Studies of Birds Killed in Nocturnal Migration — John Shaqi
Studies of Birds Killed in Nocturnal MigrationTordoff, Harrison Bruce
Science
Studies of Birds Killed in Nocturnal Migration
Tordoff, Harrison Bruce
Birds -- Migration
Approximately 200 of the most interesting specimens were preserved as
study skins and are in the University of Kansas Museum of Natural
History. An effort was made to preserve at least one of each species,
and we fell only a few short of this goal. All of the forms rare in
Kansas are represented by skins. We could see no reason to list the
preserved specimens in detail here. Species of which no study skins
were made, however, are so marked.
So far as we can tell, no truly western subspecies (from west of the
Great Plains) occurred in the Topeka sample. Probably most or all of
the birds came from areas more or less directly north of eastern
Kansas.
In critical areas where different subspecies of the same species occur
together in migration, data from samples of this kind should prove
enlightening. In future analyses, conducted in such areas, it might be
possible to preserve all specimens of some of the variable species, or
at least to measure all individuals of species in which size is the
most important variable character. Quantitative study could then be
made of the different geographic variants occurring, their proportions
in the migrant population determined, and their origins deduced. In
studying populations of Painted Buntings (_Passerina ciris_) wintering
in Mexico, Storer (1951) has provided an interesting demonstration of
methods which can be applied to such samples.
A few bats killed at the tower provided a surprise. They will be
discussed separately by Richard Van Gelder.
_Podilymbus p. podiceps._ Pied-billed Grebe.--Weights: male,
394.8 (all weights in grams); females, 332.5, 289.7; all
fat.
_Butorides v. virescens._ Green Heron.--Weight: 1 (unsexed),
168.6.
_Anas discors._ Blue-winged Teal.--Weights: 4 males, mean
421.2 (391.3-458.1); 3 females, 367.7, 371.6, 393.2; all
fat.
_Rallus limicola._ Virginia Rail.--Weights: 3 males, 73.7,
83.2, 90.5; 1 female, 67.3; moderately fat to fat.
_Porzana carolina._ Sora.--Weights: 4 males, mean 76.8
(68.7-89.9); 3 females, 62.6, 63.2, 63.5; moderately fat to
very fat.
_Fulica americana._ American Coot.--Weights: 2 females,
385.3, 530.0, both fat. None preserved.
_Zenaidura macroura marginella._ Mourning Dove.--Weights: 2
adult males, 121.8, 140.2; 3 immature males, 113.1, 126.1,
130.0; 3 adult females, 122.5, 126.9, 136.0; 2 immature
females, 129.4, 132.7; moderately fat to very fat. The
presence of Mourning Doves in the sample is interesting as
these birds are not generally regarded as night migrants.
Conceivably the specimens were local birds going to roost.
None preserved.
_Colaptes auratus luteus._ Yellow-shafted Flicker.--Weights:
2 males, 126.0, 139.4, little fat. Flickers have several
times been recorded as night migrants.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account