MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear RRF Members:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the officers, Board of Directors, and general
membership for their commitment and support of RRF during my 2-year term as President. As you .
know, following our 1995 annual meeting in Duluth, David Bird will be taking over as President. of
RRF. As is always the case, we have not accomplished everything we would have liked over the past •
couple of years, but a lot has been achieved.

RRF has been .very active in developing new partnerships with other' conservation organizations,
both government and non-governmental. In August 1994,1 signed a Memorandum of Understanding
between RRF and the Bureau of Land Management to assist them with raptor-related issues and the
implementation of their Raptor Management Plan. In June 1995, I signed the Partners In Flight.
MOU, making RRF. a member of their Nongovernmental Organizations Committee. RRF was also
instrumental in the establishment of an MOU involving eight major raptor conservation groups. This
MOU provides the framework for the .development of a Conservation Agreement and Management
Plan (CAMP) for raptors worldwide. There are many opportunities for RRF members to become
involved in these efforts, and I encourage you to do- so.

Our publications have continued to improve in quality and distribution, thanks -to the extraordinary
commitments of our editors. We are in the process of transferring editorship of 'The Journal of
Raptor Research from Carl Marti to Marc Bechard, and this past year we accomplished a smooth
transition in Wingspan editorship from Karen Steenhof to Lenny Young. Our outgoing editors have
done an excellent j ob, and I look forward to our new editors continuing this tradition,

I have' been pleased to see RRF continue to -grow and diversify. We

■ now' have over 1 100 members representing 50 countries. To provide
some perspective, over the past 10 years our membership has
increased by 600. We also have continued .to expand our involvement

■ with meetings outside the U.S. and with other conservation and
ornithological organizations. In'1995, we were co-sponsor to a- very
successful joint meeting between. ADENEX and the World Working'

Group for- Birds of Prey and Owls in Badajoz, Spain. In August
1996, RRF will be meeting jointly with the American Ornithologists'

Union in Boise, Idaho. RRF also plans to convene a second European
RRF meeting in the fall of 1996 in Urbino, Italy .

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WINGSPAN

RRF continues to grow in stature and reputation because of the. expertise and contributions of its
members. I believe an example of this recognition occurred recently with the approval of our long-
standing request to join the Ornithological Societies of North America (OSNA), a joint membership
service of the four major ornithological societies in North America. I believe our association with
these respected organizations will enhance our stature as a scientific and conservation organization,
increase opportunities for attracting new members, and reduce' our Treasurer's workload associated
with subscriptions and maintaining the membership list.

RRF has come a long wav, and I have enjoyed being involved during the past 20+ years. Today I
belong to many scientific organizations and attend numerous professional meetings, RRF has always
been and will continue to be one of the most stimulating, and enjoyable societies with which I have
been associated. 1 want to thank you for' giving me the opportunity to serve as your' President for the
past two years and look forward to being actively involved for many years to come. V

Michael W. Collopy ■ . •

THE RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.

(FOUNDED I960)';

' OFFICERS

PRESIDENT: Michael W. Collopy
PRESIDENT-ELECT : David M. Bird
VICE-PRESIDENT: Michael N. Kochert

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SECRETARY: Betsy Hancock
TREASURER: Jim Fitzpatrick

INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR # 1 : Jemima Parry- Jones
INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR #2: Isabel Beliocq
.CANADIAN DIRECTOR: Gordon S. Court
MOUNTAIN & PACIFIC DIRECTOR: Karen Steerihof
CENTRAL DIRECTOR: Robert N. Rosenfield
EASTERN DIRECTOR: Brian A. Millsap .■

DIRECTOR AT LARGE #1; James C. Bednarz
DIRECTOR AT LARGE #2: John A. Smallwood
DIRECTOR AT LARGE #3: Keith L. Bildstein ■
DIRECTOR AT LARGE #4: Josef K. Schmutz
DIRECTOR AT LARGE #5: Petra Bohall Wood
DIRECTOR AT LARGE #6: Katherine McKee ver

Wingspan is distributed twice a year to all RRF members. It is also available to non-members for a
subscription rate of $10 per year. The Journal of Raptor Research (ISSN 0892-1016) is published quarterly
and available to individuals for $30. per year and to libraries and institutions for $50 per year from: The Raptor
Research Foundation, Inc., 12805 St. Croix Trail, Hastings, MN 55033 USA. Add $3 for destinations outside
of the continental United States.

Persons interested in predatory birds are invited to join The Raptor Research Foundation, Inc. Send requests
for information concerning membership, subscriptions, special publications, or change of address to: Jim
Fitzpatrick, Treasurer, 12805 St. Croix Trail, Hastings, MN 55033 USA.

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1

SEPTEMBER 1995

1996 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS!!!

Yes, not only is the United States undergoing the process of electing a new president in 1996, so is the Raptor
Research Foundation! This year we are seeking nominations for the following positions:

Positions

Officers;

President-elect

Vice-president

Board of Directors: Eastern Region, U.S International

Secretary
At-large (2)

Duties & Responsibilities

President-elect:

Vice-president:

Secretary:

Board members:

As chairman of the Board, the President organizes, calls, and presides at Directors’
meetings and assures that all Foundation business is conducted in accordance with
policy.

The Vice-president assists the President in executive matters, presides over Directors'
meetings in absence of the President, and performs all duties and acts of the President
in the event of presidential incapacitation or a vacancy.

The Secretary keeps records of all meetings of the regular membership, all actions
of the Board, conducts and records all correspondence, maintains non-financial
Foundation files and records, and runs Foundation elections.

Board members control and supervise Foundation affairs, make rules and regulations,
control and manage all Foundation funds and property, instigate preparation of the
yearly financial statement and professional audit, and meet yearly for discussion of
Foundation business.

For more details, please consult the front section of the Kettle.

