Most hawks construct the frame of their nest from coarse dry branches and line it with finer materials before the eggs are laid. However, Buteo platypterus (Broadwinged Hawk) and some other hawk species resume to build on the nest lining in the nestling stage, by adding fresh sprigs of green vegetation. Various hypotheses for the latter behavior have been suggested. I examined the contents of a Broad-winged Hawk nest in western Maine repeatedly to gain insights into the function of the green sprigs. The birds added on average two large fresh green fronds (each 15–42 cm in length) per day to the nest during the first 18 days after their young hatched, and they continued to add about 1 frond/twig with fresh leaves per day during the last 17 days the chick was in the nest. These fresh greens consisted of ten species of plants, including five species of ferns and two species of conifer. Of my nine examinations of the nest, in all but the last one the nest mold was lined with either ferns or Thuja occidentalis (Northern White Cedar). I compared the percentages of these greens with their local availability near the nest, and conclude that the birds selected for a flat but feathery leaf structure. The literature suggests various possible functions of greenery in nests. I distinguish between greens added onto the nest, and greens added later on post-hatching into the nest lining as a layer, and conclude that nest hygiene is the most plausible explanation for green vegetation in hawk nest linings.

We systematically surveyed the Maine coastline from Washington County to York County to provide baseline data concerning Calidris maritima (Purple Sandpiper) population status. Focusing on a particular region each winter, we conducted 66 winter surveys by boat along the entire coast of Maine between 2002 and 2007 plus three days surveying from the mainland between Kittery and Biddeford during the winter of 2005–2006. We tallied 13,318 Purple Sandpipers during these surveys. After accounting for birds present but not detected, we estimate that 14,000 to 17,000 Purple Sandpipers wintered annually in Maine between 2002 and 2007. Based on an assessment of historical records and data collected during this study, flocks of≥250 Purple Sandpipers have been reported from 48 sites along the Maine coast. The area from Isle au Haut to Swans Island along the midcoast supports the highest concentrations of wintering Purple Sandpipers in Maine and the largest wintering concentration of Histrionicus histrionicus (Harlequin Ducks) in eastern North America, highlighting the potential importance of this geographic region.

The Ausable and Boquet rivers are two of New York's major tributaries to Lake Champlain. The two watersheds are referred to as the Boquet/Ausable Subbasin. The Subbasin receives drainage from 795 square miles including diverse wetland types. From 2005 to 2009, a total of 768 sampling sites (324 in the Ausable watershed and 444 in the Boquet watershed) within 56 wetlands were surveyed from mid-June to mid-August. A total of 470 plant species were recorded, including 138 species of woody plants, 85 species of graminoids, 23 species of pteridophytes, and 224 herbaceous species. Included in the sampled plant species were 50 exotic species, 14 non-native invasive species, 2 New York State (NYS) endangered species, 2 threatened species, and 31 species listed as exploitably vulnerable by the New York State Natural Heritage Program. Herbaceous plants were the most abundant group and accounted for 48% of all species (45% at Ausable, 49% at Boquet). The least abundant group was the pteridophytes (5%). The Ausable watershed samples included a larger number of plant species (368) than the Boquet watershed samples (332). This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.001). The Ausable watershed had larger numbers of native, exotic, invasive, and vulnerable species than the Boquet watershed. The differences were statistically significant for the native plants (P < 0.001), exotic plants (P = 0.001), and exploitably vulnerable plant species (P = 0.005) observed in the two watersheds. However, the difference in non-native invasive plant species observed in the two watersheds was not statistically significant (P = 0.505). Plant species differences between the two watersheds might have resulted from variations of multiple environmental factors including elevation, soil types, water chemistry, nutrient levels, and anthropogenic factors.

