By Wm. Mueller - - Ornithology, ecology, environmentalism, and our life in the natural world
Friday, December 30, 2016
status of and monitoring of aerial insectivores in Ontario
Learn about what's happening with swifts and swallows in Ontario, and studies underway, by going to:
http://www.bsc-eoc.org/volunteer/ai/index.jsp?targetpg=ailearn
http://www.bsc-eoc.org/volunteer/ai/index.jsp?lang=EN
" Is the sky falling? Probably not, but the birds that spend their time up there are certainly telling us something is wrong. Swallows, swifts, and nightjars are "aerial insectivores" - birds that specialize on eating flying insects. They spend most of their time flying overhead. Over the last 40 years, aerial insectivores have undergone steeper declines than any other group of birds in Canada."
Thursday, December 15, 2016
Conservation Research at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center
Go to the website of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center to learn about the Conservation Research they are conducting: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/scbi/migratorybirds/research/conservation.cfm
Among other species, Wood Thrush is one of their areas of focus:
"Wood Thrush was once a common bird throughout North America, well-known for its beautiful flute-like song. Despite substantial conservation efforts, the charismatic species has steadily declined over the past 25 years. SMBC scientists are working to untangle which factors negatively impact wood thrush on public lands. Our scientists are helping the Department of Defense develop proactive management plans and hopefully mitigate wood thrush population declines."
Thursday, December 8, 2016
IUCN Red List - a mix of bad news and good news for endangered birds
"This year’s IUCN Red List update delivers a chilling warning about the
plight faced by some of the world’s most popular cagebirds, with many
much-loved species now being trapped and traded into near-extinction in
the wild."
http://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/news/2016-red-list-great-news-island-endemics-disaster-cagebirds-0
and some good news:
"The 2016 Red List also delivered some encouraging news from far-flung islands all across the globe.
Birds confined to just a single island or archipelago are some of the most at-risk species in the world, not only because their range is so small, but because they are often ill-equipped to face the threats of predators such as cats and rats when they are introduced to the island. For this reason, a big percentage of existing avian extinctions are island endemics.However, a deluge of downlistings in this year’s Red List shows that conservation work can help struggling island populations to rebound."
http://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/news/2016-red-list-great-news-island-endemics-disaster-cagebirds-0
and some good news:
"The 2016 Red List also delivered some encouraging news from far-flung islands all across the globe.
Birds confined to just a single island or archipelago are some of the most at-risk species in the world, not only because their range is so small, but because they are often ill-equipped to face the threats of predators such as cats and rats when they are introduced to the island. For this reason, a big percentage of existing avian extinctions are island endemics.However, a deluge of downlistings in this year’s Red List shows that conservation work can help struggling island populations to rebound."
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
The Birding Community E-Bulletin - Dec 2016
The Birding Community E-Bulletin
The Birding Community E-bulletin
is distributed to active and concerned birders, those dedicated to the
joys of birding and the protection of birds and their habitats.
You can access an archive of past E-bulletins on the website of the National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA):
RARITY FOCUS
On 30 October,
Raul Delgado photographed an Amazon Kingfisher at Zacate Creek in
Laredo, Texas. Readers with a good memory may remember that the first
North American record of Amazon Kingfisher was in 2010, also in Laredo.
That female kingfisher stayed just over a week before disappearing in
early February. It was the rarity of the month at the time:
Interestingly, the Amazon Kingfisher found at the end of
October was at the same exact spot on Zacate Creek. Could she be the
very same bird? Perhaps, if not most likely.
In any case, this year's Amazon Kingfisher remained for the
entire month of November, mostly frequenting a stretch of the creek
between the local dam and a water-treatment facility, delighting many
observers throughout its prolonged stay. In fact, there were so many
visitors that the City of Laredo erected a yellow-tape boundary barrier
to keep bird watchers out of the immediate creek area.
