Chris Merkord
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An international journal for all fields of vertebrate zoology. Folia Zoologica publishes articles containing original insight into various aspects of vertebrate zoology that are not published and not under consideration for publication elsewhere. The journal welcomes significant papers presenting new and original data of more than regional significance. Studies testing explicitly formulated hypotheses are preferred to those presenting primarily descriptive results. Review papers are particularly welcomed and should deal with topics of general interest or of current importance, being synthetic rather than comprehensive in emphasis. The journal is published quarterly and one volume usually consists of four issues. However, additional issues can be published occasionally. Folia Zoologica is a continuation of the periodical Entomologické Listy (Folia Entomologica, 1938-1951, volumes 1‑14), Zoologické a Entomologické Listy (Folia Zoologica and Entomologica, 1952-1955, volumes 1-4, n.s.) and Zoologické Listy (Folia Zoologica, 1956-1976, volumes 5-25). The first volume under is name is volume 26. Full papers published in Folia Zoologica are available on http://www.ivb.cz/pubser_en.htm one year after publishing articles. Folia Zoologica is indexed by CAB Abstracts, Elsevier Bibliographic Databases incl. Scopus, Web of Knowledge by Thomson Reuters and NISC Bibliographic databases. Contents are distributed by EBSCO Publishing.
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Field Naturalists Club of Victoria
Chris Merkord posted a organization in Other Scientific Societies
The Field Naturalists Club of Victoria (FNCV) was established in 1880 and is Victoria’s oldest field naturalists club. The purpose of the formation of the FNCV was to gain an understanding of our natural world, not by mere study of what others have written, but by going out into the natural environment and examining it for ourselves. -
The Victorian Naturalist is the journal of the FNCV and has been published continuously since 1884. It is currently issued six times a year, and is received as part of the membership subscription of the FNCV. The journal publishes a mixture of scientific Research Reports, Contributions, Naturalist Notes and Book Reviews, intended to appeal to a wide readership. Articles judged to be Research Reports or Contributions are refereed by external authorities. The journal’s editors accept articles of relevance to Australia on the widest range of natural history subjects. Articles with an historical focus on significant people or events within the areas of interest are also considered for publication.
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IBP pursues science to benefit avian conservation
Chris Merkord posted an article in Research Spotlight
This article originally appeared in Contact Calls, the newsletter of the Institute for Bird Populations. 1. In a rapidly changing climate, effective bird conservation requires not only reliable information about the current vulnerability of species of conservation concern, but also credible projections of their future vulnerability. In a new paper published in the journal Avian Conservation and Ecology, IBP scientists and colleagues assess the vulnerability of 168 bird species to climate change in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. Siegel, R. B., P. Pyle, J. H. Thorne, A. J. Holguin, C. A. Howell, S. Stock, and M. Tingley. 2014. Vulnerability of birds to climate change in California's Sierra Nevada.Avian Conservation and Ecology 9(1):7. View the paper here. 2. The first record of Bryan's Shearwater, based on a museum specimen collected in 1963, was identified by IBP Biologist Peter Pyle as a species entirely new to science. This spring Peter and co-authors published a paper in Marine Ornithology documenting the second record of Bryan's Shearwater from Midway Atoll - through video footage of a bird captured there in 1991. Sound recordings and a highly entertaining video clip of the bird filmed in 1991 are available here. Pyle, P., R. David, B. D. Eilerts, A. B. Amerson, A. Borker, and M. McKown. 2014. Second record of Bryan's Shearwater Puffinus bryani from Midway Atoll, with notes on habitat selection, vocalizations, and at-sea distribution. Marine Ornithology 42:5-8. View the paper here. 3. In a paper just published in The Condor: Ornithological Applications, IBP scientists and colleagues report on findings from a two-year study of home-range size and foraging habitat selection in Black-backed Woodpeckers. Our findings are already being applied by the US Forest Service to assess the effects of different habitat management scenarios on Black-backed Woodpeckers occupying the Rim Fire and other recent fire areas in California. Tingley, M. W., R. L. Wilkerson, M. L. Bond, C. A. Howell, and R. B. Siegel. 2014. Variation in home range size of Black-backed Woodpeckers (Picoides arcticus). The Condor: Ornithological Applications. 116:325-340. DOI: 10.1650/CONDOR-13-140.1 View the paper here. -
The Sunbird is a peer-reviewed journal published twice a year by the Queensland Ornithological Society Incorporated (Birds Queensland). Its aim is to promote the scientific study and conservation of birds, with particular reference to the birds of Queensland, and in this it is the sole ornithological journal devoted specifically to birds of Queensland and adjacent northern regions of Australia. It commenced publication in 1970. The scope of the journal covers all aspects of ornithology, e.g. life history, taxonomy, distribution, behaviour and ecology. The editors welcome contributions from researchers and bird watchers. Papers may take the form of major articles on specific birds, birds in specific areas or habitats, short notes on birds, or notes on the literature on birds, such as reviews of books or comments on published articles. All submissions except for book reviews and other opinion pieces are reviewed by independent referees.
