Sunbirds
>>> Nectarinidae
>>>
>>> Western Olive Sunbird (x2)
>>> Cyanomitra obscura
>>>
>>> Green-headed Sunbird (fledgling) Cyanomitra
>>> dussumieri
>>>
>>> Amethyst Sunbird
>>> Nectarinia amethystina
>>>
>>> Weavers
>>> Ploecidae
>>>
>>> Red-headed Weaver
>>> Anaplectes rubriceps
>>>
>>> Old World Finches
>>> Estrillidae
>>>
>>> Jameson's Firefinch
>>> Lagonosticta rhodopareia
>>>
>>> Red-billed Firefinch
>>> Lagonosticta senegala
>>>
>>> Blue Waxbill
>>> Uraeginthus angolensis
>>>
>>> Waxbill
>>>
>>> New World Finches
>>> Fringillidae
>>>
>>> Yellow-bellied Seedeater
>>> Sporophila nigricollis
>>>
>>> House Finch
>>> Carpodacus mexicanus
>>>
>>> Lesser Goldfinch
>>> Carduelis psaltria
>>>
>>> American Goldfinch
>>> Carduelis tristis
>>>
>>> Sparrows
>>> Emberizidae
>>>
>>> Grasshopper Sparrow
>>> Ammodramus savannarum
>>>
>>> Wood Warblers
>>> Parulidae
>>>
>>> Yellow Warbler
>>> Dendroica petechia
>>>
>>> Yellow-throated Warbler (x2)
>>> Dendroica dominica
>>>
>>> Common Yellowthroat (x2)
>>> Geothlypis trichas
>>>
>>> American Redstart
>>> Setophaga ruticilla
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Daniel M. Brooks, Ph.D.
>>> Curator of Vertebrate Zoology
>>>
>>> Cracid Specialist Group Chair
>>>
>>> dbrooks AT hmns.org  Fax 
>>> theHoustonMuseumofnaturalscience
>>> One Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, TX 77030
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Biography: www.hmns.org/exhibits/curators.asp?r=1
>>>
>>> Building the African Wildlife Hall:
>> www.drdantime.netfirms.com/index.html
>>>
>>> Cracid Specialist Group: www.cracids.org
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> --
>> Malcolm
>>
>>
>>
>> ---------------------------------
>> Pinpoint customers who are looking for what you sell.
>>

OK, please share: how many of those birds were
actually wrapped and eaten? Or was it just a lose-lose
situation for both birds and spider? How many remained
permanently tangled?

And how about birds trapped in those scary communal
webs of TX? How many spider bites does it take to
subdue a bird, anyway?

Debbie Viess

ps thanks so much to Jeanette Bider for her many years
of service, and thanks to Ellen Paul for stepping up
to the plate and taking over the moderation of this
list, so that this forum can continue.

--- Malcolm Ogilvie 
wrote:

>
> Dan
>
> A fascinating list but not quite "final" as I've
> just discovered an
> instance of a Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata,
> entrapped in a web.
> I've e-mailed you the text.
>
> Best wishes
>
> Malcolm Ogilvie
>
>
>
> In message
>
,
>
> Dan Brooks  writes
> >Greetings all
> >
> >
> >
> >Well, about a week ago I posted a query to
> NeoOrn-L, Ornith-L and
> >African Birding-L requesting info on cases of birds
> trapped in a spider
> >web.  My interest was piqued after we witnessed a
> fairly large bird
> >(Catharus ustulatus ~25 g.) trapped in a spider web
> in Texas coastal
> >forest.  The number of responses I received was
> overwhelming, and I've
> >been busy tabularizing the data as it came in this
> past week.  In sum
> >50 cases of 41 species in 21 Families have been
> trapped in a spider
> >web.  The results of the fates of the victims will
> hopefully shed some
> >interesting life history correlates on this
> phenomenon that has not
> >been tapped into quantitatively before.  I imagine
> there are many more
> >cases, but below is what I have so far.  A HUGE
> Thank you to all the
> >folks that went out of there way to send data or
> literature sources,
> >especially to Travis Rosenberry, Librarian at The
> Peregrine Falcon for
> >sending me a plethora of articles in old or cryptic
> journals - he's
> >been 'busier than a one-armed laundry maid hanging
> clothes to dry
> >during a windstorm' this past week!  Also to the
> following individuals
> >for providing unpublished accounts: F. Beaudry,
> G.S. Cabanne, P.
> >Clavijo, A.M. Cuervo, D. Forsman, K. Fraser, B.
> Freeman, R. Hargreaves,
> >J. Norman, J. Smart, P. Usher, P. Veerman and D.
> Zetterstr�m, and to
> >the following individuals for providing literature
> sources and other
> >information: R. Arsenault, C. Barlow, A. Cizek, J.
> Cox, F. Brammer,
> >G.S. Cabanne, I. Hinze, S. Johnson, C. Levy, M.
> Ogilvie, B. Pranty, P.
> >Smith, T. Rosenberry, F. Schmitt, J. Tucker, P.
> Usher, and T. Zuechner
> >
> >
> >
> >Thanks all!
> >
> >dan
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Common Name
> >Latin Name
> >
> >
> >
> >Doves
> >Columbidae
> >
> >Laughing Dove
> >Streptopelia senegalensis
> >
> >Hummingbirds
> >Trochilidae
> >
> >Long-billed Hermit (x4)
> >Phaethornis superciliaris
> >
> >Little Hermit
> >Phaethornis longuemareus
> >
> >Vervain Hummingbird
> >Mellisuga minima
> >
> >Copper-rumped Hummingbird
>        Amazilia tobaci
> >
> >Anna's Hummingbird (x3)
>              Calypte anna
> >
> >Costa's Hummingbird
> >Calypte costae
> >
> >Rubythroated Hummingbird (x2)
>        Archilochus colubris
> >
> >Kingfishers
> >Alcedinidae
> >
> >African Pygmy Kingfisher
>             Ispidina picta
> >
> >Flycatchers
> >Tyrannidae
> >
> >Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
> >Empidonax flaviventris
> >
> >Acadian Flycatcher
> >Empidonax virescens
> >
> >Fairy-wrens
> >Maluridae
> >
> >Superb Fairy-wren
> >Malurus cyaneus
> >
> >Honeyeaters
> >Meliphagidae
> >
> >Grey-headed Honeyeater
> >Lichenostomus keartlandi
> >
> >Lewins' Honeyeater
> >Meliphaga lewinii
> >
> >Vireos
> >Vireonidae
> >
> >White-eyed Vireo (fledgling)
>             Vireo griseus
> >
> >Cuckoo-Shrikes
> >Campephagidae
> >
> >Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike
> >Coracina novaehollandiae
> >
> >Drongos
> >Rhipiduridae
> >
> >Fork-tailed Drongo
> >Dicrurus adsimilis
> >
> >Thrushes
> >Turdidae
> >
> >Swainson's Thrush
> >Catharus ustulatus
> >
> >Wrens
> >Troglodytidae
> >
> >House Wren
> >Troglodytes aedon
> >
> >Bushtits
> >Aegithalidae
> >
> >Bushtit
> >Psaltriparus minimus
> >
> >Swallows
> >Hirundinidae
> >
> >Blue-and-white Swallow
> >Notiochelidon cyanoleuca
> >
> >Kinglets
> >Regulidae
> >
> >Goldcrests
> >Regulus regulus
> >
> >Old World Warblers
>                Sylviidae
> >
> >Red-faced Crombec
>
=== message truncated ===






____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Moody friends. Drama queens. Your life? Nope! - their life, your story. Play 
Sims Stories at Yahoo! Games. 

