Wildlife Research Problems Programs Progress 1963 Marine Biological Laboratory Ul B R A R Y DEC 8 19G4 WOODS HOLE, MASS. 1 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH \M) WILDLIFE SERVICE BUREAT OF SPORT FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE Circular 188 The Department of the Interior, created in 1849, is a Department of Con- servation, concerned with management, conservation, and development of the Nation's water, wildlife, fish, mineral, forest, and park and recreational resources. It has major responsibilities also for Indian and Territorial affairs. As America's principal conservation agency, the Department works to assure that nonrenewable resources are developed and used wisely, that park and recreational resources are conserved for the future, and that renewable resources make their full contribution to the progress, prosperity, and security of the United States, now and in the future. Front cover photo by Luther C. Goldman Whooping Cranes, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Texas, February 1964 Vignettes by Alfred J. Godin Back cover photos by Lee E. Yeager WILDLIFE RESEARCH PROBLEMS PROGRAMS PROGRESS 1963 Activities of the Division of Wildlife Research in the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife for the Calendar Year 1963 'My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge . . ." Hosea 4: 6 Circular 188 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Stewart L. Udall, Secretary Frank P. Briggs, Assistant Secretary for Fish and It ildlife FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Clarence F. Pautzke, Commissioner BUREAU OF SPORT FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE Daniel II. Janzrn, Director Washington, D.C. • May 1961 ii CONTENTS Page Foreword vii The Division of Wildlife Research 1 Tim research program 1 Organizat ion 2 Special Activities and Events 3 Bureau services through the Division 3 Research centers serve the public 3 Assistance to Government agencies 3 Research of special note 4 Contamination by pesticides 4 New animal control methods 4 Bird banding 4 Bat banding 4 Studies of Midway albatrosses continued 5 Wintering waterfowl in Mexico G Studies on diseases common to man and animals 6 Rare geese from Buldir Island G Cooperative Wildlife Research Units conduct 250 projects 8 New research facilities 8 Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center 8 New quarters for bird and mammal sections 8 Machine data processing unit 8 New laboratory at Denver Center 10 Control methods research facility 10 New pesticide laboratory equipment 10 Bear River Station improvements 10 Notable publicat ions 10 Honors 11 Iowa Wildlife Unit leader 11 Nat ional award 12 Research Highlights of the Year 13 Waterfowl management research 13 Mallard population dynamics studied 13 Wood duck research 13 Mail surveys of waterfowl hunters 13 Whistling swan hunting survey 15 Hunters' reaction to waterfowl regulations 1G Kill on private versus public land 10 Species management studies 16 Habitat evaluation of Back Bay and Currituck Sound 10 Goose product ion 17 Wood duck nesting structures 18 Management of aquatic plants 19 Improvement in North Dakota waterfowl habitat 19 Waterfowl production improves on Far North area 20 Rapid growth of ducklings in Arctic 21 Wood duck roost counts 21 Factors affecting waterfowl foods in rice fields 22 Fulvous tree duck in Louisiana 22 Waterfowl renesting and homing 22 Canada goose sex ratios 22 Wood ducks prefer metal boxes 22 Canada geese in the Flathead Valley 23 Production and utilization of sago pond weed 23 Ecology of wetland timber impoundments 24 Page Other migratory birds 24 National mourning dove breeding survey 24 Mourning dove studied in Arizona . 25 Dove production in north-central Colorado 25 Mourning dove color sensitive. 25 Mourning dove food habits in New York 26 Earlier woodcock season 26 Woodcock product ion 26 Sandhill cranes in Mexico 27 Search for missing w hooping cranes 27 Upland wildlife ecology 29 Reindeer 29 Hunter access and deer kill distribution 29 Ecological characteristics of a mule deer winter range 29 Ecology of the Middle Fork mule deer winter range 31 Nutrient requirements of white-tailed deer 33 Venison quality and palat ability studies 33 Population study of bighorn sheep 34 Horn growth and aging in bighorn sheep 34 Grizzly bear population study in Yellowstone Park 154 Peccary 34 Social behavior in swamp rabbits 34 Ecology of the striped skunk determined by telemetry 35 Arctic fox 35 Effect of slope on browse production 36 Productivity of bobwhite quail in Alabama 36 Fertilization improves quail habitat 36 Habitat components of the bobwhite quail 36 Mearns' quail 37 Juncos important consumers of conifer seed 37 Problems with multiflora rose 39 Recreational use of forest land 40 Foreign game introduction program 40 Pesticide- wildlife relations 43 Improved methods and equipment 43 Persistent pesticides from remote areas 43 Canada geese in 2,4-D feeding test 44 Sevin appears low in toxicity to wildlife 44 Pesticides and prairie grouse 44 DDT residues in mule deer 45 Toxicity of organophosphate insecticides to mallards 45 Effects of DDT on bald eagles 46 Effects of heptachlor on wildlife 47 Pesticide residues in black duck eggs 17 Effects of pesticides on osprey productivity 49 Nonchemical methods in mosquito control 50 1>DT in relation to towhees 50 Malathion S-35 distribution in a small forested watershed. 50 Effects of endrin on vole reproduction in bluegrass meadows 50 Wildlife diseases and parasites 51 Widespread botulism losses reported 51 Avian botulism-invertebrate relation investigated 51 Waterfowl helminth manuscript near completion 52 Fowl cholera low in 1963 52 Trumpeter swan cygnets show lower mortality 52 Malaria infections in waterfowl 52 Throat disease in mourning doves 52 Nematodes in relation to merganser losses 52 Type E botulism in birds 52 Tissue damage from pesticides -r>- Ring-necked pheasant Wildlife disease surveys 53 Gizzard worms in wintering goose population 53 Page Animal control methods 55 Physiology in bird control 55 New avicide for starlings and blackbirds 55 Curtain spray for control of roosting birds 56 Fourth year of blackbird study completed 56 Breeding redwing populations in Arkansas 57 Scare devices 57 Decoy trap for blackbirds and starlings 58 Bird behavior studies implemented by banding 58 Sudan dye for tagging birds 59 Gull populations in southeastern New England 59 Seagull problem at Naval air station relieved 60 Bird hazard survey at Washington National Airport 60 System developed for rating chemicals 60 Antifertility agents have promise in predator control 60 Compound S-6999 shows specificity for commensal rats 60 Registration of DRC-714 as a pocket gopher control 61 Nutria studies progressing 61 Pocket gophers injurious to Christmas trees 61 New method of testing seed protectants 61 Classification, distribution, and life-history studies 62 North American mammal collections 62 Bird and mammal specimens handled 62 Sea otter studies 62 Wild turkey monograph 62 Preparation of bat banding manual 62 Geographic variat ion in Canada geese 62 Methods of determining sex of cranes 64 Taxonomie review of the woodpeckers 64 Variation and hybridization in flickers 64 Fluorescence studies 64 The Mammals of Maryland 64 Walrus studies 65 Cooperative Wildlife Research Units 65 Wildlife graduates at Unit schools 65 Employment of 1962-63 graduates 65 Appendixes 66 A. Organization chart 66 B. Location of Wildlife Research Stations (map) 67 C. Funds available 68 D. Bureau and Division offices related to research 69 E. Publications, 1963 72 The emperor goose la one of the must striking of the many species of geese. II nests along the coastal estuaries and tundra of western Alaska, and winters southward mainly among the Aleutian Islands and the coastal areas of southern Alaska and British Columbia. (Photo by Karl \V. Kenyon) VI FOREWORD Today 's paramount wildlife problem stems from our material success as a Nation. Each day there are 8,000 more Americans ; industrial development is on a fantastic scale; and suburbia is surrounding every city and town. Our national growth is con- suming the very environment that is essential to wildlife — land, water, and space. Continued national growth wall require still more land and water. A population nearing 200 million individuals requires more land and water than one of only half or three-fourths that number, as we had in 1920 and 1950. This all adds up to the inescapable fact that the problem of preserving adequate living space for wildlife will become increasingly difficult to solve. Research, the accumulation of more knowledge, and the trans- lation of that knowledge into more effective management, offers hope. When we know more — much more in many instances — about the environmental requirements of wild birds and mam- mals, about how best to control noxious species, and about the socioeconomic relations of wuldlife as a renewable resource, we will be in a better position to manage for maximum wildlife production on specific areas, or optimum wildlife populations in a watershed or region, or perhaps — as has been done with field crops — more wildlife on less land. And certainly increased knowledge will enable responsible Government agencies to meet more effectively other problems involving wildlife resources — pesticides, pollution, protection, harvest, and disease. Wildlife ups and downs and major changes in kinds and quality are due to two main things: Changes in environment, and application of knowledge in management. Migratory birds, big game, upland game, fur animals, song birds, and fish can be retained as great natural assets if we can learn enough, and in time, about their needs. The function of the Division of Wildlife Research of the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife is to obtain information on wildlife resources, and the purpose of this report is to relay for administrative and management use some of the information obtained in 1963. Daxiel H. Jaxzex, Director. Vll Outstanding among events in the Bureau's wildlife research programs in 1963 was the dedication of the new Bio- chemistry and Wildlife Pathology Laboratory at Patuxenl Wildlife Research Center. Laurel. Md.. en April L'.". by Stewart I.. Udall, Secretary of the Interior. (Photo by Hex G. Schmidt) Vlll THE DIVISION OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH The calendar year 1963 was one of expansion and personnel change in the Division of Wildlife Research.1 Personnel changes, other than new starting, were mainly in key positions. There was no change in purpose and function of the Division. Through the year, as previously. it served as the wildlife factfinding arm of the Bureau, responsible for research on all wildlife — game and nongame, resident and migratory, harm- ful and beneficial. Results of the Division's in- vestigations are used by the Bureau and by cooperating Federal and State agencies in wild- life management aimed at the production of more recreational enjoyment for the people, and more effective control of forms injurious to agricultural, industrial, and urban interests. Th, research />r<> investiga- tors both in and out of the Bureau. The assistance of thousands of banders, observers, and collectors who have cooperated in obtaining these specimens, or in providing data on them, makes this compre- hensive service possible. Organisation. — The Division is organized on a line-and-staff basis. The directors of the 5 re- search centers, the leaders of the 18 Cooperative Wildlife Research Units, the leader of the foreign game introduction project, and the editor all report directly to i lie Division's central office in Wash- ington; program planning, coordination, and administration for all Division research arc func- tions of the Washington office; routine fiscal, per- sonnel, and property management of field re- search stations are handled through the 5 regional offices of the Bureau. An editor, stationed at the Washington office, and a biometrician for the Denver Center, were 2 specialized positions filled in L963. In fiscal year 1964 the Division had 190 profes- sional and l»'i<> clerical or other employees, and a budget of about $4,599,000. Details of organi- zation, administrative and supervisory channels, Location of research stations, and financing are given in appendixes A, B, ( ', and D of this report. The 250 publications authored by Division person- nel and close coworkers are listed in appendix E. Chemical assay in progress at the new 1" F. C. Schmid) ■iticiile Laboratory at the Patuxent Research Center. Laurel. Md. (Photo by SPECIAL ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS BUREAU SERVICES THROUGH THE DIVISION Research centers serve the public The several wildlife research centers, stations, and laboratories of the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, because of their central locations, have great opportunity to serve the interests of the people in wildlife matters. In 1963 the Bureau's staff of mammalogists and ornithologists housed in the Natural History Mu- seum, Washington, D.C., were called upon many hundreds of times for information concerning their specialities. Members of the Congress, more than 20 Federal bureaus and agencies, various American and foreign universities, a dozen nation- ally circulated magazines, nearly a score of na- tional scientific organizations, museums through- out the world, professors and graduate students from many educational institutions, and hundreds of individuals who queried by letter or telephone, sought information on birds and mammals. Visitors to the Bureau's wildlife laboratories in- cluded 1(!!» parties from 25 States, the District of Columbia, and 15 foreign countries, among whom were 107 nat ionally and internationally known sci- entists and wildlife officials. In addition, 20 scien- tists or officials concerned with marine mammals, and scores of individuals, visited the Seattle. Lab- oratory on the West Coast. The Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Md., readily accessible to the Washington metro- politan area and its •"> million people, has become widely known as an outdoor-indoor laboratory and scientific headquarters. More than 100 visit- ing parties, including institutional and agency scientists. Federal and State personnel, scientists from foreign lands, and conservation groups, vouth and adult — all concerned with or interested in wildlife resources — sought information or in- struction here in 1963. With the availability of meeting rooms, the Patuxent Center was used for several regional, interdivisional, and special wild- life workshops and conferences during t lie year. Such use promises to increase. In the West, the Denver Wildlife Research Center is a meeting place for professional wildlife personnel associated with various Federal land- management agencies and concerned with wildlife problems or plans. State wildlife personnel, espe- cially of Colorado but also of many other States, are frequent visitors. Wildlife and natural- resource students from several Colorado and other State colleges and universities favor the Center for Held trips and instruction. And like the Patux- ent Center, the Denver installation is frequently a meeting place for conferences and workshops on wildlife affairs. The 18 Cooperative Wildlife Research Units and the 22 substations of the Division are local meet- ing centers for Federal, State, and layman groups having wildlife or other conservation interests. Assistance to Government agencies Bureau research specialists are being called upon increasingly by Federal and State agencies, munic- ipal governments, industry, and private land- users for help in finding solutions to their wild- life and nuisance-animal problems. Ornithologists use the taxonomist's skill to identify positively, from only a feather or two. birds involved in plane strikes and, occasionally crashes. Mammalogists, using infrared or other "black" light, identify rodents previously mis- classified, or devise a more accurate identification technique. Chemists with special training and equipment detect minute quantities of pesticides in soil, water, and animal tissue. Cunt ml methods experts prescribe for mouse-infested orchards or woodlands, seek repellents that prevenl forest damage, or screen chemosterilants that may, w hen perfected, prevent rodent and predator outbreaks. The specialist in animal diseases is railed upon when rabies in skunks or foxes reaches epidemic proportions, or when birds are the suspected vec tor in bacteria] contamination discovered in food processed for human use. There are specialists in oilier disciplines used in wildlife research. Available in Bureau programs, or in cooperation with other agencies, are biologists and biometricians skilled in measuring population dynamics in game birds and mammals; ecologists who devise methods of converting land marginal for agricultural or industrial use into productive and economically profitable wildlife habitat : and aviculturists whose knowledge of animal behavior appears to offer hope of preventing extinction of the whooping crane and other threatened species. There are Bureau research specialists in other wildlife fields. Their main and general assign ment, in lx>th direct and cooperative investigations, is the conservation of the Continent's migratory bird resources, perpetuation of hunting and fishing now inventoried at $8 billion annually, and preser- vation and enhancement of outdoor recreational opportunities of still greater value. RESEARCH OF SPECIAL NOTE Contamination by pesticides During the year, research biologists and analyti- cal chemists of the Bureau collected and analyzed hundreds of specimens of fishes, birds, mammals, and food organisms. The findings revealed the presence of pesticide residues in the eggs, tissues. and vital organs of numerous species collected from practically all parts of the country, including several Canadian Provinces. For example, DDT residues were present in 36 of 37 clutches of eggs of wild black ducks taken in 8 States from Maine to Maryland. In a number of cases the pesti cidal levels in game species exceeded the tolerances permitted in domestic meats shipped in interstate commerce. The significance of almost universal contamination of fish and wildlife by these chemi- cals is yet to be determined. Since it is known that minute amounts of some pesticides in the daily diets of species such as quail and pheasants have pronounced effects upon their survival and reproduction, man's widespread use of these chemi- cals is regarded as one of the most serious threats faced by agencies charged with conservation of living natural resources. New animal control methods I msiderable progress was made during the year toward the discovery and development of new and improved methods for controlling damage caused by certain species of birds and mammals. Foremost among these was the successful field test- ing of a chemosterilant to limit reproduction of coyotes over a 720-square-mile area in New Mexico. Approximately BO percent fewer coyote pups were produced on the treated area than on a comparable check area. Advances were made also in the dis- covery and development of selective lethal chemi- cals with high toxicity to target species of birds and mammals and comparatively low toxicity to other kinds of wildlife. Bird banding With the installation of more versatile data- processing equipment, methods of processing band- ing data changed markedly in 1963. During the year somewhat more than son, Dim birds were banded, including 300,000 ducks, geese, and coots, of which mallards totaled 10-2,841. Species of ma- jor economic importance, mainly blackbirds and starlings, accounted for about 200,000 records, and gulls and terns for about 100,000. The good band- ing year is further reflected by the .">0 percent in- crease in the number of waterfowl banded, and by the '21-percent increase in band recoveries. A total of 2,329,931 bands were issued in 10(5.3, and the attachment of preopened bands on plastic tub- ing was begun. Visitors to the banding -tat ion came from throughout the United States and Canada, and from Europe and South America. Bat banding The importance of learning more about the dis- tribution, migration, and life history of bats has Keen under-cored during the past year by the ap- parent increase in bat rabies, (irowth of the bat- banding program during the year was spectacular, as indicated by the following: Hands issued 254,- 925; records received, 19,500; recoveries reported, 1,201); total letters written (by the Bird Mammal Laboratories). 635; and number of bats banded, 195,000 (approximately). Pelicans fe?d on fish which feed on invertebrate aquatic fauna which may pick up pesticide residues from a contaminated water environment. Often, the magnificat inn of poison concentrations through the food chain results in the death of the fish and/or birds. The Bureau is studying food-chain relations in aquatic birds at several locations in the United States. ( Photo by V. B. Seheffer I Since te inception of the bat-banding work, over 1,161,889 bands have been issued for use on bats. The recovery rate over the years has aver- aged aboul 1 for every 100 bats banded. Several major papers have incorporated results obtained l>y tracing movements of handed hats, and much has been learned about the distribution, abundance, and life history of these mammals through the pro- gram. There are currently about 50 active band- ers, till scientists attached to universities or mu- seums, engaged in studies of hat biology which require the use of handed animals. All data on banded hats and recoveries are housed in the files of the Bird and Mammal Labo- ratories where they are available lor study by qualified individuals. Studies of Midway Albatrosses continued Dr. Chandler S. Robbins and frame Manage- ment Agenl John Waters continued studies of albatrosses, long a hazard to military aircraft on Midway Atoll. In accordance with recommendations previously made by the Bureau, the Navy paved a strip at least 40(i feet wide along taxiways that were for- merly used l>\ tin- birdsasa nestingarea. Asa re- sult, fewer than •". percent of the Laysan alba- trosses nested within 400 feet of their former breeding grounds, and displaced black-footed al- batrosses moved even farther away from (he taxi- ways during the nest in^- season o feet from the center lines in order to give still further safety to departing and landing plane.