Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from Ornithology > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Thursday, February 4 at 07:42 AM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Firespot,©Tony Disley

4 Feb AQUATIC COLONIAL BIRD SURVEYORS needed [Ellen Paul ] 29 Jan IXth Neotropical Ornithological Congress and VIIIth National Ornithological Congress. Cusco, Peru; November 8-14, 2011 [George Wallace ] 26 Jan Eastern Bird Banding Association call for papers [Ellen Paul ] 25 Jan Job [Ellen Paul ] 20 Jan Animal Physiologist Position ["Elmer J. Finck" ] 19 Jan Graduate Assistantships ["Elmer J. Finck" ] 16 Jan Hilton Pond 01/01/10 (Frigid Weather) ["Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" ] 14 Jan White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi [John Penhallurick ] 10 Jan Annual BirdBase/BirdArea Species/Ranges Updates [Santa Barbara Software Products ] 8 Jan Job Opening: Quantitatively savvy biologist [Wayne E Thogmartin ] 7 Jan LSU ornithologists on PBS Nature program on hummingbirds Sunday night at 7 [Ellen Paul ] 6 Jan ACE-ECO New Issue Announcement [Ellen Paul ] 6 Jan New International Journal of Galliformes Conservation] [Ellen Paul ] 5 Jan Grasshopper Sparrow Field Assistants needed [Paul Miller ] 3 Jan Hilton Pond 12/29/09 (Banding Highlights) ["Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" ] 1 Jan Hilton Pond 12/22/09 (Christmas Bird Count) ["Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" ] 31 Dec photos of nest box predators needed [Randy Lauff ] 30 Dec Job announcement [Ellen Paul ] 29 Dec Conference: Gyrfalcons and Ptarmigan in a Changing World, Feb 2011. First Announcement [Ellen Paul ] 22 Dec accidental participation in Christmas Bird Count [stan moore ] 16 Dec Volunteer position USGS Hawaii [Dennis Lapointe ] 16 Dec Biological Aide Opportunity--Short Term--Patuxent Wildlife Research Center ["French, Lloyd S" ] 11 Dec Hilton Pond 12/01/09 (Rufous Hummingbird) ["Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" ] 11 Dec Job Posting - Oregon Conservation Strategy Coordinator [Ellen Paul ] 11 Dec census and demographic rates for meta-analysis [Salvador Herrando-Perez ] 9 Dec bird plumage study [Jonathan Drury ] 4 Dec Contents of Western Birds, vol. 40, no. 3 (2009) [Ted Floyd ] 7 Dec 1st World Seabird Conference] [Ellen Paul ] 7 Dec Contents of Colorado Birds, vol. 43, no. 4 (2009) [Ted Floyd ] 6 Dec Belated Winter Birding Note [Grant Stevenson ] 29 Nov Hilton Pond 11/18/09 (Hummingbird Records) ["Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" ] 3 Dec North Star Science and Technology Transmitter Grant Program [George Wallace ] 17 Nov Need info on banding permits [Ellen Paul ] 15 Nov Message from the administrator [Ellen Paul ] 10 Nov Hilton Pond 11/01/09 ["Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" ] 9 Nov Off topic: anucleated erythrocytes ["William H. Barnard" ] 9 Nov Banded Great Egret ["Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" ] 8 Nov Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD (tangent) [Dora Smith ] 7 Nov Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD (tangent) [Lawrie Conole ] 6 Nov Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD (tangent) [Ellen Paul ] 6 Nov Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD (tangent) [Ellen Paul ] 6 Nov Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD (tangent) ["Spector, David (Biology)" ] 6 Nov Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD [Kenneth Bergman ] 6 Nov Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD ["Spector, David (Biology)" ] 6 Nov Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD [stan moore ] 6 Nov Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD [Tom Langen ] 6 Nov Birds and agriculture - opportunity to serve on a Federal Advisory Committee [Ellen Paul ] 6 Nov Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD [Robert Curry ] 6 Nov Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD [Marie-Anne Hudson ] 5 Nov Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD [Eran Tomer ] 5 Nov Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD [Dora Smith ] 5 Nov Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD [Madhusudan Katti ] 5 Nov Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD [Jeff Davis ] 5 Nov Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD [Madhusudan Katti ] 5 Nov Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD [Kenneth Bergman ] 5 Nov Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD ["James J. Roper" ] 5 Nov Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD [Ellen Paul ] 5 Nov Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD [Joseph Morlan ] 5 Nov Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD [Ellen Paul ] 5 Nov Job announcement [Ellen Paul ] 5 Nov Job announcement [Ellen Paul ] 3 Nov 2nd Call for Papers - 37th Annual Meeting of the Pacific Seabird Group [Tom Good ] 2 Nov Last week for early registration, abstract submittal, and student award applications for COS/AOU/SCO 2010 [Ellen Paul ] 1 Nov Request for paper from DOFT [Aasheesh Pittie ] 29 Oct Hilton Pond 10/22/09 (Ant Swarms) ["Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" ] 21 Oct Hilton Pond 10/16/09 (White Hummingbirds) ["Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" ] 19 Oct Neotropical Arrival Dates for Hummingbirds (Autumn 2009) ["Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" ] 17 Oct Hilton Pond 10/01/09 (More Fall Warblers) ["Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" ] 16 Oct duck behaviour DVD? [Randy Lauff ] 15 Oct Deadline for AOU Senior Awards extended to Oct 31 [Ellen Paul ] 13 Oct Re: Conspiracy of Ravens Boardgame available!The [Sherrene Kevan ] 10 Oct Looking for Red-tail Electrocution Obs. [Grant Stevenson ] 10 Oct Fw: Seabird research opportunity [Grant Stevenson ] 9 Oct God introduces new bird [Ellen Paul ] 8 Oct Compiling Late Hummer Dates ["Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" ] 7 Oct Job Announcement: Spatial Ecologist at PRBO Conservation Science [Mark Herzog ] Subject: AQUATIC COLONIAL BIRD SURVEYORS needed From: Ellen Paul <ellen.paul AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 08:37:32 -0500 AQUATIC COLONIAL BIRD SURVEYORS needed, mid May through mid July 2010. The Klamath Bird Observatory (http://www.KlamathBird.org) is seeking motivated individuals to survey marsh-nesting colonial birds in south-central Oregon. Surveys will be done by vehicle, boat, and on foot. Wading through marsh will be necessary on occasion. Surveyors must have a field-worthy vehicle, valid driver's license, and binoculars. Qualified applicants will be in good physical condition and have prior experience with fieldwork, including on and off-road navigation, familiarity with GPS, meticulous data recording skills, and the ability to identify aquatic birds. Must be able to work independently or closely with others and have the ability to remain focused during long days in inclement weather and biting insects. Training will be provided. Pay $130/day plus mileage. To apply, send cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references to Karen Hussey at kfh AT KlamathBird.org, phone 541-282-0866. Please include dates of availability and vehicle type in your cover letter and whether you would be willing to work with another. If you have a partner in mind, please indicate which applicant it is. Applicants will be evaluated on a continual basis starting February 15th until all positions are filled. -- Karen F. Hussey Program Manager Research & Monitoring Program Klamath Bird Observatory www.KlamathBird.org kfh AT klamathbird.org (541) 282-0866 Subject: IXth Neotropical Ornithological Congress and VIIIth National Ornithological Congress. Cusco, Peru; November 8-14, 2011 From: George Wallace <gwallace AT ABCBIRDS.ORG> Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:59:30 -0800 Please circulate: Primer Anuncio para el IX Congreso de Ornitología Neotropical y VIII Congreso Nacional de Ornitología. Cusco, Perú (8-14 de Noviembre, 2011). La Sociedad de Ornitología Neotropical (NOS) y la Unión de Ornitólogos del Perú (UNOP) se complacen en anunciar el IX Congreso de Ornitología Neotropical y VIII Congreso Nacional de Ornitología a realizarse en la ciudad del Cusco del 8 al 14 de Noviembre, 2011. El programa científico incluirá conferencias magistrales, simposia, presentaciones orales, paneles y mesas redondas. La directiva del congreso está conformada por Grace P. Servat, Secretaria General (grace.servat AT gmail.com) y Constantino Aucca, Jefe del Comité Local (caucca AT ecoanperu.org), en cooperación con la Sociedad de Ornitología Neotropical y la Unión de Ornitólogos del Perú. Mayor información sobre el IX NOC y VIII CNO estará disponible próximamente en la página web de la Sociedad de Ornitología Neotropical (www.neotropicalornithology.org). First Announcement for the IXth Neotropical Ornithological Congress and VIIIth National Ornithological Congress. Cusco, Peru (November 8-14, 2011). The Neotropical Ornithological Society (NOS) and the Peruvian Ornithological Union (UNOP) are pleased to announce the IXth Neotropical Ornithological Congress and VIIIth National Ornithological Congress to be held in the city of Cusco, Peru (November 8-14, 2011). The scientific program will include plenary lectures, symposia sessions, oral and poster presentations, and round table discussions. The congress officers are: the Secretary General, Grace P. Servat (grace.servat AT gmail.com) and the Chair of Local Committee, Constantino Aucca (caucca AT ecoanperu.org), in cooperation with the Neotropical Ornithological Society and the Peruvian Ornithological Union. Further information regarding the IXth NOC and VIIIth CNO will be announced in the web page of the Neotropical Ornithological Society (www.neotropicalornithology.org). Subject: Eastern Bird Banding Association call for papers From: Ellen Paul <ellen.paul AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:59:04 -0500 EBBA, the Eastern Bird Banding Association, is requesting the submission of papers related to bird banding and preservation of avian species for presentation at the next meeting of the Association to be held April 10, 2010, at Rocky Gap State Park, Flintstone, Maryland. • A projection screen and video projector will be provided. • If you plan to present using 35mm slides please advise. • Provide an outline for consideration of the paper and the presenter's CV no later than February 25, 2010. • Submission is open to everyone; you do not have to be an EBBA member to present. • Time is allocated for 12 presentations. • The meeting will be attended by 100 to 200 participants including presenters. • Time for each presentation is normally limited to 25 minutes. • Presentations of special interest may be submitted for a time of 50 minutes. • All entries will receive serious consideration and all submitters will be advised of acceptance or regrets by the program committee no later than March 10, 2010. • Poster presentations prepared for free-standing display are also desirable. • A formal paper is not required. • One primary presenter for the presentation will receive a free admission to the meeting and associated social events. However, they do not receive any other reimbursements and are responsible for their own travel and living expenses. • EBBA does have a program for assistance with travel expenses for student presenters; contact the first vice president for information. Point of contact is Ken Heselton, First Vice President Address: 105 Haverhill Road, Joppa, Maryland 21085 E-mail: KHeselton AT cs.com Phone: 410-679-6419 Cell phone: 410-790-7881 Papers furnished in a pdf format for the purpose will be posted to the EBBA web site after the meeting for one year. A suggested theme for the meeting is "Backyards to the Hemisphere," recognizing that data collected by backyard bird banders can be used in analysis of the species studied over the entire hemisphere. Papers do not have to address this theme. Subject: Job From: Ellen Paul <ellen.paul AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:22:50 -0500 Vacancy - Science Coordinator for Translocation and Reintroduction Of Endangered Hawaiian Birds American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is the only conservation group whose sole mission is to conserve native wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. ABC accomplishes its mission through direct action and by engaging the people, groups, resources, and strategies needed to succeed. It undertakes the full spectrum of bird conservation issues using advocacy and habitat conservation strategies. This is a full-time position with American Bird Conservancy and will be stationed in Hawaii. The Science Coordinator will work with ABC's Oceans and Islands Division Director and federal and State of Hawaii program leaders in the implementation of translocation and/or reintroduction projects, and monitoring programs for at least three species of critically endangered Hawaiian passerines. ABC and its partners are working to conserve Hawaiian birds by: 1) conducting on-the-ground conservation to control invasive species, restoring habitat, reducing collisions with power lines and lights, reducing exposure to hazardous chemicals, and translocating species to create new populations; 2) advocating for increased funding for Hawaiian bird conservation and for legislation that supports Hawaiian bird conservation; and 3) increasing national awareness of and support for Hawaii's conservation needs through a public outreach and media campaign. This position requires an expertise in Hawaiian birds and their conservation issues. Work requires initiative, flexibility, accuracy, and attention to detail. The Science Coordinator reports to the Vice President of the Oceans and Islands Division. MAJOR DUTIES: 1. Develop species specific translocation and / or reintroduction methods for endangered Hawaiian birds. 2. Ensure rigor and consistency in (a) documentation of methods and results and their evolution among species and projects, (b) data collection and management, and (c) obtaining the best available review and comment on methods and approaches used in translocation and reintroduction work in Hawaii. 3. Produce high-quality scientific products from these critically important projects for the recovery of Hawaii's native birds including written reports for partners, papers for peer-reviewed journals, and proposals to funding agencies and NGOs so that: (a) input from the scientific community at large will be incorporated, and (b) translocation and reintroduction work conducted in Hawaii generates a lasting contribution to conservation science worldwide. 4. Recruit, train and supervise project personnel. POSITION REQUIREMENTS: 1. PhD from an accredited college or university in Biology, Zoology, Botany, Ecology, Conservation Biology, or a related biological science is required. 2. Three to five (3-5) years of experience planning and overseeing research projects on endangered Hawaiian birds. Extensive mist-netting and bird banding experience, experience taking blood samples, monitoring animal movements using radio-tracking, locating bird nests and studying nesting behavior. 3. Working knowledge of the principles of translocation and/or reintroduction techniques, avian demography, population ecology and conservation with specific experience in applying these concepts to Hawaii. Knowledge of research and experimental study design. Understanding of biological statistics and data analysis. Knowledge of the major conservation issues in Hawaii, and threats to Hawaiian birds. 4. Experience recruiting and supervising small research teams. Able to coordinate field logistics, train research interns, and lead or oversee all field activities. Able to supervise subordinates of various backgrounds and to recognize and resolve conflicts between staff. Must be able to maintain high standards of research quality and staff safety in difficult field condition s. Able to communicate effectively and professionally with public and partners. 5. Able to identify birds by calls and song and sight. 6. Experience writing scientific reports or publications. 7. Must possess a valid driver's license. 8. Must be able to complete basic helicopter safety course and obtain pesticide applicator certification within 12 months of hire. 9. Able to conduct fieldwork in remote, high-elevation areas and remote rugged islands where temperatures vary from very cold to extremely hot. Able to hike a minimum of seven (7) miles on obscure trails with thirty to forty (30-40) pound backpack and live and work in isolated field camps under primitive conditions. May require strenuous physical activity and heavy lifting. Application Instructions: Please send a cover letter and resume to Merrie Morrison, Vice President of Operations ; P.O. Box 249, The Plains, VA 20198 or by email to Email Us Deadline: Jan 27, 2010 Subject: Animal Physiologist Position From: "Elmer J. Finck" <efinck AT FHSU.EDU> Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:28:10 -0600 ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGIST Position Description: Full time 9-month tenure-track biologist with specialization in animal physiology. Experience in cell, human, or organismal physiology preferred. Appointment date: August 2010. Responsibilities: This position will require teaching human physiology for Biology and additional majors in the College of Health and Life Sciences and related specialty courses such as pathophysiology for Nursing, based on the qualifications of the successful applicant and departmental needs. Teaching three different courses per semester is a typical load. The successful applicant will be encouraged to develop an upper division specialty course within his/her area of expertise. Emphasis is on teaching and active participation with students in the classroom and laboratory. Research activity with undergraduates or M.S. students is expected. In addition, the applicant will be expected to assist with recruiting and advising pre-health professional students, and contribute service to the University and their profession. Qualifications: Minimal qualifications include an earned Ph.D. in biology, physiology, or an appropriate subdiscipline (ABD will be considered for well-qualified applicants). The applicant must provide evidence of teaching experience and scholarship, for example, teaching evaluations, peer-reviewed publications, 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, and the ability to develop a research program that includes students. Contact: Dr. Brian R. Maricle, Chair of Search Committee, Department of Biological Sciences, Fort Hays State University, 600 Park Street, Hays, KS 67601-4099 Phone: 785-628-5367, Fax: 785-628-4153, email: brmaricle 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, 785-628-4033. 