Vol. 7, No. 2 BIRD CALLS Contents p. 2 JULY 2003
Landmark Feral Anacapa Island - Cat Policy Passes Rats out, in Florida Murrelets Back On May 30, 2003, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Following the eradication of black rats (FWC) unanimously passed a policy, from Anacapa Island in Channel to: “protect native wildlife from Islands National Park, California (Bird predation, disease, and other impacts Calls Vol. 6, No. 2), the population of presented by feral and free-ranging Xantus’s Murrelet is showing cats.” Domestic cats in Florida prey immediate signs of recovery. Radar on migratory songbirds and shorebirds studies show that nesting activity has as well as rare, endemic species such increased markedly, and two nests as Florida Scrub-Jay. have been found in locations where ABC spearheaded public support for murrelets have not bred since the the policy, along with several other Florida Scrub-Jay is among the many species that 1920s. Both nests have hatchlings. conservation groups, federal and state will benefit from the new FWC policy. Photo: FWS ABC, Pacific Seabird Group, the agencies, and wildlife rehabilitators, Endangered Species Recovery including the American Birding Florida: The Fur and Feathers Are Council, and others intervened on Association, Defenders of Wildlife, Flying (http://conservation.law. behalf of the National Park Service, National Audubon Society, the ufl.edu/spotlight.html), commissioned whose plans to eradicate black rats Ornithological Council, The Wildlife by FWS, presents a convincing from Anacapa Island were blocked by Society, FWS, Florida Department of argument that TNR violates the a law suit brought by the Fund for Health, and USDA Wildlife Services. Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Animals. The Judge ruled in favor of At the Commission’s hearing in Endangered Species Act, and Florida the Park Service, enabling Island Kissimmee, Linda Winter, Director of state law prohibiting abandonment and Conservation and Ecology Group to ABC’s Cats Indoors! Campaign, and release of non-native animals. ABC begin the successful rat eradication. Dr. Christine Storts, DVM, of Brevard encourages federal, state and local Besides rapid improvement for the County Veterinary Association, led the governments to enforce applicable murrelet, other species such as Ashy testimony in support of the policy. wildlife protection and animal cruelty Storm-Petrel have also benefitted from Opposition to the proposal came from laws against the release of domestic the rat removal, and the overall island cat colony advocates, who expressed cats where they impact native wildlife. ecology appears greatly enhanced. The their fear that all of the state’s stray Florida was the first state to adopt number of birds visiting nesting and feral cats would be killed. ABC’s Cats Indoors! Campaign, colonies has more than doubled in However, the Commissioners pledged hiring a part-time coordinator who some cases, and other Channel Island that cats would be removed from FWC distributes educational materials to endemics such as deer mice, side- lands in the most humane way possible veterinarians, conservation groups, blotched lizards, and slender and expressed a willingness to work animal control agencies, schools, and salamanders have also begun to with all stakeholders. the public. Florida has now set an rebound. University of Florida law student, example for other state wildlife For more information on the rat Pamela Jo Hatley, shared with the agencies to follow. To view the policy removal project visit: www.nps.gov/ Commissioners her review of wildlife visit: www.abcbirds.org/cats/states/ chis/naturalresources/airp.html . protection and animal cruelty laws. florida_policy.htm. Contact: Linda Contact: Gerald Winegrad, ABC, Her report, “Feral Cat Colonies in Winter, ABC,
CONTENTS Horseshoe Crab Landmark Cat Policy in Florida 1 Anacapa Island - Birds Return 1 Horseshoe Crab Success 2 Conservation Opposition of Cormorant Kills 3 Oregon Cascades Birding Trail 3 Success Benefits FWS Reviews ESA Listings 4 Mute Swan Removal Blocked 4 Bird Budget Facts & Figures 5 Shorebirds Boreal Forest Critical for U.S. Birds 5 Patagonian Toothfish Developments 6 Thick-billed Parrot Sighting 6 The Horseshoe Crab Management Flightless Grebe Plummets 7 Red Siskin Population Discovered 7 Board of the Atlantic States Marine Shorebirds such as Dunlin will benefit from improved horseshoe crab harvesting regulations. Photo: FWS NWR Management Controversy 8 Fisheries Commission voted in June ABC Opposes Carbofuran 8 2003, to dramatically reduce Critical Habitat Debate Heightens 9 