The AukPub Date : 2020-03-11DOI: 10.1093/auk/ukaa008
C. Porro, M. Desmond, J. Savidge, Fitsum Abadi, Kirsten Cruz-McDonnell, Jennifer L. Davis, R. Griebel, Rebecca T. Ekstein, Nancy Hernandez Rodríguez
{"title":"Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) nest phenology influenced by drought on nonbreeding grounds","authors":"C. Porro, M. Desmond, J. Savidge, Fitsum Abadi, Kirsten Cruz-McDonnell, Jennifer L. Davis, R. Griebel, Rebecca T. Ekstein, Nancy Hernandez Rodríguez","doi":"10.1093/auk/ukaa008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/ukaa008","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Migratory birds are demonstrating changes in phenology linked to climate change. Understanding these changes requires connecting events that occur over the multiple regions occupied during their annual cycle. The Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) is a species of concern in North America, with pronounced declines in regions of the Great Plains. Using a dataset that spanned 10 breeding sites from South Dakota to northern Mexico in various years during 1989–2017, we observed both advances and delays in nesting along with increasing variation in nest initiation dates. We examined the effects of a large-scale climate system (El Niño Southern Oscillation), drought, and local weather patterns throughout the annual cycle as potential predictors of early and late nesting. Moisture conditions during the winter and spring migratory period had the greatest influence on nest phenology. Years with more intense drought on winter and migratory grounds increased the probability of nests initiating late relative to early. Correspondingly, wet conditions were associated with an increased probability of early nest initiation. Drought likely has cascading ecological effects that negatively influence food abundance for Burrowing Owls, resulting in delays in the ability of individuals to meet energetic demands required for migration. How climate change will impact Burrowing Owl phenology is important considering a projected increase in the magnitude and frequency of drought and declining owl population trends.","PeriodicalId":382448,"journal":{"name":"The Auk","volume":"42 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127321138","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The AukPub Date : 2020-03-09DOI: 10.1093/auk/ukz006
Leesia C. Marshall
{"title":"100 Years Ago in the American Ornithologists' Union","authors":"Leesia C. Marshall","doi":"10.1093/auk/ukz006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/ukz006","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":382448,"journal":{"name":"The Auk","volume":"15 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121331838","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The AukPub Date : 2020-03-02DOI: 10.1093/auk/ukaa007
K. Wiebe
{"title":"Local recruitment in Northern Flickers is related to environmental factors at multiple scales and provides reproductive benefits to yearling breeders settling close to home","authors":"K. Wiebe","doi":"10.1093/auk/ukaa007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/ukaa007","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Natal dispersal and local recruitment are affected by factors both intrinsic and extrinsic to juveniles and may affect fitness. Understanding the relationship between dispersal and population density in birds has been hindered by a lack of long-term studies and a focus on resident species has neglected the role of weather operating at large spatial scales. I studied local recruitment and the reproductive consequences of natal dispersal distance within a population of Northern Flickers (Colaptes auratus), a migratory woodpecker. During a field study spanning 16 yr in British Columbia, 8,272 fledglings were banded and 138 males and 105 females recruited locally. The average annual local recruitment rate for males (3.36%) was greater than that for females (2.55%) and the propensity to recruit locally was positively correlated with an early hatch date and high body condition. Annual local recruitment was not associated with population density in the year of hatch but was positively correlated with population density in the year of settlement. Local recruitment was also positively correlated with warmer springs during migration, consistent with the phenology hypothesis that the location of settlement is affected by weather along the route. Among local recruits, natal dispersal distance was independent of the presence of parents and so dispersal was not a behavior to prevent inbreeding. However, settling closer to the natal site led to reproductive benefits in terms of earlier laying dates and better nest success. Therefore, juveniles may gain useful information about the location of nesting substrates, predation risk, and patchy food resources by exploring the landscape around their natal site during the post-fledging period and then settling in the familiar area after returning from migration.","PeriodicalId":382448,"journal":{"name":"The Auk","volume":"35 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123914607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The AukPub Date : 2020-02-25DOI: 10.1093/auk/ukaa002
Jeffrey P Hoover, N. Davros, W. Schelsky, J. Brawn
