From: Paul J. Baicich [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2012 10:42 AM
Subject: Birding Community E-bulletin - February 2012

 


THE BIRDING COMMUNITY E-BULLETIN
            February 2012
 
 
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 the producers of superb quality birding
binoculars and scopes, Carl Zeiss Sport Optics:
www.zeiss.com/SPORTS

[]

 
You can access an archive of past E-bulletins on the website of the National
Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA):
http://refugeassociation.org/news/birding-bulletin/
(Note: this is our new archive location.)
 
 
RARITY FOCUS
 
On 20 December, a curious finch began visiting the backyard feeder of
Michael Rehman and his family in Union Township, New Jersey. It visited the
feeders about five times through 2 January, at which point Michael Rehman
was finally able to photograph and identify it as a Common Chaffinch.
 
This species is a common breeder across Europe to western Siberia and south
to North Africa and the Caspian Sea region, and it winters farther south
into the Middle East. The species is also an annual visitor to Iceland.
 
Common Chaffinch is a real rarity to eastern Canada and the northeastern
U.S. (i.e., New England to New Jersey), with fewer than 20 reports during
the period between late September and late May. Reports of this species from
California, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, and Wyoming most
likely represent escaped cage birds.
 
Since first being identified through at least 23 January, up to 650 birders
were welcomed to the Rehman residence, with many birders stationing
themselves on the backyard porch while waiting for the Common Chaffinch to
arrive. Although some people had to come back several times before finally
seeing the bird, it appeared almost daily through 23 January, mostly in the
mornings. Visitors were welcome any time after 7:30 am on weekdays. (On
weekends, the family kids held sway over the backyard.) 
 
You can view some of Michael Rehman's early photos here:
www.flickr.com/photos/michaelrehman/6620107711/in/photostream/
 
Other photos and notes by Howard Eskin are available here:
www.howardsview.com/CommonChaffinch2/CommonChaffinch2.html
 
 
ACCESS MATTERS: CHAFFINCH CHATTER
 
The protocols for visitation at the Rehman residence - weekdays only, not
before 7:30am, and parking at a nearby cul-de-sac - were widely distributed
and well followed by birders on their best behavior. All visitors who came
to see the Common Chaffinch were encouraged to approach the backyard via the
same route, to share the porch space, and, eventually, to sign the visitor
log.
 
This whole experience has been a perfect example of sharing access and
engaging a homeowner, all leading to responsible birder behavior. According
to Rehman, "As far as deciding to let the birding world into our backyard it
was pretty easy for me since it's great to have such a rarity at my feeders,
but it's even better to share the rarity with others."
 
Sharing, cooperating, and sticking to a resident's rules collectively add up
to a good time for birders, and perfectly illustrate that appropriate
birding access can benefit all concerned.
 
 
DISCUSSION OVER INDIANAPOLIS ZOO MOVES TOWARD BIRD SAFETY
 
The Indianapolis Zoo has designed a new orangutan building called the
"Beacon of Hope." Two features of the proposed structure - a wide display of
glass and bright illumination at night -might have the potential to kill
migratory birds attracted to the tall, lighted structure at night, or by
colliding with the glass at all hours of the day. A description and
conceptual picture of the proposed building can be viewed here:
http://indianapoliszoofuture.com/SitePages/Projects/Atrium-BeaconOfHope.aspx

 
Many observers were concerned that the Indianapolis Zoo, an institution
known for species protection, would consider constructing a building that
might threaten wild birds.
 
After a petition started circulating and after discussions began between
concerned parties, including staff from the American Bird Conservancy's Bird
Collision Campaign, zoo staffers brought to light some design considerations
which actually stress safety, and they also plan to institute some
additional changes. Zoo staff is working with a glass artist who has
recommended etching or creating a molded pattern on the glass wall to deter
bird collisions. The glass wall will also be angled, and there will be no
vegetation for 30 feet in front of it. The top of the spire - originally
called a beacon - has yet to be fully designed and will not include a
powerful beacon in any case. That element may actually include a green, LED
installation.
 
Zoo officials have also pledged to take part in "Lights Out Indy" during
spring and fall migration, a project whose activities are summarized here:
http://lightsoutindy.org/
 
In sum, an example of good design is still possible and may very well be in
the works. Time will tell, and we will report on future developments as they
unfold.
 
 
IBA NEWS: BLACK-CAPPED PETREL NESTING NEWS HAS IBA IMPLICATIONS 
 
Last month marked the second anniversary of the tragic Haitian earthquake.
Consequently this is a good time to share some positive avian updates from
that troubled country.
 
Last July, there was a presentation at the Society for the Conservation and
Study of Caribbean Birds (SCSCB) meeting about the discovery of an active
nest of Black-capped Petrels on Morne Vincent in southeast Haiti, a site
near the border with the Dominican Republic. Population estimates of this
Caribbean-nesting species are highly uncertain, with 600-2,000 pairs most
likely. 
 
