HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: rising@zoo.toronto.edu (Jim Rising)
Subject: Birds that are also Mammals
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 19:12:33 GMT
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology

Actually Andrew has only scratched the surface of some of the exciting
new developments in this area--a phenomenon that none of us would have
thought possible a few years ago.  In another paper, Prof. Humbug also
offers surprisingly strong evidence that there are also some mouse genes
in titmice, although he apparently only looked at the Plain Titmouse
(Parus inornatus).  It would be interesting to see if the Crested Tit
(P. cristatus) and some of the other crested tits are also hybrids--or
whether the crest is simply an example of convergent evolution.  
Apparently there is also work in progress to try to study the genes of
the extinct Elephant Bird of Madagascar.  With new molecular techniques
using PCR to amplify a the c-sections of mtDNA it has been possible to
get information on the biochemical relationships of some extinct species
(e.g. the Quagga)--and maybe the elephant bird will turn out to be
another bird introgressed with a few mammalian genes!
-- 
Name:     Jim Rising
Mail:     Dept. Zoology, Univ. Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada    M5S 1A1
UUCP:     uunet!attcan!utzoo!rising 
BITNET:   rising@zoo.utoronto.ca
From: tirone@neurocog.lrdc.pitt.edu (Steve Tirone)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Need help spotting an owl
Keywords: neophyte
Date: 25 Aug 92 20:03:45 GMT

In article <18742@bunny.GTE.COM>, rv01@gte.com (Robert Virzi) writes:

[trying to identify an owl]
|> 
|> So what should I be doing to increase my chances of spotting this bird?

	Thats the question I have also.  First though, I would advise that it is
probably easer to identify the owl by its vocalizations than by sight.  Each
species seems to have a very distinct call.  (This conclusion comes from
sampling the calls I have listened to on tapes of the Eastern NA subset of the
owl species.)   Get a bird call tape from the library or something, listen to the
owls a few times, and I'll bet you'll have that bird ID'd pretty quickly. 

	I also want to know though what is a good way to spot owls?  I've seen
people post about "owl trips", where it seems they go about with red flashlights,
birding at night.  Is this a good way to find owls?  I'd like to add to my list
of owls seen -- any suggestions?

Steve
tirone@neurocog.lrdc.pitt.edu

                        "Ever notice how decisions make chain reactions?"
                                                        --Calvin
From: br105@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Jeffrey A. Del Col)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Birds that are also Mammals
Date: 2 Sep 1992 23:38:01 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: br105@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Jeffrey A. Del Col)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc5.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, sandee@Think.COM (Daan Sandee) says:

>In article <BtytD0.88K@zoo.toronto.edu>, rising@zoo.toronto.edu (Jim Rising) writes:
>|> Apparently there is also work in progress to try to study the genes of
>|> the extinct Elephant Bird of Madagascar.  With new molecular techniques
>|> using PCR to amplify a the c-sections of mtDNA it has been possible to
>|> get information on the biochemical relationships of some extinct species
>|> (e.g. the Quagga)--and maybe the elephant bird will turn out to be
>|> another bird introgressed with a few mammalian genes!
>
>But this research should not be restricted to extinct species ! It might
>shed light on the ancestry of the Catbird, the Cowbirds, and the Tiger-Heron ;
>and why stick to Mammalia ? Other classes might be of just as much interest,
>witness the Snake-Eagle (Circaetus sp.), the Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis sp.),
>and the Fish-Eagle (Haliaeetus sp.) (boy, those eagles are a mixed bunch).
>And, looking outside the Vertebrates, what about the curious similarity of
>Grasshopper Warbler and Grasshopper Sparrow ? and the Common Cicadabird,
>and the Antwren, and the Gnatwren ? not to mention the Snail Kite ?
>
>Daan Sandee                                           sandee@think.com
>Thinking Machines Corporation
>Cambridge, Mass 02142                                 (617) 234-5044
>

Let's not forget the Bat Falcon and the Zebra Finch and the several African
species of tick-birds. And why limit ourselves to the animal kingdom; I'm
sure we don't want to slight the Wheatears and Bananaquits.

