Paul's October Newsletter!


  _____  

From: Paul J. Baicich [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 10:14 PM
To: 
Cc: Wayne Petersen
Subject: Birding Community E-bulletin - October 2007




THE BIRDING COMMUNITY E-BULLETIN
            October 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
                        
On the morning of September 7, an Arctic Warbler was found at the
Silver Saddle Resort at Galileo Hill in Kern County, in Southern
California. It was visiting a number of trees near the west end of
the area's fairly large lake. The next day, with birders scouring
the area, a second Arctic Warbler was found, this one located close
to the petting zoo.
 
For those not familiar with the Arctic Warbler, you can check it out
in your field guide (e.g., National Geo, page 348-9; the "Big"
Sibley, p. 395; Kaufman, p. 304-5). Arctic Warblers are fairly
common breeders in moist willow thickets in northern and western
Alaska. Since the species is relatively common in parts of Alaska,
one might question why we should highlight the species as our rarity
of the month?
 
The simple answer is that this species has no business being in
Southern California. Arctic Warblers from Alaska are typically
engaged in fall migration by mid-August, winging their way toward
the Philippines or southeast Asia - basically in the "other"
direction!
 
With this in mind, Arctic Warblers are extremely rare birds in
California, where there are four previous records (e.g., September
1995 in Monterey Co. and September 2005 on Southeast Farallon
Island), all between 13 September and 1 October. To have one Arctic
Warbler show up in California is most interesting, but to have two
show up at the same location on the same date out in the desert of
Kern County is simply amazing!
 
You will note that for this section of the E-bulletin we like to
focus on a species enjoyed by a number of birders, usually seen on
multiple days - not just a bird seen by a few birders on a pelagic
trip, or by a group at, say, a remote Alaska location. (For the
latter, case, however, see our Gambell [St. Lawrence Island] profile
below!)
 
At least one of the Arctic Warblers was observed by a number of
birders through 10 September, and possibly on 11 September as well. 
 
Photos of the Kern County Arctic Warblers by Doug Aguillard can be
found here:
http://sdbirds.basiclink.com/arctic__warbler.htm
 
Or others taken by Bob Steele on 7 September:
http://www.bobsteelephoto.com/Species/arwa_gh.html
 
To top off the original discovery, yet another Arctic Warbler was
reported on 12 September by a number of observers in Long Beach at
DeForest Park in Los Angeles County.
 
 
GAMBELL DELIGHTS
 
For those birders fortunate enough to visit Gambell, on remote St.
Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea in late August and September 2007
witnessed a memorable fall migration. Groups of birders ably led by
a number of tour companies (i.e., WINGS, Wilderness Birding
Adventures, and High Lonesome BirdTours) were amply rewarded.
 
The spectacular September was punctuated by such wonders as Lesser
Sand-Plovers, Willow and Dusky Warblers, Red-throated and Pechora
Pipits, Little and Pallas's Buntings, Siberian Accentor, Common
Rosefinch, and what will probably be first North American records
for Yellow-browed Bunting (Emberiza chrysophrys) and Sedge Warbler
(Acrocephalus schoenobaenus). These birds were mostly found at the
two village "boneyards," the edge of Troutman Lake, or on the nearby
mountainside.
 
September 2007 will surely be one for the record books on St.
Lawrence Island!
 
 
AND NOW FOR THE LONGEST NON-STOP MIGRATION
 
Since we're talking about Alaskan birds, it's time to mention the
recent confirmation of what is almost certainly North America's
longest non-stop migrant. 
 
It's official! The Bar-tailed Godwit probably makes the longest
non-stop migratory flight in the world. At least one godwit has been
tracked from its Southern Hemisphere "winter" residence in New
Zealand to its breeding ground in western Alaska's Yukon Delta
National Wildlife Refuge - and back again. A female Bar-tailed
Godwit, known as E7, was one of 13 satellite-tagged birds that left
New Zealand at the start of this year.
 
E7 set her first record on the way north, when she flew non-stop for
6,340 miles to Yalu Jiang in China. She then flew an additional
3,000 miles to breeding grounds in Alaska. On the way back to New
Zealand, with her tag still working, E7 set another record 7,145
miles. She landed there in early September. This marks a complete
record of the most amazing annual migration cycle for any shorebird.

 
Unlike seabirds, which are able to feed and rest on the water during
their long journeys, godwits apparently just keep going.

The New Zealand godwit tracking effort is part of the broader
Pacific Shorebird Migration Program, a joint initiative between the
US Geological Survey and PRBO (Point Reyes Bird Observatory)
Conservation Science.
 
