Wilson Ornithological Society Annual Meeting Program and Abstracts Sponsored by: Florida Gulf Coast University College of Arts and Sciences Florida Gulf Coast University
9-12 March 2017
Department of Biological Sciences Department of Marine and Ecological Sciences 2 North American Banding Council The Wilson Ornithological Society welcomes the presence of the North American Bird Banding Council who will be holding their annual meeting in conjunction with ours. NABC is comprised of representatives of major ornithological organizations and bird observatories whose members use bird banding in the study of birds. In 1996, the North American Banding Council (NABC) was formed with the mission of training banders in safe, ethical practices in the capture and handling of wild birds; the NABC also conducts optional certification at the Assistant, Bander, and Trainer levels. WOS members are welcome to participate in NABC activities included in this program. Local Committee for the Wilson Ornithological Society Meeting Jerome A. Jackson, co-­‐chair Bette J.S. Jackson, co-­‐chair Kara Lefevre, co-­‐chair Melinda Averhart Patty Borden Jim Borden Margaret England Ryan Fox Brent Jackson Colleen Jackson Danielle Shepard David Shepard If you have questions or need assistance during the meeting, a local committee member – identified by a green ribbon attached to their nametag – will try to assist you. Acknowledgments We thank Audubon Corkscrew Sanctuary and Margaret England of Hendry/Glades Audubon Society for facilitating field trips to Corkscrew Swamp and STA 5/6. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission provided bird checklists for attendees. Casey Garcia, Event Scheduler Planner for FGCU’s Campus Reservations Office provided friendly, thorough, and prompt assistance with the facilities planning for the conference. We are also indebted to the College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, and Department of Marine and Ecological Sciences for their support and logistical help. 3 Wilson Ornithological Society Annual Meeting 2017 Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida Program Thursday, March 9 Opening Reception – Whitaker Hall 7 pm – 10 pm Friday, March 10 9 to 10:15 am Edwards Hall Auditorium 112 Welcome and Opening Remarks Robert Gregerson, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, FGCU Sara Morris, President, Wilson Ornithological Society Margaret Morse Nice Medal Lecture Stopover Biology of Migratory Songbirds: Challenges, Consequences, and Connections. Frank R. Moore 10:15-­‐
Coffee Break -­‐ Whitaker Hall 10:45 am Lutgert Hall 1201 Lutgert Hall 1202 Session 1 Behavior I Migration 10:45 am Moderator: Iris Levin Moderator: Susan B. Smith to 12:15 pm 10:45 [02] Phenotypic manipulation of male Barn [07] A multi-­‐year physiological study of Swallows: A social network experiment. Catharus thrush migration at Braddock Bay Iris I Levin*(1), Bailey K. Fosdick (2), Toshi Bird Observatory. Tsunekage (1), Matt A. Aberle (3), Christine M. Susan B. Smith* and Calvin P. Carrington Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Bergeon-­‐Burns (4), Amanda K. Hund (5), Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 14623. Rebecca J. Safran (5) 11:00 1. Department of Biology, Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA, 30030. 2. Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523. 3. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061. 4. Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405. 5. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309. (S) [03] Popularity and parenting: How Barn Swallow social interactivity relates to parental care. Maya N. Djordjevich*(1), Toshi Tsunekage (1), Rebecca J. Safran (2), Iris I. Levin (1) [08] Sex-­‐specific schedule for breeding development in Nearctic-­‐Neotropical migrants. Kristen M. Covino*(1,2) and Frank R. Moore (2) 1. Department of Biology, Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA, 30030. 1. Biology Department, Canisius College, Buffalo, NY 14208. 4 11:15 2. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University, Boulder, CO 80309. 2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39401. [04] Macrogeographic variation in song of the MacGillivray's Warbler. Jay Pitocchelli* (1), David Guerra (2), Jaimie Kender (2) (S) [09] Virginia and Yellow Rail autumn migration phenology and habitat use in the Mississippi flyway. Auriel M.V. Fournier *(1), Doreen C. Mengel (2), David G. Krementz (1) 1. Biology Department, 2. Physics Department, Saint Anselm College, Manchester, NH 03102 11:30 11:45 (S) [05] Character bioacoustics White-­‐
rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus (Scopoli, 1788) in nature and as a cage-­‐
bird. Novia L. Rahmawaty*, Wilson Novarino, and Muhammad N. Janra Department of Biology, Andalas University, West Sumatra, Indonesia. (S) [06] Wading bird prey availability in intertidal systems. Marisa T. Martinez* (1), Emilie R. Kohler (1), Dale E. Gawlik (1), and Stephanie Romañach (2) 1. Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431. 2. U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314. 12:00 12:15-­‐ 12:45 12:45-­‐ 1:30 Session 2 1:45 to 3:00 pm 1:45 1. Arkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Arkansas, 1 University Drive, Fayetteville, AR 72701 2. Missouri Department of Conservation Resource Science Division, 3500 E Gans Rd, Columbia, MO 65201. (S) [10] Measurement of triglyceride and beta-­‐hydroxybutyrate in Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula), a migratory songbird in south central Nebraska. Emma C. Keele* and Letty M. Reichart Department of Biology, University of Nebraska, Kearney, NE 68845. [11] Changes in spring arrival dates of Rufous Hummingbirds in western North America in the past century. Jason Courter Department of Science and Mathematics, Malone University, Canton, OH 44709. [12] Experimental manipulation of energetic condition affects orientation of White-­‐throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) during fall and spring migration near a geographic water barrier. Jennalee A. Holzschuh (1) and Mark E. Deutschlander* (2) 1. Department of Environmental Science and Biology, SUNY College at Brockport, Brockport, NY. 14420. 2. Department of Biology, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY 14456. WOS Business Meeting -­‐ Seidler Hall 114 LUNCH -­‐ Whitaker Hall Lutgert Hall 1201 Behavior II Moderator: Lindsey Walters (S) [13] The influence of breeding experience on the incubation behavior of Carolina Chickadees. Shelby Nemec* and Lindsey Walters Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099. Lutgert Hall 1202 Population and Conservation Biology Moderator: Jeremy J. Kirchman (S) [19] Developing grassland songbird management targets and evaluating multi-­‐
species conservation in the mixed-­‐grass prairie. Phillip Rose* (1), Mark Brigham (1), Stephen Davis (2) 5 2:00 [14] Nest site selection and nest predation risk in Carolina Chickadees. Lindsey Walters* and Danielle Frevola Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099. 1. Department of Biology, University of Regina, Regina, SK. 2. Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Regina, SK. (S) [20] Assessing island habitat loss in the Chesapeake Bay from 1991 to 2011 for the Maryland state endangered Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). Paul R. Marban* (1,2), Diann J. Prosser (1), Jennifer L. Murrow (2), and David Brinker (3) 1. USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Beltsville, MD 20705. 2. Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Science Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742. 3. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis, MD 21401. 2:15 (S) [15] Quantifying exploratory behavior in sister chickadee species using a mobile box method. Sarah E. Polekoff* and Robert L. Curry Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19087. 2:30 (S) [16] Applications of a social network analysis: investigating social behaviors in resident Carolina Chickadees (Poecile carolinensis) and irruptive Black-­‐capped Chickadees (P. atricapillus). Rebecca D. Garlinger*, Christine L. Eldredge, Christopher J. Roche, and Robert L. Curry Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19087. 2:45 (S) [17] Exploratory behavior as a component of personality in hybridizing chickadees. Breanna Bennett* and Robert Curry Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085. 3:00 (S) [18] Impact of age on differential response rates in warblers. Hannah Elsinghorst* and Sara R Morris Department of Biology, Canisius College, Buffalo, NY 14208. (S) [21] Survivorship of birds in Lake Erie's western basin. Adam Cupito*(1), and James Marshall (2) 1. School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210. 2. Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Rockford University, Rockford, IL 61108. (S) [22] Diversity and distribution of avian malaria in Catharus thrushes at different elevations of the Catskill Mountains. Naima C. Starkloff*(1,2), Alyssa M. FitzGerald (1,2), Jeremy J. Kirchman (2), Wendy C. Turner (1) 1. University at Albany, SUNY, 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12222. 2. New York State Museum, 222 Madison Ave, Albany, NY 12230. [23] Effect of blood sampling on reproductive parameters in a population of Field Sparrows (Spizella pusilla) Margret I. Hatch*(1), Robert J. Smith (2), and Michael Carey (2) 1. Penn State Worthington Scranton, Dunmore, PA 18519. 2. Department of Biology, University of Scranton, Scranton, PA 18510. (S) [24] Aerial foragers in the Ayyannar Lake, Thanjaur District, Tamil Nadu, southern India. Sivanantham Mohanraj* and Jeganathan Pandiyan PG Research Department of Zoology and Wildlife Biology, AVC College -­‐ Mannampandal, Mayiladuthuari, Tamil Nadu, India. 3:15-­‐
3:45 pm Coffee Break -­‐ Whitaker Hall 6 Session 3 3:45 to 5:15 pm Lutgert Hall 1201 Evolution Moderator: Robert L. Curry Whitaker Hall 131 NABC Training Session* Trainer: Andrea Patterson Braddock Bay Bird Observatory Rochester, NY *Starts Promptly at 3:30 pm 3:45 (S) [25] Song sparrows: as temperature decreases body size increases, always? Kyle Davis Department of Zoology, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH 43015. 4:00 (S) [26] The evolution of tarsal spurs in Galliformes. Emily Griffith* and Rebecca Kimball Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603. 4:15 [27] The question of whether a black chin in the Black-­‐capped Sparrow is an anomaly or an innovation is explored, revealing a new phenotypic rule for Arremon. Gaylon Cook. Department of Biology, South Georgia State College, Waycross, GA 31503. 4:30 [28] Spatiotemporal variation in hatching success and nestling sex ratio in a rapidly moving chickadee hybrid zone. Robert J. Driver and Robert L. Curry* Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova PA 19085. 4:45 [29] Phylogeography of passerines breeding in boreal forest archipelagoes of eastern North America. Jeremy J. Kirchman*(1), Theresa M. Burg (2), Alyssa FitzGerald (1, 3), Joel Ralston (4), and Naima Starkloff (1,3) 1. New York State Museum, Albany, NY 12208. 2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4. 3. Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY 12222. 4. Department of Biology, Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN 46556. NABC Training Session NABC Training Session 7 5:00 (S) [30] Widely-­‐studied gene MC1R does not explain color polymorphism in Eastern Screech-­‐Owls. Sarah Kurtis*(1), and John Bates (2) 1. Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608. 2. Bird Division, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL 60605. Whitaker Hall EVEN-­‐numbered posters present 7-­‐8:30 pm ODD-­‐numbered posters present 8:30-­‐10 pm Poster Session 7 pm to 10 pm P1 P2 (S) No relationships between ambient noise and acoustically-­‐related behaviors in Australian fairywrens. Isabel T. Ritrovato* (1), Elizabeth M. Ransone* (1), Darcy E. Gray (2), Samantha M. Lantz (2), Joe F. Welkin (3), Michael J. Webster (3), Jordan O. Karubian (2), John P. Swaddle (1) 1. Department of Biology, The College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23185. 2. Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118. 3. Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850. Minimal behavioral response of nesting Common Tern (Sterna hirundo), Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis), Snowy Egret (Egretta thula), and Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) to unmanned aircraft systems. Kaitlyn Reintsma (1)*, Peter C. McGowan (2), Carl Callahan (2), Tom Collier (3), David Gray (4), Paul R. Marban (1,5), Eddie Gaylord (5), Julia Geschke (5), Lucas Howell (5), Saba Raman (5), and Diann J. Prosser (1) 1. United States Geological Survey Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Beltsville, MD 20705. 2. United States Fish and Wildlife Service Chesapeake Bay Field Office, Annapolis, MD 21401. 3. UASBio, 12139 Patapsco Ridge Rd, Marriottsville, MD 21104 4. United States Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, MD 21201 5. University of Maryland-­‐College Park, College Park, MD 20740 P3 (S) Ornamental plumage in the non-­‐breeding season is associated with behavioral change in a tropical passerine. Sarah Toner* (1), Trey Hendrix (2), Samantha Lantz (2), Joseph Welklin (1), Facundo Fernandez-­‐Duque (1), John Swaddle (3), Jordan Karubian (2), Michael Webster (1). 1. Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 and Macaulay Library, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY 14850. 2. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118. 3. Institute for Integrative Bird Behavior Studies, Biology Department, The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187. P4 (S) Relationship between parasitic blow fly abundance and blood hemoglobin concentration in Carolina Chickadees. Spyncer Mones* and Lindsey Walters Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099. P5 (S) The impacts of temperature and precipitation on nesting dates of Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis and Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor in Ohio. Jesse Sockman* and Jason Courter. Department of Science and Mathematics, Malone University, Canton, OH 44709. P6 Timing of morning nest leaving and evening nest arrival in incubating female House Wrens. Douglas W. White and E. Dale Kennedy. Biology Department, Albion College, Albion MI 49224. 8 P7 (S) Physical traits of female Carolina Chickadees do not predict the traits of their nestlings. Olivia Goessling* and Lindsey Walters Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099. P8 P9 P10 Intentionally left blank (S) Atmospheric predictors of pulses in vernal and autumnal nocturnal bird migrations using the Plymouth, New Hampshire NOAA-­‐ESRL snow level radar. Parker Bradley*(1), Jesse Carlson (1), Andrea LaRocca (2), CareyAnne Howlett (2), Eric Kelsey(2) and Leonard Reitsma (1) 1. Biological Sciences Department, Plymouth State University, Plymouth, NH 03264. 2. Department of Atmospheric Science & Chemistry, Plymouth State University, Plymouth, NH 03264. (S) Is mass gain in migratory passerines influenced by season, arrival time, or sex?: Models using hourly, daily regressions on mass. SMadison O. Sutton*, Bradley J. Cosentino, and Mark E. Deutschlander Department of Biology, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY 14424. P11 (S) Inter-­‐individual variation of corticosterone in spring migratory Baltimore Orioles. Olubusola Oladeji* and Letitia M. Reichart Department of Biology, University of Nebraska Kearney, Kearney, NE 68849. P12 (S) Variation of Plasma Levels of Two Lipid Metabolites in Baltimore Orioles and Orchard Orioles. Luke J. Hamilton*, Emma Keele, Marika Van Brocklin, Letitia M. Reichart. Department of Biology, University of Nebraska-­‐Kearney, Kearney, NE 68849. P13 (S) Creatine kinase levels for Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula) during spring migration in south central Nebraska. Marika A. Van Brocklin*, Emma C. Keele, Luke J. Hamilton, Letitia M. Reichart. Department of Biology, University of Nebraska-­‐Kearney, Kearney, NE 68849. P14 Analysis of plasma metabolites for Baltimore Orioles during spring migration in south central Nebraska. Letitia M. Reichart*, Emma Keele, Luke Hamilton, Marika Van Brocklin. Biology Department, University of Nebraska Kearney, Kearney, NE 68849. P15 P16 (S) Seasonal movements of Broad-­‐billed and Narrow-­‐billed Todies in the Dominican Republic Holly Garrod*(1), Spencer Schubert (2), Robert Curry (1) 1. Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085. 2. Old Dominion University, Biological Sciences Department, Norfolk, VA 23529. Waterfowl response to weather and land cover in the prairie potholes. Jessica Gorzo*(1), Anna Pidgeon (2), Andrew Allstadt (3), Wayne Thogmartin (4) and Volker Radeloff (2) 1. Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota-­‐Duluth, Duluth, MN 55811. 2. SILVIS Lab, Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-­‐Madison, Madison, WI 53706. 3. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Midwest Regional Office, Bloomington, MN 55437. 4. U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI 54603. P17 (S) Testing the efficacy of the forecasting and hindcasting capabilities of ecological niche models: a case study examining Red-­‐bellied Woodpeckers (Melanerpes carolinus). Alyssa M. FitzGerald*(1,2), Naima C. Starkloff (1,2), Jeremy J. Kirchman (1) 1. New York State Museum, Albany, NY 12230. 2. Dept. of Biological Sciences, University at Albany-­‐SUNY, Albany, NY 12222. P18 (S) The influence of population trends on the ability to predict future bird distributions. Emily D. Crimmins* and Joel Ralston Department of Biology, Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN 46556. 9 P19 P20 (S) Retention of radio transmitters tail-­‐mounted on six bird species. Richard A. Stanton, Jr.* (1), Alicia D. Burke (2), Kaylan M. Carrlson (3), Dylan C. Kesler (4), John Faaborg (2), and Frank R. Thompson III (5) 1. Interdisciplinary Ecology Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611. 2. Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211. 3. 1405 2nd Street NW, Mandan, ND, 58554. 4. Institute for Bird Populations, Point Reyes Station CA, 94956. 5. U.S.D.A. Forest Service Northern Research Station, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211. Avian song complexity and plumage coloration: a phenotypic trade-­‐off. William P. Brown Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Keuka College, Keuka Park, NY 14478 P21 P22 (S) Genetic variation at exon 2 of the MHC Class II DRB Locus in Heermann´s Gull (Larus heermanni) from the Gulf of California. Santiago Romero Fernández*(1), José Soñanez Organis (2), José Juan Flores Martínez (3), Enrico Alejandro Ruiz Castillo (1) 1. National Biological Sciences School -­‐ National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico City, Mexico 11340. 2. Navojoa Campus -­‐ Sonora University, Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico 85880 3. Biology Institute -­‐ National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico 04510. (S) Infectious disease survey of migratory birds in Georgia. H. N. Korey*, L. B. Purvis, and D. E. Lubeski Biology Department , University of North Georgia, Gainesville GA 30566. P23 P24 Threats to restored prairies used by overwintering Henslow's and Le Conte's Sparrows in southeastern Texas. Richard R. Schaefer*(1), D. Craig Rudolph, Josh B. Pierce, J. Howard Williamson, and Clifford E. Shackelford (2) 1. USDA, Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 506 Hayter Street, Nacogdoches, TX 75965 2. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 506 Hayter Street, Nacogdoches, TX 75965 (S) Habitat use of American Kestrels and European Starlings in west-­‐central Pennsylvania. Rebecca Zdilla*, Kerri Cornell Duerr. Division of Biological, Chemical, and Environmental Sciences, Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA 16172 P25 P26 (S) Wading bird use of geographically isolated wetlands in the southeastern U.S. coastal plain. Camille E. Herteux* (1,2), Dale E. Gawlik (1), and Lora L. Smith (2) 1. Environmental Science Program, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33413 2. Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center at Ichauway, Newton, GA 39870 (S) Mixed responses of breeding birds to shale gas development in the eastern United States. Kevin J. Krajcir*, Mary JoAnn Meek, Matthew D. Moran, and Maureen R. McClung Biology Department, Hendrix College, Conway, AR 72032. P27 P28 P29 (S) Exurban development and shrubland birds: opportunity or catastrophe? Neil A. Gilbert*(1), Michael J. Conroy(2), Jeffrey Hepinstall-­‐Cymerman(2), and Paige F. B. Ferguson (1) 1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. 2. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602. (S) What's in a feather? Reconstructing mercury concentrations through time using New York state. Sarah A. Dzielski*(1), N. Roxanna Razavi (2), Vanya G. Rohwer (3), Cornelia W. Twining (1) 1. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14850. 2. The Fingerlakes Institute, Geneva, NY 14456. 3. Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates, Ithaca, NY 14850. Characterization of antioxidant components in wild fruits consumed by migratory birds using multidimensional fluorescence spectroscopy and chemometrics. Todd Pagano*(1), Morgan Bida (1), Franly Ulerio-­‐Nuñez (1), and Susan B. Smith (2) 1. Department of Science and Mathematics, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 14623. 2. Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 14623. 10 P30 P31 P32 (S) Prey selection of the Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) in Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge. Emilie R. Kohler*(1), Marisa T. Martinez (1), Dale E. Gawlik (1), and Stephanie S. Romañach (2) 1. Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33413 2. United States Geological Survey, Davie, FL 33314 (S) Patterns of Borrelia burgdorferi infection in northern Illinois birds. Cassidy Hanson*, Damon Roznowski, Laurel Snyder, Sean Beckmann, and James Marshall. Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Rockford University, Rockford, IL 61108. (S) Borrelia burgdorferi infections rates in northern Illinois birds. Damon Roznowski*, Cassidy Hanson, Laurel Snyder, Sean Beckmann, and James Marshall. Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Rockford University, Rockford, IL 61108. P33 Determining egg viability via thermal imagery. Jeffery Sullivan* (1), Kaitlyn Reintsma (1), Rebecca Natoli (2), Arianna Sophia Hull (2), Peter McGowan (3), Carl Callahan (3), Tom Collier (4), and Diann Prosser (1) 1. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Beltsville, MD 20705. 2. University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742. 3. United States Fish and Wildlife Service Chesapeake Bay Field Office, Annapolis, MD 21401. 4. UASBio, 12139 Patapsco Ridge Rd, Marriottsville, MD 21104. Saturday, March 11 Session 4 7:30 am to 10 am 9:30-­‐10 am NABC banding workshop Andrea Patterson (Meet on the patio outside Whitaker Hall, near the lake.) Coffee Break – Whitaker Hall Session 5 10:15 am – 12:00 10:15 Lutgert Hall 1201 Lutgert Hall 1202 Habitat and Community Ecology Moderator: Margaret Hatch Biogeography and Climate Change Moderator: Joel Ralston (S) [31] Habitat selection by Common Nighthawks in Canada's boreal forest. Gabriel Foley Department of Biology, University of Regina, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2 (S) [37] Regional variation in the genetic diversity of a boreal forest bird, the Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia). Kathryn Marshall* and Joel Ralston Department of Biology, Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN 46556 10:30 (S) [32] Wetland size and habitat heterogeneity increase wetland bird diversity. Lisa H. Elliott* (1), Douglas H. Johnson, (2), Lawrence D. Igl (2), Michael B. Whitt (3) 1. Conservation Science Program, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108. 2. US Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Jamestown, ND 58401. 3. Whitt Environmental Services, Inc., Badger, MN 56714. (S) [38] Understanding the causes of diversity gradients along the Himalaya in flycatchers. Ashutosh Singh¹, Suresh Rana¹, R. Suresh Kumar¹, S.K. Gupta¹, Pratap Singh¹, Dhananjai Mohan² and Trevor Price³ ¹ Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, India. ² Uttarakhand Forest Department, Dehradun, India. ³ Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637. 11 10:45 (S) [33] How long until the next bird?: Within site trends in long-­‐term monitoring of avian cloud forest communities. Kathleen Farley* and Claus Holzapfel. (S) [39] Variation in the flight morphology of the Cliff Swallow. Dylan J. Steffen* and Jeffrey J. Carter Department of Biological Sciences, Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS 67601. Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey-­‐Newark, Newark, NJ 07102. 11:00 11:15 11:30 (S) [34] Is fear the mother of safety? Understanding the influence of intraguild predation on nest site selection in Mississippi Kite. Fidelis Akunke Atuo* and Timothy John O'Connell [40] The relationship of local weather patterns and American Kestrel reproduction. John A. Smallwood*and Marisa Del Corso. Department of Biology, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043. Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078. (S) [35] Avian spring migration as a dispersal mechanism for an invasive insect pest. Nicholas J. Russo* (1), Carole A.S.-­‐J. Cheah (2), Chris S. Elphick (1), and Morgan W. Tingley (1). [41] Tung Hai University: A zone of contact between Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) and Striated Swallows (Cecropis striolata)? Dennis Siegfried Department of Biology, Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, MO 65613. 1. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269. 2. Valley Laboratory, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Windsor, CT 06095. (S) [36] Dietary plasticity of Wood Storks in response to human-­‐induced rapid environmental change in south Florida. Betsy A. Evans*(1), Jessica A. Klassen (2), and Dale E. Gawlik (1) [42] Dynamics of avian community change over the decade following forest fire. Morgan W. Tingley* (1), Viviana Ruiz-­‐
Gutiérrez (2), Robert L. Wilkerson (3), Christine A. Howell (4,5), and Rodney B. Siegel (3) 1. Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431. 2. Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77801. 12:00-­‐1:00 1. Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269. 2. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850. 3. The Institute for Bird Populations, P.O. Box 1346, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956. 4. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, Vallejo, CA 94592. 5. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Albany, CA 94710. Lunch -­‐ Whitaker Hall 12 Session 6 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm 1:00 Seidler Hall 114 Conservation of Florida Birds Moderator: Jerome A. Jackson [43] Millstones and Milestones: Notes on the History of Bird Conservation in Florida. Jerome A. Jackson and Bette J. S. Jackson Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL 33965. 1:25 [44] What birds are in the balance in the Georgia-­‐Florida water war? Todd R. Engstrom Research Associate, Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, FL 32312. 1:50 [45] Rapid morphological change of the endangered Snail Kite with an invasion of novel prey. Robert J. Fletcher*, Chris E. Cattau, Rebecca T. Kimball, Christine W. Miller, and Wiley M. Kitchens Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, 110 Newins-­‐Ziegler Hall, University of Florida/IFAS, Gainesville, FL 32611. 2:15 2:40 [46] When cowbirds collide: range expansion of cowbirds in Florida. Jameson F. Chace*(1) and Alexander Cruz (2) 1. Department of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Salve Regina University, Newport, RI 02840. 2. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University, Boulder, CO 80309. [47] Recent innovations in the conservation of the Florida Scrub-­‐
Jay. Angela Tringali and Reed Bowman Avian Ecology Program, Archbold Biological Station, Venus, FL 33960. 3:05 [48] Finding cause for optimism in avian conservation. Andrew Cox Avian Research Lead, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Gainesville, FL 32608. 3:30 [49] Summary Jerome A. Jackson Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL 33965. SAVE THE DATE! 2018 Annual Meeting of the Wilson Ornithological Society will be jointly held with the Association of Field Ornithologists on June 7-­‐9 at the Chattanooga Convention Center in Chattanooga, TN. Inexpensive room blocks will be available at the attached Marriot Chattanooga Downtown and the nearby Days Inn Chattanooga-­‐Rivergate. Chattanooga is a family-­‐friendly location with lots of activities in the downtown areas and a plethora of local eateries. June will be an excellent time for local birding and several field trips will be available to participants. If you have questions about the meeting, please contact WOS representative Mark Deutschlander ([email protected]) or local host David Aborn (David-­‐[email protected]). 13 March 10 9 am Edwards Auditorium [01] March 10 Lutgert Hall 1201 10:45 am [02] Lutgert Hall 1201 11:00 am [03] ABSTRACTS Margaret Morse Nice Medal Lecture Stopover Biology of Migratory Songbirds: Challenges, Consequences and Connections. Frank R. Moore Department of Biological Sciences University of Southern Mississippi. Hattiesburg, MS 39406. Migratory songbirds can move awe-­‐inspiring distances, often over large inhospitable landscapes. Yet, rarely do songbirds migrate non-­‐stop from origin to destination, rather they stopover periodically sometimes for a few hours, sometimes days. Indeed, most time during migration is spent on stopover when energy expenditure is high relative to flight and where migrants build up fuel stores for consumption during subsequent flights. Traveling long distances across areas that vary in suitability comes with considerable risks, and the mortality associated with migration may be substantial. How well migratory birds satisfy energetic requirements and meet exigencies that arise during passage determines the success of their migration, and a successful migration is measured in terms of survival and reproductive performance. My presentation is organized around the challenges migrants face when they stop over during passage, the consequences of their response to en route challenges, and how a comprehensive understanding of the biology of migratory species requires knowledge of seasonal interactions between phases of the entire annual cycle. Session 1A: Behavior I Phenotypic manipulation of male barn swallows: A social network experiment. Iris I. Levin*(1), Bailey K. Fosdick (2), Toshi Tsunekage (1), Matt A. Aberle (3), Christine M. Bergeon-­‐Burns (4), Amanda K. Hund (5), and Rebecca J. Safran (5). 1. Department of Biology, Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA, 30030. 2. Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523. 3. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061. 4. Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405. 5. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309. Morphological and physiological traits are often predictive of reproductive performance. However, it is rare that we understand exactly how morphological and physiological traits translate to reproductive success, as this involves detailed information about individual behavior, and its physiological basis, that can be difficult to obtain. We deployed proximity loggers on breeding barn swallows (Hirundo rustica erythrogaster) to test how experimentally manipulating male ventral plumage color affects social network position, reproductive success, and aspects of physiology including testosterone, corticosterone, oxidative stress, and antioxidants. First clutch eggs were collected for a record of paternity pre-­‐manipulation and adult swallows were tagged with Encounternet proximity loggers. Tags recorded close proximity interactions for two days both before and after half of the males in the network had their ventral plumage experimentally darkened. Physiological data were collected pre-­‐ and post-­‐manipulation for nearly all individuals. We have previously shown that ventral color, a known sexual signal in North American barn swallows, correlates with male interactivity with females. Two years of experimental data show that a male's interactivity with females changed proportionally to his change in plumage color: darkened males experienced an increase in interactions with females, particularly their social mates. Social interactivity was also related to paternity; males who were more interactive with their social mates following experimental clutch removal sired higher numbers of within-­‐pair offspring in the replacement clutch. Changes in male-­‐male interactions and changes in physiology were not directly related to the phenotype manipulation. (S) Popularity and parenting: How barn swallow social interactivity relates to parental care. Maya N. Djordjevich*(1), Toshi, Tsunekage (1), Rebecca J. Safran (2), and Iris I. Levin (1) 1. Department of Biology, Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA, 30030. 2. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University, Boulder, CO, 80309. Female barn swallows (Hirundo rustica erythrogaster) interact more with males who have darker ventral plumage feathers, a known mate selection signal in this species. Additionally, female barn swallows invest more in parental care when paired to dark males. In this study, we ask whether interactivity of males with their social mates (and with other females) predicts male investment in parental care. The good parent hypothesis predicts that an attractive male -­‐ who may be more attentive to his mate -­‐ should provide higher levels of care to his offspring. However, attractive males who are more interactive with females may face a trade-­‐off between providing parental care and interacting with females outside the pair bond. We tagged adult barn swallows with proximity loggers in order to quantify their social interactivity when females were fertile. When offspring were eight days old, we set up GoPro Hero Session video cameras near 23 nests and recorded parental behavior for two hours, including number of feeds per parent and time spent at nest. We used generalized linear models to quantify the relationship between parental care, social interactivity, ventral plumage color, and age. Because female barn swallows routinely mate outside the pair bond, our models also included paternity of offspring in the nest. Lutgert Hall 1201 11:15 am [04] Lutgert Hall 1201 11:30 am [05] Lutgert Hall 1201 11:45 am [06] 14 Macrogeographic variation in song of the MacGillivray's Warbler. Jay Pitocchelli* (1), David Guerra (2), and Jaimie Kender (2) 1. Biology Department, 2. Physics Department, Saint Anselm College, Manchester, NH 03102. Geographic variation in mating signals is of interest to evolutionary biologists because the consequences of spatial divergence may lead to behavioral discrimination, assortative mating and speciation. Birdsong is the primary acoustic mating signal of Passerines and geographic variation has been documented within many species of songbirds. We studied macrogeographic variation in song of the MacGillivray's Warbler to determine 1) whether song divergence from the breeding range exhibited patterns of geographic structure such as small-­‐scale dialects or large-­‐scale regiolects and 2) if various hypotheses used to explain the evolution of song differences in other species could be applied to populations of MacGillivray's Warblers. We found that there is little or no geographic structure to the pattern of song variation in this species. Individual variation in the cultural units and physical parameters of song overwhelmed any differences among populations. We also found that several hypotheses (e.g., acoustic adaptation) that explain patterns of song divergence in other species did not apply to MacGillivray's Warblers. Selection for individual recognition in a species that breeds in riparian or second growth habitat characterized by extremely dense vegetation may best explain the nature of song variation in this species. The lack of dialects or regiolects also suggests that these populations are not on trajectories towards speciation. Our results agree with previous studies of mtDNA that have shown a lack of phylogeographical structure among North American populations. (S) Character bioacoustics White-­‐rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus (Scopoli, 1788) in nature and as a cage-­‐
bird. Novia L. Rahmawaty*, Wilson Novarino, and Muhammad N. Janra Department of Biology, Andalas University, West Sumatra, Indonesia. Indonesian people love to keep songbird in cage to be competed, such as White-­‐rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus). Each individual White-­‐rumped Shama will be pitted their song and try to imitate the rhythm of the enemy with its songs. This study was conducted to see the natural song characters of White-­‐rumped Shama and song character from birds that had been trained and comparison in three different places in West Sumatra. Individuals were recorded totaling 30 individuals in three areas in West Sumatra namely Padang, Solok and Pariaman and sound recordings of White-­‐rumped Shama in nature were taken in HBW and Xenocanto website. Research has done conducted from June to October 2016 at place group practice of birdsongs and recorded at 16:00 to 18:00. These voices were analyzed by Avisoft SAS-­‐Lab Lite inform of oscillogram and sonogram. Measured parameters included: the length of voice, repertoire size, number of syllable type, syllable repertoire, and song repertoire. The results showed that repertoire composition of White-­‐rumped Shama in nature less than the sound which were trained and have repeat songs composed by the same type of repertoire composition. Comparison of song character White-­‐rumped Shama in three different places in West Sumatra, those birds in Solok had the best quality of voice or song than Padang and Pariaman. It showed by higher repertoire composition in Solok. (S) Wading bird prey availability in intertidal systems. Marisa T. Martinez* (1), Emilie R. Kohler (1), Dale E. Gawlik (1), and Stephanie Romañach (2) 1. Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431 . 2. U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314. Prey availability, a composite variable representing the abundance of prey and the vulnerability of prey to capture, strongly affects wading bird habitat selection, physiology, and reproduction. In intertidal systems prey availability is influenced by hydrologic fluctuations. We evaluated various characteristics of hydrology and wading bird foraging habitat predicted to generate high densities of aquatic prey. We measured water depth, submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) cover, and density of aquatic fauna at random locations within the lower Florida Keys (Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge; GWH; n=74) and within the Florida Bay (Everglades National Park; ENP; n=51). We collected data during the peak wading bird breeding season (March-­‐July 2016) on mud flats when water depth was < 35 cm. Prey density was significantly higher (t=4.02, df=35, p<0.0001) at GWH (64 prey/m2 + 47) than at ENP (27 prey/m2 +16). Water depth and percent cover of SAV were higher at GWH locations (21 cm + 6; 78% + 24%) than at ENP locations (18 cm + 8; 67% + 34%). Prey density showed a positive, albeit weak, relationship with water depth and SAV cover at both study areas (R2<0.2). Prey availability is likely not influenced by a single parameter but by a combination of hydrologic, habitat, and physical attributes. These data will be the basis for a model that predicts prey availability in intertidal systems using an information theoretic framework. Our results will provide resource managers with insight as to which habitat variables can be managed to promote wading bird population sustainability. 15 March 10 Lutgert Hall 1202 10:45 am [07] Lutgert Hall 1202 11:00 am [08] Lutgert Hall 1202 11:15 am [09] Lutgert Hall 1202 11:30 am [10] Session 1B: Migration A multi-­‐year physiological study of Catharus thrush migration at Braddock Bay Bird Observatory. Susan B. Smith* and Calvin P. Carrington Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 14623. The south shore of Lake Ontario serves as an important stopover area for many species of landbirds during spring and fall migration. The quality of these habitats is essential for adequate refueling of birds and as such, fluctuations in widely consumed food resources may impact the physiological condition and nutritional status of birds during stopovers. This study examined patterns of nutritional and physiological condition measured via plasma metabolite profiling of three species of thrush (Catharus) captured at the Braddock Bay Bird Observatory over four consecutive fall seasons in order determine the nature and extent of annual variation in the birds' stopover physiology at this site. We collected blood samples and morphological measurements from birds captured and banded during the fall migration period and analyzed the plasma spectrophotometrically to determine circulating concentrations of triglycerides (an indicator of fat deposition) and other indices of nutrient utilization (uric acid, glucose, free fatty acids). Results confirmed that certain aspects of thrush physiology may differ annually, with 2013 appearing to be a year of relatively lower fat deposition (triglycerides) and lower circulating levels of glucose and uric acid, and 2014 generally yielding the highest levels of these three metabolites. It is possible that local and temporal variation in the availability of certain types of fruits may affect the physiological profiles of the birds both within and across seasons. Such environmental variation may impact the stopover use and foraging needs of birds at this site, presenting an additional dimension to consider for habitat management. Sex-­‐specific schedule for breeding development in Nearctic-­‐Neotropical migrants. Kristen M. Covino*(1,2) and Frank R. Moore (2) 1. Biology Department, Canisius College, Buffalo, NY 14208. 