J. Del Col
-- 
Jeff Del Col      *       "I'm never lonely,...living in my heavily      
A-B College       *   populated solitude, a harum-scarum of infinity        
Philippi, WV      *   and eternity, and Infinity and Eternity seem to          
                  *   take a liking to the likes of me." Bohumil Hrabal.
From: dmark@acsu.buffalo.edu (David Mark)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: wanted: birding suggestions for N Italy, late September
Date: 30 Aug 92 23:10:32 GMT
Organization: UB

I will be attending a conference in Pisa, Italy, September 20-25.  I will
have a few days after the meeting for birding before I fly out of Milan.

Any suggestions on where in northwest Italy might be best for birding at
that time of the year?

(This will be my first trip to Italy, but I have birded a lot in France,
Spain, and Switzerland...)

And lastly, and ideas on a site for my most wanted bird, Wallcreeper, in
northern Italy?

Thanks!

David Mark
dmark@sun.acsu.buffalo.edu
Newsgroups: rec.birds
From: christ@sci.ccny.cuny.edu (Chris Thompson)
Subject: Re: Need help spotting an owl
Keywords: neophyte
Organization: City College of New York - Science Computing Facility
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1992 23:59:48 GMT

In article <18742@bunny.GTE.COM> rv01@gte.com (Robert Virzi) writes:
>Hello All!  I've been reading this newsgroup for several months
>now, and I haven't seen this question addressed.  Also, I haven't
>seen or found a FAQ list.  If one exists, please point me to it.
>
>On to the problem at hand...
>
>I live in suburban (more like super-rural) Boston and I have an
>owl living in the woods above a stream behind my house.  It has 
>been with us on and off for several years now.  At least, I have
>heard it hooting on and off for several years.  The problem is
>that I am having a tremendously difficult time spotting this bird.
>I did see it once, for a few seconds.  It caught me quite by surprise
>both because I wasn't looking for it, and because of its huge size!

Sounds like a great horned owl to me. 

>
>I don't really know how to describe such things, other than to say
>it was 2 or 3 times larger than any crow I have ever seen.  Wingspan
>was maybe 4 to 5 feet.  It was a mottled looking white/brown from
>the front, but I didn't get to see the back of it.  This was a winter
>siting.
>
>So what should I be doing to increase my chances of spotting this bird?
>Are there other techniques I should be using
>to spot it?  Is winter generally better than summer for this sort of
>thing?
>
>Bob Virzi

Go our in mid day.  Find every evergreen in the area.  Search every
branch.

Chris Thompson
	
-- 
(Help!  I've fallen and I can't reach my beer!)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
From: bryanj@calvin.esd.sgi.com (Bryan James)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Experiences with bird info on CD-ROM?
Date: 2 Sep 92 17:40:16 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc.

I was wondering if anyone has experiences with bird
information on CD-ROM to share.

I am thinking of purchasing a CD of said info and would 
like some input and opinions. In particular, I am consider-
ing 'Birds of America' from CMC (don't know what that
stands for).

Thanks much.

-Bryan

_____________________________________________________________________
Bryan J. James (bryanj@sgi.com)                Silicon Graphics, Inc.

"A witty saying proves nothing." -- Voltaire
From: grp@Unify.com (Greg Pasquariello)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: How to spot an owl
Keywords: owls
Date: 26 Aug 92 15:41:39 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Unify Corporation (Sacramento)

I've both been on and led owling trips.  Some successful, some not.
Most owls will respond to tapes or imitations of their calls.  I can
do reasonable imitations of barred owl, great horned, screech and
pygmy owls, and these have been good enough to bring all of them 
within easy viewing distance.  They don't seem too particular about
whether the call is exactly right or not.  Oddly enough, I've had
less success with tapes.

