BIRD CONSERVATION the Magazine of American Bird Conservancy Fall 2011 BIRD’S EYE VIEW Advancing the Frontiers
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BIRD CONSERVATION The Magazine of American Bird Conservancy Fall 2011 BIRD’S EYE VIEW Advancing the Frontiers Kirtland’s Warbler: Laura Erickson Warbler: Kirtland’s of Habitat Conservation ome years ago, several ABC habitats while there is still good those situations, sometimes the only staff were mulling over ways quality habitat remaining to be pro- option is to create or recover similar, to prevent incursions into our tected? There are actually several good nearby habitats. In other cases, a S Latin American partners’ forest answers to this. In the case of silvipas- region’s culture may be tied to rural reserves for wood-cutting and poach- ture (see article on page 22 for details land uses, and we can accomplish ing. Finally, someone exclaimed, on this technique), we were able to more for birds by working within “The best defense could be a good create landscapes that accommodate the community, engaging farm- offense,” meaning that if we funded both cattle and trees, improving ers and ranchers in conservation on reserve neighbors to plant trees on environmental quality and providing their own land. Since we cannot own their degraded pastureland adjacent additional income for the landowner. all we want protected, showing the to the reserves, we would not only This approach to reforestation can benefits of habitat recovery to land- provide critical buffers to our forests, improve a landowner’s understanding owners is the best way we know to but strengthen relations with our of a comprehensive “land ethic” and leverage conservation dollars. Finally, neighbors, and by extension, the maybe even turn them into passionate by connecting smaller tracts of good entire community. We realized that conservationists. habitat together with corridors of we could push the forest frontier recovering or working habitat (such as Sometimes – as in the case of the outward instead of retreating inward. shade coffee farms in the Andes), we Golden-winged Warbler – there This ultimately led to a multinational can increase the habitat value of the is simply too little suitable habitat “silvipasture” development program smaller tracts. remaining, and more must be cre- funded by the World Bank, with ABC ated. With the Kirtland’s Warbler (see In this issue of Bird Conservation, you providing the conservation leadership. back page), which relies on young will read about many of the challeng- But more importantly, it spawned jack pine habitat, very specific condi- es and approaches to habitat recovery. many new ABC approaches in both tions must be maintained to keep the These methods augment the great reserve sustainability and habitat species from disappearing altogether. tradition of “conservation through recovery. Numerous habitats whose natural acquisition,” and help us push the Though protecting the best remain- succession has been blunted by poor frontiers of bird protection. In doing ing habitats for rare or declining bird management beg to be recovered by so, we anticipate that habitat recovery species will always be a core strategy improved fire or water management. and restoration will generate a new for ABC, we see an increasing role for class of citizen conservationists. In some cases, prime habitat is just restoring degraded habitat for birds. too expansive, or too expensive to Why, I have been asked, would ABC purchase, or not for sale at all. In ever undertake recovery of degraded George Fenwick President, ABC USFWS 2 bird conservation • FALL 2011 Royal Sunangel: Jean Paul Perret BIRD Conservation Bird Conservation is the magazine of American Bird Conservancy (ABC), and is published three times yearly. FALL 2011 American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is the only 501(c)(3) organization that works solely to conserve native wild birds and HabItat RestoRatION their habitats throughout the Americas. A copy of the current financial statement and registration filed by the organization may be obtained by contacting: ABC, P.O. Box 249, 7 An Introduction to Habitat Restoration The Plains, VA 20198. Tel: (540) 253-5780, or by contacting the following state agencies: Florida: Division of Consumer Services, 8-12 Reforestation Across the Americas: toll-free number within the State: 800-435-7352. From Nicaragua to Bolivia Maryland: For the cost of copies and postage: Office of the Secretary of State, 13 Reforestation Across the PAGE 8 Statehouse, Annapolis, MD 21401. New Jersey: Attorney General, State Americas: The Appalachians of New Jersey: 201-504-6259. New York: Office of the Attorney General, Department of Law, Charities Bureau, 14-15 Habitat Restoration and the ESA Highland Guan: Georges Duriaux 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271. Pennsylvania: Department of State, toll-free number within the state: 800-732-0999. 16-17 Water Management – Going with the Flow Virginia: State Division of Consumer Affairs, Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 18-19 Fire Management – The Burning Question 23209. West Virginia: Secretary of State, State PAGE 18 Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. 