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Ley, Andrew. Forty-four years of 'The Australian Bird Watcher', 1959-2002 [online]. Australian Field Ornithology, Vol. 28, No. 4, Dec 2011: 142-149. Abstract—The Australian Bird Watcher was published by the Bird Observers Club of Australia in 19 volumes over 44 years from 1959. It published 5850 pages containing 1594 contributions by 696 authors, 25 of whom made ten or more contributions; most contributions were long papers (666) or short notes (732). It published 1099 plates, many in colour. Eleven people served on the production team, several of them for long periods. The Australian Bird Watcher changed its name to Australian Field Ornithology in 2003, and continues in publication. Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Bird_Watcher Vol. 1, no. 1 (Mar. 1959)-v. 12 (1987)-v. 19, no. 8 (Dec. 2002)
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The Royal Society is a self-governing Fellowship of many of the world’s most distinguished scientists drawn from all areas of science, engineering, and medicine. The Society’s fundamental purpose, reflected in its founding Charters of the 1660s, is to recognise, promote, and support excellence in science and to encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity.
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A new meeting has been added to the =1']Ornithology Meetings database. Meeting Description: Birds are adapted to a diverse range of habitats, and operate within a broad range of dietary niches. This diversity of life histories has resulted in an equally varied suite of adaptations for acquiring mates, finding food, avoiding predators and for navigation. In this meeting, a distinguished list of international researchers encompassing avian vision, taste, olfaction, geo-magnetic sense, nociception (pain), tactile sense, and emotion, will be brought together to discuss new and emerging evidence of the evolution, development, mechanisms and function of avian senses. Meeting Website: https://royalsociety.org/events/2014/avian-senses/?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_term=TM06%2814%29%20Avian%20senses%20general%20info&utm_content=Royal%20Society%20Theo%20Murphy%20Meeting%3A%20Avian%20senses&utm_campaign=Ornithology%20Exchange Click here to view the meeting
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I got a quick look at this book today, and it looks pretty nice. Somebody pointed out that the photo comparing Hutton's Vireo to Ruby-crowned Kinglet has the species mislabeled.
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The Northern California coast--from Monterey County to the Oregon border--is home to some of the richest avian habitats on the North American continent. Field Guide to Birds of the Northern California Coast provides a comprehensive ecological overview of this extensive and diverse region. It features detailed discussions of the area's most common waterbirds, raptors, and landbirds and highlights the most productive birding sites in each Northern California coastal county. Accessibly written and user-friendly, this guide contains nearly 250 species accounts that focus on seasonal rhythms and behavioral characteristics of each species. More than 130 color photographs and hand-drawn sketches depict the birds in context, and maps and occurrence charts indicate when readers might spot each species.
