The federally endangered Nene (Branta sandvicensis), or Hawaiian Goose, once present on most of the Hawaiian Islands, was found only on Hawai’i Island by 1900. Nene have been restored to a few places like Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park (HAVO). As their slow recovery has progressed, Nene have begun to reestablish some natural movement patterns and routes that connect their isolated small subpopulations on Hawai’i Island. The objectives of this research are to understand long distance movements of HAVO Nene that travel between distant populations on Hawai’I Island and to determine habitat use patterns of Nene in the Kahuku Unit. MORE 
A recent increase in the number of riparian birds exhibiting deformities at Tumacacori NHP has raised concerns about the quality of the water in the Santa Cruz River, the potential for infectious avian diseases within the Park, and the overall health of the riparian bird community. We propose to study this potentially serious problem by 1) monitoring breeding bird populations in riparian woodlands at Tumacacori NHP (and at a nearby control study site), 2) documenting the prevalence of deformities within these populations, and 3) identifying the underlying causes of the observed deformities. Results from this exploratory research project will benefit Tumacacori NHP by providing important information with which to better manage and conserve the riparian bird community within the Park. MORE 
Island loggerhead shrikes are an endemic, genetically distinct subspecies of loggerhead shrike on California’s Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz Islands - part of Channel Islands National Park - that are listed as a Species of Special Concern by the California Department of Fish and Game and a formal request has been submitted for federal listing under the Endangered Species Act. Statistically rigorous sampling methods will be used to survey shrikes on the islands, toward the goal of estimating abundance and determining locations of birds. MORE
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.fort.usgs.gov/brdscience/pobs1.aspx?topic= Birds
Page Contact Information: Paul_Geissler@usgs.gov
