Comments on: Summer of the Seabirds – Techniques in the Field http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/2011/02/03/summer-of-the-seabirds-techniques-in-the-field/ Sat, 18 Jun 2011 01:45:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Anonymous http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/2011/02/03/summer-of-the-seabirds-techniques-in-the-field/comment-page-1/#comment-5920 Anonymous Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:30:00 +0000 http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/?p=2126#comment-5920 my source for the previous comment : http://www.polartrec.com/expeditions/seabird-ecology-in-the-bering-sea/journals/july-25-2009-catching-birds my source for the previous comment :

http://www.polartrec.com/expeditions/seabird-ecology-in-the-bering-sea/journals/july-25-2009-catching-birds

]]> By: Anonymous http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/2011/02/03/summer-of-the-seabirds-techniques-in-the-field/comment-page-1/#comment-5919 Anonymous Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:28:00 +0000 http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/?p=2126#comment-5919 Fascinating post Ms. Baker ! I was really interested in how you traveled so far to find these birds, so I thought it would be interesting to look up more scientists and researchers who have done the same. What I found was a journal blog written by a man named Thomas Harten, a man who traveled with a team of researchers to attach GPS recorders on the birds, the purpose of this being to see where the bird has traveled in the winter. This man used a technique very similar to the one shown above in order to catch these birds, he even had a picture just like one Miss. Baker posted ! Overall, I thought this mans story would help to show a variation in what people travel to far places for in order to use birds as part of research. Fascinating post Ms. Baker !
I was really interested in how you traveled so far to find these birds, so I thought it would be interesting to look up more scientists and researchers who have done the same.
What I found was a journal blog written by a man named Thomas Harten, a man who traveled with a team of researchers to attach GPS recorders on the birds, the purpose of this being to see where the bird has traveled in the winter. This man used a technique very similar to the one shown above in order to catch these birds, he even had a picture just like one Miss. Baker posted ! Overall, I thought this mans story would help to show a variation in what people travel to far places for in order to use birds as part of research.

]]> By: Anonymous http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/2011/02/03/summer-of-the-seabirds-techniques-in-the-field/comment-page-1/#comment-5915 Anonymous Tue, 15 Feb 2011 01:06:00 +0000 http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/?p=2126#comment-5915 That looks awesome, I would love to do something like that, I watched the video and the island is stunning. I know that birds are captured to record migration patterns by banding them, or are swabbed to check for illnesses, like the avian flu. This was shown on a popular show on discovery, "Dirty Jobs". Mike Rowe traveled to Alaska, like you, but he went to check flocks of geese for the bird flu. This clip shows them swabbing the geese, and is a bit humorous. However, my question to you is what exactly were you capturing them for? You mentioned that you took blood samples, and I'm very intrigued to know why. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHp33FBw48s That looks awesome, I would love to do something like that, I watched the video and the island is stunning. I know that birds are captured to record migration patterns by banding them, or are swabbed to check for illnesses, like the avian flu. This was shown on a popular show on discovery, “Dirty Jobs”. Mike Rowe traveled to Alaska, like you, but he went to check flocks of geese for the bird flu. This clip shows them swabbing the geese, and is a bit humorous. However, my question to you is what exactly were you capturing them for? You mentioned that you took blood samples, and I’m very intrigued to know why.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHp33FBw48s

