From: Paul J. Baicich [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 5:30 AM
Subject: Birding Community E-Bulletin - September 2011
THE BIRDING COMMUNITY E-BULLETIN
September 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
On 24 July, Sara Burch and Jacob McCartney photographed what was identified
as a Gray-hooded Gull at Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York. The bird's
identity was confirmed by others on 29 July. This bird was a real shocker!
Gray-hooded Gulls in the Western Hemisphere are usually found no closer to
the United States than Ecuador in the west, and southern Brazil in the east;
however, there is one previous record for the U.S. discovered in 1998, when
a bird was found at Apalachicola, Florida, on a boat landing near the
headquarters for St.Vincent National Wildlife Refuge:
http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/NAB/v053n03/p00337-p00339.pdf
There are also vagrant records for Panama and the Galapagos Islands, but
those are about as close as the species had ever previously come to the U.S.
at least until the Florida bird in 1998 and the Coney Island bird this year.
Once relocated on 29 July, between Nathans food stand and the ferris wheel,
the gull was observed for a number of days along the Coney Island boardwalk
and beach. Often accompanying Laughing Gulls, the gull could often be found
near a fresh-water palm-tree sprinkler, on the roof of a restroom pavilion,
making visits to a cluster of trash cans near Ruby's Bar & Grill, or sitting
on the water or beach close to the amusement park.
It was last reported on the morning of 4 August, having happily entertained
the many birders quick enough to make it to Coney Island in time to see the
bird.
For the original and fascinating photos taken by Sara Burch on her iPhone
(yes, her iPhone!), see here:
www.flickr.com/photos/44202767@N00/with/5987219569/
Colleagues at eBird provided an excellent summary of the sightings of the
gull, its habits, and the excitement it engendered, along with excellent
photos, here:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/ebird-and-the-gray-hooded-gull
Did this bird arrive under its own power to the New York City area? Who
knows? But the interest it generated even reached the pages of THE NEW YORK
TIMES:
www.nytimes.com/2011/08/01/nyregion/gray-hooded-gull-rare-bird-in-us-is-appa
rently-on-coney-island.html?_r=3
<http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/01/nyregion/gray-hooded-gull-rare-bird-in-us
-is-apparently-on-coney-island.html?_r=3&src=me&ref=nyregion&nl=nyregi>
&src=me&ref=nyregion&nl=nyregi
FINDING LONG-BILLED MURRELETS
On the other side of the continent, came a very different report of a very
different sort of bird, this time the enigmatic Long-billed Murrelet. Until
1997, this bird was thought to be a subspecies of the Marbled Murrelet, but
then it gained full species status, at which time attention to this cryptic
species increased considerably.
Long-billed Murrelet is thought to breed only in coastal areas surrounding
the Sea of Okhotsk in Russia, northeastern Hokkaido Island in Japan, the
Kuril Islands, and possibly the Commander Islands west of the Aleutian
Islands in the Bering Sea. In Alaska, the Long-billed Murrelet is considered
casual, with coastal records from Kodiak, Adak, and the Pribilofs, mostly in
May, and curious remains once were found northeast of Denali National Park.
There are also sporadic and unexplained reports along both the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts, mainly between July and December, with an equal number of
surprising reports of single individuals found far inland in North America
far from the sea.
As birders have begun to pay closer attention to the possibilities of
finding this species, more of the birds have been found, especially during
winter when the species is easier to identify.
This summer was different, however, for several observers in Kachemak Bay
near Homer, Alaska.
First, Karl Stoltzfus, a birder and local water-taxi guide reported and
photographed a single Long-billed Murrelet on 2 June. Stoltzfus had
previously observed individuals he thought were Long-billed Murrelets on the
waters of Kachemak Bay over the last decade, but photographs at that time
were never secured.
This year, a Fish & Wildlife Service team of surveyers conducting a marine
transect found multiple birds of this species probably three murrelets on 23
July. Two behaved as if they were a pair, and photographs were taken.
More searches were initiated, and at least one Long-billed Murrelet was
relocated by multiple birders on 6 August, in roughly the same area where
the three birds were originally found and photographed.
A fine summary and photograph of these June and July observations written by
Kathy Kuletz, one of the original USFWS surveyers, can be found at:
http://alaska.fws.gov/index_murrelet.htm
In the past, the odd Marbled Murrelet may have escaped closer scrutiny in
these surveys, but as Kuletz writes: "Because of uncertain species
definition we may never know if the occurrence of the Long-billed Murrelet
in Kachemak Bay is a new, or previously unrecognized, event but at least we
now have some baseline data for comparison to future surveys." Stoltzfus
adds, "I suspect in the future we will all be paying a little closer
attention when identifying murrelets here in Kachemak Bay."