http://sims.yahoo.com/

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Thomas Riecke [mailto:riecket13 AT yahoo.com] 
> Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 11:07 AM
> To: ORNITH-L: the scientific discussion of Ornithology
> Subject: Re: FINAL LIST - birds trapped in spider webs
> 
> ------------------
> I have seen a Bewick's Wren trapped in a spider web at 
> Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge in Grayson County, TX. 
> Sorry about the late nature of the reply. It was hanging 
> upside down, and the touch of my finger stimulated it enough 
> for it to free itself. I watched it struggle for about a 
> minute before freeing it.
> Thomas Riecke
>   Sherman, TX
>   Ausin College undergrad
> Malcolm Ogilvie  wrote:
> 
> Dan
> 
> A fascinating list but not quite "final" as I've just discovered an
> instance of a Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata, 
> entrapped in a web.
> I've e-mailed you the text.
> 
> Best wishes
> 
> Malcolm Ogilvie
> 
> 
> 
> In message
> ,
> Dan Brooks writes
> >Greetings all
> >
> >
> >
> >Well, about a week ago I posted a query to NeoOrn-L, Ornith-L and
> >African Birding-L requesting info on cases of birds trapped 
> in a spider
> >web. My interest was piqued after we witnessed a fairly large bird
> >(Catharus ustulatus ~25 g.) trapped in a spider web in Texas coastal
> >forest. The number of responses I received was overwhelming, and I've
> >been busy tabularizing the data as it came in this past week. In sum
> >50 cases of 41 species in 21 Families have been trapped in a spider
> >web. The results of the fates of the victims will hopefully shed some
> >interesting life history correlates on this phenomenon that has not
> >been tapped into quantitatively before. I imagine there are many more
> >cases, but below is what I have so far. A HUGE Thank you to all the
> >folks that went out of there way to send data or literature sources,
> >especially to Travis Rosenberry, Librarian at The Peregrine 
> Falcon for
> >sending me a plethora of articles in old or cryptic journals - he's
> >been 'busier than a one-armed laundry maid hanging clothes to dry
> >during a windstorm' this past week! Also to the following individuals
> >for providing unpublished accounts: F. Beaudry, G.S. Cabanne, P.
> >Clavijo, A.M. Cuervo, D. Forsman, K. Fraser, B. Freeman, R. 
> Hargreaves,
> >J. Norman, J. Smart, P. Usher, P. Veerman and D. Zetterstr�m, and to
> >the following individuals for providing literature sources and other
> >information: R. Arsenault, C. Barlow, A. Cizek, J. Cox, F. Brammer,
> >G.S. Cabanne, I. Hinze, S. Johnson, C. Levy, M. Ogilvie, B. 
> Pranty, P.
> >Smith, T. Rosenberry, F. Schmitt, J. Tucker, P. Usher, and 
> T. Zuechner
> >
> >
> >
> >Thanks all!
> >
> >dan
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Common Name
> >Latin Name
> >
> >
> >
> >Doves
> >Columbidae
> >
> >Laughing Dove
> >Streptopelia senegalensis
> >
> >Hummingbirds
> >Trochilidae
> >
> >Long-billed Hermit (x4)
> >Phaethornis superciliaris
> >
> >Little Hermit
> >Phaethornis longuemareus
> >
> >Vervain Hummingbird
> >Mellisuga minima
> >
> >Copper-rumped Hummingbird Amazilia tobaci
> >
> >Anna's Hummingbird (x3) Calypte anna
> >
> >Costa's Hummingbird
> >Calypte costae
> >
> >Rubythroated Hummingbird (x2) Archilochus colubris
> >
> >Kingfishers
> >Alcedinidae
> >
> >African Pygmy Kingfisher Ispidina picta
> >
> >Flycatchers
> >Tyrannidae
> >
> >Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
> >Empidonax flaviventris
> >
> >Acadian Flycatcher
> >Empidonax virescens
> >
> >Fairy-wrens
> >Maluridae
> >
> >Superb Fairy-wren
> >Malurus cyaneus
> >
> >Honeyeaters
> >Meliphagidae
> >
> >Grey-headed Honeyeater
> >Lichenostomus keartlandi
> >
> >Lewins' Honeyeater
> >Meliphaga lewinii
> >
> >Vireos
> >Vireonidae
> >
> >White-eyed Vireo (fledgling) Vireo griseus
> >
> >Cuckoo-Shrikes
> >Campephagidae
> >
> >Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike
> >Coracina novaehollandiae
> >
> >Drongos
> >Rhipiduridae
> >
> >Fork-tailed Drongo
> >Dicrurus adsimilis
> >
> >Thrushes
> >Turdidae
> >
> >Swainson's Thrush
> >Catharus ustulatus
> >
> >Wrens
> >Troglodytidae
> >
> >House Wren
> >Troglodytes aedon
> >
> >Bushtits
> >Aegithalidae
> >
> >Bushtit
> >Psaltriparus minimus
> >
> >Swallows
> >Hirundinidae
> >
> >Blue-and-white Swallow
> >Notiochelidon cyanoleuca
> >
> >Kinglets
> >Regulidae
> >
> >Goldcrests
> >Regulus regulus
> >
> >Old World Warblers Sylviidae
> >
> >Red-faced Crombec
> >Sylvietta whytii
> >
> >Dusky Warbler
> >Phylloscopus fuscatus
> >
> >Sunbirds
> >Nectarinidae
> >
> >Western Olive Sunbird (x2)
> >Cyanomitra obscura
> >
> >Green-headed Sunbird (fledgling) Cyanomitra
> >dussumieri
> >
> >Amethyst Sunbird
> >Nectarinia amethystina
> >
> >Weavers
> >Ploecidae
> >
> >Red-headed Weaver
> >Anaplectes rubriceps
> >
> >Old World Finches
> >Estrillidae
> >
> >Jameson's Firefinch
> >Lagonosticta rhodopareia
> >
> >Red-billed Firefinch
> >Lagonosticta senegala
> >
> >Blue Waxbill
> >Uraeginthus angolensis
> >
> >Waxbill
> >
> >New World Finches
> >Fringillidae
> >
> >Yellow-bellied Seedeater
> >Sporophila nigricollis
> >
> >House Finch
> >Carpodacus mexicanus
> >
> >Lesser Goldfinch
> >Carduelis psaltria
> >
> >American Goldfinch
> >Carduelis tristis
> >
> >Sparrows
> >Emberizidae
> >
> >Grasshopper Sparrow
> >Ammodramus savannarum
> >
> >Wood Warblers
> >Parulidae
> >
> >Yellow Warbler
> >Dendroica petechia
> >
> >Yellow-throated Warbler (x2)
> >Dendroica dominica
> >
> >Common Yellowthroat (x2)
> >Geothlypis trichas
> >
> >American Redstart
> >Setophaga ruticilla
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Daniel M. Brooks, Ph.D.
> >Curator of Vertebrate Zoology
> >
> >Cracid Specialist Group Chair
> >
> >dbrooks AT hmns.org  Fax 
> >theHoustonMuseumofnaturalscience
> >One Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, TX 77030
> >
> >
> >
> >Biography: www.hmns.org/exhibits/curators.asp?r=1
> >
> >Building the African Wildlife Hall: 
> www.drdantime.netfirms.com/index.html
> >
> >Cracid Specialist Group: www.cracids.org
> >
> >
> >
> 
> --
> Malcolm
> 
> 
> 
> ---------------------------------
> Pinpoint customers who are looking for what you sell.
> 

Dan

A fascinating list but not quite "final" as I've just discovered an 
instance of a Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata, entrapped in a web. 
I've e-mailed you the text.

Best wishes

Malcolm Ogilvie



In message , 
Dan Brooks  writes
>Greetings all
>
>
>
>Well, about a week ago I posted a query to NeoOrn-L, Ornith-L and 
>African Birding-L requesting info on cases of birds trapped in a spider 
>web.  My interest was piqued after we witnessed a fairly large bird 
>(Catharus ustulatus ~25 g.) trapped in a spider web in Texas coastal 
>forest.  The number of responses I received was overwhelming, and I've 
>been busy tabularizing the data as it came in this past week.  In sum 
>50 cases of 41 species in 21 Families have been trapped in a spider 
>web.  The results of the fates of the victims will hopefully shed some 
>interesting life history correlates on this phenomenon that has not 
>been tapped into quantitatively before.  I imagine there are many more 
>cases, but below is what I have so far.  A HUGE Thank you to all the 
>folks that went out of there way to send data or literature sources, 
>especially to Travis Rosenberry, Librarian at The Peregrine Falcon for 
>sending me a plethora of articles in old or cryptic journals - he's 
>been 'busier than a one-armed laundry maid hanging clothes to dry 
>during a windstorm' this past week!  Also to the following individuals 
>for providing unpublished accounts: F. Beaudry, G.S. Cabanne, P. 
>Clavijo, A.M. Cuervo, D. Forsman, K. Fraser, B. Freeman, R. Hargreaves, 
>J. Norman, J. Smart, P. Usher, P. Veerman and D. Zetterstr�m, and to 
>the following individuals for providing literature sources and other 
>information: R. Arsenault, C. Barlow, A. Cizek, J. Cox, F. Brammer, 
>G.S. Cabanne, I. Hinze, S. Johnson, C. Levy, M. Ogilvie, B. Pranty, P. 
>Smith, T. Rosenberry, F. Schmitt, J. Tucker, P. Usher, and T. Zuechner
>
>
>
>Thanks all!
>
>dan
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Common Name 
>Latin Name
>
>
>
>Doves 
>Columbidae
>
>Laughing Dove 
>Streptopelia senegalensis
>
>Hummingbirds 
>Trochilidae
>
>Long-billed Hermit (x4) 
>Phaethornis superciliaris
>
>Little Hermit 
>Phaethornis longuemareus
>
>Vervain Hummingbird 
>Mellisuga minima
>
>Copper-rumped Hummingbird                                  Amazilia tobaci
>
>Anna's Hummingbird (x3)                                          Calypte anna
>
>Costa's Hummingbird 
>Calypte costae
>
>Rubythroated Hummingbird (x2) Archilochus colubris 

>
>Kingfishers 
>Alcedinidae
>
>African Pygmy Kingfisher                                        Ispidina picta
>
>Flycatchers 
>Tyrannidae
>
>Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 
>Empidonax flaviventris
>
>Acadian Flycatcher 
>Empidonax virescens
>
>Fairy-wrens 
>Maluridae
>
>Superb Fairy-wren 
>Malurus cyaneus
>
>Honeyeaters 
>Meliphagidae
>
>Grey-headed Honeyeater 
>Lichenostomus keartlandi
>
>Lewins' Honeyeater 
>Meliphaga lewinii
>
>Vireos 
>Vireonidae
>
>White-eyed Vireo (fledgling)                                    Vireo griseus
>
>Cuckoo-Shrikes 
>Campephagidae
>
>Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike 
>Coracina novaehollandiae
>
>Drongos 
>Rhipiduridae
>
>Fork-tailed Drongo 
>Dicrurus adsimilis
>
>Thrushes 
>Turdidae
>
>Swainson's Thrush 
>Catharus ustulatus
>
>Wrens 
>Troglodytidae
>
>House Wren 
>Troglodytes aedon
>
>Bushtits 
>Aegithalidae
>
>Bushtit 
>Psaltriparus minimus
>
>Swallows 
>Hirundinidae
>
>Blue-and-white Swallow 
>Notiochelidon cyanoleuca
>
>Kinglets 
>Regulidae
>
>Goldcrests 
>Regulus regulus
>
>Old World Warblers                                                 Sylviidae
>
>Red-faced Crombec 
>Sylvietta whytii
>
>Dusky Warbler 
>Phylloscopus fuscatus
>
>Sunbirds 
>Nectarinidae
>
>Western Olive Sunbird (x2) 
>Cyanomitra obscura
>
>Green-headed Sunbird (fledgling)                            Cyanomitra 
>dussumieri
>
>Amethyst Sunbird 
>Nectarinia amethystina
>
>Weavers 
>Ploecidae
>
>Red-headed Weaver 
>Anaplectes rubriceps
>
>Old World Finches 
>Estrillidae
>
>Jameson's Firefinch 
>Lagonosticta rhodopareia
>
>Red-billed Firefinch 
>Lagonosticta senegala
>
>Blue Waxbill 
>Uraeginthus angolensis
>
>Waxbill
>
>New World Finches 
>Fringillidae
>
>Yellow-bellied Seedeater 
>Sporophila nigricollis
>
>House Finch 
>Carpodacus mexicanus
>
>Lesser Goldfinch 
>Carduelis psaltria
>
>American Goldfinch 
>Carduelis tristis
>
>Sparrows 
>Emberizidae
>
>Grasshopper Sparrow 
>Ammodramus savannarum
>
>Wood Warblers 
>Parulidae
>
>Yellow Warbler 
>Dendroica petechia
>
>Yellow-throated Warbler (x2) 
>Dendroica dominica
>
>Common Yellowthroat (x2) 
>Geothlypis trichas
>
>American Redstart 
>Setophaga ruticilla
>
>
>
>
>
>Daniel M. Brooks, Ph.D.
>Curator of Vertebrate Zoology
>
>Cracid Specialist Group Chair
>
>dbrooks AT hmns.org         Fax 
>theHoustonMuseumofnaturalscience
>One Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, TX  77030
>
>
>
>Biography: www.hmns.org/exhibits/curators.asp?r=1
>
>Building the African Wildlife Hall: www.drdantime.netfirms.com/index.html
>
>Cracid Specialist Group: www.cracids.org 
>
>
>

