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The Conservation Sacrifice: How Far New Zealand Will Go to Save Its Birds MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY by C) Brittany Flaherty Payne JUN 2 5 2019 nl Co B.S. Biology LIBRARIES B.A. Environmental Studies William Smith College, 2010 SUBMITTED TO THE PROGRAM IN COMPARATIVE MEDIA STUDIES/WRITING IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SCIENCE WRITING AT THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SEPTEMBER 2019 © 2019 Brittany Flaherty Payne. All rights reserved. The author hereby grants to MIT permission to reproduce and to distribute publicly paper and electronic copies of this thesis document in whole or in part in any medium now known or hereafter created. Signature redacted Signature of Author: Depa rnent of Comparative Media Studies/Writing May 21, 2019 Signature redacted Certified by: Marcia Bartusiak Professor of the Practice Thesis Supervisor Signature redacted Accepted by: Thomas Levenson Professor of Science Writing Director, Graduate Program in Science Writing 1 The Conservation Sacrifice: How Far New Zealand Will Go to Save Its Birds by Brittany Flaherty Payne Submitted to the Program in Comparative Media Studies/Writing on May 21, 2019 in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Science Writing ABSTRACT In July of 2016, the New Zealand government announced plans for Predator Free 2050, the biggest predator control effort ever undertaken in the country-and perhaps the world. Predator Free 2050 is a government-sanctioned goal to eliminate rats, stoats, and possums from New Zealand. Since New Zealand has no native land mammals, its bird species are poorly adapted to withstand predation from the mammals that have been introduced since humans first arrived on the nation's shores. -
Tinamiformes – Falconiformes
LIST OF THE 2,008 BIRD SPECIES (WITH SCIENTIFIC AND ENGLISH NAMES) KNOWN FROM THE A.O.U. CHECK-LIST AREA. Notes: "(A)" = accidental/casualin A.O.U. area; "(H)" -- recordedin A.O.U. area only from Hawaii; "(I)" = introducedinto A.O.U. area; "(N)" = has not bred in A.O.U. area but occursregularly as nonbreedingvisitor; "?" precedingname = extinct. TINAMIFORMES TINAMIDAE Tinamus major Great Tinamou. Nothocercusbonapartei Highland Tinamou. Crypturellus soui Little Tinamou. Crypturelluscinnamomeus Thicket Tinamou. Crypturellusboucardi Slaty-breastedTinamou. Crypturellus kerriae Choco Tinamou. GAVIIFORMES GAVIIDAE Gavia stellata Red-throated Loon. Gavia arctica Arctic Loon. Gavia pacifica Pacific Loon. Gavia immer Common Loon. Gavia adamsii Yellow-billed Loon. PODICIPEDIFORMES PODICIPEDIDAE Tachybaptusdominicus Least Grebe. Podilymbuspodiceps Pied-billed Grebe. ?Podilymbusgigas Atitlan Grebe. Podicepsauritus Horned Grebe. Podicepsgrisegena Red-neckedGrebe. Podicepsnigricollis Eared Grebe. Aechmophorusoccidentalis Western Grebe. Aechmophorusclarkii Clark's Grebe. PROCELLARIIFORMES DIOMEDEIDAE Thalassarchechlororhynchos Yellow-nosed Albatross. (A) Thalassarchecauta Shy Albatross.(A) Thalassarchemelanophris Black-browed Albatross. (A) Phoebetriapalpebrata Light-mantled Albatross. (A) Diomedea exulans WanderingAlbatross. (A) Phoebastriaimmutabilis Laysan Albatross. Phoebastrianigripes Black-lootedAlbatross. Phoebastriaalbatrus Short-tailedAlbatross. (N) PROCELLARIIDAE Fulmarus glacialis Northern Fulmar. Pterodroma neglecta KermadecPetrel. (A) Pterodroma -
Phylogeography of the Military Macaw (Ara Militaris) and the Great Green Macaw (A
The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 127(4):661–669, 2015 PHYLOGEOGRAPHY OF THE MILITARY MACAW (ARA MILITARIS) AND THE GREAT GREEN MACAW (A. AMBIGUUS) BASED ON MTDNA SEQUENCE DATA JESSICA R. EBERHARD,1,5 EDUARDO E. IÑIGO-ELIAS,2 ERNESTO ENKERLIN-HOEFLICH,3 AND E. PAÙL CUN4 ABSTRACT.—The Military Macaw (Ara militaris) and the Great Green Macaw (A. ambiguus) are species whose close relationship is reflected in their morphological similarity as well as their geographic ranges. Military Macaws have a disjunct distribution, found in Mexico as well as several areas in South America, while Great Green Macaws have two or more disjunct populations from Honduras to eastern Ecuador. We used mitochondrial sequence data to examine the phylogenetic relationships between these two species, and also among representative samples across their ranges. Our data clearly support recognition of the two species as being distinct evolutionary lineages, and while we found significant phylogeographic structure within A. militaris (between samples collected in eastern and western Mexico), we did not find any evidence of lineage divergence between A. ambiguus from Costa Rica and Ecuador. Received 12 December 2014. Accepted 30 May 2015. Key words: disjunct distribution, Great Green Macaw, Military Macaw, phylogeny, phylogeography. The Military Macaw (Ara militaris) and the South America, primarily east of the Andes from Great Green Macaw (A. ambiguus), sometimes northwestern Colombia and northwestern Vene- named Buffon’s Macaw, are both large macaws zuela to north-western Argentina (Ridgway 1916; that are closely related and possibly conspecific Chapman 1917; Alvarez del Toro 1980; Ridgely (Fjeldså et al. 1987, Collar et al. -
Volume 32 Issue 1
The Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter Trumpeter Volume 53 Issue 1–Bloomington MN Josh Sweet, Trumpeter Editor www.MRVAC.org August - September 2019 [email protected] Special Presentation on September 26 Board Members Elected Birding and Seabird Research submitted by the MRVAC Board of Directors in Alaska’s Bering Sea Ten candidates were chosen to serve on the Minnesota presented by Joel Vos Valley Audubon Chapter’s Board of Directors at the Alaska is home to many incredible seabirds and can be meeting on Thursday, May 23. The Board now consists a haven for rare vagrant sightings for any birder. Come of the following people who will serve during the 2019-2020 term. hear about the seabird research and incredible birding experiences Joel participated in while working in the Matthew Schaut, President Pribilof and Aleutian Islands of the Alaska Maritime Steve Weston, Vice President National Wildlife Refuge. Walt Stull, Treasurer Rob Daves, Secretary An enthusiastic birder since his youth, Joel Vos is a U.S. Rita Baden, Director at Large Fish and Wildlife Service Park Ranger at the Minnesota Greg Burnes, Director at Large Lee Ann Landstrom, Director at Large Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Before starting at the Ken Oulman, Director at Large Minnesota Valley in 2018, Joel previously worked at Monica Rauchwarter, Director at Large Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex near Savannah, Bob Williams, Director at Large Georgia, but started his career with the USFWS in 2012 at the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge in Homer, Alaska. Joel graduated from Saint Olaf College New Editor of The Trumpeter with a bachelor’s degree (BA) in Environmental Studies, by Josh Sweet, Trumpeter Editor and received a graduate certificate in Environmental Education along with a master’s degree in Education It is an honor and my pleasure to become the next (MEd) from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. -
Pdf Projdoc.Pdf
Coming Through the Hard Times One Earth Conservation Annual Report 2020 Table of Contents Letter from the Co-Directors 3 Mission & Accomplishments 4 Going Virtual 6 Science 8 Conservation 2020 10 Organization 20 Financial Report 22 Thank You! 24 Letter from the Co-directors 2 Dear One Earthers, The past year, 2020, was a very hard one for so many who were overwhelmed by the pandemic, politics, protests, powerful precipitation, and precarious populations of parrots, among other things. One Earth Conservation’s parrot conservation projects have had more than their share of hard times. Just when it seems that we have come through one hard time, along comes another, and another. Paraphrasing Stephen Foster’s song “Hard Times Come Again No More,” there are frail forms fainting at the door, and though their voices are silent, their pleading looks rock us to the core. How can we keep hard times coming no more, for ourselves and others? The short answer is we cannot. Life is hardship and tragedy. And it is also joy and beauty. There is no beauty without tragedy, and no tragedy without beauty. Both are woven into existence, but we do believe it is possible to weave more color into the drab fabric that smothers so many lives. We do so by bringing hope, and, at the same time, this work allows one to live joyously while in a state of profound grief. This hope arises from our faith that we can accept reality just as it is in all its beauty and tragedy. We see the suffering of others, and how our lives interweave with the tragedy of the commons that causes hunger through ecosystem failure and loss of biodiversity and climate crisis-fueled hurricanes. -
Listing the Scarlet Macaw; Proposed Rule 50 CFR Part 17 [Docket No
Reply to: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Listing the Scarlet Macaw; Proposed rule 50 CFR Part 17 [Docket No. FWS–R9–ES–2012–0039; 4500030115] By Donald J. Brightsmith, PhD June 2016 Deforestation The problems of deforestation in the range of the Scarlet Macaw are frequently discussed in the proposed rule. Unfortunately USFWS has seemed to overlook the information available in global deforestation databases like the following: https://earthenginepartners.appspot.com/science-2013-global-forest . As a result they are relegated to using published documents and other authors’ interpretations of deforestation instead of looking at the original data and how it may be impacting the species. The above resource shows a variety of information relevant to the current issues: • Isla Coiba as not having a current deforestation problem. • The lowland areas of north-eastern and north-central Costa Rica is a patchwork of forest and clearing that is both losing and gaining forest cover. It is not an area with rampant deforestation. • Eastern Nicaragua is suffering massive and rapid deforestation. • The core areas of A. m. cyanoptera in Belize are not suffering from high rates of deforestation. Adjacent pine forests are being cleared, but the broadleaf forests are mostly remaining intact. • The range of A. m. macao in Northern Colombia is having serious deforestation problems as discussed. • The southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica between Carara and the Osa Peninsula retain a large percentage of the area with forest cover. • There are breaks in forest cover between the ACOPAC population (Carara) and the small population in Palo Verde National Park. -
Can You Teach an Old Parrot New Tricks?
