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From: Paul J. Baicich [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2011 10:51 PM
Subject: Birding Community E-bulletin - July 2011

 


THE BIRDING COMMUNITY E-BULLETIN
            July 2011
 
 
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. 
 
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
 
This month's rarity qualifies as either a wonderful North American "first"
or simply an interesting curiosity.
 
On 20 June, Mike Shanley and Seth Wollney observed and photographed a Hooded
Crow at the Crooke's Point section of Great Kills Park, part of the Gateway
National Recreation Area on Staten Island in New York City. 
 
To see photos taken by Seth Wollney from the "fisherman's" parking lot at
Great Kills Park on Staten Island, see:
www.flickr.com/photos/sethbirds
 
Hooded Crow is an Old World species, formerly "lumped" with Carrion Crow,
but now "split" and currently considered a distinct species. Hooded Crows
range across northern, eastern, and southeastern Europe, as well as in parts
of the Middle East, but usually no farther west than Scotland and Ireland.
The species is hardly migratory through much of its range, except for some
cold-weather movements from the northern parts of its range (e.g., Finland
and Russia) into the North Sea countries and southern Scandinavia. Details
can be found in just about any European field guide.
 
Locations frequented by the Hooded Crow at Great Kills Park through June
included the fisherman's parking lot at the end of peninsula, the woods next
to the lot, and along the wrack line on the beach, especially near a small
rock jetty. The bird was mostly observed in the mornings, when it was often
mercilessly harassed by local Northern Mockingbirds.
 
According to regular joggers at the park, the crow may have been in the
vicinity for over two weeks before being discovered by birders.
 
The closest previous reports, from Greenland and at least 88 records for
Iceland (through 2006), suggest at least occasional westward movement:
http://notendur.hi.is/yannk/status_corcrn.html
 
Considering the fact that there are a few records for Greenland, natural
occurrence in the northeastern U.S. is not totally implausible.
 
The presence of a Hooded Crow at the virtual mouth of busy New York Harbor
could also suggest the possibility of a ship-assisted arrival, unless of
course the bird is an escaped captive bird. 
 
Not inconsequentially, corvids are regularly kept in captivity as pets, and
previous reports of Hooded Crows in North America - e.g., Salton Sea,
California (1973), Chicago, Illinois (2000), New Braunfels, Texas (2002),
and Whitecourt, Alberta (2006) - have all been attributed to escaped birds.
 
Still, a major breeder of exotic crows and ravens in Heflin, Alabama,
indicated that he no longer has Hooded Crows and knows of no one who does. 
 
The question of provenance of this bird is interesting to consider and the
New York Bird Records Committee will no doubt have fun sorting out the
answer.
 
In any case, many birders from the NYC area and beyond have gone to Great
Kills Park to see this bird, wild or not.
 
 
AN ERRANT PTARMIGAN
 
A Willow Ptarmigan was positively identified and photographed in early June
at the 500-acre Darlington Nuclear Station on Lake Ontario, about 40 miles
ENE of Toronto. This tundra-loving species is very rare in southern Ontario,
usually ranging no farther south than the Hudson Bay coast. A few days
later, on 10 June, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) generously decided that it
would make the site available to birders on Sunday, 12 June, for a one-time
access at the secure site. Brian Henshaw, who works for Beacon Environmental
at the station, organized the on-site field logistics, the Ontario Field
Ornithologists (OFO) provided advice and notice to the Ontario birding
community, and the OPG took on the essential security, escort, and
safety-orientation for the visitors. 
 
There were 147 birders who were bused to the field site, escorted by OPG
staff (including armed guards). They carefully followed directions and had
to remain together as a group. Fortunately, the Willow Ptarmigan strutted
for several minutes in full view for all the birders to see and enjoy.
 
It turns out that last winter there was a large irruption of Willow
Ptarmigan - and even a few Rock Ptarmigan - into south-central Quebec. The
Darlington Willow Ptarmigan was probably an extreme overshoot from last
winter's irruption, and there is actually evidence that this bird may have
been present since March. 
 
The OPG Darlington experience was well-received by all parties, including
regular station staff, security, contractors, birders, and the media. To
read a story from the TORONTO STAR and see a link to a short video, check:
www.thestar.com/news/article/1008739--rare-arctic-ptarmigan-causes-flap-when
-it-stops-by-darlington-power-plant 
 
More details and photos from Ontario birder, Jean Irons, can be viewed here:
www.jeaniron.ca/2011/willowptarmigan.htm
 
 
IBA NEWS: STATE PARKS HAMMERED
 
What do following sites have in common?
 
Baxter State Park (Maine), Cape Henlopen State Park (Delaware), Cape Mears
State Park (Oregon), Montana de Oro State Park (California), Ochlockonee
River State Park (Florida), and 
Perdaneles Falls State Park (Texas)?
 
The answer, they are all state parks, and they are all Important Bird Areas
(IBAs) or are parts of IBAs. Although state parks only account for two
percent of public outdoor recreational real estate in the U.S. according to
the National Association of State Park Directors, they are very important to
birds and birders in many states.
 
State parks are also under budget assaults from coast to coast. In the words
of birder and Chief of Public Policy for the National Recreation and Park
Association, Rich Dolesh, "What was once unthinkable - the closure of state
parks because of budget shortfalls - has rapidly become a reality in many
states."
 
This is not to suggest that all the mentioned parks are about to be closed,
but a number of states are starting to look at state-park "solutions" that
might include the exploitation of natural resources at parks, the
consolidation of state park systems into other state agencies, the
elimination of funding for parks that don't produce revenue, the
privatization of multiple park features, and, the aforementioned simple
closures. 
 
The search for new revenue and looking for creative ways to fund state parks
is not necessarily a bad thing; however, care must be given to keep the core
objectives of parks in mind, in order to protect the character of and
visitor experience at state parks.
 
Already the Arizona state legislature has wiped out almost two-thirds of its
state park budget during the past several years; Georgia park financing has
been cut by almost 50 percent since 2008; Florida is considering privatizing
state park operations; Ohio has approved drilling for oil and gas beneath
some of its state parks, and in California 70 of the state's 278 parks are
now slated to close. A Minnesota state-government shutdown, of course,
includes "padlocking" state parks.
 
It won't be long before budget cuts, consolidation, privatization, drilling,
and additional closures take place due to the pressure of state-budget
shortfalls, IBAs or not.
 
Some states seem to understand and appreciate that parks contribute greatly
to local and regional economies and will continue to protect them; other
states, however, simply don't get it. For birders, it's mainly issues of
access, accommodation, appropriate management, and simple fairness that are
at stake.
 
For more on the state park scene, see this recent article from THE NEW YORK
TIMES:
www.nytimes.com/2011/06/07/us/07parks.html
 
To get additional information about IBA programs worldwide, including those
across the U.S., check the National Audubon Society's Important Bird Area
program web site at: 
www.audubon.org/bird/iba/ 
 
 
SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS SUCCESS
 
Regular readers of the Birding Community know that we've been tracking the
status of a pair of nesting rare Short-tailed Albatrosses and their one
offspring at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge since last January. To
see some of our previous reports (including before and after the tsunami),
see: 
www.refugeassociation.org/birding/maysbc11.html#TOC04
 
Happily, the good news continues. First, over the past few months there were
continued reports of both parents bringing food to the youngster every one
to five days. Then, on 8 June, the five-month-old Short-tailed Albatross
chick was banded with a metal band on its right leg and a red-and-white band
coded "AA00" on its left. By 11 June, the banded young albatross was
observed moving from its nest area to explore the nearby shoreline while its
instinct to swim and to fly increased. It was observed through the evening
of 15 June exploring and practicing flight. By 17 June, it was gone; it
fledged with no one to witness its departure. 
 
The fledging is a testament to the care and skill of its parents, the
resilience of the young albatross, and the wise management of Midway Atoll
NWR. 
 
For the full story of the last month's activities along with wonderful
photos and a video, see here:
http
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Asset_PRAssetID_EQ=127511&XSL=PressRelease&Cache=True>
://us.vocuspr.com/Newsroom/Query.aspx?SiteName=FWS
<http://us.vocuspr.com/Newsroom/Query.aspx?SiteName=FWS&Entity=PRAsset&SF_PR
Asset_PRAssetID_EQ=127511&XSL=PressRelease&Cache=True>
&Entity=PRAsset&SF_PRAsset_PRAssetID_EQ=127511&XSL=PressRelease&Cache=True 
 
 
HOPE MAKES IT TO THE ARCTIC
 
Another favorite with of our readership has been "Hope," the banded Whimbrel
that we described in May:
www.refugenet.org/birding/maysbc11.html#TOC10
 
Hope, tracked via satellite, arrived on her breeding grounds along the
MacKenzie River in northwest Canada, on 14 June. This is the third year that
she has been tracked to the same location just south of the Beaufort Sea.
Her travels through three migration cycles have taken her more than 24,000
miles. In addition to Hope, three other Whimbrels were tracked this spring
to breeding grounds west of Hudson Bay. Updated tracking maps for Hope and
others may be viewed at:
www.ccb-wm.org/programs/migration/Whimbrel/whimbrel.htm
 
 
MORE HELP FOR THE SPOON-BILLED SANDPIPER 
 
We have reported previously on the plight of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper,
most recently in the E-bulletin, last August:
www.refugenet.org/birding/AugSBC10.html#TOC02
 
Spoon-billed Sandpiper numbers are estimated to be perhaps under 500
individuals and are now the focus of a multi-national conservation campaign.
The sandpipers breed in tundra habitat in Far Eastern Russia and winter in
southeast Asia, with the largest concentration in Myanmar (Burma). There are
only a handful of records of this species for North America.
 
Recently, as part of the effort to help this species, Audubon California and
David Sibley teamed up to raise $5,000 to support the Bird Conservation
Society of Thailand (BCST) build and staff a visitor center in the community
of Pak Thale, Thailand. This new center, about 75 miles from Bangkok on the
Gulf of Thailand, will help visitors enjoy the nearby saltpans which support
a small wintering population of Spoon-billed Sandpipers and other wintering
waterbirds. As a fund raiser, David Sibley auctioned a painting of the
sandpiper, and Audubon California provided matching funds. The funds will
help the BCST provide year-round staffing for the center to increase public
interest in the plight of this species, build local and provincial support
for conservation measures, and help bring income into the local community
from visiting birders. 
 
See here for a photo of the center: 
http://www.bcst.or.th/index.php?option=com_content
<http://www.bcst.or.th/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=341%3A20
11-06-09-02-26-19&catid=66%3Abcst-act&lang=en>
&view=article&id=341%3A2011-06-09-02-26-19&catid=66%3Abcst-act&lang=en 
 
In addition, shorebird experts from the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and
Birds Russia are working on plans in the remote coastal breeding areas in
the Russian Far East to study the Spoon-billed Sandpiper. They hope to stall
the species' decline and give scientists time to learn why the decline is
happening. See more here:
http://sbsproject.wordpress.com/
 
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Gerrit Vyn is in the field along with other
scientists, and you can read details here:
http://birdsredesign.wordpress.com/2011/06/17/finding-help-for-the-spoon-bil
led-sandpiper/ 
 
 
LEAD POISONING AND GRAND CANYON CONDORS
 
It's not just an issue in California. We've previously reported on the
problem of lead in the environment and how it impacts California Condors in
the Golden State, most recently in the May issue:
www.refugenet.org/birding/maysbc11.html#TOC02
 
However, lead continues to hamper California Condor recovery in Arizona and
Utah, as well. There are about 70 California Condors flying free in these
states , with another eight or nine in a holding pen awaiting release.
 
Biologists working on the experimental condor population in these two states
were alerted to a recent poisoning incident by a Grand Canyon hiker who
reported coming across a dead condor. Researchers eventually recovered the
body, which proved to be that of an 11-year-old male that had been nesting
in the area.
 
"The loss of this older condor is especially harmful to the recovery of the
species because of its potential to add to the population as a breeding
bird," said Chris Parish, head of The Peregrine Fund's condor recovery
program in Arizona.
 
The condor team immediately began capturing other condors living in the same
area. Of nearly 30 birds captured and tested, two of them died and five had
toxic blood lead levels that required treatment. The three surviving birds
were returned to the wild, after undergoing a procedure to remove lead from
their systems. 
 
Since 2005, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has been working with
hunters in northern Arizona to voluntarily use non-lead ammunition. Up to 90
percent of the hunters in Arizona are reported to be making efforts to
reduce the amount of lead available to condors. Last year, the Utah Division
of Wildlife Resources began a similar non-lead program for hunters to help
benefit condors living in Zion National Park and surrounding areas.
 
When hunters learn that lead ammunition harms wildlife, they often are
willing to use non-lead bullets or else haul the remains of carcasses out of
the field. Unfortunately, this positive support, may not be enough. 
 
For more on these developments, see: 
www.peregrinefund.org/press_full.asp?id=208
<http://www.peregrinefund.org/press_full.asp?id=208&category=California%20Co
ndor> &category=California%20Condor 
 
 
A NEW TWIST TO BIRD FEEDING IN ASIA
 
Last month we mentioned the ongoing crisis with South Asian vultures and
their dramatic decline, primarily due to diclofenac poisoning. Diclofenac is
an anti-inflammatory drug for humans and livestock, but it causes renal
failure in Old-World vultures that consume the carcasses of animals treated
with the drug. See our coverage here:
www.refugenet.org/birding/junesbc11.html#TOC05
 
What we neglected to mention was the introduction of diclofenac-free vulture
feeding stations. A number of new "vulture restaurants" were set up earlier
this year in India, and others are already operating in Pakistan, Nepal, and
even in South Africa.
 
In India, carcasses of anything from dead buffaloes, cows, and bulls to
other animals are bought from villagers and placed on bricked platforms with
boundary walls to serve as vulture feeding stations after the meat is tested
for declofenac. Although India banned the drug's use in 2006, it remains
readily available and is still used by farmers.
 
While providing safe food for the vultures, these feeding stations won't
solve the long-term problem as long as local farmers use diclofenac. See
more details at: 
www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=vulture-restaurants-are-helping-
to-2011-02-14 
 
 




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