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THE BIRDING COMMUNITY E-BULLETIN
July 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
The E-bulletin rarity for June was a Plain-capped Starthroat found at
Roy P. Drachman Agua Caliente Park in Tucson on 5 June. (For
field-guide details on this species, see pp. 274-274 in the latest
National Geographic guide, or the "big" Sibley, p. 293).
This hummingbird, a species found in arid habitats and riparian areas
from southern Sonora, Mexico, to northwestern Costa Rica, has been
reported in southern Arizona over 20 times since the first verified
record in 1969. Although the species has occurred in U.S. from May to
November, most records have been in late summer.
The starthroat at Agua Caliente Park was frequently found feeding in
the park's salvia, or else perched on some nearby dead
tree-branches. (Hummingbird fans should note that there are no feeders
in the park; Pima County Parks has a rule against feeding animals,
including, apparently, hummingbirds.)
On many days, the Plain-capped Starthroat was very difficult to find
or else was missing entirely. It was reported, usually in the
mornings, at least until 20 June, to the delight of those birders who
were able to see it feeding at flowers or resting on bare
tree-branches.
KIRTLAND'S WARBLER NESTS IN WISCONSIN
The first confirmed Wisconsin nesting of the Federally Endangered
Kirtland's Warbler occurred in central Wisconsin this year. This
is a species currently found breeding only in Michigan until the
recent Wisconsin breeding confirmation. Singing males (but no nests)
have been observed in appropriate Jack Pine habitat in the past, but
no positive breeding confirmation was obtained until this year.
Due to the sensitive nature of this nesting discovery, on private
land, the exact site has not been disclosed. The U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service has been working with the landowner, the Plum Creek
Timber Company, about management and monitoring of the warblers in
Wisconsin.
For further information on the Kirtland's Warbler, see the State
of Michigan web page: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145_12202-32591--,00.html
Also see this USFWS press release on the Wisconsin nesting record: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/News/Release07-59.html
HAWAIIAN PTERADROMA ON THE REBOUND
A previously little-known population of a Federally Endangered
seabird, the Hawaiian Petrel (Pterodroma sandwichensis), has been
steadily increasing on the forested slopes of the island of Lanai,
Hawaii.
A team of researchers, headed by the University of Hawaii Pacific
Cooperative Studies Unit, recently reported that the population of the
burrow-nesting seabird is larger than anyone had previously expected.
"Absolutely everyone in this research community is amazed at how
many birds there are there. It's one of the remarkable discoveries
of this century," said Jay Penniman, an ornithologist with the
Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit who is coordinating research on the
Lanai birds. "Nobody dreamed in their wildest dreams that there
was this sort of thing," added state wildlife biologist, Fern
Duvall.
One of the conclusions of the new findings relates to the importance
of the restoration of the habitat on Lanai, dating back to 1982 when
feral goats were eradicated. When the last goats were removed from
island, the uluhe fern (false staghorn) habitat began recovering, and
the birds responded. Another factor is Lanai's minimal level of
urbanization and the absence of light pollution.
There also are no mongooses, no pigs, and no goats on Lanai. There are
a lot of deer, but the deer do not range on the steep-sloped cloud
forests of Lanaihale where the nesting Hawaiian Petrels were found.
Another major discovery is that Hawaiian Petrels will feed thousands
of miles north of Hawaii, in waters around the Aleutian Islands. Using
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) tracking equipment on several breeding
birds on Lanai, researchers learned that the petrels are flying all
the way to the Aleutian Islands and back to feed their chicks, 9,000
to 13,000 kilometers on a round-trip feeding run.
Researchers said that the Lanai population might be even larger than
the estimated 1,200 petrels that nest in Haleakala Crater on the
island of Maui (Haleakala National Park), the other major nesting site
for the birds. "We haven't figured a way yet to assess the
size of the [Lanai] population. There are more birds than we've
seen anywhere. It is a larger population than we have seen on the
island of Maui," Duvall said.
The research team acknowledged that support from landowner Castle
& Cooke was essential to the study, as well as to the revival of
the population. Castle & Cooke has led the effort to eradicate
goats and set up fencing to protect the habitat from browsing deer.
