BIRDCONSERVATION The Magazine of American Bird Conservancy FALL 2017 BIRD’S EYE VIEW ABC’s New President: ABC is the Western Hemisphere’s bird conservation Putting Hope Into Action specialist—the only organization with a single and steadfast t is an enormous honor for me to take on the species are among the most heavily impacted. ABC commitment to achieving conservation results for native role of ABC President following in the footsteps will work with partners through BirdScapes and other Fall 2017 Iof George Fenwick. As we worked together for conservation tools to ensure that these birds and wild birds and their habitats more than 20 years, George and I collaborated with their habitats are adequately conserved. And we will throughout the Americas. the staff to develop American remain at the forefront to find BIRDCONSERVATION Bird Conservancy’s conservation both political and technological strategy. It has produced solutions to the main threats to A copy of the current financial statement and registration filed by the organization demonstrable results year after birds. may be obtained by contacting: ABC, P.O. 10 Airspace May Be the Final year, and I believe ABC is firmly Box 249, The Plains, VA 20198. 540-253- 5780, or by contacting the following state We will continue to conduct Ecological Frontier on the right track. agencies: our work with authenticity, Florida: Division of Consumer Services, I love birds and birding, and I want transparency, and dignity; we will toll-free number within the state: my children, and eventually their approach our partners thoughtfully 800-435-7352. 14 Can Urban Conservation children, to have the opportunity and with respect, even if we Maryland: For the cost of copies and postage: Office of the Secretary of State, Save a Rare Bird? to enjoy birds as I have. I also disagree. We will also continue Statehouse, Annapolis, MD 21401. believe that birds and nature to foster an environment that New Jersey: Attorney General, State have inherent value regardless of encourages innovation and the of New Jersey: 201-504-6259. 20 Q&A: New Discoveries for human appreciation. We have a exploration of new techniques and New York: Office of the Attorney General, Department of Law, Charities Bureau, responsibility to conserve them. ideas to advance bird conservation. 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271. the Bahama Oriole Every time I step into the field ABC plans to stay the course We also want to build on our Pennsylvania: Department of State, toll-free number within the state: I realize there is still time to strong partnerships with everyone 800-732-0999. on our key goals of preventing BirdScapes at Work in the conserve the birds and habitats who cares about birds. Virginia: State Division of Consumer 24 we see around us. Threats are real, species extinctions, conserving Affairs, Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer ABC's mission is my personal Services, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA Rio Grande Valley but if we all put our hope for birds 23209. bird habitats, and eliminating mission. I believe that my years of together into action, it will become West Virginia: Secretary of State, State experience with the organization Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. an important force for good in threats to birds throughout the struggle to safeguard Earth’s have prepared me to build on Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by any state. environment for the future. the Americas. ABC’s many accomplishments, made possible by George and Bird Conservation is the magazine of ABC I am pleased to tell you that ABC Rita Fenwick. We will remain and is published four times yearly for plans to stay the course on our key goals of preventing courageous and visionary, and we will continue to be members. species extinctions, conserving bird habitats, and an organization that you can count on for effective, Senior Editor: Libby Sander VP of Communications: Clare Nielsen eliminating threats to birds throughout the Americas. creative, and lasting conservation results. Graphic Design: Gemma Radko In particular, ABC wants to ensure that the most Contributors: Peter Dieser, Jesús Franco, endangered bird species are adequately included in Thank you for supporting and partnering with ABC to Bennett Hennessey, Jennifer Howard, effective protected areas. More than 50 of the most help get results for birds and their habitats. We can’t Michael Hutchins, Daniel Lebbin, Jack do this without you. Morrison, Hannah Nevins, Kacy Ray, endangered species still have less than 10 percent of Aimee Roberson, Andrew Rothman, Cristina Common Black Hawk by Alfred Yan their global ranges within official reserves. We are Santiestevan, Philip Tanimoto, Wendy Willis committed to improving this coverage. For more information contact: American Bird Conservancy DEPARTMENTS The phenomenon of mass bird migration is also at 4249 Loudoun Avenue, P.O. Box 249 The Plains, VA 20198 Bird’s Eye View stake, and