Listserv Posts

Re: Thank Godwit (marbled)

I might add that, though it seems crazy relative to our traditional thinking about summer, most shorebirds are quite early migrants after breeding.  Most of this has to do with their molt strategy as all shorebirds migrate south before their complete molt. Thus, whereas many songbirds (robins, warblers, many sparrows) molt on or near the breeding grounds – and therefore linger for 3-6 weeks after nesting – adult shorebirds “pack their bags” remarkably quickly after nesting.  Reports in Idaho this year have shown multiple species of southbound shorebirds (e.g., godwits, yellowlegs, Western Sandpipers) since the last week of June and many of the Long-billed Curlews we study head S by the 2nd or 3rd week of June – 1 bird a few years ago even flew south in late May!!!

The early southbound migrants are all adults – and largely failed breeders followed by successful breeders.
Hope this helps explain this seemingly odd timing 😁
Jay

Listserv Posts

Re: Thank Godwit (marbled)

Apologies for my “unkind” remarks yesterday…. 

“ hey Larry, lighten up, dude! ”   (  this ish me self-talk focus this morning   =)  (=   

 

Apparently, I’m irreversibly afflicted with HES…. “high expectations syndrome” that we, on a state listserv regarding birds, could have science-based discussions about topics like the fossil remains of birds and of their predecessors, of their subsequent evolution and radiation, phylogeny, classification, biogeography, origin of feathers and molt, origin(s) and evolution of flight, or loss of flight, aspects of physiology unique to birds, bill structure, feeding, nutrition, behaviors and communication, annual cycles and the role of photoperiod, migration or lack thereof, navigation, social behaviors, mating systems, reproduction and development, population dynamics, habitat associations, conservation, extinction, yes extinction….!!    allez allons-y, allons-y  !!!

 

Whew!  That was a mouthful, eh?

 

So, about every three years or so, I get frustrated over our lack of science-based discussion on IBLE regarding bird-related topics like those above, with THE Inferred Purpose of IBLE being to find, post, and chase the next year bird, next state bird, next county bird, the next “any list” bird, but especially the next Life Bird, regardless of how many resources we expend, e.g., petroleum.  I’ve been plenty guilty of this as well.  But hey, I’m thankful that IBLE isn’t as bad as it could be, because I know of state listservs that *forbid* posting about our yard birds (good grief), the focus being strictly listing, any and all kinds of listing…. 

 

Here’s my point, i.e., my lead-in to the notion of a “pair” of hummingbirds, which don’t really exist per se.  Most college textbooks on ornithology discuss “mating systems” and I’m lifting the following list of so called “pair bonds” (systems) and their “known” prevalence (definitions and examples are easy to find on google, wiki, etc.) from one such textbook (Ornithology, Frank Gill, 1994), but these occurrence rates have been changing as we learn more…

 

Polyandry        fewer than 1% of all bird species

Polygynandry  occurance ?

Polygyny         about 2%

Polygamy         about 3%

Promiscuity      about 6% of all bird species, including hummingbirds, manakins, grouse

Monogamy      predominant avian mating system, but I will note that I’ve seen recent peer-reviewed papers wherein this system is not as prevalent as we had always “thought” it was.  need data.  need input.  need more data and more input.  need analysis of data.  need reanalyses and peer reviews.  need science.

 

Totally free rant by Larry

No down payment necessary, easy payments of $0, no interest accruing !!   hahahaha

 

 


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