Everglades Birding Festival, January 16-20, 2014

By Jim Eager

You are invited to join Paddy Cunningham, Jim Eager and David Simpson for the 2014 Everglades Birding Festival, January 16-20, 2014. We will be looking for South Florida specialties, wintering species and some awesome birding venues.

Check out the website at www.evergladesbirdingfestival.com for registration information as well as the schedule which includes programs and field trips.  Contact Paddy Cunningham at birdpaddy@yahoo.com or 954-926-5458.  The festival is headquartered at the LaQuinta Hotel, 8101 Peters Rd, Plantation, FL 33324, 954-476-6047.  Hope to see you there.

Orlando Wetlands Festival

Come and enjoy the Orlando Wetlands Festival on Saturday, February 15, 2014, from 9am-3pm at Fort Christmas Park.  The Orlando Wetlands Festival is an opportunity to celebrate the City of Orlando’s Wetlands Park, the City’s 1,650 acre wetland oasis. The event is sponsored by: City of Orlando, Atkins, Orange Audubon Society, and Orange County Parks & Recreation.

On February 15, 2014, come and experience this unique wetland treatment system with the entire family.  Event co-sponsor, Orange Audubon Society, will lead guided bird-watching excursions.  The Florida Native Plant Society will lead native plant identification hikes; while, the Florida Trail Association will be providing wilderness hikes. Guided photo hikes will also be available and led by nature and wildlife photographers.

Guided bus tours will travel along the wetland berms, giving riders a chance to experience firsthand, the City’s incredible water reclamation project.  Hay rides will also tour the wetlands.

In addition to the guided tours, there will be bird-banding and mist-netting demonstrations as well as live folk music.  This year, renowned comedian and magician Brian Staron will be performing.  Featured in the wildlife shows, many different live animals will be present such as alligators, snakes, bald eagles, and many others.  Also, the City’s Families, Parks & Recreation Department will be giving away free backyard trees in celebration of Arbor Day. Better Homes & Gardens radio talk show host, Tom Maccubbin, will be on hand to answer your horticulture questions.

There will be interactive children’s activities (like Out-On-A-Limb kids tree climbing), a bounce house and much more!  So bring the whole family and invite your friends to this fun, free educational festival.  Bring your cameras, and prepare for an adventure in the wilderness.  Please leave your pets at home; there are wild animals.  Food will be available for purchase.  Free admission and free door prizes!  For more information: call Orlando Wetlands Park 407.568.1706.

Event Website:  http://www.cityoforlando.net/public_works/wetlands/festival/index.htm

The Friends of the Orlando Wetlands have a website which provides updated information on activities at the park http://www.orlandowetlands.org and are also on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/OrlandoWetlands.

Directions to Fort Christmas Park:
From Orlando, take S.R. 50 East to Christmas, Florida. Turn left onto C.R. 420 (Ft. Christmas Rd.), continue north 1.8 miles. Fort Christmas Park will be on your left. Free parking will be located on your right across from the Park.  The address is 1300 North Fort Christmas Road, Christmas, FL 32709.

Win Binoculars in Contest About Feathers!

Cornell Lab of Ornithology News Release

Rumpled or resplendent, how a bird’s feathers are displayed can be an indication of how its day is going. The Celebrate Urban Birds citizen-science project is looking for entries to its “Fascinating Feathers” challenge—entries may be photos, artwork, videos, poems, or stories and must be submitted to www.CelebrateUrbanBirds.org by January 15, 2014.

Some birds, like the Black-capped Chickadee shown above, have an abnormal amount of  white in their feathers. Photo by Luke Berg. Birds with tufts or crests can raise or lower them at will, indicating everything from interest to irritation. Their feathers may be ruffled by the wind or because they see another bird trespassing on their territory. They may spread their wings or tails. And birds spend a lot of time preening to keep their feathers clean and can twist themselves into some strange positions.

"Consider the ordinary city pigeon," says project leader Karen Purcell. "This gray and white bird may be quite boring to some, but a closer look reveals stunning iridescent purple and green feathers on its neck and upper chest. That’s the goal of this challenge: to get people of all ages outside looking at birds more carefully and finding beauty in even the most common birds."

To learn more about the Fascinating Feathers challenge and contest rules, visit www.CelebrateUrbanBirds.org. Winners will be posted on the Celebrate Urban Birds website. Prizes include Pennington bird feeders, Opticron binoculars, bird sound CDs, and much more.

Celebrate Urban Birds is a free citizen-science project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Participants collect information about birds in cities and get communities involved in nature through science, gardening, and the arts.

Audubon Restoration Work in the Gulf Gets $5 Million Boost

Reprinted from the Audubon Chapter Leader Update

Last week, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Gulf Coast states announced $113 million in funding for environmental restoration projects from NFWF’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund, created as part of the criminal settlement between the U.S. Department of Justice, BP and Transocean.  The money is intended to restore natural resources that were harmed by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Of those funds, Audubon Florida is receiving $3.2 million to create a comprehensive Panhandle coastal bird conservation program, while Audubon Mississippi will receive a $1.6 million grant to do coastal bird stewardship, and an additional $200,000 as part of a $2.6 million coastal stream and habitat program that is being done in conjunction with The Nature Conservancy, for a total of $5 million in funding for Audubon projects in the Gulf.  In addition, in Louisiana, $40.4 million is going toward a diversion project on the Mississippi River, a longstanding goal that begins to restore the natural flow of America’s river.

A strong endorsement of our work along the Gulf Coast, this is a great new beginning – and it’s also really great news for birds.

Audubon and Pew: Florida’s Coastal Birds Could Face Threat to Food Supply

From Audubon Florida

Already pressured by a steady loss of habitat, many of Florida's imperiled and iconic coastal waterbirds are vulnerable to declines in small fish that are necessary for their survival, according to a report by Audubon Florida and The Pew Charitable Trusts.

"Fins and Feathers: Why little fish are a big deal to Florida's coastal waterbirds" (http://fl.audubonaction.org/site/R?i=0HoW2NScQhEWIe-97JtZhw) examines the crucial link between birds and the diverse array of small fish that are a critical food source. Declines in the populations of these fish, known alternatively as forage fish, prey fish or baitfish, could threaten imperiled birds such as Brown Pelicans, Roseate Spoonbills, Black Skimmers and Reddish Egrets, according to the report.

"In Florida, our environment is directly linked to our quality of life and our economy," said Julie Wraithmell, Audubon Florida's Director of Wildlife Conservation. "This report shows how important baitfish are to Florida's coastal birds, environment, communities and economy. Fisheries policy must consider the ecological and economic vitality that hinges on these smallest of fish."

Few regulations limit the amount of forage fish such as sardines and herring that are hauled out of Florida's coastal waters each year. Fishery managers can help conserve Florida's forage fish and its natural resources by accounting for the needs of predators such as seabirds when setting fishing rules in Florida's coastal waters. Bird conservation efforts historically have focused on other threats such as habitat loss, with less emphasis on ensuring prey abundance and availability. With many birds already pressured by a steady loss of habitat, this report reveals a new and critical conservation gap at a time when leaders can act before it's too late.

In light of the report's analysis, Audubon Florida and Pew encourage the state to:

• Account for the forage needs of coastal waterbirds before expanding current forage fisheries or allowing the development of new forage fisheries.
• Ensure sufficient abundance, variety, and sizes of forage fish species to meet the needs of coastal waterbirds and other marine wildlife when setting management limits on forage fisheries.
• Identify and map foraging areas for nesting coastal waterbirds and areas subject to forage fisheries; analyze potential overlap of these areas and activities; and consider conservation and management options to avoid or minimize potential conflicts.
• Protect forage fish habitat such as mangrove and seagrasses, as well as water quantity and quality in the estuaries.

Coastal development in Florida directly harms seagrass beds, mangrove forests and salt marshes, all of which serve as critical nursery habitat for forage fish. Similarly, changes in the quantity, quality and timing of freshwater that flows into estuaries threaten to degrade and diminish the quality of these important places for fish. At the same time, habitat loss and coastal development also pose risks to many of Florida's bird populations.

For additional information, including details on specific species, see the full report here: http://bit.ly/FinsandFeathers (16mb)

Crow Kills

Author Unknown, emailed to Dee Simpson by her in-laws

Researchers for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority found over 200 dead crows near greater Boston recently, and there was concern that they may have died from Avian Flu.  A Bird Pathologist examined the remains of all the crows, and to everyone's relief, confirmed the problem was definitely NOT Avian Flu. The cause of death appeared to be vehicular impacts.

However, during the detailed analysis it was noted that varying colors of paints appeared on the bird's beaks and claws.  By analyzing these paint residues it was determined that 98% of the crows had been killed by impact with trucks, while only 2% were killed by an impact with a car.

MTA then hired an Ornithological Behaviorist to determine if there was a cause for the disproportionate percentages of truck kills versus car kills.


The Ornithological Behaviorist very quickly concluded the cause:  when crows eat road kill, they always have a look-out crow in a nearby tree to warn of impending danger. They discovered that while all the lookout crows could shout "Cah", not a single one could shout "Truck."

Audubon's State of the Everglades Report Now Available

Audubon's Fall/Winter Report on the State of the Everglades is now available for download! Click here to download your copy of our comprehensive biannual report on the River of Grass: http://fl.audubonaction.org/site/R?i=WFPgDbRw641f9fcA1sJYYQ

The year’s tragic conditions in the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries exemplified the need for urgency in restoring the Everglades. Projects that allow more water to flow south will reduce the occurrence of toxic algae blooms and associated wildlife impacts.

Audubon recommended specific actions to respond to this environmental disaster and many have already been advanced by state and federal decision-makers. Your participation made a difference!

Take a moment to check out our latest report for a comprehensive and concise examination of these recent successes and other progress in the fight to restore the River of Grass.