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With a rich avifauna of more than 350 species that includes 29 endemics, the island of Sri Lanka is one of southern Asia's most popular birding destination. This new field guide provides full coverage of every species on the Sri Lanka list, including most vagrants, with particular emphasis placed on endemic species and races. Detailed text highlights key identification criteria, along with accurate colour maps. Packed with spectacular and detailed plates by leading bird artists such as Alan Harris, Tim Worfolk and John Cox, Birds of Sri Lanka is the definitive identification tool for the visiting birdwatcher and another majestic addition to the Helm Field Guides series. - See more at: http://bloomsbury.com/us/birds-of-sri-lanka-9780713688535/#sthash.MKtqqW7e.dpuf
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Here is the first comprehensive field guide to cover the full range of bird life in this vast and varied country. They are all here--every species and many subspecies found in each region of Brazil--with special attention given to the 218 Brazilian endemics. The book is laid out so that the illustrations sit across from the commentary and the distribution maps, so it is easy to use. For each bird, the book provides detailed information on measurement; identifying features; habitat; voice, song, and call. Finally, the book is compact and easy to carry in the field.
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This revised and expanded edition of Birds of Western Africa is now the most up-to-date field guide available to the 1,285 species of birds found in the region—from Senegal and southern Mauritania east to Chad and the Central African Republic and south to Congo. It now features all maps and text opposite the plates for quick and easy reference. The comprehensive species accounts have been fully updated and expanded, and the color distribution maps have been completely revised. This premier guide also includes more than 3,000 illustrations on 266 stunning color plates. Compact and lightweight, this new edition of Birds of Western Africa is the must-have field guide to one of the most exciting birding regions in the world. The premier field guide to West African birds—now completely revised and expanded Covers all 1,285 species found in the region Features fully updated maps and text opposite the plates for easy reference Includes more than 3,000 illustrations on 266 color plates
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Explore the wonders of the avian world with this ultimate reference book. The World of Birds is a comprehensive guide to every aspect of bird life and a concise survey of the world’s orders and families. Highly respected ornithologist and wildlife expert, Jonathan Elphick, begins by defining the distinguishing features of birds before going on to describe their evolution since the age of the dinosaurs. With the aid of fact boxes and clear photographs, he then explores in greater detail each of the significant elements of bird life: bird biology including anatomy, walking and swimming, plumage, calls and songs; flight techniques and styles; food and feeding; bird lifestyles and social relationships; breeding, growth and development; bird geography and habitats; and the mysteries of migration. He also considers human attitudes towards birds through the ages. This beautiful volume has been published in a limited print-run partnership with the Natural History Museum, London and CSIRO Publishing. It will be a timeless reference and perfect gift for bird watchers. Written by highly regarded ornithologist and natural history expert Definitive guide to every aspect of bird life Sumptuously illustrated throughout with photographs, maps and diagrams
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We tend to take birds for granted, in the landscape or in our neighbourhoods. The presence of birds communicates the health of a place. When they're gone, it's as though there's a hole in the sky, in the air, an absence of beauty and grace, and vivid chatter or haunting cries are replaced with eerie silence. As an amateur naturalist and nature lover, Janine Burke, art historian and author, has spent many years observing birds. Nest: The Art of Birds is the story of her passion, a personal, wide-ranging and intimate book - part natural history, part folklore, part exploration of art and aesthetics, part memoir - that will appeal to all those who love nature, literature and art. What are nests if not art created by nature? If a nest is not art, how can we account for those exquisite, painstakingly constructed creations that are decorated, or woven through with feathers, or studded with objects of a particular colour or sheen? Nest reveals both the art and mystery found in nature and celebrates them with lyricism, insight and great affection. In the tradition of Longitude, Cod or The Cello Suites, Nest: The Art of Birds is a short education that encompasses celebration and theory, investigation and memoir, the familiar and the revelatory - as surprising and enticing as any beautiful, intricately constructed nest.