-- 
Malcolm

Dear Ornith-l List Members,

After eleven and a half years of moderating Ornith-l, I am retiring.  The
list with all its membership has been moved to the Smithsonian Listserv
with the new address of ornith-l AT SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU.  Messages sent to the
list should be sent to that address.  The archives will be found at
http://si-listserv.si.edu/cgi-bin/wa?LMGT1=ORNITH-L, and they should be
moved by next weekend.  Ellen Paul has graciously accepted to take on the
role of listowner and moderator, and the transfer of ownership should take
place this week as well.  It has been my pleasure to serve the
ornithological community these many years, and I hope the community will
continue to use Ornith-l as a means for meaningful discussion.

Thank you.

--
Jeanette Bider, PhD             |       Ornith-L Listowner
jbider AT sdf.lonestar.org         |          Norman, OK

Sunday I trapped a red-shouldered hawk in my study
area in a location where I had never seen nor trapped
any birds before.  To my surprise the bird was wearing
FWS and color bands I had installed some time prior. 
In fact, the color band code was A over A, which
indicated it was the first red-shouldered hawk I had
color marked in my program.  When I got home and
checked my records, I learned I had banded this bird
as a young adult on Nov. 30, 1996, and it was, indeed,
the first colormarked RSHA in my study.

Interestingly, the bird had moved almost 15 miles from
the time of its initial capture.  My field notes
recorded that the 1006 version of this individual had
light brown eyes and a fresh molt with all new adult
feathers in November.  My guess is that the bird had
probably just completed its first molt and was
entering into adulthood, with the probability of
breeding the subsequent spring/summer.  

I will search for a nest in the area where I trapped
the bird this year and I suspect I will find it
breeding near its point of capture last week. 
Wouldn't it be interesting if its mate is also already
banded!  I just put band V over W on a red-shoulder
this week, and so a lot of hawks are wearing color
bands and I am monitoring many scores of nests and
banded hawks on an annual basis.


Stan Moore     San Geronimo, CA     stangabboon AT yahoo.com


       

____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Need a vacation? Get great deals
to amazing places on Yahoo! Travel.
http://travel.yahoo.com/

Greetings all

 

Well, about a week ago I posted a query to NeoOrn-L, Ornith-L and African 
Birding-L requesting info on cases of birds trapped in a spider web. My 
interest was piqued after we witnessed a fairly large bird (Catharus ustulatus 
~25 g.) trapped in a spider web in Texas coastal forest. The number of 
responses I received was overwhelming, and I've been busy tabularizing the data 
as it came in this past week. In sum 50 cases of 41 species in 21 Families have 
been trapped in a spider web. The results of the fates of the victims will 
hopefully shed some interesting life history correlates on this phenomenon that 
has not been tapped into quantitatively before. I imagine there are many more 
cases, but below is what I have so far. A HUGE Thank you to all the folks that 
went out of there way to send data or literature sources, especially to Travis 
Rosenberry, Librarian at The Peregrine Falcon for sending me a plethora of 
articles in old or cryptic journals - he's been 'busier than a one-armed 
laundry maid hanging clothes to dry during a windstorm' this past week! Also to 
the following individuals for providing unpublished accounts: F. Beaudry, G.S. 
Cabanne, P. Clavijo, A.M. Cuervo, D. Forsman, K. Fraser, B. Freeman, R. 
Hargreaves, J. Norman, J. Smart, P. Usher, P. Veerman and D. Zetterstr�m, and 
to the following individuals for providing literature sources and other 
information: R. Arsenault, C. Barlow, A. Cizek, J. Cox, F. Brammer, G.S. 
Cabanne, I. Hinze, S. Johnson, C. Levy, M. Ogilvie, B. Pranty, P. Smith, T. 
Rosenberry, F. Schmitt, J. Tucker, P. Usher, and T. Zuechner 


 

Thanks all!

dan

 

 

 

 

Common Name Latin Name 





Doves Columbidae 


Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis 


Hummingbirds Trochilidae 


Long-billed Hermit (x4) Phaethornis superciliaris 


Little Hermit Phaethornis longuemareus 


Vervain Hummingbird Mellisuga minima 


Copper-rumped Hummingbird                                  Amazilia tobaci 

Anna's Hummingbird (x3)                                          Calypte anna

Costa's Hummingbird Calypte costae 


Rubythroated Hummingbird (x2)                              Archilochus colubris

Kingfishers Alcedinidae 


African Pygmy Kingfisher                                        Ispidina picta

Flycatchers Tyrannidae 


Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris 


Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens 


Fairy-wrens Maluridae 


Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus 


Honeyeaters Meliphagidae 


Grey-headed Honeyeater Lichenostomus keartlandi 


Lewins' Honeyeater Meliphaga lewinii 


Vireos Vireonidae 


White-eyed Vireo (fledgling)                                    Vireo griseus

Cuckoo-Shrikes Campephagidae 


Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina novaehollandiae 


Drongos Rhipiduridae 


Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis 


Thrushes Turdidae 


Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus 


Wrens Troglodytidae 


House Wren Troglodytes aedon 


Bushtits Aegithalidae 


Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus 


Swallows Hirundinidae 


Blue-and-white Swallow Notiochelidon cyanoleuca 


Kinglets Regulidae 


Goldcrests Regulus regulus 


Old World Warblers                                                 Sylviidae

Red-faced Crombec Sylvietta whytii 


Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus 


Sunbirds Nectarinidae 


Western Olive Sunbird (x2) Cyanomitra obscura 


Green-headed Sunbird (fledgling) Cyanomitra dussumieri 


Amethyst Sunbird Nectarinia amethystina 


Weavers Ploecidae 


Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps 


Old World Finches Estrillidae 


Jameson's Firefinch Lagonosticta rhodopareia 


Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala 


Blue Waxbill Uraeginthus angolensis 


Waxbill 


New World Finches Fringillidae 


Yellow-bellied Seedeater Sporophila nigricollis 


House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus 


Lesser Goldfinch Carduelis psaltria 


American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis 


Sparrows Emberizidae 


Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum 


Wood Warblers Parulidae 


Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia 


Yellow-throated Warbler (x2) Dendroica dominica 


Common Yellowthroat (x2) Geothlypis trichas 


American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla 


 

 

Daniel M. Brooks, Ph.D.
Curator of Vertebrate Zoology 

Cracid Specialist Group Chair

dbrooks AT hmns.org         Fax 
theHoustonMuseumofnaturalscience
One Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, TX  77030   

 

Biography: www.hmns.org/exhibits/curators.asp?r=1

Building the African Wildlife Hall: www.drdantime.netfirms.com/index.html

Cracid Specialist Group: www.cracids.org  

 

SECTION EDITORS NEEDED FOR GUIDELINES TO THE USE OF WILD BIRDS IN 
RESEARCH � The Ornithological Council is embarking on a major revision 
of its Guidelines to the Use of Wild Birds in Research. We are still in 
need of section editors to (a) review existing text to identify errors, 
omissions, and generally evaluate the adequacy of the text; (b) conduct 
or oversee the conduct of thorough literature reviews; and (c) draft new 
text. The sections for which editors are sought are: (a) trapping; (b) 
marking; (c) transport; (d) housing and captive breeding; (e) minor 
manipulative procedures; and (f) major manipulative procedures. The 
qualifications for this position include: a Ph.D in ornithology, 
zoology, wildlife biology, animal behavior, or a related field (students 
nearing completion of doctoral degrees will be considered); research 
experience with live birds; relevant publications in peer-reviewed 
scientific literature; and a good overview of ornithological research 
involving live birds and knowledge of the people conducting various 
kinds of research involving live birds. To apply, send a letter of 
interest to Jeanne Fair, Ph.D, 156 County Road 113, Santa Fe, NM 87506 
or by e-mail to jmfair AT global-conservation.org. Specify the section or 
sections for which you would like to be considered and describing your 
experience with the kinds of techniques described in that/those 
section(s). Honoraria are available. The anticipated duration of the 
project is 18 months.

-- 
Ellen Paul
Executive Director
The Ornithological Council
Mailto:ellen.paul AT verizon.net
"Providing Scientific Information about Birds"
Ornithological Council: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET

Jim,

Try Kevin McGraw: http://www.public.asu.edu/~kjmcgraw/

HTH,

Jeff

*******************************************
Dr. Jeffrey A. Stratford
Assistant Professor of Biology
376 Stark Learning Center
Wilkes University
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 USA
Tel.
Cell.
http://web.wilkes.edu/jeffrey.stratford/
*******************************************



-----Original Message-----
From: ORNITH-L: the scientific discussion of Ornithology on behalf of Ingold, 
James 

Sent: Mon 9/24/2007 9:39 AM
To: ORNITH-L AT LISTSERV.UARK.EDU
Subject: feather pigment extraction
 
Is there a simple method to extract carotenoid pigments from feathers.
I basically want to do a demonstration where I take a red feather put it
in a solvent and have the students see the red come out and a "white"
feather remain.  Is this even possible?
 