NEW SEABIRD SPECIES DISCOVERED IN HAWAII
Scientists were astounded recently to discover a bird species in Hawaii new
to science. The discovery was based upon a tiny shearwater specimen obtained
in a petrel colony during the Pacific Ocean Biological Survey Program in
1963 on Midway Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Careful
reexamination of the nearly 50 year-old specimen by ornithologist Peter Pyle
and subsequent DNA analysis by Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
scientists Rob Fleischer and Andreanna Welch determined that the shearwater
specimen is unique in both physical characteristics and DNA from the
otherwise very similar Boyd's Shearwater. Genetically, however, the
shearwater is apparently totally unique from other living shearwater
species. It has been assigned the name Bryan's Shearwater (Puffinus bryani)
in honor of Edwin Horace Bryan Jr., who was curator of collections at the
B.P. Bishop Museum in Honolulu from 1919 until 1968.
While it is tempting to believe that Bryan's Shearwater may nest (or have
nested) in the Midway Atoll region, the fact that the sole know specimen was
discovered there is inconclusive evidence since many seabird species
regularly prospect colonies far from their primary breeding sites. In other
words, the existing specimen could have simply been a prospector from a
colony elsewhere in the Pacific. In any case, this discovery will put marine
scientists on notice to the fact that perhaps this obviously rare species
might still exist.
For more information about Bryan's Shearwater, see:
http://smithsonianscience.org/2011/08/bryan%E2%80%99s-shearwater-new-seabird
-species-from-northwestern-hawaii-discovered/
ACCESS MATTERS: OPEN FIELDS, OPEN QUESTION
We have previously written about Open Fields, most recently in July, when we
described the distribution of funds to enhance public access on privately
owned lands via Open Fields, officially known as the Voluntary Public Access
and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) in the Farm Bill:
www.refugenet.org/birding/julsbc11.html#TOC15
Although for the last 25 years, taxpayers have wisely invested in
conservation of our most valuable agricultural and private lands through the
Farm Bill, there is now a drive afoot to reduce funding for public access.
U.S. House of Representatives recently approved unprecedented cuts to Farm
Bill conservation programs. The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), Grasslands
Reserve Program (GRP), and Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive
Program were slashed so heavily that the new VPA-HIP may actually cease to
exist.
VPA-HIP, or Open Fields, was only included in the 2008 Farm Bill in response
to public support, especially support from hunting and fishing
organizations. The benefits, however, are not limited to hunting and
fishing. All sorts of wildlife-associated recreational opportunities can be
facilitated through Open Fields, including birding, wildlife photography,
and hiking. Open Fields is intended to expand existing state access programs
and to encourage new walk-in programs. Unless Congress hears from real and
potential recreational users, Open Fields will likely be eliminated.
IBA NEWS: KIRTLAND'S WARBLER RESULTS
Kirtland's Warbler habitat in Michigan stretches over more than a dozen
counties in the state, all of which are managed specifically for the purpose
of sustaining this Endangered warbler species. As such, they constitute an
Important Bird Area (IBA) for the state:
http://iba.audubon.org/iba/viewSiteProfile.do?siteId=3064
<http://iba.audubon.org/iba/viewSiteProfile.do?siteId=3064&navSite=state>
&navSite=state
Last month, we discussed access and opportunities to view Kirtland's
Warblers in Michigan, and we specifically mentioned that the nesting-season
survey results for the Endangered species were about to be released:
www.refugenet.org/birding/augsbc11.html#TOC06
A summary of this year's Kirtland's Warbler census results follows:
In central Michigan there were 1,170 singing males counted, while in
Michigan's Upper Peninsula there were an additional 35 birds (an all-high
record for the UP). The first nests found outside of Michigan were found in
2007. This year in Wisconsin, there were 21 singing birds, and in Ontario,
Canada, there were two.
The total of 1,828 singing males is a record high, just eclipsing the
previous high of 1,826 in 2009. This is a far cry from the first formal
census of singing males started in 1971. At that time, the species was at
the edge of extinction, with only 201 singing males counted, all of them in
central Michigan.
Clearly the Jack pine habitat favored by Kirtland's Warblers in Michigan
qualifies as an IBA, further emphasizing the significance of IBA status.
For 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/
NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY: 24 SEPTEMBER
The Important Bird Area we've just described in Michigan is made up of an
aggregate of 27 publicly-owned lands and one privately-owned parcel. This is
another reminder of the importance of public lands as underscored in the
recently-published State of the Birds report which we described in June and
which this year focuses on the importance of public lands to bird
conservation:
www.refugenet.org/birding/junesbc11.html#TOC08
Another way to acknowledge and highlight the importance of public lands is
to support National Public Lands Day (NPLD) to be held this year on
Saturday, 24 September.
