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Jniversity of Alberta Library 0 1620 3323316 2 BK@ l-vf ■- --ssa®? Sp? #• m*mm. j BBS v.71: no.3 2013 SCI/TECH Front Covi Ex Libris 1lough Back Cove I UNIVERSITY OF T T 'alberta Universitatis Albertensis Prairie crocus (Anemone patens): top — typical flower form; bottom left-rose flower form; bottom right- white flower form, (from article page 135) - Vladimir Kricsfalusy Blue Jay Vol. 71 No. 3 September 2013 117- 164 Birds ARE EARED GREBES WITH A CHESTNUT RED FORENECK ABSENT FROM NORTH AMERICAN POPULATION? Andre Konter.118 LONG-EARED OWL NESTING PHENOLOGY AND HABITAT IN CENTRALALBERTA Lisa Takats Priestley, Chuck Priestley.124 AN OBSERVATION OF GROUND FEEDING AND COPROPHAGY BY A COMMON NIGHTHAWK IN NW MANITOBA Richard Staniforth, Rudolf Koes.132 Plants NOTES ON BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF THE PRAIRIE CROCUS (ANEMONE PATENS L.) AND ITS CURRENT STATUS IN SASKATCHEWAN Vladimir V. Kricsfalusy, YakivP. Ponomarenko.135 Photo Essay SNOWY OWL - GYRFALCON SCRAP, WHITE BUTTE, SK Anne Brigham.149 Notes and Letters AN ICONIC INSECT OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA, THE FIREFLY IS LIGHTING UP THE PRAIRIE SKY Jeff Boone.153 WHOOPING CRANE WITH LEG BAND SIGHTED NEAR MOSSBANK, SK Don Smith.156 Lichen Series Caloplaca trachyphylla (Tuck.) Zahlbr. Bernard de Vries.157 Mystery Photo.158 71 (3) September 2013 117 BIRDS ARE EARED GREBES WITH A CHESTNUT RED FORENECK ABSENT FROM NORTH AMERICAN POPULATION? ANDRE KONTER, National Museum of Natural History, 25 rue Munster L-2160 Luxembourg e-mail: [email protected] Abstract produces a chestnut red coloration Examples of Eared Grebes in the upper breast and foreneck (.Podiceps nigricollis californicus) of the breeding plumage in Black¬ in breeding plumage with necked Grebes. At some distance, chestnut red feathers in their they resemble Horned Grebes upper breast and foreneck seem (P. auritus). In Europe, a total of to be absent from the North seven individuals displaying the American ornithological literature, condition were recorded. The first while seven records exist in was collected in 1883 at Lake European Black-necked Grebes Velencze in Hungary.1 The next (P. n. nigricollis). A photo search observation was much later, in identified seven Eared Grebes, 1969.2 It was followed by a record three of them in Canada, affected in 1974,3 two records in 1994,4 by the mutation that may simply a record in 2005 (Garcia Rios, have been overlooked until now, unpublished) and a last record in so the character trait could be 2009 (Konter, in press). Except for widespread in the californicus the first observation and Garcia subspecies. Rios’ sighting from Spain, all other observations were from Germany. Introduction In contrast, the North American During a study on colour mutations ornithological literature seems to affecting the plumage of grebes be silent; not a single record of (Podicipedidae), I noticed that one an Eared Grebe with a chestnut aberration typical for P. nigricollis red foreneck could be found. was considered very rare in The question arose: whether European Black-necked Grebes individuals affected by the genetic (Podiceps nigricollis nigricollis) mutation had passed unnoticed, while it appeared to be completely or whether they were really absent absent in North American from North American populations. Eared Grebe populations (P. To check this, I went through over n. californicus). The mutation two thousand of my own photos of 118 Blue Jay UNIVERSITY LIBRARY UNIVERSITY HP Al RPQTA Figure 1: Comparison; typical Eared Grebe (near) and chestnut red foreneck (far) (see back inside cover for colour image) ©2012 Heather Cuthill Eared Grebes and I also surveyed and dark brown whereas photos published on the internet. phaeomelanin is responsible for warm reddish-brown to pale buff A short introduction to genetic colors. Both melanins together mutations affecting the can give a wide range of grayish- pigmentation of birds brown colors.5 The coloration of the plumage and bare parts of birds results If melanin deposition in feathers from color pigments. Overall, is altered, aberrant individuals there are many different color result. Old age or sickness may pigments. Most common in cause this, while other aberrations birds are melanins followed by are caused by genetic mutations. carotenoids. Grebes rely almost In the latter, we generally entirely on melanins for their recognize six different results. coloration. There are two different Three of them (leucism, dilution forms of melanin. Depending on and melanism) can be caused by concentration and distribution several different mutations, while within the feather, eumelanin the other three (albinism, brown is responsible for black, grey and ino) are all caused by a single genetic mutation.5 71 (3) September 2013 119 The following explanations are in three different ways: by an largely based on van Grouw.5’67 altered distribution, by the deposit Albinism is caused by a complete of higher quantities including in absence of both melanins in parts previously uncolored and by feathers, eyes and skin. Generally, a change in the form of melanin all-white plumage, red eyes, produced. pink feet and