Using peak geometry and shifts in the x-ray spectrum of carbon from electron probe microanalysis to determine thermal maturity of organic matter
Haolin Zhou, Gelu Costin, Justin E. Birdwell, Paul C. Hackley, Daniel Minisini, Tanguy Terlier, Mark A. Torres
2025, Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research (49) 591-605
During the burial of mudstones, the associated organic matter undergoes gradual thermal maturation, a key process that can influence the reactivity of organic matter during catagenesis, the formation of hydrocarbon deposits and the chemical weathering of mudstones. Conventional methods for assessing the thermal maturity of organic matter often fail to...
Small waterbodies of large conservation concern: Towards an integrated approach to more accurately measuring surface water dynamics
Owen P. McKenna, Audrey Claire Lothspeich, Sara Vacek, Dawn MacDonald, Josh D. Eash, Melanie K. Vanderhoof, Elyssa C. McCulloch, Caryn D. Ross, Sadia Sabrina, Joseph F. Knight
2025, Ecological Indicators (175)
Millions of small waterbodies are dispersed throughout the middle of the North American continent, and billions of dollars have been invested to conserve, restore, and manage these waterbodies in the 20th and 21st centuries. Small waterbody conservation has been supported by different stakeholders aiming at improving water quality, enhancing floodwater...
Stable occupancy of conservation-priority birds amid community shifts across 16 years on Iowa wetland easements
Lindsey A.W. Gapinski, Karen E. Kinkead, Adam K. Janke, Stephen J. Dinsmore, Todd Bishop, Anna Maureen Tucker
2025, Ornithological Applications (127)
Intensive agriculture in the Prairie Pothole Region of Iowa, USA has resulted in significant wetland drainage and wildlife population declines. However, easement programs are increasingly used to protect and restore wetlands and revitalize biodiversity. Short-term responses (i.e., 1–5 years) of birds to wetland restorations are well-documented, but...
Integrated stratigraphic and geochemical analysis of organic-rich intervals of the Lewis Shale in the eastern Washakie Basin, Wyoming
Jane S. Hearon, Paul C. Hackley, Justin E. Birdwell
2025, The Mountain Geologist (62) 5-36
Geological studies in the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway (KWIS) in North America reveal highly variable sedimentological conditions on its western shore caused by rapidly changing sea level and detrital input during the seaway’s closure. Here we examine a 601-foot (183 meters) continuous core through the lower part of the Maastrichtian...
2022–2024 Status and trends of the Palila (Loxioides bailleui)
Noah Hunt, Chauncey K. Asing, Lindsey Nietmann, Paul C. Banko, Richard J. Camp
2025, Hawaii Cooperative Studies Unit Technical Report HCSU-115
Palila (Loxioides bailleui) are critically endangered Hawaiian honeycreepers specializing on the seedpods of māmane (Sophora chrysophylla) and restricted to Mauna Kea volcano on the Island of Hawaiʻi. A previous analysis of survey data estimated an 89% population decline between 1998 and 2021. Using the most recent annual survey data from...
Genetic structure and diversity in wild populations of the Light-footed Ridgway’s Rail reflect 20 years of augmentation through captive breeding and release
Amy G. Vandergast, Julia G. Smith, Anna Mitelberg, Dustin A. Wood, Kimberley A. Sawyer, Courtney J. Conway
2025, Open-File Report 2025-1011
Captive breeding and release programs aimed at recovery of rare species can be informed by genetic data to help select high-diversity source populations, make pairing decisions to minimize inbreeding, and manage release strategies. We developed a set of 54 microsatellite loci to assess genetic structure and diversity across the United...
Satellite imagery can predict bird species occupancy and inform multispecies management in pine savannas
Cory R. Allred, Todd M. Schneider, Elizabeth Ann Hunter
2025, Ornithological Applications
Multispecies management can contribute to meeting growing challenges of preserving biodiversity, yet current game and threatened species management often focuses on individual species. Satellite imagery available at high spatial and temporal resolution provides a potential tool to overcome the challenge posed by multispecies management of linking patterns of habitat use...
Safety and immunogenicity of poultry vaccine for protecting critically endangered avian species against highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, United States
Todd E. Katzner, Ashleigh V. Blackford, Mary Donahue, Samantha E.J. Gibbs, Julianna B. Lenoch, Michael K. Martin, Tonie E. Rocke, J. Jeffrey Root, Darren Styles, Sunny Cooper, Kristin Dean, Zachary Dvornicky-Raymond, Dominique Keller, Carlos Sanchez, Brett Dunlap, Thomas Grier, Michael P. Jones, Gregory Nitzel, Erin Patrick, Maureen Purcell, Aaron J. Specht, David L. Suarez
2025, Emerging Infectious Diseases (31) 1131-1139
In 2023, an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza occurred among critically endangered California condors (Gymnogyps californianus), and >21 died. We evaluated safety, immunogenicity, vaccination strategies, and correlates of antibody response of an influenza vaccine for poultry in black vultures (Coragyps atratus) and then California condors. We noted differences in...