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 under represented social groups in higher education, women, and persons with disability or veteran status are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to applications received by February 15, 2010. Electronic applications are preferred. Applications must include: 1. Curriculum vitae 2. Unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts 3. Statement of teaching interests and philosophy; this may include supporting documentation 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 send letters of recommendation at this time. Check Details at: http://bigcat.fhsu.edu/positions/fac.php Finalists will have consented to and successfully completed a criminal background check. The Department of Biological Sciences has 12 full-time faculty positions representing the disciplines of botany, ecology, evolutionary biology, microbiology, anatomy and vertebrate zoology. A minimum of seven GTAs assist with teaching undergraduate labs; an additional six graduate assistantships are available through the Sternberg Museum of Natural History and the Kansas Wetlands Education Center. 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; extensive aquatic sampling equipment, excellent computing facilities and technical support; large 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 under represented 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. Subject: Graduate Assistantships From: "Elmer J. Finck" <efinck AT FHSU.EDU> Date: Tue, 19 Jan 2010 23:23:59 -0600 Graduate assistantship opportunities in the Department of Biological Sciences at Fort Hays State University have dramatically increased for Fall 2010. We currently have five graduate teaching, one graduate curatorial assistantship at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, and three graduate wetlands assistantships at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center for a total of at least nine graduate research assistantships available. Thus, we would appreciate it if you would tell seniors about our program. I personally am looking for students interested in studying birds and mammals in the framework of conservation biology and wildlife management particularly in the grasslands of the Great Plains. Our faculty have ongoing research on The Nature Conservancy’s Smoky Valley Ranch in western Kansas, at the Cheyenne Bottoms State Wildlife Area, Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, in the Platte River Valley, and in the Prairie Pothole Region of Minnesota, In addition to this, we have excellent programs in biogeography, botany, conservation biology, entomology, extinction and range contraction, fisheries management, grassland soils, herpetology, ichthyology, mammalogy, ornithology, plant ecology, plant ecophysiology, plant physiology, range management, and wildlife biology. We have developed a program in microbiology, have developed a DNA sequencing laboratory, recently added expertise in stable isotope ecology, and have a SEM laboratory with digital imaging capabilities. In addition we recently began a Professional Science Masters for students interested in combining business and natural resource management. Graduate students in our program have successfully gone onto excellent PhD programs and employment within their subdisciplines. Please look at our web page at www.fhsu.edu/biology/ and encourage your students to do so also. Have them contact me or an appropriate faculty member with questions about opportunities. Thank you for your time and effort. We look forward to hearing from you or your students. mas tarde, EJF Elmer J. Finck Professor and Chair Department of Biological Sciences Fort Hays State University 600 Park Street Hays, KS 67601-4099 e-mail: efinck AT fhsu.edu webpage: http://www.fhsu.edu/biology/finck/Elmer-Finck/ phone: (785) 628-4214 fax: (785) 628-4153 home: (785) 625-9727 cell: (785) 650-1057 The trouble is that you think you have time. Zen Master Subject: Hilton Pond 01/01/10 (Frigid Weather) From: "Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" <research AT HILTONPOND.ORG> Date: Sat, 16 Jan 2010 12:34:16 -0500 Anyone who thinks we haven't had two weeks of brutally cold weather here in the Carolina Piedmont need only visit the latest installment of "This Week at Hilton Pond." Our first photo essay of the year includes a chart showing just how low the readings got the first half of January 2010, and we include a bunch of icy images--some a little mysterious. (You'd also never guess what bird species keeps getting caught in our traps baited with black sunflower seeds.) To view our frigid photography, please see posting #461 at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek100101.html As always we include lists of birds banded and recaptured during the period. Please, no pooh-poohing of our Carolina winter weather by New Englanders, Midwesterners, or Canadians. To us, we're just as cold as you are! :-) Happy (Cold Weather) 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 (803) 684-5852 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 ================== Subject: White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi From: John Penhallurick <jpenhall AT BIGPOND.NET.AU> Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:57:55 +1100 Dear Friends, I have just finished entering data for White-tipped Dove on my website: http://worldbirdinfo.net.au Not only does it have a very widespread distribution but it had one of the longest synonymies I have encountered. Please check it out. Comments welcome. Enjoy it's free! Dr John Penhallurick 86 Bingley Cres Fraser A.C.T. 2615 Australia email:jpenhall AT bigpond.net.au Phone: Home (612) 62585428 Mobile:0408585426 Please visit my website: http://www.worldbirdinfo.net Subject: Annual BirdBase/BirdArea Species/Ranges Updates From: Santa Barbara Software Products <SBSP AT AOL.COM> Date: Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:42:01 EST Now available are annual updates which put in BirdBase and BirdArea the changes in Clements' world species list issued by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology on December 18 and December 23, and also put in BirdArea all the range modifications issued soon thereafter by the range data editor Shawneen Finnegan. The annual update of the BirdBase All Subspecies Add-On is also available. For information about obtaining them go to our web site, birdbase.com. At the top of its main menu take the link labeled Users Bulletin Board. Then take the link labeled BirdBase Update and/or the one labeled BirdArea and EditData Updates and/or the one labeled All Subspecies Add-On Update. SANTA BARBARA SOFTWARE PRODUCTS Our world birding software is demonstrated at Web site: birdbase.com E-mail: _sbsp AT aol.com_ (mailto:sbsp AT aol.com) Subject: Job Opening: Quantitatively savvy biologist From: Wayne E Thogmartin <wthogmartin AT USGS.GOV> Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 09:13:44 -0600 Job Description: The USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center is seeking a quantitatively savvy ecologist with expertise in one of more of the following areas: population ecology, community ecology, biogeography, conservation biology, landscape ecology and wildlife habitat modeling. The position would entail, after initial instruction, modeling and mapping patterns in species occupancy and abundance, avian community analyses, and extinction risk estimation. The position is structured as a one-year research associate position, based in La Crosse, Wisconsin, with potential for extension depending upon availability of funding. Start date: February 2010, negotiable. Pay schedule: GS-9 (~$47,500 annual salary). Qualifications: An M.S. in a wildlife discipline with a strong quantitative background. The ideal candidate will have direct experience with avian ecology, common avian sampling protocols and a deep understanding of the assumptions underlying the standard analyses of such data. Demonstrated excellence in scientific writing is an essential qualification. Good oral and written communications skills in English are required. The project depends on the ability to work effectively, without day to day supervision from the Principal Investigator. Pertinent skills include Bayesian statistics and programming in R and WinBUGS. Apply to: At this time, we invite letters/emails of inquiry so that interested applicants can be apprised of the formal announcement once it is made available on USAJOBS.GOV later this month. These letters should be directed as soon as possible to: Dr. Wayne Thogmartin United States Geological Survey Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center 2630 Fanta Reed Road La Crosse, WI 54603 USA 608-781-6309 (off) 608-783-6066 (fax) wthogmartin AT usgs.gov Subject: LSU ornithologists on PBS Nature program on hummingbirds Sunday night at 7 From: Ellen Paul <ellen.paul AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 10:58:47 -0500 Subject: ACE-ECO New Issue Announcement From: Ellen Paul <ellen.paul AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2010 14:39:50 -0500 Subject: New International Journal of Galliformes Conservation] From: Ellen Paul <ellen.paul AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2010 13:13:27 -0500 Subject: Grasshopper Sparrow Field Assistants needed From: Paul Miller <paul.miller AT DEP.STATE.FL.US> Date: Tue, 5 Jan 2010 16:56:31 -0500 Field assistants (2) needed March 1st through June 30th, 2010, to assist in surveys and habitat enhancement for the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow, a federally endangered species endemic to the dry prairie region of south-central Florida, within Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, Okeechobee, Florida. Kissimmee Prairie Preserve contains the largest remaining remnant of Florida dry prairie, a globally imperiled community type, and one of the three remaining sub-populations of the sparrow. Primary duties will include conducting annual point counts, presence/absence surveys and tree and exotic plant removal. The possibility exists to help out with prescribed fire operations. Qualifications include well-developed birding skills, previous field experience with grassland birds, binocular proficiency, GPS and navigation skills, ability to learn aspects of natural area weed management, ability to use chainsaws safely, motivation and strong work ethic, and the ability to work both independently and as a member of a team. Candidates should be proactive about working in typical Florida field conditions which include high heat and humidity, strong sun/UV, isolation, insects, venomous snakes and thunderstorms. Housing will be provided on-site in a small bunkhouse. The Preserve is a great place for those that want to bird south-central Florida, and is located in relative proximity to some great birding locations. Salary is $12/hour, for up to 40 hours per week. Email cover letter, resume and contact information for 3 references as a word attachment to paul.miller AT dep.state.fl.us by February 1st. Subject: Hilton Pond 12/29/09 (Banding Highlights) From: "Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" <research AT HILTONPOND.ORG> Date: Sun, 3 Jan 2010 18:19:53 -0500 The 2009 banding year at Hilton Pond Center wasn't one of our best, but it WAS better than last year. Despite overall low totals, we set a new record for one species, tied for another, and went above average for a surprising number of species. To read about our banding highlights--complete with photos of some "special" birds--please visit our 29-31 December 2009 "This Week at Hilton Pond" photo essay at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek091229.html We also include a summary of our "Yearly Yard List for 2009," a tally of birds banded during the last three days of the year, and a note about a rather old Northern Cardinal that showed up on New Years Eve. Happy (New Years) 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 (803) 684-5852 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 ================== Subject: Hilton Pond 12/22/09 (Christmas Bird Count) From: "Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" <research AT HILTONPOND.ORG> Date: Fri, 1 Jan 2010 13:47:07 -0500 As the holiday season arrives, we're always involved in compiling results of the York/Rock Hill Christmas Bird Count, so that's the topic of the 22-28 December 2009 installment of "This Week at Hilton Pond." Our final numbers weren't all that great, but we did manage to get a few photos of birds we observed--including a close image of an adult Red-shouldered Hawk. To view the photo essay, please visit http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek091222.html and then scroll down for our usual list of banded birds and miscellaneous notes about bird scarcity and torrential rains. Happy (Holiday) 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 (803) 684-5852 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 ================== Subject: photos of nest box predators needed From: Randy Lauff <rlauff AT STFX.CA> Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 11:42:45 -0400 All, I give about two or three talks a year to the general public about some aspect of birds, including a talk on bird houses. I mention that perches on bird boxes may be good looking (to us, perhaps not to the birds), but that they help predators hang on as well. I would really like to include a picture of a raccoon at a bird box, preferably one with a perch. Other nest box predators would work too, but I'd prefer a local species (we don't have possum here, nor any snake that depredates nesting birds). If anyone has such a photo that I could use exclusively in public presentations, and with credit, please contact me. Thank you, Randy ________________________ R.F. Lauff Department of Biology St. Francis Xavier University 2320 Notre Dame Avenue Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5 (902) 867-2471 rlauff AT stfx.ca (902) 867-2389 (fax) http://people.stfx.ca/rlauff/lauff.html Subject: Job announcement From: Ellen Paul <ellen.paul AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:11:33 -0500 Subject: Conference: Gyrfalcons and Ptarmigan in a Changing World, Feb 2011. First Announcement From: Ellen Paul <ellen.paul AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:35:14 -0500 Subject: accidental participation in Christmas Bird Count From: stan moore <hawkman11 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:32:51 +0000 Dear all -- Watching and counting birds, including raptors, is not my thing. I am glad there are many highly qualified persons available and willing to do Christmas Bird Counts in my area, and they enthusiastically carry out their assignments. I tend to see Christmas Bird Counters while I am out banding raptors in the countryside. But this week I received an amail from a regional editor of the American Birding Association's journal North American Birds, inquiring about the latest sightings of the Common Black Hawk, which has become a year round resident at a private property in my area. I decided to go and verify the presence of the Black Hawk once again, and found the bird right where I always do. Interestingly, there was another local resident raptor, an adult Bald Eagle perched in the same field of view, and I photographed them in the same photo frame, separated by maybe a hundred meters. I sent my report to the NAB regional compiler and to the relevant personnel for the California Bird Records Committee, who maintain an ongoing file on the bird. Afterwards, I heard that my sighting was in a Christmas Bird Count area and would be included in this year's count. I was an accidental Christmas Bird Counter and I have a feeling that our local Common Black Hawk may be one of the only members of its species to be counted because of the tendency of that species to be found in remote areas not easily detected by normal bird count surveys. And the Bald Eagle was part of the count, too. By the way, I was able to band the Common Black Hawk last February, trapping it with a phai trap using a crayfish as bait. The Bird Banding Lab was pretty excited about the event, saying that only thirty-something of this species have ever been banded in the history of the North American Bird Banding Program and most of those were nestlings. I think my banding was the first of the species since the 1990's, and it is fun to see the bird with its band, knowing how rare the sight is anywhere in the