Amazon Kingfishers normally ranges from Mexico (no closer
than southern Tamaulipas) to Argentina and Uruguay. The Amazon
Kingfisher is the largest "green" kingfisher in the Americas.
For a photo of the bird taken by Raul Delgado and to gain further details, see here:
ODD DUCKS
On the subject of the possibility of repeat appearances by
rare birds, there was also a male Common Scoter found and photographed
at Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Lincoln County, Oregon, on 13
November. Later in the day, the bird moved to the Schooner Creek
overlook in Taft in southern Lincoln City. For the rest of the month,
the local Mo's Restaurant, the Siletz Bay mouth, and a nearby bridge
became the best landmarks from which to locate this Old World rarity.
We mention this bird for two reasons. First, it was a major contender for our E-Bulletin
rarity of the month, since it is only the second Common Scoter to ever
be found in North America. And second, it was found only about 250 miles
up the coast from where the first Common Scoter was found in 2015. See
here for details on that original Crescent City, California, bird:
On the other side of the country, in Rivière Brochu, Gallix,
Quebec, located on the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, an
immature Common Shelduck was photographed on 25 November and refound in
the area on 30 November. This species' status has long been confounded
by the possibility of escapes from collections, but like some other
Eurasian waterfowl (e.g., Pink-footed, Barnacle, and Graylag Geese),
Common Shelduck is increasing in Europe, including Iceland. Recent
early-winter records for eastern Canada and New England increasingly
suggest a need for careful evaluation.
And finally, at Scituate Reservoir in Scituate, Plymouth
County, Massachusetts, an unusual-looking dabbling duck was found on 23
November. It remained a few days, and it exhibited many characteristics
of an Eastern Spot-billed Duck, including a strong facial pattern and a
yellow-tipped dark bill. It was also paler in color than nearby female
Mallards and it had white undertail coverts, which unfortunately pointed
away from Eastern Spot-billed Duck.
The fact that Eastern Spot-billed Duck has only been seen in
North America in Alaska, mainly in the Aleutians, added to the
improbability of this species occurring in eastern North America. Of
course, strange things have happened with waterfowl - note the story on
Common Scoter, above - and the provenance of such birds should always be
carefully considered.
The mystery duck had no apparent collection-band on its leg.
Still, a quick search online showed that the closely related Indian
Spot-billed Duck is sold to wildfowl collectors (with at least one
supplier in New York). Perhaps an escape with some interbreeding with
Mallard cannot be discounted.
One of the lessons here is that there are plenty of "odd ducks" out there still to be found, including hybrids and bona fide rarities. This is also and ideal season to discover them, so keep your eyes open and keep looking!
IS CANADA CLOSER TO A NATIONAL BIRD?
In October, we discussed the debate in Canada over designating an official Canadian bird:
Over the past two years, nearly 50,000 Canadians voted for their favorite species in the National Bird Project, an effort by Canadian Geographic, in partnership with Bird Studies Canada, to help select an appropriate avian emblem for Canada.
Once the voting results and thousands of comments were
considered, the Royal Canadian Geographical Society made its official
recommendation at its College of Fellows Annual Dinner on 16 November. A
feature story about the national bird recommendation also appeared in
the December 2016 issue of Canadian Geographic, and the final choice of Gray Jay appears on the cover of the magazine:
The Canadian Parliament might eventually address
national-bird designation of Gray Jay, with an official bird for Canada
being selected in 2017, Canada's sesquicentennial year.
BOOK NOTES: THOSE PARK ROADS
If you simply glance at National Park Roads: A Legacy in the American Landscape
by Timothy Davis (University of Virginia Press, 2016), you might think
it's just another "coffee-table book" full of impressive photos of the
scenic roads through our National Parks. While it is certainly a
collection of beautiful historic photos, it is also much more.
Beyond the classic size, the pretty cover, and the assortment
of captivating photos, this book offers a deep look into the surprising
and unique quality and history of National Park roads, roads targeted
at bringing the public to scenic and wonderful locations, but at the
same time challenged by the obligation to preserve the character of
these very same places.