Go out at dusk, while it's still light enough to see shapes.  Bring
a flashlight.  Many people cover the light with a red cellophane disk,
but I have a hard time seeing anything when I do that.  Sit quietly at
the base of a tree or something and play the tape or hoot.  Often, if
a bird is nearby, it will begin to call back shortly.  A bit of patience
will often reward you with a glimpse of the bird flying in nearby to 
investigate.  If you see the bird come in, or hear it suddenly nearby,
you can usually find it with the light.  I say usually, because I've
had screech owls within 20 feet that I simply could not find!

If the bird does not appear to you the first night, lay off for a while.
Doing this nightly consititutes harrasment IMO.  Try again a week or so 
later.

Many species respond well in the daytime, especially Screech, Barred and
Pygmy.  Unfortunately, your bird sounds like a Great Horned, and in my
experience they rarely answer during the day.  They are, however, quite
active during early dusk.

In my experience birds respond best in early spring and early fall.  I
can understand why in the spring.  But why in the fall?  I have noted 
many owl species becoming very vocal in September, and I have yet to 
get a satisfactory answer as to why that might be.

If you are going after different species of owls rather that just one,
I've found it most effective to start with the smaller species.  This
is based on my theory (superstition?) that the smaller one shut up when
the detect the larger ones.  Saves them from being eaten and all.

When imitating the calls of the larger species, I find it helpful to 
cup my hands over my mouth.  This gives greater depth and resonance to
the call.  Also, they seem to respond more to the cadence than anything
else.  For a great-horned, try a deep falsetto "hoo.  hoohoohoo, hoo hoo"
with your hands cupped over your mouth.  The punctuation is used to show
roughly the correct pauses.

Good luck.  Let us know how you make out!

-- 

--
Greg Pasquariello   	grp@unify.com 	        Sometimes you're the windshield
Unify Corporation	   or			Sometimes you're the bug.
(916) 928-6258	    ...!uunet!unify!grp
From: sandee@Think.COM (Daan Sandee)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: UK News
Date: 4 Sep 92 11:11:17 GMT
Organization: TMC
NNTP-Posting-Host: telecaster.think.com

In article <1992Sep04.010313.37037@watson.ibm.com>, andrewt@watson.ibm.com (Andrew Taylor) writes:

|> Last I heard the Red-Necked Stint was still here but no longer in summer
|> plumage. Having seen thousands of both I didn't bother going to see
|> either (the ennui of the well-travelled birder). I did go out to
|> the turf farms on Long Island for my life Buff-Bellied Sandpiper.
|> Now where are the Eskimo Curlews?

An Eskimo Curlew was seen about ten days ago at Brigantine [Wildlife Refuge,
NJ]. Single observer. No photographs. Some people are lucky.

Daan Sandee                                           sandee@think.com
Thinking Machines Corporation
Cambridge, Mass 02142                                 (617) 234-5044
Newsgroups: rec.birds,sci.bio
From:  eco@matsim.udmurtia.su (Stashenko Alexander)
Subject: Radio tracking of birds: help me!
Reply-To: eco@matsim.udmurtia.su
Organization: Mathematical Simulation Institute - Udmurt State
    University
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 92 19:48:18 +0400 

I'm very interested in radio tracking of passerine birds, but I have no
experience in this field. What transmitters and receivers I need? Where
can I buy it? And many other questions ...
Can any help me?