West Nile Migrates South 9 horseshoe crab landings in New Jersey, bait-bags that cut bait use in half (Bird Mystery Indian Vulture Deaths 10 Delaware, and Maryland. The vote Calls Vol. 5, No. 3). Virginia already Saving Playa Lakes 10 was a result of concern over declining mandates the use of such bags. AVM Declining 11 Delaware Bay crab populations and ABC, National Audubon Society, Reprieve for Cerulean Warblers 11 U.S. Navy Leaves Vieques 12 associated declines in populations of New Jersey Audubon Society, and NJ Cats Indoors! Campaign 12 shorebirds that rely on the crab eggs other partners have been pressing the Bayer Withdraws Fenthion 13 to fuel their northerly migration (Bird Horseshoe Crab Management Board Peregrine Chicks to Falconers 13 Birds in Brief 14 Calls Vol. 6, No. 3). New Jersey and for stricter measures governing crab Swan Hunt to Go Ahead 15 Delaware agreed to cap landings at harvesting. Years of effort by these Alliance for Zero Extinction 15 150,000 crabs each (a drop of about groups led to significant cuts in crab IBA Book to be Published 16 50 percent), and Maryland agreed to a landings from 1998 to 2002, but as Abbreviations 170,000-crab cap. Equally significant concerns over the decline in shorebirds was a ban on all harvesting from May increased, reported harvests went up ABC: American Bird Conservancy FWS: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1 through June 7, the most critical time in 2002 by 25% to 1.25 million crabs. NMFS: National Marine Fisheries Service for crab spawning and shorebird The Shorebird Technical Committee EPA: Environmental Protection Agency feeding. This is being hailed as an Report to the Horseshoe Crab USGS: U.S. Geological Survey IUCN - World Conservation Union important victory for shorebirds such Management Board confirmed as Red Knot and Semipalmated declines in Red Knots and Sandpipers, which congregate in the Semipalmated Sandpipers, and recommended reductions in bait Bird Calls is the Newsletter of Delaware Bay in vast numbers each American Bird Conservancy spring. New Jersey has adopted their landings for New Jersey, Delaware and and the ABC Policy Council. new quotas, but implementation of Maryland. The report noted that a 75% Bird Calls is partially funded by a grant from the Delaware’s regulations was delayed by reduction in landings would be International Affairs Division of the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service legal action brought by crab fishermen, required to insure some crab Editorial Committee: and will now attempt to adopt their population growth. Contact: Gerald George Fenwick Winegrad at
Opposition Grows “Every study for about a century has shown that cormorants do not impact to Cormorant significantly the demography of desirable fish, except at very small Slaughter scales . . . The results of peer-reviewed studies show no significant impact by More than 10,000 citizens filed cormorant predation on desirable fish comments on the proposed FWS plan . . . The evidence does not support to allow the boundless slaughter of control at winter roosts as being Double-crested Cormorants. More effective or having the desired than 90 percent of the comments were consequences, and we believe that it opposed to the FWS proposal that Double-crested Cormorant. Photo: Clipart.com should not be allowed.” They went on would let 24 states begin killing to accuse FWS of treating perceptions unlimited numbers of cormorants personnel to decide which damage and sociology in the same way as without permits or prior review if the management techniques are most scientific findings, confusing birds are “injurious to a public appropriate in a given situation.” economics with natural history, and resource.” The proposal would also Ornithologists do not share that trust disregarding geographic scale. allow USDA’s Wildlife Services to kill and have resoundingly condemned the ABC and its partners have supported unlimited numbers of cormorants at FWS proposal, citing a lack of sound a science-based approach to the winter roosts in 12 fish-farming states, science. ABC spearheaded a letter of cormorant issue. Conservationists are without permits, and without requiring comment against the order, co-signed hopeful that the final FWS ruling meets non-lethal methods to be tried first. by 21 national and regional their concerns, and that cormorants are More than 47,000 Double-crested organizations. ABC also used its not made scapegoats for fishery Cormorants are killed annually under action alert system, BirdWire, to declines caused by other factors. Such current FWS permits, but this figure generate many of the 10,000 comments a depredation order and roost controls, could rise dramatically if the proposal from the general public. without direct approval and permitting is adopted. Some of the strongest criticism came by FWS, would set a dangerous FWS justified their plan to relinquish from scientists with the American precedent for all fish-eating birds. control of cormorant take saying: “the Ornithologists’ Union who stated in Contact: Gerald Winegrad Service trusts [Wildlife Services] their official letter of opposition:
