Gallinae Research Articles

Consequences of game bird management for non‐game species in Europe

Abstract Game bird management has the potential to benefit conservation, as management practices specifically targeted at reducing the factors limiting game populations may have positive effects on non‐game species. However, such management may also have costs to species. We review the literature that examines the effect of different forms of game bird management on non‐target species in Europe, including habitat management, predator control, parasite control, provision of water and food and rear and release. We focus on Europe, where these forms of management are common and sometimes intensive. We identified 35 studies, which recorded 122 individual significant effects. Most studies (80%) focussed on the effects of habitat management and predator control, and >90% were carried out in the UK. 63% of the 122 significant effects on non‐game species were positive. Overall, 85% of the effects of habitat management in agricultural habitats were positive, while in non‐agricultural habitats 65% of effects were negative. Effects of rear and release were mixed (8 positive and 7 negative). Legal predator control was almost always positive (96% of effects), or benign, whereas illegal predator control was always negative (8 effects). This continues to be a major cost to conservation. No studies examined the effects of parasite control on non‐target wildlife. Three of four significant effects of supplementary feeding were negative. More studies are needed on the impacts of game bird management on non‐game species, and particularly of rear and release, the provision of supplementary food and water, and parasite control. We also found few experimental studies examining the specific effects of management for shooting of game birds, and very few studies overall outside the UK. Future studies should aim to fill these gaps. Synthesis and applications. The management of game bird populations for shooting is widespread across Europe. Our study shows that effects of such management practices vary between different non‐target species. There is a need to understand these trade‐offs, find effective strategies to limit the damaging aspects of game bird management and work to enhance the benefits for the conservation of biodiversity.

Vegetation and predator interactions affect northern bobwhite behavior

ABSTRACTAnti‐predator behavior can be costly to prey species and the consequences of these decisions may affect survival. Interactions between humans and hunted species can lead to behavioral shifts in the animal that affect hunter satisfaction and possibly fitness of the animals. We assessed the influence of multiple factors that may affect anti‐predator behavior in a commonly harvested game bird, the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), during October 2013–March 2015 on a private plantation in South Carolina, USA. We monitored bobwhite‐hunter interactions during hunting events (n = 40) using radio‐telemetry and behavioral observations. We investigated bobwhite anti‐predator behavior in 2 contexts, choice of evasive tactic and timing of tactic deployment (i.e., level of wariness), using a combination of linear regression and multinomial models in a Bayesian framework. Our results indicate the approach style of the hunter (i.e., pointing dog) and vegetation density affect the evasive tactic used. Dense vegetation at 0.6 m above ground height promoted hiding behavior of bobwhites, whereas approaching pointing dogs (i.e., not holding point) promoted flushing. Also, dense vegetation at 0.3 m above ground height and previous exposure to a discharged firearm elicited an earlier anti‐predator response. Our results imply that bobwhites make context‐specific decisions regarding hunter evasion, which may be a result of associative learning. Managers may be able to increase bobwhite‐hunter encounters and improve hunter satisfaction by maintaining vegetation structure between 0.6 and 1.3 m to promote hiding behavior throughout the hunting season. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.

Preliminary Bioinformatic Analysis of Gallus gallus (Chicken) CD8a Gene

The experimental object of this study is Gallus gallus (chicken) CD8a gene. In this study, we performed sequence analysis of CD8a gene and analyzed the primary structure, secondary structure and tertiary structure of CD8a encoded protein by using bioinformatics. Through the analysis, we concluded that the sequence length is 648bp with various restriction sites identified, which is similar to CD8a of other species in Galliformes order. The sequence encodes a total of 216 amino acids. The amino acids have low hydrophobicity, with 12 phosphorylation sites and a transmembrane region, and no signal peptide. The protein secondary structure mainly consists ofαspiral, accounting for 22.69%; extension chain, accounting for 15.74%; random coil, accounting for 61.57 %, in non-continuous distribution. The relationship between CD8a and other species homologous sequences is basically consistent with the establishment of the system tree by the establishment of three trees. n the root tip cells of Vicia faba and increase in micronucleus rate. The results showed that the water extract of Solidago canadensis had different degree of inhibition and damage to silkworm root tip cells; it also had some genetic toxicity and rapid diffusion ability.

Making do with less: must sparse data preclude informed harvest strategies for European waterbirds?

