WildBird on the Fly

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176892542012-01-31T06:48:36.636-08:00WildBird on the Flytidbits about birds, birders and birding from WildBird's editorAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.comBlogger13201100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-24194461232882527022011-04-06T17:11:00.000-07:002011-04-06T17:11:48.374-07:002010 ABA Young Birder of the Year: Rachael Butek

Hearty congratulations to 18-year-old Rachael Butek of Colfax, Wis., for earning the title of 2010 ABA Birder of the Year! She began watching birds in 2008 and quickly developed into a skilled observer and communicator.The annual competition by American Birding Association includes four modules in which entrants can submit work: writing, photography, illustration and field notebook. Rachael chose

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-47594489077547790232011-03-28T17:21:00.000-07:002011-03-28T17:33:07.547-07:00The Peregrine Fund teams with royal foundation

The Boise, Idaho-based conservation organization focused on birds of prey recently signed a two-year renewable agreement with The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation-USA. Albert II became His Serene Highness The Sovereign Prince of Monaco in 2005 and established the foundation in 2006. According to a press release: The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation works internationally to support

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-17304353019295596722011-03-02T13:55:00.000-08:002011-03-02T13:55:49.437-08:00Invasive species not more troublesome than in home ranges

Many birders chafe at any species labeled "invasive" or nonnative. We point to House Sparrows or kudzu (below) as species that compete with natives, often to the detriment of the latter. We often think of the invasives as out-of-control marauders that run rampant after finding new territories to exploit.A recent worldwide study organized by Stan Harpole, assistant professor of ecology, evolution

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-36533176157139080072011-02-28T09:28:00.000-08:002011-02-28T09:31:20.780-08:00Raptors in the City takes off again

If you like Peregrine Falcons, marvel at their recovery from the effects of DDT and want to see how they adapt to city life, then you'd enjoy keeping tabs on a PEFA nest in Cleveland, Ohio. Just sign up for the Falcon Flash newsletter sent via e-mail from Raptors in the City.This year's first Falcon Flash appeared in my e-mail inbox this morning, and I'm delighted to catch up with Ranger, SW and

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-86006005730024515822011-02-14T09:32:00.000-08:002011-02-14T09:34:40.454-08:00The first condor egg of the season appears!

Last week, biologists at The Peregrine Fund’s World Center for Birds of Prey discovered an egg laid by a 13-year-old California Condor at the Boise, Idaho, facility. The center houses 57 condors -- the largest captive flock on Earth -- and it anticipates 19 pairs to produce eggs.“It’s always a thrill to see the first egg of the season,” said Marti Jenkins, who oversees The Peregrine Fund’s condor

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-72619953215510566952011-02-10T12:32:00.000-08:002011-02-10T12:47:58.679-08:00Great Backyard Bird Count in the news

The annual Presidents Day weekend census of backyard birds will start on Friday, Feb. 18, but it's already in the news from Maine to Arizona. The Great Backyard Bird Count -- organized by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society and Bird Studies Canada -- gives casual and expert birdwatchers alike the chance to contribute data and create a snapshot of winter bird populations in

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-45525898934139460472011-02-07T11:15:00.000-08:002011-02-07T11:20:09.333-08:00'Ding' Darling's role in NWF's 75th anniversary

Perhaps you've heard about -- or had the pleasure of birding -- Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Florida's Sanibel Island. I had the pleasure of staying on the island and visiting the refuge with three of WildBird's Birders of the Year, and I hope to return for more fantastic views of Roseate Spoonbills and other specialties.While WildBird celebrates its 25th anniversary this year,

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-77528791770690130732010-12-28T10:02:00.000-08:002010-12-28T10:09:46.283-08:00Endangered Species status for 7 Brazilian birds

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced its decision to list seven species as endangered under the Endangered Species Act:* Black-hooded Antwren (Formicivora erythronotos)* Brazilian Merganser (Mergus octosetaceus)* Cherry-throated Tanager (Nemosia rourei)* Fringe-backed Fire-eye (Pyriglena atra)* Kaempfer’s Tody-Tyrant (Hemitriccus kaempferi)* Margaretta’s Hermit (Phaethornis malaris

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-27516732009971105752010-12-22T15:11:00.000-08:002010-12-22T15:19:17.930-08:00Harpy Eagle nest found north of known range

From Environmental News Network comes a press release about the discovery of a Harpy Eagle nest with chicks located in Belize, 700 miles north of the raptor's known range.TOLEDO DISTRICT, Belize – Scientists recently discovered an active Harpy Eagle nest in the Maya Mountains of Belize. Thought to be locally extinct in Belize since 2000 and extirpated from Mexico and most of Central America north

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-86623094834254944482010-12-22T09:54:00.000-08:002010-12-22T09:58:32.756-08:00$19 million for coastal wetlands conservation

From U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service:Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today the award of more than $19 million to support 24 conservation projects benefiting fish and wildlife on more than 5,900 acres of coastal habitats in twelve states in the U.S. through the 2011 National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program. These federal grants will be matched by nearly $18.7 million in

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-11211729482542567842010-12-20T11:27:00.000-08:002010-12-20T11:30:51.579-08:00White-winged Crossbill Feeding Technique

