[birdky] FW: Birding Community E-bulletin - October 2007
- From: "Vorisek, Shawchyi (FW)" <Shawchyi.Vorisek@xxxxxx>
- To: <birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2007 11:07:25 -0400
FYI:
Shawchyi Vorisek
Avian Biologist
Wildlife Diversity Program
KY Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Resources
#1 Sportsman's Lane
Frankfort, KY 40601
(502)564-7109 Ext. 368
shawchyi.vorisek@xxxxxx
www.fw.ky.gov <http://www.fw.ky.gov/>
________________________________
From: Paul J. Baicich [mailto:paul.baicich@xxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 11:15 PM
To: paul.baicich@xxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: Wayne Petersen
Subject: Birding Community E-bulletin - October 2007
THE BIRDING COMMUNITY E-BULLETIN
October 2007
This Birding Community E-bulletin is being distributed through the
generous support of Steiner Binoculars as a service 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 our
past E-bulletins on the website of the National Wildlife Refuge
Association (NWRA):
http://www.refugenet.org/birding/birding5.html
and on the birding pages for Steiner Binoculars
http://www.steiner-birding.com/bulletin.html
RARITY FOCUS
On the morning of September 7, an Arctic Warbler was found at the Silver
Saddle Resort at Galileo Hill in Kern County, in Southern California. It
was visiting a number of trees near the west end of the area's fairly
large lake. The next day, with birders scouring the area, a second
Arctic Warbler was found, this one located close to the petting zoo.
For those not familiar with the Arctic Warbler, you can check it out in
your field guide (e.g., National Geo, page 348-9; the "Big" Sibley, p.
395; Kaufman, p. 304-5). Arctic Warblers are fairly common breeders in
moist willow thickets in northern and western Alaska. Since the species
is relatively common in parts of Alaska, one might question why we
should highlight the species as our rarity of the month?
The simple answer is that this species has no business being in Southern
California. Arctic Warblers from Alaska are typically engaged in fall
migration by mid-August, winging their way toward the Philippines or
southeast Asia - basically in the "other" direction!
With this in mind, Arctic Warblers are extremely rare birds in
California, where there are four previous records (e.g., September 1995
in Monterey Co. and September 2005 on Southeast Farallon Island), all
between 13 September and 1 October. To have one Arctic Warbler show up
in California is most interesting, but to have two show up at the same
location on the same date out in the desert of Kern County is simply
amazing!
You will note that for this section of the E-bulletin we like to focus
on a species enjoyed by a number of birders, usually seen on multiple
days - not just a bird seen by a few birders on a pelagic trip, or by a
group at, say, a remote Alaska location. (For the latter, case, however,
see our Gambell [St. Lawrence Island] profile below!)
At least one of the Arctic Warblers was observed by a number of birders
through 10 September, and possibly on 11 September as well.
Photos of the Kern County Arctic Warblers by Doug Aguillard can be found
here:
http://sdbirds.basiclink.com/arctic__warbler.htm
Or others taken by Bob Steele on 7 September:
http://www.bobsteelephoto.com/Species/arwa_gh.html
To top off the original discovery, yet another Arctic Warbler was
reported on 12 September by a number of observers in Long Beach at
DeForest Park in Los Angeles County.
GAMBELL DELIGHTS
For those birders fortunate enough to visit Gambell, on remote St.
Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea in late August and September 2007
witnessed a memorable fall migration. Groups of birders ably led by a
number of tour companies (i.e., WINGS, Wilderness Birding Adventures,
and High Lonesome BirdTours) were amply rewarded.
The spectacular September was punctuated by such wonders as Lesser
Sand-Plovers, Willow and Dusky Warblers, Red-throated and Pechora
Pipits, Little and Pallas's Buntings, Siberian Accentor, Common
Rosefinch, and what will probably be first North American records for
Yellow-browed Bunting (Emberiza chrysophrys) and Sedge Warbler
(Acrocephalus schoenobaenus). These birds were mostly found at the two
village "boneyards," the edge of Troutman Lake, or on the nearby
mountainside.
