Hello, Ecologists. Here is a summary of the contents of vol. 40 no. 1 (2009) of the quarterly journal Western Birds, published by Western Field Ornithologists. * THE WINTER DISTRIBUTION OF THE WESTERN GULL-BILLED TERN (Gelochelidon nilotica vanrossemi). * By KATHY C. MOLINA, KIMBALL L. GARRETT, KEITH W. LARSON, and DAVID P. CRAIG. * Pp. 2-20. * Surveys in western Mexico of the subspecies vanrossemi of the Gull-billed Tern were conducted during five winters between 1999 and 2007. Results establish (1) the importance of extensive tidal mudflats as foraging habitat and (2) linkage between wintering and breeding populations, with birds banded in California observed in Sonora. * FIRST RECORD OF NEWELL'S SHEARWATER FROM THE MAINLAND OF NORTH AMERICA. * By PHILIP UNITT, MERYL A. FAULKNER, and CHARLES SWANSON. * Pp. 21-28. * A Newell's Shearwater found 1 August 2007 in San Diego County, California, and kept in captivity until 31 May 2008, was the first for North America and the farthest north ever recorded. The bird was initially identified as a Manx Shearwater, highlighting the need for care in shearwater identification in the region. * NESTLING PROVISIONING BY AMERICAN DIPPERS NEAR JUNEAU, ALASKA. * By MARY F. WILLSON and KATHERINE M. HOCKER. * Pp. 29-34. * In a quantitative study, conducted 2004–2008, the rate of food delivery by male American Dippers increased as time spent brooding by females increased. Results differed significantly from nest to nest, however, and several instances of alternative breeding strategies (bigamy, single-parenting) were documented. * FIRST MODERN RECORD OF THE WHITE-TAILED EAGLE IN HAWAII. * By BRENDA J. ZAUN. * Pp. 35-38. * An adult White-tailed Eagle, photographically documented at Kauai 5 March 2007, was the first modern record for Hawaii. The bird was probably present 30 December 2006 through 20 April 2007. Fossil remains suggest that a disjunct population of the species may formerly have occurred on Hawaii. * EGG RETRIEVAL BY THE HAWAIIAN GOOSE AFTER ATTEMPTED PREDATION BY A CAT. * By BRENDA J. ZAUN and WESLEY W. WEATHERS. * Pp. 39-42. * A Hawaiian Goose retrieved an egg that had been removed 30-40 cm from its nest by a cat. The episode was documented with a video camera. Predator control is considered to be essential to the recovery of the Hawaiian Goose, listed as Endangered and currently estimated to number about 2,000 individuals. * BOOK REVIEW. * Reviewed by ALAN CONTRERAS. * Pp. 43-44. * Review of "Identification Guide to North American Birds, Part 2" (2008), by Peter Pyle. * BOOK REVIEW. * Reviewed by ALAN CONTRERAS. * Pp. 44-46. * Review of "Field Guide to Owls of California and the West" (2007), by Hans Peeters. * FEATURED PHOTO: FIRST RECORD OF THE VARIEGATED FLYCATCHER FOR WESTERN NORTH AMERICA. * By STEVEN G. MLODINOW and DAVID S. IRONS. * Pp. 47-50. * A Variegated Flycatcher, photographically documented in Franklin County, Washington, 6 September 2008, was the third for North America north of Mexico; the bird is suspected to have been of the southern, nominate subspecies, an austral migrant. Please note that vols. 1-35 (1970-2004) of Western Birds are permanently archived and fully searchable online: elibrary.unm.edu/sora/index.php. The service is free to the public, and is made available by Western Field Ornithologists (WFO) and the Searchable Ornithological Research Archive (SORA). More information about WFO is available online: westernfieldornithologists.org. More information about the journal Western Birds is also available online: westernfieldornithologists.org/journal.php.
Ted Floyd [email protected] Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado ------------------------------- Ted Floyd Editor, Birding ------------------------------- Please support the American Birding Association: Click on http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=884482 to search the internet. Check out the American Birding Association on FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=22934255714 Check out the American Birding Association on Twitter: http://twitter.com/abaoutreach Please visit the website of the American Birding Association: http://www.aba.org _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail® has ever-growing storage! Don’t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage_062009