Have you perused or subscribed to The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's YouTube channel? It offers an incredible selection of videos related to birds and birding.For instance, check out this video that illustrates the feeding technique used by White-winged Crossbills to extract seeds from white spruce trees. The crossbill item is one of a handful in the Lab's "How Nature Works" videos.You can learn

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-39679362343123586472010-12-13T12:44:00.000-08:002010-12-13T12:50:52.190-08:00"Please do not fear the birders"

A letter written by Richard A. Danca in Newton, Mass., likely needs to appear in many newspapers and on websites far and wide before the annual Christmas Bird Count begins on Dec. 14. The letter might dispel some unease and prevent incidents such as the arrest of birder Paul Peterson of Boston last January.Danca wrote:Please don't panic if you see people with binoculars tramping around the week

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-1770991671080257312010-12-06T09:05:00.000-08:002010-12-06T09:05:00.249-08:00Junior Duck Stamp entries due in early 2011

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service enacourages K-12 students to share their art skills while learning about ducks by entering the 2011 Junior Duck Stamp competition. Most states' competitions have a March 15, 2011, deadline, but some states have much earlier deadlines, such as January. Check your state on this map to confirm its rules and deadline.In addition to awarding national recognition and

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-25482073660818321122010-12-03T10:42:00.000-08:002010-12-03T10:42:00.532-08:00Hawaiian company agrees to help seabirds more

From U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service press release:The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative entered a plea agreement today in federal court in Honolulu to resolve violations of the Endangered Species Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the U.S. Department of Justice announced today. KIUC pleaded guilty to count one and count 16 of a 19-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in May 2010.Count

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-21500339265732585342010-12-02T12:17:00.000-08:002010-12-02T12:25:55.599-08:005 Southeastern forests safer from logging

A recent collaboration between industry and environmental groups resulted in Georgia-Pacific announcing that it would not buy wood fiber from areas recognized as environmentally sensitive or where slow-growing hardwood forests have been cleared in order to plant quick-growing pine.In a press release, American Bird Conservancy lauded Georgia-Pacific's new policy, which affects 11 sites, and

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-63042499465731810902010-12-01T16:36:00.000-08:002010-12-01T16:46:52.989-08:00Shiny black feathers: structurally different

The shiny feathers on Common Ravens, for instance, display a unique structure that might prove useful to humans, according to research by scientists at The University of Akron.Integrated bioscience Ph.D. student Rafael Maia, postdoctoral researcher Liliana D’Alba and assistant professor Matthew Shawkey found that shiny black feathers have a single thin keratin layer but loosely organized

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-84199434515952398772010-11-29T18:43:00.000-08:002010-11-29T19:36:14.394-08:00Whooping Cranes' progress in Operation Migration

Weather in Hardin County, Tenn., has grounded the 10 young Whooping Cranes migrating from Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin to Chassahowitzka NWR in Florida. (Click on the image to see a larger version.) With guidance from three ultralight aircraft, the birds will fly more than 1,280 miles to reach their wintering grounds. This year's flock began their journey on October 10, and as of

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-78625309939551980882010-11-21T18:20:00.000-08:002010-11-22T12:13:48.513-08:00Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival: Saturday

Did you catch the five previous posts? If not, go here, here, here, here and here.Saturday -- our last day together at Harlingen's annual birding festival -- brought a definite change in the weather: much cooler, brisk, even chilly. My roommates, Catherine and Sharon, teased me for my Southern Californian intolerance for cooler temperatures, so I wore layers before we made another pilgrimage to

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-90616806226632560202010-11-21T16:05:00.000-08:002010-11-21T17:19:50.312-08:00Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival: Friday

Did you catch the four previous posts? If not, go here, here, here and here.Friday's birding began a bit earlier. Catherine departed before dawn for a shorebird field trip with WildBird contributors Kevin Karlson (of "The Shorebird Guide" with Michael O'Brien and Richard Crossley) and Jessie Barry of The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Our recently arrived roommate, Sharon -- also known as Birdchick

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-27828956561828436612010-11-21T10:34:00.000-08:002010-11-21T16:05:01.129-08:00Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival: Thursday

Did you catch the three previous posts? If not, go here, here and here.Thursday got off to a leisurely start. My roommate and I hadn't signed up for field trips on this day, so we took our time before driving to Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco. We'd heard at Wednesday night's reception about the rarity identified by Jon Dunn -- a Ruddy Ground-Dove -- so the possibility of seeing that

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-821302882481626692010-11-19T19:11:00.000-08:002010-11-19T19:18:13.195-08:00Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival: Wednesday

Did you catch the two previous posts about the festival? If not, go here and here.With much anticipation, I boarded a 12:30 a.m. flight from Los Angeles International Airport to Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. This journey to southern Texas marked my fifth year as an attendee at Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival, and I knew that incredible birds, wonderful people and tasty vittles

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-84033140447117962722010-11-18T13:28:00.000-08:002010-11-18T13:36:26.485-08:00More news of Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival

While birders who cannot attend bird events -- like the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival on Nov. 10-14 -- can keep track of the field trips, presentations and other activities via newspapers' websites, they have other online options, too. Many birders attending festivals -- and even the festivals themselves -- now use Twitter, Facebook and blogs to relay information, providing another way for

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-341500419171312442010-11-17T20:38:00.000-08:002010-11-17T20:43:43.213-08:00News of Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival

The Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival took place last week, Nov. 10-14. I was fortunate enough to arrive in Harlingen on Wednesday morning and remain until Sunday morning. Having missed the 2009 festival, it felt especially delightful to return to the valley.Even when birders can't attend birding events and festivals, we can keep tabs of the goings-on and the bird sightings. It seems as if more

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-5931685333620197582010-11-02T08:50:00.000-07:002010-11-02T08:57:28.423-07:00Could birdscaping attract or deter criminals?

