Posters 2019

Seven researchers from various Maryland universities and colleges will present posters on a various aspects of bird behaviors and adaptations to breeding success, as well as methods used in avian field research.  Each researcher will be available for any questions from 4:00 to 6:00 pm on Saturday.

If you are interested in presenting a poster, please contact MOS President Robin Todd at robintodd1948@gmail.com.

POSTER DESCRIPTIONS

Sexual dichromatism has been lost more rapidly than gained in New World blackbirds (Icteridae)

Karolyn Garcia and J. Jordan Price Department of Biology, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, St. Mary’s City, MD, USA

We investigated the question of how differences in plumage colors between the sexes (sexual dichromatism) evolves in birds. We measured rates and directions of such color changes in 37 species of blackbirds, which showed that sexual dichromatism was lost more quickly than gained, especially in females. We offer some speculations on why colors have evolved in this way.

A comparison of direct & indirect survey methods for estimating colonially nesting waterbird populations

Christopher Gilbert, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. 12100 Beech Forest Rd. Laurel, MD 20708-4038

Different survey methods can yield different population estimates, thus biasing results. A promising new method, using small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS or drones), was compared with flush counts, flight-line surveys and nest counts for estimating colony sizes of egrets. Preliminary results indicate sUAS and flush counts were the most time-effective.

Clutch Success in MD Grasshopper Sparrows: 14 Years on a Restored Grassland

Douglas E. Gill, Ph.D. Professor emeritus, University of MD, College Park, Founder and former Scientific Director, Chester River Field Research Station, Center for the Environment and Society, Washington College, Chestertown.

The survival of grasshopper sparrow eggs and nestlings was analyzed in a restored grassland. Hatching days, needed for a valid comparison of clutch survival, were determined from interval field records. Grasshopper sparrows successfully colonized the restored grassland, but losses from the nestling stage exceeded those from the eggs stage.

Response of Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) to Playbacks of Male and Female Song

Casey Haines ( chaines1@umbc.edu ), Omland Lab, University of Maryland Baltimore Campus

Little is known about the function of female song in birds. Female song in Eastern Bluebirds, which is statistically indistinguishable to that of the male, was investigated at a field site in Howard County, MD. Playback trials were used to determine if these birds can distinguish between male and female songs.

Validation of visual scoring of visual scoring of fat pads and correlation with whole body fat composition in European Starlings

Lauren Hall and Jessica Malisch PhD Department of Biology, St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Birds rely upon adipose tissue for the considerable energy requirements of migration. Currently birds’ adipose tissue is determined by visual scoring, which is convenient for fieldwork, but whose relation to actual fat content is unknown. This study compares visual scoring results (fat from the furcual depression and abdomen) with those from whole body fat extractions from European starlings.

Acute stress and glucose mobilization in Mountain Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis )

Melanie Kimball, Ava Chrisler, Avery Grant, Erin Johnson, and Jessica Malisch PhD Department of Biology, St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Hyperglycemia is a common response to stress in mammals and but less so in birds. Glucose levels were determined in Mountain Dark-eyed Juncos at time 0, 15 and 30 minutes post-capture in Mono County CA during the territory formation and early nesting season. Glucose levels increased following capture, consistent with data from other sparrow species. Other factors were modeled to find predictors of glucose mobilization.

Effect of migration distance on body condition and response to physiological stressors in White-throated Sparrows

Authors: Livia Schuller, Melanie Kimball, and Jessica Malisch PhD Department of Biology, St. Mary’s College of Maryland

White-throated sparrows show differential migratory preparation between sexes (female migrate further than males) and differential migratory preparation between morphs (white morphs have preferential access to breeding ground resources). Corticosterone and glucose levels were determined in birds of both sexes and morphs arriving at their wintering grounds in Maryland and were compared with body condition. The differences found between both sexes and morphs are discussed.

The Function and Acoustic Structure of Female Song: Male-like Songs Used in Pair Communication in Eastern Bluebirds

Evangeline M. Rose, Derek A. Coss, Casey D. Haines, Sheridan A. Danquah, Kevin E. Omland Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

The song of female birds is not well understood, especially for temperate species. The function of the song of female Eastern Bluebirds was studied with the aid of recordings and behavioral observations. A new statistical approach and modeling showed that the main function of the female’s song to be in communication between paired females and males.

Examining the effects of parental age and environmental factors on nest fate and construction in field sparrows (Spizella pusilla)

Jennie M. Carr, Maren E. Gimpel and Daniel M. Small, Washington College, Chestertown, Maryland

Breeding success among older birds may be enhanced by their altered breeding behavior. Field sparrow nests, built by birds of known ages, were examined to determine their fates. Preliminary analyses suggest that environmental factors and nest characteristics may be the primary driver of nest success.

Bird City Maryland

Chris Eberly, Director/Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership

Bird City Maryland is a new program launched from the Sustainability Working Group of the Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership (MBCP). The focus of the program is making communities healthier for birds and for people. A Bird City has met a minimum number of criteria in six categories that include: Habitat Creation, Protection, and Monitoring; Community Forest Management; Limiting or Removing Threats to Birds; Public Education; Energy & Sustainability; and World Migratory Bird Day. Find out if your community has what it takes to become a Bird City!

The Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership

Chris Eberly, Director/Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership

The Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership (MBCP) connects public and private partners with a unified focus of conserving Maryland’s birds and the habitats upon which they depend. MBCP coordinates numerous state-wide monitoring programs, and supports conservation-oriented research that benefit the 143 Species of Greatest Conservation Need documented in Maryland’s State Wildlife Action Plan. Progress of working groups over the past year and current project focus areas are highlighted.

Safe Skies – the Year in Review

Beth Decker and Carolyn Parsa / Safe Skies Maryland

This year we resubmitted state legislation with language highlighting the energy efficiency gained with bird safe design. Although the bills passed both the House and Senate indicating the growing support and understanding of this issue, time ran out before the two versions of the bill could be reconciled. We look forward to next year. We expanded outreach and continue working with partners including Audubon Central Maryland to create educational materials to increase awareness.

As part of our immediate efforts to save birds, we continue to retrofit buildings. Many of these buildings contain various types of products along with educational signage to show people in the community the possibilities for bird safe windows.

This year we are organizing an American Institute of Architects CEC course in partnership with ABC on bird safe design. Our objective is to encourage Architects to incorporate bird safe features in the design phase.