-. Also, trails were bulldozed f \ Chemosterilants screened by Bureau chemists promise a humane method of animal control without the use of poisons or traps, and with savings in time and cost. (Photo hy E. P. Uaddon) through the dense growth of Scaevola to provide access to birds scheduled to be removed during the nesting season of 1963-64. The 750-foot bound- aries were clearly marked so that none of the birds nesting outside the construction area would be sacrificed in t lie limited control action planned. Wintering waterfowl in Mexico Tabulation of waterfowl band recoveries at the Patuxent Center has shown clearly that the heav- iest hunting pressure in Mexico is from Baja Cali- fornia south to Nayarit. This reflects the influx of American hunters into these nearby areas more than it docs the location of wintering waterfowl concentrations in the region. The January aerial surveys made since 1948 show thai Mexican water- fowl are distributed as follows in the winter: Pacific coast, II percent, East coast, '56 percent, and interior Mexico, -JO percent. Studies on diseases common to man and animals Collaborative programs on diseases common to man and wild animals are being conducted at the Patuxent Center. The National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness, of the Na- tional Institutes of Health, is collaborating in this field in relation to slow-acting viruses of animals and man; the Armed Forces Institute of Pathol- ogy, Division of Geographic Pathology, in rela- tion to trypanosome infection in raccoons and various filariid worms of other animals; and the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Department of Pathobiology, in relation to infections of the respiratory systems of various wild animals. Rare geese from Buldir Island The Aleutian Canada goose, Branta canadensis li ucopareia, formerly occurred widely along the 5 Banding offers the most effective means of determining the flight patterns of migratory birds, knowledge of which is essentia] in formulating regulations and other management activities required for the protection and harvest of these resources. The use of various colors in multiple bands permits identification of individual birds in intensive field studies. ( Photo by P. C. Sehmid) Aleutian chain, nesting on main of the islands. Widespread introduction of foxes on the islands, mostly after 1880, led to losses of geese so severe that the race was al one time regarded as extinct. Buldir Island, extremely remote and forbidding, was spared the attention of the fox ranchers, and hctv a population of the geese persisted. An ex- pedition in July sought to obtain goslings for propagal ion in cap! ivity. Personnel of the party included five Bureau employees and a graduate student of the Univer- sity of British Columbia. Support and hearty cooperation were provided by personnel of the U.S. Navy. Coast Guard, Federal Aviation Agency, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, and three commercial airlines. The weather during time on the island was windy, with heavy fog and ram. The party saw 120 adult and 31 young geese; il was estimated that a total of 200 to -".on might occur there. Oh tabled were 18 goslings, which were transported by air to Denver for eventual transfer to the .Monte Vista Refuse in Colorado. During the ex- pedition, observations were also made of 35 species of birds and 6 of marine mammals. Cooperative Wildlife Research Units conduct 250 projects In 1963, the 18 Cooperative Wildlife Research Units worked on about 250 formal projects, of which about 80 were completed. This research, all at the graduate level, resulted in the graduation of 50 men with masters* degrees and -21 with doctoral degrees. The 18 Unit schools also graduated 162 men with bachelors' degrees. NEW RESEARCH FACILITIES Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center In response to the need for a center to handle more effectively research concerned with wetland habitat preservation and management, a new facil- ity, authorized by the Congress in 1962, came into being in 1963. Called the Northern Prairie Wild- life Research ('enter, it consists of -i land tracts iii North Dakota: a 500-acre headquarters near Jamestown, and a 1,440-acre research area near Woodworth. The Wood worth field station has a laboratory as its central structure, complemented by a residence and service buildings. This station is in the critical pothole wetland type, typically interspersed with crop and grazing lands. Water fowl product ivity of these lands and compatibility of such use with agricultural interests will be featured in research planned at the station. The main laboratory will he on the Jamestown tract. On this area will he residences, a service building, a greenhouse, a series of experimental ponds, propagation facilities, and other installa- tions required for the extensive research program now getting under way. The research program of the Center will follow two main approaches: (1) Fundamental studies id' restricted scope on plant and animal require- ments under controlled conditions in the labora- tory, the greenhouse, ami the Center's ponds and fields; and {■!) practical field studies on Federal refuses and other public land, and on private property where wildlife problems occur. The relations between land use and wildlife production, correlated with habitat quality, will l>e given particular attention in the research planned. New quarters for Bird and Mammal Sections Early in the year the Bird Section of the Bird and Mammal Laboratories moved to the new easl wing of the Natural History Museum. Now stored there is the combined U.S. National Museum-Biological Survey Collection of birds, and there the staffs of the two units operate in proximity and harmony and with increased efficiency. Late in 1963 construction began on a new matching west wing of the Museum. The work, immediately adjacent to the Mammal Section in the old building, will provide new quarters on the top floor of the old building where the combined mammal collection and staffs will he housed as soon as the space is ready. Machine Data Processing Unit Most of the work done at the Migratory Bird Populations Station is dependent on its Machine Data Processing Unit. The Unit plays a vital role in mail-questionnaire and wing-collection surveys, processing of banding data, preparation of reports to band reporters and banders, and preparation of tabulations of data for use in analyzing results of mail-questionnaire and wing- collection surveys and banding data. In per forming these jobs during the year, 750,000 cards wire punched and verified, and over 50 million cards were passed through the sorting machines. Nearly 3 million cards were tabulated and sum- marized. 8 Headquarters of the Woodworth Station of the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center near Jamestown, N. Dak. The laboratory is on the right, and the pumphouse and garage-service huilding are to the left. (Photo by Harvey K. Nelson) O Headquarters Site • — - Area Boundary Aerial photograph of tin. 500-acre headquarters site of the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center near Jam est own. X. Dak. The Center will serve the "pothole" country of the Dakotas and Minnesota — a part of the northern prairie characterized by the presence of many natural marshes and ponds. Much of this land, important to In-ceding water- fowl, is being converted to agricultural use. (Photo by U.S. Geological Survey I 734-563 O — 64- Iii 1963, important improvements were made in the equipment used by the Processing T'nit. An 082 card sorter was exchanged for an ,|S-"> sorter. substantially increasing t lie rate of operation. The station also exchanged the "'us interpreter, limited to only 60 cards per minute with 2 lines of print, for a 557 interpreter handling I'm cards per minute on any one of -J."> line-. Also, the tabulating and printing capacity of the T'nit was greatly increased by the exchange of the 4ns accounting machine for a 1004. This exchange increased the printing output from 150 to 360 lines per minute, and the summary punch- ing operation from •_'."> to 200 cards per minute, cutting down operating time on routine jobs by as much as 80 percent. Lastly, the L004 has the ability to make computations which should greatly expedite the work of research biologists. New laboratory at Denver Center The Denver Center has long had need for a major laboratory building designed specifically to meet the Bureau's needs for research in the West- ern States. In fiscal year 1964 the Congress alloted $50,000 to develop plans for such a facility at a contemplated cost of $600,000. It is to be constructed at the Denver Federal Center on a location that will provide for a greater consolida- tion of activities than is now possible. When completed, the Chemical-Wildlife Evaluation Laboratory, as it will be called, will provide space for much of the Center's control-methods research and similar facilities for pesticide-wildlife work. It is planned also to house t lie administrative oflices of the Outer in the new building. Control methods research facility On July is the unit concerned with bird-control research moved into new quarters at the Denver Center. The new facilities consist of a 33- by 70- foot office and laboratory building, the upper floor of which is devoted to chemical laboratories and oflices, and the lower floor to an electronic labora- tory and office. A 30- by 50-foot aviary adjoins t lie main building, and has a top floor designed for holding experimental birds and a basement for Storage and work-hop. This new facility will greatly enhance the development of techniques for alleviat ing bird damage. New pesticide laboratory equipment Procurement at the Denver ('enter of a gas chromatograph, equipped wit h an elect ron capl ure detector, will allow detection of extremely small quantities of chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides. Bear River Station improvements A Hi- by 20-foot addition to the animal quarters at the Hear River Research Station was completed and equipped during the summer of 1963. The addition is divided into two rooms of equal size, one of which is used as an insectary for the study and propagation of invertebrates suspected of being involved in naturally occurring avian botulism. The other room is used for the clean- ing and sterilization of laboratory animal cages. Two 12- by 16-foot screened, flyproof enclosures, each containing a 0- by 12-foot concrete basin, were constructed during the summer They will be used for ciilturing aquatic invertebrates and studying experimentally induced botulism out- breaks. Among the major pieces of equipment acquired by the Bear River Station were a freeze-dry unit for preserving bacteria and viruses, a large steam sterilizer for animal cages, and an electrically operated steam generator for the sterilizer. NOTABLE PUBLICATIONS One of the distinctive wildlife publications of L963 was the "grouse issue" of the Journal of Wild- life Management (vol. -27, No. 4). In this 370- page number. Bureau employees are authors of 4 of the 30-odd main articles. They are: John W. Aldrich. "Geographic Orientation of American Tetraonidae," p. 529—545. Gardiner Hump. "History and Analysis of Tetraonid Introductions into North America," p. 855 867. Paul D. Dalke (and 4 coauthors). "Ecology, Productivity, and Management of Sage Grouse in Idaho." p. 811 841. Carlton M. Herman, "Disease and Infection in the Tetraonidae," p. 850 855. Two books by Bureau employees were published in 1 DC.:;: John J. Craighead ( and t wo coauthors). . 1 Fii l <> percent greater in the Pacific Flyway, and unchanged in the At- lantic Flyway. Final figures await completion of data analyses for the several surveys employed. The species composition of the kill in L962 was indicated by the wing-collection survey, and it indicated a decrease, proportionally, in the mal- lard kill in both the Mississippi and Central Fly- 14 ways. In the Mississippi, the wood duck kill increased greatly in 1962, amounting to 15 percent of the total and ranking second only to the mal- lard with 40 percent. In contrast, the wood duck kill represented 15.3 percent of the kill in 15)63, but only 6.1 percent in 1961. The increase in the proportion of wood ducks in 1963 was probably the combined results of the liberalized wood duck bag limit and the restrictive limit on mallards. Despite a "bonus scaup" regulation, the kill of lesser scaup generally declined in all fly ways: the kill of greater scaup increased substantially in all but the Central Flyway where this species is not common. The sex composition of the mallard kill in the 1962-63 season was of special interest in view of the restrictive regulations in effect. In the Cen- tral Flyway. the sex composition of the kill in adult mallards changed from 2.5 males per female in 1961-62 to 2.8 in 1962-63. [n the southern half of the Mississippi Flyway, the sex composition of the kill increased from 2.3 to 2.7 males per female. These data suggest that, with the one-mallard limit, hunters showed slightly greater tendency to shoot drakes. For mallards in entile United States, the adult sex composition of the kill was two males per female, while that of immature birds was 1.2 males per female. Whistling swan limiting survey. — The whistling swan hunting season in Utah in 1962 was evalu- ated through a mail head-feather collection sur- vey, as well as three mail questionnaire surveys. The head-feather collection provided information on age composition, since gray feathers from im- mature birds can readily be differentiated from white feathers of older birds. It also showed that A "wing-bee' mined from survey — info 4 waterfowl ' — identifying ducks from wings mailed to the Bureau by successful hunters. Sex and age can he deter- examination of these wings. Distribution of hunters and kill likewise are obtained from the wing rmation of great value to management. In 1963. "wing-bees" were held at one location in each of the Byways, and a total of about 100.000 wings were processed. (Photo by Arnold O. Haugen) 15 well over 50 percent of the birds taken were imma- ture. A total of 313 swans were shot by the 1,000 hunters with permits. Hunters reported knocking down an additional 82 birds that were not retrieved. Ninety-six percent of the hunters expressed an interest in applying again for a permit, while 58 percent of a random sample of Utah waterfowl hunters favored a controlled swan-hunting season. Twenty-five percent of all Utah waterfowl hunters were opposed to the season. Hunters' reaction to waterfowl regulations. — To determine how waterfowl hunters react to re- strictive regulations, a questionnaire was sent to individuals who had purchased a duck stamp for 1960. They were asked their reaction to various regulations. In the Atlantic and Pacific Flyways a majority of hunters indicated a preference for the seasons in effect in 1962 rather than closed seasons. In the Mississippi and Central Flyways only 38 and 35 percent preferred the restrictive open season to a closed season. The most important finding from this survey resulted from a comparison of hunting success in 1960 of hunters who purchased and those who did not purchase duck stamps in 1961 and 1962. It was found that hunters who continued to purchase stamps each year had been approximately three times as successful in 1960 as hunters who did not continue duck-stamp purchase, indicating that the decrease in kill is not necessarily proportional to decrease in number of hunters. Kill on private versus public land. — A mail questionnaire survey was conducted in 1963 to esti- mate for each State and Flyway the relative amounts of hunting and kill on various types of public and private land. The survey indicated that the total number of hunter-days was about equal on public and private areas in all but the Central Flyway, where about 65 percent of the hunting was on private land. Slightly over 50 percent of all ducks were reportedly bagged on public areas in the two eastern Flyways, slightly over 50 percent on private areas in the two western Flyways. Private areas provided more than half the goose bag in all Flyways, whereas public areas contributed the larger share of the coot bag. Hunting success for ducks appeared slightly higher on private than on public areas in the Pa- cific Flyway, but was nearly equal in all other Flyways. Hunting success in all Flyways was higher for geese on private land, and higher for coots on public land. Species managt mi nt stuil',, .v. — Blue-winged teal, lesser scaup, and ring-necked duck banding data have been examined to evaluate the effectiveness of regulations designed to increase their harvest. For lesser scaup and immature blue-winged teal it was found that there was little relation between band recovery rates (which reflect the rate of hunting kill) and the annual mortality. For scaup, the rate of kill seems to fluctuate greatly from year to year, but this is not due to regula- tions. Apparently such factors as timing of mi- gration, variations in weather, and distribution in relation to hunter concentration are responsible for fluctuations in the kill of scaup. For blue-winged teal, there is a high mortality in immature birds not explained by differences in kill. There is relatively low shooting pressure on both lesser scaup and blue-winged teal, but for teal, at least, the kill rate is influenced by the date on which the season opens. Band recovery rates were much higher in years with early opening dates, which more nearly coincided with the migration period. Data for the ring-necked duck, considered be- cause of its great similarity to the lesser scaup, prompted proposals that this species be included with scaup as "bonus birds." It was found that the ringneck generally received about twice as much shooting pressure as lesser scaup. Also, both harvest rates and annual mortality for ringnecks are influenced by hunting and changes in hunting regulations. This indicates that, although the lesser scaup is a prime candidate for special regu- lations which increase its kill, this is not the case for the ring-necked duck. Habitat evaluation of Back Bay and Currituck Sound. — A 5-year investigation of Back Bay-Cur- rituck Sound as waterfowl habitat was terminated by the Patuxent Center in September 196.'!, about 18 months after the severe storm of March 1962 had raised the salinity to 13 percent of sea strength, and provided a unique opportunity for evaluating the effects of this change on food productivity. During the summer of 1962, water salinity re- mained above 10 percent of sea strength, and aquatic plant production exceeded that of all pre- vious years since the beginning of the study in 1958. The water was clearer, seed and tuber pro- duction increased, and multitudes of brackish- 16 a w^« ■Mi The canoe paddle marks a nest site used for 4 consecutive years by a ring-necked duck. This diving duck character- istically nests in dense emergent vegetation, especially vulnerable to severe drought. Drought brings extensive destruction of the nesting grounds of the diving-duck group, which includes also the canvasback, the redhead, and the scaups. (Photo by Howard L. Mendall) water clams, which later served as waterfowl food, were observed for the first time in the investiga- tion. Waterfowl utilization totaled 27 million waterfowl days from September 19, 1962, to Ajoril 9, 1963. This is the highest observed during the 5 years and more than twice the utilization in 1958. In the summer of 1963, Back Bay freshened to about 4 percent of sea strength — a near record- — and aquatic plant production was the worst on record. Currituck Sound, on the other hand, maintained salinities in excess of 7 percent and aquatic plant production continued to be good. Goose 'production. — Fall and winter family counts are used to determine productivity of snow geese, blue geese, and white-fronted geese, all of which nest in the far north where observation is impract ical. In 1962, about 38 percent of the con- tinental population of white-fronted geese were immature birds, and preliminary data for 1963 Nest of a black duck on an upland site. This species, the most important game duck in the East, has been studied extensively since 1937 by the Maine Unit. (Photo by Howard L. Mendall) 734-563 I i '*••»-•«-■.. ... _ - ■ » •««««■■> --«»-»_--. ..___. .-.-,. >----«--»». -..-- •» MMM - ■» M _ " " 4« * tf m •»- «~ fc • a -• - m ••«•» --*- „ " r " * ---- ■ m Ross' goose, showing the characteristic dusky patches on the head and shoulders of young of the year. From this Characteristic, productivity for the year can be determined after the birds reach their wintering ground. (Photo by John J. Lynch) indicate better than 38 percent production. In 1962, about 29 percent of the lesser snow geese were immature, and 196:5 data indicate a produc- tivity between 29 percent and 40 percent. Blue geese innnalures constituted 32 percent of the population in 1962, but preliminary data for 1963 indicate only 16 percent to 27 percent immature birds in the population. Wood duck nesting structures. — Studies on 20 impoundments at the Patuxent Center revealed that predation of wood duck boxes by raccoons, minks, and snakes was eliminated in 1963 by the installation of aluminum predator guards 9 inches wide and 38 inches long. These guards enclose the post of the nest structure longitudinally in "sandwich*' fashion. Tests of methods to discourage starlings from using wood duck houses yielded valuable results. In 1963, starlings used 37 percent of the conven- tional vertical houses but only about 4 percent of 18 the horizontal furnace-pipe boxes and none of the horizontal roofing-paper boxes. Wood ducks used 28 percent of b"> available vertical boxes, 25 percent of the ~>2 furnace-pipe boxes, and 15 per- cent of '■'>'■* roofing-paper boxes. Management of aquatic plants. - Eurasian watermilfoil has spread rapidly over many of the more protected parts of Chesapeake Bay and now occupies more than loo.OOO acres. It has also been found in Alabama. California, Indiana, New Jer- sey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsyl- vania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. This exotic milfoil grows in medium to hard water and in saline situations up to about 28 percent of sea strength, and it can exist in salinities as high as 13 percent of sea strength. In the Chesapeake Bay area, the effectiveness of •_M-D treatment at 20 and 30 pounds acid equiva- lent per acre was best when the water temperature was above 18° C, the vegetation thick enough to contain the treatment, and before the period of flowering. Preliminary studies with new com- pounds reveal that diquat, a mixture of endothal, and the potassium salt of silvex, showed promise in tidal situations. The sodium salt of fenac was not effective in tidal areas in controlling Eurasian watermilfoil. Alligatorweed is another exotic plant that de- tracts from waterfowl habitat in southeastern United States by crowding out food plants and blocking waterways. In cooperation with U.S. ^'\ - A typical 12-acre pond on the Yellowknife area. Mackenzie District. Northwest Territories. Lesser scaup commonly nest in the sedges bordering such ponds. In the Far Xorth. water tables are still relatively stable. (Photo by II. W. Murdy) Army Engineers, biologists from Patuxent tested several methods of control. They found that the iso-octyl ester of silvex is effective for a longer period of time than the potassium salt of silvex. Both formulations are effective in controlling rooted alligatorweed at rates of 20-pound acid equivalent per acre. Elicit ivc methods of control- ling floating mats have not yet been found. 1 mprovement in North Dakota waterfowl habitat. — Most potholes in three study areas in North Dakota were in good condition in the spring of 190;}, owing to an excellent winter carryover of water from the previous fall and fairly good spring snow melt. During mid-April, water levels in potholes of the more permanent type were much higher than during the corresponding periods in 1961 and 1962. Water levels of temporary or sea- sonal types also were considerably improved, with the exception of a few potholes on higher eleva- tions. Date spring and summer rainfall in 1963 was not sufficient to maintain levels and potholes dried increasingly as the season progressed. On October 15, at the end of the growing season, only 19 out of 137 ponds still contained water. Com- parable figures for 1961 and 1962 were 0 and 109. Transient waterfowl concentrated on the study areas in much larger numbers last April and May than in 1961 and 1962. Diving ducks, including redheads,' canvasbacks, and lesser scaup, were especially abundant. Unusually large populations of waterfowl were resident during late spring and Many potholes in Stutsman County. N. Dak., even large ones like this, became completely dry during the summer of 1961. In years of average precipitation, this is one of the better duck-nesting areas in the prairie pothole coun- try. Waterfowl reproduction is seriously affected as drought becomes severe. (Photo by R. E. Stewart) 19 summer. Coots showed a phenomenal increase in breeding pairs, as compared with 1961 and 1962, and the 11 species of ducks that became established were also represented by substantially greater numbers. The total waterfowl breeding population in 1963 < un-Mt'd of 592 pairs of ducks and 369 pairs of coots and may be compared with the 136 and 278 pairs of ducks and 29 and 94 pairs of coots in 1961 and 1962. Nesting success on the 3 areas in 1963, based on 53 duck nests active (containing eggs) when found, was 32 percent (17 nests), while 68 percent (36 nests) were destroyed by predators or were deserted. Raccoons appeared to be re- sponsible for most of the nest losses. A total of 183 duck broods were recorded on Stutsman County areas in 1963, a marked increase over the 116 broods in 1962 and the 40 broods in 1961. Waterfowl production improves on Far North area. — The 5-year Yellowknife study was initi- ated in 1961 and became fully operational in 1962. Located in the Mackenzie District- of the North- west Territories in a superior habitat type, the area consists of a 30-mile segment of the Mackenzie Highway and contains 15 square miles with 236 natural water areas ranging in size up to 92 acres. Field work in L963 was carried out on the tract between May 1 5 and August 24. A notable feature of the investigation was the opportunity to com- pare productivity during an extremely early sea- son with productivity during the moderately late season of 1962. The breeding population was estimated at 776 pairs, averaging 51.7 per square mile or 13 percent more than in 1962. Lesser scaup, ringnecks, and baldpates were substantially more abundant ; green- winged teals were decidedly less numerous; and there were fewer mallards. As compared with 1962, nesting began 12 days earlier for the mallard and pintail, and 3 and 4 days earlier for the bufflehead and scaup. Hatching, beginning al>out June 7, was also more advanced than in 1962, and was about as early as can be expected in the Yellowknife region. Production was recorded at 1,353 class I ducklings, or 32 percent more than in 1962. -«~** \ Waterfowl brood counts on Far North study areas sometimes requires portaging of canoes over rugged terrain, like that shown here on the Yellowknife area. Mackenzie District. Northwest Territories. (Photo by II. W. Murdy) 20 In an Iowa Unit project, clucks were counted on specified