For more on this fantastic journey, visit the USGS website that
provides an excellent overview:
   <http://alaska.usgs.gov/science/biology/shorebirds/barg.html>
http://alaska.usgs.gov/science/biology/shorebirds/barg.html
 or this report from the Yukon Delta NWR:
http://www.fws.gov/arsnew/regmap.cfm?arskey=22331
                                                            
Map images of E7's journey and that of her cohort are also
instructive: 
http://alaska.usgs.gov/science/biology/shorebirds/barg_updates.html
 
 
RARE-BIRD GOOGLE GADGET LAUNCHED BY eBIRD
 
The eBird Team at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has come up with a
fascinating computer-desktop device to track rare birds in the U.S.
It's the "eBird Rare Bird Gadget." Basically, any record submitted
to eBird that requires a "rare species" indication will
automatically appear on the rare bird gadget. 
 
All information about rare birds seen in the U.S. and submitted to
eBird during the previous week will appear on the gadget. Details
provided include date, location, and observer, as well as a very
useful Google Map link to view the bird's location. The sightings
are even color coded: yellow = not yet reviewed; green = reviewed
and accepted. 
 
Users can view any U.S. state desired; a version to cover Canada is
in the works. Indeed, this is still a work in progress, and feedback
on its use is requested. 
 
Even at this stage, the results of the Google Gadget are impressive,
but the ultimate utility of the device is completely dependent on
the willingness of observers to submit their observations on eBird
in the first place. We strongly recommend that readers explore this
link and begin using the system.
 
Look here for all the details from the eBird Team, including the
quick and easy way to load the free gadget:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/Google_Gadget.html
 
 
WINTER FINCH FORECAST: ONTARIO AND BEYOND
 
Ron Pittaway, of the Ontario Field Ornithologists has once again
gathered information for his annual Winter Finch Forecast.
Cooperation on the part of the staff of the Ontario Ministry of
Natural Resources (OMNR) and the observations of regional birders
allow Pittaway to make his annual predictions about finches. These
predictions should be of interest to both field birders and
feeder-watchers in the East.
 
Pittaway's report begins by describing conditions in the northern
boreal forests and his forecast for the occurrence of "winter
finches" in southern Ontario. The report contains some excellent
tidbits about food tree preferences of the various finch species,
and forest conditions overall. It may also help you assess your
feeder-visitation and field possibilities this coming season, too,
at least in the East. 
 
According to the report, most coniferous and deciduous trees have
had very poor seed crops in much of Ontario and western Quebec.
Pittaway predicts that White-winged and Red crossbills and Pine
Siskins will not be irrupting south out of Ontario as they do in
some flight years, because most have already gone east and/or west.
However, other winter finches such as Pine Grosbeaks, Evening
Grosbeaks, Purple Finches and redpolls are already irrupting, or
will irrupt, southward out of northern Ontario.
 
It will be interesting to see if this pattern unfolds as predicted.
 
The full report can be found here:
http://www.ofo.ca/2007-8winterfinchforecast.htm
 
 
WHOOPING CRANES ON THEIR WAY
 
Last month we reported on the Seadrift Ranch plans for development
close to Whooping Crane habitat near the Aransas National Wildlife
Refuge:
http://www.refugenet.org/birding/sepSBC07.html#TOC10
and
http://www.steiner-birding.com/bulletin/sept07.html
 
Apparently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was inundated with
comments opposing the development, and the Corps is expected to call
upon the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to determine if the
birds would be harmed. The whole process will likely take months,
and we will keep you informed as this story unfolds.
 
In the meantime, during this past summer there were record numbers
of Whooping Crane chicks hatched at Wood Buffalo National Park in
northern Canada. An aerial survey of the breeding grounds found 65
nests and 84 new chicks. The new Whooping Crane chicks include 28
sets of twins. This year's offspring come after last year's
encouraging numbers of 76 new chicks - including 24 sets of twins.
 
By the end of September, the cranes will have left for their
2,500-mile flight south to the Aransas National Wildlife Range in
Texas. By gliding and soaring, family groups of cranes can pick up
wind currents and stay aloft for 10 hours a day, at times covering
up to 470 miles at a stretch.
 
As Whooping Cranes increase their numbers, one can only hope that
they will have sufficient coastal wintering habitat in the years to
come.

 
2008 REFUGE SYSTEM AWARDS
 
Have you ever admired the dedication and talent of a Refuge worker
or coworker? Have you ever wanted to recognize a colleague for
outstanding work on a refuge? Here's your chance!
 
National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) and the National Fish
and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) are accepting nominations for the
2008 National Wildlife Refuge System Awards. Think back over the
past year, consider what has been accomplished for the Refuge
System, and take this opportunity to recognize the dedicated
individuals and groups whose achievements were instrumental in
strengthening our national wildlife refuges.
 