2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39401. Appropriate timing of each life-­‐history stage is crucial for seasonally migratory species. The temporal constraints faced by migratory songbirds require that they overlap breeding development with spring migration. In our studies of four Nearctic-­‐Neotropical songbird species, male migrants exhibited a significant degree of breeding development during spring migration as determined by their ability to significantly elevate testosterone and/or increasing circulating testosterone levels as they approached their breeding grounds. The observed increase in the ability to elevate testosterone in male migrants may indicate that testicular development and breeding development occur throughout the migratory period. Across all four species studied, results indicate that while female migrants begin breeding development either prior to or early during their northward migration, the degree of development did not vary throughout the migratory period. We argue for the existence of a sex-­‐specific schedule for breeding development where male migrants continue to prepare for breeding throughout spring migration and female migrants delay the final stages of breeding development until they arrive on the breeding grounds. (S) Virginia and Yellow Rail autumn migration phenology and habitat use in the Mississippi flyway. Auriel M.V. Fournier *(1), Doreen C. Mengel (2), and David G. Krementz (1) Arkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Arkansas, 1 University Drive, Fayetteville, AR 72701. Missouri Department of Conservation Resource Science Division, 3500 E Gans Rd, Columbia, MO 65201. Virginia and Yellow Rails are elusive, poorly studied marshbirds found across North America with a specific lack of information about their autumn migration ecology and migratory habitat use. We conducted nocturnal surveys across 11 public wetlands in Missouri, USA from 2012-­‐2016, and compared the timing of autumn migration from our surveys with from three opportunistic datasets: 1) eBird records, 2) building strikes, and 3) state ornithological records. The timing of Virginia Rail autumn migration varied between the opportunistic data and our surveys. Opportunistic data had two peaks, while our surveys had a single peak the second week in October. Yellow Rail autumn migration through Missouri peaked earlier in our surveys than opportunistic datasets which peaked during the second week in October. Both rails were found in moist soil habitats, however Virginia Rails selected perennial species more than was available, while Yellow Rails selected annual species. Both species showed no selection for water depth and used shallowly flooded wetlands. Understanding the autumn migration period and habitat requirements will allow wetland managers to better manage lands for autumn migrating Virginia and Yellow Rails. (S) Measurement of triglyceride and beta-­‐hydroxybutyrate in Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula), a migratory songbird in South Central Nebraska. Emma C. Keele* and Letty M. Reichart. Department of Biology, University of Nebraska Kearney, NE 68845. South central Nebraska is an important migratory stopover site because birds use it for resting and refueling their fat stores. Acquiring lipids on stopover sites is especially important to allow birds to complete the remaining portion of their migration. Birds able to maintain lipids throughout migration are more likely to breed successfully following migration. We developed an assay to detect Triglyceride (TRIG) and Beta-­‐Hydroxybutyrate (BUTY) concentrations in blood plasma for Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula) (BAOR) captured during spring migration, May -­‐ June 2015 and 2016. Lipid metabolism in each species is variable, thus baseline information must be collected for each species captured. We 16 Lutgert Hall 1202 11:45 am [11] Lutgert Hall 1202 12:00 pm [12] March 10 Lutgert Hall 1201 1:45 pm [13] captured BAOR using mist nets outside of Gibbon, NE to collect blood samples within ten minutes of capture from the brachial vein. We collected 101 plasma samples in 2015 and 141 in 2016. From 2015, we used a subset of 36 samples collected during Spring 2015 to analyze TRIG and BUTY. Mean TRIG Serum was 0.048 (mM) ± 0.039 (SD). Mean BUTY was 0.213 (mM) ± 0.129 (SD). We are currently completing analysis for the remaining samples collected during Spring 2015 and 2016. In addition, we will complete a comparison of TRIG and BUTY concentrations compared to size corrected body condition indices to better understand energy use for BAOR during spring migration in south central Nebraska. Results from this study will be used to formulate new testable hypotheses regarding lipid metabolism for BAOR that use south central Nebraska as a migratory stopover site. Changes in spring arrival dates of Rufous Hummingbirds in western North America in the past century. Jason Courter Department of Science and Mathematics, Malone University, Canton, OH 44709. Warming temperatures have been linked to advancing spring migration dates of birds, although most studies have been conducted at individual sites. Problems may arise if birds arrive or depart before or after associated food resources reach critical lifecycle stages. I compared mean first arrival dates of Rufous Hummingbird, a prolific pollinator and long-­‐
distance migrant, between 1895-­‐1969 and 2006-­‐2015 at eight locations in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Historical arrivals were reported through the North American Bird Phenology Program and recent arrivals were estimated from temporal occupancy patterns using eBird checklists. Results indicated that hummingbirds arrived 8 and 11 days later in the recent time period in two coastal cities in Oregon and 7-­‐17 days earlier in northern, more inland cities in Washington and British Columbia. Spring temperatures have increased in the past century in much of this region and birds arrived earlier in years with warmer spring temperatures, suggesting that migratory advancements were climate-­‐related. Later arrivals reported in coastal regions of Oregon in the recent time period may suggest that Rufous Hummingbirds are bypassing coastal areas to take advantage of more predictable conditions along inland migratory routes, or are shifting their breeding ranges northward, notions both supported by declining population trends observed in Breeding Bird Survey data. My results provide justification for the investigation of the ecological impacts of climate change on birds in coastal vs. inland environments and a framework for comparing information from two extensive and emerging datasets to better understand the impacts of climate change on bird migration. Experimental manipulation of energetic condition affects orientation of White-­‐throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) during fall and spring migration near a geographic water barrier. Jennalee A. Holzschuh (1) and Mark E. Deutschlander (2)* 1. Department of Environmental Science and Biology, SUNY College at Brockport, Brockport, NY 14420. 2. Department of Biology, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY 14456. Previous research on a variety of migratory passerines from different regions has shown that orientation at ecological barriers can be correlated with condition; migrants in poor condition often re-­‐orient in seasonally unexpected directions, and migrants in good condition show seasonally appropriate orientation. However, few studies have shown directly that individual orientation changes with energetic condition. We conducted a repeated-­‐measures experiment on captive White-­‐throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) along the south shore of Lake Ontario to determine if energetic condition directly affects individual orientation. During fall and spring, sparrows were maintained on a semi-­‐synthetic diet to manipulate mass gain or loss, and tested for orientation three times: in their original condition (e.g., fat), after their condition changed on a manipulated diet (e.g., to lean from fat), and then again after individuals were restored to their original condition (e.g., from lean to fat). Sparrows in good energetic condition oriented bimodally along a northwest-­‐southeast axis in both seasons and showed high levels of migratory restlessness, similar to other studies of sparrows in captivity. In contrast, sparrows in lean energetic condition were not well-­‐oriented and showed lower levels of migratory restlessness in both seasons. Analysis of individual orientation showed that most birds changed their orientation significantly when energetic condition was altered, but returned to their original orientation when energetic condition was restored. Our results demonstrate a direct effect of food availability and energetic condition on individual orientation and migratory restlessness. Session 2A: Behavior II (S) The influence of breeding experience on the incubation behavior of Carolina Chickadees. Shelby Nemec* and Lindsey Walters. Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099. Avian reproductive success is potentially impacted by parental experience. One important reproductive behavior that may be affected by experience is incubation of eggs, which requires the investment of large amounts of time and energy by parent birds. We studied the effect of experience on incubation constancy in a population of breeding Carolina Chickadees (Poecile carolinensis) in Melbourne, KY from 2012 to 2016. We predicted that when female chickadees were more experienced, they would incubate eggs for a greater proportion of the day and take fewer breaks, or off-­‐bouts. In Lutgert Hall 1201 2:00 ppm [14] Lutgert Hall 1201 2:15 pm [15] Lutgert Hall 1201 2:30 pm [16] 17 order to measure incubation constancy, we collected 2,400 hours of data using iButton temperature data loggers that we secured inside the nests of incubating females. We determined each time the female left the nest as shown by the drop in temperature when she left and subsequent rise in temperature when she returned. As predicted, we found that inexperienced females spent a significantly greater proportion of the day away from their eggs than they did when they were more experienced. However, the mean number of off-­‐bouts per hour did not differ between the two breeding attempts. We hypothesize this result comes from an increase in foraging skills, allowing the more experienced female to return to the nest more quickly, while taking the same number of off-­‐bouts. This research contributes to our understanding of how experience influences incubation behavior and highlights the need for additional studies of how it affects other aspects of parental care. Nest site selection and nest predation risk in Carolina Chickadees. Lindsey Walters* and Danielle Frevola Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099. Nest location is an important factor that influences nestlings' success. Poor nest location could lead to exposure to predators or to a lack of nearby resources. We examined nest site selection and nest depredation of Carolina Chickadees (Poecile carolinensis) from 2011-­‐2015 at a field site with artificial nest boxes. In this cavity-­‐nesting species, both members of a breeding pair inspect multiple cavities before deciding on a location to build a nest. We examined whether Carolina Chickadee nest location preference and predation rates were related to factors such as proximity to the forest edge, a water source, neighboring cavities, and buildings, as well as the forest type the nest was located in. We found that Carolina Chickadee nests that were closer to the forest edge were depredated more often; however, despite this increased risk of nest loss near the forest edge, the chickadees did not prefer boxes located away from the edge. The other factors that we measured were not related to nest box occupancy or predation risk. Future research should focus on why these birds continue to nest in more dangerous edge locations and on what other factors affect their nest selection decisions. (S) Quantifying exploratory behavior in sister chickadee species using a mobile box method. Sarah E. Polekoff* and Robert L. Curry Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19087. When species co-­‐occur, behavioral differences between them may dictate the outcome of ecological and reproductive interactions. Exploratory behavior is an ecologically relevant measure of behavior associated with speed-­‐accuracy tradeoffs: slow explorers are more thorough. Behavioral differences between species coming into contact could affect mate choice and social dominance relationships, ultimately determining where they occur and whether they hybridize. We measured exploratory behavior in pure populations of wild Carolina and Black-­‐capped chickadees, sister species that hybridize in a northward-­‐shifting contact zone, in the field using a mobile observation chamber. We scored exploratory behavior by recording 28 different variables describing activity level inside the chamber, latency to reach different sections within the box, and position inside the box. PC1 from principal components analysis explained > 50% of the variation. Variables describing activity levels and latencies covaried, except for latency variables describing the first and last few actions. Within each species, individuals exhibited a wide range of PC1 exploratory scores. Black-­‐capped and Carolina chickadees did not differ in mean PC1 scores nor any individual variables except flight time and number of flights, suggesting that the species differ in manner of exploration but not degree. PC1 and its high-­‐loading variables were repeatable (r ≥ 0.45), suggesting that the measures represent individual personality. Test sequence affected PC1 score such that birds scored "faster" on their second test, but scores were not influenced by season, sex, or weather. Most of the variation exists between individuals, not species, suggesting that these sister species display high behavioral overlap. (S) Applications of a social network analysis: investigating social behaviors in resident Carolina Chickadees (Poecile carolinensis) and irruptive Black-­‐capped Chickadees (P. atricapillus). Rebecca D. Garlinger*, Christine L. Eldredge, Christopher J. Roche, and Robert L. Curry Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19087. Animal social behavior is often characterized by intricate and dynamic social interactions. Social network theory tells us that we can analyze aspects of dyadic interactions within a community to understand group-­‐level structures and processes. We employed social network analysis (SNA) using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to explore social behavior in a mixed avian population. Specifically, we installed semi permanent RFID feeders (N = 17) at a site in southeastern Pennsylvania to examine interactions in an overwintering population of resident Carolina Chickadees (Poecile carolinensis) and irruptive Black-­‐capped Chickadees (P. atricapillus). Polling data over the entire sample period, Carolina Chickadees (N = 83) visiting all feeders formed six SNA "communities" that were consistent with winter flocks with regard to size (mean of 13.8 birds per group) and home range. Communities demonstrated an average of 17,880 visits, with an average of 1,820 visits per bird across the site. Each of the six communities preferentially visited a different primary feeder location, yet 84% of all groups overlapped at feeders with at least one other visiting community. Across the site, Black-­‐capped Chickadees integrated themselves randomly into Carolina communities; at one feeder, for example, Black-­‐capped Chickadees (N = 5) showed neither positive nor negative assortment relative to their proportions with conspecifics or Carolinas (N = 21) visiting the same feeder. Our data suggest that Carolina Chickadees may not form discrete flocks, but instead form flock-­‐like communities that allow for resident and irruptive birds to become highly integrated. 18 Lutgert Hall 1201 2:45 pm [17] Lutgert Hall 1201 3:00 pm [18] March 10 Lutgert Hall 1202 1:45 pm [19] (S) Exploratory behavior as a component of personality in hybridizing chickadees. Breanna Bennett* and Robert Curry Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085. Consistent behavior in an individual that varies from other individuals of its species is considered its personality, a component of which is exploratory behavior, or willingness to investigate novel environments. The behavior of wild individuals has fitness consequences, including foraging success or mate selection that could effect variation of personality intraspecifically and interspecifically. A preliminary study of two avian sister species-­‐ Carolina (Poecile carolinensis) and Black-­‐capped (Poecile atricapillus), suggested that personality differed significantly, despite their close evolutionary relationship and ability to hybridize. Personality of wild avian hybrids has not been well studied, making my study the first of its kind. I tested 36 individuals from the wild population at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Kempton, PA, located in the Black-­‐capped/Carolina hybrid zone, during the May-­‐June spring breeding season in order to investigate how exploratory behavior differed in a hybrid zone community. I observed exploratory behavior of individuals in the field using a portable observation chamber, from which variables were extracted and scored for each test. Variables were analyzed using a principal components analysis (PCA). Variables that made up PC1 included total pegs, number of unique pegs, zones reached, actions per minute and explained 66.7% for 28 analyzed tests. Understanding the variability of exploratory behavior in the hybrid zone population could help to determine whether personality is an important trait for sexual selection in chickadees, and thus driving hybridization. (S) Impact of age on differential response rates in warblers. Hannah Elsinghorst* and Sara R Morris Department of Biology, Canisius College, Buffalo, NY 14208. Warblers use flight calls in a variety of contexts as a form of auditory communication, particularly during migration. Differences in migration-­‐related traits such as timing and energetic condition have been recognized between young and adult birds, particularly during fall migration when young birds are migrating for the first time. Earlier work on flight calls has shown that call rates vary among different species of warblers. In this study of nine different species of migrant warblers, we examined whether flight calling behavior differs between young and adult birds during fall migration. Using recordings collected in an electrically-­‐shielded and acoustically-­‐isolated recording chamber, we were able to determine if a bird gave a response when it heard a flight call. In all but one species, young birds were more likely to call in response to a flight call than adults, although only three species showed significant differences between age groups, and rates varied among species. Likewise, young birds called at a higher rate (calls/minute) than adults in all but one species, three of which were significant. Differences in response rate and calling rate between age groups may suggest differential use of flight calls to communicate with others during migration, and that this form of communication is particularly important for young birds that have never migrated before. Session 2B: Population and Conservation Biology (S) Developing grassland songbird management targets and evaluating multi-­‐species conservation in the mixed-­‐
grass prairie. Phillip Rose*, Mark Brigham (1), and Stephen Davis (2) 1. Department of Biology, University of Regina, Regina, SK. 2. Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Regina, SK. In Canada, much of the remaining native mixed-­‐grass prairie is now managed by private landowners. As a result, conservation practitioners primarily rely on incentive-­‐based stewardship programs to conserve grassland habitat. Results-­‐based conservation is a growing initiative whereby livestock producers receive funding if their management creates or enhances habitat for species of conservation concern. A critical component of the program is developing meaningful management targets that 1) will enhance and maintain suitable habitat for species of conservation concern and 2) producers can measure and manage for to receive funding once they achieve those targets. The objective of this project is to develop management targets for grassland songbirds to be used in results-­‐based conservation programs on native rangelands in Saskatchewan, Canada. Research will determine whether habitat variables that serve as important predictors of grassland bird abundance remain consistent across three prairie ecoregions defined by gradients in soil and moisture. If true, the same management targets could be set for the entire region. In contrast, if selection pressures vary then different management targets will be required for each ecoregion. Vegetation characteristics were based on the scientific literature and from interviews with ranchers (e.g., cues they use to base their day-­‐to-­‐day grazing management decisions). The data was incorporated into habitat use models and used to produce management targets for each target species. Lastly, this research compares habitat preferences of co-­‐existing grassland songbirds and the potential effects that a single-­‐species management approach towards species at risk could have on the songbird community as a whole. Lutgert Hall 1202 2:00 pm [20] Lutgert Hall 1202 2:15 pm [21] Lutgert Hall 1202 2:30 pm [22] Lutgert Hall 1202 2:45 pm [23] 19 (S) Assessing island habitat loss in the Chesapeake Bay from 1991 to 2011 for the Maryland state endangered Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). Paul R. Marban* (1,2), Diann J. Prosser (1), Jennifer L. Murrow (2), and David Brinker (3) 1. USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Beltsville, MD 20705. 2. Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Science Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742. 3. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis, MD 21401. The common tern (Sterna hirundo) is a Maryland state endangered species which currently breeds in only three known locations in the state. Previously, the species was known to nest throughout the Chesapeake Bay and coastal bays of Maryland with a peak of 18 colonies in 1988. Major threats to the species include habitat loss and human disturbance at breeding sites. Through the use of GIS, breeding habitat on islands in the Chesapeake Bay in both 1991 and 2011 was assessed. Islands larger than 2 pixels (1800 m2) were digitized in ArcMap 10.2. Landsat 5 TM scenes from both years were classified into 6 categories (water, urban, forest, wetland, agriculture/open field, and beach) using a maximum likelihood classification scheme. Unweighted Cohen's Kappa was used to determine the accuracy of the image classification. Kappa values were high ranging from 0.7589 ± 0.0404 to 0.9365 ± 0.0363. A slight decrease in habitat area was observed between the two years (238.97 ha) with a large increase in urban pixels also being observed (2485.36%). These findings may provide some insight into the sharp decrease in common tern breeding colonies in Maryland. (S) Survivorship of birds in Lake Erie's western basin. Adam Cupito*(1), and James Marshall (2) 1. School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210. 