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Edward L. Flickinger

Publications and source records attributed to Edward L. Flickinger.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
USGS1979

Weights of lesser snow geese taken on their winter range

Geese are assumed to accumulate fat on the winter range (Bent 1962, Williams 1967) to sustain them through the long northward migration and early part of the nesting season. However, there are no weights given in the literature of lesser snow geese ( Anser c. caerulescens ) on their winter ranges to compare with weights on the breeding grounds. For many years biologists relied on Kortright (1942) for weights of lesser snow geese, and more recently on Bellrose (1976). In the present study, snow geese from the Garwood Prairie, a rice growing area in Colorado County, Texas, were weighed to determine if weights increased before northward migration. The Garwood Prairie is a segment of the snow goose winter range near the Gulf Coast of Texas.

Texas↗
USGS1979

Effects of aldrin exposure on snow geese in Texas rice fields

In 1972 and 1974, 112 dead or moribund snow geese ( Chen c. caerulescens ), mostly immature white-phase males, were found in a study area on the Garwood Prairie, Texas. Dying geese were observed within 2 days after rice fields planted with aldrin-treated seed were flooded by heavy tains6n 21 March 1972 and 25 March 1974. Brains from 8 snow geese that were moribund when found contained an average of 8.2 ppm (4.9-14.0 ppm) of dieldrin (a metabolite of aldrin); brains of 14 geese found dead contained an average of 14.1ppm (2.1-31 ppm). Because no mortalities occurred in 1973 when aldrin-treated rice seed was flooded after all geese had migrated or in 1975 and 1976 after the treatment of rice seed with aldrin was suspended, it appears certain that aldrin caused the mortalities.

Texas↗
USGS1978

Shell thinning and pesticide residues in Texas aquatic bird eggs, 1970

Significant decreases in eggshell thickness were found in 15 of 22 species of aquatic birds in Texas in 1970. Shell thickness reductions of 9 to 15 percent were found in white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), brown pelicans (P .occidentalis), and great blue herons (Ardea herodias). DDT family compounds were found in all eggs, and mean residues ranged from 0.4 ppm in white ibis (Eudocimus albus) to 23.2 ppm in great egrets (Casmerodius albus). GDDT residues were negatively correlated with shell thickness in five species; PCBs were negatively correlated in two. Residues in marine birds were generally lower and more uniform than levels in birds feeding in fresh and brackish water. DDT and dieldrin residues were higher in eggs from colonies near agricultural areas where these insecticides were heavily used; higher PCB residues were consistently associated with urban and industrial areas. Populations of five species have declined and deserve continued study: brown pelican, reddish egret (Dichromanassa rufescens), white-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi), laughing gull (Larus atricilla), and Forster's tern (Sterna forsteri). Population trends of four other species were undetermined and should be followed closely in future years.

Pesticides Monitoring Journal↗
USGS1977

Dieldrin mortality of lesser snow geese in Missouri

In March and April 1974, 157 lesser snow geese (Chen caerulescens) died from dieldrin poisoning during northward migration through western Missouri. Evidence strongly suggested that the mortality in Missouri resulted from delayed effects upon geese exposed to aldrin-treated rice seed on wintering areas in southeast Texas.