NEW FROM NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY: "COMMON BIRDS IN
DECLINE"
Last month the National Audubon Society released "Common Birds in
Decline," a report which combines results of the 40 years of the
Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) and the USGS-backed Breeding Bird
Survey (BBS) to provide a snapshot of the state of some of North
America's "common" birds. The report was a collaborative
effort, with input from state NAS offices and a select group of
Important Bird Areas (IBA) coordinators.
"Common Birds in Decline" presents a distressing picture of
what is happening to some of our most familiar birds. The review and
its associated outreach activities are intended to build public
awareness over the fate of such common species as Northern Pintail,
Greater Scaup, Northern Bobwhite, Common Tern, Eastern Meadowlark, and
Evening Grosbeak - all species which were found to have experienced
nationwide population declines of greater than 70 percent over four
decades.
The report does not suggest that these birds should become the focus
of any new or special conservation efforts, but simply that their
condition highlights important conservation concerns affecting a wider
environment.
As such, the mantra of "keeping common species common"
resonates clearly in this report.
Details of "Common Birds in Decline" along with information
on the methodology used can be found online at: http://stateofthebirds.audubon.org/cbid/
YELLOW-BILLED LOON: THREATENED OR ENDANGERED?
Early last month the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced
a 90-day finding to consider listing the Yellow-billed Loon as a
Threatened or Endangered Species, under the Endangered Species Act
(ESA) of 1973. The data suggests that the action may be warranted.
The loon breeds in wet tundra along the coast of Alaska, Canada, and
Russia. The USFWS estimates that there are only 16,500 loons in
existence, with less than 5,000 in the U.S. Three-quarters of all
Yellow-billed Loons in the U.S. may nest in areas within the Alaskan
National Petroleum Reserve.
USFWS and petition details can be found at: http://alaska.fws.gov/mbsp/mbm/loons/species/Yellow-billed-loon.htm
Comments and information must be submitted to the USFWS by 6 August
2007.
EAGLE AND ESA SUCCESS
Touted by the media at the end of last month was the announcement by
Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne, that the Bald Eagle has
been removed from the list of Threatened and Endangered species under
the Endangered Species Act (ESA). After nearly disappearing from most
of the U.S. decades ago, today the species flourishes across most of
the nation and is deemed to no longer need the protection of the ESA.
For our March E-bulletin coverage on delisting see: http://www.refugenet.org/birding/marSBC07.html#TOC03
and http://www.steiner-birding.com/bulletin/march07.html
This most recent move is evidence that the Endangered Species Act
works, and that the recovery and delisting of species is possible.
Moreover, it is fitting that the delisting takes place on the heels of
the May Centennial of the birth of Rachel Carson, the visionary
eco-witness whose seminal work on pesticides actually made the
salvation of the Bald Eagle possible.
The strictest remaining protection for the species continues under the
Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940. Beside the killing
of eagles, that law also prohibits "disturbing" Bald Eagles
while they are nesting. Earlier in June, the USFWS clarified
regulations implementing the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and
published a set of National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines. Under
these clarifications, "disturbing" now includes any human
activity that would have the eagles move away from their nests.
Developers whose operations drive the birds away will now fit the
definition of "disturbing" and will be subject to legal
sanctions.
BIRDING TRENDS
Last month, the preliminary findings of the USFWS survey, "2006
National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated
Recreation" were released.
In the category of Wildlife Watching (where birding is the lion's
share, by the way), the trends were all headed upward. From 2001 to
2006, the increase in both around home and away-from-home wildlife
watching rose, respectively, 8% and 5%. Of the 71 million people who
enjoyed wildlife watching in 2006, almost a third (32%) took trips
more than a mile away from home. Overall expenditures related to
wildlife watching for the period increased a modest 2%, with
trip-related spending up significantly, to an increase of 40%.
You can find the preliminary findings here: http://library.fws.gov/nat_survey2006.pdf
Be aware that some minor findings may change slightly before the final
report is released (due in November). Also be aware that the popular
Forest-Service's National Survey on Recreation and the Environment
(NSRE) should also be released in the next few months. Comparisons
between the two national surveys should be instructive.