Nominating Procedure ,

Each nomination should include the title of the position and the name, address, phone number, and e-mail
address or fax number of the nominee: You may nominate yourself. Nominees for a regional directorship
must reside in that geographic region. Each nominee will be contacted to verify her/his willingness to run and
to accept the position upon winning. A biographical sketch must be submitted by March 15, 1996 to one of
the following persons:

U.S. Positions
Patricia A. Hall
436 David Drive E
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
520-774-0041 (phone)

■ pah@aipine.for.nau.edu

European Positions
Massimo Pandolfi
University of Urbino
Instituto di Scienze Morfologiche
Via M. Oddi, 21
61029 Urbino, Italy
39-722-328033 or -327893 (phone)
39-722-329655 (fax)

THIS IS. YOUR. CHANCE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE ACTIONS AND DIRECTION OF YOUR
SOCIETY—PARTICIPATET

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WINGSPAN

APLOMADO FALCONS NESTING IN TEXAS

Ori' May 9, 1 995, a nesting pair of northern aplomado falcons was discovered on rangelands near Brownsville,
Texas, This is the first wild nesting pair df aplomado. falcons known in Texas since 1941, and the first known
in the United States since 1952.- The nesting falcons are birds raised at The Peregrine Fund’s World Center
for Birds of Prey in Boise. Idaho, and released into the wild in either 1993, or 1994, probably at Laguna

■ Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, , ' ,

This restoration program began in. 1982 when a remnant aplomado falcon population was discovered in
southern Mexico. The Mexican. Government permitted The Peregrine Fund- to remove 10 aplomado falcon
chicks from 10 different nests for. captive 1 breeding. As the breeding stock matured from this small core group
of birds, re introduction techniques were also developed. Since 1985, The Peregrine Fund has released: 62
captive-bred aplomado falcons into the wild. In 1993 and 1994, 26 young aplomado falcons raised at The
World Center for Birds of Prey were released at Laguna Atascosa.'

The recently discovered nest is ori' top of a telephone pole" amid grasslands and salt, flats adjoining the
Brownsville ship channel. The nest is 25-30 miles from the probable release sites at Laguna Atascosa, ■ ■

' ' . ■ - RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION TRIVIA

■ ' ■ by Richard Clark .

This quiz will test your knowledge of The Raptor Research Foundation, Inc. (RRF) if you are a member .and
let you know a little about the organization if you are 'not. All questions are derived from the Kettle , a listing
: of RRF members that provides other useful information for people dealing with raptors. Answers. are given
on page 15. . , ' . ' '' ■

"1 RRF will celebrate its 30th anniversary in what year?

2. As of autumn 1995, the number, of RRF members, was about: a) 750,. ' b) 950, c). 1 150, ■

3-. The number of countries- in which RRF members live is:, a) 43, b) 53, c) 63. '

4 . The country, outside of the United States and Canada, in' which the largest number of RRF members live '
' is:, a) England, b) Germany, c) Italy, d) Japan, .e) Spain,

5. The number of species of raptors (not including the vultures which are currently classified as

Ciconiformes) currently recognized, is: a) 3-89, ,b) 485, c)517. .

6. Of those species, the number that are nocturnal (I.e., Strigiformes) is .about: a) 1 5%, b) 25%, ■ c) 35%.

'7. Of all current RRF members listed in the Kettle, the number that have reported publishing on one or more
‘species of raptors is: a) 102, b) 202, c) 302.

8.. I low many RRF meetings have been held outside the United -States and Canada: a) 0, b) 1, c) 2, d) 3,

■ 9. How many RRF annual meetings have been held in Canada: a) 1, b) 2, c) 3. ■

10. Outside of South Dakota, which U.S. state has hosted the most RRF annual meetings; a) Minnesota, b)
■Pennsylvania,. c)New York.' - . ■

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SEPTEMBER 1995

; RRF JOINS PARTNERS IN FLIGHT ;

On July -.5, 1995, by Addendum to the Memorandum of Understanding, the Raptor Research
Foundation joined the. Nongovernmental Organizations Committee of Partners In Plight. Partners
In Flight is a consortium of federal agencies and non-governmental organizations established in 1 99 1
in recognition of apparent declines in the populations of many species of birds that breed in North
America and winter from Mexico south. The partners 1 goal is to develop a Neotropical Migratory

■ Bird 'Conservation Program to conserve, restore, or enhance populations of neotropical migratory
birds through ; habitat protection and management,. Accomplishing this goal will require a
comprehensive international initiative of monitoring, research, management, and education. RRF
joins 37' other diverse ■ non- governmental partners 'including the American Forest and Paper
.Association, American Ornithologists’ Union, Association of Field Ornithologists, Hawk Mountain
Sanctuary Association, National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, The Nature
• Conservancy,- -The Peregrine Fund, Inc., Wildlife Management Institute, The Wildlife Society, and
.World- Wildlife Fund.- Signing the MOD establishes RRFs commitment to work with the other
' partners to accomplish program objectives. -However, the MGU does not commit RRF to provide
specific assistance or resources. ■ Such commitments would be made via separate written agreements

. between RRF and the organization receiving the assistance (e.g.. RKPs MO If with the Bureau of
Land Management). . ■ ■( ■

OSNA ADMITS RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION , '

On August' 18, 1995, at. Cincinnati, Ohio, the Ornithological Societies of North America (OSNA)
Committee voted unanimously to admit the Raptor Research Foundation as a new partner, RRF .will
join the four -current OSNA ..partners— American Ornithologists 1 ' 'Union, Association, of Field
Ornithologists, .Cooper Ornithological Society', and. Wilson Ornithological Society— as well as the
Colonial Waterbirds Society, which .was admitted at the same time as .RRF. 'OSNA operations are
defined in a Memorandum t of Agreement (MO A) signed' by the OSNA Committees The Committee
consists of the President and Treasurer of each' member organization, the OSNA Director, and the
OSNA newsletter editor, A new MO A will be drafted for signature by the expanded Committee. '