2. Dept. of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Rockford University, Rockford, IL 61108. The island ecosystems of Lake Erie's western basin serve as a vital habitat for many species of birds, particularly during the migration months. A question of interest in observing these ecosystems involves a comparison of how survivorship differs between human-­‐dominated ecosystems and nature preserves. In 2011, a project was launched to study the survivorship of Agelaius phoeniceus -­‐ Red-­‐winged blackbird and Turdus migratorius -­‐ American Robin inhabiting the islands. The past six years of data involving these species were used in calculating survivorship estimates, which were analyzed in Program MARK. The models found no effect of habitat type on blackbird survivorship, but robins survived better in human-­‐dominated ecosystems. Conserving wildlife requires sufficient knowledge of its interactions with the given ecosystem across time, and in terms of management implications, it is important to know when data is applicable. Survivorship for a specific species is based on a variety of additional environmental factors, including resource availability, population size, and climate and habitat variations. Further data collection might lead to a more developed understanding of what specifically is affecting survivorship. (S) Diversity and distribution of avian malaria in Catharus thrushes at different elevations of the Catskill Mountains. Naima C. Starkloff*(1,2), Alyssa M. FitzGerald (1,2), Jeremy J. Kirchman (2), and Wendy C. Turner (1) 1. University at Albany, SUNY, 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12222. 2. New York State Museum, 222 Madison Ave, Albany, NY 12230. There is a deficit of knowledge regarding the diversity and distribution of avian malaria parasites within families of Neotropical migratory birds, yet the dynamics of haemosporidian blood parasite infections have the potential to drive host demographics and range limits. This study documents the prevalence and diversity of avian malaria parasites within and among four species of Catharus thrushes that are found at different elevations of the Catskill Mountains in Eastern New York. Prevalence and diversity of avian malaria are determined by the ecology of habitats such as proximity to water and temperature, and the host specificity of the parasite. The Veery, found in low elevation riparian habitats, is expected to have high malaria prevalence. The high altitude, boreal forest species, the Bicknell's Thrush, is likely to have low prevalence and be infected primarily by lineages in the genus Leucocytzoon. The mid-­‐elevation Swainson's Thrush and Hermit Thrush are likely to have intermediate levels of parasitemia in this group. Closer related thrush species are likely to harbor host specific parasites that are closely related to each other as these parasites tend to coevolve with hosts. Host generalist parasites will be shared by hosts in close proximity to each other. Environmental filtering may lead to more phylogenetically clustered parasite communities at high elevations than low elevations. Preliminary results, a product of a nested-­‐PCR on museum collection tissue samples to isolate the Cytochrome-­‐B mitochondrial gene, suggest significantly higher prevalence and lineage diversity in the Veery and Hermit Thrush than the in the Bicknell's thrush. Effect of blood sampling on reproductive parameters in a population of Field Sparrows (Spizella pusilla) Margret I. Hatch*(1), Robert J. Smith (2), and Michael Carey (2) 1. Penn State Worthington Scranton, Dunmore, PA 18519. 2. Department of Biology, Univ. Scranton, Scranton, PA 18510. Blood samples from birds are used to address a wide variety of questions and to assess individual attributes such as gender and physiological status. As the use of blood samples expands, researchers have begun investigating whether blood collection has negative impacts on the individuals being sampled. The majority of studies to date have focused on survival probability, detecting no effect of taking a blood sample on apparent survival or recapture rate. Fewer studies have examined the reproductive consequences of blood sample collection. Since fitness can be affected by both survival and reproductive success, we took advantage of a long-­‐term (1986-­‐2009) data set from a population of Field Sparrows (Spizella pusilla) breeding in northeastern Pennsylvania in which blood sampling had no negative effect on apparent 20 Lutgert Hall 1202 3:00 pm [24] survival. We used mixed effects models to assess the influence of collecting a blood sample on clutch initiation day, clutch size, egg volume, and number of fledglings from successful nests. Only clutch initiation day of 2nd and 3rd clutches appeared to be influenced by sampling blood. We found that bled birds initiated clutches on average 4.5-­‐5 days later. While clutch initiation date has been linked to reproductive success, the rest of our results suggest that collecting a blood sample had minimal reproductive consequences. Continued research is needed to better determine the consequences of blood sampling on measures of reproductive performance. (S) Aerial foragers in the Ayyannar Lake, Thanjaur District, Tamil Nadu, southern India. Sivanantham Mohanraj* and Jeganathan Pandiyan PG Research Department of Zoology and Wildlife Biology, AVC College -­‐ Mannampandal, Mayiladuthuari, Tamil Nadu, India. Wetlands are the most preferred habitats for water birds. They support the birds feeding, roosting, nesting, and rearing of young. Status of aerial foragers in the Ayyanar lake, Thanjaur District, Tamil Nadu, India is also influenced by one such habitat frequently used by water birds. Current status of the habitat was studied in the present investigation. Weekly estimation of aerial foraging birds were made using total count method between 06:00 am and 06:00 pm. Five species of aerial foragers were observed from December 2011 to December 2013. The overall bird density was maximum during the monsoon season of year I and II. The density, diversity and species varied significantly between the years and among the seasons. The Ayyanar lake is an important habitat as it provides food throughout the year for the aerial foragers. March 10 Session 3: Evolution Lutgert Hall 1201 3:45 pm [25] (S) Song sparrows: as temperature decreases body size increases, always? Kyle Davis Department of Zoology, Ohio Wesleyan University, 61 S. Sandusky St. Delaware, OH 43015. There are 24 subspecies of song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) in North America. Most live in western North America with only three in the east. Bergmann's Rule states that individuals within a species are larger in colder habitats, those closer to the poles. The size increase is well documented in western song sparrows (Melospiza melodia), but does Bergmann's Rule apply to eastern subspecies as well. I sampled western subspecies: M. m. fallax (south), M. m. morphna (middle), and M. m. kenaiensis (north); and eastern subspecies: M. m. melodia in Georgia (south), New England (middle), and northeastern Canada (north). The tarsometatarsus was measured with digital calipers to find the mean length of 123 song sparrows. Mean tarsal length was compared across subspecies with ANOVA and in pairs with Bonferroni. In the west M. m. kenaiensis (24.8 mm) was the largest, morphna (22.6) intermediate, and fallax (21.8), the most southern, was smallest. Differences in the east were much less, northeastern Canada (22.2), New England (21.8), and Georgia (21.4). The western subspecies differ significantly (df = 116, 5; P<0.001 M. m. kenaiensis was significantly larger (P<0.001) than all other subspecies, none of which differed significantly from each other. Bergmann's Rule describes variation in western subspecies only if the northernmost subspecies is included. In both western and eastern subspecies the insignificant cline follows the pattern predicted by Bergmann's Rule. (S) The evolution of tarsal spurs in Galliformes. Emily Griffith* and Rebecca Kimball Department of Biology, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603. Galliformes, the order of birds which includes chickens, pheasants, and turkeys, are an interesting and diverse group of animals. One quality found in the majority of Galliformes species (yet not found anywhere else) is the presence of tarsal spurs. These structures can vary in size, shape and number between species -­‐ for relatively unknown reasons. Further, although spurs are known worldwide for their role in male-­‐male competition (see: cockfighting) spurs are present in the females of several species. There are many questions regarding the presence, variability, function, and origin of tarsal spurs which have yet to be answered. Scientist G.W.H Davison hypothesized that spurs arose from a common ancestor and were lost in males as the need for fighting disappeared in some species. He also suggested that female spurs could be linked to social system. Charles Darwin offered a similar hypotheses in males, but remarked that female spurs were nothing more than a byproduct of males'. To date, tarsal spurs and their characteristics have never been investigated in a phylogenetic setting. Our goal is to change that. By placing Davison's (combined with more recent) data on Galliformes into a phylogeny, this project will be able to determine how and when tarsal spurs have evolved -­‐ and will either support or deny prior hypotheses. Further, this project strives to answer its own questions regarding the variability of spur characteristics between species and the presence of female tarsal spurs. Lutgert Hall 1201 4:00 pm [26] Lutgert Hall 1201 4:15 pm [27] Lutgert Hall 1201 4:30 pm [28] Lutgert Hall 1201 4:45 pm [29] 21 The question of whether a black chin in the Black-­‐capped Sparrow is an anomaly or an innovation is explored, revealing a new phenotypic rule for Arremon. Gaylon Cook Biology, South Georgia State College, Waycross, GA 31503. A Black-­‐capped Sparrow (Arremon abeillei) with an uncharacteristic melanized chin was detected in the field in Departamento de Tumbes, Peru. A melanized mentum, as well as an aurantious (orangey) bill, is characteristic of the Orange-­‐
billed Sparrow (A. aurantiirostris), the sister species of A. abeillei. Both of these sister species possess a niveous (snowy) throat. Could the presence of a melanized mentum in A. abeillei be an indication of character release at a site where A. abeillei is dissociated from its dark-­‐chinned sister species? None of the specimens of A. abeillei examined in two museums possessed a dark mentum. Instead, the mentum was niveous. To determine the prevalence of the combination of dark rostrum and dark mentum among the species of Arremon, the color combinations of rostrum and mentum were compared in this genus. A niveous mentum is invariably associated with a dark rostrum, and a dark mentum is unalterably associated with a rostrum of contrasting color (not dark), such as the orange bill of A. aurantiirostris. In all species of Arremon possessing a tenebrous inferior semirostrum (lower mandible), melanization of the mentum is suppressed. The immutable chromatic associations of inferior semirostrum and mentum may facilitate the Black-­‐capped Sparrow's discernment of species and sex, and may be sexually selected. At least five linked genes in the avian homogametic chromosome regulate melanogenesis. Methylation or mutation of any of these genes, or of any of the genes participating in eumelanogenesis could have resulted in the melanization of the mentum of A. abeillei. Spatiotemporal variation in hatching success and nestling sex ratio in a rapidly moving chickadee hybrid zone. Robert J. Driver and Robert L. Curry* Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova PA 19085. Moving hybrid zones offer opportunities to investigate fitness consequences of interbreeding by tracking changes in population composition and reproductive performance across space and time. We analyzed 19 years of data (1998 -­‐ 2016) on hatching success and nestling sex ratio from four field sites spanning the rapidly northward-­‐advancing Carolina x Black-­‐
capped chickadee hybrid zone in southeastern Pennsylvania in relation to breeder genotypes assessed using seven diagnostic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers derived from transcriptome analysis. At two sites outside of the hybrid zone, hatching success remained stable over time. At a trailing-­‐edge site, mean hatching success increased as Carolina genotypes replaced Black-­‐capped and hybrid genotypes. At a leading-­‐edge site (Hawk Mountain), mean hatching success declined markedly as the population transitioned from predominantly Black-­‐capped Chickadees to mixed. Within the Hawk Mountain population, hatching success decreased with the degree of interbreeding within pairs. Nestling sex ratio did not vary with hatching success as predicted by Haldane's Rule, but an increasing hybrid index of male breeders was associated with a deficit of female offspring. These long-­‐term data provide strong support for intrinsic costs from hybridization but equivocal evidence regarding Haldane's Rule. Phylogeography of passerines breeding in boreal forest archipelagoes of eastern North America. Jeremy J. Kirchman*(1), Theresa M. Burg (2), Alyssa FitzGerald (1, 3), Joel Ralston (4), and Naima Starkloff (1,3) 1. New York State Museum, Albany, NY 12208. 2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4. 3. Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY 12222. 4. Department of Biology, Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN 46556. The boreal forest biome of North America reaches its southern periphery in areas of high elevation in New York, New England, and the Canadian Maritimes. These peripheral archipelagos of boreal forest are breeding grounds for resident and migratory bird species that are broadly co-­‐distributed across the boreal forest biome and that must have colonized their current breeding ranges after the retreat of the Laurentide ice sheet some time since 11,000 -­‐ 7000 yrBP. We examine the extent to which these bird communities have shared spatial and temporal histories by examining patterns of geographic genetic structure among four bird species we densely sampled from isolated populations stretching from the Catskills Mountains to Newfoundland, and from populations in central and western North America. We compare mitochondrial ND2 sequences obtained from two migratory and two non-­‐migratory lineages: Yellow-­‐bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris), Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus), Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) and the Bicknell's/Gray-­‐cheeked Thrush species complex (Catharus bicknelli/C. minimus). For each species we present haplotype networks, describe levels of sequence polymorphism and pairwise Fst estimates, and estimate divergence times of clades. We also use our ND2 data to test for congruence in phylogeographic patterns among species and to test alternative hypotheses regarding the number of Pleistocene boreal forest refugia in eastern North America. 22 Lutgert Hall 1201 5:00 pm [30] (S) Widely-­‐studied gene MC1R does not explain color polymorphism in Eastern screech-­‐owls. Sarah Kurtis*(1), and John Bates (2) 1. Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608. 2. Bird Division, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL 60605. Plumage coloration plays many vital adaptive roles in avian ecology and evolution, from aiding in camouflage and thermoregulation to serving in social and sexual signaling. To fully grasp the adaptive impacts of color variation, it is necessary to understand its genetic mechanisms. Nucleotide site variation in the gene MC1R (melanocortin-­‐1 receptor) associates with color variation and especially with amount of eumelanin pigmentation in many polymorphic bird species. We investigate whether MC1R explains the polymorphism in the Eastern screech-­‐owl (Megascops asio), which shows continuous variation in ratio of eumelanin (predominant in gray morphs) to phaeomelanin (predominant in red morphs) pigmentation. To more accurately and efficiently assess color morphology, we introduce a new method of scoring color morphology based on the differential composition and presence of feather markings across plumage morphs. We sequenced MC1R across the continuum of color morphs of the Eastern screech-­‐owl and found no correlation between sequence and plumage variation. Analyses of variable sites in this nuclear marker indicate little to no population genetic structure and suggest panmixia across this species, corresponding with mitochondrial data analyses from a previous study. MC1R does not control color polymorphism in the Eastern screech-­‐owl, establishing the need for future research into the molecular pathways controlling this adaptive phenotype in avian populations. March 11 Session 5A: Habitat and Community Ecology Lutgert Hall 1201 10:15 am [31] (S) Habitat selection by Common Nighthawks in Canada's boreal forest. Gabriel Foley Department of Biology, University of Regina, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2. Aerial insectivores (birds that eat insects in the air) are declining faster than any other group of birds in Canada. The reasons behind this downward trend are currently unclear. One aerial insectivore, the Common Nighthawk, is currently listed as threatened in Canada. Although substantial populations may exist in the boreal forest, this region has not been surveyed nor has it been the focus of virtually any research. My project sought to fill this gap. I evaluated whether the open habitat created by forest fires affects the presence, feeding, and reproductive habits of nighthawks. I hypothesized that the bare ground and open space created by fire would promote use (both nesting and feeding) by this species. I used point counts and radio telemetry to test this hypothesis at both landscape and home range scales. I found that nighthawks are significantly more likely to use recently burned forest than unburned forest for all behaviours. Understanding how these birds use forests before and after fire will help managers understand where nighthawks are likely to occur in the boreal forest, how this habitat compares to conventional habitats, and how their short-­‐ and long-­‐
term population will be affected by fires. These results provide information useful for determining the causes behind aerial insectivores' downward trend and the point counts indicate a boreal nighthawk population large enough to warrant a re-­‐evaluation of nighthawks' current conservation status. (S) Wetland size and habitat heterogeneity increase wetland bird diversity. Lisa H. Elliott* (1), Douglas H. Johnson (2), Lawrence D. Igl (2), and Michael B. Whitt (3) 1. Conservation Science Program, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108. 2. US Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Jamestown, ND 58401. 3. Whitt Environmental Services, Inc., Badger, MN 56714. Abundance and diversity of species are expected to be higher on larger areas of contiguous habitat. However, greater habitat heterogeneity may also increase the variety of species at a particular site. We examined three years of data on wetland bird communities on 1,103 wetlands in the Prairie Pothole region of North and South Dakota to assess the influences of wetland size and habitat diversity on avian species richness during the breeding season. To determine if the responses to habitat size or diversity were related to behavioral characteristics of various groups, we modeled total species richness and the richness of several functional groups (waterfowl, grebes, rails, wading birds, shorebirds, blackbirds, other passerines, and other wetland-­‐associated birds). We used a two-­‐step modeling approach: first developing models that accounted for wetland size and the square root of wetland size (a proxy for wetland perimeter), then modeling the residuals from these models in relation to the diversity of proximate cover and of surrounding land cover. We found that wetland size and perimeter were the most important covariates to explain variation in species richness, accounting for as much as 60% of the observed variation. Habitat diversity metrics were included in all subsequent models, but explained relatively modest additional variation in species richness. Our findings support conventional wisdom that reserve size is among the most critical factors in biodiversity conservation. Both wetland size and-­‐to a lesser extent-­‐habitat heterogeneity can influence biodiversity of wetland birds. Lutgert Hall 1201 10:30 am [32] Lutgert Hall 1201 10:45 am [33] Lutgert Hall 1201 11:00 am [34] Lutgert Hall 1201 11:15 am [35] 23 (S) How long until the next bird?: Within site trends in long-­‐term monitoring of avian cloud forest communities. Kathleen Farley* and Claus Holzapfel. Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey-­‐Newark, Newark, NJ 07102. In tropical cloud forests, avian communities are poorly understood in comparison to their Northern Hemisphere counterparts for many historic and systemic reasons. To rectify this disparity, it is vital that today’s design (or revision) of research programs intentionally optimizes effort while maximizing diversity detection. I will propose a straightforward, easily adaptable model that long-­‐term research stations can employ to achieve this aim. Since 2006, Operational Wallacea (Opwall) has conducted biodiversity research in the cloud forests of Cusuco National Park, Honduras. Opwall implements tropical conservation research through recruitment of ecologists to conduct fieldwork in tandem with teaching ecological surveying techniques to secondary and university students exploring potential future careers as scientists. While Opwall uses constant-­‐effort detection methods for point counts and mist-­‐netting, the nature of Opwall’s structure results in seasonal staff turnover and variability in team size. To assess the quality of detections and the role of sampling effort, I compiled avian species accumulation curves by year and method (point count, mist nets) across multi-­‐year datasets where effort is considered the number of sampling opportunities. From here, I was able to determine the research team’s overall effectiveness in detecting species within the park. Additionally, I developed a model which yields how much additional effort is required throughout the season to annually relocate species as the season progresses. These analyses can be used to inform ongoing long-­‐term research programs across ecosystems. (S) Is fear the mother of safety? Understanding the influence of intraguild predation on nest site selection in Mississippi Kite. Fidelis Akunke Atuo* and Timothy John O'Connell Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 008C Ag. Hall, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078. Selecting nesting habitat that minimizes predation risk and improves breeding success is one of the most important decisions in the life history of a bird. In this study, we assess the importance of local habitat characteristics, food abundance, predation risk on nest site selection, and nest survival in a gregarious raptor species, the Mississippi Kite. At the nest site scale, Mississippi Kites selected areas with close canopy, taller trees, short grasses, and higher number of trees than they would if nests were located at random. Broad scale selection was in favor of upland woody vegetation (trees and shrubs). Kites significantly avoided bottomland and riparian woodland, which provided nesting habitat for Red-­‐tailed Hawks and Great Horned Owls. Furthermore, Mississippi Kite reproductive success was influenced by proximity to predators and conspecifics. Nest survival was lower for nests that were closer to predator nesting sites and higher for those that were in proximity of conspecifics. Notwithstanding, Mississippi Kite nest survival was unusually high with 80% of all nest attempts successful. We did not find a significant difference in arthropods (choice prey for Mississippi Kite) abundance between upland and lowland habitats, therefore could not associate kite preference of upland habitat to food availability. Breeding success of Mississippi Kites in our study was the highest of any know Mississippi kite study. We attributed this high breeding success to the substantial spatial segregation in nest site location between the Mississippi Kite and its intraguild predators. Therefore, landscape changes that restrict woody vegetation to riparian habitats reduce nesting options and may compel species to select available areas irrespective of predation risk. Furthermore, our study emphasizes the importance of predation risk in understanding species habitat association, since its isolation may results in misleading interpretations. (S) Avian spring migration as a dispersal mechanism for an invasive insect pest. Nicholas J. Russo* (1), Carole A.S.-­‐J. Cheah (2), Chris S. Elphick (1), and Morgan W. Tingley (1) 1. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269 2. Valley Laboratory, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Windsor, CT 06095. Birds have long been hypothesized as dispersal agents for plants, animals, and other organisms, particularly during migration. The hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) is a largely sessile, invasive insect that has decimated eastern hemlock forests and continues to spread northward. Models of adelgid spread consistently underestimate the insect's arrival in uninfested regions, citing the lack of data documenting long-­‐distance dispersal events. Since dispersing adelgid nymphs ("crawlers") are most abundant from late April to late May in the Northeast U.S., we investigate the potential for birds to disperse this invasive insect over long distances during spring migration. We experimentally tested two modes of adelgid crawler transfer between hemlock branches and mounted passerine specimens, collecting crawlers from the birds' feathers after a period of contact with infested branches. Crawler transfer was greater when birds actively brushed against an infested branch than when they simply perched, and transfer rates peaked in May, coinciding with the phenological peak emergence of adelgid crawlers. Rates of crawler transfer also increased with adelgid infestation density on a hemlock branch. We additionally present results of a preliminary study documenting adelgid crawlers "hitchhiking" on wild birds in Connecticut. Again, we found significantly more crawlers on wild birds during spring migration than during the subsequent breeding season. Our results implicate an influence of avian ecology and life history in the dispersal of this destructive, invasive insect. 24 Lutgert Hall 1201 11:30 am [36] March 11 Lutgert Hall 1202 10:15 am [37] Lutgert Hall 1202 10:30 am [38] (S) Dietary plasticity of Wood Storks in response to human-­‐induced rapid environmental change in south Florida. Betsy A. Evans*(1), Jessica A. Klassen (2), and Dale E. Gawlik (1) 1. Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431. 2. Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77801. Wood Storks (Mycteria americana) serve as indicator species for wetland restoration due to their reliance on hydrologic processes that produce high quality foraging habitat and prey. As a result of human-­‐induced rapid environmental change (HIREC), stork populations declined in South Florida during the 20th century. Human manipulation of the Everglades landscape resulted in a disruption of natural hydrologic conditions and the creation of novel anthropogenic water bodies. Despite the well-­‐documented sensitivity of storks to changes in hydrologic conditions and human disturbance, storks are often seen foraging in anthropogenic water bodies along roadways, suggesting these novel habitats may provide adequate foraging habitat and prey. We sampled natural wetlands and anthropogenic water bodies (e.g., canals, ponds, swales) to determine the aquatic fauna available for foraging storks. To determine stork prey selection, we collected boluses from nestling storks in colonies within both the natural marsh and urban landscapes. Historical studies show that exotic fish were absent in stork diets prior to the establishment of anthropogenic water bodies; however we found exotic fish frequently in both anthropogenic water bodies and bolus samples. Furthermore, we found that storks selected prey that were more similar to larger-­‐bodied fishes in anthropogenic water bodies than to the smaller fishes in the natural wetlands. We also found that storks nesting in urban and natural marsh landscapes selected different species of larger-­‐bodied prey. These dietary patterns suggest that Wood Storks may have some form of behavioral plasticity in foraging habitat and prey selection to adapt to some degree of HIREC. Session 5B: Biogeography and Climate Change (S) Regional variation in the genetic diversity of a boreal forest bird, the Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia). Kathryn Marshall* and Joel Ralston Department of Biology, Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Population shifts north in response to climate change may result in the loss of southern peripheral populations of North American avian species. If peripheral populations hold unique alleles, the loss of these populations could also result in a loss of genetic diversity. Phylogeographic studies increase an understanding of the biogeographic history of North American fauna, and have been specifically used to understand the history of boreal forest birds. Such studies can be used to explore the impacts of ongoing climate change in southern peripheral populations. We collected samples from 35 Magnolia Warbler individuals by using mist-­‐netting techniques to collect blood samples in the Upper Midwest and Northeastern US, and by sampling tissues and toe pads from Museum specimens. The samples were divided into three groups for analysis: Northwest (Canada), Central (Wisconsin), and Northeast (Northeastern US). The mitochondrial DNA from each individual was then amplified and sequenced. Using a haplotype network, we visualized geographic patterns of diversity and compared haplotype diversity across populations. Preliminary results suggest either gene flow or a shared recent history between geographic regions with shared haplotypes. Further analysis indicates a limited geographic structure which may mean that changes in Magnolia Warbler distribution from climate change will have minimal effects on range-­‐wide patterns of genetic diversity. These results emphasize the importance of gene flow in maintaining overall population stability and provide greater insight into the phylogeographic history of this species. (S) Understanding the causes of diversity gradients along the Himalaya in flycatchers. Ashutosh Singh¹, Suresh Rana¹, R. Suresh Kumar¹, S.K. Gupta¹, Pratap Singh¹, Dhananjai Mohan² and Trevor Price³ ¹ Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, India. ² Uttarakhand Forest Department, Dehradun, India. ³ Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637. The reasons why different numbers of species are found in different places have been debated for a long time. In the proposed study an investigation into the causes of this avian diversity gradient along the Himalayas is addressed. The two oldest hypotheses and probably those still considered to be the main alternatives to explain diversity gradients are based on 1) ecology, or 2) age and area. For this study we aim to investigate certain clades of flycatchers, which have good representations in both east and west Himalayas, but show appreciable decline in species numbers as one goes west. The priority bird groups for this study are (Ficedula/Muscicapella and Niltava/Cyornis) comprising 22 species that form two distinct clades in a preliminary phylogenetic tree. Fieldwork was carried out during the breeding season within 5 hectare grids (35 Nos.) along the elevational gradients in the eastern and western Himalaya. Habitat characteristics, foraging behaviour and songs of singing males in their breeding territories were recorded and blood samples were collected for studying genetic differentiation. Results show that number of flycatcher species peaks at about 2000 m in the east, and to plateau from about 2000-­‐3000 m in the west. The higher number of flycatcher species in mid-­‐elevations were found to correlate well with the estimated foliage density. Our findings suggest that the mid-­‐
elevation peaks in flycatchers are likely a result of maximum niche expansion since the morphological and foraging diversification is much higher in this zone. This is also supported by our results on habitat association which suggested higher productivity in this zone. Lutgert Hall 1202 10:45 am [39] Lutgert Hall 1202 11:00 am [40] Lutgert Hall 1202 11:15 am [41] Lutgert Hall 1202 11:30 am [42] 25 (S) Variation in the flight morphology of the Cliff Swallow. Dylan J. Steffen* and Jeffrey J. Carter Department of Biological Sciences, Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS 67601. A species' response to habitat modification may include anatomical, physiological, and behavioral adaptations. Without adequate response, many species face population decline and even extinction. The Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) has modified its behavior to use human-­‐made structures as nesting sites. These sites frequently include overpasses or bridges, which increases the frequency of avian-­‐vehicle collision. Recent research in western Nebraska suggests there may be strong selective pressure on the flight morphology in populations of Cliff Swallow closely associated with roadways, with results indicating a negative trend in wing chord during a 30-­‐year sampling period. Our study sought to determine if there were similar trends in Cliff Swallow wing chord and tail length in a wider geographic and temporal range. Specimens from 20 states were borrowed from five museums and had collection dates between 1871 and 2014. Results indicate wing chord significantly increased with latitude, elevation, and temperature, but did not vary significantly over time or due to precipitation. Tail length significantly increased with elevation, but did not vary significantly with latitude, precipitation, temperature, or over time. In the wider temporal range examined, it appears that there has not been a widespread change in Cliff Swallow flight morphology over the past 140 years, and selective pressures on flight morphology seem to vary significantly across a larger geographic range. The relationship of local weather patterns and American Kestrel reproduction. John A. Smallwood*and Marisa Del Corso Department of Biology, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043. In recent decades the American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) has been declining over much of North America. The causes for this decline remain elusive. Many studies have demonstrated a relationship between climate change and life history patterns, including geographic distributions and the timing of migratory movements, in a variety of bird species. The potential impact of climate change on American kestrel ecology has so far received little attention. Since 1995 we have maintained approximately 100 nest boxes for kestrels in rural northwestern New Jersey. The objectives of this study were to determine if the climate of this region has changed significantly during the past 21 years, and if kestrel breeding performance was related to variations in weather variables. We obtained temperature, rainfall, and snowfall data from five weather stations located in or adjacent to our study area. Weather variables were not correlated with year over the study period, except that the mean temperature for May tended to increase. Weather did not appear to influence how many kestrels reached the breeding grounds. However, temperature and snowfall exhibited the most variability and had the strongest relationships with clutch and brood size, number of fledglings per breeding attempt, and nesting success. Climate change, at least initially, may have a positive effect on kestrel reproduction in this region, suggesting that the cause or causes of population decline might be more closely tied to mortality factors. Tung Hai University: A zone of contact between Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) and Striated Swallows (Cecropis striolata)? Dennis Siegfried Department of Biology, Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, MO 65613. In Taiwan there are many insect-­‐eating birds. However, in urban environments the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) and the Striated Swallow (Cecropis striolata) occupy similar feeding and breeding niches. In Taichung these two species occur together at Tung Hai University (THU). I attempted to identify the mechanism that allows these two species to live together. Nest site selection was evaluated to look for the difference. I located a total of 90 Barn and 89 Striated Swallow nests across 5 locations. While there was no difference in the number of nests between the species (f-­‐crit = 5.318 p-­‐
¬value = 0.992); using the nonparametric Kologorov-­‐Smirnov test, I found a difference in nest locations (Barn p-­‐value = 0.001; Striated p-­‐value = 0.030). Striated Swallows were predominantly found on campus at the library. Barn Swallow nests were mostly off campus on houses along the street. While these species have very similar feeding behaviors, there is sufficient breeding behavior differences to allow both species to use the campus to gather food. Some nests were not distinctly Barn nor Striated Swallow nests. Future work will focus on determining if these species are using old nests or hybridizing in some form. Dynamics of avian community change over the decade following forest fire. Morgan W. Tingley* (1), Viviana Ruiz-­‐Gutiérrez (2), Robert L. Wilkerson (3), Christine A. Howell (4,5), and Rodney B. Siegel (3) 1. Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, 75 N. Eagleville Road, Unit 3043, Storrs, CT 06269. 2. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850. 3. The Institute for Bird Populations, P.O. Box 1346, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956. 4. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, 1323 Club Dr., Vallejo, CA 94592. 5. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, 800 Buchanan St., Albany, CA 94710. Fire is a complex and powerful driver of environmental change that is increasingly recognized for its role in shaping bird communities. In the conifer forests of western North America, fire is well known to benefit some bird species, yet the characteristics of fires that maximize avian diversity are poorly known, particularly given that post-­‐fire bird communities change rapidly over time. Here we test how fire severity and pyrodiversity -­‐ defined as the standard deviation of fire severity -­‐ affect avian biodiversity at two spatial scales, and whether and how this relationship may change in the decade following fire. We use a dynamic Bayesian community model applied to a multi-­‐year dataset of bird surveys at 1106 points sampled across 97 fires in montane California. Our results provide strong support for a positive 26 relationship between pyrodiversity and bird diversity. This relationship interacts with time since fire, with pyrodiversity having a greater effect on biodiversity at 10-­‐years post-­‐fire than at 1-­‐year post-­‐fire. Immediately after fires, patches of differing burn severities hold similar bird communities, but over the ensuing decade, bird assemblages within patches of different severities differentiate. When evaluated at the scale of individual fires, fires with a greater heterogeneity of burn severities hold substantially more species. We discuss our findings with respect forest management strategies for sustaining biodiversity across fire-­‐prone landscapes. March 11 Symposium: Conservation of Florida Birds Seidler Hall 114 1:00 pm [43] Millstones and Milestones: Notes on the History of Bird Conservation in Florida Jerome A. Jackson* (1), and Bette J.S. Jackson (2) 1. Department of Marine and Ecological Sciences, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL 33965. 2. Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL 33965. Throughout the past three centuries there have been “millstones” – major assaults weighing down on native bird populations. Recognition of each was often, but not always, followed by “milestones” in conservation that alleviated some problems, offered protection for some birds, and attempted to rescue others from extinction. There have been both successes and failures. Recognition of millstones and the milestones of Florida bird conservation have come both from within the state and from the nation as a whole. Among the millstones have been indiscriminant hunting, the plume trade, habitat changes, pesticides, human disturbance of nesting colonies, introduction of exotic species, and the vagaries of political will. Among the milestones have been local, state, federal, and international laws, treaties, and other actions brought about as a result of citizen action. At the federal level these include the Lacey Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Bald Eagle Act, and, the Endangered species Act. State laws and supportive actions; the establishment of National, State, local government, and NGO wildlife refuges, conservation areas, parks, and sanctuaries; and active conservation education bolster these. In our presentation we will focus on these and other millstones and milestones in Florida bird conservation, providing a timeline of events, and concluding with an assessment of current conservation needs and actions. What birds are in the balance in the Georgia-­‐Florida water war? Todd R. Engstrom Research Associate, Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, FL 32312. Increasing demand for water for urban and agricultural uses from the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers has decreased water flow into the parent Apalachicola River, largest by volume of the rivers of Florida. The river drainage system has five broad habitat types: the river, floodplain forest, uplands, the bay, and barrier islands. We have records of 338 species of birds in the Apalachicola River drainage, which is 65% of all of the bird species of Florida, although many of these are migrants or vagrants encountered on the barrier islands during migration or following storms. Bird populations in the bay and floodplain forest are most likely to be affected by changes in water flow. Shorebirds nesting on small islands in the bay and migrating Purple Martins (Progne subis) that aggregate around the bay in summer could be affected by changes in salinity and input of nutrients that results from decreased freshwater flow. Likewise, birds that use floodplain forests, particularly Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus), could be negatively affected by alteration of winter flooding. A special master for the Supreme Court has just issued a decision that Florida has not proven that water use by the state of Georgia negatively affects Apalachicola River ecosystems. Rapid morphological change of the endangered snail kite with an invasion of novel prey. Robert J Fletcher*, Chris E. Cattau, Rebecca T. Kimball, Christine W. Miller, and Wiley M. Kitchens Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, 110 Newins-­‐Ziegler Hall, University of Florida/IFAS, Gainesville, FL 32611. Invasive exotic species are spreading rapidly throughout the planet. Invasive species can have widespread impacts on biodiversity, yet the ability for native species, particularly long-­‐lived vertebrates, to adapt rapidly to invasions remains unknown. We provide evidence of rapid morphological change of the endangered snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) across its North American range to an invasive novel prey (Pomacea maculata), a much larger congener of the kite's native prey. In less than one decade since invasion, snail kite bill size and body mass have increased substantially. We show viability selection on these traits and link rapid changes to both environmental and additive genetic variance, revealing that increased genetic variation and environmental resource stabilization emerged with invasion. Results underscore that invasive exotic prey can cause strong selection and induce rapid morphological changes in native, long-­‐