Birds at Your Feeder Provide Clues to Scientists: Help needed to track disease affecting House Finches

Cornell Lab of Ornithology Press Release

House Finches may be found at feeders across much of North America and if you see these little birds, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology would like to know about it. Scientists specifically want to know if the birds you see appear healthy or if they have redness and swelling around the eyes—signs of a bacterial disease (Mycoplasma gallisepticum) that first appeared in 1994 and is now found in House Finch populations from coast to coast.

The eyes of this female House Finch are swollen by disease. Photo by Dan Fleming. This special push to track both sick and healthy House Finches is being carried out through the Cornell Lab’s Project  FeederWatch, an annual winter survey of feeder birds that runs from November through April. New participants are invited to sign up to help at www.FeederWatch.org. Making the correct ID is important, so there's additional help provided in distinguishing among similar species, such as the Purple Finch and Cassin's Finch.

"House finches are providing a unique window into disease dynamics," says Wesley Hochachka, Assistant Director of Bird Populations Studies at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "We want to understand how this disease is spreading, if cases are more or less severe than they used to be, and how the birds’ immune systems are adapting to fight this threat." Though this disease does not affect people, understanding how it's transmitted provides insight into how human diseases are spread.

House Finch eye disease first appeared in the eastern United States and arrived in parts of the West in 2003. There is evidence suggesting that western bacteria could cause more severe disease now than in the past.

"Collecting reports from western states is especially important because the disease is still spreading there," says FeederWatch project leader Emma Greig. "We hope to encourage participation in states such as Utah, Colorado, and Nevada, because the data they provide are extremely valuable."

To learn more about FeederWatch and to sign up, visit www.FeederWatch.org or call the Cornell Lab toll-free at (866) 989-2473. In return for the $15 fee ($12 for Cornell Lab members), participants receive the FeederWatcher Handbook and Instructions with tips on how to attract birds to your feeders, an identification poster of common feeder birds, and a calendar. Participants also receive Winter Bird Highlights, an annual summary of FeederWatch findings, plus the Cornell Lab's quarterly newsletter. This year participants will also receive a coupon for  75-cents off a product from sponsor Bob's Red Mill. One thousand new FeederWatchers will receive an additional coupon for a free Bob's Red Mill product (up to $7.99 value).

Project FeederWatch is a joint research and education project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada.

First Prosecution of Wind Company for Killing Birds

Reprinted from American Bird Conservancy Updates

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a settlement on the prosecution of Duke Energy’s wind developments in Wyoming in connection with the deaths of 14 Golden Eagles and 149 other protected birds, amounting to $1 million in fines and mitigation actions. This is the first prosecution of a wind company in connection with bird mortality.

“This is a welcome action by DOJ and one that we have long anticipated,” said Dr. George Fenwick, President of American Bird Conservancy (ABC), a longtime advocate for stronger federal management of the wind industry. “Wind energy is not ‘green’ if it is killing hundreds of thousands of birds. We are pro-wind and pro-alternative energy, but development needs to be Bird Smart. The unfortunate reality is that the flagrant violations of the law seen in this case are widespread.”  See http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/releases/131122.html for more information.

Bird Links of Interest on the Web

• 6 Reasons You Should Be Drinking “Bird-Friendly” Coffee
• Become a Better Photographer in 3 (not so) Easy Steps
• Loggerhead Shrike Feasts on a Mole Cricket
• Wind Turbines and Birds: Incompatible?
• If You Care About Birds, Watch This 4-Minute Video
• Scientists identify 137 protected areas most important for preserving biodiversity
• Isles of Scilly rat eradication to save seabirds begins
• Locally extinct birds in the Amazon slowly flock back to forests when trees regrow
• Bird gift ideas from the nonprofit Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Discover "rarities" on your local patch with © BirdTracks 
• Wildlife Agency Adds Bird Species to Protected Migratory Bird List
• Artist carves exquisite silhouettes from fallen bird feathers
• Important Conservation Petitions: 
• Add Your Voice to Protect the Red Knot from Extinction
• Protect the Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo from Extinction
• Review: Bird Sense: What it’s Like to be a Bird, by Tim Birkhead

Join Space Coast Audubon Society for our November 15th Meeting “See You Out There”

By Jim Eager, Space Coast Audubon Society Publicity Chair

• WHERE:  Rockledge Presbyterian Church, 921 Rockledge Dr, Rockledge, FL.
• WHEN:   November 15, 2013 at 7:30 pm

Tom Dunkerton of Thomas J. Dunkerton Photography will be our speaker and will be presenting See "You Out There"

Tom is a birding and photography fixture locally here along the Space Coast in Brevard County and around Florida.  Anyone who goes to Merritt Island NWR on a regular basis has undoubtedly crossed paths with Tom.  Throughout his childhood, Tom was always involved in the arts and nature. Growing up in New York he had the best of both worlds.  Having always been a casual birder, upon moving to Florida in 1995, birding became a more serious hobby.

Tom started photographing birds and wildlife in 2003 as it seemed a natural progression, to couple photography with birding.  He has worked as a seasonal field research technician for the Florida Scrub-jay Program on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, a Merritt Island National Wildlife refuge volunteer, and has had many images published in various local and national publications.  As a member of the Nikon Pro Staff since 2007 Tom has represented Nikon at various birding events around the country promoting and showcasing Nikon sports optics.  And, I’m sure he has answered his share of photography questions as his photography equipment of choice is also Nikon.

In addition, to leading field trips, he hosts digiscoping and photography seminars.  At the Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival he conducts a digiscoping workshop entitled, “It’s a Beautiful Thing”.

Come and join us for an incredible photographic journey into the world of one of the region’s premier nature photographers.  We are looking forward to another great turnout.

September Migration by Helen Cruickshank

Submitted by Jim Eager

This is a short story written by Helen Cruickshank, who as many of you know teamed with husband, Allan, and between them were legends in the field of ornithology, photography, lecturing and field trip leading not only in and around Cocoa, but throughout Florida and North America.  Their contributions were immense.

Helen died in March 1994 at the age of 92.  In 1988, just before the first issue of that year's The Limpkin, the chapter newsletter for Indian River Audubon, Bob Brown asked Helen if she would consider writing a monthly article for publication.  She agreed.  The year after her death Indian River Audubon published  "The Nature of Helen",  a collection of her essays.

Of the approximately 9,000 species of birds in the world more than half make annual migrations. Some species may only drop from a high alpine meadow to the valley below and reverse that brief journey in the spring. Others span the vast seas or the continents. The Arctic Tern is regarded the world champion of migrants. Some nest on open ground within 400 miles of the North Pole and some spend our winter on the Antarctic Sea which is enjoying its summer days.

Scientists speculate that billions of individual birds make annual migrations. By fall much of the fine spring plumage of birds has changed. Peterson's "Guide" even has a section called "Confusing Fall Warblers" to warn us to use caution in identifying birds then. The number of fall migrants is much greater than in spring for the host of adult birds is swollen by young of the year that have survived the dangers of youth long enough to leave their birth place. To me there is an exciting sense of adventure and romance in fall migration for the birds are moving toward strange places I would love to see and they will associate with beautiful and wonderful birds I know only from books.

Though Purple Martin migration begins in July it does not peak until September. In some parts of the country the martins form tremendous flocks. Strangely, this largest and most loved of our swallows often faces great danger when a flock settles in town for the night. Some people are so infuriated by their twittering and numbers men have been known to blast them with shot guns. Many of the martins that successfully complete their dangerous migration will spend our winter scattered widely over the northern half of South America.

Like many insect-eaters, Common Nighthawks feed as they travel and in September flocks of a hundred or more in erratic flight move steadily south over Brevard County. Some of them will travel all the way to Argentina where they may catch insects put to flight by rheas or screamers or long-tailed meadowlarks that have a bright red breast.

Periodic flocks of Chimney Swifts move south over Brevard in September. Their roosting habits are spectacular. Late one afternoon in Tallahassee I watched a loose flock draw together in a compact mass and from it a thin stem of whirling birds began to drop and this grew longer and longer like the funnel of a tornado. Then suddenly the tip of the rope-like group plunged into a tall chimney in the middle of the city. In moments the entire flock had vanished. At dawn the next day they continued on their way, many to spend our winter in the upper part of the Amazon. Would some of them see a cock-of-the-rock? Or even that parakeet so recently discovered by Robert Ridgely that its description has not yet been published?

On some September days I see Black Terns moving steadily down the Indian River. They are cosmopolitan birds occurring in suitable habitat around the world. In imagination they can take us to African lakes such as Nakuru where a million flamingos feed or to the shores of Patagonia where penguins congregate or the coast of Chile where condors drop from great heights to feed on carrion cast ashore by the Pacific.

These are common birds known to all of us. Except for the martin, their voices are not very pleasing. Their plumage is prosaic. Yet what wonderful lives they live! Fall migration, lacking in brilliance of breeding birds, is quite as exciting as the arrival of birds in spring.

St. Augustine Trip Report

Written by David Simpson, photos by Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Dee and I spent the weekend in St. Augustine.  We wanted to show Peregrine falcons to some friends of ours from Gainesville.  Saturday morning, we hit the hawk watch, a week after the watch ended, at the north bach access of Guana River State Park.  The platform on top of the dune is a great spot to watch for hawk migration while also keeping an eye on the lake.  Winds were out of the southwest, probably the worst you could ask for on a fall hawk watch on the east coast of Florida.  A Merlin flew directly over us in the parking lot, giving us a comparison to what we were looking for.  On the platform we spied a distant Peregrine falcon which stayed far off for most of the time we were there.   Eventually, another Peregrine came right off the ocean, over our heads, giving us nice looks.

