Storm Mortality in a Winter Starling Roost

Abstract

REPORTS Of large-scale mortality among birds resulting from severe weather conditions are frequent in ornithological literature. Kendeigh (Ecolog. Monogr., 4: 342-352, 1934) summarizes a number of these, pointing out the environmental factors concerned. However, accounts of avian catastrophes do not often include attempts to determine the amount of mortality or to measure the causal factors. The ultimate value of records of such incidents can be much augmented by accompanying them with accurate climatic and habitat data. The present report is concerned with mortality among roosting 'blackbirds' at Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois, during a regional rain and wind storm on the night of February 9, 1939. Additional data were obtained after subsequent shooting into the roost on February 25-26, and March 3 or 4, 1939