Can you teach an old parrot new tricks? Individual variation in the problem-solving abilities of wild kaka (Nestor meridionalis) by Julia Loepelt A thesis submitted to the Victoria University of Wellington in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Victoria University of Wellington Te Whare Wānanga o te Ūpoko o te Ika a Māui 2016 “It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.” Aesop, The Jay and the Peacock This thesis was conducted under the supervision of Associate Professor Kevin C. Burns Victoria University of Wellington Wellington, New Zealand and Dr. Rachael C. Shaw Victoria University of Wellington Wellington, New Zealand ABSTRACT Identifying factors that may influence cognitive variation in the wild is essential for furthering our understanding of how ecological and evolutionary mechanisms shape cognitive phenotypes. Yet, studies on cognitive variation in the wild and its causes and consequences are still rare. In both the wild and captivity, birds have become a centre of attention, revealing striking cognitive abilities that may rival the great apes. While much of this research has focused on corvids, few parrot species have been studied thoroughly. One of these species is the kea (Nestor notabilis), which has shown remarkable social and physical cognitive skills, including the use of tools. This thesis explores the innovative problem-solving skills of the only other Nestor species, the kaka (Nestor meridionalis), with the overall aim to investigate ecological, developmental and genetic factors influencing within-species variation of these abilities in the wild. When confronted with a series of novel problems at a familiar feeding station, juvenile kaka outperform adult kaka, especially in their ability and efficiency to find an innovative solution to acquiring the food reward. -
MARK CARWARDINE WILD THOUGHTS I Was Saddened Recently to Hear of the Death of an Old Friend of Mine
MARK CARWARDINE WILD THOUGHTS I was saddened recently to hear of the death of an old friend of mine. Richard Henry, who was believed to be more than 80 years old, died of natural causes. A legendary kakapo from New Zealand, he was named after a Victorian conservationist who pioneered efforts to save this Critically Endangered night parrot from extinction. Then I started to think about how many of the last survivors of a range of endangered species I happen to have met over the years. There are loads: from Lonesome George, the last known individual of the Pinta Island giant tortoise in the Galápagos Islands, to Najin, Fatu, Sudan and Suni, four of the world’s last remaining eight northern white rhinoceroses, who I accompanied on their long journey from the Czech Republic to Kenya last year. Of course, scientists working full-time in the field know a great many more individuals by name. Partly, this is a measure of the Mark Carwardine intensity of conservation and research efforts: people get to know and recognise individuals personally because they spend so much time with them – in many cases, more time than they spend with their spouses. I have friends who study humpback The head-mating Sirocco, perhaps whales, and they can the best-known kakapo in the world. recognise and name every individual in “I suppose it’s inevitable populations of hundreds that we get to know the or even thousands. last survivors when there But often this is a measure of how rare are so few left, but it’s many species have shocking nonetheless.” become. -
Great Green Macaw Article
CREATURE FEATURE the great green macaw by Cyril Brass A s a member pairs evaluate the nesting conditions Green Macaws in flight moving of the parrot and feeding territory before mating. through the forest searching for fruit- family and a They stake out an area with sufficient bearing Almond trees. However, close relative to the brightly colored food resources to raise a family. If looking for a green bird in the lush Scarlet Macaw, the Great Green they do not find a viable location, green vegetation is like looking for a Macaw possesses vibrant lime green mating does not occur during that white rabbit in the snow. The intense plumage with blue wing tips and tail season. green plumage blends into the feathers of red and blue. surrounding vegetation pro- This gentle green giant in viding excellent camouflage. the parrot world, also I have yet to see these known as Buffon’s Macaw, magnificent birds in the is highly endangered in the wild, only in zoos and world today. nature parks. Being able to The life cycle of this watch these birds in their arboreal bird species is natural habitat would totally connected to a indeed be an incredible single tree species; the sight. Swamp Almond tree, which Once abundant and grows only in the humid widespread throughout lowlands of the Atlantic Central America and plains of Central America. northern South America, the This is an example of one Great Green Macaws are species, the Green Macaw, now critically endangered dependent on the existence due to loss of habitat, of another species, the poaching of young birds for Swamp Almond tree. -
Three Rare Parrots Added to Appendix I of CITES !
