Birds of Wind Turbines Kill Hundreds Never Make It to Their Breeding of Thousands of Birds Every Year
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BIRDCONSERVATION The Magazine of American Bird Conservancy Spring 2016 BIRD’S EYE VIEW Solutions That Save Birds o much of conservation centers on the identification of a problem, communicating it widely, and asking or demanding that others—government and industry—solve it. Entire Sorganizations are built on this model. Personally, though, I have often thought the most interesting part of conservation is figuring out the solution and acting on it. Consider the decline of Red Knots piece on page 4 about the recent and other shorebirds. Loss of food expansion of the Brazilian reserve along the traditional Atlantic Coast that protects important habitat for migration route is partly to blame. the Stresemann’s Bristlefront and Red Knots eat the eggs of horseshoe many other birds is a good example crabs, and fishermen had discovered of this work. the value of these crabs for bait in whelk and eel traps. Fewer crabs Finally, there is wind energy. We means fewer crab eggs—and less all want renewable energy sources. food for shorebirds heading north. However, the fast-spinning blades Without this sustenance, the birds of wind turbines kill hundreds never make it to their breeding of thousands of birds every year. grounds. The solution is simple: Find out where birds move, and put turbines An obvious solution was to lobby, At ABC we strive for elsewhere. Unfortunately, in their cajole, and fight government agen- rush to profit, many companies cies to reduce their crab harvest simple, elegant solutions build turbines without knowing—or quotas. Early on, however, the that work for birds and sometimes even without caring— Ecological Research Development how they affect birds. ABC board Group, a small Delaware organiza- people, and we aim to member Kimberly Kaufman, a tion, proposed a novel solution: conservation leader of the American Instead of fishermen placing a crab develop them for every heartland, where wind energy is on in each trap, why not use part of the rise, discusses this challenge on major threat that affects a crab in a predator-proof bag? In page 22. this way, a single crab could attract birds. whelk and eels to multiple traps, At ABC we strive for simple, elegant greatly reducing the number of solutions that work for birds and crabs needed. Simple genius: I wish research to determine which kinds people, and we aim to develop them I had thought of it. of glass are best at deterring birds. for every major threat that affects (See the article on page 13.) birds. If you have an idea for how to ABC has something of a knack for address a problem, please feel free simple solutions, too. When we And here is an obvious one: What to give me a ring. If it’s a good one, learned that glass collisions kill to do when a bird species is down we’ll use it. millions of birds each year, we to just a few sites on Earth? The developed an inexpensive, trans- answer is to protect, improve, and lucent tape to place on windows. expand those sites. ABC has now It works, but we didn’t stop there: helped avoid extinction for many We partnered with other groups, species by assisting our partners in including New York City Audubon, developing a network of 70 reserves George H. Fenwick in conducting innovative, lifesaving throughout the Americas. Our President, ABC Cover photo: Cape May Warbler by Glenn Bartley TOP: Red Knot by Bill Dalton ABC is the Western Hemisphere’s bird conservation specialist—the only organization with a single and steadfast commitment to achieving conservation results for native Spring 2016 wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. BIRDCONSERVATION A copy of the current financial statement and registration filed by the organization Getting Creative for Birds may be obtained by contacting: ABC, P.O. Box 249, The Plains, VA 20198. 540-253- 5780, or by contacting the following state agencies: A Helicopter Ride to Safety Florida: Division of Consumer Services, 8 toll-free number within the state: 800-435-7352. for Hawaiian Petrels Maryland: For the cost of copies and postage: Office of the Secretary of State, Statehouse, Annapolis, MD 21401. 13 Dark Tunnel Sheds New Light New Jersey: Attorney General, State of New Jersey: 201-504-6259. on Bird Collisions New York: Office of the Attorney General, Department of Law, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271. Pennsylvania: Department of State, 16 Birds of Brazil's Songbird Forest toll-free number within the state: 800-732-0999. Virginia: State Division of Consumer 22 Black Swamp Bird Observatory’s Affairs, Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA Passionate Voice for Birds 23209. West Virginia: Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. New Project Creates Prairie Habitat Registration does not imply endorsement, 24 approval, or recommendation by any state. for Birds—and for Butterflies Bird Conservation is the magazine of ABC and is published four times yearly for members. Senior Editor: Libby Sander