]]> By: Anonymous http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/2011/02/03/summer-of-the-seabirds-techniques-in-the-field/comment-page-1/#comment-5885 Anonymous Tue, 08 Feb 2011 02:54:00 +0000 http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/?p=2126#comment-5885 Fascinating pictures Ms. Baker! It must have been a great experience for you. I did a little more research on the question of why does the Least Auklet nest in rocks? Before I answer this question I learned that Least Auklet's preferred habitats are rocky coasts and open oceans. Although i could not find an exact answer on why the Least Auklets nest in rocks, I have come up with a conclusion of my own. The conclusion I came up with is they live on rocks because of their breeding habits. When breeding, these birds lay a single egg in a rock crevice. Both parents incubate and hatch the egg in the rock crevice. I am led to believe that the birds do this for a measure of protection for their egg. They only lay one egg a year, so it is obvious and apparent how important the egg must mean to the mother bird. The mother must go through great extremes to keep it safe, and the rock crevice must give it a sense of safety and security. Least Auklets live in colonies, so they need plenty of rock crevices for the nesting colony. When it is not mating season and breading season for the birds, they prefer wide open areas such as the open sea. This is another fact that led to my conclusion. Readers, please feel free to re-comment on this one on your own thoughts on why the nest in rocks. http://www.allthesea.com/Sea-Bird-Least-Auklet.html http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/239/overview/Least_Auklet.aspx http://www.wildlifenorthamerica.com/Bird/Least-Auklet/Aethia/pusilla.html http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/069/articles/introduction Fascinating pictures Ms. Baker! It must have been a great experience for you. I did a little more research on the question of why does the Least Auklet nest in rocks? Before I answer this question I learned that Least Auklet’s preferred habitats are rocky coasts and open oceans. Although i could not find an exact answer on why the Least Auklets nest in rocks, I have come up with a conclusion of my own. The conclusion I came up with is they live on rocks because of their breeding habits. When breeding, these birds lay a single egg in a rock crevice. Both parents incubate and hatch the egg in the rock crevice. I am led to believe that the birds do this for a measure of protection for their egg. They only lay one egg a year, so it is obvious and apparent how important the egg must mean to the mother bird. The mother must go through great extremes to keep it safe, and the rock crevice must give it a sense of safety and security. Least Auklets live in colonies, so they need plenty of rock crevices for the nesting colony. When it is not mating season and breading season for the birds, they prefer wide open areas such as the open sea. This is another fact that led to my conclusion. Readers, please feel free to re-comment on this one on your own thoughts on why the nest in rocks.

http://www.allthesea.com/Sea-Bird-Least-Auklet.html
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/239/overview/Least_Auklet.aspx
http://www.wildlifenorthamerica.com/Bird/Least-Auklet/Aethia/pusilla.html
http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/069/articles/introduction

]]> By: Anonymous http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/2011/02/03/summer-of-the-seabirds-techniques-in-the-field/comment-page-1/#comment-5884 Anonymous Tue, 08 Feb 2011 02:13:00 +0000 http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/?p=2126#comment-5884 Great comment Deirdre! I researched the question that you asked Ms. Baker " Why do the Least Auklets nest between rocks?". Although I wasn't able to find a direct answer for this question either, I can make a pretty safe assumption with the information that I found. These birds most likely live between rocks because a large part of their lifestyle is the colonies that they live in and living between rocks and in boulder fields make this living style easier. They are said to have somewhat of a system between these rocks, so it makes the most sense for them to stay in these rocks simply because its most suitable for their living choices. Also, because these birds are so small it must be easier for them to avoid any predators by making it more difficult for them to get between the rocks. Living out in the open on a cliff would probably be more dangerous for the small species. http://nsolomonphoto.com/PhotoJournal/Least%20Auklets.html Great comment Deirdre! I researched the question that you asked Ms. Baker ” Why do the Least Auklets nest between rocks?”. Although I wasn’t able to find a direct answer for this question either, I can make a pretty safe assumption with the information that I found. These birds most likely live between rocks because a large part of their lifestyle is the colonies that they live in and living between rocks and in boulder fields make this living style easier. They are said to have somewhat of a system between these rocks, so it makes the most sense for them to stay in these rocks simply because its most suitable for their living choices.
Also, because these birds are so small it must be easier for them to avoid any predators by making it more difficult for them to get between the rocks. Living out in the open on a cliff would probably be more dangerous for the small species.
http://nsolomonphoto.com/PhotoJournal/Least%20Auklets.html