The period from August 1995 to September 1-996 will be a transition period. During this period, the _
, RRF membership 'database will be organized into a format compatible, with Allen Press’ OSNA
format, -edited, and- finally merged with the OSNA database. -RRF members new to the OSNA
■ . database will receive their first OSNA newsletter beginning with the .1997 issues. RRF membership
' records will first appear in the 1997 Mods ■ RRF will first appear on the annual OSNA dues notice
and subscription invoice for 1997, which will be mailed in September 1996. The first OSNA income
check will be mailed to the RRF Treasurer in November 1996. OSNA membership management
services will begin in January 1997,- when OSNA begins supplying address labels- to mail RRF
' journal issues'. RRF will.be. responsible for mailing the 199.6 issues of its publications,

(. Editor's note : This report was excerpted and adapted from 'information provided to RRF by OSNA

■ Director. Fred Lohrer.) ■ . '

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WINGSPAN

, U.S. SUPREME COURT RULES ON IMPORTANT ESA DEFINITION

On June 29, 1995, the U.S, Supreme Court upheld the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's regulatory
definition of "harm," part of the statutory definition of "take," an important concept in the
Endangered Species Act (ESA). The definition is important because the ESA prohibits any person
from "taking" an endangered species and provides substantial penalties for violation of this
prohibition. In the case of Sweet Home Chapter of Communities for a Greater Oregon v. Babbitt,
the Court upheld the Fish and Wildlife Service's definition, which includes acts that unintentionally
kill or injure wildlife by significantly modifying or degrading habitat. ■

Justice Stevens, writing for a majority of the Court, framed the issue in this case as whether the
Secretary of the Interior exceeded his authority under the ESA by promulgating the "harm"
definition. The Court majority found three reasons in the ESA text for concluding that the regulation
is reasonable. First, the dictionary definition of "harm" supports the regulation. The dictionary
defines "harm" as "to cause hurt or damage to: injure." In the context of the ESA, this naturally
encompasses habitat modification that results in actual injury or death to members of an endangered
or threatened species. Second, the broad purpose statement of the ESA supports the Secretary's
definition. The Act is "to provide a means whereby the ecosystems upon which endangered species
and threatened species depend may be conserved ..." Third, Congress' passage in 1982 of the
incidental take amendments to the ESA strongly suggests that Congress understood the "take"
prohibition to include indirect as well as deliberate takings. Passage of this amendment supports the
Secretary's conclusion that activities not intended to harm an endangered species, such as habitat
modification, may constitute an unlawful taking unless permitted by the Secretary;

The Court majority then noted that the Secretary's definition was also supported by the legislative
history of the Act. The Committee reports accompanying the bills that became the ESA make clear
that Congress intended "take" to apply broadly to cover indirect as well as purposeful actions.
Indeed the Senate Report states that "'take' is defined ... in the broadest possible manner to include
every conceivable way in which a person can 'take' or attempt to 'take' any fish or wildlife." The
House Report contains similar language. These comments support the Secretary's interpretation that
"take" reaches far more than the deliberate actions of hunters and trappers. The Court majority
concluded that "the Secretary reasonably construed the intent of Congress when he defined 'harm'
to include 'significant habitat modification or degradation that actually kills or injures wildlife.'"

Justice Scalia, joined by Chief Justice Rehnquist and Justice Thomas, dissented. Justice Scalia
argued that the regulation is not consistent with the ESA because it imposes liability for results that
are not intended or even foreseeable, omissions as well as commissions, and injuries to animals not
yet bom through impairment of breeding provision.

{Editor's note; This report was excerpted and adapted from a preliminary analysis of the Court's
decision written by Ernest Rushing, Washington State Assistant Attorney General.)

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1

SEPTEMBER 1995

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HOLARCTIC BIRDS OF PREY

Badajoz, Spain, April 17-22, 1995
by Jemima Parry-Jones

The International Conference on Holarctic Birds of Prey was held in Badajoz in the Extremadura region of
Spain from April 17-22, 1995. Badajoz is situated about midway up Spain along its western border with
Portugal. The region is quite beautiful, with grasslands and mountains. April was a good time for the
conference, with the weather not too hot, wildflowers just coming out, and the chance of seeing many different
species of raptors. The conference was held in a large hotel close to the river which runs through the center
of town. Below the closest and most attractive bridge was a huge colony of nesting cattle egrets, along with
some night herons. Add to these swallows, swifts, house martins, and a stork nesting high on a chimney of
the building next door, and it was pretty easy to spot conference delegates as they bird watched on their way
to the meetings from some of the smaller hotels.

The conference was co-organized mainly by ADENEX with assistance from the World Working Group on
Birds of Prey and Owls, and a large number of delegates attended from all over the world. Keith Bildstein,
David Bird, Mark Fuller, Vladimir Galushin, Charles Henny, Borja Heredia, Claude Kurtz, Bernd Meyburg,
Ian Newton, Mike Wallace, and Clayton White all chaired sessions. These were quite varied, including
biology and conservation of threatened diurnal raptors (dealing mainly with Holarctic species), biology and
conservation of owls, socioeconomic aspects of raptor conservation, analysis of habitats, census techniques,
recent technological advances in raptor research, and breeding biology of raptors. The final day of the
conference featured sessions on migration of birds of prey and the use of captive breeding to support raptor
populations in danger of extinction.

The papers were excellent, presented mostly in English with some in Spanish. Probably the people who
deserve the highest praise were the translators who translated every talk either from English to Spanish or vice
versa. These people were impressive to say the least— how they managed some of the more technical stuff I
just don't know. I was at sea with much of it, and that was when the talks were given in English! The text of
the papers was translated pretty much simultaneously, and it was very nice to be able to understand the talks
through head phones regardless of one's lack of understanding of another language.