a pink bill result. Leucism is caused by a total lack The mutation of interest here is of both melanins in some or all the third type of melanism. It was feathers. It may affect bare parts, first described by Harrison8 who but does not affect the eyes. If noted that where the chestnut- all feathers are white, leucism red melanin appeared, it seemed is total, otherwise it is partial. to replace the other melanin Brown expresses by a qualitative pigments. He9 proposed to refer to reduction of eumelanin only. it as erythromelanin. Campbell and Due to an incomplete oxidation, Lack10 considered the abnormal what is ordinarily black or grey change to chestnut-red occurring becomes brown and bleaches in individuals of some species, further. A quantitative reduction to be a mutation resulting in a of one or both melanins is called qualitative reduction of eumelanin. dilution. Dilution may take several Today it is clear that there is no forms, depending on whether one third type of melanin. However, or both melanins are affected. we still lack a detailed explanation Most common are a quantitative on how the change from, in the reduction of eumelanin only (isabel case of Eared Grebes, black to dilution) or of both melanins chestnut red plumage occurs. For (pastel dilution). The degree of the time being, we may continue dilution is variable. Affected colors to call the result erythromelanism. will look faded and may bleach further. A qualitative reduction of Material and methods both melanins without that the To check the occurrence of red¬ quantities produced are changed necked Eared Grebes in North is called ino. What is ordinarily American populations, I revisited black becomes very pale brown to all own photos of the species cream; what is ordinarily reddish- taken during visits to Manitoba to yellow-brown remains hardly and Saskatchewan (July 2006, visible. The iris turns pinkish, May 2008), Alberta (July 2012), the feet and bill pink. Finally California and Oregon (July melanism is an abnormal deposit 2009, May 2011) and Utah (July of pigments that may express 2010). In addition, I searched 120 Blue Jay the internet for photos of Eared on the foreneck on 16 July 2011. Grebes on http://www.flickr.com/ This individual engaged in a using the search string “Eared body shake and was of particular Grebe photos”. interest in that it displayed a completely brownish red belly. Results While the chestnut tinges on the Three of my own photos upper breast and lower neck were showed Eared Grebes in not very pronounced, the unusual breeding plumages with chestnut pigmentation of the belly was red in their foreneck and upper striking. At Klein Park, Calgary, breast. At Oak Hammock Marsh, Alberta, a female in complete Manitoba, an individual displayed breeding plumage showed a a bright chestnut upper breast in chestnut red upper breast and July 2006. In its lower foreneck, lower half of the front neck on 1 chestnut tinges existed while the June 2012 (Figure 1). D. Delaney upper neck was entirely black. At photographed a grebe in breeding Farmington Bay, Great Salt Lake, plumage with chestnut red lower Utah, I photographed on 1 July foreneck and upper breast (Figure 2010 an Eared Grebe which had 2; see inside back cover) at John the foreneck and upper breast E. Poole Wetland, St. Albert, interspersed with many chestnut Alberta on 20 May 2013. feathers. Out of some distance, Finally, on the internet page this area looked rather red. A grebe www.apoaeephoto.com. A. Long in complete breeding plumage showed a photograph of a nesting with an intense chestnut upper Eared Grebe with chestnut red breast and foreneck interspersed upper breast and foreneck. Place with some black feathers was and date of his picture were not present at Lower Klamath Lake, indicated, but it was probably California, in May 2011. taken around 2001 in Colorado. On flickr.com, an additional four I may add that at least two of the examples were retrieved. R. erythromelanistic individuals bred Michal photographed an Eared successfully as they were caring Grebe in breeding plumage with for chicks, one was nesting and a chestnut red upper breast two others appeared to be paired and foreneck at Henderson Bird to normal Eared Grebes. Viewing Preserve, Las Vegas, Nevada, on 5 July 2009. At Discussion Ventura Marina, California, M. Similar to Europe, a total of eight Forsman took a picture of a Eared Grebes having chestnut grebe with chestnut red tinges red feathers in their upper breast 121 71 (3) September 2013 and foreneck were found in the parental stock. In this case, North America, in a much shorter DNA investigations should reveal time frame. Three of them were genetic differences to Podiceps recorded in the Canadian prairie nigricollis californicus that would states. This suggests that the only warrant subspecies status. mutation may be widespread and To what extent the mutation is simply overlooked in Canada causing erythromelanism in Eared and in the USA. Grebes may be dominant or recessive cannot be directly Affected Eared Grebes resemble investigated in the field. There, the now extinct Colombian Grebe we may only find out to what Podiceps andinus. The latter is by extent the expression of the trait some considered