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FW: Birding Community E-bulletin - March 2010

From:

Norm Saunders

Reply-To:

Norm Saunders

Date:

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:18:42 -0500

 

 

From: Paul J. Baicich [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 8:33 PM
To: Paul J. Baicich
Cc: Wayne Petersen
Subject: Birding Community E-bulletin - March 2010

 


BIRDING COMMUNITY E-BULLETIN
        March 2010


This Birding Community E-bulletin is being distributed to active and
concerned birders, those dedicated to the joys of birding and the protection
of birds and their habitats. 

This issue is sponsored by NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC and the wonderful bird and
birding books they make available:
www.shopng.com/birdbooks
 
You can access an archive of past E-bulletins on the website of the National
Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA):
www.refugenet.org/birding/birding5.html 


RARITY FOCUS

The Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas does it again, producing yet another
amazing rarity: Roadside Hawk.

On 24 January Jeff Lewis and Joan Kutulas from North Carolina found a
Roadside Hawk at the popular Frontera Audubon Thicket in Weslaco. Off and on
into February, this tropical raptor was difficult to find. Nonetheless, a
few lucky birders managed to see it until about 5 February when it
disappeared, possibly the victim of a predator.

Remarkably, also on 5 February, an immature Roadside Hawk was seen and
photographed many miles upriver at Falcon State Park by Frank Yulling and
Carolyn Young. This bird was encountered along the park road between the
butterfly garden and the shelter area and also by the boat ramp, where,
apparently, it remained through the end of the month. 

The Roadside Hawk is a small tropical buteo that is a common resident in
woodland borders, clearings, and roadsides from southern Tamaulipas, Mexico,
to South America. It is a real rarity in the U.S., however, with only about
eight records for Texas. The first was in 1901, but the second occurrence
was not until 1979, more than three-quarters of a century later. Since then,
there have been multiple sightings - in 1983, 2000, and 2005 - nearly all in
the winter. 

Does this mean that Roadside Hawks are increasing? Are there more skilled
observers? Is there less suitable habitat in nearby Mexico? Is the species
responding to climate change? You choose.

If you are unfamiliar with the Roadside Hawk, check any Mexican field guide
or the latest National Geographic field guide (fifth edition: pp. 128-129)
for an illustration and more information.

The Roadside Hawk at Falcon State Park has been photographed numerous times,
including by Carlos Escamilla, whose images can be found here:
www.flickr.com/photos/carlosmescamilla/sets/72157623504209716/


CHIPPING AWAY AT LAYSAN ALBATROSSES

There have been recent renewed calls to clean up 70 deadly lead
paint-contaminated buildings on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge which
are believed to be responsible for the deaths of many thousands of Laysan
Albatross chicks since jurisdiction of Midway was transferred from the Navy
to the Department of the Interior (DOI) in 1996.

Apparently, albatross chicks have been ingesting lead-based paint chips from
the buildings, causing a variety of painful ailments and ultimately, slow
deaths. After eating the chips, the chicks on Midway exhibit a condition
called "droopwing, " which leaves them incapable of lifting their wings.
Unable to fly, many eventually die of starvation and dehydration.

In 2006, the area encompassing Midway and its surrounding waters was
included in President George Bush's designation of the Northwestern Hawaiian
Islands as Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. Despite Midway's
previous designation as a National Wildlife Refuge and its location within
the marine national monument, an estimated 10,000 of these seabirds die
there each year.

About 70 percent of the world's population of Laysan Albatrosses nests on
Midway.

In a paper to be released in the scientific journal, ANIMAL CONSERVATION,
Dr. Myra Finkelstein of the University of California-Santa Cruz and her
co-authors, including scientists and managers from the U.S. Geological
Survey and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, concluded that the death of
Laysan Albatross chicks from lead exposure on Midway has long-term
consequences for the albatross population. By 2060, there could literally be
190,000 fewer albatrosses due to lead poisoning. By contrast, removing
lead-based paint at this time could increase the population by up to 360,000
by 2060. These are significant figures for long-lived birds like
albatrosses.

It has been estimated that $5.6 million would need to be invested to clean
up the toxic lead paint on Midway Atoll. Approximately 70 of the buildings
would have to be stripped of all lead-based paint, and the sand surrounding
these old buildings would require sifting to remove the paint chips.

A number of wildlife and conservation groups (e.g., the American Bird
Conservancy (ABC), the Conservation Council for Hawaii, and the Hawaii
Audubon Society) have called on Congress to direct sufficient funding to
Midway to address this problem. You can find more information at: 
www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/releases/100202.html


MURRE/EAGLE QUANDARY ON THE OREGON COAST

And here is another seabird issue. Every spring, an estimated half million
Common Murres come to nest on far-flung rocks off the Oregon coast at the
Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex. This has taken place for as
long as humans have recorded the event. 