{"title":"Local conspecific density does not influence reproductive output in a secondary cavity-nesting songbird","authors":"Jeffrey P Hoover, N. Davros, W. Schelsky, J. Brawn","doi":"10.1093/auk/ukaa002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/ukaa002","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Density dependence is a conceptual cornerstone of avian population biology and, in territorial songbirds, past research has emphasized interactions among food limitation, density, and reproduction. Documenting the importance of density effects is central to understanding how selective forces shape life histories and population dynamics. During the 2008–2011 breeding seasons, we nearly doubled overall conspecific breeding densities on study sites, and manipulated nest box spacing to increase local breeding densities (defined as the number of pairs breeding within 200 m of a pair's nest) of a secondary cavity-nesting songbird, the Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea). Our primary objective was to test for effects of food limitation, as mediated by conspecific local densities, on measures of productivity. We monitored breeding pairs and recorded the total number of fledglings produced along with several components of reproductive output (clutch size, hatching success, nestling survival, and probability of attempting a second brood), rates of nestling provisioning, and nestling body condition prior to fledging. We predicted that if the availability of food were affected by local densities, then one or more of these parameters measuring reproduction would be affected negatively. We did not detect an effect of local density on total reproductive output or its components despite our vast range of local densities (1–27 pairs; i.e. 0.16–2.23 pairs ha–1). Further, we also did not detect differences in nestling provisioning rates and nestling body condition relative to local density. By breeding in a productive ecosystem rich in food resources, these warblers appear to avoid reduced reproductive output when breeding in high densities. Whereas density-dependent food limitation may commonly reduce reproductive output in many species, the ecological circumstances underlying when it does not occur merit further investigation and may provide new insights into what is driving territoriality and what are the primary factors affecting individual fitness.","PeriodicalId":382448,"journal":{"name":"The Auk","volume":"185 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131512375","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The AukPub Date : 2020-02-21DOI: 10.1093/auk/ukaa004
E. Linck
{"title":"Bird Species: How They Arise, Modify and Vanish","authors":"E. Linck","doi":"10.1093/auk/ukaa004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/ukaa004","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":382448,"journal":{"name":"The Auk","volume":"6 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125540583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The AukPub Date : 2020-02-21DOI: 10.1093/auk/ukaa003
N. Krabbe, T. Schulenberg, Peter A. Hosner, K. Rosenberg, T. J. Davis, G. Rosenberg, D. F. Lane, Michael J. Andersen, M. Robbins, C. Cadena, T. Valqui, J. Salter, A. Spencer, F. Angulo, J. Fjeldså
{"title":"Untangling cryptic diversity in the High Andes: Revision of the Scytalopus [magellanicus] complex (Rhinocryptidae) in Peru reveals three new species","authors":"N. Krabbe, T. Schulenberg, Peter A. Hosner, K. Rosenberg, T. J. Davis, G. Rosenberg, D. F. Lane, Michael J. Andersen, M. Robbins, C. Cadena, T. Valqui, J. Salter, A. Spencer, F. Angulo, J. Fjeldså","doi":"10.1093/auk/ukaa003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/ukaa003","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Tropical mountains feature marked species turnover along elevational gradients and across complex topography, resulting in great concentrations of avian biodiversity. In these landscapes, particularly among morphologically conserved and difficult to observe avian groups, species limits still require clarification. One such lineage is Scytalopus tapaculos, which are among the morphologically most conserved birds. Attention to their distinctive vocal repertoires and phylogenetic relationships has resulted in a proliferation of newly identified species, many of which are restricted range endemics. Here, we present a revised taxonomy and identify species limits among high-elevation populations of Scytalopus tapaculos inhabiting the Peruvian Andes. We employ an integrated framework using a combination of vocal information, mitochondrial DNA sequences, and appearance, gathered from our own fieldwork over the past 40 yr and supplemented with community-shared birdsong archives and museum specimens. We describe 3 new species endemic to Peru. Within all 3 of these species there is genetic differentiation, which in 2 species is mirrored by subtle geographic plumage and vocal variation. In a fourth species, Scytalopus schulenbergi, we document deep genetic divergence and plumage differences despite overall vocal similarity. We further propose that an extralimital taxon, Scytalopus opacus androstictus, be elevated to species rank, based on a diagnostic vocal character. Our results demonstrate that basic exploration and descriptive work using diverse data sources continues to identify new species of birds, particularly in tropical environs.","PeriodicalId":382448,"journal":{"name":"The Auk","volume":"137 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130152865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The AukPub Date : 2020-02-21DOI: 10.1093/auk/ukaa010
Graham B. Goodman, Margaux C. Klingensmith, Sarah E. Bush, D. Clayton
{"title":"The role of scratching in the control of ectoparasites on birds","authors":"Graham B. Goodman, Margaux C. Klingensmith, Sarah E. Bush, D. Clayton","doi":"10.1093/auk/ukaa010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/ukaa010","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Grooming by birds is thought to serve essential anti-parasite functions. While preening has been well studied, little is known about the function of scratching in birds. We conducted a series of experiments to determine the effectiveness of scratching for controlling feather lice (Columbicola columbae) on Rock Pigeons (Columba livia). First, we used a hobbling technique to impair scratching. After 6 mo, hobbled birds had significantly more lice than controls that could scratch. In addition, lice on hobbled birds were concentrated on the birds' heads and necks (i.e. the regions that birds scratch). Secondly, we tested the role the claw plays in scratching by declawing nestlings. Once mature, declawed pigeons had significantly more lice than control