One entire day was taken up with field trips out into the wilds of Spain where delegates had the chance to see
many different species of raptors in the field. Those that went had a great time, with good food, good
company, plenty of time to chat, and lots of raptors to see. It was easy to spot those who had not gone as they
were the only ones walking round the next day without burnt heads, noses, and faces!

As usual it was great to see old friends and meet new ones. For me, this has to be the main point of going to
such conferences across the globe. For those older delegates who like me may have been set in their ways, it
was hard not to be able to eat dinner until after 9 PM. But the wine available more than made up for it.
Certainly our table consumed enough to be able to give a wide sampling and data base for accurate evaluation!
Generally, it was a good conference. The Spanish deserve to be congratulated for organizing a meeting to
accommodate the needs of such a diverse group of conservationists.

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WINGSPAN

. ' EAPTORS IN HUMAN LANDSCAPES

Here’s a list of the papers that will appear in the' upcoming book, Raptors" in Human Landscapes , based on the
symposium that was part of the 1993 RRF meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina. Use the blue insert to order
your copy before March 30, 1996 and receive a special 20% pre-publication discount.

■ I. Raptors in Urban Landscapes . ' . ,

Peregrine Falcons in Urban North America . (T..J. Cade, M, Martell, P.' Redig, G. A. Septon, and H. B.
Tordoff)

Bridge Use by Peregrine Falcons in the San Francisco Bay Area (D. A. Bell, D. P. Gregoire, and B. J.
Walton) .

Eggshell Thickness and Contaminant Analysis of Reintroduced, Urban Nesting Peregrine Falcons in
Wisconsin (G. A. Septon and J. B. Marks)'

The Urban Buteo: Red-shouldered Hawks in Southern California (P. H. Bloom and M. D. McCrary)

■ Urban Nesting Biology of Cooper's Hawks in Wisconsin (R. N. Rosenfield* J. Bielefeidt, J. Affeldt, and D.
J, Beckmann) ..

Urban Ecology of the Mississippi Kite (J. W. Parker) ' ■

Costs and Benefits of Urban Nesting in the Lesser Kestrel (J. L. E. Telia, F. Hiraldo, J. A. Donazar-Sancho,
and J. J. Negro)

Nesting Success of Western Burrowing Owls in Natural and Human-altered Environments (E. S, Botelho and
P. C. Arrowood) .

Eastern Screech Owls in Suburbia: A Model of Raptor Urbanization (F. R, Gehlbach)

II. Raptors and Artificial Nest Sites

Red-tailed Hawks Nesting' on Man-made and Natural Structures in Southeast Wisconsin (W. E, Stout, R. K.
Anderson, and J. M. Papp) ' ' • . . , . •

Documentation of Raptor Nests on Electric Utility Facilities Through a Mail Survey (R. Blue)

Osprey Population Increase Along the Willamette River, Oregon, and the Role of Utility Structures, 1976-93
(C. J. Henny and J, L. Kaiser) . ■

The Use of Artificial Nest Sites by an Increasing Population of Ospreys in the Canadian Great Lakes Basin
(P. J. Ewins)

The Osprey in Germany: Its Adaptation to Environments Altered by Man ( B.-U. Meyburg, O. Manowsky, and
C. Meyburg) .

.Effectiveness of Artificial Nesting Structures for Ferruginous Hawks in Wyoming. ( J. R; Tigner, M. W. Call,
and- M. Kochert)

Peregrine Falcons: Power Plant Nest Structures and Shoreline Movements (G. A. Septon, J. Bielefeidt, T.
Ellestad, 1. .B. Marks, and R. N, Rosenfield)

Competition for Nest Boxes Between American Kestrels and European Starlings in an Agricultural Area of
Southern Idaho (M. J. Bechard and J. M. Bechard)

TIL Raptors in Cultivated Landscapes ■

White-tailed Kite Movement and Nesting Patterns in an Agricultural Landscape (A. L, Erichsen, S.
Smallwood, A. M. Commandatore, B. W. Wilson, and M. D. Fry)

Association Analysis of Raptors in a Farming Landscape (S. Smallwood, B. J. Nakamoto, and S. Geng)
Sparrowhawks in Conifer Plantations (L Newton) .

Adaptations of Raptors to Man-made Spruce Forests in the Uplands of Britain (S. J. Petty)

Spotted Owls in Managed Forests of Western Oregon and Washington (S.-P. Horton)

Goshawk Adaptation to Deforestation: Does Europe Differ from North America? (R. E. Kenward)

Rain Forest Raptor Communities in Sumatra: the Conservation Value of Traditional Agroforests (J.-M,
Thiolfay) . ..

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SEPTEMBER 1995

Diurnal Raptors in the Fragmented Rain Forests of the Sierra Imataca, Venezuela (E, Alvarez, XX Ellis, D.
G. Smith, and C.'T. Larue) ■ -

' Value of Nest Site Protection in Ameliorating- the Effects of Forestry Operations- on Wedge-tailed Eagles in
Tasmania (N. J, Mooney and R. J. Taylor)

■ ■' - IV." -Raptors in Industrial Landscapes '

Use of Reservoirs and Other Artificial Impoundments by Bald Eagles in South Carolina (A. L, Bryan, Jr., T.
M.’ Murphy, K. L,)Bildstein,G.L Bnsbin, Jr., and J. J. Mayer) . '

Attraction of Bald- Eagles to Habitats Just Below Dams in Piedmont North and South Carolina (R. D. Brown)
Reclaimed Surface Mines: An Important Nesting Habitat for Northern Harriers in Pennsylvania ( R.'W.
Rohrbaugh, Jr. and R. H. Yahner) :

Raptors Associated with Airports and Aircraft SathQQsm) ■

' ' ■ V. Raptors at Large ■

The Effect of Altered Environments on Vultures (D. C. Houston)

The Impact of Man on Raptors in Zimbabwe (R. R. Hartley, K. Hustler, and P. J. Mundy)

Response of Common Black Hawks and Crested Car acar as to Human Activities in Mexico (R. Rodriguez-
Estrella) .