September 2007 will surely be one for the record books on St. Lawrence
Island!
AND NOW FOR THE LONGEST NON-STOP MIGRATION
Since we're talking about Alaskan birds, it's time to mention the recent
confirmation of what is almost certainly North America's longest
non-stop migrant.
It's official! The Bar-tailed Godwit probably makes the longest non-stop
migratory flight in the world. At least one godwit has been tracked from
its Southern Hemisphere "winter" residence in New Zealand to its
breeding ground in western Alaska's Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge
- and back again. A female Bar-tailed Godwit, known as E7, was one of 13
satellite-tagged birds that left New Zealand at the start of this year.
E7 set her first record on the way north, when she flew non-stop for
6,340 miles to Yalu Jiang in China. She then flew an additional 3,000
miles to breeding grounds in Alaska. On the way back to New Zealand,
with her tag still working, E7 set another record 7,145 miles. She
landed there in early September. This marks a complete record of the
most amazing annual migration cycle for any shorebird.
Unlike seabirds, which are able to feed and rest on the water during
their long journeys, godwits apparently just keep going.
The New Zealand godwit tracking effort is part of the broader Pacific
Shorebird Migration Program, a joint initiative between the US
Geological Survey and PRBO (Point Reyes Bird Observatory) Conservation
Science.
For more on this fantastic journey, visit the USGS website that provides
an excellent overview:
http://alaska.usgs.gov/science/biology/shorebirds/barg.html
<http://alaska.usgs.gov/science/biology/shorebirds/barg.html>
or this report from the Yukon Delta NWR:
http://www.fws.gov/arsnew/regmap.cfm?arskey=22331
Map images of E7's journey and that of her cohort are also instructive:
http://alaska.usgs.gov/science/biology/shorebirds/barg_updates.html
RARE-BIRD GOOGLE GADGET LAUNCHED BY eBIRD
The eBird Team at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has come up with a
fascinating computer-desktop device to track rare birds in the U.S. It's
the "eBird Rare Bird Gadget." Basically, any record submitted to eBird
that requires a "rare species" indication will automatically appear on
the rare bird gadget.
All information about rare birds seen in the U.S. and submitted to eBird
during the previous week will appear on the gadget. Details provided
include date, location, and observer, as well as a very useful Google
Map link to view the bird's location. The sightings are even color
coded: yellow = not yet reviewed; green = reviewed and accepted.
Users can view any U.S. state desired; a version to cover Canada is in
the works. Indeed, this is still a work in progress, and feedback on its
use is requested.
Even at this stage, the results of the Google Gadget are impressive, but
the ultimate utility of the device is completely dependent on the
willingness of observers to submit their observations on eBird in the
first place. We strongly recommend that readers explore this link and
begin using the system.
Look here for all the details from the eBird Team, including the quick
and easy way to load the free gadget:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/Google_Gadget.html
WINTER FINCH FORECAST: ONTARIO AND BEYOND
Ron Pittaway, of the Ontario Field Ornithologists has once again
gathered information for his annual Winter Finch Forecast. Cooperation
on the part of the staff of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
(OMNR) and the observations of regional birders allow Pittaway to make
his annual predictions about finches. These predictions should be of
interest to both field birders and feeder-watchers in the East.
Pittaway's report begins by describing conditions in the northern boreal
forests and his forecast for the occurrence of "winter finches" in
southern Ontario. The report contains some excellent tidbits about food
tree preferences of the various finch species, and forest conditions
overall. It may also help you assess your feeder-visitation and field
possibilities this coming season, too, at least in the East.
According to the report, most coniferous and deciduous trees have had
very poor seed crops in much of Ontario and western Quebec. Pittaway
predicts that White-winged and Red crossbills and Pine Siskins will not
be irrupting south out of Ontario as they do in some flight years,
because most have already gone east and/or west. However, other winter
finches such as Pine Grosbeaks, Evening Grosbeaks, Purple Finches and
redpolls are already irrupting, or will irrupt, southward out of
northern Ontario.