The spatial distribution of the fiddler crab Uca pugnax (Atlantic Marsh Fiddler Crab) in relation to salt marsh patch structure was investigated along the central Connecticut coast of Long Island Sound. Salt marsh landscape structure at the study sites exhibit characteristics consistent with changes noted in other systems along the US Atlantic coast over the last several decades, including significant seaward erosion, encroachment of low-marsh plants into high marsh, changing composition of high-marsh plant patch structure, and marsh dieback and drowning. Our objective was to determine whether the spatial patterns of U. pugnax inhabiting these systems differed from those previously reported for southern New England in light of these characteristics. Densities of crab burrows were highest in low-marsh patches of Spartina alterniflora (Atlantic Smooth Cordgrass) and unvegetated muds along tidal creek banks and mosquito ditches. Seaward-eroding low-marsh areas were generally devoid of live crabs and burrows. Crab-burrow densities varied across the complex patch mosaics in high-marsh areas. Burrow densities were generally low in the extensive short S. alterniflora patches that comprised much of the high-marsh area at several sites. However, high burrow densities, equivalent to low-marsh densities, were found in certain high-marsh patch types and upland transition zones. These included patches of Spartina patens (Marsh Hay Cordgrass), Distichils Spicata (Desert Salt Grass), and mixes of these, and particularly in S. patens patches wholly or partly comprised of hummocks of vegetation surrounded by bare sediment. At several sites, burrow densities were high in upland transition zone patches of Phragmites australis (Common Reed). As such, crab-burrow distributions were highly variable at local, within-marsh system spatial scales. Live U. pugnax were found regularly in all patch types on all marshes. Our results indicate a much broader distribution of U. pugnax at relatively high densities across southern New England marsh landscapes than previously reported. This finding may represent a case of habitat expansion in response to salt marsh change, likely due to sea-level rise and other factors, creating high-marsh habitats in a variety of patch types that can support resident populations of fiddler crabs. Such an expansion of a dominant salt marsh species, which can significantly affect ecosystem dynamics, may potentially increase the complexity of current salt marsh change patterns and dynamics along southern New England coastlines.

Alliaria petiolata (Garlic Mustard) decreases diversity of native plants and introduces novel litter inputs to forests, but whether Garlic Mustard's presence influences detritivores is unclear. Our goal was to determine if Garlic Mustard alters springtail (detritivore) densities during early invasion. We obtained epigeal (litter, humus, and soil) cores from invaded and uninvaded areas in a Pinus strobus (White Pine) forest and used high-gradient dynamic sampling to extract springtails. Invaded areas contained nearly three times more springtails than uninvaded areas, attributable to two springtail morphospecies from Collembola families Tomoceridae and Entomobryidae. Higher pH in invaded epigeal samples correlated with increased springtail abundance. pH alkalization also correlated with increased proportion of juvenile rosettes in mixed stands. Our results suggest a possible role for pH modulation of springtail abundance in response to Garlic Mustard invasion.

Once abundant in Kentucky, Ursus americanus (American Black Bear) were extirpated from the state by the late 19^th century because of overharvest and habitat alteration. Regenerating deciduous forests, increased human tolerance, and source population growth and expansion in neighboring states have facilitated Black Bear recolonization in parts of southeastern Kentucky since the 1980s. As of 2012, <500 Black Bears were estimated to occur in Kentucky, with most individuals found in two successfully reproducing, geographically separate, and genetically distinct core populations in the southeastern part of the state. Our research suggests that population growth and expansion of Black Bears within Kentucky is occurring and abundant suitable habitat exists to support further increases in range and numbers. Potential impediments to further population growth and recolonization include roads, overexploitation primarily from illegal harvest, and habitat loss and fragmentation. The recolonization of Kentucky by the Black Bear represents an important case study of population growth and expansion of large mammals in the eastern US that has widespread ecological and economic implications.

In southern Ontario, Canada, the range and distribution of bats is well known, but their activity in the northeastern part of the province (north of 47°N, east of 85°W) is poorly documented. Using acoustic sampling, we documented the occurrence of six species of bats in the boreal forest of northeastern Ontario: Eptesicus fuscus (Big Brown Bat), Lasiurus borealis (Eastern Red Bat), L. cinereus (Hoary Bat), Myotis lucifugus (Little Brown Bat), M. septentrionalis (Northern Long-eared Bat), and Lasionycteris noctivagans (Silver-haired Bat). Hoary Bats were recorded more frequently than all other species. Little Brown Bats were second-most frequently recorded, and the remaining four species were encountered (mean number passes/hour) significantly less often. Our records are the most northerly for Big Brown Bats in this part of Ontario. Although the other species were expected in this area, this is the first study to identify and confirm the bats present in the boreal forest of northeastern Ontario. This new information will contribute to efforts to conserve biodiversity in the province and may inform future studies or monitoring programs associated with the spread of white-nose syndrome in Ontario.