To gain more information about the newly discovered Black-capped Petrel
nesting area on the island of Hispaniola and the species' status described
in the newly released (Jan 2012) Conservation Action Plan for the species,
visit:
www.fws.gov/birds/waterbirds/petrel/pdfs/PlanFinal.pdf
 
It is significant that most of the known or potential breeding locations for
the Black-capped Petrel have been designated as Important Bird Areas. In the
case of the known breeding locations near the Haitian-Dominican border (and
potential locations in Cuba) the presence of the birds has triggered IBA
designation.
 
Grupo Jaragua, the BirdLife partner in the Dominican Republic, recently
distributed a press release on the discovery and posted it to their website
at:
www.grupojaragua.org.do/diablotin_english.htm
 
A video with images of the nesting petrels can be see at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_GqxnftFc8
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_GqxnftFc8&feature=youtu.be>
&feature=youtu.be
 
Grupo Jaragua has already set up a camera at a nest site and is ready to
begin a similar nest search on Hispaniola. This coordinated study of the
Black-capped Petrel has received active support from many partners,
including the US Fish and Wildlife Service, BirdLife International, American
Bird Conservancy, US Forest Service, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and
Societe Haiti Audubon.
 
For a pre-discovery summary of IBAs in Haiti, see here:
www.birdlife.org/datazone/userfiles/file/IBAs/AmCntryPDFs/Haiti.pdf 
 
And 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/ 
 
 
EVERGLADES HEADWATERS NWR AREA DECLARED
 
We have previously written about a proposed innovative, new National
Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area in Central Florida a number of times,
most recently in November of last year. We have also tried to stress the
project's IBA implications.
 
Last month this project was finally launched, so that the Everglades
Headwaters NWR and Conservation Area could eventually embrace 50,000 acres
as a refuge along with a broader Conservation Area of up to 100,000 acres of
conservation easements.
 
See here for a full description and press release by NWRA:
http://refugeassociation.org/2012/01/new-headwaters-refuge/
and here by the USFWS:
http://tinyurl.com/77a6fng
 
 
BOOK NOTES: DU STORY
 
Most books that describe the history of a company or organization are packed
with insider chronologies, the names of recent exalted executive vice
presidents, and an abundance of self-aggrandizement.
 
A recently released title, THE DUCKS UNLIMITED STORY by Michael Furtman
(2011, DU) contains a few of these elements, however not to excess. This is
largely because much of the internal pride for DU is justified.
 
This book tells the story of how a small group of waterfowlers launched an
organization in the 1930s during a period of economic depression, pervasive
unemployment, and oppressive drought that eventually grew, by trial and
error, to a 600,000-member major player in wetland conservation. The
narrative is packed with vital conservation lessons still useful today.
Shifting conservation priorities, organizational options, fundraising, and
membership experimentation are all part of the unfolding story. The first
half of the book is filled with an interesting historical narrative that may
be especially interesting to readers of this E-bulletin.
 
This Ducks Unlimited history is important for anyone interested in
understanding and appreciating landscape-level wetland-and-waterfowl
conservation - its successes and its implications - that transcend the
wildest dreams of the founders of that organization.
 
 
MIDWAY MIRACLE: ALBATROSS HATCHES
 
In December, we reported on the remarkable return of a pair of Short-tailed
Albatrosses at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and their efforts to
begin nesting again. Once again, their nest has been located in a plot with
decoys of Short-tailed Albatrosses designed and set to attract this rare
species:
http://refugeassociation.org/2011/12/birding-community-e-bulletin-december/ 
 
The most recent great news is that their single egg hatched on the morning
of 12 January. This is only the second hatching of a Short-tailed Albatross
anywhere other than on two small Japanese islands. You can read the Midway
announcement of the blessed event here:
www.fws.gov/midway/whatsnew.html
and
http://tinyurl.com/84tmrzw
 
 
TIP OF THE MONTH: BE A GUEST
 
To conclude this issue of the Birding Community E-bulletin, and in the
spirit of the rarity of the month, the Common Chaffinch, we present this
advice on being a GUEST.
 
Last month's tip advised readers to watch out in 2012 for SLOBs - Selfish,
Lazy, Obnoxious, Birders:
http://refugeassociation.org/2012/01/birding-community-e-bulletin-january/ 
 
Our tip was very well received. Still, one of our readers, Connie Madia,
appropriately suggested that we should also stress the positive and opposite
characteristics of a SLOB.
 
So here we go. Following Connie's suggestion, we propose that we should all
strive to be a GUEST birder: one who is "Generous, Unselfish, Ethical,
Sharing, and Trustworthy." Great advice, and why not?
 
 
- - - - - - - - -

You can access all the past E-bulletins on the National Wildlife Refuge
Association (NWRA) website:

http://refugeassociation.org/news/birding-bulletin/
            
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
            781/259-2178
             
                        or
            Paul J. Baicich
            Great Birding Projects            
            410/992-9736
             
                                                            
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