Occurrence and Distribution of Diurnal Raptors in Relation to Human -Activity and Other -Factors at Rocky
Mountain Arsenal, Colorado (C, R. Preston and R..D. Beane) ..

, ' . . ' ■ ' ' NEW'. RRF' EDITOR-IN-CHIEF '

Dr. Marc J. Bechard, Professor of Biology at Boise State University, is the new Editor-in-Chief of the Raptor
Research Foundation. Marc is a long-time member of RRF who received his M.S. in Botany and Ph.D, in
Zoology from Washington State University. His current research includes investigations of the breeding
ecology of ferruginous hawks in Washington and Idaho, breeding ecology of northern goshawks in aspen
habitats of northern Nevada, and natal dispersal and lifetime reproduction of American kestrels in southern
Idaho. In addition to his duties as Professor, Marc currently serves as Associate Chair of the Biology Program
and Coordinator of Graduate Studies for the Raptor Research and Technical Assistance Center, both at BSU.
Marc will replace outgoing editor Carl Marti in January 1996. All manuscripts and correspondence for The
Journal of Raptor Research should be sent to Marc from this time on. Marc can be reached at the Department
of Biology, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, phone: 208-385-3530, fax: 208-385-3006, e-mail;
rbibecha@idbsu.idbsu.edu. - . '

: 1996 RRF / AOU MEETING SYMPOSIA ' . :

' The 1 14th Stated Meeting ofthe American Ornithologists Union will be held jointly with the annual meeting
of the Raptor Research Foundation at Boise State University in August 1996. Four symposia have been
accepted and are being organized as part of the meeting: "Ecology and Conservation of Raptors in the
Tropics" (contact Rich Watson of the World Center for Birds of Prey, e-mail: webp@aol.com), "Raptor
Monitoring Techniques" (contact Mark Fuller of the National Biological Service, e-mail:
mfuller@eagle.idbsu.edu), "The Role of Zoos and Aquaria in Avian Conservation" (contact David Blockstein
of the Ornithological Council and American Zoo & Aquarium Association, e-mail: cnie@access.digex.ngt),
and "Problems with the Analysis of Molecular Data and Some Solutions" (contact Shannon Racket! of The.
Field Museum, e-mail: .hackett@fmnh.org, or Carole Griffiths of the American Museum of Natural History,
e-mail: csg@amnh.org). It may still be possible to accommodate other symposia; if you wish to propose an
additional symposium, contact Peter Lowther of The Field Museum, e-mail: lowther@fmnh.org.

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I

WINGSPAN

ANNOUNCEMENTS

UPCOMING MEETINGS Canada, phone: 204-945-7465, fax: 204-945-

1996

February 10-13

INTERNATIONAL .ASSOCIATION OF
AVIAN TRAINERS AND EDUCATORS
St Louis, Missouri

Contact : Joanna Watson Eckles, Minnesota
Zoological Gardens, 13000 Zoo Boulevard,
Apple Valley, MN 55124, phone: 612-432-
9356.

August 13-17

RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Boise, Idaho

Contact: Marc Bechard or Alfred Duffy,

Department ■ of Biology, Boise State
University, Boise, ID 83725, phone: 208-385-
3530, fax: 208-385-3006.

October 2-5

RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Urbino, Italy

Contact: Massimo Pandolfi, Instituto di

Scienze Morfologiche, Universita dl Urbino,

Via M. Oddi 21-61029 Urbino, Italy, phone:
39-722-328033 or 39-722-327893, fax: 39-
722-329655.

1997

February 5-9

SECOND INTERNATIONAL
SYMPOSIUM: BIOLOGY AND

CONSERVATION OF OWLS OF THE
NORTHERN HEMISPHERE
Winnipeg, Manitoba ' ■

Contact: . James Duncan, Manitoba

Conservation Data Centre, 1007 Century
Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3H 0W4,

10

September 21-23 .

FORUM ON WILDLIFE TELEMETRY:
INNOVATIONS, EVALUATIONS, AND
RESEARCH NEEDS
Snowmass, Colorado

Contact: Jane Austin (jane_austin@nbs.gov)
or Pamela Pietz (pam_pietz@nbs.gov),
National Biological Service, Northern Prairie
Science Center, Jamestown, ND 58401,
phone: 701-252-5363, fax: 701-252-4217.

■ POSITIONS AVAILABLE

FIELD RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
(volunteers) are needed to help in a project
about dispersal of red and black kites {Milvus
milvus and Milvus mi grans) in Donana
National Park (southern Spain) from early
March to early September 1996. It is not
necessary to work during all that period, but
only for some months between these two
dates. The study will be focused on following
radio-tagged individuals of these two species
to determine the different strategies of natal
and breeding dispersal. Previous field work
and radiotelemetry experience is desirable.
We offer free food and housing inside Donana
National Park. These field assistants will have
a work assurance. People interested must
send a letter of interest, resume, and the names
and addresses of three references to Manuela
G. Forero or Fernando Hiraldo, Estacion
Biologica de Donana, Avd. Maria Luisa,
s/n. Pabellon del Peru, 41013 Sevilla, Spain,
fax: 5-4621125, e-mail: Forero@cica.es. .

SEPTEMBER 1995

HAWK MOUNTAIN RESEARCH
INTERNSHIPS Research interns are needed
at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary from April-July
and mid- August to mid-December 1996.
Successful applicants will work as part of an
international team of 4-5 research, education,
and sanctuary-management interns. that helps
conduct the Sanctuary's .education and
research programs. -Research interns are'
involved in many aspects of Sanctuary
research; including both field . and library
research, data management, and analysis of
the Sanctuary's databases. Fall interns work
on projects involving (1) raptor migration
ecology and management of the Sanctuary's
long-term raptor migration database, (2)
wintering ecology of raptors, (3) data
management, and (4) analysis of existing
databases. Spring interns work on projects
involving (1) Appalachian landscape ecology,
(2) raptor breeding biology, (3) data
management, and (4) analysis of existing
databases. Research interns live on-site in a
three-bedroom, five-intem apartment. Interns
receive a $375 (after taxes) monthly stipend
for their work. Letters of interest and requests
for application forms should be sent to: Keith
L. Bildstein, Director of Research, Hawk
Mountain Sanctuary, RR 2 Box 191,
Kempton, PA 19529.