A mixture of enthusiasm and apprehension has always been part
of the reception of automobiles in National Parks, and this book
carefully addresses this dichotomy. Instead of arguing for the primacy
of a particular view, the book shows how road development responded to
practical concerns, evolving technology, social practice, wilderness
advocates, and cultural demands. Readers may also want to pay special
attention to the "Golden Age" of National Park road-building, the period
that stretched between the two World Wars, and uniquely punctuated by
the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s.
As we witness the closing of the National Park Service's
centennial, this lovely book provides a healthy discussion about
spreading the benefits of the outdoors in order to embrace a diverse
American public. The book should serve as an important resource for
years to come.
Although National Park Roads barely mentions birds,
it is nonetheless a book full of important lessons for all Americans.
Indeed, a read of this work is a verification of the old adage that you
can't tell a book by its cover.
ACCESS MATTERS: ROAD LESSONS
Our usual "Access Matters" feature this month consists of a
simple suggestion: Re-read the "Book Note" above in light of the larger
question of balancing preservation and access in natural areas! By that,
we mean not only focusing on the National Parks featured in the Davis
book, but also on National Wildlife Refuges, National Forests, BLM
lands, and state and county parks and wildlife properties and their
connection to providing quality outdoor experiences to an increasingly
preoccupied American public.
Tim Davis posits this issue very well at the beginning of his
book, and his comments can be expanded to consider access beyond the
world of National Parks: "For many people, what they see from the road is
the national park experience... but for some people, simply knowing
roads are present compromises parks' ability to function as escapes from
modern civilization."
Indeed, access matters, and how to deliver that access in a
welcoming and instructive manner is an issue that should concern and
involve anyone with an interest and a concern for our beautiful country
and its many outdoor resources.
IBA NEWS: THE SMOKIES
Since the previous two news items are related to roads in
National Parks, it is appropriate to mention one such park that is an
Important Bird Area (IBA) of continental significance. This park was
actually highlighted in distressing national news toward the end of
November.
The most-visited of our national parks is Great Smoky
Mountains National Park, attracting more than 10 million visitors
annually - about twice the number of the second most popular park. Most
visitors see the park from its famous scenic highway, although many also
hike on the 800 miles of park trails extending across the border
between North Carolina and Tennessee. The park covers over 800 square
miles and is divided almost equally between these two states.
Parts of the Tennessee section of the park were subject to
wildfires starting in late November. More than 17,000 people had to flee
as the wildfires blazed through and around the park. The fires are said
to have damaged or destroyed more than 1,600 homes and businesses,
mostly around Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The tragic loss of human life went
over a dozen, with more than 130 people injured. Over 11,300 acres in
the park itself were burned in this, the most-visited national park in
the country.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the largest
protected areas in the eastern U.S., and approximately a fifth of the
park comprises old-growth forest and represents the largest tract of
old-growth forest in the southern Appalachians. The park supports 230
species of birds, with 110 species breeding in the park. This IBA
supports among the highest diversity of breeding Neotropical migratory
birds of any area in the U.S. It also likely holds the largest
concentration of Northern Saw-whet Owls in the southeast, and the
majority of the Black-capped Chickadees residing in the Blue Ridge. It
is also one of the best sites in the southern Appalachians for
Olive-sided Flycatchers. In short, the park holds substantial
populations of listedWatchlist species and species of concern.
For more information on this IBA that s is located in both
Tennessee and North Carolina, see the two web pages which describe the
IBA in both states, respectively:
and
For additional information about worldwide IBA programs,
including those in the U.S., check the National Audubon Society's
Important Bird Area program web site at:
WATCHING THE COP
During the first two weeks of December, the 13th Conference
of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP) will be
meeting in Cancun, Mexico. The COP was signed in 1992 at the Rio Earth
Summit - The UN Conference on Environment and Development. Today the COP
has 196 Parties, ostensibly committed to the conservation of biological
diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the sharing of
the related benefits. The U.S. is not a signatory, however.