On this day, volunteers will give their time and energy to improve and
enhance the public lands we all enjoy. This year, NPLD is supporting the
efforts of First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" connection to healthy
activity. The idea is to promote volunteerism as a healthy activity, but
also to encourage individual site managers to host and/or promote
recreational activities such as nature hikes, runs, bike rides, and other
physical activities.
There is no good reason why birding projects shouldn't be part of this mix.
A number of local parks, refuges, and forests may be hosting a clean-up,
maintenance, visitor access, educational, or restoration project on public
land near you. You can find out more here:
www.publiclandsday.org <http://www.publiclandsday.org/>
IOWA LEAD-SHOT POLICY REVERSED
Iowa's elected state officials are currently ignoring science and the
recommendation of a state commission charged with setting policies and rules
related to hunting.
As we wrote last month, the Iowa Natural Resource Commission recently voted
to require dove hunters to use nontoxic shotgun pellets instead of shot made
from lead:
www.refugenet.org/birding/augsbc11.html#TOC07
In mid-August, however, the Iowa Legislatures Administrative Rules Review
Committee, struck down that anti-lead provision.
Right now, at least for this hunting season in Iowa, its only voluntary
action by dove hunters that will slow the contamination of the environment
by not using toxic lead shot.
More details can be found here, in a recent editorial from the DES MOINES
REGISTER:
www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110820/OPINION03/308200014/0/BUSINESS04/
?odyssey=nav%7Chead
EVOLUTION TOWARD A SOCIETY FOR ORNITHOLOGY?
At the July meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union, a grand
reorganization was unanimously approved which would retire the AOU in name
and combine the organization with a number of other pre-eminent
ornithological groups.
A new professional ornithological organization, tentatively called the
Society for Ornithology would supposedly have a more hemispheric scope and
also take a larger role promoting research in bird conservation and
management across the Americas.
THE AUK, bimonthly journal of the AOU, would be replaced by four new
journals, housed at a single editorial office and appearing online monthly
and in a hard-copy form quarterly. The door is now open for other societies
to pursue this proposed merger. A draft business plan is being developed for
presentation to the AOU Council and other potential partner groups by
February 2012.
More details can be found here:
http://ornithologyexchange.org/articles.html/_/community/aou-and-other-socie
ties-to-evolve-into-new-society-for-ornithology-r46
TIP OF THE MONTH: PREPARE FOR OCTOBERS BIG SIT!
Our tip this month is to consider participating in The Big Sit! We've
mentioned this annual birding event in the past, but not for at least a few
years.
The Big Sit!, that annual noncompetitive birding event held in October
hosted by BIRD WATCHER'S DIGEST and founded by the New Haven (Connecticut)
Bird Club, is scheduled this year (the 17th annual event) to take place on
Sunday, 9 October. The premise of The Big Sit! is simple: find a good spot
for birding, and identify as many birds as possible from inside a
17-foot-diameter circle within a 24-hour period.
It's an easy-going event, perfect for families, refuge/park visitors, and
casual birders, as well as a fine way to learn about birds. Bringing
non-birding friends to a Big Sit! near you is a good way to introduce them
to birding. Moreover, some bird clubs, nature centers, and bird
observatories also use The Big Sit! as a fund raiser, not unlike a sitdown
bird-a-thon.
To obtain details about The Big Sit!, find the location of a local circle
near you, or to register your own site, see:
www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/funbirds/bigsit/bigsit.aspx
BOOK NOTES: A SHOUT PAEAN TO OUR FIELD GUIDES
When your two editors started birding as youngsters (many years ago!) there
were basically two standard field guides available: a Peterson Guide and the
venerable Pough Guides. Thats it! (This was even before the much appreciated
Golden Guide [Robbins, Bruun, Zim, and Singer] burst onto the scene in
1966.)
Today we are awash with a cornucopia of bird identification field guides.
Not only do we have Peterson guides recycled and reworked from Petersons
original grand sources, we have lots of others, including (in no particular
order) the Sibley iterations, the Kaufman Focus guide, the new Stokes Birds,
the unique Crossley ID guide, and the Smithsonian (Floyd), NWF (Brinkley),
and National Geographic guides to North American Birds.( Indeed, the
National Geographic guide will release its sixth edition this month, and we
expect to provide a brief review next month.) There are special regional ID
guides, too, and at least one fine book for young birders in Eastern North
America (Thompson).
We won't even dip into the many bird-family ID guides that are available,
covering everything from shorebirds and gulls to warblers and waterfowl, and
more
These guides are simply amazing and represent a tribute to the energy and
growth of bird watching in North America over the years. And we are only
talking about non-electronic, hard-copy field guides!
We would like to take this opportunity to briefly pause, tip our hats, and
thank all those writers, artists, and photographers who have made the
identification, appreciation, and enjoyment of birds accessible to millions
of fans through the years.
Bravo!
THOSE BETTER HIGHWAY DOLLARS
There are some huge and potentially ugly parts to the multi-year Highway
Bill, portions that specifically lay out roads where they shouldn't be,
facilitate unnecessary wetland draining, and damage other valuable habitat.
But there are also some creative and innovative portions to this huge bill,
such as the Transportation Enhancements (TE) and Recreational Trails
programs.
If you've ever birded, or biked and birded, along a rail-trail - a former
railroad bed that has been banked for future use and made into a walking or
biking trail - then you know about a good example of one these innovative
corners buried within the much larger and often dismal Highway Bill.
One would hope that such better sections of the Highway Bill would survive
the slash-and-burn trend coming out of Washington DC these days.
Well, think again.
The current extension of the Highway Bill (the seventh extension in about
two years) expires at the end of September. Unfortunately, there are
significant moves afoot in Washington DC to eliminate all future dedicated
funding for Transportations Enhancements, all in the name of drafting a
smaller and less expensive Highway Bill. (By the way, previous bill
extensions surpassed the current seven extensions, with 13 extensions in
recent mentor.)
Since 1991, if you've ever obtained birding access as the result of a
rails-to-trails opportunity, you benefitted from TE features in the Highway
Bill. Transportation Enhancements have also included such elements as the
acquisition of scenic or historic easements; inventory, control, and removal
of non-conforming and illegal outdoor advertising; the planting of
wildflower meadows along roadways; the mitigation of runoff pollution; and
making provision for wildlife connectivity. You can find the dozen core TE
provisions embedded in the Highway Bill described here:
www.enhancements.org/12_activities.asp
Many of these are both bird-friendly and birder-friendly. As long as the
House and Senate are approaching different versions of Highway Bill change,
all the TEs are under threat.
REVISITING BIRD-CONSERVATION CUTTERS: AN UPDATE
And now for those sweeping bird-conservation issues. Last month, we
described the onslaught of conservation-cutting measures that reached the
floor of the U.S. House. Among other things, we described the assault
against the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), the Land and
Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), the State Wildlife Grants, the Neotropical
Migratory Bird Conservation Act, and the Refuge System Budget that were all
contained within the Interior funding bill (H.R. 2584):
www.refugenet.org/birding/augsbc11.html#TOC02
After making a final deal on the nation's debt ceiling, Congress recessed
for the month of August, leaving amendments to the spending bill unfinished.
When the House returns to session in September, the members will likely not
have enough time to complete work on the Interior bill. Instead the bill
will probably be bundled with several other spending bills and will be
presented as a large omnibus package.
It's unclear if funding and policy amendments already made in H.R. 2584 will
be included in any comprehensive package that will be developed in the fall.
The stripping of restrictions on the Endangered Species Act, for example, or
the minor additions to LWCF, may actually be revisited in the final package.
For bird conservation, it's not a pretty scene. For example, even with the
LWCF bump upward from the original H.R. 2584, LWCF appropriations for FY 12
still stand at less than one-tenth of the $900 million that Congress is
actually authorized to spend on LWCF each year.
It is becoming increasingly clear that overall funding levels for
conservation - and especially bird conservation - will be threatened in the
coming years as discretionary spending continues to slip away.
An error that we made in the E-bulletin which may actually help to highlight
the gravity of this situation was the claim made last month that if H.R.
2584 passed unchanged, it might necessitate the closure of 140 National
Wildlife Refuges. We were wrong. The correct number would "only" be 128
NWRs.
No it's not a pretty scene.
CARBON OFFSET BIRDING CORRECTIONS
We also wish to point out that last month we mentioned that the Carbon
Offset Bird Project (COBP) at the upcoming Midwest Birding Symposium would
be the very first specifically tailored to bird watchers and birds at a U.S.
birding event. What we specifically wrote about the project is found here:
www.refugenet.org/birding/augsbc11.html#TOC11
It has subsequently been brought to our attention that the Biggest Week in
American Birding (in northwest Ohio) had a CarbonNeg effort (to benefit bird
habitat in Ecuador) in the spring of 2010 and that last month's Tucson Bird
and Wildlife Festival, run by the Tucson Audubon Society, had a similarly
creative carbon-offset project to benefit local low-income solar power
installation and the enhancement of urban bird habitat.
It's encouraging to see these efforts reaching the public and driven by
concerned birders.
- - - - - - - - -
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 or reproduce 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
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