INTERNATIONAL SUMMER STUDENT
INTERNSHIPS, AVIAN SCIENCE AND
CONSERVATION CENTRE OF MCGILL
UNIVERSITY Each spring and summer, the
Avian Science- and Conservation Centre of
McGill University offers up to four non-
salaried internships. This includes free
residence with kitchen facilities provided
within walking distance of the Centre. We are
located just a short bus ride from downtown
Montreal. In the last three years, our interns

have hailed from Canada, USA, England,
Scotland, China, Turkey, Italy, Mexico, and
France. Each intern gains experience in the
care, handling, and propagation of captive
birds (mostly birds of prey) and most
important becomes involved in scientific
research either on captive birds or in the field
depending on annual funding. Our main
research areas include behavioural ecology,
nutrition, reproductive physiology,
parasitology, toxicology, and management.
We have also initiated a captive breeding
program for endangered loggerhead shrikes
for research purposes. If interested, submit a
letter of . recommendation, * a resume of
experience, and a covering letter indicating
your research interests by February 1, 1996 to:
Dr. David M. Bird, Director, Avian Science
and Conservation Centre of McGill
University, 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Ste,
Anne de. Bellevue,. Quebec H9X 3V9,
Canada, phone: 514-398-7760, fax: 514-
398-7983, e-mail: bird@nrs.mcgill.ca.

POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWS IN
RAPTOR BIOLOGY SOUGHT BY THE
AVIAN SCIENCE AND
CONSERVATION CENTRE OF MCGILL
UNIVERSITY ■ David M. Bird, Director of
the Avian Science and Conservation Centre
(ASCC) is seeking interested parties to apply
for post-doctoral fellowships in raptor
biology. Applicants with the best chances for
obtaining one should have recently been
awarded their Ph.D. and should have a fairly
substantial list of papers published in refereed
journals. For more information on funding
opportunities for post-doctoral positions with
the ASCC, serious applicants can contact Dr.
Bird by phone: 514-398-7760, fax: 514-
398-7990, or e-mail: bird@nrs.mcgilLca.

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PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE

"HAWKS , ALOFT WORLDWIDE^
RAPTOR- 'MIGRATION WATCH-SITE
MANUAL” ' Hawk Mountain Sanctuary has
'worked.- to protect raptors in. northeastern
North. America for more than 60' years.
Although the. Sanctuary has' been quite -
successful in this regard, many of the threats
currently; facing .raptors are international in
nature. Recognizing the need . to protect
raptors throughout their migratory journeys, in
1988, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary embarked on
a cooperative conservation initiative called
Hawks Aloft Worldwide, This initiative
provides a. strategy for strengthening local,
conservation .action along the world's major
raptor-migration corridors, ' Hawks . Aloft
. Worldwide* s 1 Raptor - Migration Watch-site
Manual reflects Hawk Mountain's half-century
of experience in. raptor conservation. The-.'
manual provides an introductory .guide to
operating raptor migration watch-sites, as well ■
as to. the issues ■ facing watch-site' operators.
Thirteen chapters * include information on
raptor migration and conservation biology,,
investigating raptor migration, monitoring the ■
abundance ahd . .distribution . of migrating
raptors, managing . wat chortle data,

■opportunities for environmental education and
e'cotourism at . watch-sites, membership
programs, and the use of volunteer resources
at -watch-sites. English and Spanish versions-
of the manual are available from: ■ Keith L.
Bildstein, Hawks Aloft Worldwide v Hawk
Mountain -'Sanctuary, .MR 2 Box .191,
Kempton* PA 19529. . ' ft f '

■"LADY.- GRAYL: OWL WITH A

MISSION” This new hook by Robert W. ■
Nero tells the story -'of Lady Gray!, an ,
imprinted great gray owl raised, by Dr. Nero
and featured in -a decade of conservation
education presentations- to school and public

groups. The book may be purchased directly
from the publisher: Natural - History / .

Natural Heritage, -Inc*, P;0. Box 95, -Station
■O, Toronto^ Ontario M4A 2M8, Canada,

. phone: 416- 694-7907.

"A LANDOWNER'S GUIDE ' TO
PRAIRIE RAPTORS," a 48-page booklet by
Geoff Hoiroyd,' Ivan Shukster, Diana Keith,
and- Laurie Hunt promotes . conservation
techniques that will benefit prairie raptors.
Free ' copies -are. available ' from:
Communications Directorate, Environment .
Canada, . Room 200, _ 4S>99-98 Avenue,
Edmonton, Alberta T6B'2X3, Canada,

"LIFE ON THE EDGE: A RESOURCE
GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA’S
- ENDANGERED ' ' PLANTS ' ' AND

WILDLIFE" Life on the Edge is a 560-page
compilation of endangered species accounts,
essays, interviews, and historical perspectives
that frames endangered species biology' within
'ecological and cultural. contexts. The book
describes '115 of California's- endangered and
threatened species, the - causes of their
endangermentf and how conservation efforts
are being applied, -Each account contains a
detailed map showing the- current arid
-historical range and distribution of the species;
Color photographs . and - ' .'specially .

commissioned paintings illustrate the animals
in- their natural habitats. Essays on topics'- such
as the diversity of California’s landscape, the
evolution of resource legislation, and ' the
effects of dramatic land use changes, as well
■ as ' interviews with resource experts offer
insights to- the world of endangered species
conservation, . Native American.- legends,
.artwork and artifacts, and extensive, historical
. ..sections encourage the reader to see California
. through the eyes of Native American societies,
explorers, settlers, and early natural historians, -
The book may -be purchased directly from the
. publisher: -BioSy stems Books, 303-Potrero