The COP actions are focused on 20 targets, with goals
developed for the member countries, including most of the other
countries in the Western Hemisphere. This information is contained in a
2010 Strategic Plan for Biodiversity (2011-2020).
To date, and with only four years remaining, participant
nations have been far from successful in fulfilling their biological
commitments. As spokespersons from BirdLife International have reminded
us, agriculture in too many countries continues to poison habitats with
heavy loads of pollutants, to contaminate rivers, and to kill insects
that literally pollinate national culture; offshore fisheries are
annually killing dozens of thousands of seabirds; and governments are
spending millions of dollars in subsidies for unsustainable productions
that destroy nature. It is no accident that a global conservation
community feels less than encouraged by so many past promises that lack
corresponding effective actions.
At the same time, the COP meeting will provide opportunities
to discuss successes in the areas of bird-favorable production in such
sectors as energy production, cattle breeding, fisheries, and
sustainable agriculture. Fortunately, some participants are seriously
working on less conversation and a lot more action.
You can read a summary of what is at stake from BirdLife International:
TIP OF THE MONTH: HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS
Yes, it's that time of year, and if you have not yet bought
all your holiday gifts, it's a good time to consider some that are
bird-and-nature oriented. With that in mind we have a few suggestions.
First, we suggest you consider any of the books mentioned in
the past year in the E-bulletin under our "Book Notes" features. There
should be something and a price for everyone:
Ecology and Conservation of North American Sea Ducks - a heavy-duty treatment edited by five experts
Better Birding - friendly skill-building by George L. Armistead and Brian L. Sullivan
Baby Birds - informative and ultra-cute by Julie Zickefoose,
The Kiskadee of Death - a birder-murder mystery by Jan Dunlop
Bird Families of the World: A Guide to the Spectacular Diversity of Birds - an elegant compendium by David Winkler, Shawn Billerman, and Irby Lovette
Woodpeckers of North America - a handsome reference by Stephen A. Shunk
Listening to a Continent Sing: Birdsong by Bicycle from the Atlantic to the Pacific - a ten-week bicycle journey by Don Kroodsma
Cat Wars - investigating a cuddly killer by Peter Marra and Chris Santella
Field Guide to Birds of Northern Central America - a tight and informative guide by Jesse Fagan and Oliver Komar
National Park Roads - much more than a coffee-table book by Tim Davis
You might also consider buying a bird-feeder (along with
accompanying quality seed) for that relative or neighbor just getting
interested in birds.
Think about binoculars for some youngster in your life. We
are suggesting a quality pair, not just compact binoculars, which have
smaller objective lenses, and which are often dimmer and difficult to
use when trying to locate a bird in the binoculars. And remember, you
also don't have to break the bank to find good binoculars for youngsters
these days.
Think about giving bags of bird-friendly coffee as gifts.
Look around for triple-labeled brands, combining shade-grown, organic,
and fair-traded features. The coffee tastes great, and it can start up
great conversations about impacting bird conservation through regular
shopping.
Consider a Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp - a
"Duck Stamp" - to help build the Refuge System and to serve as a free
pass for all NWRs that may charge for entry through June.
And, finally, in light of our next story.... Give an
organizational gift membership, one dedicated to saving and appreciating
America's wild birds, wildlife, and wild places. The list of such
organizations is long enough for us to refrain from making particular
suggestions. Readers should seek out the ones that match the message you
wish to deliver.
WAITING FOR THOSE NEXT SHOES
Don't think you will get to finish reading the Birding Community E-bulletin without some reference to last month's Presidential election. No such luck!
After an extended and even brutal campaign, Donald Trump will
soon become our 45th President of the United States. Ever since
Election Day, the media has followed every Trump Twitter, every
important visitation to the Trump Tower, and every piece of speculation
about divisions in the internal Trump camp.