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September 1st, 2014 marked the centenary of one of the best-documented extinctions in history – the demise of the Passenger Pigeon. From being the commonest bird on the planet 50 years earlier, the species became extinct on that fateful day, with the death in Cincinnati Zoo of Martha – the last of her kind. This book tells the tale of the Passenger Pigeon, and of Martha, and of author Mark Avery's journey in search of them. It looks at how the species was a cornerstone of the now much-diminished ecology of the eastern United States, and how the species went from a population that numbered in the billions to nil in a terrifyingly brief period of time. It also explores the largely untold story of the ecological annihilation of this part of America in the latter half of the 19th century, a time that saw an unprecedented loss of natural beauty and richness as forests were felled and the prairies were ploughed, with wildlife slaughtered more or less indiscriminately. Despite the underlying theme of loss, this book is more than another depressing tale of human greed and ecological stupidity. It contains an underlying message – that we need to re-forge our relationship with the natural world on which we depend, and plan a more sustainable future. Otherwise more species will go the way of the Passenger Pigeon. We should listen to the message from Martha.
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This new field guide is based on the authors' groundbreaking Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (1998) and covers all the bird species found in India, Pakistian, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and the Maldives. The plates face the descriptions and maps for quick at-a-glance reference. Many of the plates have been repainted for this edition and a number of new species added. This guide also provides tables, summarising identification features of particularly difficult groups such as nightjars, warblers and rosefinches.
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Trinidad and Tobago, tropical islands on the continental shelf of northeastern South America, enjoy a rich diversity of bird species, including visitors from the nearby mainland and others traveling the migratory flyway from North America. This compact, portable field guide is designed to provide birders and ornithologists with all the up-to-date information they need to identify birds in the field. The book features color illustrations and descriptions of almost 470 different species—every species known to occur naturally in Trinidad or Tobago as well as those successfully introduced there. Following a brief description of the geography, habitats, and climate of the region, the guide offers instructions for identifying birds, watching safely, and discovering the places where particular species are most likely to be found. No resident or visitor to the islands will want to be without this essential guide. Martyn Kenefick is a freelance ornithologist and tour leader for birding groups in Trinidad. Robin Restall was executive director, Phelps Ornithological Collection, Caracas, Venezuela, and is now a director of the Phelps Foundation. He is author of Munias and Mannikins and coauthor of Birds of Northern South America, both published by Yale University Press. Floyd Hayes is professor of biology, Pacific Union College, and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology.
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Meeting: Western Bird Banding Association 2014 Meeting
Chris Merkord replied to Chris Merkord's topic in Bird Meetings
The WBBA will meet at the peak of landbird migration for its annual meeting at the Humboldt Bay Bird Observatory. HBBO is situated beside an estuary within Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Near Arcata, home of Humboldt State University, it is in the mild, coastal climate of northwestern California. Nearby rivers, wetlands, and old-growth redwoods offer plenty of possibilities for birding trips and recreation. The meeting is not to be missed, and will have exciting demonstrations and workshops on a diverse array of bird research, banding, data management, and analysis of banding data. Located at a long-running banding site that has operated nets and traps for more than 30 years, two stations a half mile apart will be operating in a riparian corridor amongst a coastal dune forest and pastures. The station will offer camping with outdoor cooking facilities with several motels only 15 minutes away. Evening sessions will include catered meals, campfires and live music. Paper and poster presentations can reflect original research, summarize existing information, or address the use of banding as a tool in avian research and monitoring. NABC certifications for banders and trainers are also planned (EM: krh@klamathbird.org). Please submit abstracts for papers or workshops electronically by 15 August to LINDA LONG (EM: lllong@fs.fed.us), specifying workshop, paper, or poster. For additional information on abstract submission and about WBBA's 2014 meeting, please visit the WBBA website (http://www.westernbirdbanding.org/next-meetings.html), or contact C.J. RALPH (EM: c.ralph@humboldt.edu PH: 707 499-9707). -
Meeting: Western Bird Banding Association 2014 Meeting
Chris Merkord posted a topic in Bird Meetings
A new meeting has been added to the =1']Ornithology Meetings database. Meeting Description: Western Bird Banding Association Annual Meeting, Humboldt Bay Bird Observatory, Arcata, California, September 18 to 21, 2014. Meeting flyer: http://www.westernbi...ArcataFinal.pdf Meeting Website: http://www.westernbirdbanding.org/next-meetings.html Click here to view the meeting -
The list of countries covered needs to be checked against the maps/text in the books.