Please send your responses to me directly and not to the list!
 
Thanks in advance!
 
Jim Ingold
LSU in Shreveport
james.ingold AT lsus.edu

I'm very sorry to reply to the whole group on this, but I keep getting
bounce-backs when I reply to Clive directly...



Hi Clive

Kind thanks for this.  I actually tried responding the other day, but I
think it never went through...

For consistency in comparing trapped birds, we are only looking for
incidents of birds trapped in a single spider web rather than many.  Do
you have any observations that fit that description?  Here is an excerpt
from the methods we are using that will hopefully help to clarify
better:
"For consistency in comparing trapped birds, we only included cases of
birds trapped in a single spider web.  In some cases birds were found
flying encumbered with some silk strands attached to the wings or legs,
but these situations were not included in the tabularized data because
the bird was not trapped in a spider web.  Similarly, cases of birds
trapped in a concentration of webs compressed together were not included
because a single spider web was not involved."

Kind thanks and good things,
Dan



Daniel M. Brooks, Ph.D.
Curator of Vertebrate Zoology 

Cracid Specialist Group Chair

dbrooks AT hmns.org         Fax 
theHoustonMuseumofnaturalscience
One Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, TX  77030   

 

Biography: www.hmns.org/exhibits/curators.asp?r=1

Building the African Wildlife Hall:
www.drdantime.netfirms.com/index.html

Cracid Specialist Group: www.cracids.org


-----Original Message-----
From: ORNITH-L: the scientific discussion of Ornithology
[mailto:ORNITH-L AT LISTSERV.UARK.EDU] On Behalf Of clive ballow
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 8:39 AM
To: ORNITH-L AT LISTSERV.UARK.EDU
Subject: Gambia - birds caught in spider webs

Dan 

There are regular findings of 'small' birds being tangled up in Nephila
webs here where I live in The Gambia (my garden is currently full of
them). The largest bird being held of which I know of (in The Gambia) is
little bee-eater Merops pusillus. The bird trap webs usually occur when
there is a multiple webbing from multiple spiders effecting a mat over
several meters - a mist net effect. I have seen no evidence of any of
the birds being wrapped for eating though. I have seen this with very
large solitary locusts which probably weigh more than a small estrillid.
Non of this is publ. to my knowledge in the case of the Gambia. Next
time I will get a pix - the bee eater one was posted www somewhere some
few years ago.

best wishes

Clive R Barlow
Banjul
The Gambia  








  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dan Brooks 
  To: Bulletin Board for Ornithologists working with Neotropical Birds ;
ORNITH-L AT LISTSERV.UARK.EDU ; africanbirding AT yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Monday, September 17, 2007 9:29 AM
  Subject: {Disarmed} [AfricanBirding] birds caught in spider webs


  Greetings all

  We were inspecting damage from Hurricane Humberto on the town of High
  Island yesterday, and came upon a Catharus ustulatus caught in web of
  Golden Silk Orb Weaver (Nephila clavipes).

  Does anyone know of any published notes of birds trapped in spider
webs?
  I seem to recall seeing something for hummingbirds, but can't recall
  where...

  Thanks

  Dan Brooks

  Daniel M. Brooks, Ph.D.
  Curator of Vertebrate Zoology 

  Cracid Specialist Group Chair

  dbrooks AT hmns.org  Fax 
  theHoustonMuseumofnaturalscience
  One Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, TX 77030 

  Biography: www.hmns.org/exhibits/curators.asp?r=1

  Building the African Wildlife Hall:
  www.drdantime.netfirms.com/index.html

  Cracid Specialist Group: www.cracids.org  

  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



  __._,_.___ 
  Messages in this topic (1) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic 
  Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Members 
  *******************
  5000+ Photos of African birds - view and contribute your own!
  www.africanbirdclub.org

  Info on birding in every African country
  www.africanbirdclub.org/countries

  Need advice on books and CDs?
  www.africanbirdclub.org

  Enter the ABC/Birding Africa identification challenge
  http://www.africanbirdclub.org/countries/challenge.html 
   
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Daniel M. Brooks, Ph.D.
Curator of Vertebrate Zoology 

Cracid Specialist Group Chair

dbrooks AT hmns.org         Fax 
theHoustonMuseumofnaturalscience
One Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, TX  77030   

 

Biography: www.hmns.org/exhibits/curators.asp?r=1

Building the African Wildlife Hall:
www.drdantime.netfirms.com/index.html

Cracid Specialist Group: www.cracids.org


-----Original Message-----
From: ORNITH-L: the scientific discussion of Ornithology
[mailto:ORNITH-L AT LISTSERV.UARK.EDU] On Behalf Of clive ballow
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 8:39 AM
To: ORNITH-L AT LISTSERV.UARK.EDU
Subject: Gambia - birds caught in spider webs

Dan 

There are regular findings of 'small' birds being tangled up in Nephila
webs here where I live in The Gambia (my garden is currently full of
them). The largest bird being held of which I know of (in The Gambia) is
little bee-eater Merops pusillus. The bird trap webs usually occur when
there is a multiple webbing from multiple spiders effecting a mat over
several meters - a mist net effect. I have seen no evidence of any of
the birds being wrapped for eating though. I have seen this with very
large solitary locusts which probably weigh more than a small estrillid.
Non of this is publ. to my knowledge in the case of the Gambia. Next
time I will get a pix - the bee eater one was posted www somewhere some
few years ago.

best wishes

Clive R Barlow
Banjul
The Gambia  








  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dan Brooks 
  To: Bulletin Board for Ornithologists working with Neotropical Birds ;
ORNITH-L AT LISTSERV.UARK.EDU ; africanbirding AT yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Monday, September 17, 2007 9:29 AM
  Subject: {Disarmed} [AfricanBirding] birds caught in spider webs


  Greetings all

  We were inspecting damage from Hurricane Humberto on the town of High
  Island yesterday, and came upon a Catharus ustulatus caught in web of
  Golden Silk Orb Weaver (Nephila clavipes).

  Does anyone know of any published notes of birds trapped in spider
webs?
  I seem to recall seeing something for hummingbirds, but can't recall
  where...

  Thanks

  Dan Brooks

  Daniel M. Brooks, Ph.D.
  Curator of Vertebrate Zoology 

  Cracid Specialist Group Chair

  dbrooks AT hmns.org  Fax 
  theHoustonMuseumofnaturalscience
  One Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, TX 77030 

  Biography: www.hmns.org/exhibits/curators.asp?r=1

  Building the African Wildlife Hall:
  www.drdantime.netfirms.com/index.html

  Cracid Specialist Group: www.cracids.org  

  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



  __._,_.___ 
  Messages in this topic (1) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic 
  Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Members 
  *******************
  5000+ Photos of African birds - view and contribute your own!
  www.africanbirdclub.org

  Info on birding in every African country
  www.africanbirdclub.org/countries

  Need advice on books and CDs?
  www.africanbirdclub.org

  Enter the ABC/Birding Africa identification challenge
  http://www.africanbirdclub.org/countries/challenge.html 
   
  Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) 
  Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch
format to Traditional 
  Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe Recent
Activity
    a..  1New Members
  Visit Your Group 
  Y! Sports for TV
  Access it for free

  Get Fantasy Sports

  stats on your TV.

  Yahoo! Finance
  It's Now Personal

  Guides, news,

  advice & more.

  Stay in Shape
  on Yahoo! Groups

  Find a fitness Group

  & get motivated.
  . 
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My suggestion is that you use a Turaco feather and place the feather in
a basic solution like ammonia. The red color which is a copper based
pigment runs almost instantly.

Stephen P. Rogers (Mr.)
Collection Manager of Section of Birds
and Section of Amphibians and Reptiles
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh PA 
Phone: or 3258
Email: rogerss AT CarnegieMNH.org
http://www.carnegiemnh.org/birds/index.html
http://www.carnegiemnh.org/herps/index.htm
**************************************************
The views, opinions, and judgments expressed in this message 
are solely those of the author. The message contents have not 
been reviewed or approved by Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
***************************************************

-----Original Message-----
From: ORNITH-L: the scientific discussion of Ornithology
[mailto:ORNITH-L AT LISTSERV.UARK.EDU] On Behalf Of Ingold, James
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 9:40 AM
To: ORNITH-L AT LISTSERV.UARK.EDU
Subject: feather pigment extraction

Is there a simple method to extract carotenoid pigments from feathers.
I basically want to do a demonstration where I take a red feather put it
in a solvent and have the students see the red come out and a "white"
feather remain.  Is this even possible?
 
Please send your responses to me directly and not to the list!
 
Thanks in advance!
 
Jim Ingold
LSU in Shreveport
james.ingold AT lsus.edu

Apologies for cross-posting...

AUDUBON IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS PROGRAM

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position Title:  IBA Site Assessment Coordinator

Location: Audubon Science Office, Ivyland, Pennsylvania, 18974


Purpose of the Position:

The Important Bird Areas Program Site Assessment Coordinator will be 
responsible for leading Audubon's efforts in developing and implementing the 
approach to assessing the state, pressure, and response of Important Bird Areas 
in the U.S. Modeled after BirdLife International's IBA monitoring framework, 
Audubon's site assessment tools will allow for a unified approach to 
understanding the major threats, bird population status, habitat condition and 
significant conservation actions occurring at IBAs. This is an essential aspect 
of the Important Bird Areas Program, which is Audubon's centerpiece 
conservation program. This is an integral part of the organization's mission to 
conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and 
their habitats, for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological 
diversity. 