Later that evening, after finding some good ice cream in St. Augustine Beach, we headed to Vilano Beach to walk the beaches near Porpoise Point.  The tide was rising and the birds on the point across the inlet at Anastasia State Park were retreating and looking for higher beaches.  On our side of the water, we found a nice flock of gulls, terns, and eventually skimmers.  Most of the gulls were Laughing gulls as would be expected.  About 20 Lesser black-backed gulls were across the way at the park.  Other gulls were represented by singles, one Great black-backed, one Herring, one Ring-billed, and one FRANKLIN's.  The Franklin's was a first year bird.  Dee took some shots of the bird, or at least the portion of the flock where the bird was.  Lighting was a bit iffy at this late hour, and we have not looked at the pics to see what we got.

Sunday morning promised to be better for hawk watching.  It lied.  We saw nothing from the hawk watch.  Ducks were in better supply.  Blue-winged teal and Northern shoveler were cruising the lake at Six Mile Landing and near the tower.  Four Northern pintail came in for a landing near the tower.  Six Mile Landing had several birds around including two Swainson's thrushes and several Painted buntings along with several wintering birds including my FOTS Yellow-rumped warbler.

We also ran into James Wheat on both days at the platform.  James helped to point out several of the birds we saw.

New Book: The Unfeathered Bird

Reprinted from The Unfeathered Bird web site (http://www.unfeatheredbird.com)

There is more to a bird than simply feathers. And just because birds evolved from a single flying ancestor, doesn’t mean they are structurally all the same. With over 300 stunning drawings representing 200 species, The Unfeathered Bird is the most richly illustrated book on bird anatomy ever produced and offers a refreshingly original insight into what goes on beneath the surface. Each exquisite drawing is made from an actual specimen and reproduced in sumptuous large format. The birds are shown in lifelike positions and engaged in behavior typical of the species: a fish’s-eye view of a swimming loon skeleton, the musculature of a porpoising penguin, and an unfeathered sparrowhawk plucking its prey. Jargon free and easily accessible to any reader, the lively text relates birds’ anatomy with their lifestyle and evolution, examining such questions as, why penguins are bigger than auks, whether harrier hawks really have double-jointed legs, and the difference between wing claws and wing spurs. A landmark in popular ornithological literature, The Unfeathered Bird is a must for anyone with an appreciation of birds, bird art, or both.

Lagoon Coalition News - Upcoming Events

Inspirational Free Evening of Song and Story to Save the Lagoon

Saving the Indian River Lagoon is a major issue in both Brevard and Indian River Counties, and on Saturday, November 9, at 7 p.m., two major participants in the fight will entertain with songs and stories at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Vero Beach.  The event – “Healing Our World and Ourselves” – is free, no tickets or reservations required, but donations will be gratefully accepted.

Shyla Nelson, an internationally acclaimed speaker, classical singer, voice trainer, author, environmental advocate and founder of "One Earth. One Voice," will provide the music.  Sr. Pat Siemen, Professor at Barry University Law School, and Director of the Center for Earth Jurisprudence – working to save Florida's Springs and all Earth's treasures by giving the Earth a voice – will engage with stories.

This two-hour event is prelude to a February symposium focused on how climate disruption is related to our legal system, food system, water system, rights system, faith practices and our denial system.  The two-day symposium, with 16 inspiring speakers, will be held at UUFVB on February 21 and 22.

The UU Fellowship, offering a liberal religion on the Treasure Coast, has easy parking and is handicapped accessible.  It is located at 1590 27th Avenue on the southeast corner of 27th Avenue and 16th Street.  For more information, call 772-778-5880.
 

Citizens’ Clean Water Summit

• Date: November 16, 2013
• Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
• Location: University of Central Florida - Fairwinds Alumni Center, 12676 Gemini Blvd. North, Orlando, FL 32816 

Here is the idea:  Bring representatives of the many water quality advocacy organizations from around the state together in one place for a day of planning.

The ultimate goal:  Send summit attendees back to their respective organizations with the tools and contacts to organize coordinated regional and statewide action.

We aim to get leaders, like you, from each of 150 different organizations to accomplish the following:

Build solidarity between the state’s independent regional water movements
Create a framework for continued collaboration and mobilization
Plan a progression of concerted activities to bring the full force of the clean water movement directly to decision makers

The Citizens’ Clean Water Summit is a collaborative effort – the Planning Team, growing every day, is comprised of activists from Sierra Club, St. Johns Riverkeeper, Florida Wildlife Federation, Center for Earth Jurisprudence, IDEAS for Us, Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Earthjustice, Mother Ocean, Clean Water Action, Florida Defenders of the Environment, Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute Inc., Indian Riverkeeper, League of Women Voters of Florida, Marine Resources Council, Pelican Island Audubon Society, Putnam County Environmental Council, REEF RELIEF, Wakulla Springs Alliance and more.

Please don’t miss this opportunity – we need your group’s participation!

You must register through our Eventbrite link in order to attend: https://www.eventbrite.com/event/8755330429/?ref=estw

DEADLINE to register: Close of business on 11/7/13.

For more info contact:
Macy Zander:  260-450-4946 macy.zander@sierraclub.org
Cris Costello:  941-914-0421 cris.costello@sierraclub.org

$10 includes lunch and admission to the event.  Seats are limited so reserve now!

Parking is free at parking garage H (adjacent to the Alumni Center). View parking map at http://goo.gl/maps/dXhBH

Coffee, tea and networking will begin at 8:30 a.m.

Around the Web

Check out the following interesting stuff we have found on the web recently:

• Watch bats emerge from the Bracken Cave Preserve on a live Bat Cam:
  http://batcon.org/index.php/get-involved/visit-a-bat-location/bracken-bat-cave/bracken-webcam.html
• Subscribe to this newsletter to get the latest updates on birds and wildlife throughout the world:
  http://focusingonwildlife.com/news/
• Interesting article on the psychological effects of listening to birdsongs:
  http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/dec/21/scientists-study-psychological-effects-birdsong
• News Article: Invasive Mink Threatens South America's Largest Woodpecker
• News Article:  Owl recorded in Oman could be a new species

Great News - Florida Supreme Court Approves Water and Land Legacy Amendment!

Eric Draper, Audubon Florida Executive Director

Congratulations. The Water and Land Legacy Amendment that so many chapters and members have worked so hard to advance is closer to a reality. The Florida Supreme Court will allow the amendment to go on the ballot. Now all we have to do is get the rest of the signatures. The good news is that we are more than halfway there with more than 385,000 collected.

If you would like to download and print a copy of the petition for yourself or others, please visit: http://4fla.org/AudubonFL.


Thank you to all of you who have collected signatures, contributed funds, and signed the petition. We have just ten weeks to finish the job. I cannot think of anything we can do that will do more good for water and wildlife.

Full article:

Florida Supreme Court Approves Water and Land Conservation Amendment
By Jonathan Webber

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The campaign to place the Water and Land Conservation constitutional amendment to the November 2014 ballot cleared a major hurdle today when the Florida Supreme Court agreed that it satisfies legal requirements for placement on the ballot. The Water and Land Conservation amendment is the first constitutional amendment to be approved by the Supreme Court for the 2014 ballot, according to Florida’s Water and Land Legacy, the amendment’s sponsor.

“This is monumental step as we continue gathering petitions to place this important measure on the ballot. Our campaign is proving that Floridians care deeply about our state’s natural heritage and want to safeguard it for future generations,” said Will Abberger, the campaign’s chair and director of conservation finance for The Trust for Public Land. “With the Florida Supreme Court’s stamp of approval, we can now move forward to asking voters to establish protection of Florida’s water and land as a constant commitment and not something that shifts with the political winds.”

The Water and Land Conservation amendment would dedicate funding for conservation, management, and restoration of Florida’s water and land resources for 20 years. The amendment, which if approved by the voters would take effect July 1, 2015, sets aside one-third of the existing documentary stamp tax (paid when real estate is sold) to restore the Everglades, protect drinking water sources, and revive the state’s historic commitment to protecting natural lands and wildlife habitat through the Florida Forever program.

The amendment will provide more than $10 billion for water and land conservation in Florida without any tax increase.

“The Supreme Court’s approval is a huge milestone and sends a clear signal to Floridians that now is the time to step forward to sign the petition and contribute generously to our campaign,” said Pegeen Hanrahan, the Legacy coalition’s campaign’s manager.


The Florida’s Water and Land Legacy is the campaign working to qualify the amendment for the ballot and win voter approval in November 2014.  Florida’s Water and Land Legacy is supported by almost 4,000 dedicated volunteers and more than 330 conservation and civic organizations from across the state. More than 385,000 Florida voters have already signed petitions.  The amendment’s sponsors are urging all Florida voters to sign a petition if they have not already done so. The campaign is also actively fund raising to complete its signature collection and welcomes all contributions.  To down-load a petition and learn more about the Water and Land Conservation amendment please visit FloridaWaterLandLegacy.org.

Brochures to Prevent Bird Collisions Available for Distribution

Reprinted from the American Bird Conservancy News

Collisions with glass constitute a huge source of bird mortality, as many as one billion each year. To help homeowners prevent birds hitting their windows by using a variety of treatments to the glass ABC has produced a flyer that can be downloaded at:

www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/collisions/pdf/collisions_flyer.pdf.

We have printed flyers available for distribution in boxes of 3,600 or lots of 1,000. If your organization is interested, please contact Christine Sheppard, csheppard@abcbirds.org with the amount you wish to distribute and a mailing address. The only cost to your organization is shipping $10 for 1,000 or $30 for a box of 3,600. Thanks for helping to spread the word!

For more information about ABC’s collisions program see:
http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/releases/130912.html

Join Space Coast Audubon Society for our October 18th Meeting: The History of Merritt Island NWR

By Jim Eager, Space Coast Audubon Society Publicity Chair 

WHO:  Space Coast Audubon Society (SCAS)

WHERE:  Rockledge Presbyterian Church, 921 Rockledge Dr, Rockledge, FL.