range of the species. I guess I will have to remember 2009 in years to come as "The Year of the Black Hawk". I wish Kathy Klimkiewicz had been around to hear about the record of the black hawk, as well as Fran Hamerstrom, who once told me that working with her would "add some direction to (your) life". Yes, she did; yes she did. Stan Moore Fairfax Raptor Research P.O. Box 341 San Geronimo, CA 94963 stangabboon AT sbcglobal.net 707.479.9863 _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/ Subject: Volunteer position USGS Hawaii From: Dennis Lapointe <dlapointe AT USGS.GOV> Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:47:57 -1000 The US Geological Survey, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center has a volunteer position open to work on a project with wild and captive native Hawaiian passerines and scaley leg mites. The project involves mist netting, captive care of passerines and other project related duties as necessary. No prior experience is necessary but individuals with experience in animal care will be favored. A food allowance of $100/week and housing in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is provided. We need a volunteer who can start in January and work a minimum of three months. Excellent experience for students and graduates in Biology, Wildlife, Environmental or Animal Sciences. Interested individuals should contact : Dr. Dennis A. LaPointe via email dennis_lapointe AT usgs.gov Thank you. Dennis A. LaPointe, Ecologist USGS-Pacific Island Ecosystem Research Center Kilauea Field Station P.O. Box 218 Hawaii National Park, HI 96718 (808) 967-8119 ex 273 (808) 967-8545 FAX dennis_lapointe AT usgs.gov Subject: Biological Aide Opportunity--Short Term--Patuxent Wildlife Research Center From: "French, Lloyd S" <Lloyd.S.French AT IAPWS.COM> Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:03:26 -0500 Biological Aide I -- 3 positions available The Patuxent Wildlife Research Center's Bird Banding Laboratory has a short term requirement for 3 technicians to convert old paper banding reports and records for scanning into electronic files. Position duties: - Sort and organize paper files - Remove any attached objects such as bird bands, staples, paper clips, etc. - Box up records for shipment to scanning facility. These positions will only be funded for 60 days (possibly longer) at a pay rate of $10.47/hour. Please apply at www.iapws.com/careers in the "Clerical/Administrative" area. Lloyd S. French, Program Manager IAP Worldwide Services, Inc. 321.784.7398 office, 321.745.5395 mobile 321.784.7264 fax ***** CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE ***** This email may contain IAP Worldwide Services trade secrets and/or proprietary information. This email is intended to be reviewed only by the individual or organization named above. If you are not the intended recipient or an authorized representative of the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination or copying of this email and its attachments, if any, or the information contained herein is prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please immediately notify the sender by return email and delete this email and attachments, if any, from your system. ***** DISCLAIMER NOTICE ***** Any opinions stated in this email are those solely of the author and do not necessarily represent those of IAP Worldwide Services and/or its affiliates. Subject: Hilton Pond 12/01/09 (Rufous Hummingbird) From: "Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" <research AT HILTONPOND.ORG> Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:54:39 -0500 We were delighted today to travel to Moore SC, where we captured a very colorful Rufous Hummingbird--only our second adult male in 18 years of banding vagrant hummers. We've devoted the 1-11 December 2009 installment of "This Week at Hilton Pond" to this little bird who's far from where we might expect him to be as winter approaches. To view the photo essay, please visit http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek091201.html . While there, scroll down for a list of birds banded or recaptured locally, as well as some miscellaneous nature notes. 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 (803) 684-5852 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 ================== Subject: Job Posting - Oregon Conservation Strategy Coordinator From: Ellen Paul <ellen.paul AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:54:57 -0500 Subject: census and demographic rates for meta-analysis From: Salvador Herrando-Perez <salvador.herrando-perez AT ADELAIDE.EDU.AU> Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:10:30 +1030 Dear Listers, I am a PhD student at the University of Adelaide investigating density dependence in animal populations under the supervision of Corey Bradshaw, Barry Brook and Steven Delean. Currently, I am addressing the consistency of statistical detection of density feedback across species of mammals and birds where unique populations have been studied through annual censuses (> 10 years) of both population abundance and demographic rates (fertility and/or survival). So far I have collected data from 53 populations from publications or provided by authors I have contacted personally. If anyone has such data that I could include in a meta-analysis, I would greatly appreciate if you could contact me at salvador.herrando-perez AT adelaide.edu.au. Any data you can provide will be fully acknowledged in any publication and in one of my PhD chapters, and will not be further distributed or analysed in any other way. If the data have been published, please provide the reference. I very much appreciate your time and consideration of my request. Kind regards, Salvador Variables being recorded from individual populations (annual estimates): Population size: total number, relative density, number of breeding/nonbreeding pairs AND breeding effort: fertility rate, clutch size, brood size, litter size, number of young/female AND/OR breeding/birth rates/success/performance/probability AND/OR survival/mortality/recruitment rates/probability (adults, subadults, juveniles, yearlings, calves/cubs/pups, fledglings, hatchlings) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------- Salvador Herrando-Pérez > School of Earth and Environmental Science, Mawson Building (room G39) > University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia > > Phone: +61 8 8303 5254 > Fax: +61 8 8303 4347 > Email: salvador.herrando-perez AT adelaide.edu.au > https://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/salvador.herrando-perez Subject: bird plumage study From: Jonathan Drury <druryj AT UCLA.EDU> Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 17:21:10 -0800 I am conducting a study of geographical variation in bird plumage, and I am looking for volunteers to take an online survey. Participants will rate the brightness and complexity of bird plumage for various images. If you are able to volunteer to take this survey, please e-mail me at druryj AT ucla.edu, and I will send you an e-mail with the URL to the survey and more information. Thank you in advance, Jonathan P. Drury Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology University of California, Los Angeles druryj AT ucla.edu Subject: Contents of Western Birds, vol. 40, no. 3 (2009) From: Ted Floyd <tedfloyd57 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 4 Dec 2009 05:32:28 -0800 Hello, Ornithologists. Here is a summary of the contents of vol. 40 no. 3 (2009) of the quarterly journal Western Birds, published by Western Field Ornithologists. * THE 33RD REPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE: 2007 RECORDS. * by DANIEL S. SINGER and SCOTT B. TERRILL. * pp. 158-190. * Detailed summary of reports of rare birds in California in 2007, highlighted by seven species new to the state list (Newell's Shearwater, Tristram's Storm-Petrel, Lesser Frigatebird, Swallow-tailed Kite, Eurasian Kestrel, Wood Sandpiper, and Common Rosefinch), bringing the state bird list to 640 species. * DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE, AND SURVIVAL OF NESTING AMERICAN DIPPERS NEAR JUNEAU, ALASKA. * by MARY F. WILLSON, GREY W. PENDLETON, and KATHERINE M. HOCKER. * pp. 191-209. * In a multi-year field study of American Dippers in Alaska, stream flow, winter temperature, and nest-site availability were found to be important determinants of population health. Discussion of use of the species as a bio-indicator emphasizes the need to assess the physiological and reproductive condition of individuals. * CHANGES IN THE WINTER DISTRIBUTION OF THE ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK IN NORTH AMERICA. * by EDWARD R. PANDOLFINO and KIMBERLY SUEDKAMP WELLS. * pp. 210-224. In an analysis of Christmas Bird Count data, the Rough-legged Hawk was found to be undergoing a population change on its North American wintering grounds. Numbers have decreased from along both coasts and across the southern portions of the species' winter range, whereas numbers have increased in the northern Great Plains of the U.S. * NESTING SUCCESS OF CALIFORNIA LEAST TERNS AT THE GUERRERO NEGRO SALTWORKS, BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR, MEXICO, 2005. * by ANTONIO GUTIÉRREZ-AGUILAR, ROBERTO CARMONA, and ANDREA CUELLAR. * pp. 225-229. * Nesting success of a California Least Tern colony at an artificial habitat closed to the public was affected by neither human activity nor food limitation. However, nesting success was negatively affected by predation, especially by coyotes; this threat to the local population could be eliminated by building a fence around the site. * SANDWICH TERNS ON ISLA RASA, GULF OF CALIFORNIA, MEXICO. * by ENRIQUETA VELARDE and MARISOL TORDESILLAS. * pp. 230-233. * Documentation and discussion of the occurrence of vagrant Sandwich Terns at Isla Rasa, one on 17 May 1986, the other on 4 May 2009. In both instances, the individuals were found within dense breeding colonies of Royal and Elegant terns. * CURVE-BILLED THRASHER REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS AFTER A WET WINTER IN THE SONORAN DESERT OF ARIZONA. * by CARROLL D. LITTLEFIELD. * pp. 234-236. * In a study in the Tucson Mountains, Arizona, winter precipitation was above normal in the winter of 1978-1979, and Curve-billed Thrashers nested early and enjoyed high nesting success in early 1979. This result is consistent with a previously reported relationship between winter precipitation and breeding ecology of the Curve-billed Thrasher. * FIRST NORTH AMERICAN RECORDS OF THE RUFOUS-TAILED ROBIN (Luscinia sibilans). * by LUCAS H. DeCICCO, STEVEN C. HEINL, and DAVID W. SONNEBORN. * pp. 237-241. * Summary of three occurrences in Alaska of the Rufous-tailed Robin, from 4 June 2000 at Attu Island, 4 June 2008 at Attu Island, and 8 June 2008 at St. Paul Island, with discussion of behavior and timing of appearance of vagrants to North America. * BOOK REVIEW. * reviewed by RICH HOYER. * pp. 242-244. * Review of "Bird Songs of the Pacific Northwest" (2008), by Geoffrey A. Keller and Gerrit Vyn. * BOOK REVIEW. * reviewed by ALAN CONTRERAS. * pp. 244-246. * Review of "Memoirs of a Wildlife Biologist" (2008), by David B. Marshall. * FEATURED PHOTO: JUVENAL PLUMAGE OF THE AZTEC THRUSH. * by KURT A. RADAMAKER. * pp. 247-249. * Photographic documentation and discussion of a juvenile Aztec Thrush in Sonora, 1 Sept. 2007, the second known nesting for the state. Separation from juvenile Rufous-backed and American robins is discussed. Please note that vols. 1-37 (1970-2006) of Western Birds are permanently archived and fully searchable online: http://tiny.cc/Y2sa5. The service is free to the public, and is made available by Western Field Ornithologists (WFO) and the Searchable Ornithological Research Archive (SORA). Full abstracts of research articles and the full text for "Featured Photos" (vols. 38-40) are available online: http://tiny.cc/luCHf. ------------------------------- Ted Floyd Editor, Birding Check out Birding magazine on Twitter: http://twitter.com/BirdingMagazine ------------------------------- _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live Hotmail gives you a free,exclusive gift. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/hotmail_bl1/hotmail_bl1.aspx?ocid=PID23879::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-ww:WM_IMHM_7:092009 Subject: 1st World Seabird Conference] From: Ellen Paul <ellen.paul AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 11:15:11 -0500 (AND NOTE THE ONGOING LIST OF CONFERENCES OF INTEREST TO ORNITHOLOGISTS, UPDATED REGULARLY, ON BIRDNET: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/ornith/birdmeet.html IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A MEETING LISTED, CONTACT ME at ellen.paul AT verizon.net and we will post it on BIRDNET and of course it can also be posted here). Ellen For ongoing updates on this conference, please subscribe to the conference mailing list at: WWW.WORLDSEABIRDCONFERENCE.COM 1st World Seabird Conference Seabirds: Linking the Global Oceans September 7 - 11, 2010 Victoria Conference Centre Victoria, Canada Although numerous professional seabird groups and societies are active around the globe, conducting studies and promoting conservation, there has yet to be a single, global meeting to host seabird scientists, conservationists, and policy-makers. The goal of this first World Seabird Conference (WSC) is to provide this opportunity, and in so doing heighten awareness, focus, and attention on the world’s seabirds. A successful WSC will provide a blueprint for seabird science, information management and exchange, and management/conservation activities for the next decade. Conference Information Registration Opens – January, 2010 Abstract deadline January 29, 2010 Sponsorship Opportunities available! ******************************************************************************* Members of the WaterbirdsNetwork list can write to all other members by sending email to waterbirdsnetwork AT lists.fws.gov. Any interested party can join the list if they send a blank email to waterbirdsnetwork-request AT lists.fws.gov with the word "subscribe" in the subject line. ******************************************************************************* -- Ellen Paul Executive Director The Ornithological Council Email: ellen.paul AT verizon.net "Providing Scientific Information about Birds" http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET" Subject: Contents of Colorado Birds, vol. 43, no. 4 (2009) From: Ted Floyd <tedfloyd57 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 03:52:59 -0800 Hello, Ornithologists. Here is a summary of the contents of vol. 43 no. 4 (2009) of the quarterly journal Colorado Birds, published by Colorado Field Ornithologists (CFO). (Additional perspective on the journal Colorado Birds available here: http://tiny.cc/NY7c7.) * PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: CFO'S ORGANIZATION AND NEAR-TERM OBJECTIVES. * by JIM BEATTY. * pp. 236-237. * Thoughts on the evolution of CFO, including (a) identifying, developing, and promoting special areas of expertise for each CFO board member, (b) continuing to stay ahead of the electronic curve, a major strength of the organization, and (c) offering new and varied field trips and other field experiences for CFO members. * CFO BOARD MINUTES. * by LARRY MODESITT. * pp. 238-240. * Minutes of the August 22, 2009 meeting of the board of directors of CFO, including such highlights as (a) planning for an online reference to the birds of Colorado, (b) ongoing conversion into the electronic medium of the functioning of the state records committee, and (c) soliciting of applications for CFO's youth and scholarship funds. * ACROSS THE BOARD: MAGGIE BOSWELL. * by JIM BEATTY. * pp. 240-242. * The life and times of CFO board member and treasurer Maggie Boswell, who provides leadership and excellence in all matters regarding the finances of the organization, as well as major logistical support at annual conventions; a retired sign language interpreter, she now volunteers with AARP and is very active in the birding and natural history communities in Boulder County and elsewhere. * LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT: WARREN FINCH. * by JOE ROLLER. * pp. 242-244. * A tribute to Warren Finch, 2009 recipient of CFO's Lifetime Achievement Award; a famous scientist known worldwide for his prolific work on nuclear materials and resources during a 60-year career with the U.S. Geological Survey, he is best known among Colorado's field ornithologists as an indefatigable field birder, still going strong as he approaches his tenth decade of life. * CFO YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP: CAMP CASCADES. * by MARCEL SUCH. * pp. 245-247. * Reflections on a splendid two weeks at a Victor Emanuel Nature Tours young birders' camp in Washington state, highlighted by a "rampage" instigated by a Boreal Chickadee sighting; the author attended the camp as a CFO youth scholarship recipient. * FIELD TRIP REPORTS: SPRING 2009. * by JIM BEATTY and BILL KAEMPFER. * pp. 248-250. * Birding highlights from two CFO field trips; the trips, to private ranches in eastern Colorado, reflected CFO's leadership in developing enduring partnerships with Colorado's ranching community. The long list of rarities for the two field trips included Blue-headed Vireo, Gray-cheeked Thrush, and Worm-eating Warbler. * BOOK REVIEW. * reviewed by JASON BEASON. * pp. 251-252. * Review of "Birding Hotspots of South-Central Colorado" (2009), by John J. Rawinski. The book tells you where to find birds in Colorado's immense and constantly amazing San Luis