297,923 research outputs found
Roy Bird to Uncle Ernest, December 12, 1920
No full textThis postcard, postmarked from Swannanoa December 20, 1932, was written by Roy Bird (1916-2009) to Mr. W. E. Bird in Cullowhee and shows a decorated Christmas tree in a living room and is part of the William E. Bird Collection. On the back of the postcard is written “Dear Uncle Ernest, Don’t worry if I am not there the 21, for I might stay with Grandpa B. first. Mother said it might be a good idea for me to visit there first, but I will come. I sure thank you for the money. yours truly, Roy B.” William Ernest Bird (1890-1975) was born in the Qualla community of Jackson County, NC. Bird served Western Carolina University in various capacities during his long career. Bird’s roles at WCU included head of the English Department, Dean of Men, Acting President, and President. In 1963, he published The History of Western Carolina College: The Progress of an Idea. He was married to Myrtle Wells (1891-1983)
Bird species richness and diversity at montane Important Bird Area (IBA) sites in south-eastern Nigeria
No full textThe mountains of south-eastern Nigeria are a western extension of the Cameroon mountain range, which is classified as an endemic bird area (EBA). Unlike its eastern extension in Cameroon, most of the ornithological surveys in the western extension of the Cameroon highlands in Nigeria have produced only limited checklists and inventories. There is a clear need for quantitative baseline data so that conservation problems can be identified. Twenty line transects covering a total transect length of 28.8 km were used to survey five sites (Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, Oban and Okwangwo Division of Cross River National Park, Sankwala Mountains and Mbe Mountains) in the westernmost extension of the Cameroon Mountains EBA in south western Nigeria. Vegetation measurements were taken to control for the potential confounding effect of variation in vegetation density and structure on detectability of birds between sites. The 193 bird species recorded in Afi, 158 in Sankwala, 124 in Oban, 100 in Mbe and 73 in Okwangwo Division included most of the Cameroon highlands restricted range species. The results show that the mountains of south-eastern Nigeria are important parts of the Cameroon EBA, particularly the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary. However these sites are threatened by fire and livestock grazing on the hilltops, shifting agriculture on the hillsides and lowlands, and logging for timber in some parts, as well as wildlife hunting for bush meat.Peer reviewe
Estimating bird abundance : making methods work
No full textIn many bird monitoring Surveys, no attempt is made to estimate bird densities or abundance. instead, counts of one form or another are made, and these are assumed to correlate with bird density. Unless complete Counts Oil Sample plots are feasible, this approach can easily lead to false conclusions, because detectability of birds varies by species, habitat, observer and many other factors. Trends in time of counts often reflect trends in detectability, rather than trends in abundance. Conclusions are further compromised when surveys are conducted at unrepresentative sites. We consider how to avoid these problems. We give a brief description of distance sampling methods, which allow detectability to be estimated. We consider strategies to ease their implementation, to enhance their reliability, to adapt the methods for difficult species, and to deal with circumstances in which representative sampling is problematic. We also consider some of the common problems encountered, and suggest solutions.Peer reviewe
The design and construction of a flying bird robot
No full textThe purpose of this project is to investigate the issues surrounding the design and construction of a flying bird robot. The ideal would be to re-create a model of a bird that looks like bird, functions like a bird with regard to the biomechanical issues involved in flight and uses control systems that emulate the ones used by the bird to control the flight path
Relationships between hedgerow characteristics and bird communities:: a multivariate approach
No full textFifty 100m hedge transects were selected within 10km of Durham City, North England. The bird community of the hedge transects was censused six times between May and July, and characteristics of the hedge and surrounding landscape were recorded. The data was analysed using multivariate methods to determine the importance of the microstructure of the hedge in relation to aspects of the bird community. Stepwise Multiple Regression selected the scores of the first axis of a Detrended Correspondance Analysis of shrub abundance data (related to the height and width of the hedge) as the best predictor of Bird species richness and density. Individual species were related to different aspects of the hedge microstructure. The use of transformed independent data improved the predictive value of most of these relationships. A Detrended Correspondance Analysis found