A study about the effect of urban trees on crime rates poses the possibility that trees can reduce the incidence of certain crimes. Covering a three-year period, researchers looked at 431 crimes reported among a sample of 2,813 single-family homes in Portland, Ore.The abstract for the study's article in Environment & Behavior says:In general, the authors find that trees in the public right of way

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-34045802633264144622010-10-29T17:11:00.000-07:002010-10-29T17:23:03.878-07:00Almost 200 countries agree on biodiversity goals

In Nagoya, Japan, delegates from almost 200 nations attending the 10th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity agreed today to goals focused on ensuring species' survival. After two weeks of intense discussion, attendees eventually "came to a concensus to a 20-point strategic plan to protect fish stocks, fight the loss and degradation of natural habitats and to

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-41095325118644382962010-10-19T15:20:00.000-07:002010-10-19T15:22:49.448-07:00Rowe removes invasive plants in the Everglades

It's a dirty job, and Mike Rowe's giving the rest of America a peek into the work that goes into removing invasive plants from our ecosystems. That glimpse into habitat restoration will air on Oct. 26 on “Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe” on Discovery Channel.In "Wetland Warrior," Rowe visits Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge near Boynton Beach, Fla., to remove melaleuca, a

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-59765490143085441852010-10-19T08:54:00.000-07:002010-10-19T08:54:00.713-07:00San Francisco considers bird-safe building standards

Earlier this month, the San Francisco Planning Department released the 38-page draft of "Standards for Bird-Safe Buildings," which is available for public comment through the end of the year. You can view it here before submitting comments to the Planning Commissioners via the commission secretary and the manager of legislative affairs.The draft's acknowledgments included a hat tip to the cities

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-3846596681505442612010-10-18T08:20:00.000-07:002010-10-18T08:20:00.361-07:00Three Hawaiian seabirds at risk from utility cooperative

Three seabirds in the Hawaiian Islands prompted a utility cooperative on Kauai to submit a draft Habitat Conservation Plan and an Environmental Assessment for public review. The HCP and EA are part of Kauai Island Utility Cooperative's application for an incidental take permit for bird species protected under the Endangered Species Act. The public may review and comment on the documents until Nov

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-68901069742409777482010-10-17T14:48:00.000-07:002010-10-17T14:57:27.328-07:00Minnesota artist wins Duck Stamp contest for the fourth time

James Hautman of Chaska, Minn., earned top honors again in the annual Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest with his painting of two Greater White-fronted Geese. The judging and announcement took place Saturday at the David Brower Center in Berkeley, Calif.Hautman's work bested more than 230 entries and will appear as the 2011-12 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp. He previously won the

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-54044157028676444912010-10-15T08:20:00.000-07:002010-10-15T08:20:00.778-07:00Duck Stamp art contest begins in Berkeley

Today marks the first time that the Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest will take place on the Pacific Coast. That Bay Area bastion of liberalism, Berkeley, serves as the site for the two-day public event that focuses on a stamp that hunters must purchase each year to shoot legally.During its 61-year history, sales of the federal Duck Stamp have generated more than $700 million to purchase at least 5

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-68980134227231242182010-10-07T10:15:00.000-07:002010-10-07T10:18:34.085-07:00Restoration work resumes at Florida state park

Birds and other creatures visiting or living within Topsail Hill Preserve State Park near Destin, Fla., will benefit soon from better water flow, thanks to the resumption of a restoration project interrupted by response efforts to the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, the state park features more than 13 miles of shoreline and inland trails for

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-10488856509399479522010-10-06T15:07:00.000-07:002010-10-06T15:16:06.371-07:00NatGeo's 'Layers of Life' looks at BP's Gulf disaster

The October issue of National Geographic focuses on The Spill, the common yet misleading name for the BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. More than a "spill," the Macondo well is thought now to have spewed 60,000 barrels a day for almost three months before engineers finally capped it. That means close to 5 million barrels of oil entered the waters -- and the majority likely has not

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-23971089568224642542010-09-22T08:07:00.000-07:002010-09-22T08:07:00.215-07:00World Animal Day highlights endangered species

Less than two weeks away, Oct. 4 stands out as World Animal Day, an opportunity to focus attention on endangered species while celebrating animals' roles in human lives. The celebration began in 1931 during a convention of ecologists in Italy and expanded its focus in recent years.The current mission statement says the day provides a way:* To celebrate animal life in all its forms* To celebrate

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-18622531757168589712010-09-21T08:55:00.000-07:002010-09-21T08:55:00.081-07:00I and the Bird #134