Ironically, however, as Bald Eagle numbers have increased in recent years,
increasing eagle predation is beginning to impact the nesting success of the
murres. The situation is sufficiently acute that recently Common Murres are
returning to many colonies only to fail year after year, with a number of
breeding sites now being totally abandoned. 

Some murres have relocated farther south; others simply crowd or over-crowd
successful nesting sites.

Regardless, the ongoing situation involving Bald Eagles was completely
unpredicted.

Currently, the Refuge staff has no plans to "remove" predating Bald Eagles,
a species recently delisted from the Endangered Species List, but the staff
will simply document the changes instead.

The full story is contained in a nine-minute episode of the "Oregon Field
Guide" that ran in early February on Oregon Public Broadcasting. Filmed last
spring and summer, you can view the fascinating story here:
www.opb.org/programs/ofg/segments/view/1735


WORLD SEABIRD CONFERENCE

Since we are on the subject of seabirds, readers might be interested in
learning about the First World Seabird Conference to be held later this
year.
 
The Pacific Seabird Group and two dozen other professional seabird and
research organizations from around the world, are working on this inaugural
conference focused on seabirds. The event will take place in Victoria,
British Columbia, 7-11 September 2010. 

Seabirds, as you may know, have become threatened on a global scale and at
an alarming rate. The goal of this conference will be to put seabird
management and conservation into a worldwide perspective. Among many issues
addressed will be the impact of climate change on the world's oceans,
seabird/fisheries interactions, challenges facing marine protected areas,
and the ecology and restoration of seabird islands. .

For more information, see:
www.worldseabirdconference.com <http://www.worldseabirdconference.com/> 


MORE SOBERING EVIDENCE OF THREATS TO PRAIRIE POTHOLE REGION

Last month we reported on the potential corn-based ethanol threat to birds
and bird habitat in the Prairie Pothole Region:
www.refugenet.org/birding/febSBC10.html#TOC07

Now there is even more to consider for the region.

In the February edition of BIOSCIENCE, a team of 11 researchers reported on
the fragile Prairie Pothole Region of North America, indicating that a 2 to
4 degree Celsius change (or 4 to 8 degree Fahrenheit change) between 2050
and 2100 could have a devastating effect on wetland bird and wildlife
populations. The study focused on waterfowl since, in the words of Carter
Johnson, a professor of wetland ecology at South Dakota State University who
has been studying climate change for 40 years, "We tend to use ducks as our
currency because everyone knows ducks. The major challenge is how to
maintain enough of these wetlands, since so many organisms depend on them."
An estimated 177 bird species use the Prairie Pothole Region of North
America for breeding, with another 130 depending upon it for resting and
feeding during migration.

The study is summarized here:
www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=2398

And it is reported on (from the Sioux Falls, SD, ARGUS HERALD) here:
www.argusleader.com/article/20100212/NEWS/2120322/1001/news


YEAR OF THE BIRDS: NORTH CAROLINA

Although the original story nearly slipped by us, it is still worthy of
notice. The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation has proclaimed
2010 as "The Year of the Birds."

The state's Division of Parks and Wildlife is scheduling special programs
and activities in state parks throughout North Caroling this year to
highlight the role birds play in our environment. This effort is being
carried out in partnership with Audubon North Carolina.

While we know that many readers of this E-bulletin regard virtually EVERY
year as "The Year of the Birds," a state-wide public acknowledgment of the
importance of birds is heartening.

Wouldn't it be grand if other States and Provinces would do likewise,
emphasizing a year-long celebration on the environmental, educational, and
recreational aspects of birds in our lives?

You can find a story North Carolina's "Year of the Birds" here: 
www.citizen-times.com/article/20100215/NEWS01/302150033/1009


BOOK NOTES: GLORIOUS WATERBIRDS

This month's recommended book is a 344-page weighty volume, and a
coffee-table wonder. The subject is simply covered by the book's title,
WATERBIRDS (2009, Norton). The book chronicles a 40-year photographic
journey by the author-photographer, Theodore Cross, a man who passed away at
the end of February.

The book opens with seven photo-enhanced essays, ranging from encounters
with migrating Red Knots at Delaware Bay to a pursuit of nesting Ross's
Gulls in Arctic Siberia. From here, the book features 257 pages of delicious
photos and accompanying short vignettes of all sorts of birds associated
with water, be they geese, albatrosses, boobies, herons, shorebirds, gulls,
terns, alcids, and even raptors.
 
Cross presents these water-loving species through his exquisite photographs,
each of which clearly reflects his contagious affection for birds. "It's
like a disease, I suppose," said the recently deceased 86-year-old Cross.
"Except for my family and friends, there are few things I care more about."