Yours,
Alex Stashenko (Udmurt State University, Russia)


Newsgroups: rec.birds
From: katbea@auto-trol.com (Kathy Beatty)
Subject: Re: Penguins
Organization: Auto-trol Technology Corporation -- Denver, Colorado
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL3
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 19:14:45 GMT

del_col@ab.wvnet.edu writes:
: In article <1992Aug29.144941.24158@mlb.semi.harris.com>, mwp@ms9.mis.semi.harris.com (Mark W. Poole) writes:
: > Hello,
: > 
: > I'm not sure if this is the right group to post to or not,
: > but I'm trying to determine if a penguin is a mammal.  I believe
: > it may be, but am not certain.  The underlying question is
: > "is there a bird that is also a mammal?"  My brother-in-law
: > believes there is such a thing.
: 
: 
: 
: 
: Penguins are not mammals.  No birds are mammals.  There has been some
: discussion that birds may be the remnants of the dinosaurs, but the suggestion
: that any bird might be a mammal is absurd.  The anatomical differences
: between mammals and birds are dramatic and obvious; any basic biology book
: will point them out in plenty of detail.
: 
: The monotremes(platypus and echidna) are egg-laying mammals, but they are
: definitely not birds.
: 

Also, bats are flying mammals, but they are not birds.


Kathy
Newsgroups: rec.birds
From: lp@well.sf.ca.us (Lily Pond)
Subject: Re: How to spot an owl
Organization: Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 02:39:08 GMT


I thought owls were spotted all by themselves. Isn't that what all this old
growth forest stuff is about? They don't need us to spot them.
Newsgroups: rec.birds
From: maione@cs.toronto.edu (Ian Christopher Maione)
Subject: Re: Owl Spotting
Organization: Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto
Date: 28 Aug 92 16:37:45 GMT

In article <27AUG92.11048271.0011@lafibm.lafayette.edu> CB#1@lafibm.lafayette.edu (CB#1) writes:
>Owls can often be found in daylight hours by following the sounds
>of rioting crows and jays. Corvine alarm calls and crows flocking
>from all directions toward a single spot in the woods indicate,
>more often than not, that a lynch mob is gathering around one of
>the larger owls. A slow, careful approach will often get you
>pretty close, as both crows and owl have other things on their
>minds. Great horned owls are a favorite guest of honor at these
>soirees, and this is one of the best ways to find them during
>daytimes.

    Does anyone know why owls and crows/jays hate each other so much?  It's
kind of unusual to see two species which are not in a direct predator/prey
relationship, or compete for the same food being antagonistic towards each
other.  Do they seriously attack each other, or is it just harassment?

Regards,
Ian
From: sandee@Think.COM (Daan Sandee)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Birds that are also Mammals
Date: 2 Sep 1992 20:29:28 GMT
Organization: TMC
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: telecaster.think.com

In article <BtytD0.88K@zoo.toronto.edu>, rising@zoo.toronto.edu (Jim Rising) writes:
|> Apparently there is also work in progress to try to study the genes of
|> the extinct Elephant Bird of Madagascar.  With new molecular techniques
|> using PCR to amplify a the c-sections of mtDNA it has been possible to
|> get information on the biochemical relationships of some extinct species
|> (e.g. the Quagga)--and maybe the elephant bird will turn out to be
|> another bird introgressed with a few mammalian genes!

But this research should not be restricted to extinct species ! It might
shed light on the ancestry of the Catbird, the Cowbirds, and the Tiger-Heron ;
and why stick to Mammalia ? Other classes might be of just as much interest,
witness the Snake-Eagle (Circaetus sp.), the Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis sp.),
and the Fish-Eagle (Haliaeetus sp.) (boy, those eagles are a mixed bunch).
And, looking outside the Vertebrates, what about the curious similarity of
Grasshopper Warbler and Grasshopper Sparrow ? and the Common Cicadabird,
and the Antwren, and the Gnatwren ? not to mention the Snail Kite ?