WHEN:   October 18, 2013 at 7:30 pm

Charlie Venuto will be our speaker and will be presenting The History of Merritt Island NWR

The refuge traces its beginnings to the development of the nation’s Space Program.  In 1962, NASA acquired 140,000 acres of land, water, and marshes adjacent to Cape Canaveral to establish the John F. Kennedy Space Center.  NASA built a launch complex and other space-related facilities, but development of most of the area was not necessary.  In 1963, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service signed an agreement to establish the refuge.

Charlie Venuto was the Environmental Manager, at Kennedy Space Center, for the contractors who operated, maintained and prepared the space shuttle, for more than 30 years.  He is now with Siemens Wind Power and has corporate responsibility for creating and implementing environmental programs at the factories where the turbine blades and engine housings are produced as well as the wind turbine project sites.  He also teaches several environmental science courses at American Public University System, an online university that caters to military personnel.  Charlie has also taught Environmental Science and Biology at Brevard Community College (renamed as Eastern Florida State College).  He is a past president of Space Coast Audubon from 1998-2000 and is currently on the board of directors of the Merritt Island Wildlife Association (MIWA) and has serve on several boards of local nature based organizations.  He enjoys nature and spending time with his wife Barb, who is the Speaker Coordinator for the Friends of Ulumay.
                                                                   
Looking forward to another great turnout.

Join Us For Hands Across The Lagoon

Dee Fairbanks Simpson will be on the Wabasso bridge. If you plan to attend and want to meet for breakfast beforehand, send her email at deefairbanks@mac.com.

Come join Space Coast Audubon Society for our September 20th Pot Luck/Member Slide show plus Space Coast Audubon Society’s 60th Birthday Party

By Jim Eager/Space Coast Audubon Society Publicity Chair

WHO:  Space Coast Audubon Society (SCAS)

WHERE:  Rockledge Presbyterian Church, 921 Rockledge Dr, Rockledge, FL.

WHEN:   September 20, 2013 at 6:30 pm

Bring your favorite dish and join us for some good eats and talk about birding and all things nature.

Space Coast Audubon Society (SCAS) was formed in 1953 originally as Indian River Audubon Society.  Come join us for highlights of 60 years of SCAS.  One of the major highlights was the Allan & Helen Cruickshank’s move to Rockledge.  In an excerpt from an early Limpkin (SCAS newsletter)

We were especially fortunate in having Allan D. Cruickshank and his wife, Helen, move in upon us as neighbors, and their cooperation and unselfish help at all times has been an inspiration.  They are both nationally known for a wide variety of skills and performances with the National Audubon Society – photography, writing, lecturing, and conducting tours and camps.  Their presence, as friends and members of our little local Society, has put new life into it, and gratitude into all our hearts.

The Cruickshank’s have left their mark on the birding community here along the Space Coast.  They were instrumental in getting what is now Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR) designated as a NWR when NASA created Kennedy Space Center (formerly known as Cape Canaveral).  Allan was good friends with the well known ornithologist Roger Tory Peterson of Peterson field guide fame.  Several of our longtime members who knew the Cruickshanks might have some stories birding with them.  There is a 5 mile loop trail at Stop #9 on Black Pt Dr at MINWR called the Cruickshank Trail as well as the Cruickshank Sanctuary located on Barnes Ave about ¼ mile west of US 1 in Rockledge, FL.

Visit the Space Coast Audubon Society website at www.spacecoastaudubon.org

We are looking forward to a great turnout.

SCAS Member Online Recommendations

The following links were recommended by SCAS members:

• Recommended by Barbara Geier:  Raven Rescue (Crow) video
• Recommended by Dee Fairbanks Simpson:
• New Wetlands Coming to Fellsmere Near the Stick Marsh
• Bats in the News - Cold War bunkers join the fight against WNS
• Recommended by Jason Fredericks:
• Puffins flock home to Maine islands
• Free downloadable warbler guide
• Recommended by David Simpson:  Northern Goshawk in Flight video

Don’t Miss the 2013 Audubon Assembly – Boots on the Ground, October 25-26 in Palm Harbor, Florida

Jonathan Webber, Conservation Campaign Manager, Audubon FLORIDA 

The 2013 Audubon Assembly is a celebration of the people who put their "boots on the ground" for conservation. Get inspired and get involved in citizen science, habitat stewardship, and grassroots advocacy. Florida's signature conservation event brings together representatives of Audubon's 35,000 members and 44 chapters with conservation leaders, scientists, educators and policy makers. Through nature-inspired walking workshops, inspiring speakers and thought-provoking learning sessions, Audubon plans to join together people of all ages and backgrounds in our common interest of protecting Florida's remarkable natural resources.

This year’s event is being held at the beautiful Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Florida – about 30 minutes from downtown Tampa. Please note, hotel reservations must be made separately. Early-bird tickets and hotel rooms are going fast, learn more and reserve your spot today: http://bit.ly/AudubonAssembly2013

ABC Expands “Full Life-Cycle” Conservation Programs for Migratory Birds

From American Bird Conservancy

ABC is stepping up an effort to turn three iconic migratory birds into examples of how “full life-cycle” conservation programs work. The birds are the Long-billed Curlew, the Golden-winged Warbler, and the Bicknell’s Thrush. Andrew Rothman, Director of ABC’s Migratory Bird Program, said this relatively new approach to migratory bird conservation treats international and domestic conservation efforts as two sides of the same coin.

Rothman said the Long-Billed Curlew is a good example of why full life-cycle conservation programs are needed. These shorebirds spend the breeding season in the grasslands of the northern Great Plains and Intermountain West and the nonbreeding season predominantly in the desert grasslands of northern Mexico. Over the years, the grasslands at both ends of this migration have been badly degraded by urban and suburban growth, intensive grazing and agriculture, and invasive plants.

In Mexico, ABC and Pronatura Noreste are hoping to reverse the loss of grasslands by identifying and protecting lands used by the curlew and other birds in winter. A leading showcase for these efforts is the El Tokio Grassland Priority Conservation Area near the city of Saltillo, in northeastern Mexico. Rothman said additional protected areas are now being created on communal or “ejido” lands, adding that the badly damaged grasslands in these areas are also being restored.

Meanwhile, on the curlew’s breeding grounds, ABC has hired Cheryl Mandich, a wildlife biologist who will help private and public landowners manage their properties in “curlewfriendly” ways. To guide that process, a new report on how to manage grasslands for Long-billed Curlews and other birds has been written and is now being reviewed.

“One of our goals is to see these practices adopted on a landscape scale,” said Rothman. “Having these practices used on federal lands and supported by the Natural Resources Conservation Service as part of their financial assistance programs for private landowners would be a huge step toward that goal.”

The Golden-winged Warbler is another migrant that is receiving full life-cycle assistance. In North America, ABC and other groups are restoring early successional forests from the even-aged eastern forests that now dominate the warbler’s breeding grounds. In the Appalachians and Great
Lakes areas, researchers and private landowners have been restoring “young forest” openings that used to be created by beavers, small farmers, and unsuppressed fires.

See http://www.abcbirds.org/PDFs/GWWA_article.pdf for a more detailed Golden-winged Warbler article from Bird Conservation magazine.

Rothman said a different kind of restoration is being done in some of the warbler’s wintering grounds. In Nicaragua, ABC and the owners of the El Jaguar Reserve have been reconnecting forest fragments with shade coffee plantations and reforested areas. The goal of this project is a biological corridor that will connect the forests of El Jaguar with the forests on the Yali volcano.

Bicknell’s Thrush is a new addition to ABC’s list of migratory birds receiving full life-cycle assistance. On the Caribbean Island of Hispaniola, where most of these birds winter, ABC, Grupo Jaragua, other conservation groups, and government agencies are cracking down on illegal logging and other destructive practices in protected forests used by the Bicknell’s Thrush. And in Canada, where this
thrush breeds, groups such as QuebecOiseaux and Bird Studies Canada are mapping out key habitats and working with timber companies to log in ways that are beneficial for the birds.

These examples of full life-cycle conservation implementation and many more will be discussed and advanced at the fifth Partners in Flight International Conference and Workshop scheduled from August 25-28 in Snowbird, Utah. Learn more at www.pifv.org.

In an Era Known for Bird Migration Problems, Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds Are Thriving. Why?

See http://www.abcbirds.org/PDFs/RTHU_migration_article.pdf for an in-depth article by ABC’s John Nielsen.

Alert: Hummingbird Haven Facing Uncertain Future - Act Now

From Rita Fenwick, American Bird Conservancy

Several months ago, American Bird Conservancy board member Victor Emanuel made an impassioned request that American Bird Conservancy help acquire an American birding landmark that had recently come on the market: Paton’s Birder Haven.

This property, located in Patagonia, Arizona, is the loving project of Wally and Marion Paton, who for more than 35 years built their property into a premier Arizona birding site and opened their home to thousands of local, American, and international birders to see Arizona’s outstanding hummingbird diversity. Many visited the site for a chance to get a “life” Plain-capped Starthroat, Violet-crowned Hummingbird, or Magnificent Hummingbird for their North American list.  The property has passed on to the Paton’s children, who would like to honor their parents’ labor of love in making the property a memorable, welcoming stop for birders visiting Arizona.

In partnership with Tucson Audubon Society and Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, American Bird Conservancy has entered into a contract with the Paton family to acquire the property and to maintain the property in perpetuity as a hummingbird sanctuary open to visitors. We have raised $100,000 of the needed funding, but urgently need to raise by October 15th the remaining $200,000. Once acquired, Tucson Audubon Society will assume long-term ownership and management of the property.