that major source of variation in the bird species abundances was due to the number of trees in the hedge. Canonical Correspondance Analysis was used to analyse how a community responds to a set of external factors. The CANOCO first axis was related to an increase in the area of nearby woodland in the positive end and an increase in the number of trees in the negative end. The position of the species scores in relation to these environmental gradients was analysed. The habitat preferences of 4 common species of bird was explored using "sector” analysis, whereby the mean density of the species is plotted against the major sources of variation in the environmental variables, different habitat preferences between species are apparent. The importance of trees to the bird community was elucidated using Linear Discriminant Analysis. The analysis was carried out with hedges with no trees and hedges with 3 or more trees as the two a priori groups. Eighty-three percent of the sites were placed in the correct groups, using 14 common bird species as variables. The importance of the microstructure of the hedge to the bird community is discussed
Two men standing on a railroad trestle
No full textThis undated postcard written to Mr. Roy Bird from Blanche shows two men on a railroad trestle in flooded waters and is part of the William E. Bird Collection. On the back of the postcard is written “Hello, Read your card all O. K. was pleased to get a card from you. I sure had a lovely time at the fair. Was sorry I didn’t get acquainted with you. Yes be sure and come to Beta the 3rd Sunday. Your almost awkward friend ‘Blanche.’” William Ernest Bird (1890-1975) was born in the Qualla community of Jackson County, NC. Bird served Western Carolina University in various capacities during his long career. Bird’s roles at WCU included head of the English Department, Dean of Men, Acting President, and President. In 1963, he published The History of Western Carolina College: The Progress of an Idea. He was married to Myrtle Wells (1891-1983)
Bird communities and vegetation on Swedish wet meadows
No full textWet meadows in Sweden currently depend on management by grazing to maintain habitats for various breeding and migrating birds. However, due to ceased cattle farming management by mowing could be an option for restoration and conservation of wet meadows. The general aim of this thesis is to analyse effects of different management regimes (mowing and grazing), landscape composition and flooding on inland wet meadow bird fauna and flora. Five wet meadow areas in southern Sweden were used for a four-year survey of breeding birds and environmental variables. Habitat openness was the most important factor for bird community composition. Species preferring open meadows decreased strongly in abundance at small amounts of forest, suggesting that clearing of woodlands could be important. The bird community was also strongly related to the amount of flooding. Effects of management were weaker, but several species showed positive associations with swards of intermediate height (5-30 cm), which are correlated to mowing with late season grazing. In addition, measures for restoring water table variation also need to be considered. Conservation of species dependent on continuous management (yearly grazing, mowing and late season grazing) and short swards should be targeted to large open meadows. Corncrakes preferred unmanaged meadows with tall vegetation, suggesting that mowing at intervals of a few years could be appropriate. Yellow Wagtails are likely to have higher breeding success in mowed than in grazed sites due to lack of nest destruction by livestock. The main gradients affecting distribution of vascular plants correlated to soil fertility and moist. Bird species associated with weak or no management correlated positively to nutrient levels, soil reaction, sward height and litter depth. In contrast, the assembly of bird species associated with continuous management, showed fewer associations to the sward variables, although their abundance was positively associated with abundance of forbs. Different mowing regimes may be a useful tool for management of meadow sward heterogeneity
"Bird": psychogeography and night portraits from 52nd Street - Notes for a biopic between short lives and longevity in Jazz
No full textreservedLa tesi si propone di analizzare “Bird”, biopic del 1988 per la regia di Clint Eastwood, su Charlie "Bird" Parker, geniale e tormentato sassofonista afroamericano, pioniere del genere be-bop. L'indagine coinvolgerà il lavoro dell'Attore Forest Whitaker sull'interpretazione di Bird e la poetica ed estetica del film, che rappresenta un unicum nella storia del genere. Ad influire sulla produzione infatti è anche il background da musicista jazz del regista: fotografia e colonna sonora saranno però oggetto di querelle tra i critici e i puristi del genere.
I sofisticati e originali "ritratti notturni" sulla 52esima strada di New York di Bird e degli altri protagonisti lasciano spazio ad una riflessione sull'indissolubile legame tra cinema e psicanalisi.