"SOCCER OWL" ON THE AIR
In early June, during a televised soccer match between Finland and
Belgium, and after about 15 minutes of the start of the game, a huge
Eagle Owl flew onto the field and landed on one of the goal posts. The
game was stopped for seven minutes because the owl was sitting on the
field and eventually on both goal posts. It also gently cruised around
the field, as you can see on the posted video-clip. Apparently, the
owl had a nest somewhere in the stadium. The video is in Finnish, and
the audience is heard shouting, "Huuhkaja! Huuhkaja,"meaning
"Eagle Owl, Eagle Owl," as the owl is sitting on the
crossbars goal. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dMBFOiYxT0
This remarkable sports-and-birds combination brought back at least one
memory. It reminded us of a Monday Night Football game in the
mid-1990s, when a migrant Sora landed on the edge of the field and was
eventually broadcast to a vast TV audience.
BOOK REVIEW: LARIDOMANIA
Modern birders have been treated to another new mega-treatise on gulls
and their identification. Prior to this, however, there was Jonathan
Dwight's pioneer work in 1925, followed in the 1980s by two
editions of Peter Grant's "modern" gull identification
guide. Then in 2004 gull aficionados were graced with a comprehensive
European guide by K.M. Olsen and H. Larsson. And now we have, a new
first in the Peterson Reference Guide series (Houghton Mifflin), GULLS
OF THE AMERICAS by S.N.G.Howell and J. Dunn (2007).
Unlike Grant who used sketches and black-and-white photos to
illustrate his subjects, and Olsen and Larsson who used color plates
and color photographs, GULLS OF THE AMERICAS uses color photographs
throughout the book, in its attempt to cover every gull plumage
variation and molt, and even hybrids. This hefty new guide of 516-page
guide also provides fully annotated species accounts.
If you are someone who likes a high quality photo format with lots of
accompanying detail, you will unequivocally find this most recent
guide to the larid literature to be an extremely valuable
contribution.
SENATE POISED TO SHORTCHANGE BIRD CONSERVATION
In the June E-bulletin, we reported on the House Appropriations
Interior Subcommittee and its hopeful mark-up for natural resource
issues. Since then, the corresponding Senate Appropriations Interior,
Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee has met
to make its funding recommendations.
Without going into minute detail, it is sufficient to say that the
initial Senate numbers don't match those from the House in regard
to bird-conservation issues. Most of the announced Senate figures
(e.g., Neotrop Act, State Wildlife Grants, Refuge System Operations
& Maintenance) are below those from the House that we outlined
last month: http://www.refugenet.org/birding/junSBC07.html#TOC10
and http://www.steiner-birding.com/bulletin/june07.html
Senators can still be reminded that they have time to match their
colleagues in the House when it comes to these important
bird-conservation funding issues.
BUY YOUR MIGRATORY BIRD STAMP NOW
Finally, a reminder: The 2007-2008 Migratory Bird Hunting and
Conservation Stamp, commonly known as the "Duck Stamp," is
now on sale across the country at a cost of $15.
The First Day of Sale was actually on 22 June, at a ceremony at Bass
Pro Shops in Columbia, Missouri, as well as at other stores throughout
the country.
Since the 1930s, more than $700 million has been raised from stamp
sales. The funding has been used to secure over 5.2 million acres of
valuable wetland and grassland habitat for the Refuge System.
Approximately $25 million a year is currently collected through annual
stamp sales.
In addition, the stamp is a conservation bargain, since approximately
98 percent of the revenue from the stamp goes to the Migratory Bird
Conservation Fund to purchase refuge wetlands and grasslands.
Importantly for frugal birders, the stamp can be used from July 2007
through June 2008 to gain free admission to any National Wildlife
Refuge in the country that charges an entry fee.
You can buy a stamp at most large Post Offices, National Wildlife
Refuges with Visitor Centers, Bass Pro Shops, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and
various other sporting-goods stores.
Our suggestion: Don't just buy a stamp, display it when you're
in the field!
For information on some creative ways to display the stamp on
binoculars and field gear, see our coverage of the subject from
earlier this year: http://www.refugenet.org/birding/aprSBC07.html#TOC09
and http://www.steiner-birding.com/bulletin/april07.html
For general information on the stamp program and on birders and the
stamp see: http://duckstamps.fws.gov/Info/Stamps/stampinfo.htm
and http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Info/Constituents/birder.htm
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@massaudubon.org
OR
Paul J. Baicich
410/992-9736
paul.baicich@verizon.net
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