PsittaScene In this Issue: Three Rare Parrots Added To Appendix I of CITES ! Truly stunning displays PPsittasitta By JAMIE GILARDI In mid-October I had the pleasure of visiting Bolivia with a group of avid parrot enthusiasts. My goal was to get some first-hand impressions of two very threatened parrots: the Red-fronted Macaw (Ara rubrogenys) and the Blue-throated Macaw (Ara SceneScene glaucogularis). We have published very little about the Red-fronted Macaw in PsittaScene,a species that is globally Endangered, and lives in the foothills of the Andes in central Bolivia. I had been told that these birds were beautiful in flight, but that Editor didn't prepare me for the truly stunning displays of colour we encountered nearly every time we saw these birds. We spent three days in their mountain home, watching them Rosemary Low, fly through the valleys, drink from the river, and eat from the trees and cornfields. Glanmor House, Hayle, Cornwall, Since we had several very gifted photographers on the trip, I thought it might make a TR27 4HB, UK stronger impression on our readers to present the trip in a collection of photos. CONTENTS Truly stunning displays................................2-3 Gold-capped Conure ....................................4-5 Great Green Macaw ....................................6-7 To fly or not to fly?......................................8-9 One man’s vision of the Trust..................10-11 Wild parrot trade: stop it! ........................12-15 Review - Australian Parrots ..........................15 PsittaNews ....................................................16 Review - Spix’s Macaw ................................17 Trade Ban Petition Latest..............................18 WPT aims and contacts ................................19 Parrots in the Wild ........................................20 Mark Stafford Below: A flock of sheep being driven Above: After tracking the Red-fronts through two afternoons, we across the Mizque River itself by a found that they were partial to one tree near a cornfield - it had sprightly gentleman. -
Strigops Habroptilus)
Copyright is owned by the Author of the thesis. Permission is given for a copy to be downloaded by an individual for the purpose of research and private study only. The thesis may not be reproduced elsewhere without the permission of the Author. The ecology and anatomy of scent in the critically endangered kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) A thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand Anna Clarissa Gsell May 2012 Hoki, the kakapo - Photo by Dr. Luis Ortiz Catedral Kakapo chicks born in 2008;©Photo by Chris Birmingham ABSTRACT The focus of the research presented here is the analysis of feather scent emitted by a parrot, the kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) and the kakapo’s ability to perceive scent by studying the anatomy of its brain and the olfactory bulb. In addition, behavioural research was conducted to determine the capability of the kakapo’s closest relatives, the kea (Nestor notabilis) and kaka (N. meridionalis) to detect scents and to distinguish between different concentrations of scents. The strong odour of the kakapo is one of the many unique characteristics of this critically endan- gered parrot, but its sense of smell has never been described in detail. The kakapo is the largest par- rot worldwide, it is nocturnal and flightless. Kakapo are herbivorous and it is the only parrot with a lek breeding system. Males defend several display arenas during the breeding season and continu- ously produce low frequency booming calls. Females come from afar and appraise different males and choose one with which they want to mate. -
The Following Is a Section of a Document Properly Cited As: Snyder, N., Mcgowan, P., Gilardi, J., and Grajal, A. (Eds.) (2000) P
The following is a section of a document properly cited as: Snyder, N., McGowan, P., Gilardi, J., and Grajal, A. (eds.) (2000) Parrots. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan 2000–2004. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. x + 180 pp. © 2000 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and the World Parrot Trust It has been reformatted for ease of use on the internet . The resolution of the photographs is considerably reduced from the printed version. If you wish to purchase a printed version of the full document, please contact: IUCN Publications Unit 219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0DL, UK. Tel: (44) 1223 277894 Fax: (44) 1223 277175 Email: [email protected] The World Parrot Trust World Parrot Trust UK World Parrot Trust USA Order on-line at: Glanmor House PO Box 353 www.worldparrottrust.org Hayle, Cornwall Stillwater, MN 55082 TR27 4HB, United Kingdom Tel: 651 275 1877 Tel: (44) 1736 753365 Fax: 651 275 1891 Fax (44) 1736 751028 Island Press Box 7, Covelo, California 95428, USA Tel: 800 828 1302, 707 983 6432 Fax: 707 983 6414 E-mail: [email protected] Order on line: www.islandpress.org The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN or the Species Survival Commission. Published by: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland, and Cambridge, UK. Copyright: © 2000 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and the World Parrot Trust Reproduction of this publication for educational and other non-commercial purposes is authorised without prior written permission from the copyright holders provided the source is fully acknowledged.