Essential Functions:

Lead an internal team of Audubon staff, from science, education, and field 
divisions in the development, testing, and implementation of the IBA Site 
Assessment approach. This will involve convening and coordinating meetings and 
workshops, developing and testing field protocols, assisting in the development 
of the relevant data storage and reporting tools, and assisting with the 
training of staff and volunteers. The IBA Site Assessment Coordinator will have 
a keen knowledge of bird conservation issues and partnerships throughout the 
U.S., will be skilled in basic bird monitoring techniques, habitat assessment 
techniques, and have an understanding of the threat and conservation action 
taxonomies as defined by the Conservation Measures Partnership and IUCN. 


Specifically this position will:

*         Work with Audubon staff to finalize the IBA Site Assessment protocol.
* Ensure that the IBA Site Assessment approach is aligned and integrates with 
BirdLife International's monitoring framework, Audubon at Home monitoring 
efforts, the Christmas Bird Count, the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve 
Network's site assessment approach, and other relevant state, federal, and 
conservation organization site assessment programs. 

* Be the point of contact for IBA Monitoring and Site Assessment within 
Audubon. 

* Develop an IBA Site Assessment implementation time table that includes the 
testing, finalization and release of the IBA Site Assessment approach. 

* Work with national and field staff to develop a schedule for conducting IBA 
site assessment training workshops for staff and volunteers throughout the 
Important Bird Areas Program (currently active in 48 states). 

* Work with state and national IBA staff to ensure that IBA Site Assessments 
are completed for all global IBAs within the next three years. 


Additional Functions:

Other activities that this position will be involved with include:

*         Assisting with the development of the Important Bird Areas Database.
* Assist with the development of web content for the IBA Program's Site 
Assessment. 

*         Data entry into the Important Bird Areas Database.
*         Other duties as assigned.

Measurement of Performance:  Annual Performance Management Plan (PMP)

Relationships:

Internal: Director of the Important Bird Areas Program as immediate supervisor. 
Strong interrelationships with national and state level IBA Program, science, 
education, and field staff. 


External: Extensive contact with IBA program partners this includes: Audubon 
chapter members, state and federal agencies, conservation organizations, 
donors, media, and volunteers. 


Equipment: Standard office equipment (i.e., phone, fax, copier, MS Windows 
operating system computer, etc.). Familiarity if not expertise with Microsoft 
Excel, Power Point Word and other desktop applications. Ability to use ArcView 
GIS software for map presentation. 


Qualifications:

Masters Degree or higher in conservation biology, wildlife management, 
ornithology, natural resources, or equivalent and at least three years work 
experience in the conservation profession or related field. Candidate should 
have a keen interest in and familiarity if not expertise with site-based 
conservation planning and implementation, bird conservation, avian monitoring, 
habitat characterization and threat assessment methodologies. 


The candidate should have exceptional public speaking, public presentation, and 
writing skills. Additionally, an understanding and appreciation for working for 
a decentralized organization where excellent communication skills are 
essential. Ability to organize and coordinate large projects, and an attention 
to details are essential. Willingness to travel and work weekends and nights as 
required. Fundraising experience is beneficial. 


Contact:

To apply send via e-mail a cover letter stating interest, curriculum vitae, and 
contact information for three references to: 


John Cecil
Director, Important Bird Areas Program
National Audubon Society

jcecil AT audubon.org x15

Is there a simple method to extract carotenoid pigments from feathers.
I basically want to do a demonstration where I take a red feather put it
in a solvent and have the students see the red come out and a "white"
feather remain.  Is this even possible?
 
Please send your responses to me directly and not to the list!
 
Thanks in advance!
 
Jim Ingold
LSU in Shreveport
james.ingold AT lsus.edu

Dear Dan

I'm not sure if Ian Riddell has responded to you directly,
but in case he hasn't, he wrote a note in Honeyguide (the
journal of BirdLife Zimbabwe) in 2001 (HG. 47(2): 197-198),
summarising the incidences of birds caught in spider's webs
put on record by Zimbabwean birdwatchers. Does the Houston
Museum of Natural Science receive Honeyguide? If not, I am
sure BirdLife Zimbabwe would appreciate your membership
(and financial support); they can be contacted at
birds AT zol.co.zw. (I have scanned and emailed the article
separately.) Interestingly in the same issue, there are a
couple of notes on birds and chameleons. 

Kind regards

Anthony Cizek  



On Mon, 17 Sep 2007 11:29:
 "Dan Brooks"  wrote:
> Greetings all
> 
>  
> 
> We were inspecting damage from Hurricane Humberto on the
> town of High
> Island yesterday, and came upon a Catharus ustulatus
> caught in web of
> Golden Silk Orb Weaver (Nephila clavipes).
> 
>  
> 
> Does anyone know of any published notes of birds trapped
> in spider webs?
> I seem to recall seeing something for hummingbirds, but
> can't recall
> where...
> 
>  
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Dan Brooks
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> Daniel M. Brooks, Ph.D.
> Curator of Vertebrate Zoology 
> 
> Cracid Specialist Group Chair
> 
> dbrooks AT hmns.org         Fax (713)
> 
> theHoustonMuseumofnaturalscience
> One Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, TX  77030   
> 
>  
> 
> Biography: www.hmns.org/exhibits/curators.asp?r=1
> 
> Building the African Wildlife Hall:
> www.drdantime.netfirms.com/index.html
> 
> Cracid Specialist Group: www.cracids.org
>  
> 
>  
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 


Want a more affordable home loan?
Get it with First National Bank!
Save BIG on Costs.
You could Win R5000

http://www.swiftsms.co.za/swiftT/track.asp?e=*em*&cid=152&u=8&tid=1916

Dan 

There are regular findings of 'small' birds being tangled up in Nephila webs 
here where I live in The Gambia (my garden is currently full of them). The 
largest bird being held of which I know of (in The Gambia) is little bee-eater 
Merops pusillus. The bird trap webs usually occur when there is a multiple 
webbing from multiple spiders effecting a mat over several meters - a mist net 
effect. I have seen no evidence of any of the birds being wrapped for eating 
though. I have seen this with very large solitary locusts which probably weigh 
more than a small estrillid. Non of this is publ. to my knowledge in the case 
of the Gambia. Next time I will get a pix - the bee eater one was posted www 
somewhere some few years ago. 


best wishes

Clive R Barlow
Banjul
The Gambia  








  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dan Brooks 
 To: Bulletin Board for Ornithologists working with Neotropical Birds ; 
ORNITH-L AT LISTSERV.UARK.EDU ; africanbirding AT yahoogroups.com 

  Sent: Monday, September 17, 2007 9:29 AM
  Subject: {Disarmed} [AfricanBirding] birds caught in spider webs


  Greetings all

  We were inspecting damage from Hurricane Humberto on the town of High
  Island yesterday, and came upon a Catharus ustulatus caught in web of
  Golden Silk Orb Weaver (Nephila clavipes).

  Does anyone know of any published notes of birds trapped in spider webs?
  I seem to recall seeing something for hummingbirds, but can't recall
  where...

  Thanks

  Dan Brooks

  Daniel M. Brooks, Ph.D.
  Curator of Vertebrate Zoology 

  Cracid Specialist Group Chair

  dbrooks AT hmns.org  Fax 
  theHoustonMuseumofnaturalscience
  One Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, TX 77030 

  Biography: www.hmns.org/exhibits/curators.asp?r=1

  Building the African Wildlife Hall:
  www.drdantime.netfirms.com/index.html

  Cracid Specialist Group: www.cracids.org  

  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



  __._,_.___ 
  Messages in this topic (1) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic 
  Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Members 
  *******************
  5000+ Photos of African birds - view and contribute your own!
  www.africanbirdclub.org

  Info on birding in every African country
  www.africanbirdclub.org/countries

  Need advice on books and CDs?
  www.africanbirdclub.org

  Enter the ABC/Birding Africa identification challenge
  http://www.africanbirdclub.org/countries/challenge.html 
   
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http://www.netpage.info

Two records of Goldcrests (Regulus regulus) being trapped in spiders' 
webs have been published in the UK journal 'British Birds'.

The first, in 1971, was picked up fluttering on the ground with its toes 
bound tightly together by spider silk. The person who found it cut it 
free and released it apparently unharmed.

The second, in 1981, involved a bird flying into a spider's web when 
being driven in a Heligoland trap and becoming spread-eagled on the orb 
web. It was given time to free itself, but couldn't, every flap making 
it become more and more entangled, so that it had to be released by the 
bird trapper.

Malcolm


In message , Dan 
Brooks  writes
>Greetings all
>
>
>
>We were inspecting damage from Hurricane Humberto on the town of High
>Island yesterday, and came upon a Catharus ustulatus caught in web of
>Golden Silk Orb Weaver (Nephila clavipes).
>
>
>
>Does anyone know of any published notes of birds trapped in spider webs?
>I seem to recall seeing something for hummingbirds, but can't recall
>where...
>
>
>
>Thanks
>
>Dan Brooks
>
>
>
>
>
>Daniel M. Brooks, Ph.D.
>Curator of Vertebrate Zoology
>
>Cracid Specialist Group Chair
>
>dbrooks AT hmns.org         Fax 
>theHoustonMuseumofnaturalscience
>One Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, TX  77030
>
>
>
>Biography: www.hmns.org/exhibits/curators.asp?r=1
>
>Building the African Wildlife Hall:
>www.drdantime.netfirms.com/index.html
>
>Cracid Specialist Group: www.cracids.org 
>
>
>

-- 
Malcolm

A recently published note in Florida Field Naturalist on the subject:
 
Cox, J. A., and C. C. Nesmith. 2007. Acadian Flycatcher caught in the web of a 
golden silk orb-weaver. Florida Field Naturalist 35(2):46-48. 