Top of the list, perhaps, has been the expected appointments
for the incoming Administration. As of this writing, we have reports of
intended cabinet and other related appointments for Treasury Secretary,
Transportation Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretary, Commerce
Secretary, Education Secretary, U.N. Ambassador, Secretary of Housing
and Urban Development, Defense Secretary, CIA Director, Attorney
General, National Security Advisor, White House Chief of Staff, and
Chief Strategist.
Needless to say, these are very important posts for the
country and for the incoming Administration. Regrettably the cabinet
selections for positions that may be of particular significance and
interest to readers of the Birding Community E-bulletin have
yet to be released. These include the Secretary of the Interior,
Secretary of Agriculture, and Environmental Protection Agency
Administrator.
Not surprisingly leaders from conservation and environmental
arenas are anxiously waiting for these selected appointments to be made,
essentially waiting for "the other shoes to drop."
The Secretary of the Interior is responsible for the
protection of much of the nation's federal lands and waters (e.g.,
Refuges, National Parks, Monuments, and BLM), as well as the
conservation of wildlife and plant species. Among other things, our next
Secretary of the Interior could decide the fate of Obama-era rules that
stop public land development; curb the exploration of oil, coal, and
gas; and promote wind and solar power on public lands.
The Secretary of Agriculture oversees America's farming
industry, inspects food quality, and provides income-based food
assistance. The department helps develop vital land-oriented
conservation on private farmlands, including long-term easements.
Agriculture also has jurisdiction over our valued National Forests.
The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, is
responsible for issuing and overseeing environmental regulations,
especially concerning clean air and water, a difficult job for any
Administrator with an incoming President who has tentatively vowed to
dismantle the agency "in almost every form."
These three key positions, of course require Senate
confirmation, and everyone anticipates close scrutiny of individuals
appointed to these posts.
Nature has the potential to bring the American people
together, something desperately needed during these difficult days.
There was a time when most environmental issues were not particularly
divisive. In fact, they were not simply bi-partisan; they were almost
non-partisan.
Fortunately, during his campaign, Mr. Trump at least stated
that he would not support the larger GOP platform to sell off public
lands, and that itself is hopeful. Moreover, if President-elect Trump is
sincerely committed to bringing our nation together, as he stated in
his election victory speech, then quality appointments to these
particular positions will go a long way to achieving that desired
unifying effect.
|
ARCHIVES AND MORE
You can access all the past E-bulletins on the National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) website:
If you wish to distribute or reproduce all or parts of any Birding Community E-bulletin, we simply request that you mention the source of any material used. (Include a URL for the E-bulletin archives, if possible.)
If
you have colleagues who might be interested in this month's E-bulletin,
you can most efficiently forward the E-bulletin to them using the
"Forward email" feature on the bottom of this page. This retains the clearest text and presentation formatting.
Also,
if you have any friends or co-workers who want to get onto the monthly
E-bulletin mailing list, they can also simply contact either:
Wayne R. Petersen
Director, Massachusetts Important Bird Areas (IBA) Program
Mass Audubon
781/259-2178
or
Paul J. Baicich
Great Birding Projects
410/992-9736
Saturday, December 3, 2016
news about the European Union Nature Directives
Please read the message below from BirdLife Cyprus, and if you are so inclined, please sign the notices to three EU leaders.
http://www.birdlifecyprus.org/en/news-1178-NatureAlert__the_final_push_to_save_the_Nature_Directives.html
http://www.birdlifecyprus.org/en/news-1178-NatureAlert__the_final_push_to_save_the_Nature_Directives.html
Friday, November 25, 2016
a practical thing you can do for birds
Go to http://content.yardmap.org/ to learn more about Cornell's Yardmap program, and practical conservation in your back yard.
If you enter your zipcode, you'll get resources on native plants, plant hardiness information, a pollinator guide, connecting to local experts, and more.