Relative abundance, seasonal occurrence, and distribution of marine birds in the northern Gulf of Mexico
J. Christopher Haney, Pamela E. Michael, Jeffery S. Gleason, Randy Wilson, Yvan G. Satgé, Kathy M. Hixson, Patrick G.R. Jodice
2025, Marine Ornithology: Journal of Seabird Research and Conservation (53) 189-206
Marine birds in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico have long been poorly studied. Given statutory obligations to protect migratory birds and endangered species, three broad-scale vessel and aerial programs initiated since 2010 have now surveyed the entire northern Gulf. Vessel coverage alone exceeds 700 d and 74,000 km of observer...
Sprague’s Pipits (Anthus spragueii) occupying high-elevation intermontane valley habitat throughout the breeding season in southwest Montana
Andrew C. Staufer, Emilie K. Maggs, Erik A. Beever, Adam E. Mitchell
2025, Western North American Naturalist (85) 80-86
Sprague's Pipit (Anthus spragueii) is an imperiled bird species that breeds in grasslands of the northern Great Plains of North America. While conducting avian surveys in the Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, southwest Montana, during spring and summer 2023, we detected approximately 10 male Sprague's Pipits performing aerial displays. These represent...
Behavioral plasticity in detection height of an invasive, arboreal snake based on size, condition, and prey
Melia G. Nafus, Levi Gray, Page E. Klug, Gordon H. Rodda, Scott Michael Goetz
2025, Wildlife Research (52)
ContextAnimals may adjust their behavior in predictable ways to balance tradeoffs between resource acquisition and survival or fecundity. Microhabitat selection based on individual traits or environmental conditions is one measure of risk–reward tradeoffs by individuals.AimsWe used data from observational and manipulative studies to investigate whether an...
Innovative microphone transmitter reveals differences in acoustic structure between broadcast and whisper songs of Myadestes obscurus (ʻŌmaʻo)
Amanda K Navine, Kristina L. Paxton, Erin C. Netoskie, Eirlys Tysall, Eben H. Paxton, Patrick J. Hart
2025, Ornithology (142)
Low-amplitude “whisper songs” are a taxonomically broad phenomenon in birds that could play an important role in the suite of behaviors birds use to communicate. Due to its cryptic nature, there are inherent difficulties in capturing high-quality whisper song recordings without interrupting natural behaviors. Thus, the whisper song acoustic structure...
Shortening migration by 4500 km does not affect nesting phenology or increase nest success for black brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) breeding in Arctic and subarctic Alaska
Toshio Doroff Matsuoka, Vijay P. Patil, Jerry W. Hupp, Alan G. Leach, John Reed, James S. Sedinger, David H. Ward
2025, Movement Ecology (13)
BackgroundSince the 1980s, Pacific Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans, hereafter brant) have shifted their winter distribution northward from Mexico to Alaska (approximately 4500 km) with changes in climate. Alongside this shift, the primary breeding population of brant has declined. To understand the population-level implications of the changing migration strategy...
Properties of solid bitumen formed during hydrous, anhydrous, and brine pyrolysis of oil shale: Implications for solid bitumen reflectance in source-rock reservoirs
Paul C. Hackley, Justin E. Birdwell, Ryan J. McAleer
2025, Applied Geochemistry (185)
Solid bitumen reflectance (BRo in %) is widely used as a thermal maturity proxy in source-rock reservoirs, yet solid bitumen texture and physical attributes may be affected by varying environmental constraints during its formation, e.g., water saturation, mineral catalysis, or salinity. Herein we investigated the development of solid bitumen properties during...
Spatial variation in landlocked Atlantic Salmon smolt survival associated with dam passage, avian predation, and stocking location
Kurt C. Heim, William R. Ardren, Jonah L. Withers, Zachery Eisenhauer, Matthew A. Mensinger, Theodore Castro-Santos
2025, North American Journal of Fisheries Management (45) 1-14
ObjectiveWe evaluated survival differences between upstream and downstream stocking for landlocked Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar smolts in a tributary to Lake Champlain.MethodsWe radio-tagged smolts and stocked them concurrently with 22,000 smolts at two release sites in 2 years. The downstream location (DS, river kilometer...
Being loud to find a quiet bird: Surveying a secretive tropical avian species
Kenneth X. Rodriquez-Rivera, Alberto R. Puente Rolon, Jaime A. Collazo
2025, Caribbean Journal of Science (55) 54-64
Secretive birds are hard to detect, and thus, likely underestimated when surveyed, potentially preventing measures to protect them. We identified a sampling period and method that would yield the most reliable estimates of population numbers of the secretive Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoo (Coccyzus vieilloti). We addressed these objectives by comparing point...
MTAB 111, March 2025
Kyra Harvey, Jennifer L. McKay
2025, Newsletter
This Memo to All Banders (MTAB 111) was released in March 2025. Subjects in this this memo are 1. The Chief’s Chirp; 2. Alerts – Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza; 3. Staff updates – celebrating Karen Jone’s remarkable career and retirement, meeting reports and a field trip; 4. News – BandIt...
