This year we received 51 domestic and 13 Latin American applications for the E. Alexander Bergstrom Research Award. These numbers were slightly greater than last year (about 7 more) although 7 of the domestic proposals were disqualified as they were from PhD students. 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 two reviewers for each application submitted to the Latin American category and three for the domestic proposals. An average of all scores resulted in the final rank and that was followed by reviewer conference for final selection of winning proposals.

As per our 2004 annual council meeting, the 2005 awards were funded as in years past with $5,000 for the domestic category, and $4,500 for the Latin American category. There was a bit of debate over the domestic competition, but the three judges made some compromises and came up with four good proposals with a nice breakdown of diversity-funding proposals from the US, Canada, undergraduate, and MS level students. As with the domestic award category, one of the LA winners is an amateur and one, an undergraduate. I have listed the winners (and their proposal titles & abstracts) below.

And the winners are:

Latin American Awards

Jorge A. Posada Garcia - NATURAL HISTORY AND HABITAT USE BY TWO SPECIES OF THREATENED TANAGERS IN THE WESTERN ANDES
Universidad Nacional de Colombia (undergrad)
Award: $1,500
Abstract: This proposal relates to the implementation of a study of the natural history and habitat use by two species of tanager, Black-and-gold Tanager (Bangsia melanochlamys) and Gold-ringed Tanager (B. aureocincta) which are considered threatened by several national and international conservation organizations. This project will be carried out in Tatamá National Park in the municipalities of San Jose de Palmar in the Department of Chocó, Pueblo Rico Sanctuary and La Celia in the Department of Risaralda and El Aguila in the Department of the Cauca Valley in the Western Andes in the Chocó Biogeographic Region. The data obtained by the this study will be used as a model for the establishment of detailed and accurate studies in conservation biology for the region, with the goal of carrying out sound management of natural resources by both governmental and non governmental organizations. Also this study will be published for the national and international conservation communities in the form of scientific papers in professional journals. Therefore the implementation of this research is the main impetus and the first step in determining the exactly the gravity of the treat for these species. Therefore the resources requested from AFO are of vital importance to the realization of this project. They will allow the researcher adequate facilities in the field phase of the project with the goal of insuring professional excellence in the execution and in the analysis of the data presented. The necessary permits for the collection of botanical specimens are already being processed by the appropriate authorities.

Paul E. Oviedo - EFFECTS OF TOURISM ON BIRD DENSITY AND
DIVERSITY IN BRAULIO CARRILLO RAIN FOREST NATIONAL PARK, COSTA RICA
San Jose, Costa Rica (amateur)
Award: $1,500
Abstract: This study will estimate the effects of tourist presence on forest bird density in Braulio Carrillo Rain Forest National Park, Costa Rica. Evidence of birds' presence will be measured by four variables - number of individual birds, number of bird species, number of total vocalizations and number of different vocalizations. During twelve months, I'll collect data on three trails. One commonly visited by tourists, a second trail not much visited and one with no tourist traffic. Data will be analyzed using the ANOVA multi-factorial tests. The results of this study are required by the Ministry of the Environment to begin a current tourism plan that regulates number of visits in National Parks. The methodology for this study could be a highly useful protocol for other national parks in the Costa Rican park system.

Alexandre Uezu- CONSERVATION OF FIVE INDICATOR BIRDS IN
A FRAGMENTED LANDSCAPE OF ATLANTIC FOREST "PONTAL DO PARANAPANEMA"
Instituto de Pesquisas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Award: $1,500
Abstract: The Atlantic Forest is one of the richest ecosystems on the planet and at the same time one of the most threatened. Human occupation for different types of exploration led to an intense forest fragmentation, which isolated many populations of flora and fauna in small patches. This new condition increased the chances of extinction of many species dependent on this biome. The aim of this project is to assess the risk of extinction of five indicator bird species in the fragmented landscape of Pontal do Paranapanema. These species represent different functional groups with different sensitivities to fragmentation. Two of them are listed as near-threatened on the IUCN Red list. Species selection was based on the results of a study that we have been conducting in the region since 2002. A total of eight patches will be studied in the Pontal do Paranapanema region. An additional four are inside the State Park of Morro do Diabo, a remnant forest consisting of 36,000 ha; will serve as the control group for the fragmented landscape. The patches vary according to shape, quality, time since isolation, degree of isolation and connectivity. All landscape parameters will be measured in a GIS base. Bird data will be based on genetic analyses, radio telemetry, mark-recapture and health assessment. The collected data will be used to build a spatially explicit model of population viability. The model will generate parameters which indicate long term species viability in the region. Model analysis will also reveal the impact of species specific attributes on the extinction risk due to fragmentation. Making simulations of landscape changes, such as habitat losses, increase in the fragmentation process, implantation of corridors and stepping stones will also make it possible to assess which landscape elements are crucial to determine the vulnerability of the five indicator bird species. The information generated in this study will contribute to increase the knowledge about the effects of fragmentation on birds. It will also indicate landscapes elements that must be prioritized for bird conservation, showing new ways for landscape management. As this study emphasizes the biology of five indicator species, representing different functional groups, we expect that the results achieved and the recommendations for landscape management will be able to reach the majority of bird composition in the region.