I entered my own zipcode as an example: http://content.yardmap.org/explore/local-resources/?zip=53214
If you enter your zipcode, you'll get resources on native plants, plant hardiness information, a pollinator guide, connecting to local experts, and more.
I entered my own zipcode as an example: http://content.yardmap.org/explore/local-resources/?zip=53214
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
reality: the 6th great extinction has arrived
Apapane. Wikim. Commons - ph by Dominic Sherony |
Bill Laurance & Paul Ehrlich tell us that the Earth's 6th great extinction is already upon us. "We must also reverse the destruction and fragmentation of key wildlife habitats, constrain our over-consumption of natural resources, stabilise human numbers - and elect leaders determined to prioritise these issues."
http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/2988315/the_debate_is_over_earths_sixth_great_extinction_has_arrived.html
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Deepwater Horizon oil spill still affecting birds
"Scientists have identified the first evidence of Deepwater Horizon oil
in a land animal - the Seaside Sparrow. The scientists analyzed the diet
and feathers of sparrows collected more than a year after the oil
spill. The birds that were captured in habitats that were exposed to the
oil had a different chemical signature in their tissues than the birds
that were found in areas of the marsh that were not exposed to the oil."
Learn more about this at: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161116103556.htm
Learn more about this at: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161116103556.htm
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
recent news and updates from the American Bird Conservancy
Inside Bird Conservation – November 2016
Special Edition on Eliminating Threats to Birds
Communications Towers
Following years of effort by ABC and partners, bird
conservationists now have an opportunity to greatly reduce one frequent
source of bird mortality. Steady-burning red or white lights on
communication towers attract or disorient migratory
birds flying at night. As many as 7 million birds a year die in
collisions with towers and support wires as a result, with the tallest
towers causing the highest mortality. New policies put in place by the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) allow tower operators to turn off these
deadly lights.
These federal agencies are encouraging a switch to
flashing lights, which reduces bird mortality by approximately 70
percent, saves electricity, reduces tower operating costs, and better
alerts pilots to the towers’ presence. As of mid-October,
753 tall towers (over 350 feet high) nationwide have already updated their lighting systems under the new guidelines. The changeover requires simply flipping switches to reprogram the lights.
Another 15,000 tall towers still need to make this
bird and energy-saving change. Thanks to the FCC and FAA and the support
of the University of Michigan, ABC now has available a
toolkit for activists to encourage tower operators to update their lights.
A technical guide to assist tower operators
is also available. Please take a look around your community; if there
are tall towers with steady-burning lights, you can take a few simple
steps
that will protect birds and save energy.
Public Lands
American Bird Conservancy Statement on the
Malheur Occupation Verdict
American Bird
Conservancy respects the judicial process but is deeply troubled by
the outcome of the Malheur case. Armed occupation of public lands sets a
dangerous precedent. It puts our ecologically valuable wildlife at risk
and disrespects
the men and women charged with protecting our natural resources.
“The occupation of
the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge was an affront to the millions of
Americans who love birds and the public lands that provide bird habitat,
and to federal employees for trying to do their jobs,” said ABC
President
George Fenwick. “National Wildlife Refuges are important for birds and
other wildlife, and for the nearby communities that benefit from tourism
generated by wildlife watching, hunting, and fishing. We need to honor
these lands, and the public servants that
act as our stewards, and make every effort to prevent small groups of
armed extremists from taking them over for themselves what belongs to
all Americans.”
Open Pipes
In a significant step forward this year, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has taken action to reduce a serious threat
to birds by issuing a memorandum in late February to its field offices across the nation with guidance
on how to eliminate the threat of open pipes on public lands
(Instruction Memorandum No. 2016-023). The memo also encourages
federal claim holders to voluntarily remove open pipes often used as
mine claim monuments.
American Bird Conservancy built upon this memo to write
a letter this month
to all 17,843 federal mine claim holders to ask for their help in
saving the thousands of birds that accidentally get trapped in open
pipes and die each year. The National Mining Association, Northwest
Mining Association, Forest Service, and BLM teamed up with American
Bird Conservancy to create
a flier explaining the threat to birds and other wildlife that open pipes create, and this was included in the mailing.