lived predators. These changes may be driven by cryptic genetic variation and resource stabilization, illustrating novel mechanisms for top predators to adapt quickly through both phenotypic plasticity and evolutionary responses to environmental change. Seidler Hall 114 1:25 pm [44] Seidler Hall 114 1:50 pm [45] Seidler Hall 114 2:15 pm [46] Seidler Hall 114 2:40 pm [47] Seidler Hall 114 3:05 pm [48] Seidler Hall 114 3:30 pm [49] 27 When cowbirds collide: range expansion of cowbirds in Florida. Jameson F. Chace*(1) and Alexander Cruz (2) 1. Department of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Salve Regina University, Newport, RI 02840. 2. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University, Boulder, CO, 80309. In Florida, range expansion of three Molothrus cowbirds (M. bonariensis Shiny Cowbird, M. ater Brown-­‐headed Cowbird, and M. aeneus Bronzed Cowbird) have brought them together in a region where host species have never experienced brood parasitism. Shiny and Brown-­‐headed Cowbirds are broad generalist brood parasites and we predict an overlap in host use, while less so with the Bronzed Cowbird, a species with more restricted use of host species. The Shiny Cowbird has been recorded primarily from coastal areas in Florida, whereas Brown-­‐headed Cowbirds have been found in coastal and inland areas so a degree of habitat partitioning may occur. The Shiny Cowbird breeding season in the neighboring West Indian region extends from Mach to September, whereas the Brown-­‐headed and Bronzed Cowbird breeds from May to early July, allowing for temporal separation in host use. Bronzed Cowbirds are larger in size than the other cowbirds species and generally parasitize larger hosts such as icterines blackbirds, such as the Spot-­‐breasted Oriole (Icterus petoralis) in Florida. The greater increase in abundance of the Brown-­‐headed Cowbird and the greater numbers of records of parasitism in Florida suggest that this species will have a greater detrimental impact on host populations than the other two species. Recent innovations in the conservation of the Florida Scrub-­‐Jay. Angela Tringali and Reed Bowman Avian Ecology Program, Archbold Biological Station, Venus, FL 33960. Populations of Florida Scrub-­‐Jays (FSJ), the only bird species endemic to Florida, have declined by over 90% since pre-­‐
European times, largely as result of habitat loss and fire suppression. FSJs are dependent on xeric oak scrub, which occurs only on relic dune ridges throughout peninsular Florida, and on scrub’s low and open structure which is maintained by frequent fire. Even since the early 1990’s, when preservation of xeric oak scrub became a conservation priority, FSJ populations have declined by 25% just on public lands acquired specifically for FSJ management. Populations declined most where fire management was impeded by urban encroachment, large conservation projects with complex patterns of private inholdings, small sizes, and inadequate funding. The populations where management has occurred have remained relatively stable unless small and/or isolated. However, declines and loss of peripheral small populations further fragmented extant populations leading to reduced immigration and reduction of gene flow. At Archbold Biological Station, where the population has remained stable for >50 yrs, decreased immigration led to loss of genetic diversity, increased inbreeding, and declines in reproductive performance, emphasizing the importance of conservation of small populations and maintaining connectivity. However, where connectivity already has been degraded, translocation has been a successful conservation tool to create large, core populations that stabilize metapopulation, rescue smaller peripheral populations that improve connectivity, and increase genetic diversity while reducing the deleterious consequences of inbreeding. Finding cause for optimism in avian conservation. Andrew Cox Avian Research Lead, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Gainesville, FL 32608. Full consideration of the magnitude of conservation challenges that exist at both local and global scales can rightly leave a thoughtful conservation biologist feeling pessimistic. However, many of us need some semblance of positivity in our professional lives to operate effectively. In addition, support from general public is reliant in part upon positive messaging that conveys our conservation successes. But given the magnitude of the conservation challenges we face, from where does a conservation scientist draw a sense of positivity and optimism that is neither naïve nor misguided? Here, I review recent conservation successes and failures that have occurred in Florida to demonstrate how one can develop an empirically-­‐based and pragmatic professional optimism despite the daunting suite of threats faced by wildlife in Florida and across and the world. Summary Jerry Jackson Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL 33965. 28 March 10 Poster Session: Whitaker Hall EVEN-­‐numbered posters present 7-­‐8:30 pm, ODD-­‐numbered posters present 8:30-­‐10 pm P1 (S) No relationships between ambient noise and acoustically-­‐related behaviors in Australian fairywrens. Isabel T. Ritrovato* (1), Elizabeth M. Ransone* (1), Darcy E. Gray (2), Samantha M. Lantz (2), Joe F. Welkin (3), Michael J. Webster (3), Jordan O. Karubian (2), and John P. Swaddle (1) 1. Department of Biology, The College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23185. 2. Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118. 3. Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850. Anthropogenic noise is a universal pollutant that has lasting impacts on ecosystems. Avian species are particularly affected by noise because they rely extensively on vocal communication. Australian fairywrens have become a sentinel species for ecosystem change, hence we studied populations of red-­‐backed (Malurus melanocephalus) and variegated fairywrens (Malurus lamberti) in Queensland, Australia, in association with an anthropogenic noise gradient. Using song and alarm call playbacks, we investigated associations of traffic and other ambient noise with frequency (pitch) of song and vigilance behaviors, respectively. We found no relationship between song peak frequency and anthropogenic noise levels in red-­‐backed fairywrens. Additionally, we found no relationship between noise and vigilance behavior in red-­‐
backed fairywrens and variegated fairywrens. However, it should be considered that the maximum amplitude of ambient noise at the research site was relatively low compared to that reported in other studies. Furthermore, fairywren vocalizations occur in a frequency range higher than most anthropogenic noise. It is also possible that the wrens utilized non-­‐acoustic antipredatory tactics that we did not record. Future studies will investigate alteration of the lowest frequency components of the wrens' vocalizations as well as both communication and behavioral alteration in response to louder sounds that will be experimentally introduced into this habitat. Minimal behavioral response of nesting Common Tern (Sterna hirundo), Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis), Snowy Egret (Egretta thula), and Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) to unmanned aircraft systems. Kaitlyn Reintsma (1)*, Peter C. McGowan (2), Carl Callahan (2), Tom Collier (3), David Gray (4), Paul R. Marban (1,5), Eddie Gaylord (5), Julia Geschke (5), Lucas Howell (5), Saba Raman (5), and Diann J. Prosser (1) 1. United States Geological Survey Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Beltsville, MD 20705. 2. United States Fish and Wildlife Service Chesapeake Bay Field Office, Annapolis, MD 21401. 3. UASBio, 12139 Patapsco Ridge Rd, Marriottsville, MD 21104. 4. United States Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, MD 21201. 5. University of Maryland-­‐College Park, College Park, MD 20740. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) present an emerging technology that has the potential to improve colonial waterbird population estimates while reducing disturbance in comparison to traditional ground counts. During the 2015 and 2016 nesting seasons, we tested the behavioral response of two waterbird colonies located at Poplar Island, Maryland, to the local presence of UAS to help determine the efficacy of using UAS to survey these species. The colonies tested were a mixed species wading bird colony nesting in shrub habitat (cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis), snowy egret (Egretta thula), and glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)) and a ground-­‐nesting colony of Maryland state-­‐endangered common terns (Sterna hirundo). Lateral transects were flown at 50, 30, 15 and 12 meters above the colonies with the UAS, during which a team of observers recorded behavior of birds in the colony. Even at the lowest altitudes, birds generally showed limited reaction to the UAS (0 to 9% of individuals flushed, with the exception of one trial when all birds flushed but returned to their nests within 40s). In comparison, physically entering the common tern colony to conduct ground surveys resulted in all birds flushing from their nests beginning 40 m away from the observer. The UAS surveys of the waterbird colonies were also shown to require relatively little time (<7 minutes), which could minimize negative disturbance effects. Our results provide preliminary evidence that UAS have the potential to monitor these colonial nesting bird species with minimal disturbance to the colony. (S) Ornamental plumage in the non-­‐breeding season is associated with behavioral change in a tropical passerine. Sarah Toner* (1), Trey Hendrix (2), Samantha Lantz (2), Joseph Welklin (1), Facundo Fernandez-­‐Duque (1), John Swaddle (3), Jordan Karubian (2), and Michael Webster (1) 1. Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 and Macaulay Library, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY 14850. 2. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118. 3. Institute for Integrative Bird Behavior Studies, Biology Department, The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia 23187. Sexual ornamentation, such as bright plumage coloration in birds, is thought to incur costs such as increased risk of predation and an energy input required for maintenance and display of signals. We might expect individuals to modify their behavior in order to mitigate those costs. Furthermore, sexual differences in behavior during the nonbreeding season are very understudied. To determine if the ornamented individuals changed behaviors in response to the costs of ornamentation, we conducted behavioral observations on male red-­‐backed fairywrens (Malurus melanocephalus) in P2 P3 29 P4 P5 P6 conspicuous ornamented and cryptic non-­‐ornamented plumages. We used conspecific alarm call playback to provoke antipredatory vigilance responses and observed behavioral differences between ornamented and unornamented males without playback. We found no difference in response to playback between phenotypes, suggesting that they may not use behavioral changes to mitigate the increased predation risk of conspicuous ornamentation. Our non-­‐playback observations revealed few differences between male phenotypes in vigilance behaviors; however, ornamented males engaged in allopreening and courtship displays to a greater extent than did non-­‐ornamented males. These results suggest that, surprisingly, the presence of conspicuous ornamentation does not influence vigilance behaviors, but that the presence of bright plumage outside of the breeding season is associated with higher frequencies of certain social behaviors, namely allopreening and courtship. Future research will consider exploring the costs and benefits of these apparent changes in social behaviors, which could influence performance in the subsequent breeding season. (S) Relationship between parasitic blow fly abundance and blood hemoglobin concentration in Carolina Chickadees. Spyncer Mones* and Lindsey Walters Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099. Parasitic blow fly larvae of the genus Protocalliphora feed on the blood of bird nestlings. Previous research has found conflicting results about whether or not these parasites negatively affect the levels of nestling hemoglobin, the protein responsible for the transportation of oxygen in the blood of vertebrates. The goal of this research was to determine if blow fly larvae negatively impact the blood hemoglobin concentration of nestling Carolina Chickadees (Poecile carolinensis). We collected data from 75 Carolina Chickadee nestlings that hatched at our field site in Melbourne, KY from 2013 to 2016. We took a blood sample from the brachial vein of each nestling and used a portable hemoglobin meter to record the hemoglobin concentration. After the nestlings fledged, we counted the number of blow fly puparia in each nest to compare the number of parasites per nestling to the nestling's hemoglobin concentration. We found a significant negative relationship between blow fly number and hemoglobin; nestlings that were parasitized by more blow flies tended to have lower hemoglobin concentrations. This is the first evidence for a negative effect of blow fly parasites on the fitness of Carolina Chickadee nestlings. This research is important because of the potential that these widespread parasites have to impact the health of nestlings in many different bird species. (S) The impacts of temperature and precipitation on nesting dates of Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis and Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor in Ohio. Jesse Sockman* and Jason Courter Department of Science and Mathematics, Malone University, Canton, OH 44709. Avian reproduction is influenced by environmental conditions and certain requirements must be met for birds to breed successfully. Studies indicate that climate change, and warming spring temperature in particular, has advanced breeding dates of many birds in North America. Utilizing nesting records from Cornell University's NestWatch project collected between 2000-­‐2015 (N = 6,173), the reproductive patterns of two cavity nesting birds (Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis and Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor) were investigated in three climate divisions of Ohio in relation to spring temperature and precipitation. The number of growing degree days that had accumulated at the mean time of nesting, which closely corresponds to food availability, was also identified for each species. As expected, nesting dates varied across a latitudinal gradient in Ohio, with both species nesting earlier in southern Ohio. When model terms were tested individually, mean first egg dates of Eastern Bluebird were negatively correlated with spring temperature, but positively correlated with spring precipitation. The same trend was apparent for Tree Swallows, however only precipitation was significant when model terms were tested together. This suggests that spring precipitation may be a strong, and perhaps overlooked, variable influencing Tree Swallow reproduction in Ohio. Variability in degree-­‐day accumulations at the time of nesting was generally high for both species, suggesting that these species may be somewhat flexible in their food selection during the breeding season. Our results also provide a mechanism for using degree-­‐days to identify potential overlaps between periods of high food needs for birds and important biological pest suppression windows for farmers. Timing of morning nest leaving and evening nest arrival in incubating female House Wrens. Douglas W. White and E. Dale Kennedy Biology Department, Albion College, Albion MI 49224. Vocalizations herald the diurnal activity range of male songbirds but the initiation and termination of daily activity in females is elusive and over looked. In 2016, we used temperature logging iButtons to infer limits of nest attendance of female House Wrens incubating 34 early and 30 late clutches in Michigan. Females first departed from their nests after the start of civil twilight. Median first departure coincided with sunrise, and 77% of departures occurred within 15 min of sunrise (n=541). Morning departures of females may be prompted by males singing at the nest cavity. Females last arrived at their nests before the end of civil twilight. Median last arrival was 13 min before sunset, and 58% of arrivals occurred with 15 min of the median (n=539). No female had an average last arrival time later than sunset. Activity at dawn was more synchronous than at dusk and occurred at lower light levels. Females behaved similarly in both nesting periods. Male song schedules and twilight movements of nocturnally displaced females suggest female activity is not set by physiological limits. 30 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 (S) Physical traits of female Carolina Chickadees do not predict the traits of their nestlings. Olivia Goessling* and Lindsey Walters Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099. Offspring tend to resemble their parents, both because of inherited genes and because of non-­‐genetic parental effects. We tested whether this was true for Carolina Chickadees (Poecile carolinensis), a common non-­‐migratory songbird in the southeastern United States. Little is known about the relationship between the traits of parents and offspring in this species. Because we expected offspring to resemble their parents, we predicted that the tarsus length, mass, and blood hemoglobin concentration of nestlings would be greater if their mother had greater values for these characteristics. For our study, we used a field site in Melbourne, KY where we have studied breeding Carolina Chickadees from 2011-­‐2016. We measured tarsus length and mass of the female Carolina Chickadees (n = 26) and their nestlings (n= 127) for all 6 years. We also measured hemoglobin concentration for 8 females and 42 nestlings in 2015-­‐2016. Contrary to our prediction, we found no association between female tarsus length, mass, or hemoglobin concentration and the corresponding characteristics of their nestlings. One possible reason for this finding could be that the amount of food a nestling receives is more important than the size of its mother in predicting its physical traits. The surprising lack of a relationship between parent and offspring traits that we found in our study illustrates how offspring phenotype can be influenced by numerous complex factors. It also highlights the need for scientists to test assumptions that seem obvious but may not actually be true. Intentionally left blank (S) Atmospheric predictors of pulses in vernal and autumnal nocturnal bird migrations using the Plymouth, New Hampshire NOAA-­‐ESRL snow level radar. Parker Bradley*(1), Jesse Carlson (1), Andrea LaRocca (2), CareyAnne Howlett (2), Eric Kelsey (2) and Leonard Reitsma (1) 1. Biological Sciences Department, Plymouth State University, Plymouth, NH 03264 2. Department of Atmospheric Science & Chemistry, Plymouth State University, Plymouth, NH 03264. Behavior of migratory bird species during migration is the least understood aspect of their annual life cycles. Radar of various types has been used to study bird migration, however, vertically-­‐oriented radar is an unprecedented area of study. The NOAA-­‐ESRL Snow Level Radar (SLR) at Plymouth State University has been collecting data since November 2014, and is the only one of its kind on the East Coast. We used this two-­‐year dataset to examine how synoptic-­‐scale weather patterns influence the timing of bird migration through central New Hampshire during the Fall and Spring seasons of 2015 and 2016. Over the two-­‐year span, we selected peak pulse events for analyses based on their robust reflectivity as seen in the SLR imagery. Data from the synoptic set-­‐up over the United States and Plymouth, New Hampshire were matched to the dates for these pulses to determine correlations between atmospheric triggers, prevailing wind directions in particular, and bird migration. Seasonable dependence for wind direction was found for corresponding migration periods. Light and variable north or northeasterly winds were correlated with pulses in fall migration and southwesterly winds during spring migrations. Our future research utilizing SLR will focus on better understanding the seasonal range of migration and peak pulses while attempting to quantify the number of migrants in relation to the SLR reflectivity. The migration patterns elucidated in these radar data have potential to augment existing monitoring of migration to detect both proximate conditions favorable to migration and long-­‐term trends in overall abundance of migrants. (S) Is mass gain in migratory passerines influenced by season, arrival time, or sex?: Models using hourly, daily regressions on mass. SMadison O. Sutton*, Bradley J. Cosentino, and Mark E. Deutschlander. Department of Biology, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY 14424. Migrating passerines use stopover sites in order to refuel and reach their final destination. However, some studies have shown that the capacity to refuel during