the work of the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative's Issues Committee

Acquainting you with the work of the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative's Issues Committee:

http://www.wisconsinbirds.org/issues/

We're always looking for serious new members! 

 

Migratory Birds section of USFWS's Midwest Region

Learn about the work of the Migratory Birds section of USFWS's Midwest Region, by going to their website: https://www.fws.gov/birds/index.php
and Monitoring and Research activities at this link:
https://www.fws.gov/midwest/midwestbird/monitoring.html

The Midwest Coordinated Bird Monitoring Partnership is undergoing changes - see the transition from  http://midwestbirdmonitoring.ning.com/ to a new web presence in the coming months.

recent research on pesticide effects on birds

Learn about recent findings on the effect of some pesticides on birds. 

'On life support:' Research shows common pesticides starve, disorient birds

http://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/common-pesticides-starve-disorient-birds-with-just-a-few-seeds-research

Ph fr Wikimedia Commons - Nigel Makura

study for winter

Get ready for utilizing these resources for next year:

Radar and birds: Paul Hurtado's Radar Page
http://www.pauljhurtado.com/US_Composite_Radar/

insect declines and their effects

A new paper on insect declines has sparked worldwide interest:

More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas

 http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0185809

 And more than that, how it influences bird populations, and why we're interested: https://wglbbo.org/aerial-insectivores

Please join us at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1581381955435390/
(This Discussion Group has been built over 2 1/2 years to 87 members; are you one yet?)

Please help us expand this effort.

learn about the Rusty Blackbird

One of North America's fastest-declining songbirds, the Rusty Blackbird is the focus of several studies and initiatives. Learn more at http://rustyblackbird.org/ - the website of the International Rusty Blackbird Working Group.

my favorite trees this fall

 

Information about the red maple (Acer rubrum)

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=j170

raptor watches at Forest Beach Mig. Preserve

This past week, we had one of the first good raptor days of the fall, at Forest Beach Migratory Preserve, in Ozau. Co.

On the NW winds:

Swainson's Hawk - Ph. by Arthur Drobniak, via Wikim. Commons

Swainson's Hawk (1 light morph adult)
Red-tailed Hawk 23
Turkey Vulture 15
Bald Eagle 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk 4
Cooper's Hawk 4
Northern Harrier 1
Merlin 2
Peregrine Falcon 1
American Kestrel 1

More such days will be possible, with the right weather conditions. Notice will be posted here!

more about Chimney Swifts

 

Nesting Chimney Swift: ph. USNPS, Wikim. Commons

Learn about Chimney Swifts this fall - go the website of the WI Chimney Swift Working Group, at http://www.wiswifts.org/videos-from-swift-night-out-events/ and see video of swifts at autumn roost locations.

Learn about Chimney Swift towers - replacements for capped chimneys: http://nc.audubon.org/news/build-your-own-chimney-swift-tower

In Wisconsin and other northern states, two things can help your tower to be more successful
a) insulation (Due to our frequently-cool spring weather, tower designs from southern states are often not sufficiently insulated. To offset this, add insulation in your tower design-and-build phase.)

b) use of playback recordings as an attractant (As with Purple Martins, starting a new colony/swift nesting site can be greatly aided by deploying a recording of swift vocalizations.)

Learn more at
WI Chimney Swift Working Group: http://www.wiswifts.org/

Facts about declining aerial insectivores:
https://wglbbo.org/aerial-insectivores

Join the Midwest Aerial Insectivore Discussion Group, on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1581381955435390/

news from BirdLife International

Learn about BirdLife International, their work, and news, at http://www.birdlife.org/

Nighthawk watches this week Tues and Wed - Forest Beach Migratory Preserve

Join us at 6:50 pm on either or both Tuesday or Wednesday evenings (Aug29 and 30), at the Bill Cowart Memorial Raptor Watch platform, at Forest Beach Migratory Preserve. In the parking lot just south of the building, there will be a map posted at the kiosk, with the location of the raptor watch platform (for anyone who has never been here before). Large flights of nighthawks have already been seen in areas north of us, and this last week of August is usually the peak time at our location. (26 August was a good night in 2013, for example:http://futureofbirds.blogspot.com/2013/08/nighthawk-watch-aug-26-2013-forest.html). Other species already on migration may also be seen.