Missouri↗
USGS1977

The decline of brown pelicans on the Louisiana and Texas Gulf Coast

Before 1920, native populations of brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis carolinensis) were estimated at 50,000 to 85,000 birds in Louisiana and 5,000 in Texas. By 1958, brown pelicans had vanished from two wintering areas in each state, and wintering and breeding birds disappeared from additional areas between 1959 and 1961. By 1963, the disappearance of the brown pelican from Louisiana was complete, and in Texas only about 100 birds were observed annually. Mortality before 1939, particularly in Texas, was attributed mostly to hunters and fishermen. Losses in both states were attributed to hurricanes, disease, and extended periods of freezing weather. Pesticides may also have contributed significantly. Widespread endrin-caused fish mortality was documented between 1958 and 1964 in Louisiana. Pelicans undoubtedly were exposed to endrine through eating the fish. Significant levels of DDE were found in Texas fishes in the late 1960's. DDE residues in pelican eggs were high enough to be responsible for nesting failure. Shell thinning averaged 10% in Texas pelican eggs collected in 1970, 1972, and 1974, but in earlier years greater thinning was associated with the collapse and loss of eggs. Poor reproductive success during recent years was believed due to (1) failure of many adult pelicans to nest and (2) a high rate of nestling mortality in the few pairs that did nest and hatch young. The remnant population of brown pelicans on the Texas Coast will disappear unless reproductive success improves, because recruitment is presently insufficient to offset mortality.

Louisiana, Texas↗
USGS1973

Pen-reared fulvous tree ducks used in movement studies of wild populations

To obtain movement data on wild fulvous tree ducks ( Dendrocygna bicolor ) 165 immature pen-reared fulvous tree ducks were color-marked and released in three southeast Texas counties in July October 1969/70. Nine (5 percent) of the marked birds were recovered from 3 days to 9 months after release, and an additional 15 birds provided sight records. Many released birds apparently became integrated into the wild population; all of those observed were with wild flocks. Six birds were recovered over 50 miles from the release sites. Four released in late July to mid-September had moved eastward and two went southward in September or later. Five were still in the Texas-Louisiana rice belt (three in late November). The sixth bird was recovered in October in Veracruz, which supports the assumption that U.S. Gulf Coast nesting populations winter in southern Mexico.

Louisiana, Texas↗
USGS1972

Pesticide mortality of young white-faced ibis in Texas

The combination of the symptoms observed in sick and dying birds and the high brain residues in the three birds collected dying, as well as in two of the four collected dead, implicate dieldrin as at least one of the causes of mortality of young ibis at the Lavaca Bay colony. Mercury residues in the kidneys of all four dead young, including those with low brain residues of dieldrin, suggest that birds were exposed to mercury in rice fields and that mercury may also have contributed to the mortality. Since adult ibis normally feed their young on invertebrates collected in rice fields treated with aldrin and Ceresan L, the use of these rice pesticides appears to be a serious hazard to this species, and probably to other wild birds with similar habits.

Texas↗
USGS1972

Some effects of aldrin-treated rice on Gulf Coast wildlife

Wildlife casualties from aldrin-dieldrin poisoning are associated with the planting of aldrin-treated rice seed along the Texas Gulf Coast. The fulvous tree duck ( Dendrocygna bicolor ), which depends on the rice field habitats and is highly susceptible to aldrin-dieldrin poisoning, is suffering a serious population decline in that area. Dead waterfowl, shorebirds, and passerines were collected on study areas in Wharton, Brazoria, and Chambers counties, Texas, from 1967 through 1971. Residues of aldrin or dieldrin were found in all samples of bird casualties and in all eggs, scavengers, predators, fish, frogs, invertebrates, and soils. Fulvous tree ducks appeared to be less resistant to aldrin than other ducks. Dieldrin residues in brains of dead fulvous tree ducks were low, but whole-body residues were as high as 16 ppm. Brains of other dead ducks and geese averaged 10 ppm dieldrin. Some dead birds were exposed by eating treated rice seed, but many dead birds with high dieldrin residues were species that feed largely on invertebrates. Although soil residues were low, snails and crayfish contained enough aldrin and dieldrin (average 9.5 ppm) to account for deaths in birds that fed heavily on these invertebrates over a period of time. When fulvous tree ducks were penned for 3 days in fields aerially planted with treated seed, 3 of 10 birds died with brain residues of 2.5, 2.9, and 6.8 ppm dieldrin, and others were intoxicated. None of eight died, and some gained weight, when penned in fields planted with untreated seed. This study adds further evidence for the suspected lethal effects of aldrin-treated rice seed on wild birds and other wildlife in rice field habitats.

Texas↗