The demography of many European waterbirds is not well understood because most countries have conducted little monitoring and assessment, and coordination among countries on waterbird management has little precedent. Yet intergovernmental treaties now mandate the use of sustainable, adaptive harvest strategies, whose development is challenged by a paucity of demographic information. In this study, we explore how a combination of allometric relationships, fragmentary monitoring and research information, and expert judgment can be used to estimate the parameters of a theta-logistic population model, which in turn can be used in a Markov decision process to derive optimal harvesting strategies. We show how to account for considerable parametric uncertainty, as well as for different management objectives. We illustrate our methodology with a poorly understood population of Taiga Bean Geese (Anser fabalis fabalis), which is a popular game bird in Fennoscandia. Our results for Taiga Bean Geese suggest that they may have demographic rates similar to other, well-studied species of geese, and our model-based predictions of population size are consistent with the limited monitoring information available. Importantly, we found that by using a Markov decision process, a simple scalar population model may be sufficient to guide harvest management of this species, even if its demography is age structured. Finally, we demonstrated how two different management objectives can lead to very different optimal harvesting strategies, and how conflicting objectives may be traded off with each other. This approach will have broad application for European waterbirds by providing preliminary estimates of key demographic parameters, by providing insights into the monitoring and research activities needed to corroborate those estimates, and by producing harvest management strategies that are optimal with respect to the managers' objectives, options, and available demographic information.

Global avian influenza outbreaks 2010\u20132016: a systematic review of their distribution, avian species and virus subtype

BackgroundWe conducted a systematic review to investigate avian influenza outbreaks and to explore their distribution, upon avian influenza subtype, country, avian species and other relating details as no comprehensive epidemiological analysis of global avian influenza outbreaks from 2010 to 2016 exists.MethodsData was collated from four databases (Scopus, Web of Science Core Correlation, PubMed and SpringerLink electronic journal) and a global electronic reporting system (ProMED mail), using PRISMA and ORION systematic approaches. One hundred seventy three avian influenza virus outbreaks were identified and included in this review, alongside 198 ProMED mail reports.ResultsOur research identified that the majority of the reported outbreaks occurred in 2016 (22.2%). These outbreaks were located in China (13.6%) and referred to commercial poultry farms (56.1%). The most common subtype reported in these outbreaks was H5N1 (38.2%), while almost 82.5% of the subtypes were highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses. There were differences noticed between ProMED mail and the scientific literature screened.ConclusionsAvian influenza virus has been proved to be able to contaminate all types of avian species, including commercial poultry farms, wild birds, backyard domestic animals, live poultry, game birds and mixed poultry. The study focused on wet markets, slaughterhouses, wild habitats, zoos and natural parks, in both developed and developing countries. The impact of avian influenza virus seems disproportionate and could potentially burden the already existing disparities in the public health domain. Therefore, a collaboration between all the involved health sectors is considered to be more than necessary.

Major shifts in Amazon wildlife populations from recent intensification of floods and drought.

In the western Amazon Basin, recent intensification of river-level cycles has increased flooding during the wet seasons and decreased precipitation during the dry season. Greater than normal floods occurred in 2009 and in all years from 2011 to 2015 during high-water seasons, and a drought occurred during the 2010 low-water season. During these years, we surveyed populations of terrestrial, arboreal, and aquatic wildlife in a seasonally flooded Amazonian forest in the Loreto region of Peru (99,780 km2 ) to study the effects of intensification of natural climatic fluctuations on wildlife populations and in turn effects on resource use by local people. Shifts in fish and terrestrial mammal populations occurred during consecutive years of high floods and the drought of 2010. As floods intensified, terrestrial mammal populations decreased by 95%. Fish, waterfowl, and otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) abundances increased during years of intensive floods, whereas river dolphin and caiman populations had stable abundances. Arboreal species, including, macaws, game birds, primates, felids, and other arboreal mammals had stable populations and were not affected directly by high floods. The drought of 2010 had the opposite effect: fish, waterfowl, and dolphin populations decreased, and populations of terrestrial and arboreal species remained stable. Ungulates and large rodents are important sources of food and income for local people, and large declines in these animals has shifted resource use of people living in the flooded forests away from hunting to a greater reliance on fish.