birds with claws. Moreover, lice on declawed birds were concentrated on the head and neck. Next, we tested whether the flange found on the middle claw of many bird species enhances scratching. We experimentally manipulated the flange; however, the number and location of lice on birds without flanges was not significantly different than that on control birds with intact flanges. Finally, we tested whether scratching removes parasites directly or indirectly by “flushing” them onto body regions where they can be preened. When we impaired scratching (with hobbles) and preening (with “bits”) we found that scratching no longer reduced the number of lice on birds. Our results indicated that scratching and preening work synergistically; scratching reduces parasite load by flushing lice onto regions of the body where they can be eliminated by preening.","PeriodicalId":382448,"journal":{"name":"The Auk","volume":"9 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129245857","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The AukPub Date : 2020-02-21DOI: 10.1093/auk/ukaa006
A. Drake, K. Martin
{"title":"Rainfall and nest site competition delay Mountain Bluebird and Tree Swallow breeding but do not impact productivity","authors":"A. Drake, K. Martin","doi":"10.1093/auk/ukaa006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/ukaa006","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Optimizing breeding phenology, an important aspect of fitness, is complex for migratory species as they must make key timing decisions early, and remotely, from breeding sites. We examined the role of weather (locally and cross-seasonally), cavity availability, and competitive exclusion in determining among-year variation in breeding phenology over 17 yr for 2 migratory, cavity-nesting birds: Mountain Bluebirds (Sialia currucoides; n = 462 nests) and Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor; n = 572) using natural tree cavities in British Columbia, Canada. We assessed weather effects within the winter and migratory range and at our study sites. We quantified competition as the proportion of cavities occupied by European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) (for both species) and Mountain Bluebirds (for Tree Swallow only) in each year. For 229 bluebird and 177 swallow nests with known fates, we tested whether late years resulted in reduced productivity. Although the effects were small, heavy rainfall and strong diurnal westerly winds during migration were associated with breeding delays for Mountain Bluebirds. However, cavity availability (earlier breeding with increases) had a 5–8 × greater effect on timing than migratory conditions. There was no evidence that starling competition delayed bluebirds. In Tree Swallows, greater local daily rainfall was associated with delayed breeding, as was starling abundance (the effect of starlings was 1.4 × smaller than that of rainfall). Neither bluebird abundance nor cavity availability changed swallow phenology. Neither species showed reduced productivity in late breeding years. In both species, individuals that bred late relative to conspecifics within-year had smaller clutches and greater probability of nest failure. We conclude that breeding ground conditions, particularly cavity limitation and local rainfall (for swallows), are important drivers of breeding phenology for our focal species, but that the productivity cost of late years, at least for Tree Swallows, is minimal.","PeriodicalId":382448,"journal":{"name":"The Auk","volume":"19 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127964068","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The AukPub Date : 2020-02-20DOI: 10.1093/auk/ukz080
Kristen M. Covino, K. Horton, S. R. Morris
{"title":"Seasonally specific changes in migration phenology across 50 years in the Black-throated Blue Warbler","authors":"Kristen M. Covino, K. Horton, S. R. Morris","doi":"10.1093/auk/ukz080","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/ukz080","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The availability of detailed information that encompasses the geographic range of a species, spans a long-term temporal range, and yields individual information (e.g., age and sex), is a principle challenge in ecology. To this end, the North American Bird Banding Laboratory maintains a unique and underutilized dataset that can be used to address core questions of phenological change in migratory birds. We used records from 1966 to 2015 to quantify how the timing of migration has shifted in a long-distance migrant, the Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens). Additionally, we examined age and sex differences in the timing of migratory movements. We observed that early spring migrants passed through sites ∼1.1 days earlier per decade and the peak of spring migration also occurred earlier over the 50 yr of this study. Additionally, phenological change was more rapid with increasing latitude during peak spring migratory periods. During fall, the peak of migration stayed consistent across the 50 yr studied, but the migratory season showed protraction overall. During spring, males consistently migrated earlier than females and adults migrated earlier than young individuals. During fall, there was no difference in timing between males and females, but young birds migrated earlier than adults. Additionally, migration proceeded faster in spring compared with the fall. This study reveals differential strategies in migrant timing, across seasons, age groups, and by sex, and shows that en route adjustments across latitude may account for changes in migrant timing. This basic information about such a fundamental ecological process is crucial to our understanding of migration and we must utilize these unique data to appreciate critical shifts at relevant scales of migration.","PeriodicalId":382448,"journal":{"name":"The Auk","volume":"29 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133810342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}