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Migration, broadly defined as directional movement to take advantage of spatially distributed resources, is a dramatic behaviour and an important component of many life histories that can contribute to the fundamental structuring of ecosystems. In recent years, our understanding of migration has advanced radically with respect to both new data and conceptual understanding. It is now almost twenty years since publication of the first edition, and an authoritative and up-to-date sequel that provides a taxonomically comprehensive overview of the latest research is therefore timely. The emphasis throughout this advanced textbook is on the definition and description of migratory behaviour, its ecological outcomes for individuals, populations, and communities, and how these outcomes lead to natural selection acting on the behaviour to cause its evolution. It takes a truly integrative approach, showing how comparisons across a diversity of organisms and biological disciplines can illuminate migratory life cycles, their evolution, and the relation of migration to other movements. Migration: The Biology of Life on the Move focuses on migration as a behavioural phenomenon with important ecological consequences for organisms as diverse as aphids, butterflies, birds and whales. It is suitable for senior undergraduate and graduate level students taking courses in behaviour, spatial ecology, 'movement ecology', and conservation. It will also be of interest and use to a broader audience of professional ecologists and behaviourists seeking an authoritative overview of this rapidly expanding field.
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Britain is home to fifteen species of breeding birds of prey, from the hedgerow-hopping Sparrowhawk to the breathtaking White-tailed Eagle. In this handsomely illustrated book, acclaimed British filmmaker and naturalist David Cobham offers unique and deeply personal insights into Britain's birds of prey and how they are faring today. He delves into the history of these marvelous birds and talks in depth with the scientists and conservationists who are striving to safeguard them. In doing so, he profiles the writers, poets, and filmmakers who have done so much to change the public's perception of birds of prey. Thanks to popular television programs, the Victorian myth that any bird with a hooked beak is evil has been dispelled. However, although there are success stories--five birds of prey that were extinct have become reestablished with viable populations--persecution is still rife: so much so that one bird of prey, the Hen Harrier, became extinct in England as a breeding bird in 2013. Featuring drawings by famed wildlife artist Bruce Pearson, this book reveals why we must cherish and celebrate our birds of prey, and why we neglect them at our peril. In A Sparrowhawk's Lament, you will learn how the perfection of the double-barreled shotgun sounded a death knell for British birds of prey in the nineteenth century, how the conscription of gamekeepers during two world wars gave them a temporary reprieve, how their fortunes changed yet again with the introduction of agricultural pesticides in the 1950s, why birds of prey are vital to Britain's ecosystems and cultural heritage - and much more.
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Woodpeckers remain one of the most popular families of birds, and they are certainly one of the more unusual. Their legendary ability to excavate holes in wood is well known, and they are uniquely adapted for living in trees - though a few species have become more adapted to ground-dwelling. The family ranges from the tiny piculets of tropical forests to the mighty Imperial Woodpecker of Mexico, sadly now extinct. In between there is a considerable variety of species, all of a roughly similar shape and design, inhabiting forests and woodlands through the world except Australasia and Antarctica. This book is the first definitive guide to woodpeckers; it covers all 239 species. Detailed text looks in detail at the biology of the birds, with particular emphasis on field identification, along with voice, habitat, status, racial variation and distribution. The text is accompanied by a series of high-quality photographs – more than 750 images, carefully selected to highlight identification criteria. Each species entry is completed by an accurate colour range map. A sister to Owls of the World in the Helm Photographic Guides series, Woodpeckers of the World is an informative, fact-filled and beautifully illustrated guide to a group beloved by all birders.