areas as they flew to and from roosts at dawn and at dusk. (Photo by Arnold O. Haugen) Rapid growth of ducklings in Arctic. — It has long been assumed that the rapid growth of duek- lings in arctic and subarctic regions accounted for the high rearing success observed under conditions induced by the short far-north summer. Actual measurements of growth differences between tem- perate and northern breeding areas has not pre- viously been accomplished. In an Alaska Cooper- ative Wildlife. Research Unit study, color-dyed canvasback ducklings were found to attain flight at -47 to 50 days, or 1 to 2 weeks earlier than in southern Manitoba; arctic-born buffleheads were flying at 40 days; lesser scaup showed growth rates comparable to those noted in South Dakota. Wood duck roost, counts. — In evaluating the use- fulness of roosting flights for determining wood duck populations, an Iowa Unit fellow concen- trated on pool 10 of the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge, where he had access to 530 pairs of nesting birds. About 35 percent nested in the 50 square miles of bottomlands and 65 percent nested off the refuge along 5 miles of tributaries or on adjacent bluffs. This pattern represented no significant change from 1962, either 21 in size of the nesting population or its distribution among major habitat types. Migration and chronology of nesting were 1 week earlier than in 1!)62. An index to annual fluctuations in the nest- ing populal ion on the refuge was based in roosting- fliglit counts at the mouths of tributaries. Factors affecting waterfowl foods in rice fields. — Ecological factors that influence the loss of waterfowl foods associated with rice culture were studied during the winter of 1962-63 by the Louisiana Unit. Emphasis was on the rate and magnitude of seed loss, the causes of loss, and the effect on viability and nutritive content of seeds exposed on the ground and under water. Under- water storage resulted in less loss in all species ex- cept domestic rice, which showed an almost total loss shortly after flooding. Red rice, signal grass, jungle rice, barnyard grass, and browntop millet showed little deterioration during 120 days of sub- mergence; signal grass, browntop millet, and smartweed showed low viability after 120 days of inundation, and birds and small mammals caused major losses of foods when the seeds were exposed on the ground. For the rice grower interested in waterfowl management, the following recommendations can be made: (1) Delay flooding of rice stubble until after the first frost to prevent rice seed deteriora- tion and germination, and (2) flood fallow fields from October 1 through March 31 to provide rest- ing and feeding areas for waterfowl. Fulvous tree duck in Louisiana. — In the 1963 breeding season, fulvous tree ducks returned to the fresh marshes of north-central Cameron Parish in Louisiana in late March and early April. Nesting had begun by late May, and the last broods were flying by November 1. Early in No- vember practically the entire tree duck population in the State concentrated on Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge and shortly thereafter departed for the wintering grounds. Aerial censuses of tree ducks on spring and fall concentration areas showed a decline in the State population. Tree duck crop depredations were serious in 1963 in only a few fields, and were limited to water-planted rice seed. Primary losses of breed- ing water fowl are apparently largely confined to deliberate actions of farmers to protect their crops. The investigation suggested the following recommendations: (1) make an annual appraisal of the tree duck population; (2) inform rice farmers of nonlethal control methods; (3) feed ducks on Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge in an effort to hold them on the refuge during periods when serious crop depredations occur; (4) clarify and publicize the legal status of tree ducks in an effort to reduce killing in summer; and (5) obtain further data necessary to the proper management of the species. Watt rfowl re/nesting mid homing. — A long-term waterfowl renesting and homing study by the Maine Unit was completed at the end of its eighth year. Results in 1963 continued to indicate that half or more of the breeding populations on the study areas consist of females that had previously nested here, the majority of surviving hens return- ing to the same small islands in succeeding years. Many important relations with respect, to cover used, laying dates, and clutch sizes have been in- dicated in the data gathered, and hold important implications for waterfowl management in the Northeast. The report is now being readied for publication. Canada goose sex ratios. — In a project recently completed by the Missouri Unit, under the direc- tion of Dr. William H. Elder of the University of Missouri, it was found that accurate age ratios of Canada geese could not be deduced by compar- ing the number of old with the number of young geese trapped at baited banding stations without taking into account the length of time the bait was available to the birds. The proportion of adults in the catches increased with the time the bait was exposed. There were no significant differ- ences in the ease of trapping male and female birds. This means that sampling birds captured in band- ing traps at random sites is not a satisfactory means of determining the success of the previous nesting season. Wood ducks prefer metal boxes. — In a 2-year study of wood duck nesting in southeastern Mis- souri, wood and metal boxes were dispersed and available in almost equal numbers. Metal boxes apparently were preferred throughout the nesting period. Despite the ducks' preference for metal boxes, losses to predators were slightly higher in them. Metal boxes also were often hotter than wooden boxes. Daytime temperatures in the wooden boxes closely paralleled the ambient tem- perature, but daytime temperatures in metal boxes usually exceeded ambient temperatures by a few degrees. 22 The Montana Unit, working with the nesting population of Canada geese in the Flathead Valley, determined the reproductive rate and population turnover for the flock over a 10-year period, and devised various methods for field study such as the neck band of colored plastic tape (left) and the weighing device (right). (Photos by John J. Craighead) Canada geese in the Flathead Valley. — Study of banded and color-marked Canada geese in the Flat- head Valley by the Montana Unit revealed that goslings exhibit a strong tendency to return to the area where hatched. None of these geese nested the first year of life, but they did pair, and some pairs defended an area. Only two-thirds of the 2-year-old geese nested, and they, too, showed a strong homing instinct. Geese 3, 4, and 5 years of age. and older tended to return to the previous year's nest site, or near vicinity, to nest. It would appear that the goose population in the Flathead Valley of Montana is largely maintained by mem- bers of the population unit returning each year to nest. Production and utilization of sago pondweed. — Sago pondweed is one of the major waterfowl food plants in the United States. It grows abundantly in the marshes of the Bear River National Wild- life Refuge. In 1962 and 1963, the Utah Unit, cooperating with the Refuge Division, sought to determine just how much sago pondweed is being produced on the Refuge, and how important it is as a waterfowl food. During the two growing seasons, numerous sam- ples were taken to determine the amount by weight, of vegetation and seed, and the number of tubers produced. In addition, soil and water salinities have been measured, water temperatures and depths recorded, and soil types observed to ascer- tain whether correlation exists between plant pro- duction and any or all of these factors. An excellent brood-production area on the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge for mallards, black ducks, blue- winged teals, and wood ducks developed by flooding a low- grade stand of young hardwoods. An evaluation of the type as waterfowl habitat is being made by the New York Unit in cooperation with the Division of Wildlife Refuges of the Bureau. (Photo by Daniel Q. Thompson) 23 In addition to productivity studies, a number of waterfowl were placed in enclosures of predeter- mined size in order to approximate summer uti- lization. Results showed that, in summer, ducks take a high percentage of the seeds produced, but their consumption of vegetative parts and of tubers was not extensive. Ecology of wetland timber impoundments. — The. New York Unit's research on plant succes- sion, waterfowl use, and waterfowl productivity on Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge lias been greatly facilitated by the development of an auto- matic sequence camera, giving photographic sur- veillance of randomly selected plots for the entire daylight period. Three such cameras were in op- eration during the late summer and early fall of 19G3 and obtained a total of 60 observation-days in this initial attempt. Minor technical problems have been encountered in the operation of the cam- eras; however, a completely transistorized circuit was developed during the winter quarter, and promises to make the camera even more useful. OTHER MIGRATORY BIRDS Migratory birds other than waterfowl of special concern to the Bureau include mourning doves, woodcock, wild pigeons, various shore birds, and sandhill and whooping cranes. The whooping crane is threatened by extinction; the other groups are of particular recreational importance. National mourning dovt breeding survey. — The breeding population of the mourning dove in the I'nited States is censused in a national cooperative effort in late May and early June each year by Bu- reau and State personnel. The data obtained are used to compute indexes to breeding populations in the three mourning dove management units. * . * *».. one of 60 "photographic plots" established by the New Jork t'nit on the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. Automatic-sequence cameras are mounted at sampling locations t<> obtain a measure of duck use at different periods of the i>r ling and rearing seasons. The camera, in the waterproofed open-end i«>x on the pole, is set to begin photographic surveillance of the plot at daylight the next morning, taking 1 picture every 15 minutes. (Photo by Daniel Q. Thompson) 24 This census is based on the number of doves heard cooing at 20 stops of 3 minutes each and 1 mile apart along permanent routes in each Slate. Analysis and interpretation of data is done by the Migratory Bird Populations Station. Since the census is made before, production of young has been completed, much effort has been given to the development of techniques that will yield data on age composition of the dove popula- tion in the fall. Attention has been focused on wing collections, which have worked successfully for other migratory game birds. Studies to date indicate that September-shot cloves, when repre- senting a sufficiently high portion of the total hunting season collection, can be used to measure the age composition of the kill. As a means of assessing the importance of hunt- ing in mourning-dove mortality, the Bureau has initiated a program of preseason and postseason dove banding. Emphasis will be on a comparison of recovery rates from birds banded before, and after the hunting season, thus estimating hunting- season loss. The program is expected to run for 3 years. Analysis of dove-banding data has permitted refinements in relating production areas to harv- est areas. Statistical tests indicate that recovery patterns of doves banded as adults are different from those of birds banded as immatures; data for young and adults are now treated separately. Similar tests indicate that direct recovery patterns of all age groups differ from indirect recovery patterns, except for adult males; therefore, except for adult males, only direct recoveries are used. Mourning dove studied in Arizona. — The mourning dove is one of Arizona's most important game birds; the State is important as both a nest- ing and a wintering area. During the last 2 years the Arizona Unit has attempted to develop better methods of determining the annual production, and has also studied the percentage, of doves killed in Arizona but hatched outside the State. Dur- ing the 2-year period 2,221 mourning doves were trapped and banded. The coo count or call count has been used to measure the number of breeding pairs in specific areas. Emphasis in the study was on refinement and improvement of this technique. Dove production in north-central Colorado. — In the four primary habitat types used by mourning doves in north-central Colorado, a quantitative measure of productivity was determined in 1962- 63 by the Colorado Unit. The four types, each The extensive mourning dove banding program of the Bureau and many State cooperators will result in clearer definition of migration routes, longevity, and population dynamics, knowledge of which is necessary to sound man- agement. The banding of nestlings has proved to be relatively rapid and economical. (Photo by Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Department) represented by a typical sample of 150 acres, were (1) urban (Fort Collins, Colo.), (2) foothills brushland, (3) irrigated farmland, and (4) short- grass high prairie. The urban type showed by far the highest pro- ductivity during the 2 years of study. Compara- tive production figures per 150 acres are given in the following tabulation. AVERAGE ANNUAL DOVE PRODUCTION IN MAJOR HABITAT TYPES OF NORTH-CENTRAL COLORADO Habitat type Number of nests Successful clutches Young fledged Youne per 100 acres Nesting pairs 245 32 11 2 138 16 6 2 236 27 11 2 157 18 7 2 115 12 5 Shortgrass high prairie 2 The urban type, during the 2-year period of 1062-63, was about 8.7 times more productive than the foothills type, 22 times more so than the farm- land type, and 28 times more, so than the short- grass prairie type. The far larger area contained in the nonurban types gives these three habitats greater significance than indicated in the tabula- tion. Mourning dove color sensitive. — Research at the Missouri Unit on the effects of head-marking penned mourning doves provided elaborations of previously published information on this subject. Removal of the female and eggs or squabs from the pen always broke the pair bond, and caused the males' rate of perch cooing to increase as much as fifteenfold. 734-563 O— 64- 25 «A*-V J' < { LV N$ :^N ^sfffci One of the most distinctive of American game birds is the woodcock. They nest in the Northeast, including south- eastern Canada, the Lake States, and elsewhere. The species' wintering grounds are in the more southern States, especially Louisiana, where unfrozen ground permits the birds to probe for the staple of their diet, angleworms. (Photo by Howard L. Mendall) Green, white, or red head marks on the female did not prevent reestablishment of the pair bond upon the return of the female to her mate, at which time the rate of perch cooing decreased rapidly. Yellow head marks on the female did prevent re- establishment of pair bonds, and the rate of perch cooing in previous mates remained high. Pair bonds were quickly re-formed when yellow head marks were removed. Significance of these findings to field studies employing color-marked birds is not yet known. Preliminary results indicate that colored back straps do not have the effects on behavior that head marking does. Mourning dove food habits in Neio York. — Study of the mourning dove by the New York Unit has centered on its food habits in Tompkins County. A total of 181 mourning doves were collected, including 103 adults and 78 juveniles. By considering the phenology of weed-seed avail- ability and crop harvesting patterns in relation to utilization of these foods by doves, the research has established significant relations in dove food habits in the Northeast. Wheat occurred in the highest frequency (44 percent), followed by fox- tail grass (36 percent), corn (27 percent), buck- wheat (20 percent), and lesser ragweed (21 per- cent ). Earlier woodcock season. — As reported a year ago, the woodcock season was advanced 10 days in the fall of 1962, to October 10, because research by the Massachusetts Unit indicated that many birds migrated through the State before the season that opened on October 20. Presumably because of this action, the woodcock harvest in Massachusetts, as shown by hunter questionnaires, almost doubled in 1962 and in 1963. Woodcock production. — As a means of measur- ing the annual woodcock production, a sample of hunters in the United States and Canada is asked each year to send woodcock wings to the Migra- tory Bird Populations Station. Hunters pro- vided 15,315 wings in 1962. Examination of the wings lias revealed both the ratio of adult to current-year birds and the sex composition of the kill. A comparison of the ratio of young per adult female indicated no change in productivity from 1961 to 1962, a conclusion supported by spring counts of breeding-population size in 1962 and 1963. The reliability of singing-ground counts is being tested in Michigan, where 126 randomly selected routes were censused in 196:5. These routes, together with regular nonrandom routes, will be covered again in 1964. With 2 years of data it will be possible to compare both numbers 26 ;» 1 1 tl change in numbers of birds recorded on the two types of routes. Results obtained in 1963 suggest that random routes provide a more accu- rate picture of woodcock abundance. A great need in woodcock management is knowl- edge of mortality rates and the extent to which one age or sex is more likely to be shot than another. An effective banding program would supply this information. Using improved trap- ping methods, personnel at Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge in Maine banded over 500 wood- cocks in the summer of 1903. Sandhill cranes in Mexico. — A sandhill crane survey initiated by the Denver Center in Mexico in 1962 was continued in January 1963. The 1962 survey was conducted in the States of Chihuahua, Durango, Sinaloa, and Sonora, and expanded in 1963 to include the States of Coahuila, Guana- juato, Puebla, and Tamaulipas. The Bustillos and Babicora valleys in the State of Chihuahua are by far the most important sand- hill crane wintering grounds in Mexico. In 1963 a total of 31,850 cranes were recorded here, as com- pared with 20,125 in 1962. In addition to small, scattered flocks found in other regions of Chi- huahua and Durango, the only other cranes ob- served were in the Carmen Marshes of Puebla. These wet lands are potentially an excellent winter- ing area for the birds but at the time of the sur- vey showed signs of a prolonged drought. Search for misxhu/ ir hooping cranes. — The dis- appearance of four whooping cranes from the Aransas Refuge and adjacent barrier islands dur- ing the winter of 1962-63 prompted an intensive aerial search that extended from Galveston to Mexico. Nearly 100 hours of flying time were de- voted to the search over a 4-week period in Febru- ary and March, 1963, and all possible habitat, both coastal and inland, was covered on four occasions without success. Repeated flights over the usual wintering grounds failed to provide any clues re- garding the fate of the missing whoopers. In addition to the four birds that disappeared from the wintering grounds, six failed to return from the breeding grounds in the fall of 1962. This, coupled with the fact that no young were produced, made the year 1962 one of the most disastrous on record for the wild population of whooping cranes. The Bureau is committed to protection of rare and threatened species of mammals, birds, and other American wildlife. Special efforts are being given to preservation of the whooping crane. (Photo by Luther C. Goldman) £? *'.-V'i f fc^i - fir' • ■ > ,, -- ft v « 1 ! «a( ,i !jsa iSBWu sai -~^: ,^-4 Wildlife habitats — tidewater to timberline, bottomland hardwood in Maryland (above) to cold-stunted Engelmann spruce in Colorado (below), 100 to 11,000 feet — are studied by Bureau ecologists in both direct and cooperative programs. (Photo by F. C. Schmid, top; Lee E. Yeager, bottom) M\. bMXLeiik di *\£' f pjftl^i^t'f1 •: 28 i ' ' ' UPLAND WILDLIFE ECOLOGY Much of the resident game of the United States, both birds and mammals, is produced on privately owned land, where wildlife management respon- sibilities are primarily those of State game and fish departments. The Bureau has clear respon- sibility for research on public lands leading to improved management of upland wildlife. An- other segment of the Bureau's responsibility in the upland area deals with wildlife affecting forest regeneration and range condition. The primary approach in this country-wide Bureau program is close cooperation with Forest and Range Experi- ment Station personnel of the U.S. Forest Service. Bureau research on farm game species is carried on principally through the Cooperative Wildlife Research Units working directly with the States. Reindeer. — A study of the reindeer herd on St. Matthew Island, in the Bering Sea, is being con- ducted by the Alaska Unit. The reindeer in- creased from 29 animals introduced in 1944 to 1,350 animals in 1957 and now number approxi- mately 6,000, an average annual increase of over 30 percent. There are now many indications of excessive stocking of the range. Yearlings de- creased from 21 percent of the population in 1957 to 14 percent in 1963. Fawn weights averaged 36 percent less than in 1957, and adults were cor- respondingly lighter. Subcutaneous fat was ab- sent in most animals examined. Lichens have been nearly eliminated from the winter range, and willows have died in some areas. Grasses and sedges showed an increase in density on winter- range study plots, at the expense of the lichens, the main winter reindeer food. A drastic reduc- tion of the population is imperative if the herd and range are to be saved. Hunter access and deer kill distribution. — The Bureau, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Serv- ice and the North Carolina Natural Resources Commission, has completed a detailed analysis of the relation between access roads and the white- tailed deer kill in North Carolina. Assigned biologists worked on the Uwharrie Wildlife Man- agement Area in the Piedmont region and on 13 game-management areas in mountainous country. Of 3,633 kills on the Uwharrie over a 3-year period, and 4,132 kills in the mountain areas over a 4-year period, the following distance-to-road data were obtained: On the Uwharrie, 40 percent of the kills were within 300 feet from the nearest road or trail; 81 percent were within 600 feet, and 99 percent were within 1,200 feet. None of the deer were killed beyond 1,800 feet from a road or trail. Of the total area 99 percent lies within 2,400 feet of driveways of some sort. In the 13 mountain areas, hunters shot 25 per- cent of the deer within 300 feet of a road, 54 per- cent within 600 feet, 83 percent within 1,200 feet, 93 percent within 1,800 feet, and 98 percent within half a mile of a road or trail. Of the total area, 98 percent lies within 2,400 feet of a roadway or trail. The Uwharrie was hunted by urban sportsmen, who were not prone to enter remote areas. In the mountains, most of the hunters were local resi- dents, more likely to work back-country range. Ecologiced characteristics of a mule deer winter range. — The ecological characteristics of a selected mule deer range in north-central Colorado was studied by the Colorado Unit during a 2-year per- iod from 1960 to 1962. The investigation was conducted in cooperation with the Colorado De- partment, of Game, Fish, and Parks, the Atomic Energy Commission, and the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. The uncorrected map acreage of the Sevenmile area is about 600 acres but when topographic con- figuration is accounted for the actual surface area is 960 acres. Shrubs and coniferous trees cover about 90 percent of the tract, and are about equally divided between the two types. About 75 percent of the surface lies between gradients of 41 and 60 percent ; 45 percent of the slopes are south facing, and 45 percent are north facing. In the winter, the mean radiation index for south-facing exposures was 37, and for north- facing exposures was 19. South-facing slopes received approximately nine times as much direct sunlight in the winter as other aspects, and were generally warmer, had less ground-surface snow, more total annual precipitation, lower relative hu- midity, and much more wind. North-facing con- iferous timber types, contrastingly, had signifi- cantly lower minimum and mean air temperatures, 29 The Romanzof Mountains of the Arctic Wildlife Range where the Alaska Unit undertook a back-pack reconnaissance of its wildlife resources in 10(52. (Photo by David R. Klein) 30 greater frequencies and longer durations of sub- zero and subfreezing temperatures, deeper ground- surface snow for longer periods, higher relative humidity, more effective precipitation, and less wind than the other exposures. Of the 600-odd deer observed during the study 73 percent were in shrub types, 13 percent in open- timber types, 11 percent in drainage areas, and 3 percent in heavy timber areas. Of the total num- ber seen, 70 percent were observed on the upper half of the exposures involved. Results of this and associated research conducted concurrently by the Colorado Game, Fish, and Parks Department have provided new and rela- tively precise information for more effective man- agement of mule deer winter range, the key prob- lem in maintaining herds of the most important big-game species in the West. Ecology of the Middle Fork mule deer winter range. — The Idaho Unit's investigation of this critical winter range on the Salmon River revealed an area of unstable soil on relatively steep slopes. Downward soil movement is caused by runoff, gravity, and big-game concentration on the area during the winter months, abetted by relatively thin density of the principal shrubs: bitterbrush, 27.7 percent; gray rabbit brush, 23.3 percent; big sagebrush, 19.3 percent; and slender eriogonum, 14.8 percent. Bitterbrush provided only 9 percent of the live perennial vegetative cover; big sage- brush, 5.4 percent; gray rabbit brush, 4.3 percent; and slender eriogonum, 4.3 percent. There are approximately 444 shrubs per acre, of which 69 are bitterbrush plants. Utilization of bitterbrush during the mild winter of 1961-62 was 56 percent of the annual growth. The inaccessibility of the critical Middle Fork range makes adequate harvests of mule deer diffi- cult. During the early part of the hunting season (September 15-Xovember 15), deer remain high and scattered in precipitous terrain and descend to lower elevations in numbers only during the third month of the season. Productivity studies for both the herd and the range have provided the Fish and Game Department and the U.S. Forest Service with basic management information. The expanding reindeer herd on St. Matthew Island in the Bering Sea provides the basis for a range-use study by the Alaska Unit. The herd has increased from 29 animals at the time of release in 1944 to 6.000 in 1963. (Photo by David R. Klein) Environmental analysis shows the way to more effective management of critical wildlife areas. The Colorado Unit, under AEC contract and in a cooperative projeel with the Colorado Game. Fish, and Parks Department, concluded a comprehensive study of a selected mule deer winter range that involved the measurement of weather, vegetational, topographic, and soil factors, correlated with deer use and behavior on the area. (Photos by Lee E. Yeager) lift-/ In range studies nn the Public Lands, the Bureau cooperates with the U.S. Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management and usually with the states involved. Here, forage production and utilization are Under measurement on heavily used elk range ill Idaho (left), and on a critical deer winter range in Utah. (Photos by Paul 1>. Dalke. left: W. L. Kobinette, right) 32 '! «' - ■■'J* :- *5 ? - * » - ' - <9vi» t . '? Aon a1 (7^tA "■/«*«. . t.Tj/* , • » W. 2X .* - m Winter food is a major factor in sustaining deer herds. The Denver Center, in cooperation with the Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, is experimenting with chemical repellents in efforts to protect newly established deer browse, in this case aspen regeneration. (Photo by Donald R. Dietz) Nutrient requirements of white-tailed deer. — Studies of calcium and phosphorus utilization in male deer, using specially designed metabolism stalls, were continued through the year by the Pennsylvania Unit. Deer were subjected to re- stricted diets and sacrificed. Bone marrow condi- tions paralleled the well-known New York studies. The sequence in utilization of various body-fat deposits appeared highly definitive as to stage of malnutrition. Microflora in the rumen apparently retained ability to digest carbohydrates much longer than proteins when deer were subjected to starvation diets for extended periods. Mainte- nance of male deer on 16-hour days through the use of artificial light, initiated June '22, 1963, has 734-563 ( thus far resulted in a general retardation in antler velvet rubout and molting of the summer pelage. Venison quality and palatability studies. — Fac- tors influencing quality and palatability of venison were studied by the Utah Unit. Washing the car- cuss after field dressing and field cooling, or not washing it, or not transporting the carcass while it retained body heat, had no appreciable effect on the quality and palatability of the deer tested. Aging was found to be beneficial in developing better flavor and greater tenderness in venison, as well as making the carcass easier to handle, cut, and wrap for storage. One week of aging gave optimum results in flavor. Meat from animals 2 years old or less was preferred to that of the older 33 animals. Meat taken during the earlier months was preferred to late season kills. The live pack- aging materials recommended for locker use, al- though showing variation in effectiveness, pre- served a good color and prevented freezer burn and weight loss. Flavor, palatability, and tender- ness of ground meat were increased by the addition of fat. Fat also contributed to a moister (juicier) product. Use of the antibiol ic A.ureomycin <>n the meat increased significantly the flavor and accepta- bility scores. Population study of bighorn sheep. — The ob- jective- of this investigation were to determine the population dynamics of Rocky .Mountain bighorn sheep on Wildhorse Island (in Flathead Lake) during the years 1959 to 1962, and to bring to- gether information on this population for a 22- year period. The work was conducted by the Montana I nit. The number of bighorn sheep on Wildhorse Is- land increased from 2 yearlings in 1939 to 6 sheep (2 rams, 3 ewes, and 1 lamb) in May of 1047, when an additional 7 (3 rams. 3 ewes, and 1 lamb) were released. The herd increased to approximately 100 animals by the summer of 1054. Counts for the 4 years 1951) to 1962 were 114. 11-2, 100, and 97. It is considered probable that almost all of the 2-year-old ewes produced lambs from initial in- troduction until the peak population was reached. Under the present condition of a stable or declin- ing population, just over 50 percent of the 2-year ewes reproduce. A minimum loss of 114 bighorns can be accounted for since 1952. The heaviest mor- tality of adult bighorns, found dead with horn sheaths intact, was estimated to have occurred dur- ing the sixth year of life in females and during the eighth year in males. The maximum life span of 17 rams (1 year old or older) found dead or dying was estimated to be 10 years. Horn growth and aging in bighorn slurp. — A study of 62 bighorn sheep by the Montana Unit showed that horn growth in rains is affected by physiological and environmental conditions, evi- dent from cessat ion and resumpl ion of growth that formed distinct rings, and the retardation of growth that formed secondary or false annuli. Examination of external and internal characteris- tics revealed that horn growth occurred over the entire surface of the bony core and not just at its base. Differential growth rates control conformity of the horn. Linear growth was greatest during the second year and became increasingly less subse- quently. Definite differences were noted in the formation of distinct annual rings and secondary or false rings. Within limitations of individual variation, the distinct annual rings (true annuli), formed at the end of growth periods, may be used as an indication of age in rams. Grizzly bear population study in Yellowstone Park. — In L963, a total of 55 bears were handled (•24 initial captures and 31 recaptures), by Mon- tant Unit personnel, raising the total number for the 5-year study to 282. Thirty-three bears were captured during 28 of 68 t rap-nights, for a success of II percent, an increase of 9 percent over 1962. The remaining 22 animals were shot with drug- filled syringe darts while free-ranging. Twenty- four bears were marked for a 5-year total of 165 different grizzlies. Eighty-seven marked bears were theoretically in the population in 1963 and 74 were observed 1 or more times. The radio-tracking system and a bioeleetronic laboratory were in full operation during 1963. Seven bears were instrumented during 1963 for a total of 13 to date. The last grizzly to receive its transmitter (No. 164) was tracked to its "hiber- nating" den on November 5. The distinctive sig- nal was first received at a distance id' about in miles. Using directional receivers, the source of the signal was located deep in wilderness country during a severe snow storm and the instrumented hear was actually ohserved entering the den. I'rrctiry. — For the sixth consecutive year the Arizona Unit and the Arizona Game and Fish Department worked together in manning the L963 javelina hunter checking stations. A total of 156 animals were handled, and data on weights, gen- eral condition, and age were collected. Aging was determined from the teeth. In addition, attention was given to the possibility of using eyelens for aging, and eyeballs were collected from dead jave- linas for the second consecutive year. Further data on javelina reproduction, rate of increase, and food and water requirements were collected from captive animals kept by the Unit. To assist in solving the difficult problem of inter- preting corpora lutea data, females are being sacrificed at known stages of the reproductive cycle. Social behavior in swamp rabbits. — A study of social behavior of confined swamp rabbits by the Missouri Unit showed that males have strong so- cial hierarchies. The penned rabbits formed 34 breeding groups, each of which hud its own dom- inant male and its females. Some males were ex- cluded from any breeding groups. Within the groups, dominant males evidently sired most or all of the young. Males of the breeding groups showed some territorial tendencies and defended areas depending upon location of the females. Wild swamp rabbits may form breeding groups of this type, and the interrupted habitat type often used by the species would be conducive to forma- tion of such groups. This is apparently the first specific delineation of a habitat preference in rela- tion to breeding habits of the swamp rabbit. Ecology of the striped skunk determined by telemetry. Five skunks were trapped and r:nli<>- equipped by the Ohio Unit in July and August of 1063. A high incidence of rabies in this species prompted an attempt to develop tracking equip- ment to study movements and behavior patterns. Radio tracking showed that skunks prefer water- way shorelines as travel lanes, but frequently use fencerows. They feed in hayfields, meadows, or pastures with short vegetation, and usually travel 0.5 to 1 mile from the densite. Movements from dens began at about 7 p.m. and the animals re- turned between 3 and 5 a.m. Four to six hours were spent in the feeding area once it was reached by casual, unhurried travel. After feeding, the instrumented skunks moved directly back to the den. Arctic fox. — In an arctic fox study by the Alaska Unit it has been found that eskimo trap- pers along the Arctic coast blame the low price of furs ($12.50 average), availability of other forms of employment, and occasional poor health, for the reduced trapping in recent years. At the village of Barrow an average of 73 traps per trapline is maintained. Traplines vary from 5 to 175 miles in length and average 63 miles; motorized over-snow Radio-tracking: of wild animals has become common, and offers a means of studying movements, range, and be- havior provided by no other technique. Montana Unit members "instrument" a grizzly bear by installing a radio transmitter attached to a neck collar (top); South Dakota Unit personnel demonstrate a radio tracking de- vice (middle) ; a striped skunk, "instrumented" by the Ohio Unit, travels through a soybean field toward feeding ground (bottom) — this animal was tracked continuously for several days. (Photos by Montana Cooperative Wild- life Research Unit, top ; Paul F. Springer, middle ; and Tony J. Peterle, bottom) 35 Trapping wildlife, alive and unharmed, for in-hand study is commonplace in Bureau programs, both direct and cooperative. A snowshoe hare just removed from livetrap hy Alaska Unit graduate student (top), and a trap being set for pine squirrel by Bureau biologist. (Photos by David R. Klein, top; Denver Wildlife Research Center, bottom) vehicles are used more frequently than dog teams to maintain traplines. Pelt studies indicate that young foxes reach primeness later than adults; a large early season catch of juveniles can therefore have a pronounced effect on the value of the an- nual harvest. F.fft et of slope on browse production.— In a tim- berstand improvement study on the Pisgah Na- tional Forest in North Carolina, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, clearings on lower slopes produced 10 times more available deer browse than those on upper slopes. Cleared areas on lower slopes produced 801 pounds of browse per acre, as compared with 5 pounds on uncut areas. The most important browse species were red oak, black gum, smilax, dogwood, red maple, black locust, sourwood, Vaccinium sp., sassafras, and white oak. Track-count plots indicated that clearings were used more than check areas during the first growing season and during critical periods. Productivity of bobwhite quail in Alabama. — This 10-year study, designed to evaluate the an- nual production of quail as related to weather or other factors, was completed in 1963. Wings were solicited from hunter cooperators, who contributed 81,749 during the period. The percentage of juvenile quail in the bag, and the fraction of the total hatch before July 1 of each year, were ascer- tained from these materials. It was clearly de- monstrated that the peak hatch for each year was correlated with the wettest part of the season. Dry periods early in the season resulted in the hatching of an above average number of young after July 1, and years of above-average rainfall resulted in an above-average percentage of young quail in the kill, the Alabama Unit reported. Fertilization improves quail habitat. — Fertiliza- tion experiments in conjunction with burning were continued on both the burned and unburned tracts studied by the Alabama Unit. Intercepts measured in September indicated the following coverage, in percent, by quail food plants: burned and fertilized area, 23.82: burned area. 13.38; fer- tilized area, 2.64; check area, 1.42. These results are considered significant and of definite manage- ment interest. Habitat components of the bobwhite quail. — This project, completed in 1963 by the Oklahoma Unit, showed that from late May until autumn the principal foods of quail were mass seeds. Of particular importance were Johnsongrass, fringe- leaf paspalum, panic grasses, and wheat ; insects 36 Habitat of bobwhite quail is being studied by the Alabama, Oklahoma, and Virginia Units, and pesticide investigations are under way at the Patuxent Center and at two research stations in Alabama. Nest in typical cover in Oklahoma (left) and a quail family in old field type in Virginia (right). (Photos by Oklahoma Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, left ; and L. G. Kesteloo, right) also were prominent in the summer diet. In win- ter, seeds remained a dietary staple, but the insect material was largely replaced by leafy foods. Of more than passing interest was the fact that when the ground is covered with snow, sumac seeds be- come important in the quail's diet. Cover used for various purposes possessed dis- tinctive characteristics. Roosting spots were typi- cally surrounded by taller herbaceous plants, usually bunchgrasses. These were of low to mod- erate density and provided little overhead canopy or obstruction. Resting places on the other hand were generally under low trees or shrubs, which did provide overhead canopy, lateral concealment, and low stem density. Cover used for escape was at least 3 feet in height and dense enough to pro- vide some concealment. Foraging and dusting were, carried out in places where stem density was low. Metirm' quail. — The Arizona Unit conducted re- search on Mearns' quail during the year, working in grassy areas of the live-oak woodland in the southeastern part of the State. In recent years very short hunting seasons on Mearns' quail have been permitted by the Arizona Game and Fish De- partment. The study has clearly shown that the quail population is not damaged in these hunts, since the bird has a high reproductive potential. Age ratios in the fall population are comparable to those in Gambel's and scaled quails. Juncos important consumers of conifer seed. — In the Northwest, the seeds of Douglas-fir and other important forest trees are staple foods for many birds and mammals. In some years forest regeneration is threatened by the loss. The juncos, small birds common to the region, are perhaps the most abundant of the seed eaters. Analyses of the gizzard contents of juncos collected seasonally 37 FALL MID-WINTER EARLY SPRING CORN STALKS iKL Kf. --* - CORN STUBBLE WHEAT STUBBLE UNDISKED WHEAT STUBBLE DISKED mm %j BARLEY STUBBLE UNDISKED OATS STUBBLE UNDISKED $Sk, Determination of the kind and quality of winter food available to wildlife is highly Important to management The Colorado Unit found that there is extreme variation in quantity of grain left in fields at this season, determined largely by cultural practice, as shown in the direct comparison above. (Photo by Wayne W. Sandfort and Harold W. Steinhoff) 38 Typical cover along dry drainage courses in the desert type of southwestern Utah. Gambel's quail find fairly suitable habitat in such cactus-yueca-greasewood stands. (Photo by Utah Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit) on the Andrews Experimental Forest of western Oregon have revealed that Douglas-fir and hem- lock seeds are most freely taken, amounting to more than 20 percent of the total diet in a 90-bird sample. The juncos displayed a strong preference for Douglas-fir seed over the seeds of hemlock and red cedar, the Denver Center reported. Problems with mult! font roxe. — Multiflora roses have been widely planted in hedgerows for wild- life food and cover and as a "living fence." About 3 miles of experimental multiflora hedge- row was established on the Patuxent Center, be- ginning in 1D4T. During ensuing years it became a nuisance in many places on the Center, owing to vigorous growth and wide dissemination of seeds by birds. Elsewhere many landowners had become bitterly disillusioned with multiflora, and State response had ranged from warnings to at- tempts at legislation to prohibit its further use. In an attempt to reevaluate the rose for wildlife purposes on agricultural land, Patuxent personnel determined that, from the original plantings, the rose had spread over much of the developed area of the Center itself. In favorable locations, it had formed impassable thickets, and it was very common along fencerows, forest edges, roadsides, ditches, an orchard, and the banks of a farm pond. In cooperation with the Agricultural Research Service, the Center has undertaken control tests with seven leading herbicides. Most of the chemicals killed the canes quickly, but some of the treated plants had started to sprout again be- fore the onset of winter. Final results cannot be evaluated until after another growing season. 39 3i Multiflora rose, good wildlife cover and effective as a hedgerow and "living-fense," is an aggressive spreader under some conditions. Its ecology and methods of control are being studied intensively at the I'atuxent Center. (Photo by F. C. Schmid) Recreational use of forest land. — The Virginia Unit studied area use in George Washington Na- tional Forest, interviewing 1,532 parties leav- ing the study area. Resultant data yielded a total- use estimate for commercial, residential, and miscellaneous categories amounting to 833,314 man-hours with a probable error of ±15 percent. Approximately 83 percent (691,837 man-hours) of this total was recreation use. Component recrea- tion uses were 233,71 1 man-hours in private camps, 182,389 man-hours on developed sites, and 275,688 man-hours on undeveloped areas, with probable errors of ±26, ±28, and ±21 percent. Hunting, sightseeing, fishing, and primitive camping were the major uses on undeveloped areas. Hunting was estimated at 140,517 man-hours, sightseeing at 54,395, fishing at 34.119, and camping at 24,285, with errors ranging from ±26 to ±47 percent. On developed sites, campgrounds received 79 per- cent of the 182,839 man-hours of use. The most important result of the study was the development, in the absence of prior knowledge of optimum sample size or allocation of effort, of a stratified random sampling design for obtaining acceptable estimates of total and component rec- reation use on large units of forest land. Foreign game introduction program. — Trial liberations of 16 species or subspecies of foreign game birds, including 5 pheasant crosses new to the United States, are currently under way in 23 40 The Foreign Game Introduction Program has required extensive travel in foreign lands, and close working relations with native peoples, in the search for birds adaptable to game-vacant regions in the United States. Francolin grouse trappers in India with tools of the trade — nets, rope for dragging net, and carrying basket (top) ; gray francolin, a game bird adaptable to cultured lands in semiarid regions (bottom left) ; and black francolin, a species apparently suitable to forests and farmlands of the humid South, in holding pen (bottom right). All species of foreign game are carefully evaluated as potential pests, and held 2 months in quarantine for assurance against disease introduction before release. (Photos by Gardiner Bump) 41 States and Guam. Twelve species or subspecies, 10 of which are pheasants, occupy farm and adja- cent brushland habitats. Six are potentially adaptable to rangelands and dry farmlands; and three are woodland species. Areas in which the releases are being made lie mainly in the east- central, southern, southwestern, and far-western States. No new game birds were obtained or recom- mended for trial in 1963. Program personnel continued to assist cooperating States in the selec- tion of release sites and evaluation of previous lib- erations. Much of their time was spent in pro- viding technical suggestions relative to product ion, on State game farms, of quality stock well condi- tioned for survival upon release in the wild. During the year, 25 States reared and liberated 23,958 birds of 19 species or subspecies, mostly to supplement previous releases. Although it is still too early to evaluate results for most species under trial, some trends are evident. Iranian pheasants, black francolin, and gray francolin have definitely demonstrated the ability to survive, reproduce, and increase sub- stantially in a number of release locations. Con- versely, Indian sandgrouse have disappeared, and Reeves pheasants are barely hanging on. Six other species are maintaining themselves in num- bers great enough to justify guarded optimism, and two others have probably failed. The Iranian black-necked pheasant, brought to the United States through the Foreign Game Introduction Program, now occurs in more than 40 counties of Virginia and in smaller numbers in several other southern and southeastern States. This pheasant appears adaptable to semihumid forest-farmland habitats where ring-necked pheasants have failed to survive. (Photo by Virginia Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries) *f J ■ ■ k '..V • PESTICIDE-WILDLIFE RELATIONS In the controversial pesticide question, the Bureau has wide responsibility for obtaining facts on the immediate and long-range effects of pesti- cides on wildlife resources. The objective of ex- tensive investigations is to assist in the develop- ment of methods and materials which will insure effective pest control with the greatest possible safety to man and wildlife. In the Bureau's con- cept, safe use requires a multiple approach in re- search: more selective chemicals; more accurate dosage; substitution, where possible, of biological or ecological methods for chemicals; use of less persistent but still effective chemicals; rigid ad- herence to prescribed directions; and, above all, thorough testing prior to release for general application. Improved methods and equipment. — In chem- istry, the Bureau's research centers have given special emphasis to the simplification of analytical methods in order to reduce the time required for determining pesticide residues in biological speci- mens. The adaptation of the gas chromatograph, employing an electronic-capture detector, to rou- tine analyses for chlorinated hydrocarbon residues shows promise of reducing cost as well as increas- ing sensitivity of pesticide detection without ex- cessive "cleanup." New facilities have been added to the laboratory at the Denver Center to aid in the. development of methods and to allow the detection of lower levels of certain materials. Such equipment includes an Atomic Scanogram II Chromatogram Scanner and a liquid scintillation counter to permit, detec- tion and measurement of extremely minute quan- tities of radioisotope-tagged pesticide materials used in translocation and metabolism studies. Limited field observation on the effects of experimental applications of Phosphamidon on wildlife was possible through cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service in tests to determine its suit- ability for the control of spruce budworm and hemlock looper. Additional joint investigations are anticipated in order to attain a mutual goal of replacement of chlorinated hydrocarbon insecti- cides with less persistent pesticides for forest insect, control. Persistent pesticides from remote areas. — Pesti- cide residues have been isolated and identified from aquatic plants and snails collected in north- ern Canadian waterfowl nesting habitat, as well as in the atmosphere in these areas. In an attempt to understand better the presence of pesticides in remote, and untreated areas, the Denver Center developed an air-sampling device consisting of a 2-inch glass tube containing a loosely packed glass- wool filter coated with mineral oil, fastened out- side the airplane. Modern and highly specialized laboratory equipment permits measurement of minutely small quantities of pesticides in animal tissues. A chemist I left ) using gas chromatograph for separation and analysis of pesticide residues, and (right! a chemist preparing thin-layer chromatography plates for pesticide analysis. (Photos by Rex G. Schmidt) 43 t'anada geis, m .'