- ホーム
- > 洋書
- > 英文書
- > Nature / Ecology
Full Description
This book provides the first comprehensive account of the biology of one of North America's most enigmatic and colorful wildlife species, the Carolina Parakeet. The only parrot endemic to the United States, this species once ranged in large, noisy flocks from Florida to New York, and as far west as Colorado. But although it was still widespread and common during the time of John James Audubon (whose illustration of the species is perhaps his finest work), the parakeet was gone completely by the mid-twentieth century. Through analyses of historical accounts and presentation of considerable new information gleaned from interviewing senior citizens with firsthand knowledge of the species, Noel Snyder develops an intriguing portrait of the parakeet that challenges long-held assumptions. Although it has long been believed that the Carolina Parakeet was exterminated largely by shooting, Snyder argues that exotic diseases may have figured more heavily in its final disappearance.He also presents evidence that the parakeet lasted far longer into the twentieth century than generally believed, and that it may have been toxic and distasteful to predators by virtue of its frequent consumption of the cocklebur - a plant highly poisonous to many other vertebrates. Snyder proposes avenues of research that could help resolve some of the enduring mysteries about this fascinating bird, and he discusses the significance of its extinction for wildlife conservation in general.
Contents
Illustrations and Tables ix Acknowledgments xi Introduction 1 Chapter 1. Basic Characteristics of the Species 6 Characteristics in Flight and on Foot 7 Vocalizations 8 History of Scientific and Common Names 9 Relationship to Other Parrots 10 Chapter 2. The Decline and Fall 12 Historical Population Trends 13 Last Days of the Parakeet in Florida 14 Personal Recollections of Parakeets 19 Other Late Sightings in Florida 25 Chapter 3. Controversial Last Records 32 The Parakeet Eggs of Charles Doe 33 Parakeets in the Okefenokee 59 Parakeets along the Santee 61 Even More Recent Sightings 76 Chapter 4. Habitat Preferences and Requirements 82 Chapter 5. Feeding Habits and Movements 86 Diet and Feeding Behavior 86 Movements 93 Chapter 6. Breeding Habits 96 Nest-Site Types and Social Relationships 96 Timing of Breeding; Nest, Egg, and Nestling Characteristics 104 Chapter 7. Causes of Extinction 108 Shooting 109 Capture for the Pet Trade 112 Food Supplies 113 Nest Sites 113 Predators and Parasites 115 Disease 116 Chapter 8. Parakeet Toxicity and Other Topics for Research 121 Chapter 9. Postmortem of a Conservation Failure 126 Chapter 10. Evaluating Historical Data, and Some General Conclusions 129 Assessing Interview Information 130 Musings on the Fate of Central Florida 134 Some Positive Parakeet Legacies 136 The Cocklebur and Its Many Potential Roles 138 A Last Look Back 140 References Cited 141 Index 149