Domestic Awards

Lisa Ferguson - REPRODUCTIVE ECOLOGY OF BROWN PELICANS ALONG THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST IN RELATION TO ECTOPARASITY INFESTATION
Clemson University, South Carolina
Award: $1,000
Abstract: Examining the impact of insecticide use and tick infestation on growth rates, survival and physiological condition of pelican chicks. Growth rates and survival are measured during periodic nest checks, while physiological condition is evaluated by measuring circulating levels of the stress hormone corticosterone. Baseline corticosterone is an indicator of the degree of environmental stress an individual is experiencing, and has been shown to have a positive relationship to tick infestation in red-legged kittiwake chicks. Prolonged elevation of circulating corticosterone during early growth may have adverse effects on individuals that can compromise development and survival.

Kathryn Langin – LINKING FALL MIGRATORY EVENTS WITH BREEDING LATITUDE AND REPRODUCTIVE EFFORT IN A MIGRATORY SONGBIRD
Queen’s University, Ontario, Canada
Award: $1000
Abstract: Recent population declines in Neotropical-Nearctic migrant songbirds have been difficult to attribute solely to events occurring on the tropical wintering grounds, temperate breeding grounds, or during migration. Using stable-isotope techniques, researchers can examine how events throughout the annual cycle are linked to influence population dynamics in migratory birds. In a recent study, male American redstarts were shown to molt at migratory stopover sites after investing in high levels of reproduction late in the breeding season. I propose to examine if there are carry-over effects associated with the molt-migration strategy such as poor body condition and later timing of fall migration. Through stable-hydrogen isotope analysis of redstart feathers collected at banding stations, I will infer breeding latitude and molting patterns and relate them to condition and migratory timing. Determining the factors that influence condition, and ultimately mortality, during migration will be critical for understanding the factors that limit migratory bird populations.

Karan Odom - A TEST FOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN VOCALIZATIONS OF WILD-REARED AND HUMAN-REARED BIRDS OF PREY: IS LEARNING INVOLVED IN CALL DEVELOPMENT OF OWLS, EAGLES AND OSPREYS?
Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada (Undergrad)
Award: $852
Abstract: Recent population declines in Neotropical-Nearctic migrant songbirds have been difficult to attribute solely to events occurring on the tropical wintering grounds, temperate breeding grounds, or during migration. Using stable-isotope techniques, researchers can examine how event throughout the annual cycle are linked to influence population dynamics in migratory birds. In a recent study, male American redstarts (Setophaga ruticilla) were shown to molt at migratory stopover sites after investing in high levels of reproduction late in the breeding season. I propose to examine if there are carry-over effects associated with the molt-migration strategy such as poor body condition and later timing of fall migration. Through stable-hydrogen isotope analysis of redstart feathers collected at banding stations, I will infer breeding latitude and molting patterns and relate them to condition and migratory timing. Determining the factors that influence condition, and ultimately mortality, during migration will be critical for understanding the factors that limit migratory bird populations.

Jason Townsend - THE OVERWINTER ECOLOGY OF THE BICKNELL'S THRUSH: DIFFERENTIAL HABITAT OCCUPANCY AND TERRITORIALITY ON HISPANIOLA
Binghamton University, New York
Award: $1,000
Abstract: Neotropical migrant bird species may be threatened not only by events on breeding grounds, but also by habitat loss and intraspecific competition on wintering grounds. Virtually nothing is known of the nonbreeding ecology of Catharus thrushes. A member of this group, the Bicknell’s Thrush is a species of extreme conservation concern. Not only does this species have a fragmented and venerable breeding range, but its winter range is also concentrated on the island of Hispaniola, and area currently experiencing severe habitat degradation. Due to human impacts, the available habitat for Bicknell’s Thrush is saturated on Hispaniola. Here, bigger, more aggressive males will competitively exclude females and juveniles from high quality sites, leading to relatively poor condition in these individuals at the end of the winter period. I hypothesize that males will be more likely to hold and defend territories throughout the winter period, whereas females and juveniles will be more likely to float between habitats and there will be a positive correlation between food abundance and male-dominated habitat. This investigation will improve our understanding of the population limitations at work during the winter period in this vulnerable species. Such knowledge is critical for effective conservation planning. Additionally, this species may be the first documented example of a Neotropical migratory passerine that is territorial on the wintering grounds but not on the breeding grounds.

Adrian Wolf - BIRD USE OF EPIPHYTIC RESOURCES IN OLD-
GROWTH CONIFEROUS FORESTS OF THE PACIFIC ORTHWEST
The Evergreen State College, Washington
Award: $1,000
Abstract: The ecological roles of and resources that Pacific Northwest epiphytes provide for vertebrates are poorly known, particularly for birds. If epiphytes are an important foraging and nesting resource for birds, current and future management activities may have negative effects on bird community diversity and abundance. I will use mountain-climbing techniques to access the forest canopy to quantify the frequency that birds use epiphyte resources relative to other forest canopy resources. I will use frequency distribution and descriptive statistics to assess total epiphyte use by species and foraging guild within six epiphyte functional categories. Thus, I will determine: 1) the number of species that use epiphytes, 2) frequency of substrate use within each foraging guild, 3) the proportion of total activities that involve epiphytic resources, relative to tree resources; 4) proportion of foraging behaviors associated with epiphyte substrates, relative to tree resources; and 5) comparison of host tree resource use versus epiphyte resource use.