Charles J. Henny
I am a Scientist Emeritus at the USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center.
My research focuses on field studies of raptors and fish-eating birds, particularly Ospreys. I am interested in the unique situations and characteristics that make particular species vulnerable to contaminant threats. In my spare time I enjoy collecting bird books.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Wildlife Ecology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR (1970)
M.S., Wildlife Ecology (1967)
B.S., Fisheries & Wildlife (1965)
Science and Products
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Ospreys of the gulf of California: Ecology and conservation status
North American osprey populations and contaminants: Historic and contemporary perspectives
Wintering area DDE source to migratory white-faced ibis revealed by satellite telemetry and prey sampling
Assessment of contaminant exposure and effects on ospreys nesting along the Lower Duwamish River, Washington, 2006-07
PCDDs, PCDFs, PCBs, OC pesticides and mercury in fish and osprey eggs from Willamette River, Oregon (1993, 2001 and 2006) with calculated biomagnification factors
Polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants in eggs may reduce reproductive success of ospreys in Oregon and Washington, USA
Dramatic declines of DDE and other organochlorines in spring migrant Peregrine Falcons from Padre Island, Texas, 1978-2004
Unusual raptor nests around the world
Mercury and drought along the Lower Carson River, Nevada: III. effects on blood and organ biochemistry and histopathology of snowy egrets and black-crowned night-herons on Lahontan Reservoir, 2002-2006
Osprey: Worldwide sentinel species for assessing and monitoring environmental contamination in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries
Organochlorine pesticide, polychlorinated biphenyl, trace element and metal residues in bird eggs from Salton Sea, California, 2004
Prey of nesting ospreys on the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, Oregon and Washington
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
- Data
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
- Publications
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Filter Total Items: 199Ospreys of the gulf of California: Ecology and conservation status
No abstract available.AuthorsJean-Luc E. Cartron, Daniel W. Anderson, Charles J. Henny, Roberto CarmonaNorth American osprey populations and contaminants: Historic and contemporary perspectives
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) populations were adversely affected by DDT and perhaps other contaminants in the United States and elsewhere. Reduced productivity, eggshell thinning, and high DDE concentrations in eggs were the signs associated with declining osprey populations in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. The species was one of the first studied on a large scale to bring contaminant issues into focAuthorsCharles J. Henny, Robert A. Grove, James L. Kaiser, Branden L. JohnsonWintering area DDE source to migratory white-faced ibis revealed by satellite telemetry and prey sampling
Locations of contaminant exposure for nesting migratory species are difficult to fully understand because of possible additional sources encountered during migration or on the wintering grounds. A portion of the migratory white-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi) nesting at Carson Lake, Nevada continues to be exposed to dichloro-diphenyldichloro-ethylene (DDE) with no change, which is unusual, observed inAuthorsM.A. Yates, Mark R. Fuller, Charles J. Henny, W.S. Seegar, Jorge H. GarciaAssessment of contaminant exposure and effects on ospreys nesting along the Lower Duwamish River, Washington, 2006-07
We evaluated the effects of contaminants on osprey (Pandion haliaetus) nesting along the lower Duwamish River (LDR), Washington, and used the upper reach of the Willamette River (WR), Oregon, as a reference site. Osprey eggs and nestling blood (plasma) were collected at nests along the LDR (11 eggs, 7 plasmas) and WR (10 eggs, 6 plasmas) in 2006-07 and analyzed for contaminants. Additionally, hemaAuthorsBranden L. Johnson, Charles J. Henny, James L. Kaiser, Jay W. Davis, Edmund P. SchulzPCDDs, PCDFs, PCBs, OC pesticides and mercury in fish and osprey eggs from Willamette River, Oregon (1993, 2001 and 2006) with calculated biomagnification factors
The osprey (Pandion haliaetus) population nesting along the main stem Willamette River and lower Santiam River was first studied to evaluate contaminants and reproductive rates in 1993 when 78 occupied nests were present. By 2001, the population increased to 234 occupied nests, a 13.7% annual rate of population increase. A sample egg was collected from each of a series of nests along the Upper RivAuthorsC. J. Henny, J.L. Kaiser, R. A. GrovePolybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants in eggs may reduce reproductive success of ospreys in Oregon and Washington, USA