 
 
James W. Tucker, Jr.
Archbold Biological Station
APAFR Field Station
475 Easy Street
Avon Park, FL  33825
Phone: 
Email:  jtucker AT archbold-station.org
Web Page:  http://www.archbold-station.org/abs/staff/jtucker/jtucker.htm

________________________________

From: ORNITH-L: the scientific discussion of Ornithology on behalf of Dan 
Brooks 

Sent: Thu 9/20/2007 10:10 AM
To: ORNITH-L AT LISTSERV.UARK.EDU
Subject: birds caught in spider webs



Greetings all



We were inspecting damage from Hurricane Humberto on the town of High
Island yesterday, and came upon a Catharus ustulatus caught in web of
Golden Silk Orb Weaver (Nephila clavipes).



Does anyone know of any published notes of birds trapped in spider webs?
I seem to recall seeing something for hummingbirds, but can't recall
where...



Thanks

Dan Brooks





Daniel M. Brooks, Ph.D.
Curator of Vertebrate Zoology

Cracid Specialist Group Chair

dbrooks AT hmns.org         Fax 
theHoustonMuseumofnaturalscience
One Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, TX  77030  



Biography: www.hmns.org/exhibits/curators.asp?r=1

Building the African Wildlife Hall:
www.drdantime.netfirms.com/index.html

Cracid Specialist Group: www.cracids.org 

Hi Peter

Kind thanks for your post.  I have many questions!

What type of waxbill?
Was the bird wrapped in the spider's silk? 
Was the bird dead, or released by you, or did it free itself?

Kind thanks!
dan


Daniel M. Brooks, Ph.D.
Curator of Vertebrate Zoology 

Cracid Specialist Group Chair

dbrooks AT hmns.org         Fax 
theHoustonMuseumofnaturalscience
One Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, TX  77030   

 

Biography: www.hmns.org/exhibits/curators.asp?r=1

Building the African Wildlife Hall:
www.drdantime.netfirms.com/index.html

Cracid Specialist Group: www.cracids.org


-----Original Message-----
From: ORNITH-L: the scientific discussion of Ornithology
[mailto:ORNITH-L AT LISTSERV.UARK.EDU] On Behalf Of peter usher
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 9:12 AM
To: ORNITH-L AT LISTSERV.UARK.EDU
Subject: BIRDS IN WEBS

My earlier response to the queries about the incidence of birds caught
in
spider's webs included photographs taken in Nairobi last year of a
waxbill
trapped in a gold spotted silk spider web. Your server rejected the
photos.
Should you wish to see the photos of bird and spider, then contact me on
this email

Sincerely

Peter Usher

Hi Dan 
 
Try: Sakai, Walter H. 2007. Long-billed Hermit (Phaethornis superciliosus) 
caught in Golden Orb-spider (Nephilia clavipes) Web. Ornitologia Neotropical. 

 
It is available PDF on my homepage.
 
Walt
 
Walter H. Sakai 
Professor of Biology, Life Sciences Dept, Santa Monica College, 1900 Pico Blvd, 
Santa Monica, CA  

Editor, Western Bird Banding Association, North American Bird Bander
Research Associate, Entomology Section, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles 
Co. 

Tele: (with voice mail); FAX:
emails: sakai_walter AT smc.edu; DanauSakai AT aol.com
homepage: http://homepage.smc.edu/sakai_walter/
Federal Bird Banding Permit No. 22030
"Migrate with the Monarchs"
"The best way to learn something is to teach it."

________________________________

From: ORNITH-L: the scientific discussion of Ornithology on behalf of Dan 
Brooks 

Sent: Thu 9/20/2007 7:10 AM
To: ORNITH-L AT LISTSERV.UARK.EDU
Subject: birds caught in spider webs



Greetings all



We were inspecting damage from Hurricane Humberto on the town of High
Island yesterday, and came upon a Catharus ustulatus caught in web of
Golden Silk Orb Weaver (Nephila clavipes).



Does anyone know of any published notes of birds trapped in spider webs?
I seem to recall seeing something for hummingbirds, but can't recall
where...



Thanks

Dan Brooks





Daniel M. Brooks, Ph.D.
Curator of Vertebrate Zoology

Cracid Specialist Group Chair

dbrooks AT hmns.org         Fax 
theHoustonMuseumofnaturalscience
One Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, TX  77030  



Biography: www.hmns.org/exhibits/curators.asp?r=1

Building the African Wildlife Hall:
www.drdantime.netfirms.com/index.html

Cracid Specialist Group: www.cracids.org 

Good morning Dan et al.,
 
The May 2007 issue of _Florida Field Naturalist_ contains a note (with a 
photograph) by Jim Cox and Katy NeSmith of an Acadian Flycatcher caught in a 
Golden Silk Orb-weaver (_Nephila clavipes_) web at Tallahassee, FL 23 Sep 2006. 

 
 
Best regards,
 
Bill Pranty
Bayonet Point, Florida

 From today's New York Times.
-- 
Ellen Paul
Executive Director
The Ornithological Council
Mailto:ellen.paul AT verizon.net
"Providing Scientific Information about Birds"
Ornithological Council: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET


September 18, 2007
Basics


  Songs and Sojourns of the Season

By NATALIE ANGIER 

 


BOMBAY HOOK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, Del. � You can learn a lot by 
bird-watching with an ornithologist, and not just about birds. As 
Russell Greenberg, head of the migratory bird center at the 
Smithsonian�s National Zoological Park, gazed through powerful 
binoculars at a nondescript fence, a raspy chack-chack-chack sound like 
that of a cheap wind-up toy clattered off to the left.

Dr. Greenberg, 54, a tall, bearded, wryly reserved man with a lifelong 
passion for birds, instantly identified the caller as a clapper rail, 
and though the bird remained stubbornly out of view, Dr. Greenberg 
seized the opportunity to share the surprising back story for a beloved 
clich�.

�You know the old saying that so-and-so is �as thin as a rail?� � he 
asked. �Well, that comes from a reference to the bird.� The body of a 
rail, he explained, is �laterally compressed,� and looks from some 
angles to be almost two-dimensional.

And you know the saying, �This place is for the birds,�� as in, �What a 
dump�? We spent the day whizzing past dappled lakes and lush grasses in 
the refuge here in Smyrna, Del., stopping instead at the bleakest, 
barest, beige-brownest scratchpads of land we could find. As Dr. 
Greenberg had predicted, it was around drying mudholes and plowed-up sod 
farms that we would see a rich variety of migratory shorebirds: plovers 
with slick, licorice-jelly-bean bellies; greater yellowlegs sandpipers 
tottering daintily on their cracked-pencil limbs; avocets with their 
dusky rouge heads and their absurdly elongated, upcurling bills; and 
killdeer, named for the sound of their call and famed for the way they 
can fake a broken wing to lure would-be predators away from their nests.

The birds were all down in the dumps poking and swishing for prey of 
their own � insects, worms, crustaceans, anything to help replenish 
their fat stores for the next leg of their long, possibly 
transequatorial flight.

Now is the time of the great fall migrations, and in truth the whole 
world seems built for birds on the wing. Thousands of species of 
shorebirds, songbirds, raptors and water fowl are flying in successive 
waves that began last July and will continue through early November, as 
they abandon summer breeding grounds grown cold in favor of more clement 
winter homes down south. For some birds, that translocation may be 
nothing more than a move from New Jersey to Georgia. For others, like 
some sandpipers and plovers, migration means flying from as far north as 
the Arctic circle to the tip of Argentina, roughly 10,000 miles away.

Guided by the Earth�s magnetic field, starlight and other biocompasses 
that scientists have yet to fully divine, the birds wheel over land and 
sea, alighting opportunistically en route to rest, preen and refuel. And 
while shorebirds may seek fleeting refuge in desolate marshes and flats, 
songbirds dive for the woods or their proxy. As one of the larger green 
patches along the Eastern seaboard, Central Park in Manhattan at the 
moment serves as a grand bed-and-breakfast for an ever-shifting registry 
of some 100 or more species of migrating songbirds. The guests rest by 
day, and, though birds as a rule are diurnally tuned, they do the great 
bulk of their migrating at night, when winds tend to be gentle and the 
risk of in-flight predation is low. If you look at the moon through 
binoculars you might well see their silhouettes flitting past. And if 
you listen, you can hear them calling, each species twittering a road 
song all its own. Scientists only lately have begun deciphering these 
migratory calls and using them to map avian flight paths and numbers.

�The calls are very different from a bird�s normal songs,� said Irby 
Lovette, associate professor of evolutionary biology at Cornell 
University 

 

in Ithaca, N.Y. They are high-pitched and clipped, each burst just a 
fraction of a second, and it took years for Dr. Lovette�s colleagues 
William Evans and Andrew Farnsworth to come up with what has been called 
�the Rosetta Stone of night calls,� a link between the vocalizations and 
the particular syrinxes behind them. Researchers are still not sure what 
the calls are for, but suspect that they tell a bird what its 
night-blinded eyes cannot: who�s out there, where are they headed, and 
should I follow their lead?

At the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, bristling arrays of 
microphones eavesdrop on the nocturnal bird banter and so keep a tally 
of aerial traffic. The numbers are perpetually astonishing.

�Last night,� Miyoko Chu, director of publications at the lab, told me 
on Sept. 10, �a million Swainson�s thrushes� flew over central New York.

Not all birds migrate, but the capacity to migrate �is an ancient, 
ancient trait,� said Dr. Lovette, and it may well date back to the 
common ancestor of all birds, if not earlier. It is also a very plastic 
trait, and different bird species are known to have lost and regained 
the itinerant spirit multiple times, depending on the climate and 
prevailing real estate options.

Birds migrate because they can, Dr. Greenberg said. They can fly to 
where the food is, to take advantage of the temperate zone�s great 
vernal pulses of insects and seeds, which they then turn into eggs, and 
stuff down the throats of their young. As a result, the clutch size of 
migrating birds is generally two or three times that of similar species 
based year-round in the tropics, where competition for every calorie is 
stiff.