It will be interesting to see if this pattern unfolds as predicted.
The full report can be found here:
http://www.ofo.ca/2007-8winterfinchforecast.htm
WHOOPING CRANES ON THEIR WAY
Last month we reported on the Seadrift Ranch plans for development close
to Whooping Crane habitat near the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge:
http://www.refugenet.org/birding/sepSBC07.html#TOC10
and
http://www.steiner-birding.com/bulletin/sept07.html
Apparently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was inundated with comments
opposing the development, and the Corps is expected to call upon the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to determine if the birds would
be harmed. The whole process will likely take months, and we will keep
you informed as this story unfolds.
In the meantime, during this past summer there were record numbers of
Whooping Crane chicks hatched at Wood Buffalo National Park in northern
Canada. An aerial survey of the breeding grounds found 65 nests and 84
new chicks. The new Whooping Crane chicks include 28 sets of twins. This
year's offspring come after last year's encouraging numbers of 76 new
chicks - including 24 sets of twins.
By the end of September, the cranes will have left for their 2,500-mile
flight south to the Aransas National Wildlife Range in Texas. By gliding
and soaring, family groups of cranes can pick up wind currents and stay
aloft for 10 hours a day, at times covering up to 470 miles at a
stretch.
As Whooping Cranes increase their numbers, one can only hope that they
will have sufficient coastal wintering habitat in the years to come.
2008 REFUGE SYSTEM AWARDS
Have you ever admired the dedication and talent of a Refuge worker or
coworker? Have you ever wanted to recognize a colleague for outstanding
work on a refuge? Here's your chance!
National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) and the National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) are accepting nominations for the 2008
National Wildlife Refuge System Awards. Think back over the past year,
consider what has been accomplished for the Refuge System, and take this
opportunity to recognize the dedicated individuals and groups whose
achievements were instrumental in strengthening our national wildlife
refuges.
There are four award categories: refuge manager, employee, volunteer,
and Friends Group.
Nominations are due no later than 15 November 2007. Forms and other
award details can be found on the NWRA website at:
http://www.refugenet.org/new-events/callfornom2008.html
For more information you can also contact Claire Stoker at:
cstoker@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
10 YEARS OLD: REFUGE IMPROVEMENT ACT
Signed by President Clinton on 9 October 1997, the National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 finally provided the Refuge System
with an "organic act" - the clarification of a single, overarching
mission of conservation and uniform procedures for its management. This
mission provides for "wildlife first," with the "big six" of
wildlife-dependent recreational uses involving hunting, fishing,
wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and
interpretation, having official status. (Our readers should note that
the largest portion of "wildlife observation" recognized by the USFWS is
understood to be bird watching.)
A summary of the Improvement Act can be found here:
http://www.fws.gov/refuges/policymakers/mandates/hr1420/
The full act can be read here:
http://www.refugenet.org/new-pdf-files/NWRS%20Improvement%20Act.pdf
STAMP DOLLARS AT WORK
In mid-September, the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (MBCC) met
and approved refuge acquisitions and easements to secure over 4,200
acres of wetland and grassland habitat at eight National Wildlife
Refuges located in six states. The funding came from revenue collected
from the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation [Duck] Stamp as well as
from import duties, fines, and other sources.
Among the refuges benefiting were Assabet River (MA), Lake Umbagog (NH),
Cache River (AR), and Trinity River (TX) National Wildlife Refuges.
See more details here:
http://www.fws.gov/home/feature/2007/Doc3.pdf
IMPORTANT BIRD AREA (IBA) NEWS: AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES
The National Audubon Society has recently released some valuable
waterbird conservation information following a review of Important Bird
Area (IBA) data. The information is contained in a document titled "New
Resources for Waterbird Conservation on Agricultural Lands."
Operating on the premise that agricultural landscapes have implications
for birds and wildlife, National Audubon has been engaging agricultural
stakeholders in developing conservation practices compiling information
that will benefit the future stewardship of birds using heavily
agricultural environments.
To see this report, including a special section on IBAs, check:
http://www.audubon.org/bird/waterbirds/downloads.html
PUT A CORK IN IT!
The British have had a modest campaign (sponsored by the Royal Society
for the Protection of Birds - RSPB) for a number of years to favor
Iberian cork for wine bottles. The reason is simple: sustaining unique
cork/oak forests will protect special birds and other wildlife. (Spanish
and Portuguese cork plantations will often harbor Black-winged Kites,
Booted Eagles, Hoopoes, Short-toed Creepers, Golden Orioles, and
Hawfinches, for example.)
The cork campaign has opposed a shift to plastic stoppers used in wines.
Now the effort has spread to our side of "The Pond," with a similar
effort being promoted by the Rainforest Alliance, the Forest Stewardship
Council, and at least one winery in Oregon, Willamette Valley Vineyards.
You can find fine details from Rainforest Alliance here:
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/news/2005/cork_new.html
You can read why cork is renewable and reliable:
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/news/2005/why_cork.html
And you can also read about the Willamette Valley Vineyards:
http://www.willamettevalleyvineyards.com/?s=fsc
LEAD AMMUNITION WEIGHED IN CALIFORNIA
In March, we reported on the largest private hunting preserve in
California, the Tejon Ranch that has banned the use of lead bullets in
big-game hunting:
http://www.refugenet.org/birding/marSBC07.html#TOC11
and
http://www.steiner-birding.com/bulletin/march07.html
On 4 September, the California Senate passed legislation (Assembly Bill
821) to ban lead ammunition that is poisoning endangered California
Condors. The bill is designed to protect condors by requiring hunters to
use non-toxic ammunition for hunting big game, in order to prevent
condors from consuming lead fragments in carcasses not recovered or left
in the field. The measure also creates a program that would provide
coupons to hunters that would help to subsidize the cost of lead-free,
copper bullets.
The bill, having produced some controversy on the part of some hunters
and hunting groups, is awaiting signature from Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger. Kelly Sorenson, the executive director of the Ventana
Wildlife Society and a member of the California Condor Recovery Team,
wrote an article for the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS (19 September)
summarizing the case against lead:
http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_6935048
There are similar moves - voluntary and otherwise - being considered in
Arizona to cover big-game hunting. Cooperation from hunting groups in
Arizona involving an education campaign using coupons, DVDs, and flyers,
and offering free non-lead bullets to hunters in areas frequented by
condors suggests somewhat rosier prospects in that state. But voluntary
compliance, no matter how creative, may still not be enough.
The broader issue, of course, goes back at least to the early 1990s,
when the USFWS imposed a nationwide ban on the use of lead shot for
waterfowl hunting because the shotgun pellets were poisoning waterfowl
that ingested them off the bottoms of ponds and lakes. The debate on
that issue ran through much of the 1980s, and the use of a ban was
originally resisted from some quarters, even though today most
hunter-conservationists today embrace the lead shot ban for
waterfowling.
FOR BIRDERS WITH PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS
There are many locations throughout the world that provide high quality,
low-impact birding venues, ideal for birders with physical limitations.
A U.S.-based website featuring places in North, Central, and South
America as a service to birders with limited mobility or endurance,
varying from moderate limitations to birders confined to wheelchairs.
The site originator, Darlene Smyth, is also asking for suggestions on
ways to improve the site and how to include additional information. See
the site for more details:
http://www.comfortablebirdingforall.com/
BOOK REVIEW: BIRDER'S CONSERVATION HANDBOOK
Jeff Wells, currently serving as the Senior Scientist with the Boreal
Songbird Initiative, has provided anyone interested in birds an
important summary of the state of bird conservation in North America
with his new BIRDER'S CONSERVATION HANDBOOK (Due in October from
Princeton University Press; we were lucky enough to review an advance
copy.)