Valley. * OVENBIRDS OF WILLOW SPRINGS OPEN SPACE, JEFFERSON COUNTY. * by MIKE HENWOOD. * pp. 253-260. * A two-year field study of Ovenbirds in the Front Range foothills documented high densities of singing Ovenbirds; only five other bird species were as numerous in the study area as the Ovenbird. The results are consistent with recent anecdotal observations from elsewhere in the Front Range foothills, indicating a larger breeding population of Ovenbirds in Colorado than previously suspected. * UPLAND SANDPIPER: A REGULAR FALL MIGRANT TO THE FRONT RANGE REGION? * by TED FLOYD. * pp. 261-267. * Documentation of Upland Sandpipers on nocturnal migration over Boulder County, July-August 2009, and speculation that the species may be a regular migrant through Front Range airspace, contrary to conventional wisdom and despite the extreme paucity of earlier records for the region. * THE 52nd REPORT OF THE CBRC. * by LAWRENCE S. SEMO. * pp. 268-281. * Evaluation of reports by 33 observers of 41 occurrences of 34 review-list species through mid-2009. Highlights include Colorado's first (and long-overdue) Acadian Flycatcher, bringing the state list to 489 species; the state's second Ross's Gull; and the state's fourth Ruff. * THE HUNGRY BIRDER: ESTES PARK. * by NATHAN PIEPLOW. * pp. 282-285. * An overview of where to eat in Estes Park, gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park and its millions of tourists. At Estes Park, it's slim pickin's for birders who want breakfast before sunrise, but the lunch and dinner options--notably DeLeo's famous deli--are ample and diverse around town. As to warm, brown, liquid stimulants, the coffeaphobic author has little to report. * NEWS FROM THE FIELD: SPRING 2009. * by BILL MAYNARD. * pp. 285-306. * Avian highlights in Colorado, March-May 2009, among them Eurasian Wigeon, "Mexican" Duck, 2 Brown Pelicans, Neotropic Cormorant, Swallow-tailed Kite, Harris's Hawk, Black-headed Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, Lesser Nighthawk, Acadian Flycatcher, 5 Vermilion Flycatchers, 4 Blue-headed Vireos, Wood Thrush, Brewster's Warbler, and Baird's Sparrow. * IN THE SCOPE: HORNED AND EARED GREBES. * by TONY LEUKERING. * pp. 306-310. * Methods for distinguishing Eared and Horned Grebes in Colorado, including differences in seasonal occurrence, molt timing, and head shape. Potentially challenging is the separation of formative (first-winter) Horned Grebes from basic (winter adult) Eared Grebes. For more information on the journal Colorado Birds, please visit the Colorado Birds webpage of the CFO website: http://tiny.cc/SkCNN. For more information on CFO, please visit the CFO homepage: http://tiny.cc/xySmh. ------------------------------- Ted Floyd Editor, Birding Check out Birding magazine on Twitter: http://twitter.com/BirdingMagazine ------------------------------- _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live Hotmail gives you a free,exclusive gift. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/hotmail_bl1/hotmail_bl1.aspx?ocid=PID23879::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-ww:WM_IMHM_7:092009 Subject: Belated Winter Birding Note From: Grant Stevenson <grantstevenson44 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 03:33:31 -0800 Still not too late to join me and others in North America in doing a Winter Bird Population Study of your local winter resident birds (on a plot, wooded, suburban, grassland, whatever is convenient). It takes one pre-work or weekend brief morning walk till February if you can afford the time. Contact Jim Lowe, jdl6 AT cornell.edu, 1-800-843-BIRD, x 2413, from The Cornell Lab, for forms/information. Your study will be published in IBPS's BIRD POPULATIONS. Weekly bird counts are statistically more accurate than single annual counts of a local bird community. Part of a long-term database leading at least back to 1940, probably well before. The Passenger Pigeon was a common bird once. Thank you for your conservation consideration, yours sincerely, Grant. Grant Stevenson Fountain Hill, PA Subject: Hilton Pond 11/18/09 (Hummingbird Records) From: "Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" <research AT HILTONPOND.ORG> Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:32:05 -0500 Did your Ruby-throated Hummingbirds arrive slowly in 2009? Did you think you might have your worst year ever for hosting these little balls of fluff at backyard feeders? Did ruby-throats finally arrive with a vengeance in late summer? If so, you had something in common with our banding efforts in the Carolina Piedmont, where things started extremely slow and finished exceptionally fast. To read about the downs and ups of our unusual 2009 hummingbird season, please visit the 18-21 November 2009 edition of "This Week at Hilton Pond" at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek091118.html . We include some hummer photos you may find of interest. Happy (Thanksgiving) 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 (803) 684-5852 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 ================== Subject: North Star Science and Technology Transmitter Grant Program From: George Wallace <gwallace AT ABCBIRDS.ORG> Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 12:29:44 -0800 Please spread the word: NORTH STAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSMITTER GRANT PROGRAM - North Star Science and Technology, LLC and American Bird Conservancy announce the 7th bi-annual North Star Science and Technology Transmitter Grant Program. In the spirit of giving back to the research community that they serve, North Star will award a total of eight (8) battery-powered or solar satellite transmitters (Argos Platform Transmitter Terminals (PTTs)), to 1-3 recipients (8 PTTs to one project or 4 PTTs to each of two projects, or 4 to one, 2 to one, and 2 to another). PTTs are powerful, cutting-edge tools for the study of bird migration that greatly extend the range over which individual birds can be tracked. The program is open to projects throughout the world. Research that contributes to our knowledge of avian biology and that provides data useful for bird conservation, particularly of threatened species, will receive preference in the selection process. American Bird Conservancy (http://www.abcbirds.org) will handle the proposal submission process, review proposals, and select the winning projects. Please see http://www.northstarst.com for more information and proposal guidelines. Deadline for proposals is February 5, 2010. Any further questions about the program can be directed to George E. Wallace, American Bird Conservancy (EM: gwallace AT abcbirds.org; PH: 540-253-5780; FX: 540-253-5782). George E. Wallace, PhD Vice President, Oceans & Islands Division American Bird Conservancy 4249 Loudoun Avenue P.O. Box 249 The Plains, VA   20198   USA Tel: 540-253-5780 Fax: 540-253-5782 E-mail: gwallace AT abcbirds.org On the web at: www.abcbirds.org Subject: Need info on banding permits From: Ellen Paul <ellen.paul AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:52:02 -0500 Need info re: banding permits. If you have a master permit AND your application for said permit was based on a specific research project that involved one or more specific species (e.g., not a MAPS station), please drop me a line and let me know. I have the reply-to set to come directly to me, not the list. Ellen -- Ellen Paul Executive Director The Ornithological Council Email: ellen.paul AT verizon.net "Providing Scientific Information about Birds" http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET" Subject: Message from the administrator From: Ellen Paul <ellen.paul AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:06:30 -0500 I will be away 11/19 - 12/12. Jeannette Bider, the originator and prior administrator of Ornith-L, used to take a big leap of faith and set the listserve to accept all messages without the need for screening and approval whenever she went away. I'm thinking - maybe not. Balancing the rare "I really need to know now" message against the potential for mischief, and losing members, I think I'll go for the "it can wait until 12/12" option. If you send something to the list and it doesn't show up for a while, this is why. Ellen -- Ellen Paul Executive Director The Ornithological Council Email: ellen.paul AT verizon.net "Providing Scientific Information about Birds" http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET" Subject: Hilton Pond 11/01/09 From: "Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" <research AT HILTONPOND.ORG> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:22:51 -0500 By late October and early November, nature is getting downright serious about preparing for winter. For a sampling of phenological happenings that occur in late autumn, please see our "This Week at Hilton Pond" photo essay for 1-10 November at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek091101.html . There's something for almost everyone--Songbirds, hawks, pollinators, wildflowers, and info about this year's abundant mast crop. There's also a bonus photo and story about a Great Egret that's a long way from where it was originally captured--plus our usual list of birds banded and recaptured during the period--so please don't forget to scroll down the entire page. And as a reminder, the final deadline for our 2010 midwinter Neotropical Hummingbird Expeditions is 24 November 2009, so you still have time to join us for an unforgettable experience in countries that in January and February are warm, sunny, and filled with exotic flora and fauna. 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 (803) 684-5852 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 ================== Subject: Off topic: anucleated erythrocytes From: "William H. Barnard" <barnard AT NORWICH.EDU> Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 12:17:09 -0500 I am hoping the expertise on this list might answer a question that I have been unable to answer. Curious to know whether monotremes have anucleated erythrocytes like the other extant mammals. Is this a derived character of what group? Bill Barnard William H. Barnard, Ph.D. Biology Department Norwich University Northfield, VT 05663 802-485-2342 Subject: Banded Great Egret From: "Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" <research AT HILTONPOND.ORG> Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 08:32:44 -0500 I received a photo of a Great Egret near Fort Mill SC with three bands, two on its left leg and one on the right. Are you aware of anyone in the Carolinas who is banding this species? Thanks, 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 (803) 684-5852 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 ================== Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD (tangent) From: Dora Smith <villandra AT AUSTIN.RR.COM> Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 08:25:55 -0600 Therapods behind me say, Dose 'Dyanptids! Onwy dey culd pind dis zo 'ard. Yours, Dora Smith Austin, TX tiggernut24 AT yahoo.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Lawrie Conole To: ORNITH-L AT SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU Sent: Friday, November 06, 2009 4:36 PM Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD (tangent) The Latin languages have this matter (almost) in hand - a Portuguese-speaking zoologist is for example 'o zoólogo'. The pronunciation is clear because of the acute accent over the second 'o'. Strangely though, zoology is zoologia - another of those confusing exceptions! ... pronounced zoólogia, but written zoologia ... Lawrie Conole 28 Reid Street Northcote 3070 Australia lconole[at]gmail.com 03 9410 9384 0419 588 993 Spector, David (Biology) wrote: Thanks, Ellen. It might be ungracious to carp over details when nominated for an award, but I think that it is a dieresis, not an umlaut (although they look the same). When I serve on committees I try to be a coöperative zoölogist, unlike the person who tends to the chicken house at the zoo (the cooperative zoologist). David ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Ellen Paul [mailto:ellen.paul AT verizon.net] Sent: Friday, November 06, 2009 11:32 AM To: Spector, David (Biology) Cc: ORNITH-L AT SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU Subject: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD (tangent) BEWARE: BIG TANGENT AHEAD! David - I am nominating you for every award out there for using that umlaut over the second "o" in zoology, to demonstrate that it is NOT pronounced zulogy (which would at least be phonetically correct) or zu-ology. It is a never-ending battle to get people - even zoologists - to look at the word and realize that if they want it to be zu-ology then it has to be spelled ZOO-OLOGY (a third "o'). Now, for everyone who wonders what an umlaut is and what it tells you about the pronunciation of the word - an umlaut tells you not to combine the two vowels, but to pronounce each separate. So as David wrote it (using the German umlaut over the second "o") it is telling you that the word is not zulogy (combining the two "o" into an "oo" sound as in HOOT) but is zoh (first "o") ahl ("second "o" and the subsequent consonant) ogy. HOORAY (huray) for David! Ellen Ellen PaulExecutive DirectorThe Ornithological CouncilEmail: ellen.paul AT verizon.net"Providing Scientific Information about Birds"http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET" Spector, David (Biology) wrote: As some one who teaches a Vertebrate Zoölogy course, I would welcome any suggestions for getting students to think phylogenetically. Students seem to get the concepts when I discuss how to read and interpret trees (which they should have encountered before they get to my course), and they seem to follow when I present branching sequences of major taxa. When I ask them a question on an exam, though, many of them revert to the traditional classifications that they have learned since grade school (such as "fish," "agnathan," or "reptile"). The type of question I often give is to present three taxa and ask the students to circle the two that are more closely related and to cross out the one more distantly related. Examples of questions on which many students revert to traditional categorizations are "human, tuna, shark"; "lamprey, human, hagfish"; "bird, crocodile, lizard." By the way, I tell the students that "fish" is synonymous with "vertebrate," and that we are indeed fish. David David Spector Biology Central Connecticut State University ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Lawrie Conole 28 Reid Street Northcote 3070 Australia lconole[at]gmail.com 03 9410 9384 0419 588 993 Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD (tangent) From: Lawrie Conole <lconole AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 09:36:41 +1100 The Latin languages have this matter (almost) in hand - a Portuguese-speaking zoologist is for example 'o zoólogo'. The pronunciation is clear because of the acute accent over the second 'o'. Strangely though, zoology is zoologia - another of those confusing exceptions! ... pronounced zoólogia, but written zoologia ... Lawrie Conole 28 Reid Street Northcote 3070 Australia lconole[at]gmail.com 03 9410 9384 0419 588 993 Spector, David (Biology) wrote: > > Thanks, Ellen. It might be ungracious to carp over details when > nominated for an award, but I think that it is a dieresis, not an > umlaut (although they look the same). > > > > When I serve on committees I try to be a coöperative zoölogist, unlike > the person who tends to the chicken house at the zoo (the cooperative > zoologist). > > > > David > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > *From:* Ellen Paul [mailto:ellen.paul AT verizon.net] > *Sent:* Friday, November 06, 2009 11:32 AM > *To:* Spector, David (Biology) > *Cc:* ORNITH-L AT SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU > *Subject:* Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD (tangent) > > > > BEWARE: BIG TANGENT AHEAD! > > David - I am nominating you for every award out there for using that > umlaut over the second "o" in zoology, to demonstrate that it is NOT > pronounced zulogy (which would at least be phonetically correct) or > zu-ology. It is a never-ending battle to get people - even zoologists > - to look at the word and realize that if they want it to be zu-ology > then it has to be spelled ZOO-OLOGY (a third "o'). > > Now, for everyone who wonders what an umlaut is and what it tells you > about the pronunciation of the word - an umlaut tells you not to > combine the two vowels, but to pronounce each separate. > > So as David wrote it (using the German umlaut over the second "o") it > is telling you that the word is not zulogy (combining the two "o" into > an "oo" sound as in HOOT) but is zoh (first "o") ahl ("second "o" and > the subsequent consonant) ogy. > > HOORAY (huray) for David! > > Ellen > > Ellen Paul > Executive Director > The Ornithological Council > Email: ellen.paul AT verizon.net > "Providing Scientific Information about Birds" > _http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET" _ > > > > Spector, David (Biology) wrote: > > As some one who teaches a Vertebrate Zoölogy course, I would welcome > any suggestions for getting students to think phylogenetically. > Students seem to get the concepts when I discuss how to read and > interpret trees (which they should have encountered before they get to > my course), and they seem to follow when I present branching sequences > of major taxa. When I ask them a question on an exam, though, many of > them revert to the traditional classifications that they have learned > since grade school (such