Migration is without question a difficult business, demanding that a 
bird put on massive fat stores to power its long nights of flight. 
Before departing New England for South America, for example, a Blackpoll 
warbler, which normally weighs about 11 grams (the equivalent of a 
half-dollar coin) will in a matter of days at least double its body 
mass. If you were to take one of these fluffy tublets and blow on its 
feathers, said Dr. Lovette, you would see bumps of white fat barely held 
in check by its skin.

Nevertheless, birds are exquisitely efficient flying machines. A bird�s 
heart is four-chambered, like ours, but as a proportion of its body 
weight is six times bigger than ours. A bird�s respiratory system, its 
lungs and accessory air sacs, takes up 20 percent of its volume, 
compared with 5 percent for human lungs. As Mary Deinlein of the 
National Zoo 

 

has observed, �If a Blackpoll warbler were burning gasoline instead of 
reserves of body fat, it could boast of getting 720,000 miles to the 
gallon.�

The fat in a Snickers bar, she added, would subsidize a warbler�s flight 
from summer home to winter home and halfway back. Throw in a box of Milk 
Duds and a 3 Musketeers, and even a rail may never again be called thin.

My earlier response to the queries about the incidence of birds caught in
spider's webs included photographs taken in Nairobi last year of a waxbill
trapped in a gold spotted silk spider web. Your server rejected the photos.
Should you wish to see the photos of bird and spider, then contact me on
this email

Sincerely

Peter Usher

This subject has been discussed in Australia a couple (or thereabouts) years 
ago. I have observed a deceased desiccated Grey-headed Honeyeater caught in 
spider web in the Northern Territory. There are other similar records available 
in the Birding-Aus archives. 


Philip Veerman
24 Castley Circuit
KAMBAH   ACT  2902
Australia

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dan Brooks 
 To: Bulletin Board for Ornithologists working with Neotropical Birds ; 
ORNITH-L AT LISTSERV.UARK.EDU ; africanbirding AT yahoogroups.com 

  Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 2:29 AM
  Subject: [AfricanBirding] birds caught in spider webs


  Greetings all

  We were inspecting damage from Hurricane Humberto on the town of High
  Island yesterday, and came upon a Catharus ustulatus caught in web of
  Golden Silk Orb Weaver (Nephila clavipes).

  Does anyone know of any published notes of birds trapped in spider webs?
  I seem to recall seeing something for hummingbirds, but can't recall
  where...

  Thanks

  Dan Brooks

  Daniel M. Brooks, Ph.D.
  Curator of Vertebrate Zoology 

  Cracid Specialist Group Chair

  dbrooks AT hmns.org  Fax 
  theHoustonMuseumofnaturalscience
  One Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, TX 77030 

  Biography: www.hmns.org/exhibits/curators.asp?r=1

  Building the African Wildlife Hall:
  www.drdantime.netfirms.com/index.html

  Cracid Specialist Group: www.cracids.org  

  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



  __._,_.___ 
  Messages in this topic (1) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic 
  Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Members 
  *******************
  5000+ Photos of African birds - view and contribute your own!
  www.africanbirdclub.org

  Info on birding in every African country
  www.africanbirdclub.org/countries

  Need advice on books and CDs?
  www.africanbirdclub.org

  Enter the ABC/Birding Africa identification challenge
  http://www.africanbirdclub.org/countries/challenge.html 
   
  Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) 
 Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to 
Traditional 

  Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe Recent Activity
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  Visit Your Group 
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  Access it for free

  Get Fantasy Sports

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  Find a fitness Group

  & get motivated.
  . 
  __,_._,___

Greetings all

 

We were inspecting damage from Hurricane Humberto on the town of High
Island yesterday, and came upon a Catharus ustulatus caught in web of
Golden Silk Orb Weaver (Nephila clavipes).

 

Does anyone know of any published notes of birds trapped in spider webs?
I seem to recall seeing something for hummingbirds, but can't recall
where...

 

Thanks

Dan Brooks

 

 

Daniel M. Brooks, Ph.D.
Curator of Vertebrate Zoology 

Cracid Specialist Group Chair

dbrooks AT hmns.org         Fax 
theHoustonMuseumofnaturalscience
One Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, TX  77030   

 

Biography: www.hmns.org/exhibits/curators.asp?r=1

Building the African Wildlife Hall:
www.drdantime.netfirms.com/index.html

Cracid Specialist Group: www.cracids.org  

 

Thanks very much for all the swift useful responses...
summarizing for those interested, P.pelagicus and P.urile are currently 
recognized as separate sister taxa and A.giganteus is an old synonym for 
A.guarauna... 

cheers, Diego.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Diego Calderon-F. 
  To: ORNITH-L 
  Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 12:00 PM
  Subject: more.. but Aramus - Re: Phalacrocorax (pelagicus and urile) 


  more.. but Aramus - 

  Hello again.. asking the same but for Aramus guarauna and A.giganteus..
  thanks a ton!, Diego.
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Diego Calderon-F. 
    To: ORNITH-L 
    Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 11:51 AM
    Subject: Phalacrocorax (pelagicus and urile) 


 List members, I was wondering about this while working on a manuscript, and I 
don't have handy a good resource to check: Are Phalacrocorax pelagicus and 
P.urile nowadays treated as single taxa or have they been lumped keeping only 
P.pelagicus...?? 

 .. any good soul that can drop me a soon email confirming this or pointing a 
reference would be much appreciated!.. 

    saludos, Diego.

    Diego Calderon-Franco
 Visiting Researcher - UCD School of Biology & Environmental Science, Dublin, 
Ireland. 

 Co-editor Boletin SAO - Sociedad Antioque�a de Ornitologia, Medellin, 
Colombia. 

    ..........................
    Postal Address:
    Gareth Dyke [for Diego Calderon]
    School of Biology & Environmental Science
    UCD Science and Education Research Center (West)
    University College Dublin
    Belfield Dublin 4 Ireland
    
    ..........................
    Postal Address in Colombia:
    Diego Calderon-Franco
    Instituto de Biologia
    Universidad de Antioquia
    Apartado Aereo 1226
    Medell�n, Colombia
    ..........................
    �I took much pleasure in watching the habits of birds,
    and even made notes on the subject. In my simplicity
    I remember wondering why every gentleman did not
    become an ornithologist�
    Darwin
    ..........................
    YA VI� EL NUEVO N�MERO DEL BOLETIN SAO?
    DID YOU ALREADY SEE THE LAST ISSUE OF BOLETIN SAO?
    http://www.sao.org.co/publicaciones/boletinsao/Boletin%20sao.htm

Johnsgard (1993 - Cormorants, Darters and Pelicans of the World) treats them 
separately...but says "There can be no doubt that the pelagic and red-faced 
shags are very close evolutionary relatives.....) p. 297 


Cheers,

Chip 


D.V. Chip Weseloh, Ph.D.
Advisor, Wildlife Toxicology
Canadian Wildlife Service - Ontario 
Environment Canada
4905 Dufferin St.
Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4
Phone-
Fax-
Cell-
chip.weseloh AT ec.gc.ca

A poor day in the field is better than a good day in the office ! 

-----Original Message-----
From: ORNITH-L: the scientific discussion of Ornithology 
[mailto:ORNITH-L AT LISTSERV.UARK.EDU] On Behalf Of Diego Calderon-F. 

Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 9:23 AM
To: ORNITH-L AT LISTSERV.UARK.EDU
Subject: Phalacrocorax (pelagicus and urile)
Importance: High

List members, I was wondering about this while working on a manuscript, and I 
don't have handy a good resource to check: Are Phalacrocorax pelagicus and 
P.urile nowadays treated as single taxa or have they been lumped keeping only 
P.pelagicus...?? 

. any good soul that can drop me a soon email confirming this or pointing a 
reference would be much appreciated!.. 

saludos, Diego.

Diego Calderon-Franco
Visiting Researcher - UCD School of Biology & Environmental Science, Dublin, 
Ireland. 

Co-editor Boletin SAO - Sociedad Antioque�a de Ornitologia, Medellin, Colombia.
.........................
Postal Address:
Gareth Dyke [for Diego Calderon]
School of Biology & Environmental Science UCD Science and Education Research 
Center (West) University College Dublin Belfield Dublin 4 Ireland 


.........................
Postal Address in Colombia:
Diego Calderon-Franco
Instituto de Biologia
Universidad de Antioquia
Apartado Aereo 1226
Medell�n, Colombia
.........................
�I took much pleasure in watching the habits of birds, and even made notes on 
the subject. In my simplicity I remember wondering why every gentleman did not 
become an ornithologist� Darwin ......................... 

YA VI� EL NUEVO N�MERO DEL BOLETIN SAO?
DID YOU ALREADY SEE THE LAST ISSUE OF BOLETIN SAO?
http://www.sao.org.co/publicaciones/boletinsao/Boletin%20sao.htm

List members, I was wondering about this while working on a manuscript, and I 
don't have handy a good resource to check: Are Phalacrocorax pelagicus and 
P.urile nowadays treated as single taxa or have they been lumped keeping only 
P.pelagicus...?? 

. any good soul that can drop me a soon email confirming this or pointing a 
reference would be much appreciated!.. 

saludos, Diego.

Diego Calderon-Franco
Visiting Researcher - UCD School of Biology & Environmental Science, Dublin, 
Ireland. 