Learn more about the Common Nighthawk

from a painting by Louis Agassiz Fuertes, Wikimeda Commons

It's almost time for the autumn migration of Common Nighthawks.

We'll be seeing them moving south in the evenings in late August and into September. Occasionally they continue movements into the daytime hours as well.

Here are some resources about this iconic, but declining species:

Video:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qpsyjmda5Q

Life history and ecology:
From ABC: https://abcbirds.org/bird/common-nighthawk/
From Cornell Lab: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Nighthawk/lifehistory
From BirdWatchingDaily: https://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/featured-stories/species-profile-nighthawk/

About declines in Canada:  http://www.bsc-eoc.org/organization/images/news/AIWorkshopreport2012.pdf
About their population decline, from ABA and eBird: http://ebird.org/content/pa/news/decline-of-the-bullbat-aba-bird-of-the-year/

Nighthawk Watches to start in about 26 days - Ozaaukee County

Join us to view Common Nighthawk migration at the Bill Cowart Memorial Raptor Watch platform at Forest Beach Migratory Preserve, starting in late August, and lasting through mid-September, when weather and a sufficient number of observers "line up" on the same evenings. For updates that include dates, times, directions, please e-mail wmueller@wglbbo.org

Additional information and updates will be posted along with news on our aerial insectivore activities and initiatives at  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1581381955435390/

To learn more about our observation site, go to this link:
https://wglbbo.org/news/23-hawk-watch-platform-dedicated-at-forest-beach-migratory-preserve


This site will also be the location for raptor watches this fall, starting in late September.

Ph. by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren - Wikim. Commons

chimney swift roosts, August and September

If you see roosting swifts in these next two months, please report the numbers and locations and dates. Here's how to do it, with directions provided by the Wisconsin Chimney Swift Working Group: http://www.wiswifts.org/report-chimney-swift-sightings/

bumblebee conservation

Over the past two decades, bee declines worldwide have drawn international attention. Managed honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies decreased by 25% over 20 years in Europe and 59% over 58 years in North America, and many bumble bee populations in Europe and North America have gone locally extinct, resulting in dramatic range contractions. It is important to note that not all bees in all places are declining. Some populations are actually growing, and there are many more for which data are insufficient or nonexistent.

Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2016-01-complex-worldwide-bee-declines.html#jCp

Ph. Katja Schulz - Wikim. Commons

"Over the past two decades, bee declines worldwide have drawn international attention. Managed honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies decreased by 25% over 20 years in Europe and 59% over 58 years in North America, and many bumble bee populations in Europe and North America have gone locally extinct, resulting in dramatic range contractions. It is important to note that not all bees in all places are declining. Some populations are actually growing, and there are many more for which data are insufficient or nonexistent. "


Learn more at these links:


Xerces bee conservation page: https://xerces.org/bumblebees/

Over the past two decades, bee declines worldwide have drawn international attention. Managed honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies decreased by 25% over 20 years in Europe and 59% over 58 years in North America, and many bumble bee populations in Europe and North America have gone locally extinct, resulting in dramatic range contractions. It is important to note that not all bees in all places are declining. Some populations are actually growing, and there are many more for which data are insufficient or nonexistent.

Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2016-01-complex-worldwide-bee-declines.html#jCp

Over the past two decades, bee declines worldwide have drawn international attention. Managed honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies decreased by 25% over 20 years in Europe and 59% over 58 years in North America, and many bumble bee populations in Europe and North America have gone locally extinct, resulting in dramatic range contractions. It is important to note that not all bees in all places are declining. Some populations are actually growing, and there are many more for which data are insufficient or nonexistent.

Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2016-01-complex-worldwide-bee-declines.html#jCp

The complex causes of worldwide bee declines
https://phys.org/news/2016-01-complex-worldwide-bee-declines.html

https://bumblebeeconservation.org/about-bees/why-bees-need-help/

https://www.wpi.edu/news/buzzing-about-bumblebee-decline

"green" travel - some interesting opportunities

Check out Green Travel Guides at http://www.greentravelguides.tv/low_carbon_travel/low_carbon_travel.html