An Ecological Study of Nesting Birds in the Vicinity of Boulder, Colorado
| Autor: | Verna R. Johnston |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 1943 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | The Condor. 45:61-68 |
| ISSN: | 1938-5129 0010-5422 |
| DOI: | 10.2307/1364379 |
| Popis: | During the summer of 1941, while doing biological field work in the Rocky Mountains west of Boulder, Colorado, I became interested in the distribution of birds as related to life-zones. Many Colorado birds are listed in ornithological manuals as characteristic of particular zones. I determined to investigate whether their nesting sites were chosen because of the altitude and zone or because of local habitat conditions. This study was made at Science Lodge, the University of Colorado biological station, at an elevation of 9500 feet in the mountains twenty-eight miles west of Boulder, and covered a five weeks’ period, July 21 to August 22, 1941. In this time I attempted to discover all the nests possible by covering the area in and around the biological station, and by censusing all regions, from the plains to above timber line, that were visited by the class field trips made on three days of each week. In addition, I obtained authentic records and descriptions of nests from two naturalists of the Rocky Mountain National Park and from several members of Science Lodge. It was my intention to analyze the nests, nest environment, and vegetation and to determine, after a study of many nests, whether life-zone or local habitat conditions appeared more important in the selection of nest sites. This paper is inconclusive, but it is hoped that the data may make a contribution to the broad topic of life-zones and bird distribution. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|