Potential effects of sea level rise and high tide flooding on Laterallus jamaicensis jamaicensis (eastern black rail) coastal breeding areas
Catherine A. Nikiel, Marta P. Lyons
2025, Open-File Report 2021-1104-F
Laterallus jamaicensis jamaicensis (eastern black rails; Gmelin, 1789) are facing increasing risk from flooding in coastal breeding habitats because of rising sea levels combined with standard high tide flooding. In this report, we examine regional differences in relative rates of sea level rise, days in the breeding season above historical...
Effects of northern bobwhite habitat management on avian species of conservation concern
Johanna M. H. Ford, Anna Maureen Tucker, Adam K. Janke, Tyler M. Harms, Riggs O. Wilson
2025, Ecological Indicators (172)
The umbrella species concept is often used as a tool to guide management decisions and focus efforts towards one focal species whose habitat needs overlap that of other species. We assessed this concept in the context of an agriculturally dominant landscape using one of the most well-studied avian species in...
Foundational science in flight—USGS bird programs support conservation, culture, and a thriving U.S. economy
David Ziolkowski, Antonio Celis-Murillo, Jenn Malpass, Keith L. Pardieck, Julien Martin, Lauren Emily Walker
2025, Fact Sheet 2025-3011
Birds are vital to our economy, ecosystems, and cultural heritage. Investing in bird conservation benefits communities, businesses, and working lands while reinforcing our nation’s legacy of stewardship and biodiversity. By valuing birds, we ensure a richer, healthier, and more vibrant future for all Americans. The USGS leads two national bird...
Population trends of native and non-native forest birds on the island of Molokai, Hawaii
Lauren K. Smith, Seth Judge, Ayesha Genz, Lainie Berry, Laura K Berthold, Hanna L. Mounce, Richard J. Camp
2025, The Wilson Journal of Ornithology (137) 51-64
Hawaiʻi’s avifauna has undergone profound changes over the past 1,000 years, with many endemic bird species driven to extinction and non-native introductions reshaping forest ecosystems. On the island of Molokaʻi, habitat degradation and the introduction of mosquito-borne disease, mainly avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum), have caused extinctions and severe declines in native...
North American Waterfowl Management Plan survey regional profile—Southeast region
Nicholas W. Cole, David C. Fulton
2025, Scientific Investigations Report 2024-5102
Executive SummaryGaining a better understanding of the human dimensions of waterfowl management to inform the North American Waterfowl Management Plan is a valuable but challenging goal for the future success of waterfowl management. Increasing engagement with key stakeholder groups will lead to more support and effective waterfowl management. Social systems...
Piping Plover home ranges do not appear to be impacted by restoration of barrier islands and headlands
Theodore J. Zenzal Jr., Amanda Nicole Anderson, Delaina LeBlanc, Robert C. Dobbs, Brock Geary, Hardin Waddle
2025, Preprint
Restoration of barrier island and headland habitats can alter existing and create new habitats, which may impact wildlife occupying these areas such as the threatened Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus). We used resight data from banded birds to develop minimum convex polygon (MCP) and kernel density estimates (KDE) of individual Piping...
Effectiveness of stewardship and management strategies to conserve coastal bird populations in the northern Gulf of Mexico: A literature review
Jennifer L. Fuller, Nicole L. Michel, Evan M. Adams, Abigail J. Darrah, Auriel Fournier, Jacquelyn K. Grace, Lianne Koczur, Bethany A.C. Kraft, Terri J. Maness, Sarah P. Saunders, Caz M. Taylor, Kiara L. Valentine, Theodore J. Zenzal Jr.
2025, Journal of Field Ornithology (96)
Shorebirds, seabirds, and wading birds (hereafter coastal birds) have experienced considerable losses over the last century and require proactive conservation management to stabilize or grow populations. Habitat loss and/or degradation and human disturbance are among the most urgent threats faced by coastal bird populations. Identifying effective conservation management techniques to...
Methodology
North American Bird Conservation Initiative, A. Rodewald, Mike Brasher, John Alexander, Elisabeth M. Ammon, Tracy E. Borneman, Dustin Brewer, Stephen Brown, Jennie N. Duberstein, Beth Flint, Adam Hannuksela, Kathleen Holland, J. A. Hostetler, Edwin Juarez, Robin Kaler, Chris Latimer, Elva Manquera, Kate Martin, Chris McCreedy, Nicole Michel, Corina Newsome, Andrew Olsen, Marc Romano, Kenneth V. Rosenberg, B. Ryder, Rebekah J. Rylander, John R. Sauer, Adam Smith, Dena Spatz, Caleb Spiegel, Tice Supplee, Roberta Swift, Eric VanderWerf, Josh Vest, Olivia Wang
2025, Report, State of the birds report, United States of America 2025
Following the approach developed by Gregory and van Strien (2010), State of the Birds reports focus on composite summaries of population change for collections of species that share common primary habitat or taxonomic affinity. In this report, we provide composite indexes for habitat-obligate species as defined in earlier reports (Grassland, Aridland, Eastern Forest and...