IBA NEWS: PUERTO RICAN VICTORY

In the February 2007 E-bulletin we brought your attention to a wind farm
proposal slated for the Karso del Sur region of Puerto Rico. This is a
region characterized by drained limestone-based dry forest. This proposal
would directly impact an Important Bird Area (IBA) which sustains the most
significant remaining stronghold of the Puerto Rican Nightjar. The wind
project could jeopardize a significant portion of the global population of
this critically endangered species. For our previous summary, see:
www.refugenet.org/birding/febSBC07.html#TOC06

In a recent development, the governmental and bipartisan Planning Board of
Puerto Rico has rejected and suspended the siting permit for the wind farm.
At the same time, the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed
development is being legally disputed.

The Sociedad Ornitologica Puertorriquena, Inc. (SOPI, BirdLife in Puerto
Rico) and other organizations have applauded the decision. You can find more
details here:
www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/02/pr_windfarm.html

For additional information about worldwide IBA programs, and those across
the U.S., check the National Audubon Society's Important Bird Area program
web site at: 
www.audubon.org/bird/iba/ 
 

TIP OF THE MONTH: TRY BIRDING BY BIKE

As we assessed a couple of recent rarities of the month which appeared at
Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park, (i.e., Bare-throated Tiger-Heron in January
and a close runner-up for this past month, Aztec Thrush), we were reminded
of an important birding tip: bicycling.
 
At "Bentsen," a bicycle is one the best ways to get around while birding.
It's a great way to get some exercise, as well as to see birds. There are
many other examples of such opportunities. Three National Wildlife Refuges
come to mind where birding and bicycling mix well: Ding Darling NWR (FL),
Don Edwards/SF Bay NWR (CA), and Chincoteague NWR (VA), all of which
encourage biking. And don't forget the World Series of Birding (Cape May,
NJ) where teams have been known to bird while biking. Ergo: that
competition's "Carbon Footprint Cup" is awarded for the highest number of
species found while on foot, bike or rowed boat, or any other non-motorized
form of transportation.

On the extreme end of this approach was the effort made by Malkolm
Boothroyd, who undertook a year-long, fossil-fuel-free search of birds
ending in June 2008. Boothroyd cycled a total of 13,133 miles, identified
548 bird species of birds, and raised more than $25,000 for bird
conservation. See details of this birding and biking epic at:
http://birdyear.blogspot.com/

You don't have to take your biking as efforts as far as Malkolm, but biking
and birding together is certainly a healthy, fun, and "green" approach! As
spring gets closer, why not consider birding and biking? 


WANT A WONDERFUL BOOK? SHOW US WHAT YOU KNOW!

If you happen to be a particularly careful reader, you may have noticed that
on the top of this E-bulletin we indicated that we have a new sponsor,
National Geographic.

Americans everywhere are aware of the historic legacy of the NATIONAL
GEOGRAPHIC magazine, collections of which represent the solid cornerstone of
garages across America. Birders in particular are reminded of National
Geographic's enormous contribution in the area of birds and bird
appreciation. National Geographic books, most notably the National
Geographic FIELD GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA, are nothing short of
wonderful. If you need a reminder, see here:
www.shopng.com/birdbooks

To celebrate National Geographic's recent connection with the E-bulletin,
the fine folks at National Geographic have contributed a number of their
publications for us to distribute to E-bulletin readers. While we don't have
2,500 copies to give away, we have enough that we will happily give them
away to readers who choose to enter a quick-and-easy contest in the hope of
winning one of these publications. Our little contest and quiz questions
will run for the next six months.
 
Each monthly quiz question will either relate to one of our news items for
the previous month, or it will relate to some event or experience that is
due to occur during the month of the quiz question.

There will undoubtedly be multiple winners who answer our question
correctly, so we will only be able to distribute copies to five of those
monthly whose names are picked at random from all the correct answers.

The prize this month will be a copy of the luscious BIRD COLORATION by
Geoffrey E. Hill. This 256-page book, being released mid-March, explores
both the spectacle and the science of bird coloration. It has just the right
mix of wonderful photos and artwork that you have come to expect from a
National Geographic publication on birds. The text explains it all. For more
on this book, see here:
http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/ngs/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=62
00571
<http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/ngs/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=6
200571&code=MR20380> &code=MR20380 

So, here's this month's question: What major North American bird migration
spectacle will peak in this month in the central U.S., an event that
annually attracts thousands of observers and photographers (i.e., what is
the event and where does it take place)? 

Please send your answer by 15 March to:


Make the subject line "QUIZ! " and include your full name and mailing
address along with your answer so that we can send you a book in the mail
should you be a fortunate winner. We will provide the correct answer next
month.

- - - - - - - - -
You can access past E-bulletins on the National Wildlife Refuge Association
(NWRA) website:
www.refugenet.org/birding/birding5.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
         
                or
        Paul J. Baicich         
        410/992-9736
         
                                        
We never lend or sell our E-bulletin recipient list.