Can you please help by making a donation at http://www.abcbirds.org/paton/ and by FORWARDING this email to as many birders as you can, encouraging them to click on the link provided and make a donation today? Please post this request for help on blogs, Facebook, Twitter, websites, and any other outlet you think will reach birders who have visited Paton’s or plan to in the future.  One hundred percent of each tax-deductible donation will be applied to the acquisition and management needs of this historic property. We truly need every dollar to succeed.  

Thank you very much for your support and help!  Please let me know if you have any questions or you have a favorite picture from Paton’s Birder Haven you would like to share.


Learn more …  please give now!

You're Invited to the 2013 Wildflower Symposium

from the Florida Wildflower Foundation

Join the Florida Wildflower Foundation in Titusville in September for two days of fun and learning about Florida's native ecosystems and their inhabitants.

The Symposium kicks off Friday, Sept. 27, with three field trips to natural jewels in Brevard County - Sams House at Pine Island Sanctuary, Merritt Island; Dicerandra Scrub Preserve, Titusville; and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Titusville.

Cap off the day with dinner at Dixie Crossroads restaurant, where the Foundation's annual meeting will feature keynote speaker Xavier Cortada. The FIU artist will give a presentation about  FLOR500 - a participatory art, nature and history project he created to commemorate Florida’s quincentennial.

Workshops, presentations and walks at the Enchanted Forest Preserve in Titusville are planned for Saturday, Sept. 28. Presentations will cover Florida's wildflowers, bats, butterflyscaping, use of native herbs, fire ecology, and more. Also available are walks into the forest with experts, as well as nature journaling and wildflower propagation workshops.

Friday field trips are $10 apiece. Saturday activities are $25 for Florida Wildflower Foundation members and $35 for nonmembers. Become a member now by clicking here. (Already a member? Email us to ask if your membership is current.)

Space is limited; see the full schedule and register today to assure your choice of activities and presentations. Each ticket includes a $5 donation to the Friends of the Enchanted Forest.

It's Time for EPA to Get Serious about Neonicotinoid Pesticides!

By Steve Holmer, Senior Policy Advisor, American Bird Conservancy & Director, Bird Conservation Alliance

Please write your U.S. Representative TODAY and ask her or him to support the Save America’s Pollinators Act of 2013. This bill will direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to suspend registration for neonicotinoid insecticides, which are causing serious harm to birds, bees, and aquatic life.

The bill comes on the heels of American Bird Conservancy’s groundbreaking report documenting that songbirds can die from consuming a single neonicotinoid-coated seed. This report, along with the avalanche of recent research on neonicotinoids’ harms to pollinators, makes it clear that immediate action is needed. This bill was drafted by Representatives John Conyers (D-MI) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR).

Please Write Your Representative Now and Urge Support and Co-sponsorship of This Bill.  Click on: http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5400/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=14827

ABC Report Charges EPA Ignored Staff Warnings, Approved Widespread Use of Dangerous Pesticides

As part of a study on impacts from the world’s most widely used class of insecticides, nicotine-like chemicals called neonicotinoids, American Bird Conservancy (ABC) has called for a ban on their use as seed treatments and for the suspension of all applications pending an independent review of the products’ effects on birds, terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, and other wildlife.

“It is clear that these chemicals have the potential to affect entire food chains. The environmental persistence of the neonicotinoids, their propensity for runoff and for groundwater infiltration, and their cumulative and largely irreversible mode of action in invertebrates raise significant environmental concerns,” said Cynthia Palmer, co-author of the report and Pesticides Program Manager for ABC, one of the nation’s leading bird conservation organizations.

ABC commissioned world renowned environmental toxicologist Dr. Pierre Mineau to conduct the research. The 100-page report, “The Impact of the Nation’s Most Widely Used Insecticides on Birds,” reviews 200 studies on neonicotinoids including industry research obtained through the US Freedom of Information Act. The report evaluates the toxicological risk to birds and aquatic systems and includes extensive comparisons with the older pesticides that the neonicotinoids have replaced. The assessment concludes that the neonicotinoids are lethal to birds and to the aquatic systems on which they depend.

“A single corn kernel coated with a neonicotinoid can kill a songbird,” Palmer said. “Even a tiny grain of wheat or canola treated with the oldest neonicotinoid -- called imidacloprid -- can fatally poison a bird. And as little as 1/10th of a neonicotinoid-coated corn seed per day during egg-laying season is all that is needed to affect reproduction.”

The new report concludes that neonicotinoid contamination levels in both surface- and ground water in the United States and around the world are already beyond the threshold found to kill many aquatic invertebrates. Data on surface water contamination from surveys to date, most notably from California and from the Canadian Prairies, indicate that concentrations of several of the neonicotinoid insecticides are high enough to be causing impacts in aquatic food chains. Data from other jurisdictions such as the Netherlands show even higher levels of contamination.


The report also identifies procedural deficiencies in how the US Environmental Protection Agency assesses aquatic impacts. “EPA risk assessments have greatly underestimated this risk, using scientifically unsound, outdated methodology that has more to do with a game of chance than with a rigorous scientific process,” the report says.

Study Reveals Migration Secrets from Bird Watcher Observations

Reprinted from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

For centuries people have marveled at the migratory abilities of birds, but new research is now putting numbers on those seasonal feats—for more than a hundred  species at a time—using data contributed by thousands of amateur bird watchers.

In all, more than 2.3 million sightings were summarized to reveal migratory routes of 102 species in North America, in a paper published August 1 in Ecology. The results provide a fascinating glimpse at an astonishing range of species: for instance, the tiny Calliope Hummingbird crosses the continent almost three times as fast as the Northern Shoveler, which outweighs it more than 300 times. They also highlight the immense scientific value to be gained from bird watchers’ sightings when they can be combined into a single large database.

But the new research is much more than a leaderboard of feathered sporting achievements. Its real value is its ability to move beyond one-off records to characterize the behavior of an entire population.

“Up to this point, migration theory has really only been examined at the individual level,” said Frank La Sorte, a research associate at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and lead author of the new study. “But in the end, you want to conserve populations—you want to maintain their migration corridors, flyways, or stopover habitats. And that’s why there’s so much potential here.”

The new study plots the average route and speed of each species as it moves north and south each year. “Where the speeds slow down, the population is likely at a stopover location,” La Sorte said. “That’s a valuable patch of habitat where migrating birds can rest and refuel. With results from a study like ours, we can start to make very specific recommendations that we can be confident will impact a large component of the population.”

The researchers also tested basic aspects of migration theory that have proven nearly impossible to address until now. The typical method was to use expensive satellite tracking devices. But most birds are too small to carry these, forcing researchers to study larger species just a few individuals at a time, rather than learning about the behavior of a whole population.

With a single study, La Sorte’s team learned that larger-bodied birds tend to migrate more slowly than smaller species, confirming a long-held but untested idea. They also found that species migrating longer distances tend to travel faster. Birds also tend to migrate faster in spring than they do in fall.

La Sorte and his colleagues did no field work at all to arrive at their results; instead, they analyzed the sightings of thousands of bird watchers who contribute to an online checklist program called eBird, run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Using some 2.3 million records from 2007–2011, the researchers calculated an average location for each species on each day of the year. (They excluded species that use multiple distinct migratory pathways.)

Though the resulting measurements of speed and direction are coarser than for individuals tracked by satellite, they represent major shifts by thousands or millions of birds that would be impossible for any one scientist or bird watcher to detect on their own. For example, they found that the population of Bobolinks moves across North America at about 43 miles per day; Black-billed Cuckoos are similarly fast; whereas Rock Wrens (the slowest of all) shift their distribution at a comparatively glacial 5 miles per day.

The numbers don’t indicate a species’ top flight speed, La Sorte noted. Rather, they are an integrated value that incorporates variation in flight speed and time spent resting at refueling sites across all the individuals in the population.

The continental scale of the analysis revealed another intriguing pattern: many species make looping migrations that take them on a more easterly route in fall than in spring. Some species, such as the Blackpoll Warbler and the Black-billed Cuckoo, leave land altogether—launching themselves out over the Atlantic Ocean for their southward migration. The finding suggests that environmental factors such as wind patterns may have played a role in the evolution of migratory routes. They also yield important insights for conservation planners striving to maintain habitat for migrants.

“In some ways this study is just opening up potential for a really innovative field of study,” La Sorte said, noting that the team plans to investigate the continent’s major migratory flyways next. “It really represents a new perspective on avian migration.”


La Sorte’s coauthors on the study include Daniel Fink, Wesley Hochachka, and Steve Kelling of the Cornell Lab, and John DeLong of the University of Nebraska. The study was funded by the Leon Levy Foundation, Wolf Creek Foundation, and National Science Foundation.

State of the Birds: Successes of Protecting Bird Habitat on Private Lands

Reprinted from American Bird Conservancy

U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack released of the 2013 State of the Birds Report on Private Lands that shows how private land conservation incentives positively impact bird habitat.

“Our nation’s most effective conservation efforts are partnerships in which federal, state, and local governments work hand-in-hand with private landowners and other stakeholders,” said Secretary Jewell. “The programs highlighted in this report help build these voluntary partnerships to conserve the vital habitat of our many bird species. Many of these partnerships provide direct benefits to people such as improving water quality and supporting jobs and economic growth.”

Individuals, families, organizations, and corporations, including two million ranchers and farmers and about 10 million woodland owners, own and manage 1.43 billion acres, roughly 60 percent of the land area of the United States. Private lands are used by virtually all of the terrestrial and coastal birds of the United States, 251 of which are federally threatened, endangered, or of conservation concern. Many privately owned working lands that produce a bounty of food, timber, and other resources for society also provide valuable habitat for birds.

“Sixty percent of U.S. land is in private hands, making the efforts of farmers, ranchers, and landowners critical when it comes to creating, restoring, and protecting bird habitat,” Secretary Vilsack said. “Today’s report highlights the positive impact of voluntary conservation measures for birds, including those made possible by Farm Bill programs. The need for a long-term commitment to conservation is just one more good reason why we need Congressional passage of a multi-year Food, Farm, and Jobs Bill as soon as possible.”