Spatial and temporal assessments and reports of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants in birds remain sparse. In the present study, PBDEs were detected in all 120 osprey (Pandion haliaetus) eggs collected. The eggs were collected from nests along the Columbia, Willamette and Yakima rivers of Oregon (OR) and Washington (WA) and in Puget Sound (WA) between 2002 and 2007. PBDE congeneAuthorsC. J. Henny, J.L. Kaiser, R. A. Grove, B. L. Johnson, R.J. LetcherDramatic declines of DDE and other organochlorines in spring migrant Peregrine Falcons from Padre Island, Texas, 1978-2004
Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) captured in the spring at Padre Island, Texas, nest across the arctic and subarctic from Alaska to Greenland and winter throughout Latin America. Padre Island, located immediately north of the Mexican border, is the peregrines' first landfall in the U.S.A. after spending about 6 mo in Latin America. Blood plasma was collected from spring migrants at Padre IslanAuthorsC. J. Henny, M.A. Yates, W.S. SeegarUnusual raptor nests around the world
From surveys in many countries, we report raptors using unusual nesting materials (e.g., paper money, rags, metal, antlers, and large bones) and unusual nesting situations. For example, we documented nests of Steppe Eagles Aquila nipalensis and Upland Buzzards Buteo hemilasius on the ground beside well-traveled roads, Saker Falcon Falco cherrug eyries in attics and a cistern, and Osprey Pandion haAuthorsD. H. Ellis, T. Craig, E. Craig, S. Postupalsky, C.T. LaRue, R.W. Nelson, D. W. Anderson, C. J. Henny, J. Watson, B.A. Millsap, J.W. Dawson, K.L. Cole, E.M. Martin, A. Margalida, P. KungMercury and drought along the Lower Carson River, Nevada: III. effects on blood and organ biochemistry and histopathology of snowy egrets and black-crowned night-herons on Lahontan Reservoir, 2002-2006
A 10-year study (1997-2006) was conducted to evaluate reproduction and health of aquatic birds in the Carson River Basin of northwestern Nevada (on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Natural Priorities List) due to high mercury (Hg) concentrations from past mining activities. This part of the study evaluated physiological associations with blood Hg in young snowy egrets (Egretta thula) and bAuthorsDavid J. Hoffman, Charles J. Henny, Elwood F. Hill, Robert A. Grove, James L. Kaiser, Katherine R. StebbinsOsprey: Worldwide sentinel species for assessing and monitoring environmental contamination in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries
In the United States, many fish and wildlife species have been used nationwide to monitor environmental contaminant exposure and effects, including carcasses of the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), the only top avian predator regularly used in the past. Unfortunately, bald eagles are sensitive to investigator intrusion at the nest. Thus, the osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is evaluated as a potenAuthorsRobert A. Grove, Charles J. Henny, James L. KaiserOrganochlorine pesticide, polychlorinated biphenyl, trace element and metal residues in bird eggs from Salton Sea, California, 2004
The Salton Sea is a highly eutrophic, hypersaline terminal lake that receives inflows primarily from agricultural drainages in the Imperial and Coachella valleys. Impending reductions in water inflow at Salton Sea may concentrate existing contaminants which have been a concern for many years, and result in higher exposure to birds. Thus, waterbird eggs were collected and analyzed in 2004 and compaAuthorsCharles J. Henny, T. W. Anderson, J.J. CrayonPrey of nesting ospreys on the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, Oregon and Washington
To more effectively use ospreys as a biomonitoring tool and to better assess contaminant pathways, the diet of nesting ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) was studied along the lower Columbia and upper mainstem Willamette rivers by evaluating prey remains collected from wire baskets constructed under artificial feeding perches installed near nest sites and from the ground beneath natural feeding perches aAuthorsB. L. Johnson, J.L. Kaiser, C. J. Henny, R. A. GroveNon-USGS Publications**
Henny, C.J., Wight, H.M., 1969, An endangered osprey population- Estimates of mortality and production: Auk, v. 86, p. 188-198.Henny, C.J., 1969, Geographical variation in mortality rates and production requirements of the Barn Owl (Tyto alba ssp.): Bird-Banding, v. 40, no. 4, p. 277-290.Chapman, J.A., Henny, C.J., Wight, H.M., 1969, The status, population dynamics, and harvest of the dusky Canada goose: Wildlife Monographs, no. 18, p. 1-48.Chapman, J.A., Henny, C.J., 1968, Records of surf scoters found inland in Oregon: Murrelet, v. 49, no. 1, p. 11.Henny, C.J., 1967, Estimating band-reporting rates from banding and crippling loss data: Journal of Wildlife Management, v. 31, no. 3, p. 533-538.**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.