Potassium and Manganese Fertilization and the Effects on Millet Seed Yield, Seed Quality, and Forage Potential of Residual Stalks

Millets are important natural grain source for wild and game birds and the domesticated varieties are good sources of grain for human and livestock nutrition as well as summer forage. Unlike sorghum, millet seed has less anti-nutrient factors and is a better choice for animal feed formulations. Pearl millet is an example of such millets and has both forage- and grain-type varieties. However, opportunities exist for dual use of millet for grain and residue for forage. In this study two millets: Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. (Pearl millet var. TifGrain 102) and Panicum ramosum (L.) (Browntop millet) were evaluated for their response to potassium (K) and manganese (Mn) fertilizer. The experiment was a randomized complete block with treatments in a split-split arrangement. Potassium and Mn were supplied as K fertilizer (0-0-60) and manganese sulfate (MnSO4·2H2O), respectively. Potassium and Mn fertilizer rates and their interaction with each other and variety had no effect on determined parameters. TifGrain 102 grain yield averaged at 5900 kg·ha-1 was significantly greater than 4680 kg·ha-1 obtained for Browntop millet. While grain oil contents were similar, Browntop grain had greater contents of crude proteins. And except for K, Browntop seed had greater contents of all determined macro-and micronutrients. Residual stalks of Browntop had greater forage crude protein, total digestible nutrient (TDN) and lower acid detergent fiber (ADF). Browntop residual material had greater quantities of estimated net energy for growth (NEG), lactation (NEL), maintenance (NME). While TifGrain 102 residual stalks had greater contents of P and K, it had significantly lower contents of Ca, Mg and S compared to Browntop. Overall, while these two millets have shown good potential for dual use, Browntop may offer a better choice for high quality seed and residual stalks for forage.

Design of a human biomonitoring community-based project in the Northwest Territories Mackenzie Valley, Canada, to investigate the links between nutrition, contaminants and country foods

ABSTRACTCommunity-based projects place emphasis on a collaborative approach and facilitate research among Indigenous populations regarding local issues and challenges, such as traditional foods consumption, climate change and health safety. Country foods (locally harvested fish, game birds, land animals and plants), which contribute to improved food security, can also be a primary route of contaminant exposure among populations in remote regions. A community-based project was launched in the Dehcho and Sahtù regions of the Northwest Territories (Canada) to: 1) assess contaminants exposure and nutrition status; 2) investigate the role of country food on nutrient and contaminant levels and 3) understand the determinants of message perception on this issue. Consultation with community members, leadership, local partners and researchers was essential to refine the design of the project and implement it in a culturally relevant way. This article details the design of a community-based biomonitoring study that investigates country food use, contaminant exposure and nutritional status in Canadian subarctic First Nations in the Dehcho and Sahtù regions. Results will support environmental health policies in the future for these communities. The project was designed to explore the risks and benefits of country foods and to inform the development of public health strategies.

Estimating sex‐ratio, survival, and harvest susceptibility in greater sage‐grouse: making the most of hunter harvests

We analyzed banding (3259) and recovery (six years) data from a hunted population of greater sage‐grouseCentrocercusurophasianusin northwestern Moffat County, Colorado to examine vulnerability to hunter harvests and annual survival of adult and hatch‐year (juvenile) birds. Additionally, we combined the recovery data with hunter‐harvested wings and applied the Lincoln estimator to provide unbiased estimates of tertiary sex‐ratio. Our results yielded the following findings: juveniles were harvested at twice the rate of adults, but harvest vulnerability was similar between adult males and females. Annual survival of juveniles was highly variable but similar between sexes. Sex ratios of adults and juveniles largely conformed to previously assumed proportions despite having adjusted those estimates with harvest rates. We suggest there is potential to effectively model populations of game birds using a combination of band recovery and hunter‐harvested samples of species that can be readily captured, marked and have reasonable harvest rates.

Lead exposure through consumption of small game harvested using lead-based ammunition and the corresponding health risks to First Nations in Alberta, Canada

The harvesting of game birds, such as grouse, with small arms using lead ammunition continues to be common practice in Alberta, Canada. Grouse are routinely consumed as a subsistence traditional fo...

