小笠原諸島は，亜熱帯気候に属する海洋島で，多くの海鳥の繁殖地となっている。しかし，各島嶼における海鳥の繁殖実態はこれまでに十分に調査されておらず不明点が多い。そこで，我々は諸島に属する66の島嶼について海鳥の繁殖実態調査を行った。調査は上陸と周囲からの観察による野外調査および，文献調査により行った。その結果，小笠原諸島で1968年以後に繁殖が確認された海鳥は15種であった（コアホウドリ，クロアシアホウドリ，シロハラミズナギドリ，アナドリ，オナガミズナギドリ，オーストンウミツバメ，クロウミツバメ，アカオネッタイチョウ，カツオドリ，アオツラカツオドリ，アカアシカツオドリ，オオアジサシ，セグロアジサシ，クロアジサシ，ヒメクロアジサシ）。これらのうち最も繁殖場所が多かったのはカツオドリで，次はオナガミズナギドリだった。アカアシカツオドリは1度営巣が確認されたのみで，この巣も台風により破壊されており，その他に記録はない。セグロミズナギドリは小笠原で繁殖していると考えられているが，戦前に繁殖記録があるだけで最近の繁殖は確認できなかった。海鳥の繁殖種数は島の面積と正の相関があったが，撹乱があった島では種数が少ない傾向があり，人間の活動などが海鳥の繁殖分布に大きな影響を与えていると考えられる。ノヤギ，ノネコ，クマネズミなどの移入哺乳動物は，捕食や環境改変により個体群に大きく影響している可能性があり，海鳥の保全のためにはこれら移入種を管理することが望ましい。

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1997年の4月から6月まで茨城県の里地里山で繁殖する1つがいのサシバを対象として3タイプの狩場における狩猟行動を調査した。耕作水田における観察時間あたりの止り時間の割合，止り回数，狩りの回数の値は，混合水田（耕作地と非耕作地からなる水田）およびその他の地域（草地，芝畑，公園）よりも有意に大きかった。サシバの食性も調査した。カエルが最も多く(40.9%, N=18)，次いでヘビ(15.9%, N=7)，トカゲ(11.4%, N=5)の順であった。その他にザリガニ(9.1%, N=4)，バッタ(6.8%, N=3)，ドジョウ(4.5%, N=2)が捕食されていた。これらの餌動物は水田またはその周囲に生息する。このように，里地里山においては耕作水田の存在がサシバの保全に重要だと思われる。

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A Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus was observed in Aisai City, Aichi Prefecture, on 17^th and 28th November and 5th December, 2006. The obvious webbing between all front toes clearly distinguished it from the most similar species, the Ringed Plover C. hiaticula. Other features possessed by this individual that are more commonly present in the Semipalmated Plover than the Ringed Plover were: a narrow yellow orbital ring; a short, thick-based bill; at the base of the bill, the border between the dark coloration and white coloration below the eye reached above the gape of the bill. This is the first known record of the Semipalmated Plover in Japan.

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We found a pair of Ospreys Pandion haliaetus nesting near to a site of road construction. We attempted to induce them to use an artificial nest away from the construction site so that they can breed safely. In 2004, an artificial nest made of many branches was placed on the top of each of three red pines, Pinus densiflora, located near to the natural nest of the pair. In 2005, the pair utilized one of these artificial nests, which was located 175 m from the natural nest. Our attempt to induce the pair to a safer location succeeded. The conservation by installing an artificial nest can be effective.

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In 2006 at Nobeyama plateau, Nagano Prefecture, central Japan, the death of most broods of the Bull-headed Shrike Lanius bucephalus occurred during a period consecutive rainfall. The rain lasted two and a half days from early morning on 17 July to noon on 19 July. Ten occupied nests were found before the rainfall, nine of which contained nestlings. In six nests containing only shrike nestlings, complete brood mortality was noted. However, in one nest with four shrike nestlings and in two nests with a cuckoo nestling the nestlings survived. The failed nests had two to six nestlings of three to eleven days old. Another four surviving nests had four shrike nestlings of three days old, one cuckoo nestling of 14 days old, one cuckoo nestling of about 15 days old, and five eggs, respectively. Of five eggs in the surviving nest, four eggs had hatched on 22 July, but one egg failed to hatch.

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In Ibaraki Prefecture, Central Japan, Pacific Golden Plovers Pluvialis fulva foraged on leafhoppers Nephotettix cincticeps at rice fields after harvest.

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In the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology, we have begun discussion on developing a system that supports our loan activity. In order to learn about loan activities and collection management systems, we visited three natural history museums in the United States: the Museum of Texas Tech University, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, and the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History. The loan procedures generally consist of loan requests and applications from researchers, review and approval by curators, loan contracts between institutions, and transportation of specimens. Specimens on loan are wrapped with acid-free paper and packaged carefully to prevent breakage during transit. In case of specimens preserved in ethanol, they must be transported in compliance with laws governing hazardous substances. Tissue samples are preserved frozen with or without ethanol. Frozen tissues for loans are prepared with great attention to maintaining them at a low temperature during the whole process. Tissue samples are also preserved in lysis buffer, which makes it possible to keep samples at a room temperature. Skeletal specimens are usually cleaned with the aid of dermestid beetles, which potentially can turn into harmful pests. Collection managers monitor collection facilities using insect traps and inspecting visually each collection case on a frequent basis, rather than restricting visitor access to collections as has been implemented at the Yamashina Institute. Live pests are exterminated by freezing instead of fumigations. In museums of the United States, specialization of museum personnel into curators, collection managers and registrars seems to function efficiently, due to a definite role each staff member plays in a museum. Museum professionals have taken advantage of formal school education with a degree in the field of museum studies, which also contributes to a high level of museum management.

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