This year we received 44 domestic and 12 Latin American applications for the E. Alexander Bergstrom Research Award. As always, the program is highly competitive and the decisions were difficult! For ranking purposes, each reviewer read and scored every application in either the domestic or Latin American categories. There were three reviewers for each application. An average of all three scores resulted in the final rank and selection of winning proposals.

As per our 2003 annual council meeting, the 2004 awards were funded as in years past with $5,000 for the domestic category, and $4,500 for the Latin American category. Typically, AFO gives five $1,000 domestic awards, but because two winning applicants did not request the full amount, we were able to fund a sixth award to a deserving amateur (Kelly Williams-Sieg). There was a bit of debate over the Latin American competition, but the three judges made some compromises and came up with three good proposals, each funded at $1,500. As with the domestic award category, one of the winners (Alejandro Bodrati) is an amateur. I have listed the winners (and their proposal titles) below.

DOMESTIC AWARDS for 2004

Jeanne Hammond, Humboldt State, Arcata, CA. Nest predators and predation risk: Is an introduced predator, the black rat, limiting songbird breeding productivity?

Jennifer McNicoll, New Mexico State, Las Cruces, NM. Burrowing owl nest site selection in relation to prairie dog colony characteristics and surrounding land-use practices.

The western burrowing owl is declining throughout much of its range. Reasons for declines are not fully understood, habitat loss and degradation are thought to be primary causes. The western burrowing owl is dependent on burrows dug by fossorial animals for nesting; they are commonly associated with black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies. Black tailed prairie dog populations have declined an estimated 90-98% over the past 100 years and their distribution is particularly fragmented in the desert southwest. However, one of the largest remaining black-tailed prairie dog complexes is found in the Janos/Nuevo Casas Grandes area of northern Chihuahua, Mexico, within 100 km of the U.S./Mexico border. It is among the last relatively well-preserved grasslands in Mexico. As prairie dogs diminish, many species associated with their ecosystem encounter a loss of breeding sites, foraging habitat, and prey resources among other factors.
      The Janos/Nuevo Casas Grandes prairie dog complex offers a unique opportunity to study the ecological and anthropogenic factors affecting burrowing owls in prairie dog systems. This prairie dog complex is 20,000 ha in size and consists of approximately 50 colonies ranging in size from 1-15,000 ha. The variety of colony sizes, shapes and distribution along with the changing land-use practices in the region provide an excellent opportunity to examine burrowing owl nest-site selection. Within this region, human activities such as agricultural practices in Mennonite colonies and private ranches and livestock grazing on community owned properties, known as ejidos, and private ranches, are resulting in a fragmented landscape. Overgrazing in many areas has resulted in the loss of the perennial grassland to shrub encroachment and annual grasses. The conversion of grasslands to agricultural lands, housing developments and cattle ranching, is not unique to this area and there is a need to understand how these landscape level changes affect owl populations. In order to develop comprehensive management strategies for burrowing owls, we need to understand the impact of human activities on nest site selection.
      I am examining nest site selection by burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) on local and landscape scales within the black-tailed prairie dog complex in Janos, Chihuahua, Mexico. Within colonies I am examining the influence of owl densities, active and inactive prairie dog burrow densities, nest location and cluster size. On a landscape scale I am examining colony isolation and land-use practices within 600 m of each burrowing owl cluster. I searched 29 colonies for burrowing owl nests in the spring of 2003. Colony sizes ranged from 8 -15,000 ha. Three hundred and two nests were found on 26 colonies comprising 57 burrowing owl clusters. The largest nest cluster found had 34 nests in a single colony of 41 ha. Some colonies were densely packed with nests while others contained few or none. I will complete a second season in the spring of 2004.

Kim Mendres Mendillo, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. Human activity and its relationship to behavior, stress hormone levels, and hatching success in Least Terns.