.( /' feeding test.— The feed- ing habits of Canada geese make them vulnerable to herbicide ingestion. To investigate the impacl nf one such material on the internal organs of geese, an ad-lib feeding tesl using 1,000 p.p.m. of 2,4-D sodium salt was initiated at the Denver Cen- ter. Upon examination, tissue damage in the form of progressive kidney enlargement and a general "jaundiced" appearance of the viscera was evident. Microscopic examination of tissues indicated more specific damage consisting in general "disorgani- zation" of the kidney and liver cellular structures through a fatty degeneration, round-cell and con- nective-tissue invasion, lesions and dissolution of renal tubules, arteriole wall enlargement, and glomeruli enlargement . Histologic examination of geese removed from extended treatment and placed on a "clean" con- trol diet indicated that tissue damage may be repaired. Sevin appears loir in toxicity to wildlife. — At Lost wood National Wildlife Refuge in North Dakota, Sevin, an insecticide of the carbamate group, is being field tested by the Denver Center for acute and chronic effects on wildlife. In the laboratory, this compound appears to be of low toxicity to birds and mammals and is not stable in composition, thereby reducing chronic hazard in the field. It appears promising for use on upland areas where pests such as grasshoppers must be ■ Hiit rolled with minimal danger to wildlife. Spraying of water areas should be avoided be- cause of its high toxicity to some forms of aquatic life. Pesticides and prairie grouse. — Tests with penned prairie grouse have indicated that dieldrin is highly toxic to them. The largest oral dose survived by sharptails has been 1.5 mg kg. and by prairie chickens, 10 mg/kg. Sevin, a carbamate insecticide of potential use on grouse range, has Holding pen with water and feeder used in conducting pesticide studies with wild ducks and Reese. Denver Wildlife Research Center. ( 1'hoto hy M. (!. Sheldon) 44 3S£* The effects of pesticides on game and aquatic birds are being determined under controlled conditions at Bureau research centers. Pheasants, quails, ducks, geese, sharptail grouse, gulls, and pelicans are some of the birds studied in 1963. (Photos by L. G. Kesteloo, left ; James E. Peterson, right) been found low in direct toxicity. Sharptails have survived acute doses of Sevin up to 1,500 mg/kg, and prairie chickens have survived up to 1,800 mg/kg. DDT residues in mule deer. — The accumulation and elimination rate of DDT residues or metabo- lites was determined at the Denver Center in a 2- year mule deer buck by analyzing subcutaneous fat from the rump before, during, and after ex- posure to DDT placed in the feed at a rate of 10 mg/kg/day for 10 consecutive days. Feeding of DDT began on September 27 and ended on Novem- ber 8, 1963. Fat samples ranging in amount, from 2.8 to 5.4 grams were obtained at each biopsy. Analysis of fat samples taken 3 days before the beginning of the test showed less than 0.5 p. p.m. for the aggregate of insecticide residues. Seven days after ingestion, residue levels were 27 p.p.m. for DDT and 1.6 p.p.m. for TDE. Sixteen days after conclusion of the 10-day test, residue values had increased to 58 p.p.m. and 7.3 p.p.m. respec- tively, and by November 8, about 1 month after the last DDT ingestion, they were 0.6 p.p.m. and 2.4 p.p.m., respectively, in the fat samples. On the same date, various organs showed traces of DDE, up to 12 p.p.m. of DDT, up to 1.6 p.p.m. of TDE, and up to 0.84 p.p.m of DDMU. Toxicity of organophosphate insecticides to ?)iallards. — In 1963, the Denver Center, in coopera- tion with the University of California and the Kern Mosquito Abatement District, began research on the effects on mallards of Guthion, Baytex, parathion, SD-7438, and Sumithion, at 25 p.p.m. of the diet. Eight ducks in each of six pens were offered food contaminated with one of the five insecticides. One pen served as a control. From the first week, birds on Baytex and parathion diets ate much less than those on Guthion, Sumithion, and SD-7438. The average consumption in grams per bird per day was: Control, 74; Guthion, 77; parathion, 50; Baytex, 38 ; SD-7438, 78 ; and Sumithion, 72. Birds on Baytex and parathion diets ate an aver- age of 140 grams of clean food per bird per day during the first week, indicating that they were influenced more by the repellent quality of the insecticides than by intoxication. Later, control birds consumed 46 grams of clean food per bird per day and 15 grams per bird per day of the Bay- tex diet, indicating that mallards are repelled by even small amounts of this insecticide. Individual birds continuously on Baytex diets died after 28, 32, and 35 days, and those on parathion diets died after 28, 29, and 41 days. 45 Effects of I>1>T in, bald < agU -. Studies on the effects of pesticides on eagles were continued in 1963, both by experimental studies and by deter- mination of DDT residues in eagles found dead in various places in North America. The 1961-62 feeding experiments in Alaska demonstrated that eagles can be killed by DDT, and indicated that a median lethal dose within 100 days is about Kit) p. p.m. in the diet. Residue analyses of those birds show that they are variable in their accumulation of pesticides. In 1962 -63, 16 eagles were captured along the Chilkat River, Alaska, where large numbers con- gregate to feed on spawning salmon. The birds were kept at the Experimental Fur Station, Petersburg, Alaska, and had continuous access to water and to the ground. The feeding experiments were designed to show residue gain and loss rates in wild birds. Results indicated that eagles accumulated residues when fed pesticide-contaminated food and eliminated them when fed clean food. The Patuxent Center has received 58 bald eagles found dead or incapacitated in 20 States and 2 Provinces. Autopsies showed that at least 16 (and possibly 24) had been shot : 3 were sick; the others died of unknown causes. Residue analyses have been made of at least some organs of 56 of the eagles. All but one, a bird from Alaska, con- tained detectable DDT residues. In addition, five bald eagle eggs from three unsuccessful nests in Xew Jersey and Missouri contained 24.3, 11.4, 36.9, 1.1, and 5.6 p.p.m. of DDT. These findings show that eagles in the wild have access to, and ingest, substantial quantities of DDT. This strongly suggests that a high pro- portion of bald eagles carry DDT and its metab- olites in their tissues. The existence of residues, however, does not foretell what effects, if any, they may have, either on adults or on eggs. An immature bald eagle being examined for evidence of disease and parasites. Tissue specimens will be subjected to pesticide analysis. The bird, found weak and sick on the Chippewa National Forest, Minnesota, was sent to the Patuxent Center for examination. (Photo by F. C. Schmid) 46 >; Chicken eggs at various stages of incubation are exposed to aerial application of malathion. Embroyologists at the University of California critically evaluated the effects of the insecticide on egg development and hatchability. (Photo by James O. Keith) Effect* of heptachlor on wildlife. — In studies on three similar areas of 14,000 to 20,000 acres in Georgia and Alabama, from February 1958 to March 1962, Patuxent Center determined the ef- fects of heptachlor on bobwhite quail and other animals. On two areas in Decatur County, Ga., the Plant Pest Control Division of the U.S. De- partment of Agriculture applied heptachlor by airplane, to eradicate the imported lire ant. An untreated area in Escambia County., Ala., was a control. Whistling cocks and coveys were counted along transects on the study areas. On the Georgia sample, whistling bobwhite cocks averaged 28 per 1,000 acres the year before treatment and coveys averaged 20 : on the untreated Alabama area, cocks and coveys averaged 2."» per 1,000 acres through the study period. Three years after treatment, cocks and coveys were at a lower level on parts of the sample treated with 2 pounds of heptachlor per acre than had been recorded before treatment. Whistling cocks and coveys also declined on adjoining land which remained untreated (data significant for cocks, and approached significance for coveys). This decline was attributed to movement of quail from untreated land to repopulate treated land. Pesticide residues in black duck eggs. — Black duck populations of the Atlantic Coastal Region, studied at the Patuxent centers, reached a peak during the 1954—55 fall-winter period, according to the cumulative winter survey data. Popula- tions then declined to a low in January 1958 and have increased only slightly since, despite restric- tive hunting regulations and fewer duck hunters. 47 Pesticides are applied chiefly by plane in large-scale oi*>rations. and the effects of such applications on fish and wildlife are of great interest to conservationists and wildlife management agencies. At top. biologist and pilot are reviewing flight plan to be followed in experimental spraying; and at bottom, left and right, biologists are banding or otherwise marking birds and mammals for appraising effects of the pesticide. (Photos by Ohio Cooperative Wildlife Research ('nit. top ; James O. Keith, left bottom ; and Van T. Harris, right bottom) 48 Wing surveys of the last 3 years have shown declining age ratios. In 19(10 the immature-to- adult ratio was i* : 1, in 1961 it was 1 : 7, and in 1962 it was 1 : 5. .Mortality studies indicate that a 2: 1 ratio is barely adequate to rebuild a popu- lation if it is hunted heavily. So far as deter- mined, the breeding-ground habitat has not changed drastically during this period, and cli- matic changes have not been sufficient to explain the reduced breeding success. The possible effect of pesticides on black duck populations was considered worthy of exploration. Since black ducks feed on animal life as well as plant material, they may be more susceptible to exposure to pesticides than many other species of waterfowl. During the winter, for example, they often feed avidly on worms, small clams, mussels, snails, small crabs, other crustaceans, and small fish. In an exploratory survey, three black duck eggs were collected from each of three to five nest samples in a series of representative breeding areas. Sample clutches were received from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Maine, Vermont, Massa- chusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Michigan. Eggs were opened and examined for freshness and stage of embryonic development, then prepared for chemi- cal analysis of residues. The three eggs from a single nest were pooled for a sample unless they differed in developmental stage or freshness. Analyses completed to date bj the thin-layer chromatographic technique showed DDT residues in .'id of 37 clutches taken in 8 States from Maine to Maryland, indicating a high incidence of egg contamination. Effcetx of pesticides on osprey productivity. — Ospreys studied by Patuxent have decreased in Atlantic-coast areas for several years, and con- servationists are wondering if pesticides are in- volved in the decline. Since ospreys subsist on shoal-water fish, they could be exposed regularly to toxicants through the food chain. The presence of pesticides in osprey eggs and young was shown in 190:2 by Mr. Peter Ames of the Yale Peabodv Museum, who reported DDT oi its metabolites in six eggs, one nestling, and ohm embryo. Three fish samples taken from osprey nests at Old Lyme also contained pesticide residues. The colony is declining, and reproductive success is low. A biologist checks on osprey's nest. The never-abundant osprey, a fish-eating hawk, is vulnerable to pesticides of the chlorinated hydrocarbon group which may accumulate in the water where it feeds. (Photo by F. C. Sehniid) Parallel studies were accordingly initiated in two areas, Old Lyme and the lower Potomac in Maryland, where an osprey colony apparently was thriving. Single eggs were taken from a series of nests in each locality, and the success of the remaining eggs was followed. Embryo develop- ment in the eggs collected was determined in the laboratory. Pesticide determinations for the eggs have not yet been completed. Food samples and a series of fecal samples from the nest sites were collected for analysis if pesticide residues in the eggs indicate that this is desirable. A comparison of nest histories from which eggs were taken showed that the lower Potomac nestings were more successful. Here, eggs from 17 of 26 nests hatched 27 nestlings and fledged 24 young. Eleven eggs disappeared from nests, and ?> failing 49 to hatch were later collected. In Connecticut, eggs from 2 of 15 nests hatched 4 nestlings and all fledged; 16 eggs disappeared, and 9 eggs failed to hatch and were collected. Correlations between productivity and pesticide residues in eggs and food items remain to be determined. NoncJu inicitl methods in mosquito control. — Mosquito control districts along sections of the Atlantic coast of Florida are convinced that per- manent impoundment of marshes is an effective means of controlling saltmarsh mosquitoes. Through contract with the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, the Florida State Board of Health supervised an evaluation of the effect of these impoundments on wildlife. Monthly inven- tories were made of birds using impounded and unimpounded saltmarsh study areas in Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin Counties. These counts have shown consistently about 10 times more bird use on impounded than on unimpounded marshes, and the impoundments provide more accessible open water and submerged aquatic plants and fish that serve water birds as a food supply. The necessity of mosquito control through the use of insecticides has declined mark- edly in the vicinity of the marsh impoundments. DDT in relation to towhees. — Pesticide research on the rufous-sided towhee was brought from the field into the laboratory in 1963. Studies involved the kinetics of DDT fed to captive birds at differ- ent seasons. Initial findings demonstrated that this migratory species is significantly more vulner- able to dosages of DDT just before and during the breeding season than during the fall. All data are being analyzed at the Massachusetts Unit preparatory to a final report.. Malathion S—35 distribution in a small forested watershed. — A 2-pound-per-acre Malathion S-35 treatment of a 20-acre forested watershed near Dover, Ohio, resulted in a significant change in small-mammal populations. Although bird be- havior was altered for a few days, several species continued to nest on the tract and successfully reared young. No effects were noted on the soil microfauna or on earthworms. Movement of the insecticide into runoff flow was slight. Residue studies carried out in 1963 showed no differences between animals from the treated and control watersheds. Sulfur-35 assay of mammals showed significantly higher quantities in females of all animal groups except birds. Among mammal spe- cies tested, shrews held the highest residues; in the avian fauna, a Baltimore oriole contained maxi- mum values in cmp/mg. Some of the insect fam- ilies containing high residue values included caddis flies, stone flies, soldier flies, and pseudo click beetles. The research was by the Ohio Co- operative Wildlife Research Unit. Effects of endrin on vole reproduction in blue- grass meadows. — Endrin was applied by the Ohio Unit to four bluegrass meadows in 1961 and 1962 at. rates of 0.6, 0.9, 1.3, and 2.0 pounds per acre. Populations of voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) were censused in April, before the May applica- tion. Trapping was again conducted 2 and 4 months after the insecticide treatment. Specimens were collected for bioassay of residual endrin and for analysis of productivity. Endrin applied at 0.6 pounds per acre had no apparent effect on the populations that could be trapped, but the higher rates reduced populations 71 to 95 percent. The sex ratio in the sampled population was not af- fected by the 0.6-pound-per-acre application, but at 2.0 pounds per acre there was a significantly higher decrease among females. Ovulation rates, as indicated by the number of corpora lutea and corpora albicantia, showed no differences as a re- sult of the spray treatment. Treated animals did show a lower percentage, of pregnant and nursing females, and consequently a decrease in the num- ber of litters produced. No endrin was detected in voles taken from the area treated with 0.6 pound per acre, while specimens from the 2.0 pounds per acre plot contained up to 0.73 p.p.m. ^ •-v>.W ,/ V*j-jtx 50 WILDLIFE DISEASES AND PARASITES Wild birds and mammals are subject to a wide variety of diseases and parasites, many of which show variations on hosts in different environ- ments. Study of wildlife diseases, particularly diseases of migratory birds, is an important Bu- reau responsibility. In 1963, the Disease Labora- tory at the Patuxent Center conducted research on birds and mammals; the Denver Center's dis- ease research concentrated on diseases and para- sites of waterfowl and was carried on mainly at the Bear River Substation in Utah. Widespread botulism losses reported. — It is dif- ficult to estimate the mortality to waterfowl an- nually attributable to botulism, because unob- served, undiagnosed, and unreported outbreaks undoubtedly occur each year. An apparent change in mortality from year to year may ac- tually be only a reflection of the effort, devoted to field observations, laboratory diagnosis, and re- porting. However, on the State and Federal ref- uges in northern LTtah, where regular observations have been made, estimated losses were higher in 1063 than in any of the 10 previous years. A die-off of diving ducks on Torrey Lake (South Dakota) in April was shown by toxicity tests in mice to have been caused by botulism. At almost the same time, an outbreak on Big Grass Marsh (Manitoba) was reported by the Canadian Wildlife Service. During the summer and early fall, the Lower Souris and Tide Lake National Wildlife Refuges each suffered losses in the neigh- borhood of 5,000 birds. On the Bear River Ref- uge, an estimated 30,000 aquatic birds perished from the disease. Less severe outbreaks were re- corded on Saginaw Hay, Mich., on a Richfield Oil Co. marsh near Los Angeles, and on the Fish Springs Refuge in Utah. At least 7,000 birds were believed to have been lost on Utah State refuges. Avian botulism-invertebrate relation investi- gated.— For the ninth consecutive summer, aquatic invertebrate studies were carried on by the Bear River Research Station to explore further the hypothesis that dead and decomposing carcasses of small, water-living, bottom-inhabiting crea- tures are used as media for growth and toxin pro- duction by Clostridium botulinum type C. The average number of the 2 predominant bottom- fauna types, collected weekly at 80 stations in the 0.9-square-mile study plot, are shown in the tabu- lation, along with the number of sick and dead ducks picked up each week in the same area. Weeks— June 17 to Sept. 13 1963 Organism 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Midge larvae^- 130 83 101 74 64 56 31 16 13 14 12 28 40 Oligoehaetes... 97 72 94 117 108 121 108 88 105 119 no 128 149 Sick and dead ducks 2 1 1 3 6 3 2 15 29 176 30 90 179 On the basis of previously accumulated evidence showing that certain invertebrate carcasses sup- port toxin production, and that living vertebrates can concentrate toxin by feeding on toxic bacterial cells, a reasonable explanation of the tabulation can be offered. Assuming that the decline in the numbers of midge larvae in the first 11 weeks re- presents a gradual die-off, it may be postulated that a simultaneous gradual buildup of toxin oc- curred. Because the oral lethal dose for a duck is 100,000 or more times the intraperitoneal lethal dose for a mouse, it would be expected that low- level toxin production could occur for a consider- able time before an appreciable number of birds would acquire a lethal dose in feeding. The re- latively stable oligochaete population, as well as some of the free-swimming invertebrate species (not tabulated here), may have served to concen- trate and store the toxin produced in the midge carcasses. 51 Waterfowl helminth manuscript near comple- tion.— Tim bibliography of references to water- fowl helminths was brought to current status an, I, r swan eygnets show lower mortal- ity.— Studies of the causes of mortality in trum- peter swan cygnets on the Red Rock Lakes Refuge were continued from the previous year. Of 24 cygnets in 6 broods regularly observed on Lower Lake, 8 died or were unaccounted for, a mortality of 33.3 percent. Of 19 vy•'! in 1962. This is the largest number reported since the first census was taken in 1032. Miliaria infections in watt rfowl, — Studies at the Seney National Wildlife Refuge in L963 indicated the presence of at least (i species of blackflies (S; in alia m) breeding in the area. At least 1 serves as a vector for Leucocytozoon. a malaria- like organism which occurs in the Canada geese. Breeding habits of this fly are being studied in the hope of developing control methods that can be incorporated into the management schedule for waterfowl impoundments. Gulls, found to be highly susceptible to a Plasmodium (mosquito- borne malaria) recently isolated from Canada geese, were used, along with young ducks and geese, in surveying the prevalence of this blood parasite in the Seney goose population. Evidence of infection was determined in over 50 percent of the ir^H' sampled. The specific mosquito vector of the infection is not yet known. Throat disease in mourning doves. — Surveil- lance of trichomoniasis, a throat disease of mourn- ing doves, was continued during 1963 by the collaboration of many State game personnel. Infection rates appeared higher in many areas than in previous years, but no alarming losses were reported. A definite and rapid reduction of in- cidence was noted in July. Nematodes in relation to merganser losses. — Diagnostic services of the laboratory at the Patuxent Center led to evidence that a nematode worm parasite {Eustrongylides sp.), for which fish serve as an intermediate host, was a contribut- ing factor to losses of mergansers in the Rack Ray, Ya., area. Type E botulism in birds. — At year's end a large die-off of loons and gulls on Lake Michigan indi- cated a relation to the type E botulism recently evident in processed fish. This implication has initiated research activity on type E botulism in hi rds and collaboration with other agencies, pari ie- ularly the Rureau of Commercial Fisheries and the Michigan Conservation Department. Tissue damage from pesticides. — In an effort to clarify the mechanism of certain neurological signs in experimental ducks treated with Kepone, histological sections of various tissues of the cen- tral nervous system were studied without uncover- ing any attributable lesions or changes. Active sperm formation was found in the testes of male mallards and pheasants exposed to various dosages of Kepone, thus contradicting our earlier findings in which degenerative changes in the testes of male pheasants were reported. Ring-necked pheasant. — Rlood samples from 1.1(17 pheasants from 44 Iowa game farms have been collected by the Iowa Unit Rapid plate 52 Wildlife disease specialist examining slide smears for squirrel coccidea, Patuxent Center. (Photo by F. C. Schniid) tests on 835 of these samples have shown that Iowa game-farm pheasants are remarkably free of pullorum. Reactors were found in only one flock, and infection in that flock has since been eliminated. WiU7/>fe disease surveys. — The Iowa Coopera- tive "Wildlife Research Unit worked with State officials in wildlife disease surveys in 1963. In routine checks for rabies in wild mammals brought to the Iowa State University Veterinary Diag- nostic Laboratory, 80 of 121 skunks. 