It's not too late to enjoy the latest edition of the bird-blogging carnival, I and the Bird. Hosted by Grant at Birds on the Brain, you'll find many bloggers' posts as well as related books recommmended by Grant. You might find some items to add to your personal wishlists or to purchase as gifts for other birders.Mark your calendar for the next edition, which will be hosted by Larry at The

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-44610686484075864322010-09-20T08:37:00.000-07:002010-09-20T08:37:00.119-07:00Coastal Cleanup Day

Traditionally held on the third Saturday of September, International Coastal Cleanup Day included Filipino youth at Manila Bay as well as schoolchildren near Tampa, Fla. Many more groups plan to collect litter and debris from waterways and shores on Sat., Sept. 25.Ocean Conservancy spearheads the annual event, with this being the 25th year. You can find an event near you by searching via this

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-51511749007134258572010-09-16T13:48:00.000-07:002010-09-16T13:53:36.602-07:00Duck Stamp sales add to protected land in California

In the Golden State, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will acquire more land after receiving funds from the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission. The money comes from the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, which includes proceeds from the sales of the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, known as the Federal Duck Stamp. Other states also benefited from the MBCC's announcement on

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-49588468117784512572010-09-15T08:31:00.000-07:002010-09-15T08:31:00.216-07:00Report: Why bird flocks move in unison

Birders have long longed to understand how birds in flicks move in synchronicity and appear to make snap decisions as a group. Researchers from Budapest, Hungary, used a particle model to investigate flocks of birds landing on foraging flights.In the report published in "New Journal of Physics," the researchers describe their use of a self-propelled particle system in whcih the particles

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-51684976539152117672010-09-13T11:24:00.000-07:002010-09-13T11:28:46.130-07:00Free entry to Kilauea Point NWR on Sept. 25

Will you be in The Aloha State, specifically on Kauai, later this month? You can receive free admission to Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge on Sept. 25 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in honor of National Public Lands Day and Nene Awareness Day.National Public Lands Day celebrates the 655 million acres of forests, parks, refuges and open spaces that all of us own. At Kilauea Point NWR, visitors

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-85227427508942206832010-09-10T11:55:00.000-07:002010-09-10T12:08:29.196-07:00Great Lakes Seaway Trail bird checklist now online

Interested in finding more than 300 bird species while birding along the freshwater shoreline of New York and Pennsylvania? The Great Lakes Seaway Trail Birder's Checklist can help you do that while traveling the 518-mile route.This America's Byway route includes waterfront and sandy dunes, field, forest and wetlands, and the checklist covers species commonly seen in areas ranging from the

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-20558446799167751082010-09-09T08:48:00.000-07:002010-09-09T08:48:00.663-07:00Scouts are Flying Wild

A program aimed at schoolchildren and created by Council for Environmental Education, Flying Wild partners recently worked with Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the United States of America to integrate the environmental education activities with current scout badges and Try-It Activities.This document shows the correlations between Flying Wild items and the Girl Scout projects for

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-1459384792484916912010-09-08T13:53:00.000-07:002010-09-08T14:03:22.118-07:00Restore America's Estuaries announces sched for Nov. conference

The Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Restore America's Estuaries recently released the program schedule for its fifth conference, scheduled for Nov. 13-17 in Galveston, Texas. Focusing on the restoration of coastal and estuarine habitats, the group will look closely at "Preparing for Climate Change: Science, Practice, and Policy" through panel discussions and presentations.The organization says:

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-45245495733014609092010-08-30T08:39:00.000-07:002010-08-30T08:39:00.076-07:00On hiatus. Happy Labor Day!

Blog posts will resume on the week of Sept. 7. Best wishes for a good week and great birding!

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-83537394525947323602010-08-26T16:56:00.000-07:002010-08-26T17:04:20.741-07:00American White Pelican graces "California Parklands"

California State Parks Foundation sends a newsletter to its members three times a year, and the cover of the summer 2010 issue shows an American White Pelican in flight just above the water at Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park in the state's northeastern region. The neat action shot adds to the avian theme that begins with the foundation's California Quail logo.Due to the state's budget crisis,

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-39122025608763467732010-08-25T14:00:00.000-07:002010-08-25T14:01:29.877-07:00Boreal birds now at risk in the Gulf

Because the Gulf of Mexico provides wintering habitat for millions of Canada's migratory birds, concern has increased about the boreal species' return this fall.“The world’s largest migration occurs every year when billions of birds fly from Canada to areas south, including the Gulf Coast,” said Dr. Jeff Wells, senior scientist at the Boreal Songbird Initiative. “We’re not sure what these birds

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-68801463792168213592010-08-20T08:44:00.000-07:002010-08-20T08:44:00.349-07:00Presidential Citizens Medal recipient advocates conservation

President Barack Obama awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal to 13 Americans this month, including Elizabeth Cushman Titus Putnam of Shaftsbury, Vt. The White House said the 40-year-old honor spotlights Americans who perform "exemplary deeds of service for their country or fellow citizens." The medal stands among the highest honors that a civilian can receive, and Putnam is the first

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-83120904380505382472010-08-19T09:12:00.000-07:002010-08-19T09:12:00.401-07:00When we guard birds, do we harm birding?