The book's subtitle summarizes its scope: "100 North American Birds at
Risk." Most of the book - organized not unlike a field guide - is made
up of individual species accounts for the 100 species considered most at
risk, according to assessments determined by the major bird conservation
initiatives and organizations. Each profiled species has an account
containing up to four pages of information that outlines the species'
status and distribution (along with a unique hemispheric range-map),
ecology, threats, conservation actions now in motion, and conservation
needs for the future. The species accounts are preceded by several
important chapters that describe the purpose of the book, how birds
serve as environmental indicators, an overview of the state of our North
American bird populations, the major issues impacting North American
birds, the state of North American bird conservation, and what, ideally,
readers can do to help conserve birds.
Best of all, the book is written for the millions of people who are
simply curious about birds. The approach used by Wells in this book
could potentially turn recreational birders and budding conservationists
into thoughtful and active stewards of birds and the environment. Jeff
Wells has produced a reader-friendly and outstanding resource to bird
conservation activity that could serve as a benchmark for many years to
come. We strongly recommend this title.
BIRDLIFE'S WORLD BIRD FESTIVAL FOCUSES ON AQUATIC BIRDS
Held in October of every year in the Americas, BirdLife's World Bird
Festival encourages bird conservation through a number of activities
including nature walks, indoor meetings, lectures, seminars,
performances (music, theater, films and poetry readings), children's
events (face painting, bird-costume making, painting competitions), and
exhibitions (paintings, prints, photographs).
This year, BirdLife's theme will celebrate Aquatic Birds of the
Americas, especially since these waterbirds birds tie the natural and
human communities of the Americas together.
For more information on this effort see:
http://www.birdlife.org/action/awareness/world_bird_festival/americas_20
07.html
and
http://www.birdlife.org/action/awareness/world_bird_festival/aquatic_bir
ds.html
"NO CHILD LEFT INSIDE" BILLS IN CONGRESS
As teachers across the country are pressed to devote increasing time to
core subjects that must be tested and evaluated, time spent on any
environmental education is drastically reduced, often resulting in the
giving up of field trips and other environmental explorations.
In mid-July, Congressman John P. Sarbanes (D-MD) announced his
sponsorship of the No Child Left Inside Act (H.R. 3036). A few weeks
later, in August, Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) introduced similar - but not
identical - legislation (S. 1931) under the same name. The bills are now
collecting Congressional co-sponsors. These legislators' proposals would
provide new resources and incentives to states to enhance environmental
education, but would not add any additional tests or requirements on
school systems.
Both bills would increase funding for environmental education - focusing
on teacher training and capacity building. It would give states new
incentives to create environmental literacy plans to make sure graduates
better understand their environment. The legislation could help fulfill
an obligation to educate young people about the environment - including
birds - and to help them become responsible natural stewards.
A number of organizations concerned with youth education, general
environmental stewardship, and hunting have partnered to advance the
cause of the No Child Left Inside Coalition. You can find details here:
www.eenclb.org <http://www.eenclb.org/>
- - - - - - - -
You can access an archive of past E-bulletins on the National Wildlife
Refuge Association (NWRA) website:
http://www.refugenet.org/birding/birding5.html
and on the birding pages for Steiner Binoculars
http://www.steiner-birding.com/bulletin.html
If you wish to distribute all or parts of any of the monthly Birding
Community E-bulletins, 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 any friends or co-workers who want to get onto the monthly
E-bulletin mailing list, have them contact either:
Wayne R. Petersen, Director
Massachusetts Important Bird Areas (IBA) Program
Mass Audubon
718/259-2178
<wpetersen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
OR
Paul J. Baicich
410/992-9736
<paul.baicich@xxxxxxxxxxx>
We never lend or sell our E-bulletin recipient list.
Other related posts:
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