Richness of Avifauna in Gorewada International Bio-Park, Nagpur, Central India

The present study comprises the biodiversity of birds in Gorewada International bio-park situated at north-west of Nagpur city with geographical location 21°11′N 79°2′E and a good habitat for avian biodiversity. Bird watching and recording were done from March 2011 to February 2014, in the morning and evening hours during Sunday and holidays. 190 species belonging to 128 genera, 51 families and 17 orders (Podicipediformes, Pelecaniformes, Ciconiiformes, Anseriformes, Falconiformes, Galliformes, Gruiformes, Charadriiformes, Columbiformes, Psittaciformes, Cuculiformes, Strigiformes, Caprimulgiformes, Apodiformes, Coraciiformes, Piciformes and Passeriformes) were recorded. The order Passeriformes is the largest order belonging to 20 families and 75 bird species. Out of total bird species, 89 (46.84%) are resident, 77 (40.53%) are resident migrant and 24 (12.63%) are migratory species.
 Forest region of this bio-park provides heterogeneity in vegetation and lake is rich in aquatic fauna and other food for avian species. Therefore, this region is well suitable for feeding, resting and roosting site for aves. The report obtains information regarding resident birds, migratory birds and resident migratory birds of Gorewada bio-park.

A Temporal Status of Some Game Bird Population in Bolu, Turkey

   Kınalı Keklik, Çil Keklik, Bıldırcın, Üveyik, Tahtalı Güvercin, Çulluk ve Karatavuk ülkemiz için popüler av kuşlarıdır. Türkiye’nin her bir bölgesinde avlanma ve av sezonu ile ilgili doğru bir yönetim uygulayabilmek için söz konuş av kuşlarının populasyon durumları ile ilgili verilerin toplanması oldukça önemlidir. Çalışma, özellikle av kuşlarının korunması ile av turizmi arasında oluşabilecek çatışmadan kaçınmak için türlerin doğru ve güvenilir populasyon bilgilerini ve statülerini elde etmek ve değerlendirmek amacıyla yürütülmüştür. Bolu’nun önemli yaban hayatı alanları olan Yeniçağa Sulak Alanında, Yedigöller Milli Parkında, Dörtdivan Akbaba Restoranında ve Köroğlu Dağlarında toplam 18 arazi çalışması Ekim 2015 Ağustos 2016 ayları arasında gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bunun yanında, kuş gözlemcilerinin ve kuş kayıtlarının tutulduğu internet siteleri üzerinden hedef av kuşlarının 2004-2016 yılları arasındaki Bolu’daki kayıtları ve gözlemleri ile ilgili bilgiler taranmıştır. Elde edilen verilere göre, Keklik türleri alanda gözlenmezken, Çulluk nadir olarak kayıt edilmiştir. Üveyik ve Bıldırcın yaz ziyaretçisi olarak, Tahtalı Güvercin ve Karatavuk ise yerli statüsünde alanda ürediği tespit edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak Keklik türleri, Üveyik ve Çulluk haricinde diğer değerlendirilen av kuşları için av izni verilebilir. Ancak özellikle Bıldırcın için av limitinin düşük miktarda olması gerekmektedir.

Recreation economics to inform migratory species conservation: Case study of the northern pintail

Quantification of the economic value provided by migratory species can aid in targeting management efforts and funding to locations yielding the greatest benefits to society and species conservation. Here we illustrate a key step in this process by estimating hunting and birding values of the northern pintail (Anas acuta) within primary breeding and wintering habitats used during the species’ annual migratory cycle in North America. We used published information on user expenditures and net economic values (consumer surplus) for recreational viewing and hunting to determine the economic value of pintail-based recreation in three primary breeding areas and two primary wintering areas. Summed expenditures and consumer surplus for northern pintail viewing were annually valued at $70M, and annual sport hunting totaled $31M (2014 USD). Expenditures for viewing ($42M) were more than twice as high than those for hunting ($18M). Estimates of consumer surplus, defined as the amount consumers are willing to pay above their current expenditures, were $15M greater for viewing ($28M) than for hunting ($13M). We discovered substantial annual consumer surplus ($41M) available for pintail conservation from birders and hunters. We also found spatial differences in economic value among the primary regions used by pintails, with viewing generally valued more in breeding regions than in wintering regions and the reverse being true for hunting. The economic value of pintail-based recreation in the Western wintering region ($26M) exceeded that in any other region by at least a factor of three. Our approach of developing regionally explicit economic values can be extended to other taxonomic groups, and is particularly suitable for migratory game birds because of the availability of large amounts of data. When combined with habitat-linked population models, regionally explicit values could inform development of more effective conservation finance and policy mechanisms to enhance environmental management and societal benefits across the geographically dispersed areas used by migratory species.