Least Terns (which are endangered in New Jersey) nest on barrier beaches, habitats that are prized for human recreational activities including sunbathing, jogging, and fishing. Given the economic importance of beach recreation in New Jersey and other areas where beach-nesting birds breed, management strategies involving significant reductions in human activity are difficult to implement. Thus, there is a need to develop management approaches that integrate the needs of both birds and people. Most studies on disturbance and colonial birds have examined the effects of scientific investigation while the impact of recreation, the usual form of exposure to humans, has received comparatively less attention. Further, the relationship between responses that are typically measured (e.g., flush distance, time off the nest) and reproductive success is not clear. Increased use of physiological measures might provide clarification, as disturbance can have physiological effects that are not obvious from behavioral observation. Recently, biologists have begun to use stress hormones called glucocorticoids to assess the impact of both natural and human forms of disturbance (Wingfield et al. 1997, Fowler 1999, Romero and Wikelski 2001, 2002). A relationship between high glucocorticoid levels and impaired reproduction has been documented in a number of vertebrate species. Stress hormone levels might therefore be good predictors of reproductive success. I will compare 1) behavioral responses to human approaches, 2) stress hormone (corticosterone) levels, and 3) hatching success in areas of high and low human activity of Least Tern colonies. My objectives are: 1) to determine whether behavioral responses to human approaches and/ or corticosterone levels vary with levels of recreational activity near nests, and 2) to determine whether these responses predict hatching success. I am particularly interested in knowing whether birds exposed to frequent activity exhibit elevated responses or if they are instead habituated, and whether habituated birds are more reproductively successful than birds that are not habituated. Such information is critical for successful management of Least Terns. More broadly, this study should increase our understanding of how colonial waterbirds respond to recreational activity, and should clarify the utility of these behavioral and physiological responses for predicting the impact of such activity on reproduction.

Vanessa Pompei, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN. Migration stopover sites used by Great Lakes Piping Plovers.

The Great Lakes population of Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) has been intensively studied and monitored on the breeding grounds. However, very little is known about migration of the species in any part of their range. It is critical to understand the needs of this endangered population during all parts of the annual cycle. Although no studies have tracked individual birds during migration, it is possible to obtain information about stopover sites that plovers use. I compiled records (e.g. state atlases, bird journals) of Piping Plover sightings from the hypothetical migration pathway" that Great Lakes birds use as they move between wintering and breeding sites. I used these data to identify current and historic stopover sites, and to identify sites at which to analyze habitat characteristics. Piping Plovers use the shorelines of various types of water, including reservoirs, natural lakes and rivers. I have selected sites with a relatively high frequency of use as field sites, at which I have collected or will collect data regarding habitat characteristics. These results will help shape the direction of future projects that aim to determine whether or not protection of sites within the migration pathway is important for the recovery of the population.

Timothy Billo, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Vocal function and variation in a Suboscine hybrid zone with shifted clines.

One consequence of hybridization is the incorporation of advantageous alleles from one taxon into the gene pool of the other. This is caused by backcrossing of hybrids to one or both parental types in a process known as introgression. Asymmetrical introgression among various markers, or shifted clines, often characterize this process (Harrison 1993). An excellent example of asymmetrical introgression, and the focus of this study, comes from the hybrid zone between two bird species of western Panama: Manacus vitellinus and Manacus candei. The most striking feature of this particular hybrid zone is a shifted plumage cline characterized by the unidirectional spread of yellow vitellinus-like plumage, caused by backcrossing of yellow hybrids with candei, across the genetic and morphometric center of the hybrid zone into white plumaged candei populations (Parsons et al. 1993; Brumfield et al. 2001). Although there are several possible mechanisms driving the introgression of yellowish plumage into populations of candei, there is strong evidence to suggest that intra- and intersexual selection are the most likely (McDonald et al. 2001). The study I am proposing will help address the role of sexual selection on vocalizations in this hybrid zone, and will contribute to our understanding of mechanisms of trait introgression in hybrid zones in general. Using playback of call types used in male-male competition and female attraction (from both vitellinus and candei) in pure vitellinus, pure candei, hybrid, and introgressed populations, I will demonstrate whether Manacus can recognize and distinguish calls of either species. Consequently, I hope to determine whether these calls are likely subject to the same strong sexual selection which may have driven plumage color across the center of the hybrid zone (preliminary evidence suggests that they are not), and whether recognition of calls associated with either white or yellow plumage can yield any insight into mechanisms driving the observed biogeography of plumage. Using the hybrid zone as a natural experiment, this study will also yield general insight into patterns of song variation and inheritance in a Suboscine, the little studied sub-group of the Passerines to which Manacus belongs, (a group which unlike the Oscine song birds, appears to have songs which are innate rather than learned (Kroodsma 1996)). Finally, I hope to shed light on the role of vocalizations in species recognition, and their potential for either facilitating, or preventing hybridization.

Kelly Williams-Sieg, Buzzard's Roost Nature Preserve, Chillicothe, OH. The birds of Buzzard's Roost: An integrated monitoring program.