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Street, Suite 29-11)!, Santa Cruz, CA 95060,
phone: 800-983-5433. ; ;

"MITIGATING BIRD COLLISIONS '
WITH POWERLINES: THE STATE OF
THE ART IN. 1994" The Avian Power Line
Interaction Committee (APLICJ—a combined
effort of the electric utility industry, the U.S,

. Fish and 'Wildlife Service, and the National.
Audubon .Society— has- ..recently published
Mitigating Bird Collisions with Power Lines:
The State of the Art in 1994, a manual
outlining potential problems and solutions to
avian, power line interactions,. ' Like its
companion publication, Suggested Practices
for Raptor Protection on Power Lines— The
State of the Art in 198 f this publication helps
the reader identify whether a bird collision,
problem exists, how to mitigate the problem if .
one exists, and how to avoid the problem
initially, , This manual will be useful to
resource- agency - and utility biologists,
engineers, and planners. in dealing with this
issue. 'Four years' in the making, ' this
publication represents.-'' the most
comprehensive treatment of bird power line

■ interactions ■ ever produced. The" "manual can
be obtained from: ■ Joel Mazelis, Edison
Electric Institute, 701 Pennsylvania Avenue
NW,. Washington, DC 20004-2696, phone:
■202-508-5461. ■

?? A PHOTOGRAPHIC GUIDE TO
NORTH" AMERICAN RAPTORS 11 . This
new 'field guide by Brian K. Wheeler .and
.William S. Clark matures 377 color
photographs depicting all 42 species of diurnal
raptors, recorded in ..North . America,;
■Supporting - text describes plumages, notes'
easily confused species, and presents data on
■length., wingspan, and weight.- .The guide-
' concludes with a special section that examines
14 of the most difficult North American raptor

■ identification problems. The guide may be
purchased directly from, the -publisher:

SEPTEMBER 1995

Academic Press, Marketing Department,
525 "B" Street, Suite 1900, San Diego, -CA
92101-4495, phone: 800-321-5068, fax:

800-336-7377, e-mail: qp@acad.com, .

NEWS OF MEMBERS

■Professor John E. Cooper has relinquished
his post as Director of the Centre Veterinaire
des Volcans in Rwanda but is retaining links
in. Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. He and his
wife, -Margaret, may now be contacted- via the
Durrell Institute .of Conservation and Ecology
(DICE), The 'University, Canterbury, Kent
CX2 7PD, UK.

REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE

AUDIO-VISUAL ' ' EDUCATIONAL

■ MATERIALS The Education Committee of

the Raptor Research. Foundation is compiling ,
a catalog of audio-visual materials on raptors. .
The following information is requested:
author/producer, ti tier production date, .a brief
summary (50' words. or. less), type of media
(slide show, audio cassette, y VHS, etc.),
loan/rent/sale policies and prices, and contact
name and address (phone number optional).
Contact: Nancy. Read, -Education

Committee Chair, _P.O. Box 714, Los

■ Alamos, CA 93440-0714, phone: (805-344-

'2428. ' '

BARRED OWL -INFORMATION Barred
owl (Strix varia) information is needed for the
Birds of North America account of this
species. Any unpublished ■ information,
obscure references, or personal observations
would be ■ . greatly • appreciated and
acknowledged in the final .account. . Please

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WINGSPAN

send information to: Kurt Mazur,

Department of Biology, University of
Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 0A2,
Canada, phone: 306-982-4643, fax: 306-
585-4894,

COLOR- BANDED . " .PEREGRINE
FALCONS ~ Recently 2 ■ color-banded
peregrine falcons without a U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service band were recovered on the
Texas Gulf Coast. The first bird had a yellow
plastic band on each leg. The band on the left
leg was narrow and inscribed with the code,
"RU3 111.” The band on the right leg was
wider and inscribed with the code, ” 11.” The
second bird had a single narrow, yellow
plastic band inscribed with the code,
”R0025372.” If you know where either of
these birds was banded, please contact: Dr. ■
Robert W. Dickerman, Museum of
Southwestern Biology, Department of
Biology, University of New Mexico,
Albuquerque, NM 87131-1091, phone: 505-
277-3315. ■

DONATIONS OF BINOCULARS AND
.FIELD GUIDES The Education Committee
of the Raptor Research Foundation is seeking
donations of binoculars and field guides for
international distribution to needy individuals .
and organizations involved in raptor research,
conservation, and education. Projects
benefitting from this service include the
Veracruz Migration Project and raptor
research in the former Soviet Union. If you
are upgrading your equipment or just- have an
extra pair of binoculars lying around, please
consider donating them to this worthwhile
project. To make a donation, or to nominate
an individual or group for receipt of
donations, contact: Nancy Read, Education
Committee Chair, P.O. Box 714, Los
Alamos, CA 93440-0714, phone: §05-344-
2428.

E

PRINTED EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS .
The Education Committee of the Raptor
Research F oundation is currently compiling a
bibliography and resource base of educational
materials and activities related to raptors.
RRF has provided a limited budget to pay for
copying and distribution of printed materials.
If you or your organization charges for use of
its materials, this information will be included
in the listing. However, we are encouraging
the free sharing of information whenever
possible, with the covenant of providing
proper credit to each institution. For the
bibliography, send a complete description of
the materials, including all ■ species and/or
topics covered. Or, preferably, send samples
of materials. All material should be clearly
labeled with the organization and/or author's
name or logo. Volunteers are also needed for
translation of materials into other languages,
as our focus will be on assisting groups in
"developing” countries that have little or no
access to such material. Contact: Nancy

Read, Education Committee Chair, P.O.
Box 714, Los Alamos, CA 93440-0714,
phone: 805-344-2428. -

RAPTOR CONSERVATION
STRATEGIES Hiromu Nakatsu, a student
with the Faculty of International Relations at
Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, is
conducting a survey of raptor conservation
efforts both inside and outside Japan.
Specifically, he is seeking information on
"environmental strategy”— strategies taken by
people to utilize environmental resources in
consideration of their protection. The purpose
of this project is to analyze the strategies
employed in raptor conservation throughout
the world to extract the substantial
characteristics of the raptor protection

■ movement. If you can contribute to this

■ important project, please contact: Hiromu
Nakatsu, 30-3 ' Nakano-honmachi,
Shijonawate-shi, Osaka, 575 Japan.