VP of Communications: Clare Nielsen Graphic Design: Gemma Radko DEPARTMENTS Contributors: Jason Berry, Jim Giocomo, Bennett Hennessey, Steve Holmer, Jennifer Howard, Dan Lebbin, Jack Morrison, 2 Bird’s Eye View Merrie Morrison, Hannah Nevins, Cynthia Palmer, Mike Parr, David Pashley, Christine Sheppard, George Wallace 4 On the Wire For more information contact: American Bird Conservancy 4249 Loudoun Avenue, P.O. Box 249 30 Final Glimpse The Plains, VA 20198 540-253-5780 • [email protected] Pin-tailed Manakin by Ciro Albano Join us online! TOP: Dickcissel by Dan Behm abcbirds.org BIRD CONSERVATION | SPRING 2016 3 ON the WIRE Songbird Forest Reserve Expands Protection for Rare Brazilian Birds he Brazilian conservation group Fundação Biodiversitas, with support from ABC, has secured T a tract of vital Atlantic Forest habitat for the Stresemann’s Bristlefront, listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. (Turn to back cover for a photo of this rare species.) The acquisition adds 766 acres to the Mata do View of the Mata do Passarinho Reserve. Photo courtesy of Biodiversitas Passarinho Reserve, bringing the total protected area to 2,352 acres. This expansion represents a major step toward the preservation of the many species that rely on this unique and threatened forest region. (See article on page 16.) Because of deforestation, the reserve “is like an oasis in a desert,” said Gláucia Drummond, Executive Director of Fundação Biodiversitas. Expanding the protected area is “one of the most promising and effective ways to save the Stresemann’s Bristlefront from extinction” and to preserve the area's rich biological heritage, she said. Mata do Passarinho is Portuguese for “Songbird Forest.” Biodiversitas created this reserve in 2007 with ABC support. An Alliance for Zero Extinction site, the reserve rep- resents the last known home of the Stresemann’s Bristlefront. With a population of fewer than 15 known individuals, the ground-nesting bird is one of the most endangered species on the planet. More about ABC’s bird reserve network: abcbirds.org/ program/reserves/ This acquisition was made possible through the generous contributions of David and Patricia Davidson, David Harrison, George and Cathy Ledec, Michael Reid, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory Tropical Forest Forever Fund, Robert W. Wilson Charitable Trust, and IUCN National Committee of The Netherlands (IUCN NL). The project is also supported by the Global Environment Facility, the Mohamed bin Zayed Map courtesy of Biodiversitas Species Conservation Fund, the Hildegard and Hans Schaefer Foundation, and the United Nations Environment Program. 4 BIRD CONSERVATION | SPRING 2016 ABC Joins Lawsuit Challenging Regulation of Pesticides has joined with seeds to be registered under the for months and even years. Because ABC beekeepers, farmers, Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, of this effect on invertebrates, use and public interest groups in filing a and Rodenticide Act; without of neonics impacts not just seed- lawsuit alleging insufficient federal enforceable labels on the seed eating birds such as Bobolink but regulation of a dangerous class of bags; and without adequate also insect-eating species including pesticide that is deadly to birds, assessments of the serious ongoing Common Nighthawk and Purple bees, and other wildlife. environmental harm. Martin. The lawsuit, filed in January by “A single seed coated with a neo- The agency's actions surrounding Center for Food Safety on behalf nicotinoid insecticide is enough to neonicotinoid seed coatings “have of several beekeepers, farmers, kill a songbird,” said ABC's Cyn- led to intensifying and destructive and sustainable agriculture and thia Palmer, Director of Pesticides consequences,” said Peter Jenkins, conservation groups, challenges the Science and Regulation. “There is attorney with Center for Food Safe- Environmental Protection Agency's no justification for EPA to exempt ty. These include honeybee die-offs, (EPA) inadequate regulation of these pesticide delivery devices from as well as chronic effects to numer- the neonicotinoid insecticide seed regulation. ABC urges the agency to ous species, nationwide water and coatings used on dozens of crops. evaluate the risks to birds, bees, but- soil contamination, and other envi- EPA has allowed millions of pounds terflies, and other wildlife.” ronmental and economic harms, he of coated seeds to be planted said. “This lawsuit aims to hold EPA annually on more than 150 million A 2013 study by ABC, “The Impact accountable to dramatically reduce acres nationwide. of the Nation's Most Widely Used this harm in the future.” Insecticides on Birds,” found that The lawsuit alleges the agency neonicotinoids are toxic to birds More about our work on pesticides: has illegally allowed this to occur, and invertebrates, even in small abcbirds.org/program/pesticides/ without requiring the coated quantities, and they persist in soils Your extra gift will help prevent birds from hitting windows! Collisions with glass kill hundreds of millions of birds each year.