]]> By: Deirdre http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/2011/02/03/summer-of-the-seabirds-techniques-in-the-field/comment-page-1/#comment-5871 Deirdre Fri, 04 Feb 2011 15:01:00 +0000 http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/?p=2126#comment-5871 Wow, this opic of birds seems very interesting, and I love all the pictures! After reading the part about capturing the birds with the loop at the end of a pole like structure, I would like to answer your question of "Why was I able to do this without breaking the bird’s neck?" I learned that some catchpoles swivel allowing the animal to twist without being suffocated. These catchpoles lock once, but also have a quick release if you think the noose is too tight on the animal. The advice this website gives is to never work alone, and be trained in what you are doing. I'm sure ms. Baker followed all these rules, the pictures prove it. http://nwco.net/0530-StepThreeNonlethalToolsAndTechniques/5-1-DirectCapture.asp Wow, this opic of birds seems very interesting, and I love all the pictures! After reading the part about capturing the birds with the loop at the end of a pole like structure, I would like to answer your question of “Why was I able to do this without breaking the bird’s neck?” I learned that some catchpoles swivel allowing the animal to twist without being suffocated. These catchpoles lock once, but also have a quick release if you think the noose is too tight on the animal. The advice this website gives is to never work alone, and be trained in what you are doing. I’m sure ms. Baker followed all these rules, the pictures prove it.

http://nwco.net/0530-StepThreeNonlethalToolsAndTechniques/5-1-DirectCapture.asp

]]> By: Anonymous http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/2011/02/03/summer-of-the-seabirds-techniques-in-the-field/comment-page-1/#comment-5866 Anonymous Fri, 04 Feb 2011 02:07:00 +0000 http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/?p=2126#comment-5866 Wow Ms. Baker, it sounds like you had a really good time in Alaska! While researching about Common and Thick-Billed Murre, I wasn't able to find a direct answer to your question but I was able to find enough information to make a guess. I find that it would make the most sense for this species to live on cliff edges because of their eggs. The eggs must be kept warm and sat on by the parents for four weeks before they are ready to hatch and fly. The parents take turns sitting on the egg and going out to catch food from the sea. The eggs are shaped in a certain way so that if the eggs are gently brushed up against something, they wont roll off the cliff. However, I do find it bizarre that the birds insist on always living on cliffs, because in my research it said that their habitats are very scarce and that they often have to cram hundreds of birds with eggs on one cliffside. My research also stated that the birds face many dangers living near sea water, due storms, erosion, cold weather, and oil spills. Perhaps the Murres are less affected by these situations by living on cliffs rather than the water itself? Or maybe they nest on the cliffs so that they have a better chance of avoiding any prey? Has anyone else been able to find directly why they nest on cliffs? http://www.polarlife.ca/organisms/birds/marine/puffins/thickbilled.htm Wow Ms. Baker, it sounds like you had a really good time in Alaska! While researching about Common and Thick-Billed Murre, I wasn’t able to find a direct answer to your question but I was able to find enough information to make a guess. I find that it would make the most sense for this species to live on cliff edges because of their eggs. The eggs must be kept warm and sat on by the parents for four weeks before they are ready to hatch and fly. The parents take turns sitting on the egg and going out to catch food from the sea. The eggs are shaped in a certain way so that if the eggs are gently brushed up against something, they wont roll off the cliff. However, I do find it bizarre that the birds insist on always living on cliffs, because in my research it said that their habitats are very scarce and that they often have to cram hundreds of birds with eggs on one cliffside. My research also stated that the birds face many dangers living near sea water, due storms, erosion, cold weather, and oil spills. Perhaps the Murres are less affected by these situations by living on cliffs rather than the water itself? Or maybe they nest on the cliffs so that they have a better chance of avoiding any prey? Has anyone else been able to find directly why they nest on cliffs?

http://www.polarlife.ca/organisms/birds/marine/puffins/thickbilled.htm

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