habitat changes on both breeding and 540-253-5780 • [email protected] 2 wintering grounds are compromising its integrity and Michael J. Parr, President 4 On the Wire diversity. Grassland birds, long-distance migrants, Join us online! TOP: São Paulo Marsh aerial insectivores, shorebirds, and southwest desert American Bird Conservancy Antwren (female) by Elvis Japão 30 Final Glimpse abcbirds.org COVER: Mountain Plovers by Bob Steele. TOP: Shorebirds by Mike Parr BIRD CONSERVATION | FALL 2017 3 ON the WIRE Technology Unlocks Migration Mysteries of Texas Shorebirds Bird Conservation Groups Halt Wind Project ird-tracking technologies South Dakota to Nebraska and on Although the project is still in its are improving each year, to Saskatchewan — they showed first year, it has already yielded and Black Swamp Bird The Camp Perry site would which could threaten millions of Bhelping scientists and engi- strong winter site fidelity. Year interesting data: One bird tagged neers solve the mysteries of bird after year they returned in winter in Texas headed south through ABC Observatory (BSBO) have been the first wind energy migratory birds and bats. The U.S. have won a hard-fought campaign development on public land in Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) migration. David Newstead, the to the same habitats in Texas. Mexico and across the Isthmus of to stop a planned wind turbine in this ecologically sensitive area. has recommended that no turbines Director of Bird Conservation at Tehuantepec to Nicaragua — and is a major bird migration corridor Located less than a mile from Lake be built within 3 miles of the Great the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries “This project has raised greater still there as of this writing. close to the shores of Lake Erie. Erie, this turbine would have been Lakes shoreline. Based on USFWS's Program in Corpus Christi, Texas, awareness in the community, In response to a lawsuit by ABC extremely dangerous for migrating advanced radar studies showing has been using this new technol- since we can now show people on The new insights from these tech- and BSBO, the Ohio Air National songbirds, including the federally vast numbers of birds and bats ogy to track two bird species of maps where the birds are going,” nologies have yielded considerable Guard announced in June that it endangered Kirtland's Warbler. migrating through this area and conservation concern: Long-billed Newstead said. “There is a great advances in conservation, Newstead has not approved or authorized Other birds likely to be harmed by flying within the rotor-swept area Curlew and Black Skimmer. deal of insight to be had from a said. “By identifying previously plans to install a large turbine at such projects include Bald Eagles of wind turbines, ABC recently much deeper analysis of the data, unknown regions of importance its Camp Perry facility in Ottawa and other raptors, and waterfowl. suggested that this setback be The Long-billed Curlew study, and our goal is to synthesize it in and highlighting the many chal- County, Ohio, and that it has no expanded to at least 5 miles. a part of the Smithsonian coming years.” lenges birds are facing, this new plans to do so. As a result, ABC and The victory sets an important Migratory Bird Center’s Migratory data can help conservation organi- precedent because of the many ABC’s work on this program is Connectivity Project, concentrates Black Skimmers have been of par- zations and agencies make the best BSBO filed a motion in U.S. District ticular concern along the Texas Court to dismiss the lawsuit. other wind energy projects being made possible by the Leon Levy on the distribution, dispersal, and use of fieldwork and funding.” planned around the Great Lakes, Foundation. migratory connectivity of curlew coast and elsewhere in the U.S. populations that winter along The bird’s population continues to Learn more about the Migratory the Texas coast. Previous studies decline, with little data to explain Connectivity Project, read about Conservation Groups to Sue Over Seabird Deaths in Hawai'i had concentrated on western why. Newstead is working on the latest tagging technologies, populations of the species. The another project, funded by the U.S. and check out the most recent Fish & Wildlife Service’s Coastal Long-billed Curlew movements at everal conservation Hawaiian Petrels by 94 percent and reduce their exposure to upward, research partnership between Program and ConocoPhillips migratoryconnectivityproject.org organizations on Maui 78 percent, respectively. radiating light by installing down- Smithsonian and Newstead aims Global Signature Program, to find have announced plans to ward-facing fixtures and shielding to fill in data gaps on other S answers. He initially outfitted 10 Learn more about the Coastal Bend sue the Hawai'i Department of The groups claim the DOT has lightbulbs. And we can minimize populations of this wide-ranging Black Skimmers with 5-gram satel- Bays & Estuaries Program at cbbep.