Admixture between released and wild game birds: a changing genetic landscape in European mallards (Anas platyrhynchos)

Disruption of naturally evolved spatial patterns of genetic variation and local adaptations is a growing concern in wildlife management and conservation. During the last decade, releases of native taxa with potentially non-native genotypes have received increased attention. This has mostly concerned conservation programs, but releases are also widely carried out to boost harvest opportunities. The mallard, Anas platyrhynchos, is one of few terrestrial migratory vertebrates subjected to large-scale releases for hunting purposes. It is the most numerous and widespread duck in the world, yet each year more than three million farmed mallard ducklings are released into the wild in the European Union alone to increase the harvestable population. This study aimed to determine the genetic effects of such large-scale releases of a native species, specifically if wild and released farmed mallards differ genetically among subpopulations in Europe, if there are signs of admixture between the two groups, if the genetic structure of the wild mallard population has changed since large-scale releases began in the 1970s, and if the current data matches global patterns across the Northern hemisphere. We used Bayesian clustering (Structure software) and Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components (DAPC) to analyze the genetic structure of historical and present-day wild (n = 171 and n = 209, respectively) as well as farmed (n = 211) mallards from six European countries as inferred by 360 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Both methods showed a clear genetic differentiation between wild and farmed mallards. Admixed individuals were found in the present-day wild population, implicating introgression of farmed genotypes into wild mallards despite low survival among released farmed mallards. Such cryptic introgression would alter the genetic composition of wild populations and may have unknown long-term consequences for conservation.

Patterns of success in game bird introductions in the United States

Better predictions of the success of species’ introductions require careful evaluation of the relative importance of at least three kinds of factors: species characteristics, characteristics of the site of introduction, and event-level factors such as the numbers of individuals released. (Henceforth, we call this propagule pressure.) The 1644 introductions of 17 Phasianid species released in various US states during the Foreign Game Investigation Program provides a particularly rich source of data to test these ideas. An examination of these records indicates that 13 of these 17 species always failed, despite generally numerous individual releases and large numbers of individuals in each release. Moreover, ten of these species have been successfully introduced elsewhere. Only four of the 17 species were successful in at least one state. Some 20 sets of releases of three of these four species always failed in some states, again given generally numerous individual releases of large numbers of individuals in each release. Simply, the combination of site and species factors explain the lack of successes. This leaves a combination of 18 states where one or more of the four species succeeded. For these, there are significant differences in the numbers of birds introduced from state to state. But only for two species Alectoris chukar and; Tetraogallus himalayensis are there significant differences that show a greater chance of success when more individuals are introduced. These results support the conclusion that the number of individuals released, meaning propagule pressure, is not as important as characteristics of the species and the location to where its introduction occurred.

Myoglobin from common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus L.): Purification and primary structure characterization

Myoglobin (Mb) is a monomeric hemoprotein involved in dioxygen storage and transport in skeletal muscles and heart. Mb, containing the heme pigment, is present in large amount in meat, thus influencing meat color and consumer choice. Here, the primary structure of Mb isolated from muscle of Phasianus colchicus L. was determined by using a comparative peptide mapping approach based on MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. This strategy allowed the determination of common pheasant Mb primary sequence, which resulted identical to the chicken Mb, as also confirmed by intact molecular mass determination by ESI/Q-TOF mass spectrometry. Indeed, the accurate molecular mass (17,290.50 Da) of common pheasant Mb was found to be in good agreement with that of chicken Mb (17,290.86 Da). Finally, the 3D model of common pheasant Mb was predicted by homology modeling. Overall, in this study we confirmed that chicken, turkey and common pheasant, belonging to the Galliformes order, share the same Mb sequence. Practical applications Considering the economic importance of game meat consumption, our result may be interesting for meat industry, providing useful information for the determination of species-specific differences in color and color stability compared to other poultry species.

Облік мисливської фауни у форматі статзвітності «2-тп – мисливство»: особливості, переваги, недоліки

Users of hunting grounds keep a primary track of the numbers and hunting of game animals and birds. The procedure for keeping records of game animals and the volumes of hunting are established by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine in agreement with the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine. In the hunting sector, the reporting form is "Game management" (No. 2-tp hunting). The report consists of four sections: the area of hunting grounds and the number of personnel; costs of running and income from game management; animal numbers, dispersal, and hunting of game animals; captive breeding of game animals. The annual inventory of game animals and birds provides long-term and systematic monitoring of populations, allows to assess the state of populations of the main game species, to analyse environmental factors that affect the abundance of game animals, to predict the development of faunistic situation in hunting grounds, to plan biotechnical activities and to organise sustainable use of game fauna. In order to obtain objective primary materials on the abundance of game animals and birds, there is a need to improve the counting process and census methods, to improve the skills of observers (spotters), and to introduce resource-saving methods for estimations of game fauna resources.