A good essay about the next great birders recently made the rounds via Facebook and other sites. Laura Kammermeier's blog post touched on the challenges that many beginning birders might encounter, including this part: Beginners soon sense what really goes on in birding circles: the catty judgment about who knows what more than who. Some segments of birding operate like an exclusive country club

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-89333199254813418372010-08-18T09:29:00.000-07:002010-08-18T09:29:00.354-07:00Special-edition Duck Stamp envelope to help Gulf of Mexico

Last month, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar revealed a special-edition Duck Stamp envelope available for $25. The "cachet" costs $10 more than the annual Duck Stamp because the proceeds will go toward conservation efforts in the Gulf of Mexico, fouled by BP's oil gusher, and specifically toward purchasing land that will become part of national wildlife refuges along the Gulf.The cachet

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-6514571837618919772010-08-17T10:47:00.000-07:002010-08-17T10:56:11.398-07:00Three more foreign birds now on U.S. endangered species list

Today marks the first day of endangered species protection for* Andean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus andinus), native to Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru;* Chilean Woodstar (Eulidia yarrellii), native to river valleys in Peru and Chile;* and St. Lucia Forest Thrush (Cichlherminia lherminieri sanctaeluciae), a subspecies endemic to the island of St. Lucia in the West Indies.U.S. Fish & Wildlife

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-19640771225939198932010-08-16T15:20:00.000-07:002010-08-16T15:26:34.874-07:00Potential national monuments in the West

Sunday's edition of "Los Angeles Times" included a travel article titled "National Prospects." The main reason that it caught my attention: the American Avocet chosen to illustrate Bodie Hills. If you visit the link above, you'll find videos and a photo gallery. How many of the 14 sites have you visited? (Click on the map to see a larger version.)

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-15903529336103300162010-08-03T11:39:00.000-07:002010-08-03T11:43:03.407-07:00Buy beer for the birds?

If you drink Toxic Sludge, your money will go to Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, one of the wildlife rehabilitation centers helping oiled birds in the Gulf of Mexico. Blue Point Brewing Co. on Long Island, New York, plans to donate 100 percent of net proceeds from sales of the Black IPA to fund Tri-State's "Spreading Our Wings" capital campaign and long-term efforts to build a wildlife response

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-79732092992217988792010-08-03T08:54:00.000-07:002010-08-03T08:54:00.680-07:00Birds vs. wild horses

What do you do when wild horses degrade habitat that's shrinking and necessary for Greater Sage-Grouse and migratory birds? That's the challenge faced by Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in northwest Nevada. Contrary to popular belief, wild horses are not in danger of extinction: Herds increase at the rate of about 20 percent a year. Roughly 33,700 wild horses occupy 31.9 million acres managed by

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-50698024308067129952010-08-02T11:15:00.000-07:002010-08-02T11:32:14.369-07:00Aug. 14-15: Free entry to national parks

Bird for free at a national park on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 14-15! National Park Service will eliminate entrance fees on those two days although other fees -- for camping, reservations and tours -- will remain in effect. "This fee-free weekend provides an opportunity for individuals and families alike to take an affordable vacation or to explore a nearby park they have never visited before,"

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-16063172620639022502010-07-27T10:35:00.000-07:002010-07-27T10:35:00.057-07:00Endangered Species Act protects 2 more birds

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service said today the Endangered Species Act covers two birds from Ecuador: Black-breasted Puffleg (Eriocnemis nigrivestis) and Medium Tree-Finch (Camarhynchus pauper). The puffleg, a hummingbird, is native to Volcán Pichincha, and the tree-finch is endemic to the island of Floreana in the Galapagos Islands.The Black-breasted Puffleg population has declined between 50

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-14575756091374679732010-07-27T08:49:00.000-07:002010-07-27T08:49:00.208-07:00More winged things to count

Do you live where fireflies light up your sky? If so, I'm jealous of you. (Southern California lacks lightning bugs.)If you are fortunate enough to see those beetles with tails that flash, you can contribute to Firefly Watch, organized by Museum of Science Boston. The museum is working with researchers from Tufts University and Fitchburg State College to track fireflies, but they need citizen

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-85979937780845169432010-07-26T08:56:00.000-07:002010-07-26T08:56:00.360-07:00We're talkin' big birds.

A Parade article listed 50 oversize landmarks in the United States. Among them are some very large birds and bird-related items including:giant eagle statues that might have 25-foot wingspans in Libby, Montana;the world's largest pheasant in Huron, South Dakota;the world's largest egg in Mentone, Indiana;and The Big Duck in Flanders, N.Y.Has anyone seen these in person? Did you stumble across

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-48505213049878339482010-07-23T12:58:00.000-07:002010-07-23T13:08:36.574-07:00Oiled pelicans receive new home in Chicago

Five American White Pelicans rescued from the Gulf of Mexico oil eruption will live in the Windy City now. After the oiled waterbirds received care in Louisiana and Missisippi, staff from Chicago Zoological Society’s Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, Ill., drove to the Magnolia State and retrieved the big birds.Three of the pelicans are adult age, and the other two are estimated to be less than 2

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-15763804054316824162010-07-14T16:49:00.000-07:002010-07-14T16:50:29.828-07:00Will BP finally stop the oil eruption?

From New York Times:The test will shut the well by closing off valves on a new cap that was installed at the wellhead, 5,000 feet down and a few miles from this Coast Guard cutter. BP officials have said that if the test shows that the well can hold pressure, the valves may remain closed. That would end the gusher that began shortly after the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded on April 20,

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-34628830439800336852010-07-13T09:50:00.000-07:002010-07-13T10:03:44.145-07:00Two guilty of killing & selling eagles

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service reports that two men pled guilty to killing Bald Eagles and conspiring to kill and sell Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle parts -- a federal offense.The two Yakama tribal members -- Alfred L. Hawk Jr., 23, and William R. Wahsise, 23 -- hunted and killed eagles by baiting them with wild horses that were killed to attract the eagles. In March of last year, wildlife agents

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-35999071076213247462010-07-12T11:50:00.000-07:002010-07-12T12:05:55.144-07:00Inspiring teens

Action for Nature recently honored teens around the world for their environmental work. The Young Eco-Hero Awards highlighted minors age 9 to 16 in Germany, India, Ivory Coast, Pakistan and the United States.Their efforts included* founding a local chapter of a pharmaceutical take-back program (P2D2)* presenting an environmental education program to hundreds of students* replacing trees*

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-30990612008484400542010-07-11T13:22:00.000-07:002010-07-11T13:24:32.497-07:00Pelican chicks receive new start in Florida

From North Bay Village, Fla., north of Miami:The Pelican Harbor Seabird Station in North Bay Village has become the adoptive home of dozens of Brown Pelican chicks endangered by the oil spill in the Gulf. These chicks are the first to arrive at a facility that's been getting ready to take in avian refugees.The 45 pelican chicks had been treated at the Fort Jackson Bird Rehabilitation Center in

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-30579912465312061552010-07-07T13:01:00.000-07:002010-07-07T13:02:49.826-07:00Bird flu found in songbirds, not just shorebirds & ducks

Researchers found strains of avian influenza in sparrows and thrushes, according to a Reuters article. This prompts concern for the possibility that the birds might infect pigs, which might incubate new influenza strains. The study, "Mapping the risk of avian influenza in wild birds in the US," appears in the Biomed Central journal "BMC Infectious Diseases."Using National Science Foundation and

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-39463706627470632482010-06-28T08:54:00.000-07:002010-06-28T08:54:00.149-07:00More land for birds & other wildlife

The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission recently approved 35.7 million for refuge acquisitions and wetlands grants for migratory birds: $30.4 million for grants to conserve more than 319,000 acres of wetlands and associated habitats in the United States and Canada under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and $5.3 million in Federal Duck Stamp funds to add more than 1,849 wetland

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-5318167787234781242010-06-24T09:21:00.000-07:002010-06-24T09:21:00.225-07:00Hit the road - for the birds

Among birders, the auto drive at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Florida's Sanibel Island often ranks high on their wish lists. The four-mile route puts birders close to Roseate Spoonbills, Wood Storks, Reddish Egrets, Little Blue Herons, Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, Anhingas, American White Pelicans, Red Knots, Marbled Godwits and Bald Eagles as well as otters, bobcats and alligators.

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-55053398188256743042010-06-23T09:24:00.000-07:002010-06-23T09:24:00.841-07:00Wordless Wednesday

Brinkley, Ark., February 2006 Click on the image to see a larger version.

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-85240081534571430352010-06-23T09:14:00.000-07:002010-06-23T09:14:00.258-07:00June 25: first day of sale for new Duck Stamp

Mark this Friday on your calendar as your first opportunity to purchase the 2010-2011 Duck Stamp. The $15 stamp gives free access to national wildlife refuges from July 1 to June 30, and 98 cents of every dollar goes into a fund to purchase or lease wetlands and grasslands. The new stamp depicts an American Wigeon, painted by Robert Bealle of Waldorf, Md. His artwork earned first place last fall

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-18501070835375272212010-06-22T10:27:00.000-07:002010-06-22T10:37:43.758-07:00It's National Pollinator Week, 6.21-27

The fourth annual celebration of pollinators -- those birds, bees, butterflies, birds, bats and other creatures that contribute to humans' food supply -- began yesterday. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack pointed out that pollinators play critical roles in the reproduction of 90 percent of flowering plants and one-third of human food crops. The National Pollinator Week kit provides great

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-32409004026202256072010-06-21T08:58:00.000-07:002010-06-21T10:47:34.264-07:00Costa Rica recap

WildBird offers its readers a really neat opportunity in every issue. The magazine poses to two questions in each issue, readers can respond to one or both, selected replies appear in a future issue, and one of those respondents receives prizes from Swarovski Optik and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt -- and the chance to win a Swarovski binocular and a trip to a birding hotspot as Birder of the Year.

