James Major's research focuses on the differences between genetic and cultural transmission across and through an avian hybrid zone. Black-crested and Gray-crested forms of the Tufted Titmouse (Parus bicolor) hybridize in central Texas between Austin and Bastrop. He is mist netting these birds for morphological measurements as well as blood/allozyme analysis at several sites in the central Texas region including Brackenridge Field Labratory and Stengl "Lost Pines" Biological Station.
James has used, since 1995, both BFL and Stengl as sites to capture these Titmice. He, together with the help of many undergraduate students, set up 9 mist nets at various locations in the woods at BFL. They documented all birds caught, in addition to the Titmice research. James also used Stengl Biological Research Station, in a similar manner. Mist netting is done on weekday mornings at dawn (7:00am) and mist netted until about 10:30am. Both sites are important to his research because they represent the east (Stengl) and west (BFL) demarkation zone of the "pure" Titmouse forms. The Black-crested is found from BFL westward, while the Gray-crested is found from Bastrop eastward. The 30 miles or so in-between makes up the hybrid zone.
Illustration by Vincent Tran, August 1996.