Ranaviruses are emerging infectious diseases that infect amphibians, fish, and reptiles. Several cases of morbidity and mortality in captive and natural populations of reptiles have been attributed to ranaviruses, but research in this taxon has been limited. We used oral-cloacal swabs and tail clips to survey two species, Chrysemys picta picta (Eastern Painted Turtles) and Sternotherus odoratus (Common Musk Turtles), in three water bodies in central Virginia to determine if ranaviruses were present. Prevalence of ranavirus in C. p. picta ranged from 4.8–31.6% at the three sites. Ranavirus was not detected in S. odoratus, but only oral-cloacal swabs were used in this species because of the cornified tail tip. While tail-tip tissues from all three study sites indicated presence of ranavirus in C. p. picta, no oral-cloacal swabs from these same turtles tested positive. We therefore suggest that oral-cloacal swabbing may yield false negatives when ranavirus is present in turtles, and that tissue sampling may be more appropriate for monitoring ranavirus in turtles.

The date of first calling (DFC) of Pseudacris crucifer (Spring Peeper) was recorded over 15 years between 1997 and 2012 in a small vernal pond in southeastern New York State. There was no statistically significant trend in temperature or in the DFC over this period. To determine what temperature cues best predicted DFC, 20 potential temperature indices (daily mean, minimum and maximum temperatures averaged over several different time periods, and thermal sums using several different base temperatures) and five precipitation indices (precipitation on the DFC and for four time windows prior to the DFC) were calculated, and predicted DFCs were compared to observed DFCs. The thermal sum with a base of 3 °C (TS3) was the best predictor but overestimated DFC slightly at high values of DFC. In evaluating impacts of climate change on the calling of this frog, the TS3 index may provide a more accurate metric than the daily temperature statistics that have been used in previous studies. In a 63-year record from a nearby weather station, the TS3 index declined significantly, suggesting that Spring Peepers may be calling earlier now than they were in the mid-20th century.

Ninety species of Odonata are now verified by specimens for Wayne County, MI, a highly urbanized county in the southeastern corner of the state. This total represents 54% of the total number recorded in the state of Michigan. Thirty-three species not previously reported from Wayne County have been collected since 2000, despite a long history of collecting in the area and relatively little remaining appropriate habitat. These results suggest previous workers may have neglected to do much serious collecting here, and emphasize the need for collecting and monitoring Odonata in urban areas.

This investigation compared color and artificial container size as attractants for the gravid female Aedes triseriatus (Eastern Tree-hole Mosquito) oviposition site selection. Three colors (white, green, and black) were investigated in combination with two container sizes (3672 ml and 12,000 ml). Presence of mosquito larvae was used to determine percent occupancy of containers. Black containers were selected in 70% of trials, compared to 63% for green containers and 41% for white containers. Large containers were selected more frequently (72% of trials) than small containers (44% of trials). Results suggest that container size may serve as an important selective cue for A. triseriatus and may take precedence over color when gravid female mosquitoes are given the choice. Our results provide further insight into the complexity of cues that influence mosquito oviposition behavior.

We discovered a live Baeolophus bicolor (Tufted Titmouse) entangled in the burrs of Hackelia virginiana (Beggar's Lice) on 28 September 2012 in Kutztown, PA. We extracted and released the titmouse because it appeared to be unable to free itself from the plant. To our knowledge, this is the second published report of a bird becoming entangled in Beggar's Lice and the first documentation of a Tufted Titmouse becoming entangled in any plant. Entanglement in Beggar's Lice is unusual because of the small size (3–4 mm) of its burrs.