Daan Sandee                                           sandee@think.com
Thinking Machines Corporation
Cambridge, Mass 02142                                 (617) 234-5044
Newsgroups: rec.birds
From: guest@dhhalden.no (.GJEST)
Subject: Birding in Europe
Summary: news wanted
Organization: Ostfold College
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 11:22:57 GMT

Aren't there any european birders who uses "NEWS"?
If there is, wouldn't it be interesting to share some information, 
experiences, identification problems or anything else concerning birds or 
birders. One example could be some kind of a hotline, more or less like 
the "Western Palearctic News" in the Birding World magazine.
From: mwp@ms9.mis.semi.harris.com (Mark W. Poole)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Penguins
Date: 29 Aug 92 14:49:41 GMT
Organization: Harris Semiconductor, Melbourne FL

Hello,

I'm not sure if this is the right group to post to or not,
but I'm trying to determine if a penguin is a mammal.  I believe
it may be, but am not certain.  The underlying question is
"is there a bird that is also a mammal?"  My brother-in-law
believes there is such a thing.

Thanks in advance..


Mark.
Newsgroups: rec.birds
From: chappuis@cmu.unige.ch (Alain Chappuis (CMU, Geneva))
Subject: Latin title please !
Organization: University of Geneva, Switzerland
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 06:10:39 GMT

Dear Birdwatchers,
Please, when writting your articles don't forget to mention the latin
title for birds, (or others animals)

We, in paleoartic (Europe) countries, don't always understand the commun
names in English (or others).

Sorry for putting these facts out ! but it is necessary for non fluent
scientific European.

Best Regards.

Alain.
-- 
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------+
| Alain Chappuis        | Decnet     : UGCMU::CHAPPUIS            |
| Universite de Geneve  | Bitnet     : chappuis@cgecmu51.bitnet   |
| Centre Medical        | Internet   : chappuis@cmu.unige.ch      |
| 1, Rue Michel-Servet  | Telepac    : 4682161330                 |
| CH-1211 Geneve 4      | Telephone  : +41 (22) 702.50.73         |
|         ------        | X400       :S=chappuis;OU=cmu;O=unige;  |
|                       |             PRMD=switch;ADMD=arcom;C=ch |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------+
From: sandee@Think.COM (Daan Sandee)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Olive-sided Flycatcher
Date: 26 Aug 1992 00:06:41 GMT
Organization: TMC
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: telecaster.think.com

In article <1992Aug24.134451.21599@dvorak.amd.com>, mbehrens@barqs.amd.com (Mikael Behrens) writes:
|> I recently got a brief look at a flycatcher I think was an  
|> Olive-sided flycatcher.  The only distinguishing characteristic I  
|> could make out was a rough vertical light stripe down the middle of  
|> the breast.  Is there any other flycatcher with this field mark?

Where, when, what habitat ?
Olive-sided Flycatcher only nests in Texas in the Guadelupe Mts as far as
I know, and it's a bit early for migrants.
The more common Western Wood-Pewee may also have a dark waistcoat
with dividing line. The difference between the two is that Olive-sided
is quite a bit bigger, nearly Kingbird-sized, is a much bulkier bird,
more obviously peaked head, likes to sit on top of dead trees, and
if you're lucky you can see the white tufts sticking out of its back as
if the lining of its coat is coming out.
Pewees (either Eastern or Western, virutally indistinguishable by sight)
are smaller, more slender, and prefer to perch halfway up a tree. 
They are, of course, also easily distinguishable by call, but as you know
flycatchers never call when you want them to.

Daan Sandee                                           sandee@think.com
Thinking Machines Corporation
Cambridge, Mass 02142                                 (617) 234-5044
From: khamil@med.unc.edu (Katherine G. Hamil)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Owl and Corvid behavior
Date: 1 Sep 92 12:49:30 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: UNC-CH School of Medicine
Originator: khamil@maiden


	Anyone interested in learning more about owl and corvid
	behavior should read these 2 excellent books (IMHO):
	"One Man's Owl" and "Ravens in Winter" . Both are
	written by Bernd Heinrich. They are scientifically
	accurate, contain thorough bibliographies and are
	extremely readable. Bernd Heinrich has written several
	other books. Not all of them deal with birds but all 
	are good.