According to ABC’s George Wallace, who wrote the report’s chapter on islands, “To reach our ambitious bird conservation goals, we will need all possible partners, and that means private land owners have to be in the mix. In Hawai'i, approximately half of the land area is in private ownership, including important tracts of high elevation forest and nearly half of the state’s wetlands.”

The success stories highlighted in this report demonstrate that these voluntary efforts on private lands are resulting in meaningful bird conservation results:

• Conservation Reserve Program (CRP): Henslow’s Sparrow populations, which have declined more than 95 percent since the mid-1960s, have rebounded in areas through CRP. In Illinois, regional Henslow’s Sparrow spring bird counts are now about 25 times greater than 30 years ago, prior to CRP. The Illinois counties with the highest percentage of CRP acreage also have the highest Henslow’s Sparrow population gains. A recent study in the Dakotas suggested that if CRP acres were put back into annual crop production, populations of several species of grassland birds (including Sedge Wren, Grasshopper Sparrow, Bobolink, and Western Meadowlark) would experience significant population declines, ranging up to 56 percent.
• Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP): The Wetland Reserve Program has restored 2.6 million acres of private wetlands across the nation. WRP-conserved wetlands provide essential breeding habitat for waterbirds such as Wood Duck and Hooded Merganser, wintering habitat for 3.5 to 4.5 million waterfowl every winter; and migratory stopover habitat for shorebirds such as Black-necked Stilt and Greater Yellowlegs.
• Natural Resources Conservation Service Landscape Conservation Initiatives: The Sage Grouse Initiative has targeted Farm Bill conservation funding to enroll more than 700 ranchers and implement sustainable grazing systems that improve habitat on more than 2 million acres in 11 western states. The Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative, delivered through various Farm Bill conservation programs, is providing inland habitats for migratory waterbirds on more than 470,000 acres of private lands in eight states from Florida and Georgia to Texas and Missouri.
• Chippewa Flowage Forest Conservation Easement: This Forest Legacy project—a partnership of the Forest Legacy Program, Wisconsin Bureau of Forest Management and Trust for Public Land—created an 18,000 acre conservation easement of forest, wetlands, and exceptional wildlife habitat especially important for forest birds like Wood Thrush, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Black-throated Green warbler, and water birds like the Bald Eagle, Osprey, and Common Loon.

The full 2013 State of the Birds Report on Private Lands is available here (http://www.stateofthebirds.org/). For more information about USDA’s many conservation programs visit www.usda.gov.

Video: Ranches and Water in the Everglades

Reprinted from Audubon Florida

With Audubon's strong support, the U.S Army Corps of Engineers has just approved the Nicodemus Slough Dispersed Water Management project, allowing for storage and pollutant removal of over 30,000 acre feet of water that would otherwise spill from Lake Okeechobee to the coastal estuaries. The cost of this project, built on private land in cooperation with Lykes Brothers Inc., is very low - at only $800 per acre foot of capacity.

This compares to costs that can range to $10,000 per acre foot of capacity for traditional government built and owned water storage projects. See how this remarkable project works, and how Audubon is working with other ranchers to promote projects that store and clean water. Click here or click on the image below to view the video.

With Lake Okeechobee's harmful discharges to the Indian River Lagoon and Pine Island Sound and the recent appointment of a Select Committee of the Florida Senate Committee to deal with this issue in the news, Audubon's effort to work with ranchers should be seen as a key part of the cost effective solution to the Lake Okeechobee crisis.

The power of Audubon - Water and Land Legacy Petition NOW available online!

By Jacqui Sulek, Audubon Florida

Most of you by now should be familiar with the FL Water and Land Legacy campaign.  Audubon Florida and 43 Chapters have endorsed this important initiative with the goal of putting money back in the state budget for conservation.  Many chapters have been active gathering signed petitions (over 16,000 so far) and most have you have likely already signed one. So here is the deal:

1. Just in case  you have not already signed one please follow this link  http://4fla.org/AudubonFL.  You will fill in your name and e-mail address and they will send you the link to download a hard copy. Please complete it per their instructions and send it in (they still need a real live signature) ASAP. 
2. Send a message to everyone you know with the link http://4fla.org/AudubonFL and tell them how important it is for them to do the same. The cool news is that using this link will identify that the request comes from Audubon.  So if we all do this right away and stress the urgency to others there should be a flood of petitions arriving around the same time at the campaign headquarters in Tallahassee!

I know many of you are taking a break from chapter activities for the summer but this is something that can be done from anywhere during a time when you have a few free moments. We must give Floridians a choice!

Let me know if you have any questions or feel free to contact :

Florida's Water & Land Legacy Campaign
office: (850) 629-4656
cell:  (850) 570-2500
Web:  www.FloridaWaterLandLegacy.org

Show them the power of Audubon this week!  Every petition helps!

Bird ID Tutorials: Cornell's Newest Way to Learn Online

Reprinted from the Cornell Lab eNews

Cornell Lab of Ornithology has introduced a self-paced series of Be a Better Birder tutorials. They’re aimed at beginning birders who want solid instruction in the basics of bird identification. These online courses back up each lesson with plenty of interactive quizzes and games to help you practice your skills. Tutorials are just $29, and you can take them as many times as you like for six months after you sign up.

More online offerings: Birds offer so many opportunities for learning. Our online options stretch from one-hour webinars to a 5-week online course in behavior, to our college-level Home Study Course. See the courses.

West Indies Adventure; Trinidad

By Matt Heyden

　

This would mark trip number 5 to Central and South America. Trinidad was in the top 5 on our “to do” list, and this year I discovered something very important to me. NON-STOP air fare from Orlando to Trinidad!! It appears it only runs a short time each summer, and the dates worked perfectly. Our destination in Trinidad would be Asa Wright, long regarded as THE place to bird in the West Indies. Asa Wright is an eco-lodge based on an old plantation from the 1800’s. The trust that administers the property has increased the number of acres under protection to 1500. This is exactly the kind of property we like to visit, in that we feel that if we don’t support eco-lodges, they simply won’t be able to carry on their conservation efforts. More than that, we also feel when we have down time, we can bird the trails. This has always been a big benefit.

Trinidad is about 7 miles off the coast of Venezuela, and is a small island country consisting of the islands of Trinidad, about 50 miles long, and Tobago, much smaller. A very small country indeed, yet believe it or not English speaking, however, with driving on the left side of the road. The population is about 1.3 million, with about 40% of the population of Indian (from India) background, 40% African, 19% mixed, and less than 1% white.

Caligo Ventures is the exclusive agent for Asa Wright in the United States. One of the partners, Larry , put together a very aggressive birding itinerary for us, and warned us that we would be “running and gunning” everyday. That’s the kind of trip that makes Lora happy, and running and gunning is a pretty good description of her.

After a quick 4 hour flight, our driver picks us up at the airport, and we are on our way, in no time. Some of our previous trips used non-English speaking drivers, so this one was wonderful because of the great information we obtained on the way to the lodge. Trinidad is oil rich, and diesel fuel is about $1 per gallon! Japan and Korea ship their used cars to Trinidad, as it is a ready market to accept cars that are right hand drive. So, they don’t buy new cars, and the residents save more than half the cost of a new car by purchasing used ones from Asia. There are cars everywhere.

Asa Wright Nature Center is at 1200’ elevation, so we have to climb some hills on roads that are extremely narrow and winding. We get to the lodge at about 9:30pm Trinidad time, which is the same as our daylight savings time, and are quickly ushered to our room, and urged to get some sleep as we will be getting up at 2:30am to go after some kind of bird that we can only see at dawn, somewhere a long drive off. Well, Larry warned me that since we wanted an aggressive trip, he could certainly provide one!

Eco lodges usually have some things in common, such as no TV or air conditioning. True to form, it’s hot when we get to our room, but there is a ceiling fan and a window with a screen. Waiting in our room are a couple of sandwiches and hot tea, also typical of the attention to detail eco-lodges are known for. As soon as we get into bed, the power is turned off. Well, I guess when they want you to go to sleep, they really mean it! At 2:30, there’s a knock on the door, and I realize that I hate this person, even though I don’t know who it is! The power is still off. Getting dressed was certainly interesting. However, they told us what to bring, so, having a flashlight certainly helped.

Waiting at the main lodge is our Nissan diesel mini bus, and our driver and guide is David Ramlil. He is a Trinidad resident of Indian descent. Joining us would be John and Olivia from Mississippi. These folks are probably some of the most adventurous folks I’ve ever known. For starters, they lived in a camping van for 5 months traveling Australia. They would spend the next two months hopping islands in the Caribbean, before heading back to the U.S.

We head down out of the hills, in the middle of the night, in order to cross the island by dawn. As we enter small towns, there are people everywhere with loud music playing. It’s 3:30am on a Saturday morning. Folks are just hanging out on the main drag through town. Trinidad is a party country. This happens all the time.

At dawn, we arrive in Grand Rivere. We stop on a narrow residential street high up on a hill so that we can overlook a valley. We are after the Trinidad Piping Guan. They had been pretty much hunted to extinction, so they were getting to be very hard to find. Our guide, David is an expert. He has a degree in environmental science, and would amaze us over and over again during the week. This is what you get when you go to places like Asa Wright that are world renowned.

From across the valley, in fly 4 Piping Guans! These are beautiful, huge birds darn near the size of turkeys. At the same time we see trogons, plumbeous kites, and both red crested and lineated woodpeckers. A picnic breakfast is served while we bird. It simply doesn’t get any better than this!

Moving on to other habitats, we pick up yellow cara-cara, band-rumped swifts, tropical peewee, and southern lapwing, before heading back to Asa Wright for lunch.