Co-editor Boletin SAO - Sociedad Antioque�a de Ornitologia, Medellin, Colombia.
.........................
Postal Address:
Gareth Dyke [for Diego Calderon]
School of Biology & Environmental Science
UCD Science and Education Research Center (West)
University College Dublin
Belfield Dublin 4 Ireland

.........................
Postal Address in Colombia:
Diego Calderon-Franco
Instituto de Biologia
Universidad de Antioquia
Apartado Aereo 1226
Medell�n, Colombia
.........................
�I took much pleasure in watching the habits of birds,
and even made notes on the subject. In my simplicity
I remember wondering why every gentleman did not
become an ornithologist�
Darwin
.........................
YA VI� EL NUEVO N�MERO DEL BOLETIN SAO?
DID YOU ALREADY SEE THE LAST ISSUE OF BOLETIN SAO?
http://www.sao.org.co/publicaciones/boletinsao/Boletin%20sao.htm

more.. but Aramus - 

Hello again.. asking the same but for Aramus guarauna and A.giganteus..
thanks a ton!, Diego.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Diego Calderon-F. 
  To: ORNITH-L 
  Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 11:51 AM
  Subject: Phalacrocorax (pelagicus and urile) 


 List members, I was wondering about this while working on a manuscript, and I 
don't have handy a good resource to check: Are Phalacrocorax pelagicus and 
P.urile nowadays treated as single taxa or have they been lumped keeping only 
P.pelagicus...?? 

 .. any good soul that can drop me a soon email confirming this or pointing a 
reference would be much appreciated!.. 

  saludos, Diego.

  Diego Calderon-Franco
 Visiting Researcher - UCD School of Biology & Environmental Science, Dublin, 
Ireland. 

 Co-editor Boletin SAO - Sociedad Antioque�a de Ornitologia, Medellin, 
Colombia. 

  ..........................
  Postal Address:
  Gareth Dyke [for Diego Calderon]
  School of Biology & Environmental Science
  UCD Science and Education Research Center (West)
  University College Dublin
  Belfield Dublin 4 Ireland
  
  ..........................
  Postal Address in Colombia:
  Diego Calderon-Franco
  Instituto de Biologia
  Universidad de Antioquia
  Apartado Aereo 1226
  Medell�n, Colombia
  ..........................
  �I took much pleasure in watching the habits of birds,
  and even made notes on the subject. In my simplicity
  I remember wondering why every gentleman did not
  become an ornithologist�
  Darwin
  ..........................
  YA VI� EL NUEVO N�MERO DEL BOLETIN SAO?
  DID YOU ALREADY SEE THE LAST ISSUE OF BOLETIN SAO?
  http://www.sao.org.co/publicaciones/boletinsao/Boletin%20sao.htm

Apreciados todos (english below), 

Cordial saludo.

Nos complace informarles que esta disponible un nuevo n�mero del Bolet�n SAO 
publicado por la Sociedad Antioque�a de Ornitolog�a. El volumen XVII (1) 
contiene 1 comentario, 6 art�culos principales, 5 notas cortas y 8 
ilustraciones/fotograf�as. Hemos cambiado un poco la presentaci�n de la p�gina 
Web y tambi�n de los PDF, que ahora son m�s compactos y con otro tipo de 
dise�o. Otra novedad es que hemos protegido el contenido del Bolet�n SAO con 
una licencia de Creative Commons, esto es simplemente la forma de proteger las 
fotograf�as e ilustraciones y dem�s contenido para uso comercial u econ�mico; 
los art�culos pueden ser distribuidos libremente pero su contenido no puede ser 
modificado. Ya entonces entender�n las causas de nuestro retraso de casi un mes 
largo, algo que esperamos no vuelva a pasar en el mediano plazo, ya que nuestro 
fin es garantizar dos n�meros al a�o con contenidos sencillos pero interesantes 
para la comunidad ornitol�gica nacional y de otros pa�ses del mundo. 

  
Como saben, encuentrenos en:

http://www.sao.org.co/publicaciones/boletinsao/Boletin%20sao.htm 

Atentamente,


Paulo C. Pulgar�n-R & Diego Calder�n Franco.
Editores del Bolet�n SAO
Medell�n-Colombia.
 -----------
Dear all,

It is a pleasure to inform you that a new issue of the Bolet�n SAO, published 
by the Sociedad Antioque�a de Ornitolog�a, is available and free online. The 
volume XVII (1) contains 1 comment, 6 main papers, 5 short notes, and 8 
pictures and illustrations papers. We have done some changes in the design of 
the Web page and also PDF; they are more compact and look different. Another 
point is that we have protected the material of the Bolet�n SAO with a Creative 
Commons license. You are able to copy and distribute as always, but not to use 
the material for economic or commercial proposes. We are 1 month delayed with 
the publication of the bulletin and the reason was the inclusion of the new 
changes. However we guarantee that no more delays are going happened in the 
middle term, our main aim is to publish 2 issues per year with modest content 
for the local and international community. Please let us know your opinions on 
the Web page but also to the contents. 

Thank you so much for all the people involved with the Bolet�n SAO. 

Please find us: 
http://www.sao.org.co/publicaciones/boletinsao/Boletin%20sao.htm 

Sincerely,

Paulo C. Pulgar�n-R & Diego Calder�n Franco.
Bolet�n SAO editors.
Medell�n-Colombia.

PLEASE CIRCULATE:

 

Assistant Director, International Program

Position Description

September 2007

 

American Bird Conservancy (ABC), an international bird conservation
organization, has an opening for a full-time Assistant Director for the
International Program based in The Plains, Virginia to develop and implement
bird conservation programs in Latin American.  

 

The position works with other International program staff in developing and
coordinating ABC's field conservation projects focused on threatened
species, priority neotropical migrants, and Alliance for Zero Extinction
sites across Latin America and the Caribbean.  The position is supervised by
ABC's International Program Director to develop projects, establish
conservation plans, and develop partnerships across the region for the
advancement of bird conservation. The position plays a major role in seeking
and obtaining funding for projects and requires excellent organizational and
writing skills and a broad knowledge of ABC's mission, objectives, and
programs.  

 

MAJOR DUTIES:

1)            Develop and implement field conservation projects. 

2)            Foster partnerships for bird conservation across Latin
America.

3)            Undertake field visits to assess ongoing conservation
projects.

4)            Develop detailed conservation plans for international
projects.

5)            Seek and obtain funding for projects.

6)            Communicate with ABC staff about International programs,
produce articles for publicity and maintain website.

 

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

The successful candidate will have:  

1.            A degree in biological or environmental sciences, or
combination of education and experience.

2.            At least two years experience in conservation and/or research
in Latin American and/or Caribbean.

3.            Extensive knowledge of Neotropical migrant and resident birds
preferred.

4.            Fluency in both English and Spanish is required. 

5.            Excellent writing, communication, and organizational skills.

6.            Ability and willingness to travel.

7.            Proficiency with computers and software.

8.            Ability to work efficiently and accurately, while adhering to
deadlines.

9.            Belief in and dedication to American Bird Conservancy's
conservation mission.

10.          Good social and organizational skills and high energy and
enthusiasm. 

 

SALARY: To be determined based on experience.

 

Send letter, resume, and references to Merrie Morrison, mmorr AT abcbirds.org
by 24 September 2007.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON IRIDESCENT COLORATION

The School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University is pleased to
announce an integrative 4-day conference on iridescent colors in nature,
entitled 'Iridescence: More than Meets the Eye'.  This is a graduate student
initiated and organized conference that aims to connect diverse groups of
researchers to catalyze cross-disciplinary discussions on iridescent
coloration in nature, identify new avenues of research, and explore the
potential for iridescence to provide novel insights in fields as divergent
as materials science, sexual selection and primary science education. We
invite you to join us for this exciting event.

Conference program:

Each day of the conference will involve talks from invited speakers (see
list below), oral and poster presentations from conference participants, and
discussions centered on the four broad topics listed below.

Day 1: Mechanisms and Measurement
Day 2: Development
Day 3: Evolution
Day 4: Education and Outreach

We are pleased to announce that the following invited speakers have
confirmed their participation: Dr. Stephanie Doucet, Dr. Helen Ghiradella,
Dr. Roger Hanlon, Dr. Darrell Kemp, Dr. Kevin McGraw, Dr. Daniel Osorio, Dr.
Richard Prum, Dr. Ronald Rutowski, Dr. Matthew Shawkey, Dr. Mohan
Srinivasarao, Dr. Doekele Stavenga, Dr. Peter Vukusic

Conference dates: February 6-9th, 2008

Student travel grant deadline: October 19th, 2007

Abstract submission deadline: October 26th, 2007
Early registration is FREE and will be available until November 16th, 2007.

Late registration ($50 fee) will run from November 17th through February 6th.

For more information, please visit our website:
http://sols.asu.edu/rti/frontiers/iridescence

Feel free to contact the conference organizers with any questions at
animalcoloration AT gmail.com or contact Matt Toomey at Matthew.Toomey AT
asu.edu or .

The Board of Directors of the Ornithological Council extends its deepest 
sympathies to Irene Pepperberg on the sudden and tragic loss of her 
famous, brilliant research companion and beloved friend, Alex, who died 
suddenly at the age of 31 on 7 September 2007. Alex came into the life 
of Dr. Pepperberg, a longtime OC Board Member representing the Cooper 
Ornithological Society, from a pet shop in 1977 and quickly took over 
her life by teaching her all he knew about cognition and communication. 
Alex  achieved fame on the little screen by upstaging Alan Alda in an 
episode of Scientific American Frontiers on PBS. The front page of the 
New York Times Science Times featured Alex in 1999. That same year, Dr. 
Pepperberg published /The Alex Studies/, a comprehensive review of her 
decades of learning about learning from Alex.  Many other television 
appearances and newspaper articles followed. What Alex taught Dr. 
Pepperberg about cognition and communication has been applied to 
therapies to help children with learning disabilities.

Dr. Pepperberg continues her work with Alex's two avian companions, 
Griffin and Wart.

To help support this research, please consider making a donation in 
Alex's memory to

The Alex Foundation
c/o Dr. Irene Pepperberg
]Department of Psychology/MS-062
415 South Street,  Brandeis University
Waltham, MA 02454.

-- 
Ellen Paul
Executive Director
The Ornithological Council
Mailto:ellen.paul AT verizon.net
"Providing Scientific Information about Birds"
Ornithological Council: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET