Joseph Fleskes
Joseph P. Fleskes is a research wildlife biologist with the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station in Dixon, California.
He received his B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology (1980) and M.S. in Wildlife Biology (1986) at Iowa State University and his Ph.D. in Wildlife Science (1999) at Oregon State University. His research interests include ecology of migratory waterbirds (especially waterfowl) and their habitats with the goal of improving population and habitat management for these species. His recent research has focused primarily on northern pintails and other waterfowl, especially in the Central Valley and other Pacific Flyway regions.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Dec 1994-present. Research Wildlife Biologist, U. S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, Dixon, CA. Principal investigator and multi-agency team leader of research program on a variety of issues related primarily to migratory bird ecology and wetland landscapes throughout North America and especially in the Pacific Flyway.
- Jan 1994-Dec 1994. Graduate Research Assistant, Oregon State University, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Corvallis, OR. Led research project on northern pintail ecology in the San Joaquin Valley.
- Jun 1993-Jan 1994. Wildlife Biologist, National Biological Service, California Science Center, Dixon Field Station, Dixon, CA. Led research project on northern pintail ecology in the San Joaquin Valley.
- Apr1993-Jun 1993. Graduate Research Assistant, Oregon State University, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Corvallis, OR. Led research project on northern pintail ecology in the San Joaquin Valley.
- Jun 1992-Apr 1993. Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Pacific States Ecology Field Station, Dixon, CA. Led research project on northern pintail ecology in the San Joaquin Valley.
- July 1986-Jun 1992. General Biologist (Wildlife), U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Pacific States Ecology Field Station, Dixon, CA. Project co-investigator on a variety of projects. Helped design, develop, accomplish, and coordinate three studies to determine survival, habitat use and movements of pintails and white-fronted geese during fall-spring in northern California and surrounding states. Served as the radio-telemetry coordinator, trapping and banding coordinator, aircraft operations coordinator, and field-crew member. Procured, inventoried and maintained equipment and trained field technicians. Enlisted and maintained cooperation of federal, state and private groups and individuals. Compiled and helped analyze data, and prepared reports. Also provided technical assistance on a variety of issues as requested, and analy
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 39
Genetic diversity and host specificity varies across three genera of blood parasites in ducks of the Pacific Americas Flyway
Birds of the order Anseriformes, commonly referred to as waterfowl, are frequently infected by Haemosporidia of the genera Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, and Leucocytozoon via dipteran vectors. We analyzed nucleotide sequences of the Cytochrome b (Cytb) gene from parasites of these genera detected in six species of ducks from Alaska and California, USA to characterize the genetic diversity of Haemospor
Authors
Andrew B. Reeves, Matthew M. Smith, Brandt W. Meixell, Joseph P. Fleskes, Andrew M. Ramey
Evidence for intercontinental parasite exchange through molecular detection and characterization of haematozoa in northern pintails (Anas acuta) sampled throughout the North Pacific Basin
Empirical evidence supports wild birds as playing a role in the interhemispheric exchange of bacteria and viruses; however, data supporting the redistribution of parasites among continents are limited. In this study, the hypothesis that migratory birds contribute to the redistribution of parasites between continents was tested by sampling northern pintails (Anas acuta) at locations throughout the
Authors
Andrew M. Ramey, Joel A. Schmutz, John A. Reed, Go Fujita, Bradley D. Scotton, Bruce Casler, Joseph P. Fleskes, Kan Konishi, Kiyoshi Uchida, Michael J. Yabsley
Characteristics of sandhill crane roosts in the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta of California
The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) region of California is an important wintering region for 2 subspecies of
Pacific Flyway sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis): the Central Valley Population of the greater sandhill crane (G. c. tabida) and
the Pacific Flyway Population of the lesser sandhill crane (G. c. canadensis). During the winters of 2007-08 and 2008-09 we
conducted roost counts, roadside
Authors
Gary L. Ivey, Bruce D. Dugger, Caroline P. Herziger, Michael L. Casazza, Joseph P. Fleskes
Distribution, abundance, and migration timing of Greater and Lesser Sandhill Cranes wintering in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta region of California
The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta region of California (hereafter, Delta region) is an important wintering
region for the Central Valley Population of greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) and lesser sandhill cranes (G.
c. canadensis), but basic information about the ecology of these birds is lacking to design a biologically sound conservation
strategy. During the winters of 2007-0
Authors
Gary L. Ivey, Bruce D. Dugger, Caroline P. Herziger, Michael L. Casazza, Joseph P. Fleskes
Changes in types and area of postharvest flooded fields available to waterbirds in Tulare Basin, California
Conservation efforts to restore historic waterbird distribution and abundance in the Central Valley of California require information on current and historic areas of waterbird habitat. To provide this information, we mapped the area of agricultural fields in the vicinity of the historic Tulare Lake Bed in the Tulare Basin, California, that were treated postharvest with two different flooding regi
Authors
Joseph P. Fleskes, Daniel A. Skalos, Melissa A. Farinha
Evaluation of blood and muscle tissues for molecular detection and characterization of hematozoa infections in northern pintails (Anas acuta) wintering in California
Information on the molecular detection of hematozoa from different tissue types and multiple years would be useful to inform sample collection efforts and interpret results of meta-analyses or investigations spanning multiple seasons. In this study, we tested blood and muscle tissue collected from northern pintails (Anas acuta) during autumn and winter of different years to evaluate prevalence and
Authors
Andrew M. Ramey, Joel A. Schmutz, Joseph P. Fleskes, Michael J. Yabsley
Waste rice seed in conventional and stripper-head harvested fields in California: Implications for wintering waterfowl
Waste rice seed is an important food for wintering waterfowl and current estimates of its availability are needed to determine the carrying capacity of rice fields and guide habitat conservation. We used a line-intercept method to estimate mass-density of rice seed remaining after harvest during 2010 in the Sacramento Valley (SACV) of California and compared results with estimates from previous st
Authors
Joseph P. Fleskes, Brian J. Halstead, Michael L. Casazza, Peter S. Coates, Jeffrey D. Kohl, Daniel A. Skalos
Bird use of fields treated postharvest with two types of flooding in Tulare Basin, California
We surveyed birds on grain and non-grain fields in the Tulare Basin of California treated post-harvest with two types of flooding that varied in duration and depth of water applied (Flooded-type fields [FLD]: 1 week; Irrigated-type fields [IRG]:
Authors
Joseph P. Fleskes, Daniel A. Skalos, Melissa A. Farinha
Mapping wintering waterfowl distributions using weather surveillance radar
The current network of weather surveillance radars within the United States readily detects flying birds and has proven to be a useful remote-sensing tool for ornithological study. Radar reflectivity measures serve as an index to bird density and have been used to quantitatively map landbird distributions during migratory stopover by sampling birds aloft at the onset of nocturnal migratory flights
Authors
Jeffrey J. Buler, Lori A. Randall, Joseph P. Fleskes, Wylie C. Barrow, Tianna Bogart, Daria Kluver
Relative value of managed wetlands and tidal marshlands for wintering northern pintails
Northern pintail Anas acuta (hereafter, pintail) populations have declined substantially throughout the western US since the 1970s, largely as a result of converting wetlands to cropland. Managed wetlands have been developed throughout the San Francisco Bay estuaries to provide wildlife habitat, particularly for waterfowl. Many of these areas were historically tidal baylands and plans are underway
Authors
Peter S. Coates, Michael L. Casazza, Brian J. Halstead, Joseph P. Fleskes
Wetlands of the Central Valley of California and Klamath Basin
No abstract available.
Authors
Joseph P. Fleskes
Using avian radar to examine relationships among avian activity, bird strikes, and meteorological factors
Radar systems designed to detect avian activity at airfields are useful in understanding factors that influence the risk of bird and aircraft collisions (bird strikes). We used an avian radar system to measure avian activity at Beale Air Force Base, California, USA, during 2008 and 2009. We conducted a 2-part analysis to examine relationships among avian activity, bird strikes, and meteorological
Authors
Peter S. Coates, Michael L. Casazza, Brian J. Halstead, Joseph P. Fleskes, James A. Laughlin
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 39
Genetic diversity and host specificity varies across three genera of blood parasites in ducks of the Pacific Americas Flyway
Birds of the order Anseriformes, commonly referred to as waterfowl, are frequently infected by Haemosporidia of the genera Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, and Leucocytozoon via dipteran vectors. We analyzed nucleotide sequences of the Cytochrome b (Cytb) gene from parasites of these genera detected in six species of ducks from Alaska and California, USA to characterize the genetic diversity of Haemospor
Authors
Andrew B. Reeves, Matthew M. Smith, Brandt W. Meixell, Joseph P. Fleskes, Andrew M. Ramey
Evidence for intercontinental parasite exchange through molecular detection and characterization of haematozoa in northern pintails (Anas acuta) sampled throughout the North Pacific Basin
Empirical evidence supports wild birds as playing a role in the interhemispheric exchange of bacteria and viruses; however, data supporting the redistribution of parasites among continents are limited. In this study, the hypothesis that migratory birds contribute to the redistribution of parasites between continents was tested by sampling northern pintails (Anas acuta) at locations throughout the
Authors
Andrew M. Ramey, Joel A. Schmutz, John A. Reed, Go Fujita, Bradley D. Scotton, Bruce Casler, Joseph P. Fleskes, Kan Konishi, Kiyoshi Uchida, Michael J. Yabsley
Characteristics of sandhill crane roosts in the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta of California
The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) region of California is an important wintering region for 2 subspecies of
Pacific Flyway sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis): the Central Valley Population of the greater sandhill crane (G. c. tabida) and
the Pacific Flyway Population of the lesser sandhill crane (G. c. canadensis). During the winters of 2007-08 and 2008-09 we
conducted roost counts, roadside
Authors
Gary L. Ivey, Bruce D. Dugger, Caroline P. Herziger, Michael L. Casazza, Joseph P. Fleskes
Distribution, abundance, and migration timing of Greater and Lesser Sandhill Cranes wintering in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta region of California
The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta region of California (hereafter, Delta region) is an important wintering
region for the Central Valley Population of greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) and lesser sandhill cranes (G.