Nonbreeding home‐range size and survival of lesser prairie‐chickens

ABSTRACTThe lesser prairie‐chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus), a species of conservation concern with uncertain regulatory status, has experienced population declines over the past century. Most research on lesser prairie‐chickens has focused on the breeding season, with little research conducted during the nonbreeding season, a period that exerts a strong influence on demography in other upland game birds. We trapped lesser prairie‐chickens on leks and marked them with either global positioning system (GPS) satellite or very high frequency (VHF) transmitters to estimate survival and home‐range size during the nonbreeding season. We monitored 119 marked lesser prairie‐chickens in 3 study areas in Kansas, USA, from 16 September to 14 March in 2013, 2014, and 2015. We estimated home‐range size using Brownian Bridge movement models (GPS transmitters) and fixed kernel density estimators (VHF transmitters), and female survival using Kaplan–Meier known‐fate models. Average home‐range size did not differ between sexes. Estimated home‐range size was 3 times greater for individuals fitted with GPS satellite transmitters ( = 997 ha) than those with VHF transmitters ( = 286 ha), likely a result of the temporal resolution of the different transmitters. Home‐range size of GPS‐marked birds increased 2.8 times relative to the breeding season and varied by study area and year. Home‐range size was smaller in the 2013–2014 nonbreeding season ( = 495 ha) than the following 2 nonbreeding seasons ( = 1,290 ha and = 1,158 ha), corresponding with drought conditions of 2013, which were alleviated in following years. Female survival () was high relative to breeding season estimates, and did not differ by study area or year ( = 0.73 ± 0.04 [SE]). Future management could remain focused on the breeding season because nonbreeding survival was 39–44% greater than the previous breeding season; however, considerations of total space needs would benefit lesser prairie‐chickens by accounting for the greater spatial requirements during the nonbreeding season. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.

SURVEY OF GROSS AND HISTOPATHOLOGIC FINDINGS IN TWO WINTERING SUBPOPULATIONS OF SANDHILL CRANES ( ANTIGONE CANADENSIS).

: Sandhill Cranes ( Antigone canadensis) of the midcontinent population (MCP) and Rocky Mountain population (RMP) are migratory game birds with stable populations that travel between Canada and the southern US and Mexico. In the winters of 2012-14, we performed gross and histologic examinations of 43 hunter-harvested Sandhill Cranes in Texas (MCP) and New Mexico (RMP) to assess the impact of disease on populations. Lesions were significantly more common in the MCP relative to the RMP, likely reflecting differential environmental exposure to pathogens and parasites. Grossly, liver nodules and esophageal granulomas were present in 8-39% of birds. In feces from over half of birds, we found coccidian oocysts with mitochondrial gene sequences identical to those of Eimeria gruis and Eimeria reichenowi previously obtained from sympatric Whooping Cranes ( Grus americana). Over one-quarter of birds had liver and cardiac lesions suggestive of disseminated visceral coccidiosis. We documented proliferative colitis due to Cryptosporidium in a wild Sandhill Crane. Additionally, several endoparasites were found in histologic sections from several cranes, including a bird with respiratory trematodiasis and two birds with Tetrameres sp. in the proventriculus associated with ductal ectasia. In addition to describing lesions and parasites that impact Sandhill Crane health, these pathology data may also be relevant for the conservation of endangered Whooping Cranes using a surrogate species approach.

The North American Quails, Partridges, and Pheasants

This book documents the biology of six species of New World quails that are native to North America north of Mexico (mountain, scaled, Gambel’s, California, and Montezuma quails, and the northern bobwhite), three introduced Old World partridges (chukar, Himalayan snowcock, and gray partridge), and the introduced common (ring-necked) pheasant. Collectively, quails, partridges, and pheasants range throughout all of the continental United States and the Canadian provinces. Two of the species, the northern bobwhite and ring-necked pheasant, are the most economically important of all North American upland game birds. All of the species are hunted extensively for sport and are highly popular with naturalists, birders, and other outdoor enthusiasts.