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-7329735286335335722010-06-18T09:42:00.000-07:002010-06-18T09:42:00.067-07:00June 20: American Eagle Day

Every year on June 20, American Eagle Foundation and thousands of Americans celebrate Bald Eagles. American Eagle Day reminds U.S. residents that Bald Eagles still need help.Al Cecere, the foundation's founder and president, says: "The bald eagle has been taken off the ESA's threatened species list, but that doesn't mean it has fully recovered and won't continue an up-hill fight for survival. In

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-58384611854923178972010-06-17T08:51:00.000-07:002010-06-17T08:51:00.103-07:00Birder of the Year: Costa Rica, Saturday 3

Background info: WildBird offers its readers a really neat opportunity in every issue. The magazine poses to two questions in each issue, readers can respond to one or both, selected replies appear in a future issue, and one of those respondents receives prizes from Swarovski Optik and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt -- and the chance to win a Swarovski binocular and a trip to a birding hotspot as

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-28249030285382630022010-06-16T09:20:00.000-07:002010-06-16T09:20:00.215-07:00Wordless Wednesday

Click on the image to see a larger version.

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-56511255678878235812010-06-15T11:29:00.000-07:002010-06-15T11:34:57.233-07:00USFWS science journals now online

Today, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced the first issue of "Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management" and the re-launch of "North American Fauna," both online only. They will highlight "the practical application and integration of science to the conservation and management of North American fish, wildlife, plants, and the ecosystems upon which they depend," and they aim to provide more

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-86418247419415277882010-06-15T08:52:00.000-07:002010-06-15T10:11:52.514-07:00Birder of the Year: Costa Rica, Saturday 2

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-65451583838748252962010-06-14T08:57:00.000-07:002010-06-16T10:59:27.486-07:00Birder of the Year: Costa Rica, Saturday

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-654514606104686582010-06-11T08:58:00.000-07:002010-06-11T08:58:00.092-07:00Birder of the Year: Costa Rica, Friday 3

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-8372221480412429802010-06-10T16:38:00.000-07:002010-06-10T16:38:00.123-07:00Two Audubon groups cited among worst charities

Earlier this month, an article titled "The 20 Worst Charities in America" listed nonprofit organizations by the percentage of their income that goes to administrative expenses, based on research by Charity Navigator. The independent charity evaluator describes its methodology here; it uses "charities’ disclosure statements to the IRS to provide donors with an assessment of how well charities run

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-3923433800467683202010-06-10T08:32:00.000-07:002010-06-10T08:32:00.421-07:00Birder of the Year: Costa Rica, Friday 2

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-78193680845414934742010-06-09T15:35:00.000-07:002010-06-09T15:35:00.094-07:00Rare Bird Alert: Common Sense in Berkeley

An article in yesterday's San Francisco Chronicle, "Stamp contest could run afoul in Berkeley," looks at the conjunction of waterfowl hunters and the Bay Area's historically liberal residents when the Federal Duck Stamp Contest arrives in mid-October.The national contest to paint the best duck or goose is highly anticipated, potentially career-making and usually ruffles a few feathers. Which is

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-5570790341203997922010-06-09T11:51:00.000-07:002010-06-09T11:51:00.089-07:00Wordless Wednesday

Florida Click on the image to see a larger version.

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-21796354469498590112010-06-09T08:51:00.001-07:002010-06-09T08:51:01.044-07:00Birder of the Year: Costa Rica, Friday

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-88278837342878429732010-06-08T10:24:00.000-07:002010-06-08T10:26:22.582-07:00Cornell expert describes first-hand views in Louisiana

From the Cornell University press office: Ken Rosenberg, director of conservation science at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and a specialist on the conservation of birds throughout the Western Hemisphere, comments on birds recently exposed to oil that washed past booms and the long-term effort needed to recover from the Gulf oil spill, still gushing and now the largest oil spill in U.S. history.“

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-23232613489836170012010-06-08T08:58:00.000-07:002010-06-08T16:15:15.518-07:00Birder of the Year: Costa Rica, Thursday 4

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-11044851728265276882010-06-07T16:49:00.000-07:002010-06-07T16:51:42.228-07:00Birder of the Year: Costa Rica, Thursday 3

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-51919123587222314102010-06-04T14:04:00.000-07:002010-06-04T14:28:58.172-07:00Birder of the Year: Costa Rica, Thursday 2

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-88263183456835317732010-06-04T08:30:00.000-07:002010-06-04T19:11:14.530-07:00Birder of the Year: Costa Rica, Thursday

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-41988555781852115722010-06-02T09:05:00.000-07:002010-06-02T09:05:00.078-07:00Wordless Wednesday

Salineno, Texas, November 2005 As always, click on the image to see a larger version.

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-18221144865028849012010-05-26T08:56:00.000-07:002010-05-26T08:56:00.256-07:00Wordless Wednesday

As always, click on the image to see a larger version.

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-77454379706221888762010-05-21T13:00:00.000-07:002010-05-21T13:00:00.036-07:00Suggestions for 2011 issues of WildBird?