There are four award categories: refuge manager, employee,
volunteer, and Friends Group.
 
Nominations are due no later than 15 November 2007. Forms and other
award details can be found on the NWRA website at:
http://www.refugenet.org/new-events/callfornom2008.html
 
For more information you can also contact Claire Stoker at:
  
            
 
10 YEARS OLD: REFUGE IMPROVEMENT ACT
 
Signed by President Clinton on 9 October 1997, the National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 finally provided the Refuge
System with an "organic act" - the clarification of a single,
overarching mission of conservation and uniform procedures for its
management. This mission provides for "wildlife first," with the
"big six" of wildlife-dependent recreational uses involving hunting,
fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental
education and interpretation, having official status. (Our readers
should note that the largest portion of "wildlife observation"
recognized by the USFWS is understood to be bird watching.)
 
A summary of the Improvement Act can be found here:
http://www.fws.gov/refuges/policymakers/mandates/hr1420/
 
The full act can be read here:
http://www.refugenet.org/new-pdf-files/NWRS%20Improvement%20Act.pdf
 
 
STAMP DOLLARS AT WORK
 
In mid-September, the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (MBCC)
met and approved refuge acquisitions and easements to secure over
4,200 acres of wetland and grassland habitat at eight National
Wildlife Refuges located in six states. The funding came from
revenue collected from the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation
[Duck] Stamp as well as from import duties, fines, and other
sources.
 
Among the refuges benefiting were Assabet River (MA), Lake Umbagog
(NH), Cache River (AR), and Trinity River (TX) National Wildlife
Refuges.
 
See more details here:
http://www.fws.gov/home/feature/2007/Doc3.pdf
 
 
IMPORTANT BIRD AREA (IBA) NEWS: AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES
 
The National Audubon Society has recently released some valuable
waterbird conservation information following a review of Important
Bird Area (IBA) data. The information is contained in a document
titled New Resources for Waterbird Conservation on Agricultural
Lands.
 
Operating on the premise that agricultural landscapes have
implications for birds and wildlife, National Audubon has been
engaging agricultural stakeholders in developing conservation
practices compiling information that will benefit the future
stewardship of birds using heavily agricultural environments.
 
To see this report, including a special section on IBAs, check:
http://www.audubon.org/bird/waterbirds/downloads.html
 
 
PUT A CORK IN IT! 
 
The British have had a modest campaign (sponsored by the Royal
Society for the Protection of Birds - RSPB) for a number of years to
favor Iberian cork for wine bottles. The reason is simple:
sustaining unique cork/oak forests will protect special birds and
other wildlife. (Spanish and Portuguese cork plantations will often
harbor Black-winged Kites, Booted Eagles, Hoopoes, Short-toed
Creepers, Golden Orioles, and Hawfinches, for example.)
 
The cork campaign has opposed a shift to plastic stoppers used in
wines. Now the effort has spread to our side of "The Pond," with a
similar effort being promoted by the Rainforest Alliance, the Forest
Stewardship Council, and at least one winery in Oregon, Willamette
Valley Vineyards.
 
You can find fine details from Rainforest Alliance here:
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/news/2005/cork_new.html
 
You can read why cork is renewable and reliable:
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/news/2005/why_cork.html
 
And you can also read about the Willamette Valley Vineyards:
http://www.willamettevalleyvineyards.com/?s=fsc
 
 
LEAD AMMUNITION WEIGHED IN CALIFORNIA
 
In March, we reported on the largest private hunting preserve in
California, the Tejon Ranch that has banned the use of lead bullets
in big-game hunting:
http://www.refugenet.org/birding/marSBC07.html#TOC11
and
http://www.steiner-birding.com/bulletin/march07.html
 
On 4 September, the California Senate passed legislation (Assembly
Bill 821) to ban lead ammunition that is poisoning endangered
California Condors. The bill is designed to protect condors by
requiring hunters to use non-toxic ammunition for hunting big game,
in order to prevent condors from consuming lead fragments in
carcasses not recovered or left in the field. The measure also
creates a program that would provide coupons to hunters that would
help to subsidize the cost of lead-free, copper bullets.
 
The bill, having produced some controversy on the part of some
hunters and hunting groups, is awaiting signature from Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger. Kelly Sorenson, the executive director of the
Ventana Wildlife Society and a member of the California Condor
Recovery Team, wrote an article for the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS (19
September) summarizing the case against lead:
http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_6935048
 
There are similar moves - voluntary and otherwise - being considered
in Arizona to cover big-game hunting. Cooperation from hunting
groups in Arizona involving an education campaign using coupons,
DVDs, and flyers, and offering free non-lead bullets to hunters in
areas frequented by condors suggests somewhat rosier prospects in
that state. But voluntary compliance, no matter how creative, may
still not be enough.
 
