Hello, Ecologists. Here is a summary of the contents of vol. 39 no. 3 (2008) of the quarterly journal Western Birds, published by Western Field Ornithologists. * THE 32nd REPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE: 2006 RECORDS * by MATTHEW T. HEINDEL and KIMBALL L. GARRETT * pp. 121-152 * Evaluation of 264 records involving 83 species; Ross's Gull and Taiga Flycatcher are added to the California list, and Little Shearwater is deleted, resulting in a state list of 633 species. * SHOREBIRD USE OF MUTED TIDAL WETLANDS IN A CALIFORNIA ESTUARY * by SARAH CONNORS * pp. 153-165 * Observational study of shorebird use of Elkhorn Slough, a wetland complex whose water levels are regulated by a system of culverts; more shorebirds use Elkhorn Slough during high tide than during low tide, a result with implications for management of water levels at the site. * PURPLE MARTIN DISTRIBUTION AND NESTING HABITAT AT SHASTA LAKE, CALIFORNIA * by LEN LINDSTRAND, III * pp. 166-170 * Documentation of 11 Purple Martin nest colonies at 8 general locations, involving at least 38 individuals and 18 confirmed or suspected nesting pairs, at Shasta Lake; nearly all nests were in the snags of conifers inundated by the lake. * SAP FEEDING ON BIRCH TREES BY AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS * by THEODORE N. BAILEY * pp. 171-175 * Observations from Alaska's Kenai Peninsula of 3 American Three-toed Woodpeckers feeding at sap wells apparently drilled by themselves, not by sapsuckers; these observations indicate that use of sap wells by American Three-toed Woodpecker may be more common than previously realized. * FIRST RECORDS OF THE BROWN CREEPER BREEDING ALONG THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE IN CENTRAL NEW MEXICO * by JEAN-LUC E. CARTRON, DAVID L. HAWKSWORTH, and DEBORAH M. FINCH * pp. 176-178 * Observations from the Rio Grande of central New Mexico of breeding by the Brown Creeper, a species formerly thought restricted as a breeder in the state to montane coniferous forests; the Rio Grande population probably represents a recent range expansion. * BOOK REVIEW * reviewed by JAN HODDER * pp. 179-180 * Review of "Storm-Petrels of the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Species Assembly and Diversity along Marine Habitat Gradients" (2007), by Larry B. Spear and David G. Ainley. * BOOK REVIEW * reviewed by GEORGE A. JOBANEK * pp. 180-181 * Review of "John Kirk Townsend: Collector of Audubon's Western Birds and Mammals" (2007), by Barbara Mearns and Richard Mearns. * BOOK REVIEW * reviewed by TED FLOYD * pp. 181-183 * Review of "Birds of Western Colorado Plateau and Mesa Country" (2004), by Robert Righter, Rich Levad, Coen Dexter, and Kim Potter. * FEATURED PHOTO: FIRST DOCUMENTATION OF A EURASIAN KESTREL IN CALIFORNIA * by ANGUS C. HULL, MICAHEL G. ARMER, BETHANY J. STURGEON, and ALLEN M. FISH * pp. 184-187 * Description of a juvenile female Eurasian Kestrel trapped for banding at the Marin Headlands, California, in October 2007; in-hand measurements and analysis of photographs distinguish this individual from Lesser Kestrel, which is similar in juvenile and female plumages. Please note that vols. 1-35 (1970-2004) of Western Birds are permanently archived and fully searchable online: elibrary.unm.edu/sora/index.php. The service is free to the public, and is made available by Western Field Ornithologists (WFO) and the Searchable Ornithological Research Archive (SORA). More information about WFO is available online: westernfieldornithologists.org. More information about the journal Western Birds is also available online: westernfieldornithologists.org/journal.php. Ted Floyd [email protected] Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado _________________________________________________________________ Life on your PC is safer, easier, and more enjoyable with Windows Vista®. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/127032870/direct/01/