1 of 2 badgers, 2 of 22 bats (Myotis or Eptesicux), 3 of 8 civet cats, 3 of 16 foxes (red or grey), and 2 of 62 rac- coons were found rabies positive. Of 211 Iowa deer checked for brucellosis to date, all were negative for the disease. Of 231 whitetails checked for leptospirosis at the National Animal Disease Laboratory, 199 were negative for antibodies of the disease. Fourteen percent (32) showed some reaction, but only 3.5 percent, in- volved Leptospira pomona. The 91 deer checked were free of Johne's disease. Gizzard worms in wintering goose population.- — The. Virginia Unit examined a total of 84 Canada geese killed on the Mattamuskeet National Wild- life, Refuge and environs for gizzard worms (Amidostomum anseris), and 73 were found in- fected. The mean number of worms per infected bird was 11.8±2.3, with a range of 1 to 148. Lesions of the cuticular lining and hemorrhagic areas on the mucosa were apparent in birds har- boring 15 or more worms. In an adult female parasitized by 148 gizzard worms, the gizzard lin- ing was extremely loose, and hemorrhagic areas !>etween the cuticular lining and mucosa were ap- parent, but no effect on the external appearance could l)e observed. 53 This white-footed mouse is typical of the rodents thai become so abundant every few years thai they endanger crops. forage, and fores! regeneration, justifying in such Instances effective and, so far as possible, selective control. (Photo by L. G. Kesteloo) 54 "Plying mousetraps" — by day and night (left, red-shouldered hawk; right, barn owl). Several Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit and other Bureau research projects have dealt with predator-prey relations. Mice are a mainstay in the food of most hawks and owls. (Photos by L. G. Kesteloo) ANIMAL CONTROL METHODS The problems of animal damage become more acute as competition between man and wild ani- mals increases, tints compounding the need for more selective and effective control measures for birds and mammals injurious to forests, crops, or rangelands, to stored goods, or otherwise inimical to human welfare or health. Many approaches to the control of such animals are being explored, including manipulation of habitat, cultural prac- tices, chemical repellents and scaring devices, drugs and lethal substances, traps, sonic and elec- tronic installations radiation, reproductive in- hibitors, and bacteriological agents. Physiology in bird control. — Physiological studies undertaken at the Denver Center will facilitate the development of safe and effective methods for controlling damage by starlings and blackbirds. An important phase of this work in- volved telemetering and recording of physiologi- cal characteristics such as circulation, heart rate, brain waves, body temperature, and respiration rate via sensors and transducers surgically im- planted in birds. Such systems permit continuous recording of physiological data from birds l>eing restrained only by cages. Information obtained in this manner will be valuable in determining the physiological basis of chemical repellency and toxicity, and for evaluating the effectiveness of mechanical and chemical control measures. New ovicide for starlings and blackbirds. — The, new candidate avicide, DRC-1339, has survived a series of laboratory and field tests with excellent results and has shown much promise as a slow- acting oral toxicant. The material is 300 to 500 times as toxic to starlings as to rats, suggesting a wide margin of safety for mammals. The chem- ical is readily accepted by starlings with fatalities occurring 6 hours to 5 days later. In initial field trials more than 100 starlings have been killed per pound of bait exposed. Research is near comple- tion on this compound, and efforts will be directed toward registration, release, and availability for use during 1964. 55 Curtain spray for control of roost ting hi ids. — A "curtain" spray unit that collects and reuses the toxicant has been constructed by biologists of the Denver Center and was tested last spring in a marsh roost near lone, Colo. The unit consists of a 37-foot tower, twin 60-foot booms and catch basins, and a sump tank and pump for circulating liquid avicides. Blackbirds and starlings herded slowly at night beneath the booms of the unit must pass through the toxic spray. Early laboratory trials showed that starlings were killed by flying through a 6-percent emulsion of DRC-632, one of the promising contact poisons notable for its high dermal toxicity for birds and low hazard for mammals. Fourth year of blackbird study completed. — The field phase of the 4th year of a 5-year study of the blackbird-corn damage problem in the vicin- ity of Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge was completed in September. As in previous years, the program w;i> a cooperative under- taking of the Bureau and the South Dakota De- partment of Game, Fish, and Parks. The program in 1963 included (1) tests ol fright-producing and soporific chemicals to protect cornfields from foraging blackbirds, (2) tests oi amplified bird distress calls broadcast from ground equipment and low-flying aircraft, (3) banding and color-marking blackbirds to determine breed- ing and wintering areas, migration routes, and extent of local movement. (4) appraisal of corn losses in a 94-section area adjoining Sand Lake Refuge, (5) evaluation of grain sorghums as pos- sible blackbird-resistant crops, (6) precise esti- mates of blackbird populations using Sand Lake Refuge during the damage period, (7) food habits, Hoards of blackbirds or starlings feeding on grain or in feed lots cause heavy losses to owners. A flock of 10.000 blackbirds can consume 2 tons of grain per week, worth $60 to $160. In such instances, selective control of over- abundant wild birds is justified. (I'hoto by Brooke Meanley) 56 Damage in the cornfield: blackbird (left), nutria (right). (Photos by F. C. Sehniid, left; Van T. Harris, right) April through September, to determine the total impact of feeding at Sand Lake, and (8) study of redwing production in the vicinity of the Refuge. Breeding redwing populations in Arkansas. — The breeding male red-winged blackbird popula- tion of the Arkansas Grand Prairie was censused in 1963. For this purpose, the area was divided into two geographical strata, an inner block where, rice culture is intensive, and an outer section where rice growing is less common. Sampling units were selected at random within each stratum : road- side units 150 yards wide, and 5 miles long (272.5 acres), and field units in the form of 10- acre circular plots. Counts of males were obtained by the modified roadside technique developed by Dr. O. II. Hewitt of Cornell University, under contract with the Bureau. Results for the entire 900-square-mile Grand Prairie were extrapolated from counts made on the stratified random samples. The breed- ing male population was estimated at 44,000 birds in 1963. Average densities were 25 territorial males per 100 acres for roadsides and 6 per 100 acres for fields. High roadside densities were at- tributable mainly to the cover types found in the commonly occurring irrigation ditches along the roads. Roadside acreage was only about one- seventh that of the fields, but contained 37 percent of the birds, 63 percent of the birds being away from the roadsides. These densities suggest that efforts to control redwings of the Grand Prairie should be concentrated in the wetland habitat associated with ditches and reservoirs. Scare derives. — Crop growers have spent an esti- mated $1 million to $2 million a year on scare devices without obtaining clear information on their value or effectiveness in protecting fields from bird loss. In tests in northern Ohio, an auto- matic exploder and a recorded alarm cry reduced damage substantially for a radius of 600 feet in each case. The tests further showed that neither of the devices decreased in their effective- ness during the test period. 57 •1 - Preparation of equipment to transmit the amplified distress calls of blackbirds. This method often is effective in protecting crops from flocks of depredating birds. (Photo by Paul P. Springer) Decoy trap for blackbirds and starlings. — Re- search personnel are using decoy traps extensively and successfully to take blackbirds and starlings for banding, for disease and physiology studies, and for testing chemosterilant and lethal agents. The traps are also being evaluated as a means of re- ducing local populations of depredating black- birds and starlings. In 40 decoy traps of 2 designs used by Bureau personnel in the Arkansas rice area, over 53,500 birds were taken. Most (98 percent) were cow- birds. Good trapping success in some areas prompted many growers to build and operate similar traps. One farmer reported taking 10,000 birds in 1 trap in less than 2 months; another caught (1,000 in 3 traps in 3 weeks. Many other examples of trapping success can be cited. Bird bcharior studicx ini plnnrnted hi/ band- ing.— During 1963, over 71,000 blackbirds and starlings were banded in selected areas by biolo- gists and cooperators of the Bureau's Patuxent Center, 82 percent more than were banded in 1962. The increase was due mainly to more extensive use of light traps and decoy traps, both devices newly developed for capturing large numbers of black- birds. Over 50 percent of the 71,000 bandings were cowbirds, 20 percent were red- winged black- birds. 20 percent were common graekles, and about 10 percent were starlings. About 2,800 redwing nestlings were banded by 175 cooperators in 40 States and 7 Provinces in 1963. Nestlings banded since 1958 now number 12,000 birds of known age and place of origin. Most of the banding was in the Middle Atlantic Slates (5.500), or the States adjoining Lake Mich- igan (2,500). The interest and efforts of cooper- ating banders in many States are contributing substantially to the blackbird banding effort. 58 Sudan dye for tagging birds. — A physiological tagging technique for identifying birds that feed on candidate chemosterilants has been developed by i he Massachusetts Wildlife Unit. .Sudan Black B dye, when ingested by adult birds just before or during the egg-laying period, is depos- ited in the yolk in discreet layers. The position and color intensity of the layer in the yolk indi- cates the quantity consumed and the date of in- gestion. The most important application of the tagging technique is its use as an experimental control in field testing candidate chemosterilants with large numbers of birds without capture and with a minimum of disturbance in the breeding colonies. (hill populations in southeastern New Eng- land. — A recent winter gull census by the Massa- chusetts Audubon Society, under contract with the Bureau, showed that feeding sites around met ropolitan Boston and Xew York City harbored about 80,000 of approximately 110,01)1) gulls be- tween Grand Manan, New Brunswick, and central New Jersey. About 20,000 of the remaining 30,000 birds were at dumps near smaller towns. Only about lO,ooo gulls were found along the shore in what might he considered the "natural" habitat for herring gulls. A comprehensive report on this contract showed that in 1900 the breeding population of herring gulls in Xew England numbered about 8,150 pairs, all nesting on islands east of Penobscot Bay, Maine. In 1961, the population was estimated at 58,000 pairs, more than half of which nested in Massachusetts. Continued increase in numbers has been associated with the founding of new colonies. Observations of gull concentrations at feeding areas such as dumps and fish piers indicated the Decoy traps liberally baited with waste grain and set adjacent to cornfields may take large numbers of depredating blackbirds. This farmer-built model, costing a few dollars, proved effective in Arkansas. (Photo by Brooke Meanlev 59 birds respond rapidly to changes in available food. The closure of dumps and improvement of sani- tation at fish-handling facilities resulted in markedlj lower gull numbers. Quite clearly. effective biological control of herring gulls must depend on reduction in the amount of food avail- able at metropolitan dumps, piggeries, sewage outlets, and open-air fish processing sites. Seagull -problem, at naval air station n lu ved. — The distress call of an immature herring gull was used by Denver Center personnel to frighten gulls from runways at Mollett Naval Air Station, Moun- tain View, Calif. The call was broadcast from a loudspeaker mounted on top of a truck driven, with sound on, toward cadi group of gulls resting on runways. At the call the gulls quickly arose, circled the truck, and flew away. Some 2,000 to 3,000 birds were driven away during a 45-niinute period each morning during the test period of No- vember 16 to 21, clearly demonstrating the effec- tiveness of the method. Bird hazard survey at Washington National A irport. — Ornithologists of the Audubon Natural- ist Society of the Central Atlantic States, under contract with the Bureau to study the bird-hazard problem at Washington National Airport, ob- served bird species, numbers, and movements on or near the airport between dawn and dusk about once a week since October 1962. At least 143 species of birds were observed on, over, or near the airport. The greatest number was seen during spring and fall migrations. Con- sidered potentially hazardous to aircraft were 23 species in the fall, 35 in the spring, and 8 species from May through July. Herring, ring-billed, and laughing gulls were the most abundant and constituted the greatest hazard to aircraft landing and taking off. Of lesser importance were shore- birds, swallows, swifts, crows, starlings, black- birds, pigeons, mourning doves, and horned larks. Evidence was obtained of at least nine bird-plane strikes in 1963. Five of the strikes occurred in April and 1 each in May, June, September, and October. System developed for rating chemicals. — There has long been a need for a better method of rating the hundreds of chemicals that are screened an- nually by Bureau laboratories for animal damage control. Both lethal agents and repellents are being sought, but these terms are not well defined and some compounds may qualify in both cate- gories. Denver Center biologists recently developed a rating system that more accurately defines the toxic and repellent qualities of chemicals under study. The system incorporates three functions: ( 1 ) The lethal dose of the compound: (2) accept- ance in relation to lethal dose: and (3) mortality in the test species. A rating of 5, 10, and 100, respectively, for the 3 functions — written 5-10- 100 — would indicate a highly toxic compound (5 mg/kg) that is well accepted (10 times a lethal dose) and extremely effective ( 100 percent mortal- ity). At tin' other extreme, a compound with a rat ing of 1,000-0.05-0 would be one that is practi- cally nontoxic (1,000 mg/kg), poorly accepted ( o.o5 times a lethal dose), and has no lethal effect on test animals (0 mortality). Such a compound would be an excellent repellent. Antifertility, agents have promise in predator control. — The first field trial of an antifertility agent in coyote control has been carried out by the Denver Center. In March, 5,000 drop baits con- taining a synthetic estrogen, DRO-629, were used in a 20-township area in southeastern New Mexico. The baits were placed when coyote sign was evi- dent, and were spaced over the area so as to reach as many of the animals as possible. An appraisal of the study was determined by collecting female coyotes in April and May. Ex- amination of 27 animals from the treated area and 21 from the untreated area indicated that only 21 percent of the females on the former would have whelped, and that 100 percent of those on the latter would have reproduced. It can be concluded at least tentatively that in the first comprehensive field test the antifertility agent reduced the coyote crop on the treated area by 80 percent. Compound S-6999 shows specificity for com- m* nsal ruts. — Based on toxicological investigations by McNeil Laboratories, Fort Washington, Pa.. compound S 6999 appears to have specific toxicity for commensal rats. Its high toxicity to Norway rats (LD 50 percent 7.4 mg/kg (4.76-11.69) is in contrast to its toxicity for laboratory mice, which is in the range of 2.000 to 3,000 mg/kg. Because of the highly specific nature of com- pound S 6999, the Denver Center supervised a total of 134 separate field trials during 1963 to determine the optimum practical concentration, suitable bait ingredients, and pattern of action when exposed for rat control. Trials involved both Norway and roof rats. 60 The chemical nets rapidly and death can occur within 1 hour after ingestion; animals apparently run for cover at the onset of symptoms, and few reappear. Compound S-6999 appears to be prac- tically nonhazardous to animals other than rats when exposed in a bait at a concentration of 1 per- cent or less. No accidental poisoning of any wild or domestic animal occurred in any of the 134 field trials, although in a few instances baits were known to have been consumed by dogs, cats, hogs, and chickens. Registration of DRC-71!, as n the geographical variations of birds and mammals and provide a wide scope of services to the general public concerning the fauna of the Continent. Other major responsibilities involve preparing and maintaining the extensive study collections, identification services to coop- erators and scientists throughout the country and in foreign lands, and much in the way of extension education to many of the large number of people who visit the Museum and the Smithsonian Institution. North American Mammal Collections:. — In No- vember 1963, an account of the status of mammal collections in North America appeared in the Journal of Mammalogy. This represents the re- sults of a survey made by a committee in 1962, and follows similar surveys made in 1923 and 1945. Tabulated are 265 public and 45 private collec- tions, totalling 1,586,000 specimens. Most collec- tions are in the United States: Canada has 25, Costa Rica one, and Mexico one. There are 29 collections that have more than 5,000 specimens. Of these the largest is the combined U.S. National Museum-Biological Survey Collection of mam- mals (.",(i.'pjinii) ; runners-up are the American Mu- seum of Natural History, New York (200,000), the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the Univer- sity of California, Berkeley (130,000), and the Museum of Zoology at the I 'niversity of Michigan, Ann Arbor ( 107,000). Bird inn/ mammal xpecitnrns handled. — Cura- torial work at the Bird and Mammal Laboratories during 1963 is summarized as follows: specimens received, 1,006 birds, 3,502 mammals; specimens installed in collections, 389 birds, 782 mammals; specimens loaned for study, 347 birds, 751 mam- mals; study skins or skeletons prepared, 205 birds, 2G mammals; identifications for outside submis- sions, 283 birds, 82 mammals. Specimens carded totaled 19,920 birds, and birds merged into collections numbered 11,550. Sea otter studies. — Preparation of the mono- graph on sea otters continued, with completion of sections on food habits and feeding behavior, tag- ging studies, field studies during 1954-63, list of identification characteristics, and bibliography. Progress was made on a comprehensive study of the female reproductive tract, done with the Uni- versity of Missouri. Field work was limited to observations on Buldir Island. Sea otter studies will be continued in 1964. Wild turkey monograph. — The monograph on the wild turkey sponsored by the Wildlife Society will contain two chapters by one of the Bureau's specialists in ornithology. The first, chapter 1, "Historical background," was completed, ap- proved, and sent to the editor of Wildlife Mono- graphs. Chapter 2, ''Taxonomy, distribution, and present status,"1 was completed in draft except for statistical verification of size and proportion differences in the various races of turkeys, which is under way. Preparation of bat hand hie/ manual. — The in- creased interest in bats because of their involve- ment with disease stimulated bat banding during the year. Since 1953 the number of bands issued has increased about 2,000 percent, and has become so great that a procedural guide has become a ne- cessity. Approximately 50 letters have been sent to zoologists, primarily those actively engaged in or supervising bat studies, announcing the pro- posed manual and requesting suggestions which would make the publication as accurate atid in- formal ive as possible. Geographic variation in Canada geese. — The wintering flock of Canada geese at Rochester, Minn., numbering about 5,000 birds, was studied in the Held, and specimens were preserved from large numbers caught in cannon nets for banding. Many others were handled and colors were com- pared with a color chart. The birds appeared to represent populations of the giant Canada goose and Todd's Canada goose, as well as intermediates between these and western and lesser Canada geese. This mixture of racial types would be ex- pected in this locality. 