The broader issue, of course, goes back at least to the early 1990s,
when the USFWS imposed a nationwide ban on the use of lead shot for
waterfowl hunting because the shotgun pellets were poisoning
waterfowl that ingested them off the bottoms of ponds and lakes. The
debate on that issue ran through much of the 1980s, and the use of a
ban was originally resisted from some quarters, even though today
most hunter-conservationists today embrace the lead shot ban for
waterfowling.
 
 
FOR BIRDERS WITH PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS
 
There are many locations throughout the world that provide high
quality, low-impact birding venues, ideal for birders with physical
limitations. A U.S.-based website featuring places in North,
Central, and South America as a service to birders with limited
mobility or endurance, varying from moderate limitations to birders
confined to wheelchairs.
 
The site originator, Darlene Smyth, is also asking for suggestions
on ways to improve the site and how to include additional
information. See the site for more details:
http://www.comfortablebirdingforall.com/
 
                                    
BOOK REVIEW: BIRDER'S CONSERVATION HANDBOOK
 
Jeff Wells, currently serving as the Senior Scientist with the
Boreal Songbird Initiative, has provided anyone interested in birds
an important summary of the state of bird conservation in North
America with his new BIRDER'S CONSERVATION HANDBOOK (Due in October
from Princeton University Press; we were lucky enough to review an
advance copy.)
 
The book's subtitle summarizes its scope: "100 North American Birds
at Risk." Most of the book - organized not unlike a field guide - is
made up of individual species accounts for the 100 species
considered most at risk, according to assessments determined by the
major bird conservation initiatives and organizations. Each profiled
species has an account containing up to four pages of information
that outlines the species' status and distribution (along with a
unique hemispheric range-map), ecology, threats, conservation
actions now in motion, and conservation needs for the future. The
species accounts are preceded by several important chapters that
describe the purpose of the book, how birds serve as environmental
indicators, an overview of the state of our North American bird
populations, the major issues impacting North American birds, the
state of North American bird conservation, and what, ideally,
readers can do to help conserve birds. 
 
Best of all, the book is written for the millions of people who are
simply curious about birds. The approach used by Wells in this book
could potentially turn recreational birders and budding
conservationists into thoughtful and active stewards of birds and
the environment. Jeff Wells has produced a reader-friendly and
outstanding resource to bird conservation activity that could serve
as a benchmark for many years to come. We strongly recommend this
title.
 
 
BIRDLIFE'S WORLD BIRD FESTIVAL FOCUSES ON AQUATIC BIRDS
 
Held in October of every year in the Americas, BirdLife's World Bird
Festival encourages bird conservation through a number of activities
including nature walks, indoor meetings, lectures, seminars,
performances (music, theater, films and poetry readings), children's
events (face painting, bird-costume making, painting competitions),
and exhibitions (paintings, prints, photographs).
 
This year, BirdLife's theme will celebrate Aquatic Birds of the
Americas, especially since these waterbirds birds tie the natural
and human communities of the Americas together.
 
For more information on this effort see:
http://www.birdlife.org/action/awareness/world_bird_festival/america
s_2007.html
and
http://www.birdlife.org/action/awareness/world_bird_festival/aquatic
_birds.html
 
 
"NO CHILD LEFT INSIDE" BILLS IN CONGRESS
 
As teachers across the country are pressed to devote increasing time
to core subjects that must be tested and evaluated, time spent on
any environmental education is drastically reduced, often resulting
in the giving up of field trips and other environmental
explorations.
 
In mid-July, Congressman John P. Sarbanes (D-MD) announced his
sponsorship of the No Child Left Inside Act (H.R. 3036). A few weeks
later, in August, Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) introduced similar - but
not identical - legislation (S. 1931) under the same name. The bills
are now collecting Congressional co-sponsors. These legislators'
proposals would provide new resources and incentives to states to
enhance environmental education, but would not add any additional
tests or requirements on school systems.
 
Both bills would increase funding for environmental education -
focusing on teacher training and capacity building. It would give
states new incentives to create environmental literacy plans to make
sure graduates better understand their environment. The legislation
could help fulfill an obligation to educate young people about the
environment - including birds - and to help them become responsible
natural stewards. 
 
A number of organizations concerned with youth education, general
environmental stewardship, and hunting have partnered to advance the
cause of the No Child Left Inside Coalition. You can find details
here:
www.eenclb.org <http://www.eenclb.org/> 
 
- - - - - - - -
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
            <>
 

                        OR
            
            Paul J. Baicich 
            410/992-9736
            <> 
            
We never lend or sell our E-bulletin recipient list.