as "fish," "agnathan," or "reptile"). The > type of question I often give is to present three taxa and ask the > students to circle the two that are more closely related and to cross > out the one more distantly related. Examples of questions on which > many students revert to traditional categorizations are "human, tuna, > shark"; "lamprey, human, hagfish"; "bird, crocodile, lizard." > > > > By the way, I tell the students that "fish" is synonymous with > "vertebrate," and that we are indeed fish. > > > > David > > > > David Spector > > Biology > > Central Connecticut State University > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > > -- Lawrie Conole 28 Reid Street Northcote 3070 Australia lconole[at]gmail.com 03 9410 9384 0419 588 993 Subject: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD (tangent) From: Ellen Paul <ellen.paul AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 11:32:04 -0500 Subject: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD (tangent) From: Ellen Paul <ellen.paul AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 11:46:23 -0500 Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD (tangent) From: "Spector, David (Biology)" <spectord AT MAIL.CCSU.EDU> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 11:38:09 -0500 Thanks, Ellen. It might be ungracious to carp over details when nominated for an award, but I think that it is a dieresis, not an umlaut (although they look the same). When I serve on committees I try to be a coöperative zoölogist, unlike the person who tends to the chicken house at the zoo (the cooperative zoologist). David ________________________________ From: Ellen Paul [mailto:ellen.paul AT verizon.net] Sent: Friday, November 06, 2009 11:32 AM To: Spector, David (Biology) Cc: ORNITH-L AT SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU Subject: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD (tangent) BEWARE: BIG TANGENT AHEAD! David - I am nominating you for every award out there for using that umlaut over the second "o" in zoology, to demonstrate that it is NOT pronounced zulogy (which would at least be phonetically correct) or zu-ology. It is a never-ending battle to get people - even zoologists - to look at the word and realize that if they want it to be zu-ology then it has to be spelled ZOO-OLOGY (a third "o'). Now, for everyone who wonders what an umlaut is and what it tells you about the pronunciation of the word - an umlaut tells you not to combine the two vowels, but to pronounce each separate. So as David wrote it (using the German umlaut over the second "o") it is telling you that the word is not zulogy (combining the two "o" into an "oo" sound as in HOOT) but is zoh (first "o") ahl ("second "o" and the subsequent consonant) ogy. HOORAY (huray) for David! Ellen Ellen Paul Executive Director The Ornithological Council Email: ellen.paul AT verizon.net "Providing Scientific Information about Birds" http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET" Spector, David (Biology) wrote: As some one who teaches a Vertebrate Zoölogy course, I would welcome any suggestions for getting students to think phylogenetically. Students seem to get the concepts when I discuss how to read and interpret trees (which they should have encountered before they get to my course), and they seem to follow when I present branching sequences of major taxa. When I ask them a question on an exam, though, many of them revert to the traditional classifications that they have learned since grade school (such as "fish," "agnathan," or "reptile"). The type of question I often give is to present three taxa and ask the students to circle the two that are more closely related and to cross out the one more distantly related. Examples of questions on which many students revert to traditional categorizations are "human, tuna, shark"; "lamprey, human, hagfish"; "bird, crocodile, lizard." By the way, I tell the students that "fish" is synonymous with "vertebrate," and that we are indeed fish. David David Spector Biology Central Connecticut State University ________________________________ Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD From: Kenneth Bergman <kbergman AT KEENE.EDU> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 11:08:09 -0500 Actually, Mammals appear to have arisen within the "reptilomorphs," a large clade that included many nonamniotic forms that few would label 'Reptiles.' The Synapsid (mammalian) radiation is not rooted within the reptiles as most naturalists would define them. Like Marie-Anne Hudson, I'm currently teaching Vertebrate Zoology, and I find the relationship of birds to dinosaurs (or, alternatively, to thecodont Archosaurs) to be a fascinating suspense novel, as yet to be completed, that adds an enriching dimension to our discussions of the anatomy, physiology, and behavior of modern birds. The discovery of four-winged dinosaurs and of the most ancient bird-like theropods (Anchiornis huxleyi, a pre-Archaeopteryx theropod - see Hu et al in Nature v. 461 p. 640 Oct 2009) has created a rich and entertaining narrative, but one has to be open to complexity. We no longer expect nature to be simple or to fit into simple categories. The incremental evolution of the avian phenotype raises a fundamental questios similar to that encountered in mammalian evolution: when do we officially certify a species as the first bird (or mammal)? At least ornithologists, unlike ichthylogists, are teaching students about an entire natural group of animals (a.k.a, a monophyletic clade). Ken Bergman Prof. of Biology Keene State College Keene, NH 03435 Forget modern cladistics. Because mammals were also derived from reptiles, you should also discuss mammals in your Biology of Reptilia class and require your students to buy three separate textbooks: herpetology, ornithology, and mammalogy. Getting muddier, Jeff ______________________________ Jeff N. Davis Project Manager, Senior Wildlife Ecologist H. T. Harvey & Associates | Ecological Consultants 7815 N Palm Ave Suite 310 | Fresno, CA 93711 Hi all, As someone who teaches a "Natural History of Vertebrates" class, I can tell you that it makes it a lot more interesting/fun to compare and contrast each of the vertebrate lineages from an evolutionary point of view, as well as a macroecological one. Marrying the two approaches when presenting the material (classical and well-known Linnean vs. more recent and largely unknown-to-ungrads phylogenetic) so that everyone understands the differences is sometimes tricky. Now if only we were sure where to put the turtles... Marie-Anne Hudson Lecturer, McGill University Montreal, Canada Pity the poor cladisticly-minded ichthyology professor, who has to explain that the course will ignore such major mostly-terrestrial fish groups as the amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds! Tom Langen Associate Professor Departments of Biology & Psychology Clarkson University Box 5805, Clarkson U., Potsdam NY 13699-5805 -- ************************************************ Kenneth D. Bergman, PhD Professor of Biology Keene State College 229 Main Street Keene, NH 03435-2001 PH (603) 358-2580 FAX (603) 358-2897 http://www.flickr.com/photos/8561740 AT N08/ ************************************************ Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD From: "Spector, David (Biology)" <spectord AT MAIL.CCSU.EDU> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 10:36:53 -0500 As some one who teaches a Vertebrate Zoölogy course, I would welcome any suggestions for getting students to think phylogenetically. Students seem to get the concepts when I discuss how to read and interpret trees (which they should have encountered before they get to my course), and they seem to follow when I present branching sequences of major taxa. When I ask them a question on an exam, though, many of them revert to the traditional classifications that they have learned since grade school (such as "fish," "agnathan," or "reptile"). The type of question I often give is to present three taxa and ask the students to circle the two that are more closely related and to cross out the one more distantly related. Examples of questions on which many students revert to traditional categorizations are "human, tuna, shark"; "lamprey, human, hagfish"; "bird, crocodile, lizard." By the way, I tell the students that "fish" is synonymous with "vertebrate," and that we are indeed fish. David David Spector Biology Central Connecticut State University ________________________________ From: ORNITH-L: the scientific discussion of Ornithology [mailto:ORNITH-L AT SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU] On Behalf Of Tom Langen Sent: Friday, November 06, 2009 9:24 AM To: ORNITH-L AT SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD Pity the poor cladisticly-minded ichthyology professor, who has to explain that the course will ignore such major mostly-terrestrial fish groups as the amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds! Tom Langen Associate Professor Departments of Biology & Psychology Clarkson University Box 5805, Clarkson U., Potsdam NY 13699-5805 Phone: 315 268 7933, Fax: 315 268 7118 www.clarkson.edu/~tlangen Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD From: stan moore <hawkman11 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 15:31:51 +0000 <16DD87487289A44088D4991B7D9EA8B501BAD8B2 AT exchange.harvey.corp> <847AF62F-AB63-481F-BE67-5EEB79CA30AE AT CSUFRESNO.EDU> <6ff57cbc0911060446h7b6d8c03qf369dd82ed8d146 AT mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable MIME-Version: 1.0 It was a lot simpler when I was receiving my formal education (such as it w= as) in Sunday School in pre-evoutionary Texas: Birds were created during = hours 1-4 of Creative Day 6 -- no more detail available or required. =20 However=2C I now prefer complexity... =20 And when I look at the reptilian faces of red-tail hawks=2C their scaly leg= s and their flaky skin=2C I think something dynamic and ancient is still at= play. =20 =20 Stan Moore =20 ________________________________ > Date: Fri=2C 6 Nov 2009 07:46:52 -0500 > From: marie-anne.hudson AT MAIL.MCGILL.CA > Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD > To: ORNITH-L AT SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU > > Hi all=2C > > As someone who teaches a "Natural History of Vertebrates" class=2C I can = tell you that it makes it a lot more interesting/fun to compare and contras= t each of the vertebrate lineages from an evolutionary point of view=2C as = well as a macroecological one. Marrying the two approaches when presenting = the material (classical and well-known Linnean vs. more recent and largely = unknown-to-ungrads phylogenetic) so that everyone understands the differenc= es is sometimes tricky. > > > Now if only we were sure where to put the turtles... > > Marie-Anne Hudson > Lecturer=2C McGill University > Montreal=2C Canada > =20 _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: Unclutter your desktop. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=3D9690331&ocid=3DPID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:= en-US:WWL_WIN_evergreen:112009= Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD From: Tom Langen <tlangen AT CLARKSON.EDU> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 09:24:13 -0500 Pity the poor cladisticly-minded ichthyology professor, who has to explain that the course will ignore such major mostly-terrestrial fish groups as the amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds! Tom Langen Associate Professor Departments of Biology & Psychology Clarkson University Box 5805, Clarkson U., Potsdam NY 13699-5805 Phone: 315 268 7933, Fax: 315 268 7118 www.clarkson.edu/~tlangen Subject: Birds and agriculture - opportunity to serve on a Federal Advisory Committee From: Ellen Paul <ellen.paul AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 10:25:29 -0500 The EPA is accepting nominations for its Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Committee. If you are interested in/working on ag practices and/or birds in ag landscapes, you might want to consider nominating yourself or the OC can nominate you. In either case, we would certainly work with you to put together a strong application package. Please contact me if you are interested. Ellen -- Ellen Paul Executive Director The Ornithological Council Email: ellen.paul AT verizon.net "Providing Scientific Information about Birds" http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET" Federal Register: November 6, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 214)] Notices Page 57468 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-8978-4] Request for Nominations to the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Committee (FRRCC) AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of request for nominations to the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Committee (FRRCC). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee (FRRCC). The FRRCC is a federal advisory committee chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), Public Law 92463. The FRRCC was established in 2008 and provides independent advice to the EPA Administrator on a broad range of environmental issues and policies that are of importance to agriculture and rural communities. Members serve as representatives from academia, industry (e.g., farm groups and allied industries), non-governmental organizations, and state, local, and tribal governments. Members are appointed by the EPA Administrator for two-year terms with the possibility of reappointment. The FRRCC generally meets two (2) times annually, or as needed and approved by the Designated Federal Officer (DFO). Meetings will generally be held in Washington, DC. Members serve on the Committee in a voluntary capacity. However, EPA may provide reimbursement for travel expenses associated with official government business. EPA is seeking nominations from all sectors, including academia, industry (e.g., farm groups and allied industries), non-governmental organizations, and state, local, and tribal governments. Members who are actively engaged in farming or ranching are encouraged to apply. EPA values and welcomes diversity. In an effort to obtain nominations of diverse candidates, EPA encourages nominations of women and men of all racial and ethnic groups. In selecting Committee members, EPA will seek candidates who possess: extensive professional knowledge of agricultural issues and environmental policy; a demonstrated ability to examine and analyze complicated environmental issues with objectivity and integrity; excellent interpersonal as well as oral and written communication skills; and an ability and willingness to participate in a deliberative and collaborative process. In addition, well-qualified applicants must be prepared to process a substantial amount of complex and technical information, and have the ability to volunteer approximately 10 to 15 hours per month to the Committee's activities, including participation in teleconference meetings and preparation of text for Committee reports. Submissions Procedure: All nominations must be identified by name, occupation, organization, position, current business address, e-mail address, and daytime telephone number, and must include: (1) A resume detailing relevant experience and professional and educational qualifications of the nominee; and (2) a brief statement (one page or less) describing the nominee's interest in serving on the Committee. Interested candidates may self-nominate. DATES: Applicants are encouraged to submit all nominations materials by December 31, 2009 in order to ensure fullest consideration. It is anticipated that vacancies will be filled by spring 2010. ADDRESSES: Submit all nominations to: Alicia Kaiser, Designated Federal Officer, Office of the Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (MC 1101A), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460. You may also e-mail nominations to: Kaiser.Alicia AT epa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alicia Kaiser, Designated Federal Officer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; E-mail: Kaiser.Alicia AT epa.gov; Telephone: (202) 564-7273. Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD From: Robert Curry <robert.curry AT VILLANOVA.EDU> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 08:09:18 -0500 Clearly the avian lineage is muddled ... because many appear actually to be bird-mammal hybrids: * cowbird * mousebird * catbird * bullfinch * titmouse While others are-obviously-allied with arthropods! * antbird * antshrike * antvireo * antpitta * cicadabird * crab-plover * gnatwren ;-) -- Robert. L. Curry, Ph.D. Professor Department of Biology Villanova University 800 Lancaster Avenue Villanova, PA 19085 USA Tel. 610-519-6455 Fax 610-519-7863 http://www.homepage.villanova.edu/robert.curry/ Second Vice-President, Wilson Ornithological Society, 2009-2011 Vice-Chair, Board of Directors, Ornithological Council Web-master, BIRDNET (http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET) Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD From: Marie-Anne Hudson <marie-anne.hudson AT MAIL.MCGILL.CA> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 07:46:52 -0500 Hi all, As someone who teaches a "Natural History of Vertebrates" class, I can tell you that it makes it a lot more interesting/fun to compare and contrast each of the vertebrate lineages from an evolutionary point of view, as well as a macroecological one. Marrying the two approaches when presenting the material (classical and well-known Linnean vs. more recent and largely unknown-to-ungrads phylogenetic) so that everyone understands the differences is sometimes tricky. Now if only we were sure where to put the turtles... Marie-Anne Hudson Lecturer, McGill University Montreal, Canada Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD From: Eran Tomer <erantomer AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 19:12:55 -0500 ...And thus evolved the Turtle Dove, Crocodile Bird, Lizard Buzzard and Serpent-eagle, as well as the genera Dinornis and Dinopium. (The Frogmouth is another story). Best regards, - Eran Tomer Atlanta, Georgia, USA On Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 5:48 PM, Madhusudan Katti wrote: > Rather than claiming that Archaeopteryx or some other fossil is or isn't > a "bird", isn't it safer / more accurate (phylogenetically) to say that > BIRDS ARE DINOSAURS? > > That certainly goes over well with the students in my "Biology of Reptiles > and Birds" class, which should really be called the "Biology of Reptilia" > since it is organized thus to recognize the evolutionary relationships > mentioned below rather than traditional Linnaean taxonomy. Makes much more > sense to group reptiles with birds rather than with amphibians as in > Herpetology. > Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD From: Dora Smith <villandra AT AUSTIN.RR.COM> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 19:18:13 -0600 I think she's right. Archeopteryx was a sideline on the road to birdhood. Yours, Dora Smith Austin, TX tiggernut24 AT yahoo.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joseph Morlan" To: Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 1:59 PM Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD > On Thu, 5 Nov 2009 14:05:49 -0500, Ellen Paul > wrote: > >>If you had a question about Archeopteryx on an exam, and got in wrong, >>maybe you can go back and ask for a re-grade! >> >>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVNXXLLUYFM > > I don't know about that. Feathers = Class AVES > > -- > Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu > SF Birding Classes start Nov. 3 http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/ > California Bird Records Committee http://www.californiabirds.org/ > Western Field Ornithologists > http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/ Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD From: Madhusudan Katti <mkatti AT CSUFRESNO.EDU> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 17:16:18 -0800 Hi Jeff, I have actually contemplated developing a new course on the Biology of Amniota, to really look at all three groups in a comparative evolutionary framework! That would also get around the fact that our department no longer has someone to teach mammalogy either. And as for textbooks, well, by that point I might actually get away with a single book again, on vertebrates. Madhu On Nov 5, 2009, at 4:07 PM, Jeff Davis wrote: > Forget modern cladistics. Because mammals were also derived from > reptiles, you should also discuss mammals in your Biology of > Reptilia class and require your students to buy three separate > textbooks: herpetology, ornithology, and mammalogy. > > Getting muddier, > > Jeff > ______________________________ > Jeff N. Davis > Project Manager, Senior Wildlife Ecologist > H. T. Harvey & Associates | Ecological Consultants > 7815 N Palm Ave Suite 310 | Fresno, CA 93711 > P. 559.476.3164 > C. 559.246.3272 > F. 559.476.3170 > jdavis AT harveyecology.com > www.harveyecology.com > > > From: ORNITH-L: the scientific discussion of Ornithology > [mailto:ORNITH-L AT SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU] On Behalf Of Madhusudan Katti > Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 2:48 PM > To: ORNITH-L AT SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU > Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD > > Rather than claiming that Archaeopteryx or some other fossil is or > isn't a "bird", isn't it safer / more accurate (phylogenetically) to > say that BIRDS ARE DINOSAURS? > > That certainly goes over well with the students in my "Biology of > Reptiles and Birds" class, which should really be called the > "Biology of Reptilia" since it is organized thus to recognize the > evolutionary relationships mentioned below rather than traditional > Linnaean taxonomy. Makes much more sense to group reptiles with > birds rather than with amphibians as in Herpetology. Of course my > class has the new problem then of needing two separate textbooks: > Herpetology and Ornithology! > > How's that for muddying or clarifying the waters even more? > > Madhu > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Madhusudan Katti > Assistant Professor > Department of Biology, M/S SB73 > California State University, Fresno > 2555 E. San Ramon Ave. > Fresno, CA 93740-8034 > > 559.278.2460 > aranyak AT me.com > http://reconciliationecology.org/ > > http://blog.reconciliationecology.org/ > http://evolvefresno.blogspot.com/ > http://www.valleycafesci.org/ > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > On Nov 5, 2009, at 1:31 PM, Kenneth Bergman wrote: > > > In comparison to other extant vertebrates, feathers DO make the > bird, or are at least sufficient to distinguish birds as a group > unlike other modern organisms. > > However, in evolutionary context, the full suite of characteristics > that define birds evolved in mosaic fashion, rather than emerging > simultaneously or synchronously. This means that defining birds > phylogenetically is not an easy proposition. There are now lots of > fossils from feathered dinosaurs that most birders would not want to > call Birds. Most modern biologists think in evolutionary terms and > place species on branching clades on an evolutionary tree. Linnaean > Classes haven't been formally repudiated by all biologists, but > increasingly common for working biologists to ignore or neglect such > static categories because, as convenient as they were for purposes > of reference and data storage, they often don't conform to our > current understanding of the history of life. The Class Reptilia, > for example, excludes birds and is considered merely a category of > convenience, not a term denoting a natural biological group > consisting exclusively of all organisms descended from a most recent > common ancestor. Most zoologists are happy to purchase field > guides to the reptiles, since they describe a group of animals > whose features show a convenient similarity, but most zoologists > also understand that those similarities don't always stand up to > close analysis aimed at discerning patterns of ancestry and > evolutionary kinship. > > Happy to muddy the waters..... > > Ken Bergman > > > >> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 15:16:23 -0500 >> Reply-To: "James J. Roper" >> Sender: "ORNITH-L: the scientific discussion of Ornithology" > > >> From: "James J. Roper" >> Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD >> To: ORNITH-L AT SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU >> >> Well, that only means that many dinosaurs were AVES... Or, are >> feathers really all that important in defining birds... >> On Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 14:59, Joseph Morlan >> wrote: >> On Thu, 5 Nov 2009 14:05:49 -0500, Ellen Paul >> >> wrote: >> >> >If you had a question about Archeopteryx on an exam, and got in >> wrong, >> >maybe you can go back and ask for a re-grade! >> > >> >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVNXXLLUYFM >> I don't know about that. Feathers = Class AVES >> >> -- >> Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu >> SF Birding Classes start Nov. 3 http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/ >> California Bird Records Committee http://www.californiabirds.org/ >> Western Field Ornithologists http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/ > > > -- > > ************************************************ > Kenneth D. Bergman, PhD > Professor of Biology > Keene State College > 229 Main Street > Keene, NH 03435-2001 > PH (603) 358-2580 > FAX (603) 358-2897 > http://www.flickr.com/photos/8561740 AT N08/ > > ************************************************ > Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD From: Jeff Davis <jdavis AT HARVEYECOLOGY.COM> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 16:07:52 -0800 Forget modern cladistics. Because mammals were also derived from reptiles, you should also discuss mammals in your Biology of Reptilia class and require your students to buy three separate textbooks: herpetology, ornithology, and mammalogy. Getting muddier, Jeff ______________________________ Jeff N. Davis Project Manager, Senior Wildlife Ecologist H. T. Harvey & Associates | Ecological Consultants 7815 N Palm Ave Suite 310 | Fresno, CA 93711 P. 559.476.3164 C. 559.246.3272 F. 559.476.3170 jdavis AT harveyecology.com www.harveyecology.com ________________________________ From: ORNITH-L: the scientific discussion of Ornithology [mailto:ORNITH-L AT SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU] On Behalf Of Madhusudan Katti Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 2:48 PM To: ORNITH-L AT SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD Rather than claiming that Archaeopteryx or some other fossil is or isn't a "bird", isn't it safer / more accurate (phylogenetically) to say that BIRDS ARE DINOSAURS? That certainly goes over well with the students in my "Biology of Reptiles and Birds" class, which should really be called the "Biology of Reptilia" since it is organized thus to recognize the evolutionary relationships mentioned below rather than traditional Linnaean taxonomy. Makes much more sense to group reptiles with birds rather than with amphibians as in Herpetology. Of course my class has the new problem then of needing two separate textbooks: Herpetology and Ornithology! How's that for muddying or clarifying the waters even more? Madhu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Madhusudan Katti Assistant Professor Department of Biology, M/S SB73 California State University, Fresno 2555 E. San Ramon Ave. Fresno, CA 93740-8034 559.278.2460 aranyak AT me.com http://reconciliationecology.org/ http://blog.reconciliationecology.org/ http://evolvefresno.blogspot.com/ http://www.valleycafesci.org/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On Nov 5, 2009, at 1:31 PM, Kenneth Bergman wrote: In comparison to other extant vertebrates, feathers DO make the bird, or are at least sufficient to distinguish birds as a group unlike other modern organisms. However, in evolutionary context, the full suite of characteristics that define birds evolved in mosaic fashion, rather than emerging simultaneously or synchronously. This means that defining birds phylogenetically is not an easy proposition. There are now lots of fossils from feathered dinosaurs that most birders would not want to call Birds. Most modern biologists think in evolutionary terms and place species on branching clades on an evolutionary tree. Linnaean Classes haven't been formally repudiated by all biologists, but increasingly common for working biologists to ignore or neglect such static categories because, as convenient as they were for purposes of reference and data storage, they often don't conform to our current understanding of the history of life. The Class Reptilia, for example, excludes birds and is considered merely a category of convenience, not a term denoting a natural biological group consisting exclusively of all organisms descended from a most recent common ancestor. Most zoologists are happy to purchase field guides to the reptiles, since they describe a group of animals whose features show a convenient similarity, but most zoologists also understand that those similarities don't always stand up to close analysis aimed at discerning patterns of ancestry and evolutionary kinship. Happy to muddy the waters..... Ken Bergman Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 15:16:23 -0500 Reply-To: "James J. Roper" Sender: "ORNITH-L: the scientific discussion of Ornithology" From: "James J. Roper" Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD To: ORNITH-L AT SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU Well, that only means that many dinosaurs were AVES... Or, are feathers really all that important in defining birds... On Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 14:59, Joseph Morlan wrote: On Thu, 5 Nov 2009 14:05:49 -0500, Ellen Paul wrote: >If you had a question about Archeopteryx on an exam, and got in wrong, >maybe you can go back and ask for a re-grade! > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVNXXLLUYFM I don't know about that. Feathers = Class AVES -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu SF Birding Classes start Nov. 3 http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/ California Bird Records Committee http://www.californiabirds.org/ Western Field Ornithologists http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/ -- ************************************************ Kenneth D. Bergman, PhD Professor of Biology Keene State College 229 Main Street Keene, NH 03435-2001 PH (603) 358-2580 FAX (603) 358-2897 http://www.flickr.com/photos/8561740 AT N08/ ************************************************ Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD From: Madhusudan Katti <mkatti AT CSUFRESNO.EDU> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 14:48:16 -0800 Rather than claiming that Archaeopteryx or some other fossil is or isn't a "bird", isn't it safer / more accurate (phylogenetically) to say that BIRDS ARE DINOSAURS? That certainly goes over well with the students in my "Biology of Reptiles and Birds" class, which should really be called the "Biology of Reptilia" since it is organized thus to recognize the evolutionary relationships mentioned below rather than traditional Linnaean taxonomy. Makes much more sense to group reptiles with birds rather than with amphibians as in Herpetology. Of course my class has the new problem then of needing two separate textbooks: Herpetology and Ornithology! How's that for muddying or clarifying the waters even more? Madhu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Madhusudan Katti Assistant Professor Department of Biology, M/S SB73 California State University, Fresno 2555 E. San Ramon Ave. Fresno, CA 93740-8034 559.278.2460 aranyak AT me.com http://reconciliationecology.org/ http://blog.reconciliationecology.org/ http://evolvefresno.blogspot.com/ http://www.valleycafesci.org/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On Nov 5, 2009, at 1:31 PM, Kenneth Bergman wrote: > In comparison to other extant vertebrates, feathers DO make the > bird, or are at least sufficient to distinguish birds as a group > unlike other modern organisms. > > However, in evolutionary context, the full suite of characteristics > that define birds evolved in mosaic fashion, rather than emerging > simultaneously or synchronously. This means that defining birds > phylogenetically is not an easy proposition. There are now lots of > fossils from feathered dinosaurs that most birders would not want to > call Birds. Most modern biologists think in evolutionary terms and > place species on branching clades on an evolutionary tree. Linnaean > Classes haven't been formally repudiated by all biologists, but > increasingly common for working biologists to ignore or neglect such > static categories because, as convenient as they were for purposes > of reference and data storage, they often don't conform to our > current understanding of the history of life. The Class Reptilia, > for example, excludes birds and is considered merely a category of > convenience, not a term denoting a natural biological group > consisting exclusively of all organisms descended from a most recent > common ancestor. Most zoologists are happy to purchase field > guides to the reptiles, since they describe a group of animals > whose features show a convenient similarity, but most zoologists > also understand that those similarities don't always stand up to > close analysis aimed at discerning patterns of ancestry and > evolutionary kinship. > > Happy to muddy the waters..... > > Ken Bergman > > > >> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 15:16:23 -0500 >> Reply-To: "James J. Roper" >> Sender: "ORNITH-L: the scientific discussion of Ornithology" > > >> From: "James J. Roper" >> Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD >> To: ORNITH-L AT SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU >> >> Well, that only means that many dinosaurs were AVES... Or, are >> feathers really all that important in defining birds... >> On Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 14:59, Joseph Morlan >> wrote: >> On Thu, 5 Nov 2009 14:05:49 -0500, Ellen Paul >> >> wrote: >> >> >If you had a question about Archeopteryx on an exam, and got in >> wrong, >> >maybe you can go back and ask for a re-grade! >> > >> >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVNXXLLUYFM >> I don't know about that. Feathers = Class AVES >> >> -- >> Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu >> SF Birding Classes start Nov. 3 http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/ >> California Bird Records Committee http://www.californiabirds.org/ >> Western Field Ornithologists http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/ > > > -- > > ************************************************ > Kenneth D. Bergman, PhD > Professor of Biology > Keene State College > 229 Main Street > Keene, NH 03435-2001 > PH (603) 358-2580 > FAX (603) 358-2897 > http://www.flickr.com/photos/8561740 AT N08/ > > ************************************************ Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD From: Kenneth Bergman <kbergman AT KEENE.EDU> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 16:31:22 -0500 In comparison to other extant vertebrates, feathers DO make the bird, or are at least sufficient to distinguish birds as a group unlike other modern organisms. However, in evolutionary context, the full suite of characteristics that define birds evolved in mosaic fashion, rather than emerging simultaneously or synchronously. This means that defining birds phylogenetically is not an easy proposition. There are now lots of fossils from feathered dinosaurs that most birders would not want to call Birds. Most modern biologists think in evolutionary terms and place species on branching clades on an evolutionary tree. Linnaean Classes haven't been formally repudiated by all biologists, but increasingly common for working biologists to ignore or neglect such static categories because, as convenient as they were for purposes of reference and data storage, they often don't conform to our current understanding of the history of life. The Class Reptilia, for example, excludes birds and is considered merely a category of convenience, not a term denoting a natural biological group consisting exclusively of all organisms descended from a most recent common ancestor. Most zoologists are happy to purchase field guides to the reptiles, since they describe a group of animals whose features show a convenient similarity, but most zoologists also understand that those similarities don't always stand up to close analysis aimed at discerning patterns of ancestry and evolutionary kinship. Happy to muddy the waters..... Ken Bergman >Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 15:16:23 -0500 >Reply-To: "James J. Roper" >Sender: "ORNITH-L: the scientific discussion of Ornithology" > >From: "James J. Roper" >Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD >To: ORNITH-L AT SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU > >Well, that only means that many dinosaurs were AVES... Or, are >feathers really all that important in defining birds... > >On Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 14:59, Joseph Morlan ><jmorlan AT gmail.com> wrote: > >On Thu, 5 Nov 2009 14:05:49 -0500, Ellen Paul ><ellen.paul AT VERIZON.NET> >wrote: > > >>If you had a question about Archeopteryx on an exam, and got in wrong, >>maybe you can go back and ask for a re-grade! >> >>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVNXXLLUYFM > >I don't know about that. Feathers = Class AVES > >-- >Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu >SF Birding Classes start Nov. 3 > http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/ >California Bird Records Committee > http://www.californiabirds.org/ >Western Field Ornithologists >http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/ -- ************************************************ Kenneth D. Bergman, PhD Professor of Biology Keene State College 229 Main Street Keene, NH 03435-2001 PH (603) 358-2580 FAX (603) 358-2897 http://www.flickr.com/photos/8561740 AT N08/ ************************************************ Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD From: "James J. Roper" <jjroper AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 15:16:23 -0500 Well, that only means that many dinosaurs were AVES... Or, are feathers really all that important in defining birds... On Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 14:59, Joseph Morlan wrote: > On Thu, 5 Nov 2009 14:05:49 -0500, Ellen Paul > wrote: > > >If you had a question about Archeopteryx on an exam, and got in wrong, > >maybe you can go back and ask for a re-grade! > > > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVNXXLLUYFM > > I don't know about that. Feathers = Class AVES > > -- > Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu > SF Birding Classes start Nov. 3 http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/ > California Bird Records Committee http://www.californiabirds.org/ > Western Field Ornithologists > http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/ > Subject: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD From: Ellen Paul <ellen.paul AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 15:04:16 -0500 Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD From: Joseph Morlan <jmorlan AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 11:59:33 -0800 On Thu, 5 Nov 2009 14:05:49 -0500, Ellen Paul wrote: >If you had a question about Archeopteryx on an exam, and got in wrong, >maybe you can go back and ask for a re-grade! > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVNXXLLUYFM I don't know about that. Feathers = Class AVES -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu SF Birding Classes start Nov. 3 http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/ California Bird Records Committee http://www.californiabirds.org/ Western Field Ornithologists http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/ Subject: Archaeopteryx NOT A BIRD From: Ellen Paul <ellen.paul AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 14:05:49 -0500 If you had a question about Archeopteryx on an exam, and got in wrong, maybe you can go back and ask for a re-grade! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVNXXLLUYFM -- Ellen Paul Executive Director The Ornithological Council Email: ellen.paul AT verizon.net "Providing Scientific Information about Birds" http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET" Subject: Job announcement From: Ellen Paul <ellen.paul AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 13:26:43 -0500 Position Announcements Posted Assistant Coordinator East Gulf Coastal Plain Joint Venture This position is being advertised under two job announcement numbers at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ One announcement is "Merit Promotion" and is open for existing career conditional federal employees. The other is "Public" and is open to all U.S. Citizens. "Public" Job Announcement Number: R4-10-DEU-296405-MS Who May Apply: US Citizens Open Period: 10/29/2009 – 11/19/2009 Full Link: Assistant Coordinator, EGCP Joint Venture - R4-10-DEU-296405-MS "Merit Promotion" Job Announcement Number: R4-10-281348-MS Who May Apply: Government-wide - Open to current career or career-conditional Federal employees and former Federal employees with reinstatement eligibility. Veterans who are preference eligibles or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after 3 or more years of continuous active service may apply under the Veterans' Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA). Open Period: 10/28/2009 – 11/18/2009 Full Link: Assistant Coordinator, EGCP Joint Venture - R4-10-281348-MS Please see full position announcements for detailed instructions on applying for this position. For questions regarding the position itself, please contact: Catherine Rideout East Gulf Coastal Plain Joint Venture Coordinator Catherine_Rideout AT fws.gov 334-844-9219 Position Overview The incumbent serves as the Assistant Coordinator for the East Gulf Coastal Plain Joint Venture (EGCPJV) and functions as part of the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s EGCPJV Office. The EGCPJV is a partnership among private, state, and federal organizations that assumes responsibility for the planning, design, implementation, and evaluation of landscape-scale bird conservation activities within the East Gulf Coastal Plain, consistent with national and international initiatives. The incumbent’s major responsibility is developing and guiding the partnership’s conservation delivery infrastructure. Additionally, the incumbent has responsibility for coordinating and facilitating the development and refinement of a strong biological foundation. Fulfilling these broad functional responsibilities ensures that the partnership's conservation actions are based on sound science and are targeted to effectively contribute to the long-term sustainability of priority bird populations and the ecological systems on which they depend. Major duties of the position can be classified within 6 broad, inter-related elements. Partnership Development and Support: The incumbent sustains an effective and thriving partnership environment for accomplishing EGCPJV technical activities. This includes building of an active technical infrastructure to develop and progressively refine the EGCPJV's scientific foundation, and to assist in translating this science in support of meaningful conservation action. Biological Planning and Conservation Design: In collaboration with partners, the incumbent coordinates the development of transparent, replicable, science-based procedures for establishing goals and objectives that reflect measurable biological outcomes linked across multiple spatial scales. Activities may include integration of biological goals and objectives for multiple bird species groups (e.g. waterfowl, landbirds, shorebirds), linking bird population goals and objectives across spatial scales, supporting development of decision support tools, and integrating goals and objectives across agencies, organizations and programs. Conservation Delivery: The incumbent develops processes to apply and interpret decision support tools to facilitate site-scale conservation decisions and guide conservation delivery activities of EGCPJV partners. The incumbent engages partners to effectively align and coordinate delivery programs, provides technical guidance, and assists in the identification and development of federal, state, and private grant proposals supporting the habitat conservation goals and objectives of the EGCPJV. Decision-based Monitoring and Evaluation: Working with appropriate regional and national committees and networks, the incumbent assists in developing goals, objectives, protocols, and procedures for monitoring habitat change and population response at multiple spatial scales. The incumbent coordinates the development and use of conservation tracking and monitoring systems that support evaluation activities and feed into biological planning and conservation design efforts. Assumption-driven Research: The incumbent works with the technical and scientific community to identify and address information needs related to key assumptions in EGCPJV decision processes, and coordinates activities to refine the EGCPJV's scientific foundation. National and International Coordination: Responsibilities extend to national and international forums. The incumbent develops briefing papers on policy and technical issues associated with the implementation of national and international migratory bird conservation initiatives, and represents the EGCPJV and the Service at national and international meetings and in the broader science arena with respect to national and international bird conservation initiatives. Subject: Job announcement From: Ellen Paul <ellen.paul AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 11:11:43 -0500 Position Announcement Science Coordinator Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture The Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture (AMJV) Science Coordinator position is being advertised at 2 locations (either Blacksburg, VA or Lexington, KY) through: 1) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), job announcement number PH-NM-10-297477 at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/, and 2) American Bird Conservancy (ABC; see job announcement below). Anyone interested in the position is encouraged (but not required) to submit application materials to both FWS and ABC. The position is open to all US Citizens (and Status Candidates within the FWS). Open Period: 11/4/2009 – 11/25/2009 Full Link: Science Coordinator, AMJV; Announcement #: PH-NM-10-297477 Please see full announcements through the link above (FWS) or the text below (ABC) for detailed instructions on applying for this position. If you have questions regarding the position or about the AMJV, please contact: Brian W. Smith Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture Coordinator bsmith AT abcbirds.org 502-573-0330, ext. 227 American Bird Conservancy Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture Science Coordinator Position Description This is a full-time position with American Bird Conservancy (ABC); however, you may see this position announced simultaneously through another employer. We encourage all interested applicants to apply through both avenues. The Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture (AMJV) Science Coordinator works for the AMJV partnership, which consists of private, state, and federal conservation agencies and organizations that have assumed responsibility for the implementation of national and international bird conservation plans within the Appalachian Mountains Bird Conservation Region. The Science Coordinator functions as part of the AMJV Office and will report directly to the AMVJ Coordinator. The AMJV Office is responsible for coordinating and facilitating the work of the entire AMJV partnership on all aspects of bird conservation planning, implementation, monitoring, research, and evaluation. As Science Coordinator for the AMJV Office, the incumbent focuses on the biological underpinnings of the conservation partnership’s collective efforts – coordinating and facilitating the development and progressive refinement of a strong scientific foundation for bird conservation within the region. Work station will be in Blacksburg (VA) or Lexington (KY). This position requires a good understanding of ABC’s and AMJV’s mission, and a basic knowledge of Joint Venture structure and function. There is a great deal of contact with others within and outside the organization and partnership, in person, by telephone, and through e-mail and other correspondence. The work requires initiative, flexibility, and attention to detail. It is essential that the staff member in this position is able to prioritize tasks and work in a team environment. The position reports to the AMJV Coordinator and ABC’s Vice-President for Conservation Science. MAJOR DUTIES 1. The Science Coordinator will coordinate and facilitate the science-based biological planning necessary to link on-the-ground habitat objectives of Joint Venture partners to population goals and objectives of regional, national, and international bird conservation plans. Additionally, this individual will be responsible for coordinating activities of multiple partners in developing – through transparent, replicable processes and procedures – goals and objectives that reflect measurable biological outcomes linked across multiple spatial scales. 2. The Science Coordinator is responsible for coordinating activities of multiple partners in order to integrate biological goals and objectives for multiple bird species groups in a spatially-explicit manner. 3. The Science Coordinator is responsible for coordinating activities of multiple partners in developing decision support tools that guide on-the-ground conservation actions with explicit consideration of the environmental sensitivity of the landscape and broader-scale biological outcomes. 4. Working through technical working groups and individual conservation partners, the Science Coordinator is responsible for developing goals, objectives, protocols, and procedures for monitoring habitat change and population response at multiple spatial scales that are linked to formal decision-making processes. 5. Working with and through scientists in other agencies and organizations, the Science Coordinator is responsible for identifying research needs and facilitating projects that address assumptions and uncertainties associated with the Joint Venture’s biological planning and that lead to progressive refinement of its biological goals and objectives. 6. The Science Coordinator will be responsible for creating and maintaining an effective partnership infrastructure that includes standing and ad hoc committees/working groups focused on developing and progressively refining the scientific foundation of conservation actions of Joint Venture partners. 7. The Science Coordinator will represent the Joint Venture Office and Joint Venture partnership in broader science arenas associated with national and international bird conservation initiatives (e.g. the Partners in Flight Science Committee). POSITION REQUIREMENTS 1. College degree and at least three years work/research experience in a related position. Demonstrated knowledge of the theories and principles of landscape ecology, population ecology, and ecosystem management. 2. Demonstrated knowledge of Geographic Information Systems and their role, utility, and application in characterizing, analyzing, and assessing ecological processes, systems, and conditions. 3. Demonstrated knowledge of field techniques and procedures in monitoring and assessing wildlife population status and habitat conditions, and knowledge of the natural history of the birds of the Appalachian Mountains. 4. Skill in the development of population/habitat relationship models and the application of model-based approaches to assessing, predicting, or monitoring the ability of landscapes to support/sustain wildlife populations. 5. Skill in developing and executing experimental designs to test and assess hypotheses regarding population/habitat relationships. 6. Demonstrated abilities in written and oral communication with academia, habitat managers, conservation administrators, and the general public. 7. Skill in using statistical software and programming languages to develop algorithms and scripts to support complex analyses of tabular and spatial data. 8. Demonstrated ability in organizing and conducting research projects and studies that lead to peer-reviewed results and publications. 9. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with conservation professionals and professionals from other disciplines. 10. Skill in developing grant proposals to support biological research and assessment. 11. Willingness to travel frequently throughout the Appalachians and U.S., and occasionally internationally. CONTACT Please send cover letter and resume by November 25, 2009 to: Merrie S. Morrison Vice President for Operations American Bird Conservancy PO Box 249 The Plains, VA 20198 mmorr AT abcbirds.org Subject: 2nd Call for Papers - 37th Annual Meeting of the Pacific Seabird Group From: Tom Good <Tom.Good AT NOAA.GOV> Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 15:08:12 -0800 *2nd CALL FOR PAPERS - 37th ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PACIFIC SEABIRD GROUP* *17-21 February, 2010 in Long Beach, California* Abstract Submission Deadline: 13 November, 2009 We invite you to submit an abstract for an oral or poster presentation on any of the Special Sessions or any other seabird topic. Individuals may only submit one oral presentation for which they are the senior author. You will be notified regarding acceptance of your submission as an oral paper or poster, talk duration and poster size. Please send your abstract with the information requested below in one MS Word document to Tom Good (tom.good AT noaa.gov) If you are submitting a paper for one of the Special Paper Sessions listed below, please coordinate your submission with the appropriate session contact. Special Paper Sessions: 1. Life and Death: identification, quantification, and reduction of mortality in seabirds. Contact: Laird Henkel (lhenkel AT ospr.dfg.ca.gov) and Michael Ziccardi) 2. Developing an Ecological Profile of the California Least Tern (/Sternula antillarum browni/) to Support Ecosystem-Based Management Decisions. Contact: Dan Robinette (drobinette AT prbo.org) 3. Seabird Habitat Restoration. Contact: Laurie Harvey (Laurie_Harvey AT nps.gov) For additional details on the meeting and abstract submittal, please visit the PSG website: http://www.pacificseabirdgroup.org/index.php?f=meeting&t=Annual%20Meeting&s=1 Subject: Last week for early registration, abstract submittal, and student award applications for COS/AOU/SCO 2010 From: Ellen Paul <ellen.paul AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 14:03:42 -0500 Subject: Request for paper from DOFT From: Aasheesh Pittie <aasheesh.pittie AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 11:37:28 +0530 Dear Friends, I am looking for a PDF / scan of the following paper, an obituary of Plaudan, who was a member of the Danish expedition to Afghanistan, and would be grateful if someone could help me out. Please contact me directly. Many thanks. Bernt Løppenthin. 1988. Obituary: Knud John Paludan. DOFT. 82 (3-4): 143–144. -------------------------------------------------------- Best wishes and regards! Aasheesh Pittie P.O. Box 68, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad 500034, India. Phones: Mobile: 91 9848039344 / Work: 91 40 23556168 / Fax: 91 40 23556167 / Res. (TelFax): 91 40 23556068. aasheesh.pittie AT gmail.com www.aasheeshpittie.in --------------------------------------------------------- Confidentiality Notice: This email is confidential and may also be privileged. You should not copy the email or disclose its contents to any other person as it is solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender on + 91 40 23556068 and delete this message from your computer. Internet communications cannot be guaranteed to be timely, secure, error- or virus-free. General Statement: Any statements made, or intentions expressed in this communication may not necessarily reflect the view of Aasheesh Pittie. Be advised that no content herein may be held binding upon Aasheesh Pittie or any associate or any associated companies unless confirmed by the issuance of a formal contractual document. P Help save paper - do you need to print this email? Subject: Hilton Pond 10/22/09 (Ant Swarms) From: "Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" <research AT HILTONPOND.ORG> Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:24:24 -0400 "This Week at Hilton Pond" we were admiring all the fall color when a swarm of insects began rising from the ground just outside our office window. Upon further examination--and the use of our olfactory nerves-- we determined they were a distinctive species of flying ants just beginning their fall mating flight. For some close-up looks at the prospective mates, please see our current photo essay for 22-31 October 2009 at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek091022.html Don't forget to scroll down for a surprisingly diverse list of all birds banded and recaptured this week and a note about fall migrants. Happy Autumn 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 (803) 684-5852 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 ================== Subject: Hilton Pond 10/16/09 (White Hummingbirds) From: "Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" <research AT HILTONPOND.ORG> Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:00:46 -0400 For folks who feed hummingbirds, there's hardly anything more exciting than to have a white one show up unannounced among the normal-colored hummers. Thus, we devote our current installment of "This Week at Hilton Pond" to a gallery of white hummingbird images sent to us from across the country. To view our 16-21 October 2009 photo essay on albinos, leucistos, and pieds, please visit http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek091016.html While there, remember to scroll down for a look at our weekly banding totals, plus miscellanous nature notes about Wood Ducks, the status of our endangered Schweinitz's Sunflowers, and our first White-throated Sparrow of the fall. Happy NatureWatching! 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 (803) 684-5852 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 ================== Subject: Neotropical Arrival Dates for Hummingbirds (Autumn 2009) From: "Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" <research AT HILTONPOND.ORG> Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:34:06 -0400 By now, nearly all the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) that will migrate from the U.S. and Canada have departed North America. They are either on the way to non-breeding grounds in Mexico and Central America or have already arrived in the Neotropics. I would be very interested in knowing this year's autumn arrival dates for RTHU if you are in Mexico or any of the seven countries of Central America. I'm also interested in knowing the sex of each RTHU if you can determine it. (Adult males have full red gorgets. Some immature males at this time of year have a few red feathers on their throats. RTHU with white throats could be adult females, immature females, or immature males and should be called "unknown sex.") You can e-mail this information to me, but it would be specially helpful if you could report it through my Operation RubyThroat on-line protocols at EarthTrek at http://goearthtrek.com . You will need to join EarthTrek to report data, but there is no cost to you. Please note that you may report early arrival dates from previous years if you have those data in your files. Next spring you can also report the last dates that you observe RTHU in the Neotropics. The first autumn arrival date reported for 2009 was an adult male on 8 October in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica--not far from where I have been conducting research on RTHU in January and February. Thank you in advance for your help, 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 (803) 684-5852 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 ================== Subject: Hilton Pond 10/01/09 (More Fall Warblers) From: "Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" <research AT HILTONPOND.ORG> Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:12:34 -0400 A couple of weeks ago we devoted a "This Week at Hilton Pond" photo essay to making some "confusing fall warblers" less so. After lots of kind comments from Web site visitors, we decided to cover a few more species that migrated through during the first half of October. To view our latest series on migrant parulids, please check out the 1-15 October 2009 installment at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek091001.html After puzzling over the warblers, don't forget to scroll down for our usual list of birds banded or recaptured during the period, as well as a couple of miscellaneous nature notes. We also reveal the winner of our "Chubby Hummingbird Naming Contest." 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 (803) 684-5852 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 ================== Subject: duck behaviour DVD? From: Randy Lauff <rlauff AT STFX.CA> Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:31:23 -0300 All, A non-ornithologist ethology prof here wants to run a section on observing ducks at our local saltmarsh. He is looking for a DVD that well-illustrates duck behaviours, especially courtship and agonistic events. If anyone is aware of such a video, please let Russell Wyeth know at rwyeth AT stfx.ca. Thank you, Randy ____________________________ R.F. Lauff Department of Biology St. Francis Xavier University Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5 rlauff AT stfx.ca http://people.stfx.ca/rlauff/lauff.html Subject: Deadline for AOU Senior Awards extended to Oct 31 From: Ellen Paul <ellen.paul AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:09:52 -0400 Subject: Re: Conspiracy of Ravens Boardgame available!The From: Sherrene Kevan <sherrene.kevan AT SYMPATICO.CA> Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:31:52 -0400 The new boardgame "Conspiracy of Ravens" is available through www.enviroquestltd.com Thank you! Sherrene D. Kevan Subject: Looking for Red-tail Electrocution Obs. From: Grant Stevenson <grantstevenson44 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:23:06 -0700 Hi All, I looking for detailed observations to simple anecdotes of Fox or Gray Squirrels being killed on telephone wires and pole connections by Red-tailed hawks in suburbs of major cities, or in small urban areas and outskirts- which in turn cause the electrocution death of the hawk. The same observation with different raptors/prey would also be appreciated. I willing to go back in time, if not if already in the ornithological/birding literature, though simple citations would be appreciated. Please email me: see address below- or the list for a brief discussion which would be very helpful. Thank you! If I violated a list cross-post rule, please accept my apology. I will send another notice solely to your listserve. Grant Stevenson, Amateur 18-Yr. Ornithologist, 946 Seneca Street, Apt. 11 Fountain Hill, PA 18015-2607 phn 610-867-2862 eml grantstevenson44 AT yahoo.com URL http://pahawkowl.livejournal.com Subject: Fw: Seabird research opportunity From: Grant Stevenson <grantstevenson44 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:01:44 -0700 please forward to interested/qualified/healthy seabird experts, g. ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Laurie Larson To: JerseyBirds AT Princeton.EDU Sent: Friday, October 9, 2009 3:43:32 PM Subject: [JerseyBirds] Seabird research opportunity I'm posting this for Dick Veit. If interested, please contact him directly at the address below. Laurie Larson ============================== We need an experienced seabird observer to participate on a NOAA cruise out of Woods Hole 2-18 November. THe cruise will cover the US continental shelf from Cape Hatteras to the Gulf of Maine. If interested, please apply immediately, as health and security clearances are need. Richard R. Veit Professor and Chairman Biology Department CSI/CUNY 2800 Victory Boulevard Staten Island, NY 10314 718-982-3853 Fax 718-982-3852 =============================== How to report NJ bird sightings: Subject: God introduces new bird From: Ellen Paul <ellen.paul AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2009 14:55:59 -0400 Thanks to Scott Johnson, OC Board Member (representing Association of Field Ornithologists) for this great week-ender: http://www.theonion.com/content/news/god_introduces_new_bird?utm_source=EMTF_Onion (We've had a bird poetry slam. Maybe it's time for a bird comedy slam?). Ellen -- Ellen Paul Executive Director The Ornithological Council Email: ellen.paul AT verizon.net "Providing Scientific Information about Birds" http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET" Subject: Compiling Late Hummer Dates From: "Bill Hilton Jr. (RESEARCH)" <research AT HILTONPOND.ORG> Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 21:30:50 -0400 Many of you have contributed spring arrival dates for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds to various Web sites and/or to "Operation RubyThroat: the Hummingbird Project." Not much attention, however, has been paid to fall departure dates. In conjunction with EarthTrek, I designed a protocol through which you can report late dates on-line--all in attempt to get a better understanding of when RTHU are where. I invite you to register with EarthTrek and to report RTHU departure dates according to the protocols outlined at http://goearthtrek.com/ . It's free, and the data you submit are valuable. The migration protocol allows you to indicate RTHU departure dates by age and sex, but please note that just because an autumn bird looks like a female doesn't mean that it is. Some young males have white throats, no streaking, and no red feathers, so a white-throated bird in autumn is best referred to as "unknown age and sex." (This is detailed in my EarthTrek protocols.) Please forward this e-mail to observers in other states so they, too, can submit autumn departure dates to EarthTrek/Operation RubyThroat. Happy Fall Hummingbird Watching! BILL P.S. Folks in Mexico and Central America are now submitting fall ARRIVAL dates, using a different protocol. ========= RESEARCH PROGRAM c/o BILL HILTON JR. Executive Director Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History 1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA (803) 684-5852 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 ================== Subject: Job Announcement: Spatial Ecologist at PRBO Conservation Science From: Mark Herzog <mherzog AT PRBO.ORG> Date: Wed, 7 Oct 2009 22:53:16 -0700 PRBO Conservation Science (www.prbo.org) is inviting applications for a Spatial Ecologist. The spatial ecologist will collaborate with all of PRBO's science divisions (Marine, Terrestrial and Wetland) and initiatives (California Current, Central Valley, Climate Change, San Francisco Bay and Central Coast, and Sierras). The position will design and implement research projects using advanced spatial analysis and modeling, uncertainty analysis, and statistical methods to address current and future impacts of environmental change, particularly climate change and land-use change. For more detail about this job position please visit: http://www.prbo.org/cms/docs/hr/Spatial_Ecologist_PA.pdf Qualifications Required: PhD and/or 5-10 years professional experience in natural sciences, earth sciences, conservation biology, and/or computer /computational sciences or related disciplines, with an established record of publication, project management, and/or partnership development. Expertise in interdisciplinary applications of spatial statistics, spatial modeling, landscape ecology, risk analysis, geospatial visualization, and/or prioritization and optimization decision theory is required. An established track record of using these skills within a climate-change framework and working Pay Rate, Benefits, Working Conditions and Funding Salary is competitive, depending on qualifications and experience. PRBO offers 100% health care coverage, full dental care, and partial coverage of dependents including domestic partners, following the conditions stated in PRBO's Personnel Manual. PRBO headquarters in Petaluma, California, will be the base location for the successful candidate. This position will require moderate travel (mostly in San Francisco / Sacramento area) and involve some weekends and evenings. Funding is secured until March 2011; extended employment may be possible based on successful fundraising and employee's performance. To Apply E-mail: (1) cover letter describing qualifications for this position and interest in PRBO, (2) complete CV/resume, and (3) contact information (including phone numbers and e-mail addresses) for 3 references to Dr. Mark Herzog at mherzog AT prbo.org with "Spatial Ecologist" in the subject line. Applicants may be subject to background checks. Application deadline is November 15, 2009; the position will remain open until a successful candidate has been identified. PRBO is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Contact Mark Herzog or John Wiens (jwiens AT prbo.org) for additional information. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Mark Herzog, Ph.D. Informatics Division Director Quantitative and Computational Sciences PRBO Conservation Science 3820 Cypress Drive #11 Petaluma, CA 94954 707-781-2555 x308 (office) 707-765-1685 (fax) 707-992-5726 (google voice) mpherzog (skype) =================================== PRBO's 2009 Bird A Thon is on! Help me raise money for PRBO by sponsoring my effort. Visit my Bird A Thon Page at: http://www.firstgiving.com/markherzog ===================================