Invasive Species
Domestic cats can make wonderful pets. But outdoors, cats are a non-native and invasive
species that threaten birds and other wildlife, disrupt ecosystems, and spread
diseases. Now numbering
well over 100 million in the United States, cats kill approximately 2.4
billion birds every year in the U.S. alone, making cat predation by far
the largest
human-caused mortality threat to birds.
ABC’s Cats Indoors Program educates the public and policy makers about
the many benefits to birds, cats, and people when cats are maintained
indoors or under an owner's direct control. In addition to advocating
for responsible pet ownership, we also oppose Trap,
Neuter, Release (TNR) for feral cats because of the persistent and severe threats posed by feral cat colonies.
Take the pledge to keep cats
from roaming outdoors.
In the last five years,
ABC has distributed more than 100,000 brochures to concerned citizens,
veterinarians, and conservation groups, helping to spread the word that
cats, birds, and people are better off when cats are kept indoors. Order
brochures.
New Colony of Chicks Keeps Hope Alive for Rare Newell's Shearwater
To counter the threat of
predation by non-native mammals, ABC and Hawaiian conservationists have
begun to establish a new nesting site for rare Newell's Shearwater
(‘A‘o) and Hawaiian Petrel
(‘Ua‘u).
This year, chicks of both species were moved to a new,
predator-proof colony at Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. Last
month, the restoration team moved eight threatened Newell's
Shearwater chicks,
flying them by helicopter from their montane nesting areas to their new
home at the refuge. Both species are endemic to Hawai‘i and breed
nowhere else
in the world. Last week, the
second cohort of 20 Hawaiian Petrel chicks were moved to the predator-proof site.
Window Collisions
Watch a new
video PSA from ABC that calls attention to bird collisions and showcases
creative—and attractive—ways to help.
The Vassar Bridge Science complex, which is on the cover of
Bird-friendly Building Design, opened this May. ABC’s Christine
Sheppard was involved with the building’s design, which is intended to
qualify for the LEED collisions reduction credit. Please see
www.birdsmartglass.org for products for home and professional solutions that reduce bird collisions.
Pesticides
In the past, an incident reporting system, or
public database of wildlife poisonings, helped conservationists identify
the deadliest pesticides. Many of the deadliest organochlorine-based
chemicals are now off the market as a result. Unfortunately,
the EPA’s reporting system is now broken, but efforts are underway to
fix it. The agency’s incident data system suffers from
absurdly high reporting triggers and
thresholds, confusing incident-submission portals, minimal public access
to data, and a lack of coordination with other federal agencies. The
current system has unrealistically high threshold numbers
of dead animals needed to trigger reporting requirements under FIFRA
6(a)2. For birds, no specific reports are required unless 200 of a
“flocking” species, 50 songbirds, or five raptors are killed.
Here are some recent
recommendations on incident reporting from ABC and partners.
Wind Energy
Camp Perry: American Bird Conservancy (ABC) and Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO) have filed a
60-day notice of intent to sue
the Ohio Air National Guard (ANG) for violations of the Endangered
Species Act and other federal laws in the course of planning to build a
large wind turbine at its Camp Perry facility in Ottawa County, Ohio.
Close to the shores of Lake Erie, the site lies
within a major bird migration corridor and would be the first wind
energy development on public land in this ecologically sensitive area.
In
a letter,
the two groups assert that ANG has unlawfully compromised and
short-circuited the environmental review process for the Camp Perry wind
facility. ABC has also
commented on numerous inappropriately sited wind projects.
Power Lines
BLM chooses transmission line routes that avoid private land, sage grouse habitat
The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) chose routes for the Gateway West high-power
transmission line that avoid private land, sage-grouse habitat, and the
Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. The
routes have
been a source of controversy with residents critical of previous plans
that sought primarily to avoid the Birds of Prey area. Idaho State
BLM Director Tim Murphy said the agency had to ensure the area received
“a heightened level of protection and care.”
