On April 14th, Millersville Ornithology student, Rebecca McCabe organized a workshop discussing Barn Owl Conservation at Lancaster County Park’s Environmental Center. Included in the workshop was a presentation on barn owl conservation given by Dan Mummert from The Pennsylvania Game Commission. Laura and Tim from ZooAmerica then brought out a male barn owl and discussed their ecology and biology. Following the presentations was an outdoor activity where barn owl nest boxes were assembled. About 60 people attended the event including Millersville Ornithology students and community members. All 16 nest boxes were built during that time!
Due to the potential negative impacts of baiting on white–tailed deer, and the philosophy of fair chase, many of the United States have outlawed or restricted the use of hunting over bait. In addition, the issue of illegal take of wildlife (i.e., poaching) has been increasing in the United States as well as internationally. The objective of a study being condcuted by Millersville Undergraduate researcher Teah Nauman is to determine whether baiting activity on white-tailed deer can be determined by analyzing the chemical composition of deer feces and determine if unique chemical signatures are left by commercial baits (i.e., baits purchased at a local retailer). This information can then be used to identify areas where illegal baiting for white-tailed deer has occurred. In addition, Teah will use a diversity of different chemical tests and identify one that can easily be used in the field. The results of Teah’s research may allow conservation officers to determine if illegal baiting activity is occurring in an area by simply testing deer feces. This could help in the prosecution, and hopefully the reduction, of individuals who illegally use baits to poach white–tailed deer.
On Saturday March 23rd, Myself and student Matt Zak presented our research at the Pennsylvania Wildlife Society & Pennsylvania Biological Survey Joint Meeting. I presented research on mitigating poaching activity and Matt presented his research on Incorporating Uncertainty into Recovery Plans of Endangered Birds. Below is Matt with his student research poster.
The State Civil Service Commission is assisting the Pennsylvania Game Commission in recruiting qualified candidates for its next class of Wildlife Conservation Officer Cadets.
On March 2nd and 3rd 2013, students from the Millersville Ornithology Class took a trip to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge to conduct a bird survey. We saw a total of 68 species including hundreds of waterfowl and numerous shorebirds. Below are some pictures taken by Cydni Ticktin and Andrew Wolfgang during the trip.
These positions will provide new information on the distribution of the Point Arena mountain beaver (Aplodontia rufa nigra), a federally-listed endangered subspecies. Field sampling will consist of locating and surveying ground transects to determine the presence of mountain beaver burrows, and placement of hair snares to collect genetic samples. Click below for more information.
Undergraduate Researcher Matt Zak has been hard at work organizing the Bird and Mammal skin and skull collection at the Millersville Animal Museum Room. Matt is currently organizing bird skins so each bird specimen can be labeled and photographed so a database of all animal specimens can be developed. Tedious work, but very important. These animal specimens help document the presence of particular species at a particular place and time. This allows us to examine geographic and temporal changes in animal populations, species, and communities, and to track those patterns in relation to natural or human-induced changes in the environment (e.g., climate change, landscape alteration, etc.). Museum specimens form the basis for research on evolution, speciation, and distribution, and also provide an important baseline for studies of conservation.
On February 17th and 24th, Students from the Millersville University Ornithology Class helped the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Pheasants Forever with Ring-necked Pheasant Surveys in Central Pennsylvania. Students got to count a large number of pheasants with the help of volunteer hunting dogs. Other species that were counted included Northern Harriers, American Kestrels, Short-eared Owls and Rough-legged Hawks.
The Fort Worth Zoo is offering a Conservation Expedition to Anegada, British Virgin Islands to help the critically endangered Anegada iguana (Cyclura pinguis). This trip is geared toward undergraduate students, helping them get real field experience. Click Below For Details.