Buzzard's Roost Nature Preserve (39°19'N, 83°04'W) is located on the edge of the unglaciated plateau region of Southern Ohio west of Chillicothe. The preserve is currently 1,192 acres following the riparian corridor of Paint Creek near the confluence of North Fork, Paint Creek and the Scioto River and is 95% forested. The proposed project will establish a research station operated by volunteers, including two licensed bird banders, at Buzzard's Roost. The main goals are to monitor avian demographics and distribution at Buzzard's Roost Nature Preserve and to provide the community with access to environmental education and awareness. While data may be compared with regional trends, the main intent, at this point, is to establish baseline data including habitat characteristics. Evaluation will include all avian species with special emphasis on monitoring forest dependent species of special concern. An integrated monitoring program that supplements point counts with other methods such as constant effort mist netting is vital to effectively interpret trends. Census techniques will include point counts, constant effort mist netting, and habitat assessments. This research station will provide educational outreach to the community by inviting the public to attend and to participate in the banding studies and to involve local children and other volunteers in the habitat assessment as well as other appropriate aspects of the research.

LATIN AMERICAN AWARDS for 2004

Adan Oliveras de Ita, Universidad Nacional Autonóma de México, Morelia, MX. Genetic structure and distribution of the Sierra Madre Sparrow (Xenospiza baileyi): a species in danger of extinction.

The Sierra Madre Sparrow (Xenospiza baileyi) is endemic to Mexico and is one of 28 Mexican species considered to be endangered on a global level. Historically X. baileyi was known from three regions, but since 1951it has only been found in the shrubland remnants of southern Valle de México. The Sierra Madre Sparrow is strictly associated with subalpline shrubland, and the surrounding habitat types seem to act as barriers limiting its distribution. Because of the species' critical situation, there is a need to accurately document its range and evaluate the genetic diversity of the remnant populations. The genetic diversity, inbreeding, and gene flow of X. baileyi will be compared to that of other species in danger of extinction. Since no prior genetic work has been done with this species, a protocol will need to be developed for the amplification and sequencing of its mtDNA. The population studies and genetic analysis of X. baileyi will provide the understanding necessary for the conservation of this species.

Miguel A. Acevedo, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR. Comparing novel methods of digital recordings with traditional point-count surveys for rapid assessment of bird communities.

Habitat loss due to human activities has transformed continuous forest into forest fragments. One important conservation strategy is to identify areas of high biodiversity and protect these areas. How to evaluate the biodiversity value of an area has frequently been debated in conservation biology literature. Two methods are used to assess the biodiversity value: long term studies and rapid assessments. Most conservation decisions are made based on rapid assessments. There is a need to develop rapid assessment techniques that will increase the quantity and quality of information. I propose to compare novel methods of digital sound recording with the traditional point-count method for the rapid assessment of bird communities by comparing three methods of digital recording with standard point-counts technique. Bird species diversity will be determined using four methods in three different tropical ecosystems: wetland, karst and rainforest in the island of Puerto Rico. The methods to compare with the traditional point-count surveys are: (1) MP3 player with Sony microphone (the less expensive method), (2) Pocket PC with Sony microphone (moderately expensive), and (3) Marantz digital recorder with Sennheiser omnidirectional microphone (most expensive method). I will analyze the number of species identified using each technique with a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) in which the point-count survey and the three acoustic recordings (MP3 Nomad, PocketPC, and Marantz digital recorder) will be treated as treatments with 10 replicates each. Since the three habitat types (wetland, karst, and rainforest) should vary with regard of species diversity and probability of detection, we will conduct an independent ANOVA for each habitat type.

Alejandro Bodrati, Fundacion de Historia Natural Félix de Azara, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Status and natural history of birds in the Parana Pine forest district, Misiones, Argentina.

Some of Argentina's most threatened birds are found in the subtropical Parana Pine forest, in the province of Misiones. Logging, agriculture, and livestock are replacing the diverse Parana Pine forest ecosystem, leaving a mosaic landscape of small forest fragments, tree plantations, secondary forest, and cleared land. As a volunteer in the Parana Pine Forest Campaign at the Fundación de Historia Natural Félix de Azara, I study the extent to which forest birds use these "modified" habitats; I look for priority sites for bird conservation; and I study the presence, distribution, natural history, and abundance of eight species of threatened birds that are found, in Argentina, mostly within the Parana Pine forest. The results of my research form the basis for our conservation actions in the Parana Pine forest.