“Another important effort
we’ve undertaken is working with the state and other essential partners
to protect high-quality sage grouse habitat throughout Southern Idaho,”
Murphy said. “The routes we have selected honor both of these priorities
while also providing a path forward for this important project.”
Read the full story
from The Idaho Statesman, October 6, 2016 (reprinted from
Your Public Lands,
BLM's new E-Newsletter).
Mosquitoes and Avian Disease in Hawai‘i
Hawai‘i is the bird extinction capital of the
world, and avian malaria and pox were one of the major factors in the
wave of extinctions that occurred around the start of the 20th century.
There is a strong negative association between Hawaiian
passerines, which are mostly confined to the cooler, higher elevations,
and the disease-vector system, which is limited to the warmer, lower
elevations. As global climate change increases temperatures and alters
rainfall patterns, the mosquito-disease zone
will expand upward in elevation, thereby increasing the transmission
risk to the remaining bird species and causing another wave of
extinctions.
Recent advances in biotechnology hold exciting
promise for potentially resolving this decades-long conservation crisis.
There are now multiple techniques for modifying, suppressing, or even
eliminating mosquito populations to prevent the
transfer of avian diseases. Most of these techniques have been limited
to small field tests or confined to the laboratory, but within the next
few years there is the potential for these techniques to be tested and
applied at a larger, landscape scale. Some
have already been used in other parts of the world to control
mosquitoes to reduce the spread of dengue fever and other human
diseases, or to control agricultural pests.
ABC has been actively involved in these
discussions, and developing an overall strategy that includes extensive
public engagement before any decisions are made or management actions
taken. There were two sessions (12437
and 10599) focused on this issue at IUCN’s World Conservation Congress in Honolulu, followed by a
two-day workshop on eliminating the non-native mosquitoes throughout the state.
Longline Fisheries
The incidental capture of seabirds is a major
threat to Albatross and other seabirds. ABC’s efforts to bring attention
to the issue of albatross bycatch in North Pacific longline fisheries
began in 2007, with a report on the status of this
threat and highlighting effective mitigation actions. This work in part
led to NOAA Fisheries making regulatory changes to increase use of
bird-saving mitigation, including streamer lines and night setting and
increased observer effort. As a result, albatross
mortality in the North Pacific has dropped significantly.
ABC continues to ask Congress to approve the
Agreement on the Conservation of Albatross and Petrels (ACAP),
which would bring international mitigation for seabirds up to par
with those already being employed by US fishermen. ABC is also
providing information on bird-friendly and sustainable fisheries through
providing tools, such as the
Seabird Maps and Information for Fisheries Tool
and guidance for seafood certification bodies in a new guide,
Seabird Bycatch Solutions.
Lead Poisoning
At IUCN’s World Conservation Congress in September, delegates
approved a resolution to help reduce the needless poisoning of birds and other wildlife from lead ammunition. The resolution,
A path forward to address concerns over the use of lead ammunition in hunting, encourages members to “promote,
where feasible, the phasing out of lead shot used for hunting over
wetlands and lead ammunition used for hunting
in areas where scavengers are at particular risk from the use of lead
ammunition, and the replacement of it with suitable alternatives.”
If Lead Ammunition is Bad for People and the Environment, Why do We Still Use It? By Andy McGlashen.
California Condors:
Chick born in wild flies from nest at Pinnacles National Park for first time in a century. (East Bay Times)
Condor Country,
launching this week for IOS and Android devices, is the first mobile
game to simulate what it takes to recover an endangered species based on
real-life conservation
practices used by the California Condor Recovery Program. (Birding
Wire)
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Steve Holmer
Vice President of Policy
American Bird Conservancy &
Director, Bird Conservation Alliance
202-888-7490
sholmer@abcbirds.org
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