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SALVAGE" SPECIMENS REQUESTED
. The Bell Museum of Natural History ' is
creating a new exhibit on peregrine falcons
entitled, The Peregrine Falcon: Return of an
Endangered Species, The Museum requests
■your help in securing specimens and objects
for use in the exhibit. Items needed include:
frozen specimens of ■ adult and immature
peregrine falcons; frozen specimens of other
falcon- species; infertile or broken peregrine,
falcon eggs, showing the effects of DDT, or
photos of DDT-killed eggs; peregrine falcon
remains (roost predation by a great homed, owl
or other predator); peregrine falcon prey
remains; objects such as old DDT containers
that illustrate the pesticide story' involved in
the decline and recovery of peregrines;
paraphernalia used in the captive rearing of
peregrines such as puppet parents, dummy
eggs, incubators, hoods, and handling gloves;
and photographs of peregrine behavior,
natural history, breeding, reintroduction and
conservation efforts, and current nesting sites.
The Museum holds federal permits and would
acquire specific permits for any specimens

SEPTEMBER 1995

received. Please contact: Curt Hadland,
Bell Museum of Natural History, 10
Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455,
phone: 612-624-3849, fax: 612-626-7704. or
Mark Marteil, The Raptor ' Center,
University of Minnesota, 1920 Fitch
Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108, phone: 612-
624-9790, fax: 612-624-8740.

TAGGED TURKEY VULTURES The
sophomore biology classes at .'Belvidere High
School, New Jersey, are conducting a turkey
vulture migration study from spring 1995
through spring 1996. , The purpose of this
study is to investigate the location and
.■ regional movements of turkey vultures.
Working -with Ed Henekel,.. students are
■ placing red streamers on the left wing. If you
. sight a tagged turkey vulture, please call or
write (include date and location of sighting):
Belvidere High School, Oxford Street,

- Belvidere, NJ 07823, Attn.: Roxanne

Kaiser, phone: 908-475-4025. ■

WINGSPAN CONTRIBUTIONS

The Raptor Research Foundation wishes to thank the following people who contributed material
to this issue of Wingspan: Karen Allen, Marc Bechard, Keith Bildstein, David Bird,
Michelle Breidenstein, Richard Clark, Michael Collopy, John Cooper, Eric Cummins,
Robert Dickerman, Patricia Hall, Susan Hartzog, Geoff Holroyd, Roxanne Kaiser, Lloyd
Kiff, Peter Lowther, Carl Marti, Kurt Mazur, Carol McIntyre, Hiromu Nakatsu, Lynne
Olson, Jemima Parry- Jones, Pamela Pietz, S. E. Piper, Nancy Read, Karen Steenhof, and
Jose Telia. :

Wingspan, welcomes contributions from RRF members and others interested in raptor biology
and' management. Articles and announcements' should be sent, faxed, or e-mailed to: Leonard
Young, Editor, 5010 Sunset Drive NW, Olympia, WA 98502-1576 USA (phone/fax: 360-866-
8039; e-mail: .wingspan@msn.com). The deadline for the next issue is 15 February 1996. ■

RRF Trivia Answers: 1) 1996, 2) c, 3) b, 4) c, 5) b, 6) c, 7) a, 8) d, 9) a, 10) a.

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WINGSPAN

SEPTEMBER 1995

Brodeur, S. 1995. DOMAINES VITAUX ET DEPLACEMENTS MIGRATOIRES D'AIGLES ROYAUX
NICHANT DANS LA : REGION DE LA.BAIE D'HUDSON. AU QUEBEC. M.S. Thesis, McGill Univ,,
Montreal, Quebec. 144pp.

Chabot, A.'.. '1994. HABITAT SELECTION AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF THE LOGGERHEAD
SHRIKE IN EASTERN ONTARIO AND QUEBEC. M.S. Thesis, McGill Univ., Montreal, Quebec. 161pp.

Cunningham, H. 1995. EVALUATION OF INBREEDING, LINKAGE AND GENETIC DRIFT. IN A
CAPTIVE POPULATION OF AMERICAN KESTRELS USING DNA FINGERPRINTING, M.S. Thesis,
McGill Univ., Montreal, Quebec. 86pp.

MacLellan, K. 1994. THE EFFECT OF Q-P DICOFOL ON TWO GENERATIONS- OF AMERICAN
KESTRELS. M.S, Thesis, McGill Univ., Montreal, Quebec. 104pp. .

McIntyre, C. L. 1995. NESTING ECOLOGY OF MIGRATORY GOLDEN EAGLES AQUILA
'CHRYSAETOS- IN DENALI NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA. ’ M.S. Thesis, Univ. Alaska, Fairbanks, 57pp. ■

Piper, S. E. 1994. MATHEMATICAL DEMOGRAPHY OF THE CAPE VULTURE, Ph.D. Thesis, Univ,
Cape Town, South Africa. 5.33pp,. ■ ’ >

Soendjoto, A, 1995, VOCALIZATION BEHAVIOUR OF CAPTIVE LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES (LANIUS
LUDOVICMNUS EXCUBITOR1FJES)/ M.SAI%&sls i M.cGill Univ., Montreal, Quebec. 85pp.

WINGSPAN' ■

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