	As for my personal experience with owls, there is a
	Barred Owl who has showed up the past two springs to
	snag the biggest, orangest goldfish out of our small
	garden pond. He's not got the greatest technique,
	but he's persistant. He's not very shy as we've 
	watched him hunt fish several times.
	
	I hope someone else enjoys these books as much as I have.

		Katherine Hamil
		khamil@med.unc.edu
From: mbehrens@barqs.amd.com (Mikael Behrens)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Olive-sided Flycatcher
Date: 26 Aug 92 13:55:50 GMT
Organization: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.; Austin, Texas

In article <17ehuhINNqm5@early-bird.think.com> sandee@Think.COM (Daan Sandee)  
writes:
| In article <1992Aug24.134451.21599@dvorak.amd.com>, mbehrens@barqs.amd.com  
(Mikael Behrens) writes:
| |> I recently got a brief look at a flycatcher I think was an  
| |> Olive-sided flycatcher.  The only distinguishing characteristic I  
| |> could make out was a rough vertical light stripe down the middle of  
| |> the breast.  Is there any other flycatcher with this field mark?
| 
| Where, when, what habitat ?
| Olive-sided Flycatcher only nests in Texas in the Guadelupe Mts as far as
| I know, and it's a bit early for migrants.
| The more common Western Wood-Pewee may also have a dark waistcoat
| with dividing line. The difference between the two is that Olive-sided
| is quite a bit bigger, nearly Kingbird-sized, is a much bulkier bird,
| more obviously peaked head, likes to sit on top of dead trees, and
| if you're lucky you can see the white tufts sticking out of its back as
| if the lining of its coat is coming out.
| Pewees (either Eastern or Western, virutally indistinguishable by sight)
| are smaller, more slender, and prefer to perch halfway up a tree. 
| They are, of course, also easily distinguishable by call, but as you know
| flycatchers never call when you want them to.

This was in Austin, Texas in the evening, in a moderately wooded area
(sorry, not very good at habitat description.)  According to Peterson's
they begin to appear 'throughout' Texas in August.

It sounds like I probably saw a peewee; it wasn't Kingbird-sized, it was
more sparrow-sized.  I didn't see it long enough to determine what area 
of the tree it preferred for perching.  And of course, it didn't sing
(I was listening for the "Quick three beers.")

Thanks for the info.  Maybe I'll see more as fall migration starts up.
Mikael
From: drintoul@matt.ksu.ksu.edu (David A Rintoul)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: purple gallinule DOA
Date: 3 Sep 1992 12:58:34 -0500
Organization: Kansas State University
NNTP-Posting-Host: matt.ksu.ksu.edu

John Zimmerman, the ornithologist in our department, just walked into
my office with a dead bird in hand. It was found at lunchtime in the
parking lot of a Taco Hut, by a woman who works in the greenhouse
upstairs.  The bird was brownish on the back, with iridescent green
feathers on the wings, white throat, white undertail, buffy head and
chest, long legs and toes, and was about the size of a coot.  It is a
juvenile purple gallinule.  I have not seen this bird in life, but I
guess I can now add it to my DOA list....

There are less than 10 records for this bird in the state, and no
records for juveniles.  All other records are from the spring.  There
are three other specimens, and one is also from Riley County (the
county in which this particular Taco Hut is located).  The closest
known breeding area is in SE Oklahoma, about 200 miles away.

The Rare Bird Report for this one should be quite entertaining.
e.g., 

Habitat: Asphalt with low weeds and scattered garbage
Distance from bird: 1 micron
Behavior: seemed quite calm, even comatose....

etc.



-- 
Dave Rintoul            Internet: drintoul@matt.ksu.ksu.edu
Biology Division - KSU     Latitude 39.18, Longitude -96.34
Manhattan KS 66506-4901                         TCN: id2418
(913)-532-5832 or 6663                  FAX: (913)-532-6653