We wait for lunch to be announced on the famous veranda. Here is an incredible covered porch, about 40 feet wide, looking down over a huge valley. Not one house is visible. The town of Arima is visible far off in the distance. In front and below the veranda are feeding stations. Platforms with fruit, and several hummingbird feeders. Tourists pay to come sit on the veranda and view the birds. It’s that good. Here you will see purple and green honey creepers, white necked Jacobins, copper rumped humming birds, tufted coquettes, blue dacnis, bay headed tanagers, and on and on. There is almost always a uniformed guide on the veranda to help with bird identification. And there are photographers, lots of them.

A loud dinner bell rings, and lunch is announced in the main dining room. It’s a large room that can easily accommodate 50 folks. It has gigantic openings that face down the valley. Huge shutters are closed each night to keep the ocelots out. Meals are buffet style, with a staff member supervising (explaining what everything is). I can’t stress the importance of a buffet to me. I don’t want to wait for anything to be cooked. We want to bird right up to the minute dinner is served, and preferably bird from the table during dinner. A buffet is instantly available, and you can pick and choose. Furthermore, you can go back for more of what you like. There is no reason to ever be hungry when meals are served this way.

The power never did come back on, so I’m looking for the dishes that contain mayonnaise! There aren’t any, so we should be safe. These are Trinidad meals, meaning they represent many cultures. A little Indian, Jamaican, and others. Dress is casual, and you will be seated with others at large tables. We’re talking cloth napkins and table cloths.

After lunch, we sneak off to the secluded swimming hole under the water fall. It’s a short 10 minute walk following the private entrance road. It’s one of the most incredibly beautiful, private and romantic natural pools we’ve ever swam in. However, remembering where are, we also keep alert for two of the most poisonous snakes which are the bush master and the fer d’lance. We did run across one while birding on a previous trip to Central America, so we really never completely drop our guard.

After our cool swim, we want to explore the trail system. The trails are steep, but well maintained. Here we easily picked up white bearded manakin, and gold headed manakins at their leks. We’re birding in May, which is the beginning of the rainy season. The nature center has built a covered resting area half way down the trail, and it comes in very handy. However, it’s worth it as our U.S. birds have left, leaving the ones that we aren’t so familiar with. Easy birding!

At 4 PM each day, tea is served on the Veranda. Today, the conversation centers around the lack of electricity. It appears that the lodge has wi-fi, and some folks are going through withdrawal! The lodge is actually on the grid, with a huge back up generator. During the storm, trees came down, and a power surge knocked out the generator just as it was coming on line. As we were talking and birding, a huge rental generator had been delivered, and was being hooked up next to the generator building.

At 6PM each day, a tropical rum punch is served on the veranda as the light of day fades. I’m still not sure if the darkness was due to the punch, or the fact that the sun just sets that much earlier! When I take the first sip, I am thankful that I wasn’t near any candles or other open flames! Then I realized that they only served it to the guests that were staying overnight and not driving. It was delicious, but when I tried to find out how much rum was in it, the staff just laughed and said: “a lot”.

At 7PM, the dinner bell rings, the lights are back on, we head to the dining room. Joining us this evening would be Peter, the resort’s engineer. He’s had a miserable day wrestling with the power problem. He would join us the next few nights as well. We discovered that he was fifth generation Trinidadian, and as a white man, there would be an interesting history. We learned first hand what it was like to be living in Trinidad, and what his reality was. He had family in Europe and the U.S. He was most likely in his 70’s, and had no intent of living anywhere else.

The following morning David would march us down to see if we could actually find the bearded bell bird. The previous day, we could hear them, as they are extremely loud, but never got to see them. He gave us a clue. They like to have light on them, so they would be in the upper canopy, but in an area of few leaves. And indeed, once we knew that, we got to find one.

Our big trip today was at 4PM, so we had a little time to kill after lunch, and went searching for the old hydro plant. Lora teaches physics, so I knew this would be of interest to her. Hydroelectric systems work on gravity. Collect the water up hill, run it through a pipe that goes down hill, and through some kind of turbine attached to a generator. The dropping height determined how large of a generator could be turned. Peter hinted that it was time to explore hydro again for the nature center.

Hiking along the private entrance road, we saw golden-olive backed woodpecker, straight billed wood creeper, young bananaquits, an ochre-bellied flycatcher, and a beautiful blue browed mot-mot. This road is exactly what I love to bird. Virtually no traffic, silent, with lots of switch backs and stream crossings. Incredible plants such as giant sized heliconias, torch gingers, and two kinds of bamboo. Eventually, we start hearing very loud voices yelling and carrying on in traveling cars and trucks continuing up the mountain past our private gated entrance road. While I thought it odd that so many folks would be traveling together raising hell, I didn’t give it much thought, other than it probably wasn’t a smart thing to attempt to bird the main mountain road. It’s just barely a road with many hair pin turns, ruts and holes, and just wide enough for one car. Yet it’s the only way to the north coast. Wisdom kicks in, and I realize birding along the road with the wild traffic wasn’t such a good idea, so we hike back to the lodge to prepare for our 4PM adventure.

David and the 4 of us head down the mountain passing lots of party goers coming up the mountain. Our first stop is the old Waller Air Field, an abandoned WWII air force base which was the largest in South America. Now, it’s being parceled off for commercial purposes. David is after the last Moriche Orioles on Trinidad. There may be 5 left. He works hard, and produces a male and a female. It sings beautifully, and that’s the reason for it’s demise. They have been trapped and caged for years. Having a caged bird on your porch is a big deal in Trinidad. We’re also finding fork tailed palm swifts, palm tanagers, and yellow cara cara.

Moving on, we head to the Aripo Savannah Agricultural Field Station. One of the projects of this research station is an experimental breed of cattle called a “buffalypso”. No, I didn’t make it up. It’s a cross between Brahma and Asian buffalo. In an old stable, David puts down the white table cloth and pours the rum punch. We enjoy our punch watching the lapwings in the meadows, while he puts out our dinner. A hot meal with real plates and silverware.

We are joined by our security guard for dinner. David explains that for this portion of this trip, he is required to have one of the guards from Asa Wright accompany us in a separate vehicle. This has never happened before on any of our trips. While everyone knows that I’m a little dangerous, this is the first time anyone actually had to get a guard to keep me in line! I want to know if he’s armed. There isn’t one showing. Over the course of our dinner conversation, I learn that it’s very, very hard to get a legal gun in Trinidad. I came to the conclusion that he probably was armed, but that we wouldn’t be seeing it.

When it gets dark, David packs up the picnic and announces it’s tropical screech owl time! In less than 30 minutes, he has found an entire family to watch, and photograph. Then it’s into the van to travel through the fields. Following us, driving with no headlights on is our guard.

David is driving, and searching with a spot light for common pauraques and white-tailed nightjars. This is the easiest birding of our lives. The birds are everywhere, even sitting in the shine of our headlights on this dirt farm path! While driving, David spots common potoos on the top of fence posts. Their eyes glow a huge orange glow in the dark. These fields are filled with fire flies, and when outside the vehicle, I’m amazed by the beauty of this place, and I’m also aware of our guard standing about 50 feet away, silently in the dark.

It’s getting late, and we need to head back to the nature center. The mountain road that leads up to where our entrance road starts is simply treacherous, now more so in the dark. The traffic coming down the mountain is driving somewhat recklessly. It’s the party goers that went up the mountain earlier. On a hairpin turn, David slams on the brakes. We are facing a long string of cars coming down, and the road isn’t wide enough for the vehicles to pass each other. David just sits there waiting for the other driver to back up. He refuses. I’m in the back of our bus, and can see the other driver in our headlights. He was feeling no pain. The pickup trucks behind him had lots and lots of partiers sitting in the cargo areas. They had a small intoxicated army! Our driver starts yelling at them to back up. The only way out of this mini bus is through the sliding door that is now up against a sheer drop off. That would be our choice. Cliff or mob. Swell. Out of nowhere, in our headlights appears a tall man with his face covered by his tee shirt. He is carrying a 4’long machete. David isn’t the least panicked. He’s just very angry at the other driver. In ten seconds, machete man convinces the other driver that if he liked the way he was breathing, he should back up now. And he does.

We carry on our way up the mountain past all the party animals with David laughing. He explains that he knows machete man, and that he is always there when any kind of disturbance occurs. I don’t know where our guard was, other than his vehicle was still right on our tail.

Some important points here. I’m always trying to determine if it is better to simply rent a car and travel on our own in these places. On this trip especially, our guide had access to properties that were closed to the public. Additionally, we would never venture out driving these roads at night. This means that more than half of the 90 or so life birds we picked up this trip, we never would have seen. David is a master at this business, and is well respected and thought of everywhere we go, as you will see. And it made all the difference.

Next point is danger. We’ve never been in any danger that we have been aware of. That said, we recently met a birding couple that was robbed on a birding trip to Belize, and get this, they were with a guide. Even the guide was robbed. To put this into perspective, it’s important to know that they were not harmed in anyway. However the robbers were so poor that they took the birders’ optics, cameras, wallets and their shoes. I tend to think the shoe part was more about immobilizing the birders, or at least slowing them down. We also know of a number of folks that had foiled robbers while they were in cities on their own. All of this leads to our continuing decision to stay at eco lodges, all of which are gated and have 24/7 security. No, it’s not cheap, but so far, we always get back home in fine shape. 

Back to our story.

Back at the lodge, we drift off to sleep listening to the ferruginous pygmy owl that is very close by. Up early, we start our only full day of rain. Not deterred, David has us bird from the van. We stumble upon a mixed flock eating swarming termites. How convenient! All the locals such as golden crowned warblers and white lined tanagers were enjoying the termite banquet. In our travels, we travel up the mountain to the scene of the wild party or “bashment” as the locals called it. There must have been more than 1,000 folks up there based on the mountains of garbage. A wild party like this is also called a harvest. Indeed there were still some huge tents standing where harvest goods would have been sold. They can grow anything here, so use your imagination!