a species of its is widespread. Its occurrence own, by others a subspecies of P. may occasionally challenge the nigricollis. It is conceivable that in identification skills of birdwatchers ancient times a small population as at some distance confusion of Eared Grebes in which the with Horned Grebes becomes gene for chestnut melanism was possible. The very limited number widespread became isolated of observations suggests that in the Bogota highlands. erythromelanistic Eared Grebes Considering that melanism is present a curiosity that contributes generally a Mendelian dominant,11 to genetic variability in the species erythromelanistic grebes had a rather than anything else. The good chance to completely invade trait as such does not seem to this subpopulation rather rapidly. provide any disadvantages with Even with recessive alleles, this respect to health or fitness to could have been achieved. In the individuals concerned. The general, low population sizes pairing and breeding success of strongly contribute to loss of the individuals retrieved a priori genetic variation. On average, supports this statement. The this increases the level of occurrence of these aberrant homozygosity.12 Through sexual individuals and their chances selection, the genes for the for successful pair bonding expression of the trait and the genes and breeding should be further for mating preferences for the trait investigated in the field. may then become genetically correlated.13 Assortative mating Acknowledgement may thus have produced a I am grateful to the reviewers subpopulation of Eared Grebes and editors of Blue Jay for their with a different appearance from welcome comments and drafting 122 Blue Jay proposals that contributed to the quality of the final article. 7. Van Grouw H (2010) How to Many thanks to the editors for recognise colour aberrations in gaining permission and to the birds (in museum collections). photographers for granting J. Afrotropical Zoology, special permission to use the two photos issue: 53-59. of erythromelanistic grebes. 8. Harrison CJO (1963) Grey and References fawn variant plumages. Bird Study 1. Rokitansky G (1952) Ein seltenes 10:219-233. Kleid des Schwarzhalstauchers. Vogelkundl. Nachr. Osterreich 1:5. 9. Harrison CJO (1965) The chestnut-red melanin in 2. Harengerd M (1971) schizochroic plumages. Ibis Sammelbericht fur die Zeit von 107:106-108. November 1968 bis Marz 1971 (Teil 1). Anthus 8:17-21. 10. Campbell B, Lack E (1985) A dictionary of birds. T & A D Poyser. 3. Dittberner H, Dittberner W (1984) Zu Okologie, Brutbiologie 11. Gross AO (1965) Melanism und morphologischen Merkmalen in North American birds. Bird- des Schwarzhalstauchers Banding 36:240-242. (Podiceps nigricollis). Mitt. Zool. Museum Berlin 60, Suppl.: Ann. 12. Bensch S, Hansson B, Orn. 8:57-88. Hasselquist D, Nielsen B (2000) 4. Koop B (1995) Rothalsige Partial albinism in a semi- Schwarzhalstaucher Podiceps isolated population of Great Reed nigricollis in Schleswig-Holstein. Warblers. Hereditas 133: 167- Li mi col a 9:223-226. 170. 5. Van Grouw H (2013) What 13. Dale J (2006) Intraspecific colour is that bird? The causes variation in coloration in Hill EG, and recognition of common colour McGraw KJ: Bird coloration, Vol. 1, aberrations in birds. British Birds Mechanisms and measurements. 106:17-29. Harvard University Press, Cambridge & London (p. 3-40). 6. Van Grouw H (2006) Not every white bird is an albino: sense and nonsense about colour abberations in birds. Dutch Birding 28:79-89. 123 71 (3) September 2013 LONG-EARED OWL NESTING PHENOLOGY AND HABITAT IN CENTRAL ALBERTA LISATAKATS PRIESTLEY1 , CHUCK PRIESTLEY2 1 Beaverhill Bird Observatory 2 STRIX Ecological Consulting The Long-eared Owl (Asio initiated by Alberta Environment otus) is a secretive nocturnal and Sustainable Resource owl found in open and sparsely Development (Alberta ESRD) to forested habitats across North encourage raptor banders and America and Eurasia between 30° researchers to collect additional and 65°N latitude.12 In Alberta, information on nest locations and it is found in the Boreal Forest, breeding habitat use of birds of Foothills, Grassland, Parkland, prey. This program developed and Rocky Mountain Natural into the Prairie Nest Record Regions, where they prefer Scheme and Alberta Raptor Nest fragmented habitats containing Card Programs. The Alberta dense woodlands or shelterbelts Raptor Nest Card data are stored for nesting and roosting and with Beaverhill Bird Observatory open areas for hunting.7 It is and data are submitted to Alberta a year round-resident, but it's ESRD and the national NestWatch overwintering ecology is relatively Program run by Bird Studies unknown.27 The Long-eared Owl is considered 'Secure' in Alberta,1 although information on populations, trends, specific habitat use and even distribution are poorly understood.912 Banding data from Saskatchewan suggest there is inconclusive evidence for population declines, and that populations are cyclical.10 The first step in managing wildlife populations is having knowledge of distribution and abundance.14 Owls are elusive, which makes them difficult to study and monitor.8 In 1988, a volunteer raptor nest card program was 124 Blue Jay