62 Precise identification of wild birds and mammals requires exacting measurements and comparisons, and detailed knowledge of structure, dentation, plumage, and other physical characteristics of the animals involved. ( Photos by Rex G. Schmidt) 63 Breeding specimens of Canada geese from Saskatchewan and Alberta were received for the collection from the Canadian Wildlife Service, which aided materially in clarifying the manner of intergradation between the western and gianl subspecies across t lie northern Grreal Plains. Breeding specimens were also received from Thelon River, Northwest Territories, which will be valuable in filling a gap in the present knowl- edge of variation in that important area. Methods of determining sex of /■rums. — In co- operation with the National Zoological Park, six lesser sandhill cranes were shipped from the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge for use in develop- ing an instrument to aid in sexing cranes. With the instrument devised, the following cranes were sezed: IS live birds at Philadelphia Zoo: P5 live birds at the National Zoo; 39 hunter-killed and 2 live lesser sandhills at Roswell, N. Mex. ; 10 live lesser sandhills and 25 greaters held in captivity at Monte Vista, Colo.; 5 live greaters at Santa Fe, N. Mex. ; (> live cranes at the San Antonio Zoo (one of these was a whooping crane) ; and 3 live greater sandhills at the New Orleans Zoo. Even though the technique and instruments used in sexing cranes are not fully perfected, much progress has been made. Taxonomic review of the woodpeckers. — There has been no taxonomic review of the American woodpeckers in the past century. A review was undertaken last year and is being conducted jointly with an ornithologist at the University of Illinois. A survey of the literature on woodpeck- ers is essentially complete, and examination of specimens of each genus has begun. The work is expected to continue during 1964. Variation and hybridization in flickers. — Study of flickers was initiated in 1955 and has progressed to the point where the work consists largely in summarizing and applying statistical tests to the data, and preparing manuscripts and drawings for publication. A major manuscript (260 pages) dealing with hybridization in flickers has been pre- pared and submitted for publication. Summariz- ing of data on about 1,000 specimens (and involving about 30 characters for each) will con- tinue during the coming year. /■'/hi,, i ict nee studies. — The hairs of many mam- mals in Trinidad were examined for pathogenic fungi such as ringworm, which fluoresce when activated by longwave (3660A.U.) ultraviolet light. The fur, teeth, and nails of certain live and freshly dead mammals, especially bats, also were found to fluoresce in varying colors and intensities. The excellent collections at the National Museum afforded opportunity to continue these investigations. Random examinations of a num- ber of diverse mammals and birds were made, us- ing both longwave and shortwave ultraviolet lamps of the Division of Mineralogy, National Museum. Further checks were made of various substances used in skin preparation, such as arsenic, alum, borax, and salt, to rule out some obvious variables. A brief survey of a large series of rats, taken over many years by different collectors in both Old and New World localities, showed that both Rattus nit tus and A', norvegicus fluoresced a brilliant green-blue, while members of the R. rajah group of the Malaysian region, failed to react under black light. Of special interest was one specimen, assigned to R. rattus, which failed to fluoresce: on careful examination it was found to represent a different genus, probably Mastomys. Among the pocket gophers, Geomys fluoresced while Thomomys did not. Of the bats, Myotis subulatus fluoresced but .1/. luoifugus, M. keeni, and .1/. sodalis did not. Similar species of African gerbils were more easily distinguished under ultra- violet light than under ordinary electric illumina- tion. A cursory examination of some typical bird groups indicated that some owls and nighthawks reacted to black light. In particular, the down feathers of certain great horned owls fluoresced variously from a fiery blood red to shades of vivid orange. This study suggests that the technique may be a useful taxonomic tool. The extent of its useful- ness can be determined only after a systematic examination of tin1 study collections, necessarily a long-term project. Required will be special longwave light equipment, probably of a portable type. The possible ramifications of such studies, even if practical in only a relatively few critical cases, are considered startling. The Mammals of Maryland. — The first draft of the project report is nearing completion. Fifty- live of the 62 land mammals occurring in Mary- land have been studied and their distribution within the State mapped. Each species or sub- species is discussed with reference to the following categories: Taxonomy, type locality, general dis- tribution, distribution in Maryland, distinguish- ing characteristics, measurements (cranial and 64 external), habitat and habits, specimens examined, and remarks. It is expected thai the first draft of the manuscript will be completed in early 1964, and that by the end of the year it will lie sub- mitted in final form for publication. Walrus stmlirs. — Under an agreement with the U.S. Public Health Service, various sections of a manuscript on the Pacific walrus were completed and reviewed by Bureau personnel. It is expected that the walrus manuscript will he completed in the spring of L964. M \^ V ". -*Xs^v COOPERATIVE WILDLIFE RESEARCH UNITS The nationwide Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit program, active in 18 States, is in its 29th year. Objectives of the program are to (1) con- duct research basic to the management of wildlife resources. (2) facilitate the training of wildlife personnel at the college level, (3) provide, techni- cal assistance to conservation agencies in their wildlife management problems, and (4) promote education through demonstration, lecture, and publication. Each Unil is supported by the cooperating State'-. Land Grant University and Game and Fish Department, by the Wildlife Management In-titute. and by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. All of the Units have additional fund sources, and most Units have projects specifi- cally financed by granting agencies. Each Unil is administered by a Coordinating Committee in- cluding representatives of the University, the Game and Fish Department, and the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. A new Unit was activated in 1963 at South Dakota State University, Brookings, the L8th in the system. Result:- of research completed during the year are reported under applicable program activities of the Bureau. The 18 Pints and Unit leaders are listed in appendix I), and the 1-"..") publications for the year are listed in appendix F. Wildlifi graduates at Unit schools. — Since the inception of the Unit program in 1935, a total of 4,083 students have graduated from universities where Cooperative Wildlife Research Units are located. This number includes 2,906 with bache- lors' degrees, 1,019 with masters' degrees, and 158 with doctoral degrees. During the school year of 1962-63, the following received wildlife degrees from the Unit schools: Bachelors, 162 ; masters, 50 ; doctors, 21 ; total, 233. About 72 percent of the recipients of advanced de- grees received financial aid or equipment from the Units. Employment of 1962-63 graduates— The 233 wildlife graduates from Unit schools in 1962-63 were absorbed into the wildlife profession, except for 18 entering military service and 25 of non- wildlife or unknown employment. Wildlife em- ployment thus claimed 89 percent of the bachelors' graduates, 98 percent of the masters' graduates, and 100 percent of the doctoral graduates. Wild- life employment was distributed as follows: State and Provincial conservation or game and fish de- partments. 42: Federal conservation agencies, 38; teaching (wildlife, and related). 11: and with private agencies or as individual operators, 6. 65 ro CD CD o CD c o > O CD O c o M c o en O T3 c CD Q. O- Id to cc X ui z o tO u. i 1 J "- J B t/] o z 3 UJ 1- Q 4 ( i cc —t ° ^ O < o. 3 UJ o 55 z < > < UJ UJ < a 5 < or CD 4 h t- o - o ui 2 o ^ 5 I UJ °5 _J cc u. in -i rr UJQ ° C o 5 => -i < < UJ 2 rr o ID CD 3 o CD . UJ * UJ N) IL 1- _J a UJ => rr < UJ o. z o u. O 3 UJ in Q cc o ^ Z < I to UJ 10 55 u. o 1 > X l- o _J 5 uj (/) JZ u. o uj 3 2 e a z O D Q rr o _i ■ a i -1 h S a: h- uj cc K < z l- u a: d < <. UJ > < m i Q rr - m in to (0 u. Z> < u. < O UJ " £ 5 d. c I 5 2| ^ — ® o o c - o S- g c * * e m £ O D 5 5oo »".2 O > o o i c ° Migratory Bird Populations Station Patuxenl Center Laurel, Md H c « s c o c • „ 2 ■TOO < CO c • S © o 2 >■ -i « O ^ O 3 -1 W c o TJ 5 CO o — to > (A o i to C ' yj a> i o a> £ • i c u. n o => o to o ■ r i 1-1 e ^^ 3 3 to to Patuxent Wildlife Reseorch Center Laurel , Md - c o ° * o l°! to ■ c C O l0 c c o • ^ TJ < « O -O O 3 to 0 ^ 1 in e 3 _ a> O ti8 c S °- „?s C c o o O 5 * to r> ^ c ° Is* (A C c n o ° "^ O O Ul o u. 3 > — D S3S L a 5 Kl D 2< Li Cfl c o « ° 5 „ te{j o nQ a ®(0 CO 66 * _ x o - 5 r 0 1$ i z 'm V i i)Q: v. -. UJ c_> < I o ir < UJ CO UJ cc UJ U. _J Q / - 1 IL J a 1 * a ' 1 L / , T^Trl : in / s2 •-s ^fl-** / II ■$/ tr.1 ■" \M-0_ < / / ~*tV / BLm. /' ' — i ——•-_' — f * - ' / S / / -J / 4/ w . \ - " & ' — -or ^^ ALASKA (REGION 1) 1 0 ' a o < < 67 Appendix C— FUNDS AVAILABLE , Budget for fiscal ytar— Appropriated b unds mi mi 1963 mi Waterfowl management $322,000 $439,000 $543,000 $698,000 r migratory bird research— . 259,300 314,000 322,000 351,000 Upland wildlife. 150,000 199,000 207,000 213 371,000 423,000 548,000 662,000 3es-parasi1 146,500 167,000 172,000 377, 500 Contr 358,000 393,000 660,000 1,042,500 sification, distribution, and life history.,. 144,000 111,000 148,000 154,500 ,perative Wildlife Research Unite. 186,500 221,000 254,000 260,000 Total, research projects 1,943,300 2,300,000 2,854,000 3,758,500 Managen at Wildlife Researcl 89,000 157,000 157,000 179,1 introduction program 52, 'Jill 53,000 S00 55,000 700,000 120,000 509,000 579,500 Total 2,785,240 2,630,000 3,573,800 4,572,000 Funds From Other Sources Federal Aviation Agency 100,000 200,000 190,000 Army Corps of Engineers 12,000 13,750 11,600 7,000 Private contributions 9,400 2,100 Quartern] era! 17,000 15,000 20,000 20,000 Bureau of Land Management 4,000 4,000 4,000 U.S. Forest Service 5,000 5,000 5,000 Grand total 2,932,640 2,869,850 3,804,400 4,599,000 ' £ 68 Appendix D— OFFICES AND RESPONSIBLE PERSONNEL, DIVISION OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH Central Office Carlson, ('. Edward Chief of Division 1 Department of the Interior Coutts. James M Asst. Chief of Division. | Washington 25, D.C. Staff Specialists Aldrich, Dr. John \Y Classification and Dis- U.S. National Museum tribution. Dale, Dr. Fred H Upland Ecology Interior Building Dykstra, Walter W Pesticides- Animal Con- Interior Building trol. Erickson, Dr. Ray C Wetland Ecology Interior Building Harris. Dr. Van T Editor Interior Building Heath, Robert G Biometrician Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Md. Yeager, Dr. Lee E Head, Cooperative Wild- Interior Building life Research Units. Bird and Mammal Laboratories — U.S. National Museum Manville, Dr. Richard H Director of Laboratories. U.S. National Museum Kenyon, Karl W Field Biologist, Marine Marine Mammal Substation, Sand Point Mammals NAS, Seattle, Wash. Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Leaders Baker, Dr. Maurice F Leader Alabama Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Auburn University Auburn, Ala. Basket t, Dr. Thomas S Leader Missouri Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit University of Missouri Columbia, Mo. Craighead, Dr. John L Leader Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Montana State University Missoula, Mont. Dalke, Dr. Paul D Leader Idaho Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit University of Idaho Moscow, Idaho Glover, Dr. Fred A Leader Colorado Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colo. Haugen, Dr. Arnold O Leader Iowa Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Iowa State Univeristy Ames, Iowa Klein, Dr. David R Leader Alaska Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit University of Alaska College, Alaska Lindzey, Dr. James S Leader Pennsylvania Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Forestry Building Pennsylvania State University University Park, Pa. 69 Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Leaders Low, Dr. Jessop B. Leader McGinnes, Dr. Burd S Leader. Mendall, Howard L Leader. Newsom, John D Leader. Peterle, Dr. Tony J Leader l. Springer, Dr. Paul F Leader. Sheldon, Dr. William G Leader. Sowls, Dr. Lyle K Leader. Stebler, Dr. Adolph M Leader. Thompson, Dr. Daniel Q Leader. -Continued Utah Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Utah State University Logan, Utah Virginia Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Virginia Polytechnic Institute Blacksburg, Va. Maine Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit University of Maine Orono, Maine Louisiana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit School of Forestry Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, La. Ohio Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit The Ohio State University 1735 Neil Ave. Columbus, Ohio South Dakota Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit South Dakota State College College Station, Brookings, S. Dak. Massachusetts Cooperative Wildlife Re- search Unit University of Massachusetts Amherst, Mass. Arizona Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit University of Arizona Tucson, Ariz. Oklahoma Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit 408 Life Sciences Building Oklahoma State University Stillwater, Okla. New York Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Fernow Hall Cornell University Ithaca, N.Y. Denver Wildlife Research Center Williams, Cecil S Director Welch, Jack F Assistant Director. Building 45 Denver Federal Center Denver, Colo. Senior Scientists in Charge of Field Stations Jensen, Wayne I Bacteriologist Post Office Box 603 Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge Brigham City, Utah Stoudt, Jerome H Biologist _. Van Slyke Building 116K South Main St. Aberdeen, S. Dak. 1 Resigned Dec. 31, 1963; became Acting Leader on Jan. 1, 19H. pending appointment ot a Leader. 70 Dodge, Dr. Wendell E Biologist 210 East Union Ave. Olympia, Wash. Evans, James Biologist Nutria Control Station Houma, La. Goodrum, Phil D Biologist 814 Sarah Ann St. Nacogdoches, Tex. Gashwiler, Jay S Biologist 323 Extension Hall Oregon State College Corvallis, Oreg. Halvorson, Curtis H Biologist c/o Forest Experiment Station Federal Building Missoula, Mont. Zajanc, Adolph Biologist Field Station Administration University of California Davis, Calif. Krefting, Laurits W Biologist 204 Green Hall University of Minnesota St. Paul, Minn. Reid, Vincent H Biologist 206 Forestry Building Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colo. Royall, Willis C, Jr Biologist Post Office Box 1006 Mesa, Ariz. Stewart, Robert E Biologist 118 3d Ave. NE. Jamestown, N. Dak. Webb, Edward L Biologist Arizona State University Tempe, Ariz. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Nelson, Harvey K Director General Delivery Jamestown, N. Dak. Migratory Bird Populations Station Crissey, Walter F_. Director 1 Laurel Md Geis, Dr. Aelred D Assistant Director J Senior Scientist in Charge of Field Station Blankenship, Dr. Lytle H._, Biologist Arizona Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit University of Arizona Tucson, Ariz. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Dustman, Dr. Eugene H Director Laurel, Md. Senior Scientists in Charge of Field Stations Lynch, John J Biologist Box 477 University of Southwestern Louisiana Lafayette, La. Spencer, Henry J Biologist 3700 East University Ave (Post Office Box 131) Gainesville, Fla. Johnson, Frank M Biologist c/o Southeast Forest Experiment Station U.S. Forest Service Asheville, N. C. 71 Senior Scientists in Charge of Field Stations— Continued Linehan, John T Biologist Agricultural Building University of Delaware Newark, Del. Rosene, Walter, Jr Biologist Room 304-5 Post Office Building Gadsden, Ala. Sharp, Dr. Ward M Biologist Post Office Box S09 Northeast Fores! Experiment Station U.S. Forest Service Warren, Pa. Appendix E— LIST OF PUBLICATIONS, JANUARY 1-DECEMBER 31, 1963 [•Authors affiliated with two or more stations; publications listed under the affiliation of each author] Central Office Al.iiitli ii. .Inn \ \V. 1963. Geographic orientation of American Tetraonidae. Journal of Wildlife Management, vol. 27. no. 4. p. 529 545 1963. Population systematica in bird conservation. Proc lings of the 13th International Ornithological Congress, vol. 2, p. 819 830. 1963. Status of the whooping crane and conservation efforts. .Modern Game Breeding, vol. 33, no. 1, p. 14-10. 1963. (Review of) The migration of birds, by Jean Dorst Atlantic .Naturalist, vol. 18, no. 4. p. 254-256. Bumf, Gardiner. 1963. History and analysis of Tetraonidae introduc- tions into North America. Journal of Wildlife Man- agement, vol. 27. no. 4. i>. 855-867. ♦Bureau op Sport Fisheries and Wildlife 1963. Wildlife research : problems, programs, progress. Division of Wildlife Research. Circular 166. 66 p. Dale, Fred H. 1963. (Review of) Birds and woods, by W. B. Yapp. Atlantic Naturalist, vol. IS. no. 4. p. 265-266. Erickson, Ray C. 1!"',::, nil pollution and migratory birds. Atlantic Nat- uralist, vol. 18, no. 1, p. r>-14. George, John L. 1963. Nuisance birds is control possible? National Agricultural Chemical Association News and Pesticide Review, vol. 21, no. 5, p. 6-7. 1963. (Review of) Whose woods are these: the story of the National Forests, by Michael Fromc. Double- day and Company, Inc., Garden City, N.v. American Midland Naturalist, vol. 69, no. 2, p, 511 512. 1963. (Review of) Conservation in the United States. by R. M. llighsmith. J. (J. Jensen, and R. D. Hudd. Atlantic Naturalist, vol. Is. no. 4. p. 260 262. Leedy. Daniel L. 1963. (Review of) The relationship of the Peary and Barren Ground Caribou, by T. H. Manning. American Institute of Biological Scientists, vol. 13. no. 1. p. 43. Bird and Mammal Laboratories Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. llM-.'i. Fur catch in the United Suites. 1962. Wildlife Leaflet 452. 4 p. 1963. Big game inventory for 1962. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Wildlife Leaflet no. 4.">4. p. 1—1 (processed). Burleigh, Thomas D. 1963. Geographic variation in the cedar waxwing (Bombycilla Cedrorum). Proceedings of the Biologi- cal Society of Washington, vol. 70, p. 177-180. Greenhall, Authur M. 1963. A bamboo mongoose trap. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. Wildlife Leaflet ii". 453, p. 1-1. 1963. Use of mist nets and strychnine for vampire con- trol in Trinidad. Journal of Mammalogy, vol. 44, no. 3, p. 396-399. Grei n HALL, A. M., f.t al. 1963. Tacaribe virus, a new agent isolated from Arti- betlS bats .-ind mosquitoes in Trinidad. West Indies. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, vol. 12. no. 1. p. C40-646. Ke.nyon, Karl W. 1963. Recovery of a fur bearer — coveted pelt caused sea otter decimation. Natural History, vol. 72, no. 9. p. 12-21. 1963. Further observations of whooper swans in the Aleutian Islands. Alaska. Auk, vol. SO. no. 4. p. ."HO- 542. 1963. (Review of I Fauna of the Aleutian Islands and Alaska Peninsula, by (>. Murie and V. P.. Schcffer. Journal of Wildlife Management, vol. 27. no. 2. p. 306. 72 Kenton, K. W., and Clifford II. Fiscxrs. 1903. Age determination in the Hawaiian monk seal. Journal of Mammalogy, vol. 44. no. 2, p. 280 282. MANVILLE, RICHARD H. 1963. Altitude record for mallard. Wilson Bulletin, vol. 75, no. I, p. 92. 1963. (Review) of) International Zoo Yearbook, by Jarvis and Morris. Journal of Mammalogy, vol. 4 1. no. 2, p. 286-287. 1963. Dental anomalies in North American lynx. Zeitschrift fur Saugetierkunde (Berlin), vol. 28, no. 3, p. 166-H Ml. 1903. Accidental mortality in bats. Mammalia (Paris), vol. 27. no. 3, p. 301-366. 1903. Articles on caenolestid, dingo, elephant, and nu- tria. Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th ed. Chicago. Paradiso, John L. 1963. The type locality of Tatnias striatus fisheri. Journal of Mammalogy, vol. 44, no. 4. p. 579-580. Scheffer. V. B., and K. W. Kenyon. 196;?. Baculum size in pinnipeds. Zeitschrift fiir Saugetierkunde (Berlin), vol. 28, no. 1, p. 38— tl. 1963. Elephant seal in Puget Sound, Wash. Murrelet. vol. 44. no. 2. p. 23-24. Short, Lester L., Jr. 190.!. Hybridization in the wood warblers Vermivora pinus and V. chrysoptera. Proceedings of the 13th International Ornithological Congress, vol. 1. p. 147- 160. 1963. (Review of) Birds and woods, by W. B. Yapp. Ecology, vol. 44, no. 4. p. 829. Reid, Vincent II. 190.;. Trends in small rodent atid rabbit populations. In Hydrologic and biotic characteristics of grazed and ungrazed watersheds of I he Badger Wash Basin in western Colorado. 19."..". 5s. Geological Survey Water- Supply Paper 1532 It. p. B70 B72. ROBINETTE, W. L. 1903. Weights of some of the larger ma lals Of North- ern Rhodesia. The I'uku, The Occasional Papers of the Department of Game and Fisheries, Northern Rhodesia, no. 1. p .207 '-'15. Stephenson, G. K., P. I). Goodrum, and R. L. Packard. 1903. Small rodents as consumers of pine seed in Easl Texas uplands. Journal of Forestry, vol. 01. no. 7. p. 523-526. Ward, A. Lorin, and James O. Keith. 1903. Feeding habits of pocket gophers on mountain grasslands. Black Mesa. Colo. Ecology, vol. 43, p. 744-749. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Nelson, Harvey K. 1963. Restoration of breeding Canada goose (locks in the North Central states. Transactions of the 28th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Con- ference, p. 133-150. Denver Wildlife Research Center Farm Journal. 191'..:. Watch for this bird. September issue, p. 44-T. (Condensation by editor of article by John W. De Grazio. ) Fini.ey. R. 15., Jr., and R. E. Pillmore. 1963. Conversion of DDT to I)I)I> in animal tissue. American Institute of Biological Sciences Bulletin, vol. 13. no. 3. p. 41-11'. Keith. James ().. and Eldridge .. I). E. Ems, and John I.. Si.ncock. 1963. A survey of fungi associated with lesioned and chlorotic sago pondweed {Potamoaeton pectinatus). Plant Disease Reporter, vol. 47. no. 7, p. 689-693. Lynch. John J., CHARLES D. EVANS, and V. ('. Conover. 1!)63. Inventory of waterfowl environments of prairie Canada. Transactions 28th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, p. 9S-108. Mi ani.ey. Brooke. 1963. Nesting ecology and habits of the dickcissel on the Arkansas Grand Prairie. Wilson Bulletin, vol. 75. no. 3. p. 280. 1963. Prenestlng activity of the purple gallinule near Savannah, Ga. The Auk, vol. 80, no. 4. p. 545-547. Mean-ley, Brooke, and John S. Webb. 1963. Nesting ecology and reproductive rate of the red-winged blackbird in tidal marshes of the upper Chesapeake Hay region. Chesapeake Science, vol. 4, no. 2, p. 90-1 ( HI. Mitchell, Robert T. 1963. The floodlight trap — :1 device for capturing large numbers of blackbirds and starlings at roosts. Bu- reau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. Special Scien- tific Report : Wildlife no. 77, p. 1-14. Ripley, Thomas H., Frank M. Johnson, and William H. Moore. 1963. A modification of the line intercept method of sampling understory vegetation. Journal of Range Management, vol. 10. no. 1. p. 9-11. Rosi HE, WALTER J., and Daniel W. Lay. 1963. Disappearance and visibility of quail remains. The Journal of Wildlife Management, vol. 27, no. 1, p. 139 142. Schmid, Frederick C. 1963. Record longevity of a wild red-shouldered hawk. Bird Handing, vol. 3 I, no. 3, p. 160. SEUBEBT, John I,. 1963, Research on methods of trapping the red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus). Angewandte Orni- thologie, Hand 1. Heft 3 I. p. 163-170. Sharp, Ward M. 1963. The effects of habitat manipulation and forest succession on ruffed grouse. The Journal of Wild life Management, vol. 27, no. 4, p. 664-671. •Springer, Paul F. 1963. Fish and wildlife aspects of chemical mosquito control. Proceedings, Fifteenth Annual Meeting New Jersey Mosquito Extermination Association and Nineteenth Annual Meeting American Mosquito Con- trol Association. Atlantic City. N.J., March 12-15, 1963, p. 194-206. l!Hi3. Wildlife management concepts compatible with mosquito suppression. Proceedings of the Conference for C -dinated Program on Wildlife Management and Mosquito Suppression, Yosemite National l'ark. Calif., October 15-18, 1962, p. 31^39. Si ii ms, John H. 1963. Relation of screening to field testing in develop- ment of plant control methods. Proceedings North- eastern Weed Control Conference, vol. 17. p. 439-442. Sikenis, John H.. and Vernon D. Stotts. 1963. Abstract — Progress report on distribution and control of Eurasian watcrniilfoil in the Chesapeake Ray Region. 1962. Proceedings of the Southern Weed Conference, vol. It;, p. 341-342. Stewart, Paul A. 1963. Abnormalities among brown-headed cowbirds trapped in Alabama. Bird-Banding, vol. 34. no. 4. p. 199-21 LV Migratory Bird Populations Station Wildlife publications Conawat, C. N.. H. M. Wight, and K. C. Sadler. 1963. Annual production by a cottontail population. Journal of Wildlife Management, vol. 27, no. 2 p. 171- 193. Crisset, Walter F. 1963. The Northeastern States as a separate water- fowl management unit. Proceedings of the North- eastern Wildlife Conference. Portland, Maine. April 14-17. p. 1-11. Geis, Aelred I >. 1963. Role of hunting regulations in migratory bird management. Transactions of tlie 28th North Ameri- can Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference. p. 167-172. Geis. Aelred D., and RICHARD D. Tabeb. 1963. Measuring hunting and other mortality. In Wildlife Investigational Techniques, The Wildlife Society, second edition, p. 2s 1 298. Kacvynski, ChardeS F., and WILLIAM II. Kiel, Jr. 1963. Rand loss by nestling mourning doves. Journal of Wildlife Management, vol. 27. no. 1. p. 271-279. Martin. Fant W. 1963. Woodcock status report— 1963. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Special Scientific Report : Wildlife no. 76, p. 1-43. 74 R0BBIN8, ('HANDLER S. 1963. The seasons — October, November, December, 1962. Maryland Birdlife, vol. 19, no. 4. p. 109. 1963. The seasons — January, February, March, 1963. Maryland Birdlife, vol. 19, no. 2, p. 29 53. 196.'!. The seasons — April, May. June, 1963. Maryland Birdlife. vol. 19, no. 3, p. 68-77. 1963. The seasons — July, August, September, 1963. Maryland Birdlife, vol. 19, no. 4. p. 98-107. l!Mi3. Second record of clay-colored sparrow in Mary- land. Maryland Birdlife. vol. 19, no. 1, p. 16-21. To m i.i n son, Roy E. 1963. A method for drive-trapping dusky grouse. Journal of Wildlife Management, vol. 27, no. 4, p. 563- 566. Wight, Howard M. 196:5. Mourning dove status report — 1963. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Serial Scientific He- port : Wildlife no. 73, p. 1-34. Administrative reports Staff, Migratory Bird Populations Station, and Ver- non D. Stotts. 1963. Roost trapping of wood ducks. Administrative Report no. 15, Migratory Bird Populations Station, p. 1-2. Staff, Migratory Bird Populations Station. ' 1963. Relationship between length of season and num- ber of duck stamps sold. Administrative Report no. 16, Migratory Bird Populations Station, p. 1-8. WIGHT, Howard M. 1963. A preliminary report on mourning dove recov- ery rates in relation to hunting regulations. Admin- istrative Report no. 17, Migratory Bird Populations Station, p 1—4. Geis, Aelred D., Robert I. Smith, and Stephen V. Goddard. 1963. Blue-winged teal band recovery and annual mor- tality rates. Administrative Report no. 18, Migra- tory Bird Populations Station, p. 1-11. Wight. Howard M. 1963. The role of pre- and post-season banding in mourning dove research. Administrative Report no. 19, p. 1-18. Smith. Robert I. 1963. Lesser scaup and ring-necked duck shooting pressure and mortality rates. Administrative Re- port no. 20. p. 1-18. Smith, Robert I., Stephen V. Goddard, and Aelred D. Geis. 1903. Analysis of some wood duck bandings and re- port on the 1962 wood duck banding program. Ad- ministrative Report no. 21, Migratory Bird Popula- tions Station, p. 1-25. Geis, Aelred D., and Robert I. Smith. 