Here's your chance to have my job for a few hours! I often hear folks say how glamorous my job as a magazine editor is, so now you can have a taste of that "glamour." Ready, set, go!The task: Plan the six 2011 issues. You need to fill 42 of the 48 pages in each issue.The process: 1. Pull together your 2010 issues.2. Read the mission statement on the table of contents; consider that throughout

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-43304699633619594572010-05-21T08:59:00.000-07:002010-05-21T08:59:00.098-07:00World Series of Birding: places

If you've read previous posts this week, you know that I took part in this year's World Series of Birding as a member of a "chase car" that shadowed Team Zeiss during the 24-hour competition. You know that I enjoyed hanging out with great folks -- but did you know that I love to drive? That my daily driver of 14 years is a 1972 BMW 2002? That I volunteer to work at BMW club driving schools at

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-39181190125703182492010-05-20T08:42:00.000-07:002010-05-20T08:42:00.630-07:00World Series of Birding: faces

Last Saturday, I participated in the World Series of Birding as a member of the "chase car" that shadowed Team Zeiss. As for most folks who take part in the 24-hour competition, my sleep deprivation didn't begin at 12:00 a.m. Saturday. Oh no, it began Thursday night with a red-eye flight from Orange County, Calif., to Detroit, Mich., followed by a delayed flight to Philadelphia. After landing in

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-67537355093355262712010-05-19T12:40:00.000-07:002010-05-19T12:50:22.779-07:00Tweeting the World Series of Birding

Part of the fun of attending this year's World Series of Birding stemmed from the increased role of social media. Many birders used Facebook, Twitter and other means to electronically share info about birds and the 24-hour competition.Among the "tweeters" were @paloons, @aphriza, @canagica, @trbirds, @RedheadsWSB, @Team_eBird, @woodcreeper, @billtacular, @ammodramus88 and @CultureDove. (Who did I

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-44884606878794942822010-05-19T11:13:00.000-07:002010-05-19T11:16:57.392-07:00'World Series of Birding' in the news

Every May, gobs of birders converge in New Jersey for the World Series of Birding, a 24-hour birding competition that generates money for conservation efforts. Despite the event's 27-year history, many birders haven't heard of it. That being the case, consider the lack of awareness among the general public and the mainstream media.After the annual event, held May 15 this year, I like to see how

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-60651393100289823482010-05-19T08:51:00.000-07:002010-05-19T08:51:00.411-07:00Wordless Wednesday

Siena, Italy As always, click on the image to see a larger version.

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-46542140085210630292010-05-18T19:31:00.000-07:002010-05-18T19:48:36.139-07:00May 21: Endangered Species Day

This Friday, you can join the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and many conservation groups in celebrating America's conservation efforts to help threatened and endangered species.Four signature events are scheduled in San Francisco, Washington D.C., Maine and Montana, and many FWS offices around the country held events last weekend, with more on the schedule for this weekend. Another list of events

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-83046338917657575022010-05-17T14:29:00.000-07:002010-05-17T14:35:46.474-07:00Zen Zugunruhe wins Cape Island Cup again!

The four fellows who represent WildBird and compete in the Cape Island category of the World Series of Birding did themselves proud for the seventh time. They ended Saturday's 24-hour competition with 155 species south of the Cape May Canal -- enough species to earn the Cape Island Cup again. Congratulations, gents! From left: Matt Garvey, Tait Johansson, Glen Davis and Dave HedeenThanks for

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-71939516803723043852010-05-13T09:13:00.000-07:002010-05-13T09:23:14.552-07:00Crunch time

Such a whirlwind of activity these days! The birds are moving here and there, and so are the humans who like to find and enjoy them.The World Series of Birding will take place this Saturday in New Jersey. In other states, birders also are doing Big Days -- which might range from 12 to 24 hours -- as part of "birdathon" fundraisers, earning money per each species identified and putting those

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-16634725452139508312010-05-12T08:36:00.000-07:002010-05-12T08:36:00.602-07:00Wordless Wednesday

Arizona Sonora Desert Museum near Tucson As always, click on the image to see a larger version.

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-77603800909146933912010-05-10T10:39:00.000-07:002010-05-10T10:39:00.497-07:00NPS, FWS directors sent to Gulf Coast command centers

From the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service:WASHINGTON, DC – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that Director of the National Park Service Jon Jarvis and Acting Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service Rowan Gould have been dispatched to command centers along the Gulf Coast to help lead efforts to protect coastal communities and natural resources from BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-77199164833685028182010-05-10T09:49:00.000-07:002010-05-10T09:58:24.623-07:001st oiled birds from BP spill to be released today

From the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: The first two oiled birds found in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill have been cleaned and are now recovered and ready for release.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will release the birds at 4 p.m. on Monday, May 10, at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge on the Atlantic coast northeast of Vero Beach, Fla. The birds are a Northern Gannet and a Brown

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-54110416609402545642010-05-07T18:40:00.000-07:002010-05-07T18:58:31.284-07:00Louisiana refuge closed due to oil spill

From the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service:The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has closed Breton National Wildlife Refuge to public entry. This closure covers all of Breton NWR, which includes the Chandeleur Islands chain (Chandeleur, Grand Gossier, Curlew, New Harbor Island, North Islands, Free Mason).Breton NWR appears on the far right.The refuge closure is important to keep the public safe, to

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17689254.post-69516970458104459012010-05-05T13:27:00.000-07:002010-05-05T13:33:36.602-07:00Contests! We got yer contests here!

Through the magazine and on this blog, you have multiple chances to win prizes from WildBird and our partners. Take note of the upcoming deadlines -- some occur this week! -- and get in on the fun.First Friday fiction contestDeadline: Thursday, May 6 - tomorrow!The birding community encompasses incredibly talented individuals who play with words well when not enjoying birds. This monthly

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301129176775790365noreply@blogger.com1