c. canadensis), but basic information about the ecology of these birds is lacking to design a biologically sound conservation
strategy. During the winters of 2007-0
Authors
Gary L. Ivey, Bruce D. Dugger, Caroline P. Herziger, Michael L. Casazza, Joseph P. Fleskes
Changes in types and area of postharvest flooded fields available to waterbirds in Tulare Basin, California
Conservation efforts to restore historic waterbird distribution and abundance in the Central Valley of California require information on current and historic areas of waterbird habitat. To provide this information, we mapped the area of agricultural fields in the vicinity of the historic Tulare Lake Bed in the Tulare Basin, California, that were treated postharvest with two different flooding regi
Authors
Joseph P. Fleskes, Daniel A. Skalos, Melissa A. Farinha
Evaluation of blood and muscle tissues for molecular detection and characterization of hematozoa infections in northern pintails (Anas acuta) wintering in California
Information on the molecular detection of hematozoa from different tissue types and multiple years would be useful to inform sample collection efforts and interpret results of meta-analyses or investigations spanning multiple seasons. In this study, we tested blood and muscle tissue collected from northern pintails (Anas acuta) during autumn and winter of different years to evaluate prevalence and
Authors
Andrew M. Ramey, Joel A. Schmutz, Joseph P. Fleskes, Michael J. Yabsley
Waste rice seed in conventional and stripper-head harvested fields in California: Implications for wintering waterfowl
Waste rice seed is an important food for wintering waterfowl and current estimates of its availability are needed to determine the carrying capacity of rice fields and guide habitat conservation. We used a line-intercept method to estimate mass-density of rice seed remaining after harvest during 2010 in the Sacramento Valley (SACV) of California and compared results with estimates from previous st
Authors
Joseph P. Fleskes, Brian J. Halstead, Michael L. Casazza, Peter S. Coates, Jeffrey D. Kohl, Daniel A. Skalos
Bird use of fields treated postharvest with two types of flooding in Tulare Basin, California
We surveyed birds on grain and non-grain fields in the Tulare Basin of California treated post-harvest with two types of flooding that varied in duration and depth of water applied (Flooded-type fields [FLD]: 1 week; Irrigated-type fields [IRG]:
Authors
Joseph P. Fleskes, Daniel A. Skalos, Melissa A. Farinha
Mapping wintering waterfowl distributions using weather surveillance radar
The current network of weather surveillance radars within the United States readily detects flying birds and has proven to be a useful remote-sensing tool for ornithological study. Radar reflectivity measures serve as an index to bird density and have been used to quantitatively map landbird distributions during migratory stopover by sampling birds aloft at the onset of nocturnal migratory flights
Authors
Jeffrey J. Buler, Lori A. Randall, Joseph P. Fleskes, Wylie C. Barrow, Tianna Bogart, Daria Kluver
Relative value of managed wetlands and tidal marshlands for wintering northern pintails
Northern pintail Anas acuta (hereafter, pintail) populations have declined substantially throughout the western US since the 1970s, largely as a result of converting wetlands to cropland. Managed wetlands have been developed throughout the San Francisco Bay estuaries to provide wildlife habitat, particularly for waterfowl. Many of these areas were historically tidal baylands and plans are underway
Authors
Peter S. Coates, Michael L. Casazza, Brian J. Halstead, Joseph P. Fleskes
Wetlands of the Central Valley of California and Klamath Basin
No abstract available.
Authors
Joseph P. Fleskes
Using avian radar to examine relationships among avian activity, bird strikes, and meteorological factors
Radar systems designed to detect avian activity at airfields are useful in understanding factors that influence the risk of bird and aircraft collisions (bird strikes). We used an avian radar system to measure avian activity at Beale Air Force Base, California, USA, during 2008 and 2009. We conducted a 2-part analysis to examine relationships among avian activity, bird strikes, and meteorological
Authors
Peter S. Coates, Michael L. Casazza, Brian J. Halstead, Joseph P. Fleskes, James A. Laughlin