1003. Recovery rates from 1962 pre-hunting season bandings of mallards and black ducks. Administra- tive Report no. 22. p. 1-18. Heath, Robert G. 1903. Waterfowl harvest ami hunter activity in the United States during the 1982 hunting season. Ad- ministrative Report no. 23, Migratory Bird Popula- tions Station, p. 1-19. 1963. Analysis of Utah's 1962 controlled whistling swan season. Administrative Report no. 24, Migra- tory Bird Populations Station, p. 1 8. Heath, Robert (i., and M. Edwin R0SA8C0. 1963. National survey of waterfowl hunting on various types of land ownership. Administrative Report no. 25, Migratory Bird Populations Station, p. 1-34. 1963. Hunter opinion survey of restrictive duck hunt- ing regulations. Administrative Report no. 26, Mi- gratory Bird Populations Station, p. 1-23. Geis, Aelred D., and Samuel M. Carney. 1963. Age ratios of ducks killed during the 1962 hunt- ing season compared to those during prior years. Administrative Report no. 27, Migratory Bird Popu- lations Station, p. 1-9. Smith, Robert I. 1963. Estimate of the number of wood ducks in the 1961 and 1002 pre-hunting season populations of the Mississippi and Atlantic Plyways. Administrative Report no. 28, Migratory Bird Populations Station, p. 1-4. Carney, Samuel M. 1963. Effect of the change in the daily bag limit in 1962 on the wood duck kill in the Mississippi Fly- way. Administrative Report no. 29, Migratory Bird Populations Station, p. 1-3. Carney, Samuel M., and Aelbed D. Geis. 1003. Occurrence of scaup and ring-necked duck as "Bonus Scaup" during the 1962 season. Adminis- trative Report no. 30, Migratory Bird Populations Station, p. 1-6. 1903. Mallard sex ratios in the 1962 hunting kill. Ad- ministrative Report no. 31, Migratory Bird Popula- tions Station, p. 1-6. Carney, Samuel M., and Alfred J. Godin. 1963. Comparison between the 1961 and 1962 species composition of the kill by flyways. Administrative Report no. 32, Migratory Bird Populations Station, p. 1-2. Carney. Samuel M. 1963. Decreases in the duck kill that might be antici- pated due to reductions in the daily bag limit. Ad- ministrative Report no. 33. Migratory Bird Popula- tions Station, p. 1-9. Carney, Samuel M., M. Edwin Rosasco, and Robert P. Shanahan. 1963. Increases in the total duck and mallard kill that might be anticipated due to increases in the daily bag limit. Administrative Report no. 34. Migratory Bird Populations Station, p. 1-10. Geis. Aelred D., M. Edwin Rosasco, and Samuel M. Carney. 1003. Extent of the change in waterfowl kill and hunting activity between the 1961 and 1962 hunting seasons. Administrative Report no. 35, Migratory Bird Populations Station, p. 1-5. 75 Smith, Robert I. L963. A summary of Information relating to wood duck populations and harvest Administrative Report no. 36, Migratory Bird Populations Station, i>. 1-4. Staff, Migrator? Bibd Populations Station. 1963. Hunting success in relation to consistency of hunter purchase of duck stamps. Administrative Re- port do. '■'■'. Migratory Bird Populations Station, p. 1-2. Godix. Alfred J., and Samuel m. Carney. 1963. Comparisons between hunters' reports and spy- Idind observations during the 1961-62 and 1962-63 hunting seasons Administrative Report no. 38, Mi- gratory Bird Populations Station, p. 1-10. Martin, Fant W. 1963. Effect of regulations on size of the woodcock kill. Administrative Report no. 39, Migratory Bird Popu- lations Station, p. 1-5. Cooperative Wildlife Research Units ALABAMA Wildlife publication Baker, M. P. 1963. New fire ant bait. Research, vol. 10, no. 2, Highlights of Agricultural p. 16. ALASKA Wildlife publications COURTRIGHT, A. M. 1963. Range management and the genus Rangifer: A review of selected literature. University of Alaska, M. S. thesis, p. 1-172. Dean, P. C. I'm;.',. (Review of) A naturalist in Alaska by Adolph Murie. Journal of Wildlife Management, vol. 27, no. 2. p. 308-310. Roberts, II. A. 1963. Aspects of the life history and food habits of rock and willow ptarmigan. University of Alaska. M. S. thesis, p. 1-108. ARIZONA Wildlife publications Brown. W. H, J. W. Stull, and I.. K. Sowls. 1963. Chemical composition of the milk fat of the col- lard peccary. Journal of Mammalogy, vol. 44, no. 1, p. 112-113. Simmons, N. M., S. Levy, and J. Levy. I'm;.?. Observation of desert bighorn sheep lambing. Kofa Game Range, Arizona. Journal of .Mammalogy, vol. 44, no. 3, p. 433. Sow is, L. K. 1963. Life in the desert. Audubon Nature Bulletin Series 31, no. 2. p. 1-6. 1962. Life in freshwater marshes. Audubon Nature Bulletin Series 30, no. 2, p. 1-6. Sowls, L. K., and P. S. Minnamon. 1963. Glass heads for marking home ranges for mam- mals. Journal of Wildlife Management, vol. 27, no. 2, p. 299 302. Fishery publications Gerdes, J. II., and W. J. McConnell. 1963. Food habits and spawning of the thread-tin shad in a small, desert Impoundment Arizona Academy of Science, vol. 2. no. 3, p. 113-116. McConnell, W. J. 1963. Primary productivity and fish harvest in a small desert impoundment. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, vol. 92. no. 1, p. 1-12. COLORADO Wildlife publications Evans, K. E., and D. L. Gilbert. 1963. Grouse of the grasslands. Colorado Outdoors, vol. 12. no. 6, p. 15-18. Loveless, C M., J. Coffelt, D. E. Medin, and L. E. Yeager. 1963. A photoelectric-cell device for use in wildlife research. AIBS Bulletin, vol. 14, p. 55-57. Martin, W. E., and D. L. Gilbert. 1963. Field wildlife studies in Colorado. Second Edi- tion, Colorado State University, p. 1-79. Roughton, R. D. 1962. A review of literature on dendrochronology and age determination of woody plants. Colorado De- partment of Game. Fish and Parks, Technical Bulle- tin no. 15, p. 1-99. Ryder, R. A. 1963. White i>elicans. Colorado Outdoors, vol. 12, no. 6, p. 14-19. Sandfort, W. 1963. We can have more pheasants. Colorado Out- doors, vol. 12. no. 3, p. 1-6. Short, H. L. 1963. Rumen fermentations and energy relationships in white-tailed deer. Journal of Wildlife Manage- ment, vol. 27, no. 2. p. 184-195. Wagar, J. V. K. 1963. History and problems of the Poudre Canyon. The Wildlife Society, Central Mountains and Plains Section, Transactions, Seventh Annual Summer Con- ference, vol. 7, p. 1. (Abstract) 1963. The deterioration of recreation under intensive use. The Wildlife Society. Central Mountains and Plains Section. Transactions. Sixth Annual Summer Conference, vol. 6, p. 20. (Abstract) 1963. In such manner and by such means. U.S. Na- tional Park Service. Midwest Region Superintend- ents' Conference Transactions, p. 125-138. 1963. Should we hunt in the National Parks? Colo- rado Outdoors, vol. 12. no. 2, p. 28-30. 1963. Chapter S: Parks and recreational development. In Careers in conservation — opportunities in natural resources. Edited by Henry Clepper for the Natural Resources Council of America. Ronald Press, New York, p. 141-153. 76 IEAGER, L. E. 1963. Marten. Colorado Outdoors, vol. 12, no. 1, in- Side front cover. YEAGER, L. 10.. and A. D. Coleman. 1963. A profile of the marten. Colorado Outdoors, vol. 12. no. 1, p. 1-5. Ieager, I,. !•:.. C. M. Loveless, and II. L. Short. 1963. Effects of the environment on a wild deer popu- lation—A base for radioecological studies. U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Offsite Ecology Research, Division of Biology and Medicine: TID-1335* (1st rev.), p. 11-15 (processed). IDAHO Wildlife publication Dalke. P. D., D. B. Pyrah. D. C. Stanton. J. E. Craw- ford, and E. F. Schlatterer. 1903. Ecology, productivity and management of sage grouse in Idaho. Journal of Wildlife Management, vol.27, no. 4. p. 811-841. IOWA Wildlife publications Andrews, R. D. i:m;:s. Evaluation of tests for pullorum and Newcastle disease with wholeblood samples collected on seri- odiscs. Avian Diseases, vol. 7, no. 2. p. 193-196. Andrews, R. D., A. O. Hat/gen, and L. Y. Quinn. 1963. Antibodies of pullorum and Newcastle disease virus in pheasants. Journal of Wildlife Manage- ment, vol. 27, no. 2. p. 220-224. Errington, P. L. 1963. The pricelessness of untampered nature. Jour- nal of Wildlife Management, vol. 27, no. 2. p. 313-320. 1963. The phenomenon of predation. American Scien- tist, vol. 51. no. 2, p. 180-192. 1903. Muskrat populations. Iowa State University Press, p. 1-665. Errington, P. L.. R. J. Siglin. and R. C. Clark. 1963. The decline of a muskrat population. Journal of Wildlife Management, vol. 27, no. 1. p. 1-8. Haugen, A. O. 1963. Man and conservation. Iowa Waltonian, vol. 5, no. 3. p. 2. 1963. An improved technique for preserving deer uteri. Journal of Wildlife Management, vol. 27, no. 1, p. 142-143. Haugen, A. <>.. and D. L. Trauger. 1963. ovarian analysis for data on corpora lutea changes in whitetailed deer. Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, vol. 69, p. 231-238. Klimstra, W. D., P. A. Vohs, Jr., and J. D. Cherry. 1903. Strip-mined lands for recreation. Illinois Wild- life, vol. 18, no. 4, p. 6-8. Moorman. R. B. 1963. Why not crop your farm pond ! Iowa Farm Science, vol. 10. no. 6, p. 3-5. Roslien, D. J., P. L. Fore, and A. O. Haugen. 1963. HI 1 parasites in relation to pheasants and quail in Iowa. Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, vol. 69, p. 239-244. VOHS, P. A., Jr., and 1). BlRKENHOLZ. 1963. Response of bobwhite quail to management of some Illinois strip-mined lands. Transactions of the Illinois Academy of Science, vol. 55, no. 1, p. 13-19. Weller, M. W. 1963. Resolution of respect : Paul L. Errington, 1902- L962. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America, vol. 44. no. 2, p. 55-58. Weller. M. W., and L. H. Fredrickson. 1963. Small mammal prey of some owls wintering in Iowa. Iowa State Journal of Science, vol. 38, no. 2, p. 151-160. Wright, V., and P. Otte. 1963. A central Iowa pheasant nesting study, 1961. Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, vol. 69, p. 252-259. Fishery publications Buchholz, M. M. and K. D. Carlander. 1963. Failure of yellow bass, Roccus mississippiensis, to form annuli. Transactions, American Fisheries Society, vol. 92. no. 4, p. 384-400. Carlander, K. D. 1963. Editor's Foreword. (In Symposium on fresh- water fishery problems in Europe.) Transactions of American Fisheries Society, vol. 92, no. 3, p. 258. 1963. An age record for tagged walleye. Iowa Conser- vationist, vol. 22, no. 5, p. 34. Carlander, K. D. 1963. Chapter 4 : Fisheries. In Careers in Conserva- tion— Opportunities in Natural Resources. Edited by Henry Clepper for the Natural Resources Council of America. The Ronald Press. New York, p. 37-50. 1963. Yellow bass comeback at Clear Lake? Iowa Conservationist, vol. 22, p. 44—45. Carlander K. D.. R. S. Campbell and W. I. Irwin. 1963. Chapter 11 : Mid-continent States. In Limnology in North America. Edited by David G. Frey. Uni- versity of Wisconsin Press, Madison, p. 317-348. Dinsmore, J. J. 1962. Life history of the creek chub, with emphasis on growth. Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Sci- ence, vol. 69. p. 296-301. New.. R. A. 1963. Black and white crappies in Clear Lake, 1950- 1961. Iowa State Journal of Science, vol. 37. no. 4, p. 425-445. Small. L. F. 1963. Effect of wind on the distribution of chlorophyll a in Clear Lake, Iowa. Limnology and Oceanogra- phy, vol. 8, no. 4, p. 426-432. Welker, B. D. 1963. Summer food habits of yellow bass and black bullheads in Clear Lake. Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, vol. 69, p. 266-295. 77 MAINE Wildlife publication* Haktman. F. E. 1963. Estuarine winter habitat for black docks. Jour- nal of Wildlife Management, vol. 27, no. 3, p. 33!>- 347. Moulton, J. C. 1963. Notes on the small mammals of the Weskeag River Region, Knox County. Maine. Maine Field Naturalist, vol. 19, no. 5, p. 67-70. Robinson. YV. L. 1963. Winter record of the American coot in Maine. Maine Field Naturalist, vol. 19, no. 5, p. 71. MASSACHUSETTS Wildlife publications Hester, A. E. 1963. A plastic wins tag for individual identification of passerine birds. Bird-Banding, vol. 34, no. 4, p. 213-217. Wentworth. B. ('.. and W. J. Mei.len. 1963. Egg product ion and fertility following various methods of insemination in Japanese quail I Coturnii coturnix japonica). Journal of Reproduction Fer- tility, no. 6, p. 215-220. MISSOURI Wildlife publications Chambers, G. D. 1963. Corn a staple food of doves wintering in north- ern Missouri. Journal of Wildlife Management, vol. 27, no. 3, p. 486-488. Elder, W. H. 1963. Game management (section under heading "Wildlife Conservation"). Encyclopedia Britannica (1963 edition), p. 601c-601d. 1963. (Review of) The waterfowl of the world, by Jean Delacour. Journal of Wildlife Management, vol. 27. no. 1. p. 116-147. FitANKEL. A. I., and T. S. Baskett. 1963. Color marking disrupts pair bonds of captive mourning doves. Journal of Wildlife Management, vol. 27. no. 1. p. 124-127. Holler, N. R.. T. S. Baskett, and J. 1*. Rogers. 1963. Reproduction in confined swamp rabbits. Jour- nal of Wildlife Management, vol. 27. no. 2. p. 179-183. Korschgen, L. J., and T. S. Basket). 1963. Foods of impoundment- and stream-dwelling bullfrogs in Missouri. Ilerpetologica, vol. 19. no. 2, p. 89-99. Fishery publications Cablandeb, K. I).. R. s. Campbell, and W. II. Irwin. 1963. Chapter 11 : Mid-continent States. In Limnology in North America. Edited by David G Frey. I'ni- vcrsity of Wisconsin Press. Madison, p. 317-348. Carufel, L. H., and A. Witt. Jr. 1963. Range extension of the gizzard shad. Dnrosnma cepedianiini. into North Dakota. Copeia, no. 1, p. 178. HANSON, W. I) . and R. S. Campbell. 1963. The effects of pool size and beaver activity on distribution and abundance of warm-water tishes in a north Missouri stream. American Midland Naturalist, vol. 69, no. 1, p. 136-149. Poole, R. i... i>. R. Ejeusteb, and A. Witt, Jr. 1963. The status of spearfishing and the use of SCUBA in lish management programs in the fresh- waters of the United States. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, vol. 92, no. 1, p. 30-33. MONTANA II ildlifp publications Craighead, F. C. Jr.. J. J. Craighead and R. S. Davies. 1963. Radio-tracking of grizzly bears. In Bio-Telem- etry. Pergamon Press, p. 133-148. Craighead, F. C, Jr., and R. J. Davies. 1963. A field guide to Rocky Mountain wildflowers. Peterson Field Cuide Series, Houghton-Mifflin Com- pany, p. 1-277. Forrester. D. J., and C. M. Senger. 1963. Bighorns and lungworm. Monftuia Wildlife i April i. p. 2-7. 1963. Effect of temperature and humidity on survival of first stage Protostronoylus stUesi larvae. Experi- mental Parasitology, vol. 13, no. 2, p. 83-89. Forrester, D. J„ and R. S. Hoffman. 1963. Growth and behavior of a captive bighorn ram. Journal of Mammalogy, vol. 44, no. 1, p. 116-118. Pengelly, W. L. 1963. The art of social conservation. Naturalist (Fall), Minnesota Natural History Society, vol. 14, no. 3, p. 4-15. 1963. Timberlands and deer in the northern Rockies. Journal of Forestry, vol. 61, no. 10, p. 734-740. Wright, P. L. 1963. Chapter 6: Variations in reproductive cycles in North American mustelids. In Delayed Implanta- tion. Edited by Allen C. Enders, University of Chi- cago Press, p. 77-97. NEW YORK Wildlife publications Cash. N. A., and O. II. Hewitt. 1963. Nesting and productivity of the redwinged black- bird in relation to habitat. The Living Bird. Second Annual of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, p. 7-20. Erickson, II. R. 19(13. Reproduction, growth, and movement of musk- rats Inhabiting small water areas in New York State. New York Fish and Game Journal, vol. 10, p. 90- 117. Hewitt, O. H. 1968. Development of a road-side count method of census of breeding red-winged blackbirds, Agelauit phoenicuis. Angewandte Ornithology, vol. 2, no. 1, p. 123-1211. 1963. Counting grouse in the Arnot Forest. Cornell Plantations, vol. 18, no. 4, p. 59-61. 78 Saunders, J. K., Jr. 1963. Food habits of the lynx in Newfoundland. Jour- nal of wildlife Management, vol. 27, no. 3, p. 384-390. 1963. Movements and activities of the lynx in New- foundland. Journal of Wildlife Management, vol. 27, no. 3, p. 390-401. SlMKIN. I). W. 1963. Tagging moose by helicopter. Journal of Wild- life Management, vol. 27, no. 1, p. 130-139. Smith. S. K.. R. W. GARDNER, and G. A. Swanson. 1963. A study of the adequacy of cobalt nutrition in New York deer. New York Fish and Came Journal, vol. 111. no. 2, p. 225-227. Swanson, (i. A. 1963. (Editor) Pesticides — their use and effect. New York Slate Joint Legislative Committee on Natural Resources, Assembly Chamber, Albany 1, New York, p. 1-110. Thompson, l>. Q. 1963. (Review of) Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson. Wilson Bulletin, vol. 75, no. 1. p. 106-107. Thompson. 1 >. Q.. and R. A. Person. 1963. The eider pass at Point Harrow, Alaska. Jour- nal of Wildlife Management, vol. 27, no. 3, p. 348-356. OHIO Wildlife publications Eberhardt, Li., T. J. Peterle. and R. Schofield. 1963. Problems in a rabbit population study. Wildlife Monographs, No. 10. p. 1-51. Giles, R. II.. Jr., and T. J. Peterle. 1963. Distribution of aerially applied malathion SK in a forest ecosystem. The International Symposium on the Use and Application of Radioisotopes and Radiation in the Control of Plant and Animal Insect Tests. April 22-26. Athens. Greece. In Radiation and Radioisotopes Applied to Insects of Agricultural Importance. IAEA, Vienna, Austria, p. 55-84. OKLAHOMA B ildlife publications Atkins, B. O., and F. F. Copelin. 1963. New fish and wildlife management and research opportunities in Oklahoma. Proceedings of the Okla- homa Academy of Science, vol. 43, p. 227-220. Baumgartner, F. M. 1063. Audubon Field Notes, vol. 17, no. 1. p. 45—16: no. 3, p. 330-341 ; no. 4, p. 414-415: no. 5, p. 468-469. Costly. N. 1963. Population explosions concern wildlife research unit. Oklahoma State University, Research Founda- tion. Research Reports, vol. 1, no. 5. p. 1. Goertz, J. W. 1963. Si une biological notes on the plains harvest mouse. Proceedings, Oklahoma Academy of Science, vol. 43, p. 123-125. Jones. R. E. 1963. Identification and analysis of lesser and greater prairie chicken habitat. Journal of Wildlife Man- agement, vol. 27, no. 4, p. 757-778. Williamson, II. G., G. R. Wint. and F. F. Copeun. 1063. Preliminary report on (he first four years of the Oklahoma waterfowl and upland game harvest sur- vey, 1958-1961. Proceedings of the Oklahoma Acad- emy of Science, vol. 43, p. 242-247. Fishery publications Copeland, B. J., and T. 0. DORRIS. 1963. Photosynthetic productivity in oil refinery efflu- ent holding ponds. Journal of Water Pollution Con- trol Federation, p. 1104-1111. Dorris, T. C, B. J. Copeland. and G. J. Lauer. 1963. Limnology of the middle Mississippi River. IV. Physical and chemical limnology of river and chute. Limnology and Oceanography, vol. 8, no. 1, p. 79-88 Dorris, T. C. I). Patterson', and B. J. Copeland. 1963. Oil refinery effluent treatment in ponds. Journal of Water Pollution Control Federation, p. 032-939. Houser, A. 1963. Loss in weight of sunfish following aquatic vege- tation control using the herbicide silvex. Preceedings, Oklahoma Academy of Science, vol. 43, p. 232-237. Jackson, S. W., Jr. 1063. Summary of returned tagged fishes from Recrea- tion Lake. Mohawk Park, Tulsa, Oklahoma, April 29- September 5, 1960. Proceedings. Oklahoma Academy of Science, vol. 43, p. 238-242. Minter, K. W. 1963. Succession in net plankton populations in a se- ries of waste treatment ponds. Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science, vol. 43, p. 140-143. Moore. G. A., and M. E. Sisk. 1963. The spectacle of Elasoma zonatum Jordan. Co- peia, no.- 2, p. 347-350. Riggs, C. D.. and G. A. Moore. 1063. A new record of Muxostoma macrolapidotum pisuluhriim. and a range extension for Percina shu- mardi in the Red River. Oklahoma and Texas. Copeia, no. 2, p. 451—452. S HELTON, W. L. 1963. Ovarian morphology of the threadfin shad. Doro- soma pretoicnuc I Le Seurl. Proceedings of the Okla- homa Academy of Science, vol. 43, p. 145-148. PENNSYLVANIA Wildlife publications Carroll, W. M., and R. G. Wingard. 1063. Public and private recreational land use issues. Farm Economics, Extension Service, Pennsylvania Slate University. June. p. 1-4. Ll.NDZEY, J. S. 1063. Protecting fruit crops from bird depredations. Pennsylvania Fruit Xews. May. p. 1-4. Sharp, W. M. 1963. The effects of habitat manipulation and forest succession on ruffled grouse. Journal Wildlife Man- agement, vol. 27, no. 4, p. 664—671. Wingard. R. G. 1063. Wildlife development depends on access to land. United States Department of Agriculture, Washing- ton, Extension Service Review, vol. 34, no. 6, p. 103- 105. 79 Wingabd, R. 6., and W. M. Carroll. 1963. Signs of the future. Pennsylvania Slate Uni- versity. Science for the Farmer, vol. 10, no. t. p. 9. Wingabd, R. <;.. \V. M. Cabroll, E. P. Farra.mj. S, E. Founts, and II. A. Roberts. L963. I leer management in Pennsylvania. United state- Department of Agriculture, Extension Service, University Park, Pennsylvania, p. 1-20. Winoabd, R. <:.. W. M. Carroll, and C. J. Win-field. 1963. Rural land use planning. United States Depart- ment Of Agriculture, Extension Service. Special Cir- cular. University Park, Pennsylvania, p. 1-24. SOUTH DAKOTA Wildlife publications Bin lit. P. A., and P. F. Springer. 1963. Pesticides— a new factor in coastal environ- ments. Transactions of the 28th North American Wildlife and .Natural Resources Conference, p. 37S- 390. DeWitt, J. P.. W. H. Stickel. and P. F. Springer. 1963. Wildlife studies. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. 1961 62. Pesticide — wildlife studies: a re- view of Fish and Wildlife Service investigations during 1!H>1 and P.»C2. Fish and Wildlife Service. Circular 167, p. 74-96. Ni i sox. K. S. 1963. Hosting our hunters. South Dakota State Col- lege of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. Cooperative Extension Service, F. S. 170, p. 1-2. Springer, p. F. L963. Fish and wildlife aspects of chemical mosquito control. Proceedings of the 50th Annual Meeting of 111.- New Jersey Mosquito Extermination Association, and 19th Annual Meeting of American Mosquito Con- trol Association, p. i:m 206. UTAH B ildlife publications Berbyman, .1. II. 1963. Crops to share. Utah Fish and Game, vol. 19, no. 3. p. 20-21. L963. Logan canyon road controversy: anatomy of a principle. National Parks Magazine, no. 137, p. 90 Chura, N. J. 1963. Diurnal f ling periodicity of juvenile mallards. Wilson Bulletin, vol. 75, no. 1. 2, p. 90. Low. .T. P... Flora Bardwell. and Ethelwyn Wilcox. L963. Food for thought. Utah Fish and Game Maga- zine, vol. 19. no. 10, p. 14-1.1. Low. J. B., Grace J. Smith, and Ethelwyn Wilcox. 1963. A way to better venison. Farm and Home Science, vol. 22, no. 3, p. 62-63, 84 Nygben, l. r. 1963. Unusual feeding behavior of fur seal pup. Jour- nal of Mammalogy, vol. 44, no. 1, p. 123. 1963. A contribution toward the bibliography of the ilectoris partridge. Utah Cooperative Wildlife Re- search Unit. Special Report no. '.». Utah State Uni- versity, p. 1-20 (mimeographed). Sigler. W. F.. and R. R. Mili ,er. 1963. Fishes of Utah. Utah State Department of Fish and Game, p. 1-203. Stokes. A. W. 1963. Agonistic and sexual behavior of the chukar partridge ( Alectoris graeca). Animal Behaviour, vol. 11. no. 1, p. 121-134. Stokes. A. W.. and D. Balpii. 1963. On the ecology of a population of Uinta Ground Squirrels. American Midland Naturalist, vol. 69, no. 1, p.10-126. Wagner, F. H. 1963. The jackrabbit in its western habitat. Farm and Home Science, vol. 24, no. 3, p. 64-65, 78-80. Wagner, F. H., and D. C. Besodny. 1963. An evaluation of pheasant stocking through the day-old chick program in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Con- servation Department. Technical Bulletin no. 23, p. 1-84. VIRGINIA Wildlife publications Bachant, J. P. 1963. A self-operating camera unit for recording wild turkey abundance and distribution. Virginia Acad- emy of Science i Roanoke i. p. 1—4 (mimeographed). McGihnes, B. S., and T. H. Ripley. 1963. Evaluation of wildlife response to forest-wild- life management— a preliminary rejiort. Proceedings of the Society of American Foresters. Washington, D.C.. p. 107-171. Patton, D. R. 1963. Forest cutting and its influence on browse pro- duction. Virginia Academy of Science Meeting i Roanoke), p. 1 — 4 (mimeographed). Thompson. R, L.. and B. S. McGinnes. 1963. A comparison of eight types of mast traps. Journal Of Forestry, vol. 61, no. 9, p. 679-680. 80 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1964 O 734-563 MBL WHOI Library - Serials I III J III. 5 WHSE 00237 Architect's sketch of Headquarters Building, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, under construction in 1964. RESEARCH HELPS TO PRODUCE MAINTAIN OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES