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Showing posts from October, 2006

The Common Myna at Midway Atoll: Review and Status

OVERVIEW BACKGROUND BREEDING HISTORY OF MYNAS AT MIDWAY OBSERVATIONS AT THE LANDFILL BREEDING ACTIVITY TRANSECTS MANAGEMENT ESTIMATE AND SPECULATION REFERENCES TRIP REPORTS CHECKED FOR MYNA RECORDS OVERVIEW Common Mynas have received scant attention since they were first recorded on Midway more than twenty years ago. Concern over this species' deleterious effects on seabirds may lead to consideration of control measures. This paper provides reference material necessary for monitoring the myna population, including general background, breeding biology, historical records, and indexing methods. An estimated 500 individuals comprise the April 1992 population. BACKGROUND Common Mynas are indigenous to south Asia, but have been introduced to South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific islands (Pizzey 1980). They were brought to the main islands of Hawaii in 1865 (Eddinger 1967). Throughout their range mynas are closely associated with human habitation. Because they are adap

Prey of Ferruginous Hawks Breeding in Washington

Scott A. Richardson, Ann E. Potter, Karin L. Lehmkuhl, Rosemary Mazaika, Mary E. McFadzen, Rick Estes. 2001. Northwestern Naturalist 82:58-64. Abstract (corrected) We collected and analyzed pellets and prey remains from 39 ferruginous hawk ( Buteo regalis ) breeding territories in the Columbia Basin of Washington between 1992 and 1995. Among 4402 identified items were remains of 12 mammal species, primarily northern pocket gophers ( Thomomys talpoides ). Orthopterans, primarily Tettigoniidae, outnumbered all other identified prey items. Birds and snakes were difficult to count accurately, but contributed significantly to diets at some territories. Prey items of ferruginous hawks at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation were almost exclusively pocket gophers and insects. Hawks elsewhere in Washington often had more varied diets incorporating small mammal species, primarily Great Basin pocket mice ( Perognathus parvus ). At the 4 territories where prey were quantified each yr (all at the

Some effects of a major oil spill on wintering shorebirds at Grays Harbor, Washington

Eric M. Larsen and Scott A. Richardson. 1990. Northwestern Naturalist 71:88-92. Abstract Shorebirds wintering at Grays Harbor, Washington, were oiled when No. 6 fuel oil spilled from the barge Nestucca on 22 December 1988. Counts and observations on eight days during the ensuing two months provided information on the effects of oiling on black-bellied plover ( Pluvialis squatarola ), semipalmated plover ( Charadrius semipalmatus ), sanderling ( Calidris alba ), western sandpiper ( C. mauri ), and dunlin ( C. alpina ). Initially, 31% of shorebirds we observed roosting on ocean beaches were oiled; 10 days later this dropped to 5%. A harbor rate of 34% oiled shorebirds occurred after the ocean beach rate declined, then percentages of oiled shorebirds at each locality declined to insignificance. We report on behavioral changes observed in oiled dunlins and discuss three alternate hypotheses to explain the disappearance of over 3500 oiled shorebirds: self-cleaning, emigration, and mo

Citations

A nearly comprehensive list of publications (updated November 2001; partially updated October 2013) PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS Richardson SA, Potter AE, Lehmkuhl KL, Mazaika R, McFadzen ME, Estes R. 2001. Prey of Ferruginous Hawks breeding in Washington. Northwestern Naturalist 82:58-64. [ Abstract ] Richardson SA, Doran PJ, Michaelis WA, Sundstrom-Bagley C, Anthony JA, Zahn HM. 2000. A new Snowy Plover nesting area in Washington: Midway Beach, Pacific County. Washington Birds 7:25-35. Richardson S. 1999. Intermediate Egret at Midway Atoll. North American Birds 53:441-443. But see entry in Pyle and Pyle 2009 (PDF). Larsen EM, Richardson SA. 1990. Some effects of a major oil spill on wintering shorebirds at Grays Harbor, Washington. Northwestern Naturalist 71:88-92. [ Abstract ] BOOKS Richardson S, editor. 2008. Coastal Fish of Southern Maine and New Hampshire. Wells Reserve & Laudholm Trust, Wells, Maine. 72pp. Wahl TR, Tweit B, Mlodinow S, editors. 2005. Birds

Some new tea

Taking the afternoon off made it possible to ride across the bridge to the Portsmouth Tea Company for a minor restocking of the tea shelf. Cash on hand was limited, so I got small tins of Miami Ice (for A-) and Satrupa (for me). It was my third time up the ancient circular stairs to the second floor of the old mill building, and again a warming experience. A higher-end tea vendor is not what I would have expected in Somersworth, but I'm sure glad it's here. The satrupa looks like the one shown here, " Classic Manas ," from the Satrupa Tea Estate in northeast Assam, as carried by Tfactor teas . Of the five single-estate assams at Portsmouth Tea Company, this one had the most inviting aroma. After one try, I'm a bit concerned that the aroma might its most favorable characteristic.

Puerto Rico

Our October 2001 trip, thanks to two roundtrip tickets on PanAm won in a drawing at the State of Maine's Beaches Conference.

Joven y Pajaros

A sculpture at the nearest public beach to where we stayed.

Email client loop

In an effort to escape the clutches of Microsoft email, I spent the last 10 days testing other possibilities. Looks like I'll be ending up back with Outlook Express. First stop was Opera Mail, which was too integrated with the browser for my comfort level and not riveting enough otherwise to keep my attention. Next up was Eudora . It looks great, but free versions lack the ability to create multiple "accounts" and I'm reluctant to pay $50 to gain that ability. Conceptually, Pegasus , my penultimate stop, appeared ideal, but coherently managing users, identities, and network connections for several email addresses made my head spin. Support and manuals cost a bit less than Eudora, and even though it's more tempting to send money to a guy in New Zealand, I want to be able to make an email client work before paying for it. What a discouraging pleasure to open OE and have it do what it does so well, with a minimum of fuss and no learning curve. Until I get some advic