Avian Biodiversity Study of Boeuf Wildlife Management Area

Boeuf Wildlife Management Area is a 50,000-acre tract of bottomland hardwood in Northeast

Louisiana. I will be assessing the avian species composition on Boeuf WMA to provide baseline data

of species richness and abundance. I will analyze the data to measure the effects of management

techniques on the avian population.

and

Mechanisms of Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) parasite egg rejection

I will be researching the response of the Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) to parasitic Brown-headed

Cowbird (Molothrus ater) eggs. Original theory stated that an avian host species could be clearly

categorized as either an acceptor or a rejector of parasitic eggs. Recent work has forced reconsideration

of this statement.  Percent rejection by the Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) has been documented at

both 58%and 96%.  The objectives of this study are to determine if this variation can be correlated

to 1) habitat suitability of nest location, 2) size of host clutch, and 3) variation in the coloration of the

parasitic egg. This study will take place in the diverse landscape of Boeuf Wildlife Management

Area in northeast Louisiana. Mimetic cowbird eggs will be placed in the nests of brooding Brown

Thrashers. Nests will be regularly checked to determine the fate of the mimetic egg. The data that

is collected will improve our understanding of proximate response mechanisms to avian

brood parasitism.