We had lunch under a tent and had time to observe some of the local plants. In Florida we grow ti, crotons and hibiscus. Now imagine not ever having the danger of frost or drought. These plants are as big as houses here. Nearby, we pick up white flanked ant bird, black headed ant thrush, jacamars and bay headed tanagers.

After lunch, we’re back up in the mountains birding in the pouring rain. A car load of guys passes us, and stops in front of us. One of the men in the back seat jumps out with a machete. I’m thinking: “oh, come on, this is getting old”. Something on the ground near the car has caught his eye. He places his machete over something and puts his foot on the blade. Turns out he is catching crabs….giant land crabs. These crabs are nearly as wide as a notebook computer!

If we hadn’t seen this, we wouldn’t have believed it. We probably encountered 20 cars full of folks driving the mountain roads catching these crabs. The crabs walk out to the edge of the road to catch a ride to town, I guess. They get the ride, but I don’t think it’s what they had in mind! The recipe is curried crab with dumplings.

David explains that there are no rules about this, so the numbers of crabs are starting to decline, and will have a long term devastating effect on the population.

The following day, we’re back at the agricultural station, but in the daylight. No guard necessary. We are traveling through the pastures and fields looking for striated heron, spine tails and pinnated bitterns, all of which he easily produces. Later in the day, we are at one of David’s secret places. David has found a family of black crowned parrots. They are not on the birding list for Trinidad. This is a first. We are instructed that when traffic goes by, we are to be looking in other directions so that the locals don’t get curious. If found, they might be captured and sold. David is a very involved conservationist on all levels. Anyhow, this is somewhat typical of how we spent the remainder of our time, except for four really incredible surprises.

The first was night time nesting turtle adventure. I’m thinking: yeah, yeah, yeah, you have turtles. I’m from Florida, and we have turtles too. How wrong I was. We pack up the mini bus at 4 and head to the other side of the island. Road trips like this is what I live for. When I’m not driving, I’m seeing everything from the cars to the buildings and interactions of people. We got through Valencia which was slow and busy. In Matura, we pick up Frances, a turtle guide instrumental in the conservation efforts. David also played a role in getting Nature Seekers set up. In 1990, more than 30% of the critically endangered leatherback turtles were being slaughtered each night. Now, more than 20 full time community volunteers assist with the protection, and in Trinidad, you need a permit to view the nesting turtles.

The roads get smaller and smaller and eventually turn to dirt as the sun sets. We are in the middle of nowhere when the road ends, and tah-dah, here is a stone parking lot for hundreds of cars., just walking distance to the beach. There is a covered pavilion, with some kind of office that is closed, as are the restrooms. However, behind the building are urinals on the outside wall. Out in the open, completely. We’ve seen this many times on other trips, so I’m having one installed on the back of our house in Florida. Hmmm, on second thought, maybe not!

Anyhow, this gigantic parking lot is empty, and I don’t know what to think. David produces the white table cloth, the rum punch, and our hot dinner. We talk turtles over supper, and it turns out that David was very involved in starting the turtle protection movement here. Someone says we are having boat or lote for supper. As usual, I wasn’t listening, but did wonder which dish it was. Oh well, I’m not a foodie, and I’m honestly happy with a sandwich on a beach anytime, so, I’m enjoying myself. A few minutes later, Lora asks; “so, what did you think of it”? As usual, I say; “duh, what did I think of what”? Lora says THE GOAT. Well, like I said, I would always be happy with just a sandwich, and trust me, it does not taste like chicken! Yep, perhaps a little more rum punch will be called for!

Packing up the dinner dishes, we get ready to head down to the beach. Remember, the further south you go in summer, the earlier the sun sets. In June, it’s dark by 7. Other cars are now arriving. In no time, it’s a mob scene. We are just standing waiting for our signal that a turtle has come in, when we realize that baby leather back turtles are boiling right up under our feet!!! Groups of children are on their hands and knees. They are picking up the turtles. David isn’t at all happy. He once again seizes control, and issues orders to the crowds about what they can and cannot do. The guides arrive, and order is restored.

Now add another 500 people. The parking lot is full, about 30 guides are briefing groups and heading down to the beach. There are people everywhere. The critically endangered gigantic leather back turtles are coming in like some kind of invasion! They look like monsters in the dark, climbing up out of the water. Our signal is given, and we were marched down the beach to witness one dig the nest, deposit the eggs, and cover it up. It’s now 9:30, and the crowds are continuing to build. I’m getting really uncomfortable. The crowds are huge. The tide is coming in. There is very little beach to walk back on. It’s pitch black, and if we get separated, it’s going to be a mess. We head back against the current of humanity. The parking lot is full, and folks are parked down the road. There are busses that can’t turn around. Crowds are assembled with guides giving instructions.

David gets the bus extracted out of the parking frenzy, and once again, I think of Asa Wright. They get you in and out first. Folks were still coming in, and we were finished, and escaped much of the building mayhem.

On the way home, David expressed the feeling that he didn’t want us to see such chaos. However, as always my opinion was a little different. I explained how impressed I was that their program had greatly reduced poaching, and even with all the human activity, it was only on about what I estimated to be 10% of the beach. The citizens were being educated, and they loved the turtles. I also now know why there were always so many vultures on the beaches.

The second incredible surprise trip that was so shocking was a trip to Theo Ferguson’s home which he has named Yerette (home of the hummingbird) . Theo and his wife have a magical location on a hill overlooking the Maracas Valley. They have made this home their business. They cater to well off folks that want to see 13 of the 17 species of hummingbirds that Trinidad has, while being fed a wonderful lunch.

There are well dressed folks everywhere, and they are from all over the world. Children are running around with camera outfits that must have cost thousands. I quickly count 21 feeders, and the property is full of plants that are eagerly visited by the hummingbirds. I’m guessing there are about 200 birds present. Theo informs me that when it gets busy, he has to put out 40 feeders!!!

The living room has been turned into his auditorium, where he runs a quick slide show. I notice the presentation is dedicated to the guides at Asa Wright. Again I realize that David has once again built a most special relationship, and indeed has again delivered an incredible experience. Imagine the magnificent ruby topaz hummingbird photographed with such incredible detail, that you can see all, and I mean all the colors.

David is trying to put out lunch for us, and I’m just not there. I’m mesmerized by the birds. I have no idea what we ate, and I couldn’t care less. Thirteen species in one afternoon. Once again, I come to the conclusion that if we ever do relocate to another country, it has to be at elevation, away from the coast, and carefully selected. I asked David what would happen to the property when Theo didn’t want it anymore. He hadn’t really thought about it, so I asked him what a property like this would sell for. When I got done converting 1.2 million tt dollars to U.S. dollars, it came to about $250,000. Expensive, but it has a very good income stream.

I laugh to myself about how difficult we would make it in the states on anyone wanting to do something similar. We’d have food inspectors, licensing requirements, zoning restrictions, sales tax bookkeeping, and of course insurance companies that would not be interested in writing any kind of coverage!

Three policemen are marching around the yard. Yes, I was thinking about taking the little boy’s incredibly expensive camera and then shoving him off the ledge accidentally. But I didn’t do it. Yet the police were there already. Hmm, well no new camera on this trip! Turns out Theo had another group coming in after lunch, so the police were there checking the place out because the wife of the ambassador to China would be there at 3 PM. There can be good money indeed in catering to birders. Hmm, I wonder what kind of camera she’d have!

Our third wonderful surprise was our hike to the Oilbird cave, which is on the grounds of Asa Wright. Oilbirds look like large night hawks, and are in caves during the daylight. They are the only night birds that are actually fruit eaters, and can echo-locate. Before the birds fledge, the babies are actually double the weight of the parents, and quite oily. So, in the old days, I’ll put this as delicately as I can. The chicks were harvested and used for torches. I’m going to stick to my candles. There were a lot of stairs leading down to the cave, but it certainly was worth the trip.

Our fourth surprise was our adventure in the Caroni swamp. This is a huge, 40 square mile brackish swamp. We arrive about an hour before sunset. To accommodate the folks that want to see it, several tour operators are running huge shallow draft boats that seat about 30 folks on pew like seating. We head out in mangrove lined canals. We sneak up on a Cayman. About 3 feet. After kayaking alongside 12 foot long alligators in Florida, it wasn’t that impressive! Boa-constrictors are in the trees up over head. Judging from the reaction of some of the folks on the boats, they were feeling a little creeped out! Further out we are shown a nesting potoo and tropical screech owl.

Moving out to open water, we see all the other tour operators. There are probably 300 customers tonight that have come out for this tour. Our boat stops, and rum punch is served. David put us in the back of the boat, so the other customers wouldn’t be aware of our sunset cocktail adventure. While waiting, we get our first look at a large billed tern. As the sun sets, I’m aware of why we are here. A scarlet ibis flies overhead, and lands in a mangrove as large as a drive-in movie screen perfectly lit. No frost here, so there is never any die back. They are as big as houses. They are so red, and so large, that they don’t look real. No one can be that beautiful. As the sun set, in come another 200 scarlet ibis! Our boats are a long way off, so as not to disturb their roosting for the night.

True to form, we are the first boat to head back. As we get out of the boat, the cloud of mosquitoes arrives, and just in time, we are in the mini bus and on our way.

On our last day, the staff put out breakfast super early for us so that we could get to the airport on time. Asa Wright didn’t miss a trick. What an easy, flawless trip. There is no reason not to do this one. And this brings me to one last note.

During our stay, we met a group from a college in Indiana. The trip leader was 78, and a serious birder. This was her 25th trip to Asa Wright as a leader. That’s how good the trip is, but also how important it is.