stopover is dependent on factors such as sex, time of arrival, density of conspecifics, and season. While direct, repeated measures of refueling or mass gain are ideal to study refueling rates, daily mass gain estimates from hourly regressions on banding data have been used to determine how well birds are gaining mass during stopover. Our study focuses on both migratory warblers and thrushes in order to determine if mass gain is influenced by season, arrival time, or sex. Data were collected between 1999 and 2016 at the Braddock Bay Bird Observatory (BBBO), a northerly stopover site for migratory passerines near Rochester, New York. To quantify mass change regressions of size-­‐corrected mass (or standard mass index) and the time of capture were determined. For warblers, to determine the effects of arrival date, sex, and season within years, AIC models were performed for each species. For thrushes, we used similar models; however, sex was unknown. Early results from our models show a significant effect of time of capture on standard mass index for most species. Effects of sex, time of capture, and season will be explained in our presentation. (S) Inter-­‐individual variation of corticosterone in spring migratory Baltimore Orioles. Olubusola Oladeji* and Letitia M. Reichart. Department of Biology, University of Nebraska Kearney, Kearney, NE 68849. Migration is an energetically costly behavior in birds and each spring many migrants move north from overwintering grounds. Understanding how physiology changes prior to migration and during migration can help identify potential resources that are lacking on wintering grounds or along the migratory path. One example of a physiological change 31 P12 P13 P14 that occurs in preparation for and during migration is increased production of Corticosterone (CORT). CORT is known as the avian stress hormone; however, most often it plays an important role maintaining homeostasis in birds. During migration, birds naturally elevate levels of CORT to deal with demands of migration, but variation in levels of CORT for individual migratory species is unknown. Understanding inter-­‐individual variation in CORT can provide information about habitat use and nutrient acquisition for individuals on wintering grounds and stopover sites. In this study, we measured CORT metabolites in feather samples collected from Baltimore Orioles (BAOR), Icterus galbula (n=141), during May-­‐June, 2016. We validated an extraction procedure and an enzyme immunoassay useful for measuring CORT in BAOR. Next the concentration of CORT was measured for a subset (n=8) of individuals, four ASY males and four ASY females. Mean CORT for males was 307.46pg/mL ± 297.5pg/mL (± standard deviation) and mean CORT for females was 253.98pg/mL ± 96.5pg/mL. Additional samples will be analyzed to better understand potential variation in observed feather CORT in contour feathers of spring migratory BAOR. Results from this study will be used to formulate new testable hypotheses regarding differences in CORT levels for spring migratory BAOR. (S) Variation of Plasma Levels of Two Lipid Metabolites in Baltimore Orioles and Orchard Orioles. Luke J. Hamilton*, Emma Keele, Marika Van Brocklin, and Letitia M. Reichart. Department of Biology, University of Nebraska-­‐Kearney, Kearney, NE 68849. During migration, birds rely heavily on lipid reserves to power long-­‐distance flights, and the quality of any stopover site is closely tied to how easily migrants are able to replenish lipids. Past studies have demonstrated that lipid metabolites, triglycerides (TRIG) and β-­‐hydroxybutyrate (BHB), are useful predictors of habitat quality. TRIG is higher in birds that have been in high-­‐quality habitats, and BHB is higher in birds that have been in low-­‐quality habitats. However, each species must be studied separately to establish average levels of each molecule. In this study, plasma levels of TRIG and BHB were examined in two species of the genus Icterus. To our knowledge, no previous work has been published on levels of TRIG and BHB in Baltimore Orioles (BAOR), Icterus galbula, and Orchard Orioles (OROR), Icterus spurius. Orioles were captured May -­‐ June, 2015 and 2016. We collected 101 plasma samples in 2015 and 141 in 2016 from BAOR; and 30 plasma samples in 2015 and 65 in 2016 from OROR. We have analyzed a subset of 36 BAOR samples collected during Spring 2015. Mean TRIG for BAOR was 0.048 (mM) ± 0.039 (SD). Mean BHB for BAOR was 0.213 (mM) ± 0.129 (SD). We will continue analysis of remaining samples and then compare TRIG and BHB to size corrected body condition indices for both species. Finally, we will compare results from both species to identify potential differences in energy use and to formulate new testable hypotheses regarding lipid metabolism at a migratory stopover site. (S) Creatine kinase levels for Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula) during spring migration in south central Nebraska. Marika A. Van Brocklin*, Emma C. Keele, Luke J. Hamilton, and Letitia M. Reichart. Department of Biology, University of Nebraska-­‐Kearney, Kearney, NE 68849. Migratory birds travel long distances each year and use of energy stores likely differs between parts of the avian annual cycle. Our research aims to gain a better understanding of energy use for migratory Baltimore Orioles (BAOR), Icterus galbula. Muscle damage is common in migratory birds that participate in long-­‐distance flights and the rate at which muscle repair occurs differs among individuals. Muscle damage and repair can be estimated using measures of creatine kinase (CK), a plasma metabolite. Differences in CK may be linked to differences in resource use and innate genetic variation between individuals. In this study, we collected blood samples from May-­‐June 2015 and 2016 to determine the amount of CK in blood plasma for spring migratory BAOR in South Central Nebraska. We optimized an assay to measure CK in blood plasma. We collected 101 plasma samples in 2015, and 141 plasma samples in 2016. We analyzed a subset of 30 samples from 2016 to create a preliminary data set of CK concentrations. Mean CK was 4583.48 U/L before outliers were removed (n=28, BAOR 2016 samples). In addition, we found no significant difference between male and female CK concentrations (t=0.120, df=26, P=0.905). We are currently completing analysis for remaining samples collected during Spring 2015 and 2016 and will compare CK concentrations across years and between sexes. Results from this study will be used to formulate new testable hypotheses regarding muscle damage and repair for BAOR during their annual cycle. Analysis of plasma metabolites for Baltimore Orioles during spring migration in south central Nebraska. Letitia M. Reichart*, Emma Keele, Luke Hamilton, and Marika Van Brocklin. Biology Department, University of Nebraska Kearney, Kearney, NE 68849. Migration is an energetically costly time period during the avian annual cycle. Resource use is at a premium and individuals must employ physiological coping mechanisms to deal with changes in environmental conditions. Measures of plasma metabolites can provide information regarding the physiological response for birds during migration. For example, measurements of plasma lipid metabolites and creatine kinase may show resource use by birds. Plasma lipid metabolites show use of stored versus recently acquired lipids and creatine kinase shows catabolism of muscle tissue, mobilized during migration. Here we present an analysis of plasma metabolites: 1) triglycerides (TRIG) and beta-­‐
hydroxybutyrate (BUTY), and 2) creatine kinase (CK) for Baltimore Orioles, Icterus galbula, captured during spring migration, May-­‐ June 2015 and 2016. Mean TRIG Serum was 0.048 (mM) ± 0.039 (SD). Mean BUTY was 0.213 (mM) ± 0.129 (SD) for birds captured during 2015. Mean CK level for BAOR captured during 2016 was 4583.48 U/L. We are currently completing analysis for the remaining samples collected during Spring 2015 and 2016 and will compare metabolite concentrations across years and between sexes. Results from this study will be used to identify testable hypotheses to better understand ways in which Baltimore Orioles mobilize resources during spring migration in south central Nebraska. 32 P15 P16 P17 (S) Seasonal movements of Broad-­‐billed and Narrow-­‐billed Todies in the Dominican Republic Holly Garrod*(1), Spencer Schubert (2), and Robert Curry (1) 1. Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085. 2. Old Dominion University, Biological Sciences Department, Norfolk, VA 23529. Altitudinal migration, as a seasonal phenomenon, has become more documented in recent years in tropical resident avifauna. Yet, little is known about how these aspects of avian phenology may effect species interactions. Hispaniola is the only island in the Caribbean where multiple species members of Todidae can be found in sympatry. The Broad-­‐
billed Tody (Todus subulatus, BBTO) is generally found in lowland broadleaf forests, while the Narrow-­‐billed Tody (Todus angustirostris, NBTO) inhabits montane forests. Anecdotal observations suggest that the elevational separation of Todus spp. is not so strictly defined. From Mar -­‐ Aug 2016 we conducted a pilot study in the Dominican Republic capturing and marking individuals of both tody populations and searching for active nests in the foothills of the Cordillera Central. We sampled three different sites: low elevation (~600 m asl) in farmlands outside Jarabacoa; high elevation cloud forest in the Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve (~1200 m asl); and an intermediate elevation broadleaf forest between sites 1-­‐2 (~900 m asl). In order to test the hypothesis that BBTO and NBTO migrate seasonally along an altitudinal gradient, we examined species occupancy patterns using capture data, repeated avian surveys at the lowland site (Jun -­‐ Dec), and eBird data to identify patterns of species occupancy. We found NBTO absent at the lowland elevation sites from April -­‐ August, but co-­‐occuring with breeding Broad-­‐billed Todies at mid-­‐elevation sites May -­‐ July. Further investigation into the patterns of temporal sympatry in these closely related species may reveal more about species interactions and possible hybrid outcomes. Waterfowl response to weather and land cover in the prairie potholes. Jessica Gorzo*(1), Anna Pidgeon (2), Andrew Allstadt (3), Wayne Thogmartin (4) and Volker Radeloff (2) 1. Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota-­‐Duluth, Duluth, MN 55811. 2. SILVIS Lab, Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-­‐Madison, Madison, WI 53706. 3. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Midwest Regional Office, Bloomington, MN 55437. 4. U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI 54603. The Prairie Potholes region is an important breeding ground for waterfowl, but variation in precipitation causes changes in wetlands among years, which in turn influences the inter-­‐annual spatial distribution of waterfowl. Here, we examined how land cover and weather influence the annual abundance indices of 9 waterfowl species that breed in the Prairie Potholes Bird Conservation region (BCR 11). We analyzed spatiotemporal changes in abundance indices from North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data from 1966 to 2010 by implementing Bayesian hierarchical models. We used land cover metrics from the 2011 National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD) within 400 m of each BBS route, as well as standardized precipitation and temperature indices as predictor variables. Model selection determined which variables were most important per species, and parameter estimates indicated the direction and magnitude of response. Amount of water, as captured by different landscape metrics (i.e., percentage of landscape that is water and/or wetland, wetland configuration) and precipitation, were strong predictors of most species' abundance, but species-­‐specific responses varied. For instance, ruddy duck responded most strongly to standardized precipitation index (SPI) and percentage of water on the landscape, while gadwall responded least strongly to precipitation and most strongly to temperature of all the species that we analyzed. Strong responses to both static and temporal measures of water affirm the need to maintain water availability in light of climate change in the region, which is projected to cause drier conditions particularly in the southern and western portions of the Prairie Potholes region. (S) Testing the efficacy of the forecasting and hindcasting capabilities of ecological niche models: a case study examining Red-­‐bellied Woodpeckers (Melanerpes carolinus). Alyssa M. FitzGerald*(1,2), Naima C. Starkloff (1,2), and Jeremy J. Kirchman (1). 1. New York State Museum, Albany, NY 12230. 2. Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany-­‐SUNY, Albany, NY 12222. Ecological niche models (ENMs) are often used to predict future range shifts or hindcast past distributions. These predictive models run under the assumption that a species tracks its niche through time, but this may not follow for a species in the process of expanding their range. The range of the Red-­‐bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) has expanded northward and westward in North America since ca. 1950. Using past and present occurrences and associated environmental layers, we test if the ENM program MAXENT, which is frequently used to forecast or hindcast species' ranges, can predict this recent range expansion. Specifically, we assess 1) if species-­‐environment relationships are sufficient to accurately predict distributional changes, and 2) if this woodpecker species is tracking or broadening its niche as it expands its range. We obtained occurrence data and environmental layers for 1910-­‐1939 (n = 225) and 1980-­‐2009 (n = 651), the 1910-­‐1939 model was forecasted to 1980-­‐2009, and the 1980-­‐2009 model was hindcasted to 1910-­‐1939. Although the actual past and present models showed accurate distributions, the forecasted model and hindcasted models did not predict accurate distributions. Precipitation was the highest contributor and tolerance has broadened, enabling birds to expand into novel geographic regions. This project shows that the predictive capabilities of MAXENT are weak for Red-­‐bellied Woodpeckers undergoing a range and niche expansion, implying that the ENMs cannot predict range shifts when species are expanding into new niche space. 33 P18 P19 P20 P21 (S) The influence of population trends on the ability to predict future bird distributions. Emily D. Crimmins* and Joel Ralston Department of Biology, Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Species distribution models (SDMs) can be used to predict how climate change will influence future bird distributions. However, current methods assume niche conservancy, whereas recent studies show population trends lead to changes in niche breadth. Here, we explore whether population trends influence predictive performance of SDMs. We obtained occurrence data and estimates of trends in abundance between 1980 and 2012 for 99 species from the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), and climate data describing annual temperature and precipitation was acquired from WorldClim. We combined 1980 occurrence data with 1980 climate data in MaxEnt to model the 1980 ecological niche for each species. We then projected the 1980 niche onto 2012 climate conditions to predict the distribution of each species in 2012. We compared the predicted 2012 occurrences to actual occurrences in 2012 from BBS data and quantified agreement using Cohen's Kappa and degree of range overlap, measured in ENMTools. We performed linear regressions on population trend and each metric of model agreement to estimate the effect of trend on predictive performance of SDMs. Range overlap did not show a significant relationship with absolute value of population trend (P=0.393, slope=-­‐0.0078, R2=-­‐0.0026). However, absolute value of population trend did have a significant effect on Cohen's Kappa (P=0.027, slope=-­‐0.051, R2=0.039), though this only explained 3.9% of the variation in model performance. These results provide limited evidence suggesting that population trend may have an influence on our ability to predict future distributions of North American birds. (S) Retention of radio transmitters tail-­‐mounted on six bird species. Richard A. Stanton, Jr.* (1), Alicia D. Burke (2), Kaylan M. Carrlson (3), Dylan C. Kesler (4), John Faaborg (2), and Frank R. Thompson III (5) 1. Interdisciplinary Ecology Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, 2. Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211. 3. 1405 2nd Street NW, Mandan, North Dakota, 58554. 4. Institute for Bird Populations, Point Reyes Station CA 94956. 5. U.S.D.A. Forest Service Northern Research Station, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211. Radio transmitters can be tail-­‐mounted using cyanoacrylate glue and an accelerant rather than using a harness. Tail-­‐
mounted transmitters are dropped or shed when the rectrices molt, which may reduce transmitter impacts while providing retention times sufficient for many research objectives. However, retention times of tail-­‐mounted transmitters for small birds are insufficiently described and bias from not following all birds until transmitters are shed has been ignored. We studied transmitter retention of 106 birds of 6 species using direct observations and survival modeling based on radio-­‐telemetry tracking. Cox proportional hazard survival models predicted median transmitter retention times of 4-­‐53 days, depending on the species. Our results suggest that researchers should anticipate premature, i.e. <30 days, tag loss rates from 15-­‐38% for adult birds, and adjust permit and funding applications accordingly. However, predicted premature tag loss approached 100% for independent juvenile birds, which frequently appeared to disperse long-­‐distances, leading to few or no failure events to inform models. Overall, our results provide guidance for the design of future telemetry studies while demonstrating that tail-­‐mounting transmitters can yield adequate data for a variety of research objectives. Avian song complexity and plumage coloration: a phenotypic trade-­‐off. William P. Brown Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Keuka College, Keuka Park, NY 14478. The songs of twelve species of North American thrushes (Turdidae) were subjectively ranked by seventeen experienced participants from most complex to least complex. Principal component analysis was used to determine overall song complexity rankings from participant rankings. Separately, colored plates of the same thrush species were digitally scanned from National Geographic, Peterson, and Sibley field guides. The total percentage of red, yellow, cyan, blue, magenta, and variants of these colors for each of the twelve species from each of the three field guides was determined with Adobe Photoshop. Species were then ranked based on the average amount of total colored plumage. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the relationship between song complexity rankings and plumage coloration rankings. As song complexity increased, plumage coloration decreased (r = 0.7, P < 0.01). This trade-­‐off may be imposed by habitat differences among species. (S) Genetic variation at exon 2 of the MHC Class II DRB Locus in Heermann´s Gull (Larus heermanni) from the Gulf of California Santiago Romero Fernández*(1), José Soñanez Organis (2), José Juan Flores Martínez (3), and Enrico Alejandro Ruiz Castillo (1) 1. National Biological Sciences School -­‐ National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico City, Mexico 2. Navojoa Campus -­‐ Sonora University, Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico 3. Biology Institute -­‐ National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico The Gulf of California supports about 530 bird species and provides nesting, feeding and breeding sites for residential and migratory birds. Heermann's Gull (Larus heermanni) is a migratory bird that nests every year on Rasa Island, Gulf of California; it is one of the most representative species of this ecosystem and an excellent productivity indicator for fish populations, mainly Monterrey sardines (Sardinops caeruleus) which are economically important. Evidence shows L. heermanni populations have declined greatly due to anthropogenic activities. Therefore, in order to obtain a precise 34 P22 P23 P24 assessment of the species conservation status, we genotyped a 198 bp fragment of the DRB (antigen D related) locus exon 2 of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC). This is a multigene family that plays a leading role in vertebrate immunological system, and has a high polymorphic level with constant selective pressure. Exon 2 locus has proved to be highly useful as to assess other bird species conservation status, mating dynamics and evolutionary relationships. Rates of non-­‐synonymous to synonymous substitutions (ω) and neutrality tests provided evidence of ongoing positive selection at this exon. Mismatch distribution analyses indicated demographic change through time, and the reduced genetic diversity levels found are consistent with historical accounts describing the recent negative impact that human activities caused on Heermann's Gull population. (S) Infectious disease survey of migratory birds in Georgia H. N. Korey*, L. B. Purvis, and D. E. Lubeski Biology Department, University of North Georgia, Gainesville GA 30556. Avian diseases in poultry have been well studied. Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) and Mycoplasma are two pathogens that have ample documentation about infection rates in domestic birds. Both of these diseases can be transmitted by other species of birds, including songbirds (Order: Passeriformes). However, studies on wild birds as disease vectors and available literature on the "spill over" between wild birds and domesticated poultry flocks are minimal. Therefore, any surveillance of wild songbird populations for the prevalence of these diseases will greatly expand our current knowledge about potential transmission between domestic flocks and wild birds. A recent study showed birds with a current infection are less likely to exhibit regular behaviors including flight. Considering this, we do not expect to find any positive samples. However, if birds are found to be carrying these pathogens, we will build a database of species that test positive for the study pathogens and their migratory patterns. This will enable better understanding of what regions of domestic flocks are more susceptible to infection by the songbirds in that area. This study collected and tested fecal and visceral samples of resident and migratory birds in Georgia and will increase the literature on wild birds as disease vectors to the domestic birds of financial importance in the State of Georgia. Threats to restored prairies used by overwintering Henslow's and Le Conte's Sparrows in southeastern Texas. Richard R. Schaefer*(1), D. Craig Rudolph, Josh B. Pierce, J. Howard Williamson, and Clifford E. Shackelford (2) 1. USDA, Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 506 Hayter Street, Nacogdoches, TX 75965. 2. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 506 Hayter Street, Nacogdoches, TX 75965. Numerous small, isolated prairies occur on the Sam Houston National Forest (SHNF) in Southeastern Texas. These naturally disjunct prairies are located within the "Pineywoods" ecoregion, and are an isolated extension of the larger Blackland Prairie ecoregion to the west. Much of the prairie vegetation has either disappeared or has been heavily altered by fire suppression, grazing, development, agriculture, off-­‐road vehicle use, feral hogs, and invasive vegetation. Intensive restoration of these small prairies commenced in 2004 on SHNF. The removal of woody plant encroachment followed by prescribed fire has been effective in restoring and expanding prairie plant communities. Restored and continually improving prairie structure has been followed by the establishment and expansion of winter use by Ammodramus sparrows, especially Henslow's Sparrow (A. henslowii), a species of conservation concern, and Le Conte's Sparrow (A. leconteii). Recurring wildfires historically maintained healthy prairie ecosystems, to the benefit of grassland sparrows, by eliminating encroaching woody vegetation. Controlled fires are now used to achieve similar results. However, a reduction in the number of controlled burns in recent years on SHNF prairies has coincided with a reduction in Henslow's Sparrows recorded during winter surveys. Additionally, trespass cattle grazing at some sites had drastically reduced herbaceous cover, making them unsuitable for wintering sparrows during some years. Feral hogs dig up patches of native herbaceous ground cover and the bare areas they leave behind may allow for the expansion of invasive plants such as King Ranch Bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum) which is already prominent in many of these prairies. (S) Habitat use of American Kestrels and European Starlings in west-­‐central Pennsylvania Rebecca Zdilla* and Kerri Cornell Duerr Division of Biological, Chemical, and Environmental Sciences, Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA 16172. Studies of habitat selection and use are important for understanding population dynamics of birds. American Kestrels (Falco sparverious) are common in west-­‐central Pennsylvania where the landscape is a mix of open, agricultural, and forested habitats. However, habitat use and population density and dynamics are largely undescribed in our area. In June 2016, we established 28, two-­‐mile transects to survey for kestrels in Lawrence and Mercer Counties. At three locations along the transect, separated by 1 mile, we conducted 6-­‐minute stationary point counts; we also conducted driving surveys between the stationary count locations. During the stationary and driving counts, we recorded locations of all kestrels and European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) seen or heard within 200m. We observed six kestrels on five separate transects. Starlings were more abundant (n=550) and occurred on all 28 transects. We used GIS to quantify land use (pasture, cultivated crop, forest, wetland, and developed) surrounding each survey transect. We used logistic regression to evaluate presence and absence of each species in association with habitat type. Of five different land use types, kestrels were more likely to occur in pasture and wetlands, although the effect sizes of both were small. This association is likely reflective of foraging techniques and prey abundance. As predicted, Starlings occurred in diverse habitat types, but most often in areas with high amounts of cultivated crops and near farm structures. These results are useful for directing placement of nest boxes for kestrels to best avoid competition with starlings and potentially maximize reproductive success. 35 P25 P26 P27 (S) Wading bird use of geographically isolated wetlands in the southeastern U.S. coastal plain. Camille E. Herteux* (1,2), Dale E. Gawlik (1), and Lora L. Smith (2) 1. Environmental Science Program, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431. 2. Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center at Ichauway, Newton, GA 39870. Geographically isolated wetlands (GIWs) are a prominent feature of the U.S. southeastern Coastal Plain. These wetlands support species rich plant and animal communities, particularly within the longleaf pine ecosystem. Currently, more than 50% of GIWs in the southeastern U.S. have been impacted by human land uses including agriculture, forestry practices, urbanization, and fire suppression. Modification of wetlands influences species such as wading birds, which are important apex predators in wetland ecosystems. Continued land use change may negatively impact wetland foraging and nesting habitat, and likely influence how birds utilize nearby undisturbed wetlands. Due to their high trophic status, wading birds are important indicators of ecological health and productivity in wetland ecosystems, yet no studies exist that quantify their presence in coastal plain GIWs and identify factors that influence their use. I conducted weekly systematic surveys for wading birds and potential prey items at 15 GIWs including reference (cypress gum swamps and herbaceous marshes) and agriculturally modified GIWs across the hydroperiod of February through July. Wading bird density was highest in agriculturally modified wetlands from February to May and highest in reference wetlands in June and July. Prey abundance (catch-­‐per-­‐unit effort) increased early in the season (February-­‐
March) and was relatively stable for the remainder, suggesting that water levels rather than prey abundance influences wading bird habitat selection of natural versus human-­‐modified sites. A better understanding of wading bird use of human-­‐modified wetlands can provide tools for more informed conservation decisions for these birds and the wetland systems they rely on. (S) Mixed responses of breeding birds to shale gas development in the eastern United States. Kevin J. Krajcir*, Mary JoAnn Meek, Matthew D. Moran, and Maureen R. McClung Biology Department, Hendrix College, Conway, AR 72032. Since the early part of the 21st century, a rise in the use of unconventional drilling technologies has promoted shale gas development throughout the United States, including in large areas of eastern deciduous forest where activity from the energy industry has been relatively low in the past. This development causes substantial land-­‐use changes that are likely to have impacts on wildlife, particularly habitat specialists like birds. Using the Breeding Bird Survey, we examined the population trends of 131 bird species common in eastern deciduous forests of North America. We measured bird population changes from 2000 -­‐ 2013 in four shale basins with recent oil and gas development (15 routes) compared to adjacent areas without this activity (34 routes). We found that 10 species experienced population changes in gas zones that were significantly different from population changes in non-­‐gas zones. Among different habitat guilds, species preferring open habitats appeared most affected, while other habitat guilds (forest, wetland, developed, and generalist) showed no significant effects. Within the open habitat guild, some species declined and some increased relative to non-­‐gas areas. Our results indicate that recent developments in the energy industry are having an impact on bird communities, with some species benefiting and others declining. The shale gas industry is considered by many analysts to be in its infancy and future land-­‐use changes are likely to continue, which could further modify habitats and alter bird communities. (S) Exurban development and shrubland birds: opportunity or catastrophe? Neil A. Gilbert*(1), Michael J. Conroy(2), Jeffrey Hepinstall-­‐Cymerman(2), and Paige F. B. Ferguson (1) 1. Department of Biological Sciences, Univeristy of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. 2. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602. Exurban development covers at least 25% of the contiguous United States and alters avian communities. Previous work has demonstrated that exurban development impairs habitat for certain forest songbirds that occupied the landscape prior to development and creates habitat opportunities for urban-­‐adapted species. In this study, we investigate the potential for exurban development to create habitat opportunities for shrubland birds. We hypothesized that occupancy probability would be most affected by the percent of the landscape that was developed and that the disturbance caused by exurban development would benefit at least a subset of shrubland birds. To address these hypotheses, we conducted point counts in Macon County, North Carolina, across a spectrum of land covers. We used a hierarchical occupancy model to estimate occupancy and detection probabilities for twelve species of shrubland birds. We estimated twenty-­‐four candidate models incorporating local-­‐ and landscape-­‐scale covariates and performed model selection using Bayesian Information Criterion. The most frequently appearing covariate in the selected models was contagion, a metric of landscape heterogeneity. We conclude that disturbed landscapes are by nature heterogeneous, and therefore landscape heterogeneity predicts suitability for shrubland birds. We also conclude that, while exurban development provides marginal benefit for adaptable species such as Song Sparrow and Eastern Towhee, species of conservation concern such as Prairie Warbler and Yellow-­‐breasted Chat receive little or no benefit. These and other sensitive species require disturbance to create heterogeneous landscapes with adequate amounts of early successional vegetation, but the disturbance associated with exurban development is insufficient to create suitable habitat. 36 P28 P29 P30 (S) What's in a feather? Reconstructing mercury concentrations through time using New York state. Sarah A. Dzielski*(1), N. Roxanna Razavi (2), Vanya G. Rohwer (3), and Cornelia W. Twining (1) 1. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14850. 2. The Fingerlakes Institute, Geneva, NY 14456 3. Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates, Ithaca, NY 14850. Mercury (Hg) released into the environment from anthropogenic sources has become increasingly problematic in ecosystems worldwide. From the late 1860s until the early 1980s, global anthropogenic Hg emissions increased exponentially due to coal emissions, industrial practices and artisanal gold mining. In this study we examined how methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations vary through time in birds, which can be used as a biological indicator of ecosystem health, within New York State. We focused on the time period 1880 -­‐ 2016 to capture variation in biologically available MeHg, corresponding to peak industrial activity and environmental legislation restricting Hg emissions. We examined MeHg concentrations in the feathers of six species that have distinct habitat and dietary preferences: Belted Kingfisher (Megacerlye alcyon), Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperi), Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), Wood Duck (Aix sponsa), Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus), and Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola). We used carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes to account for possible changes in habitat and trophic levels between species through time. Results to date show predicted patterns in isotopic niches and MeHg concentrations for these species. Species feeding at higher trophic levels (e.g., Cooper's Hawk) and in aquatic habitats (e.g., Belted Kingfisher) tend to have higher MeHg concentrations than species that are mostly herbivorous or land dwelling (e.g., Ruffed Grouse). Our results for changes in avian MeHg concentrations through time are more complex, suggesting that the effects of anthropogenic Hg emissions may be highly localized and species-­‐specific. Characterization of antioxidant components in wild fruits consumed by migratory birds using multidimensional fluorescence spectroscopy and chemometrics. Todd Pagano*(1), Morgan Bida (1), Franly Ulerio-­‐Nuñez (1), and Susan B. Smith (2) 1. Department of Science and Mathematics, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 14623. 2. Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 14623. The fluorescence fingerprints of 13 wild fruit species available to migratory birds in Rochester, NY were obtained with multidimensional fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with chemometric analysis. Results from this novel technique provide unique spectral signatures of each fruit species based on their fluorophoric biochemical make-­‐up and also show the potential of the fluorescence/chemometric technique to discriminate native versus invasive fruit species; and also species' taxonomy. A 5-­‐component Parallel Factor Analysis (PARAFAC) model based on the multidimensional fluorescence matrices was found to be robust in handling both aqueous and organic extracts of the fruits. PARAFAC results were further correlated with several assays, including total phenol content and total antioxidant capacity-­‐ and proved successful in distinguishing different structural forms of these assay analytes. The model yielded two components which correlated strongly with total phenol content and antioxidant capacity, yet the observed photophysical properties indicated contributions from different forms of polyphenols. Spectral loadings further indicate a strong catechin-­‐like contribution to the fruits. Given the sensitivity and selectivity of the novel fluorescence-­‐
based method, improvements were required and implemented for the corresponding protocols of the standard microplate assays. The fluorescence/chemometric-­‐based technique shows promise for a more specified characterization of fruit biochemical make-­‐up over traditional/non-­‐specific assays. Fruits identified as being high in catechin and other antioxidant components represent high-­‐quality food resources for bird consumers. The new method shows potential for providing an integrated assessment of the important biochemical attributes of foods available to birds. (S) Prey selection of the Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) in Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge. Emilie R. Kohler*(1), Marisa T. Martinez (1), Dale E. Gawlik (1), and Stephanie S. Romañach (2) 1. Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA 33431. 2. United States Geological Survey, Davie, FL, USA 33314. Little Blue Herons (Egretta caerulea) are reportedly generalists that eat insects, crustaceans, and fish; however, the proportions of prey items may shift spatially from freshwater to marine systems or temporally. In some areas, Little Blue Herons (LBHE) specialize on one or a few food resources. Identifying prey species preferences for LBHE in coastal areas furthers understanding of how the foraging habitat of LBHE may be affected by coastal stressors such as water management regimes and sea level rise. We investigated LBHE prey selection in Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, in the lower Keys of Florida during 2016. We sampled prey community density at 74 locations along mudflats around low tide using a 1-­‐m2 throw trap. To assess prey selection, we compared these samples with 53 samples of stomach regurgitate from 26 LBHE nests with chicks 1 -­‐ 4 weeks in age. Shrimp (Penaeus spp. and Alpheus spp.) were the most abundant taxa in throw traps (44%) and were eaten in proportion to their occurrence (39%) in the diet. Fish were the second most abundant on mudflats, but contributed to 56% of the diet. LBHE were highly selective for Gulf Toadfish (Opsanus beta), a species that was 4% of the available prey community, but 31% of the diet. LBHE also consumed terrestrial prey suggesting foraging habitat is not exclusive to tidal flats and underscoring their characterization as a generalist. Understanding which prey are important to LBHE will assist current conservation efforts to produce a habitat suitability model for the species. 37 P31 P32 P33 (S) Patterns of Borrelia burgdorferi infection in northern Illinois birds. Cassidy Hanson*, Damon Roznowski, Laurel Snyder, Sean Beckmann, and James Marshall Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Rockford University, Rockford, IL 61108. Lyme disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi has recently increased in many places outside of its traditional range in the northeast, including northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Infection rates in several small mammal populations in northern Illinois are about 40%. In 2015, we tested a PCR technique developed to detect Borrelia burgdorferi in voles to see if it could detect the bacterium in birds. A pilot sample of 24 birds had a 33% infection rate (8/24). We expanded our sampling effort in the fall of 2016 to look at differences in infection rates between migrants and residents, and between species more or less likely to use the ground for nesting and foraging. This paper presents the preliminary results from 200 individuals sampled at two sites in Winnebago County, Illinois where the overall avian infection rates continue to be around 30%. (S) Borrelia burgdorferi infections rates in northern Illinois birds Damon Roznowski*, Cassidy Hanson, Laurel Snyder, Sean Beckmann, and James Marshall Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Rockford University, Rockford, IL 61108. In recent years the incidence of Lyme disease has increased in the region known as the Stateline north and south of the Illinois-­‐Wisconsin border. Studies of small mammal populations in Boone County, Illinois have found several species with infection rates of about 40%. Studies of birds in many places around the country have indicated that they at least harbor ticks infected with Borrelia burgdorferi. Relatively few of those studies, however, looked for Borrelia in the birds themselves. We therefore used a PCR method developed for detecting Borrelia in voles to test for the presence of the bacterium in blood from birds captured in Winnebago County, IL. A pilot study with this technique found 8 of 24 (33%) of birds captured in the fall of 2015 were infected with Borrelia burgdorferi. In the fall of 2016 we sampled a much larger group of birds, and here report similar infection rates for several species of northern Illinois resident and migrant birds. Determining egg viability via thermal imagery. Jeffery Sullivan* (1), Kaitlyn Reintsma (1), Rebecca Natoli (2), Arianna Sophia Hull (2), Peter McGowan (3), Carl Callahan (3), Tom Collier (4), and Diann Prosser (1). 1. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Beltsville, MD 20705. 2. University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742. 3. United States Fish and Wildlife Service Chesapeake Bay Field Office, Annapolis, MD 21401. 4. UASBio, 12139 Patapsco Ridge Rd, Marriottsville, MD 21104. While the poultry industry has been utilizing temperature to determine the viability of avian eggs for some time, similar approaches for wild birds have been limited due to logistical shortcomings. However, technological improvements in thermal imagery equipment have enabled methods for monitoring nest success such as remote monitoring of individual nests with infrared cameras. Our goal was to test the practicality of such an approach by determining (1) the ability of FLIR units to detect thermal differences between viable and nonviable eggs, and (2) the suitably of thermal differences for field classification of viability. To test this we collected thermal readings via handheld FLIR units from common (Sterna hirundo) and least tern (Sternula antillarum) eggs and their surrounding environ during the 2016 breeding season, determining egg viability via physical evaluation. Preliminary results indicate that viable eggs were 6.5°F warmer than nonviable eggs (p<0.001, n=213) for common terns. Nests with clutches wholly composed of viable eggs (n=58 and 18) were found to have 2.7°F (p=0.163, n=8), and 1.8°F (p=0.037, n=2) less intra-­‐nest variation in egg temperature than nests composed of nonviable eggs for common and least terns, respectively. Temperature of both viable and nonviable eggs did increase with ambient temperature, and changed between microclimates. These data suggest that while researchers must carefully account for changes in abiotic conditions when attempting to classify the viability of eggs based upon thermal readings, differences are observable with an appropriate sample size. Therefore, this approach warrants further study. 38