La parte finale in appendice riguarderà un'altra "storia jazz", questa volta in Italia : la produzione di Doctor Dixie Jazz Band, docufilm dell'autrice della tesi sulla "Jazz Band più longeva del mondo", ancora in attività, nata nel cuore di Bologna
Violence and abuse in Maya Angelou's autobiography: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
No full textTreball Final de Grau en Estudis Anglesos. Codi: EA0938. Curs acadèmic: 2018/2019The aim of this dissertation is to reflect upon the effects of abuse, racism, and segregation on the
African-American community through the analysis of the autobiographical novel by Maya
Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Angelou's youth during the 1930's and 40's was
altered by the humiliation and indignation endured as a consequence of discrimination. Racial
domination of society is also illustrated in the book analyzed. Through examination of Angelou's
narrative, it is possible to evaluate how the underlying effects caused by social determinants and
inequality faced by the African-American community affected the author's development. This era,
prior to the American Civil Rights Movement, marked by the Great Depression and World War II,
was defining for various African-American writers and still has importance and influence to this
day on impactful political, economic and social concerns. The discrepancies in societal division,
discrimination, bigotry and chauvinism were crucial to the shaping of the young author. The
complexity of the accounts show the perspective of a minority group member and Angelou's
narrative have since gained the status of empowerment. Angelou's work is a historical testimony
that reflects the discriminating reality of her society while illustrating how her struggles led to a
journey towards self-acceptance
Song sharing and repertoire change as indicators of social structure in the Noisy Scrub-bird
No full textThe Endangered Noisy Scrub-bird is a small passerine that is seldom seen but often heard in its range on the south coast of Western Australia. The difficulties in observing this cryptic bird mean that little is known about its social system. The loud, conspicuous territorial song of the male provides a convenient, non-intrusive means by which to study this species.
The aim of this project was to investigate the patterns of song sharing and repertoire change in the Noisy Scrub-bird to provide indications of the social structure. It was found that groups of up to ten territorial males shared the same set of about five song types. Song groups were discrete, with members of a song group sharing most, if not all, of their song types. Males from different song groups had no song types in common.
Repertoire change was rapid and, with the exception of one individual, was found in every territorial male studied in the Mt Gardner population. It occurred simultaneously in all members of a song group, with males making the same changes to their shared songs. The source of repertoire change was mainly modification of existing song types with occasional divergence of a single song type into two distinct song types, as well as some innovation providing new song types. The average life of a song type was approximately 6 months. Although some song types persisted for the entire 16 month sampling period, they were continually modified and a year later could no longer be recognised as the same type.
Translocation of eight male scrub-birds to the Porongurup National Park provided an opportunity to combine individuals that initially did not share any songs. This allowed the process of song group formation to be studied. Within a one to two month period these males altered their songs so that they shared with their new neighbours. There was some evidence that the songs of dominant males were copied. Observation of the population established on Bald Island by translocation confirmed that there were no appreciable long-term effects on the songs of translocated Noisy Scrub-birds. Song group size, repertoire size and levels of song sharing were very similar to those found in the Mt Gardner population.
The striking feature of Noisy Scrub-bird song groupings was their discreteness and cohesiveness even in the presence of continual repertoire change. It is suggested that each song group consists of a dominant male whose songs are more attractive to females and/or effective in territory defence. This dominant male is surrounded by subordinate males that copy his effective songs. Repertoire change can be explained by the dominant male continually making changes to his songs, with the other males copying these changes to retain their mimicked effectiveness. Each song group may in fact represent a dispersed lek. The scenario suggested to explain Noisy Scrub-bird song groupings bears striking similarities to the hotshot hypothesis to explain lek formation whereby males cluster around a successful male.
This study demonstrates the potential of using song to investigate aspects of the social system of a species which is otherwise very difficult to observe. Management of an Endangered species such as the Noisy Scrub-bird will always benefit from increased knowledge about their social system. For example, this study showed that taking males from different song groups for translocation probably has little impact on their success at the new site because of their ability to rapidly alter their songs to form new song groups. An additional benefit of regularly monitoring the songs of translocated males was that it allowed ongoing identification of individuals, even though their songs were continually changing
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