20 -21 Island Birds are Different – Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by any state. Recovering Our Most Isolated Habitats Red-cockaded American Bird Conservancy is not Woodpecker: Greg Lavaty responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. Approval is required for 22 Greener Acres: Silvipasture reproduction of any photographs or artwork. 23 Planned Giving – You Can Help PAGE 23 Editors: Jack Morrison, Merrie Morrison, Secure the Future for Birds! Michael J. Parr, David Pashley, Red Knot: Paula Sullivan Gemma Radko, Gavin Shire, George E. Wallace DEPARTMENTS Bird Conservation ABC’s magazine Collared Aracari: brings you the best in bird Bird’s Eye View Benjamin Skolnik, ABC conservation news and features. 3 For more information contact: American Bird Conservancy 4 On The Wire 4249 Loudoun Avenue P.O. Box 249 Species Profile 24 Kirtland’s Warbler: The Plains, VA 20198 Ron Austing 540-253-5780 Kirtland’s Warbler Web: www.abcbirds.org PAGE 24 Email: [email protected] Scan to check out ABC’s new mobile website! COVER PHOTO: Choco Trogon: Roger Ahlman bird conservation • FaLL 2011 3 ON THE WIRE New Bird Species for Bolivia n a recently published sci- length and colorization, and vo- around the small in- entific article in The Wilson calizations. Both birds forage by digenous village of Bulletin, the Palkachupa Cot- flycatching from the canopy and Atén in the northwest I inga, previously considered a eating fruits. They prefer to nest of the country, where subspecies of the Swallow-tailed in trees along forest edges and Armonía has worked Cotinga found in Brazil, is pro- even in isolated trees amongst for the past three posed for elevation to full species savannah-type habitat. Their years to conserve the Palkachupa Cotingas: Benjamin Skolnik, ABC status. The bird was rediscov- nests have also been found on cotinga, establishing a 59-acre ered in Bolivia in 2000 by ABC barren, rocky ridge tops, which reserve, and raising awareness Director of Armonía and the partner Asociación Armonía after may indicate a lack of adequate of the bird’s plight within the local author of the article. almost 100 years. nesting trees. community. Habitat for this new species con- Like the Swallow-tailed Cotinga, The Palkachupa Cotinga is en- “We truly hope this publica- tinues to be reduced by ranching the Palkachupa is a small, bright- demic to Bolivia, and is likely to tion will result in more attention and agriculture. Future conserva- ly colored bird with vivid yellow, be classed as Critically Endan- to this unique species, as well tion actions will include refores- white, and black feathers; the gered due to its small popula- as additional resources towards tation and outreach campaigns, males have a long forked tail. tion (600-800 individuals) and its protection and improved un- reserve expansion through land It is distinguished from its more restricted geographic range. The derstanding of its ecology,” said acquisition, community-driven common Brazilian cousin by tail population stronghold is based Bennett Hennessey, Executive tourism, and monitoring. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Initiate Listing of Red Knots n July 2011, the U.S. Fish Fuego, South America. The sur- knots feed on the crab eggs dur- “It became clear to us that the and Wildlife Service (FWS) vey found a shocking decline ing a critical stopover at the bay only way that the Atlantic States announced it will expedite from the previous winter of at during their spring migration Marine Fisheries Commission I the process of adding the least 5,000 birds—approximately north to breed. was going to enact the necessary declining rufa subspecies of the one third of the population. The Despite growing evidence of un- safeguards to protect the Red Red Knot to the federal Endan- FWS decision also coincides with sustainable take of horseshoe Knot’s food supply was if they gered Species List. the release of a new study that crabs for use as bait in conch were forced to by federal action,” This decision follows the release confirms the importance of an pots, the Atlantic States Marine said Darin Schroeder, Vice Pres- of the results of the 2011 popu- abundant horseshoe crab popu- Fisheries Commission, which ident of Conservation Advocacy lation count on the bird’s main lation in Delaware Bay to the sur- regulates horseshoe crab har- at ABC. To that end, ABC joined wintering grounds in Tierra del vival of the rufa Red Knot. The vest, has failed to reduce take other conservation groups in ad- quotas in the last six years. In vocating for the listing of the rufa fact, the Commission disman- Red Knot under the Endangered tled its own Shorebird Technical Species Act,. Committee after it recommended “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser- a moratorium on harvests. vice decision to list the rufa Red ABC has worked for a decade to Knot, though long overdue, will protect the population of horse- someday be recognized as the shoe crabs from overfishing to turning point in staving off the safeguard the supply of eggs for bird’s extinction,” Schroeder said.