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.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
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.
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.
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.
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:
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)
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."
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.
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.
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.
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
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