sports optics company, became a title On the Trail of sponsor along with the National Forest Foundation and ABC. Birds in Oregon Additionally, several county tourism entities and local small businesses The Oregon Cascades Birding Trail have contributed funding was officially launched on Birding trails are important tools to International Migratory Bird Day, enhance the public’s awareness and appreciation of nature and birds. 2003, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony White-headed Woodpecker can be seen on the at the Songbird Celebration in Oregon Cascades Birding Trail. Photo: FWS Public enjoyment of these trails can Portland, OR. The trail, a self-guided translate into support for bird tour featuring 184 sites along more Barrow’s Goldeneye, Harlequin Duck, conservation, while also providing than 1,000 miles of scenic roadways, Great Gray Owl, and White-headed important local economic benefits and is designed to showcase the birds and Woodpecker. educational, and recreational the beauty of the Cascade Mountains. In an effort uncommon among opportunities. Site descriptions in the newly birding trails, corporate, local business, To download the trail guide and published trail guide provide and tourism sponsorship has played a access more information on the trail, information for the casual or dedicated significant role in funding the project. visit: www.oregonbirdingtrails.org. birder to see species, such as Hermit Leupold & Stevens Inc., a fourth- Contact: Bob Altman, ABC, Warbler, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, generation, family-owned, Oregon
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but the government swiftly settled out Timber Industry of court and agreed to the reviews. Most Spotted Owl populations in the Prompts Review U.S. are declining rapidly. Murrelet populations are less well documented of Spotted Owl, but are also thought to be declining range-wide. Part of the FWS review Marbled Murrelet on the Marbled Murrelet will focus on whether the Pacific Northwest FWS has begun five-year reviews of population qualifies as a “Distinct two threatened birds, the Northern Population Segment.” Timber Spotted Owl and the Marbled Murrelet. The Northern Spotted Owl is to receive an proponents are advocating that the Endangered Species Listing review along with the The reviews will assess whether new Marbled Murrelet. Photo: Clipart.com Alaska/Canada population is information warrants a change in the genetically indistinct from the more Endangered Species Listing status of the timber industry, combined with numerous population in Washington/ either. The Northern Spotted Owl was their stated goal of reducing Critical Oregon and that the species should listed in 1990 and quickly became the Habitat designations for both species, therefore not qualify for listing. focus of forest intense debates in the has raised suspicions in the However, a prior court ruling clearly Northwest, with some 6.9 million acres conservation community. Indeed, stated that population segments were of National Forest land designated as while required by the Endangered irrelevant in the murrelet’s case Critical Habitat for the species. The Species Act, five-year reviews of the because the species is declining Marbled Murrelet was listed in 1992. more than 1,200 plants and animals throughout a significant portion of its “The purpose of the reviews is to listed by the federal government are range. ensure that the species have the rarely completed. The owl and An announcement is expected from appropriate level of protection under murrelet reviews are only being FWS in December, which would the Endangered Species Act,” said undertaken as a result of timber trigger a formal rule-making process, Dave Wesley, Acting Regional industry pressure that culminated in including public review and comment. Director of the Service’s Pacific legal action. A coalition of ten Earthjustice has pledged to Region. “Reviewing the latest environmental groups, including challenge any change in listing status information will also lead to better Portland Audubon Society, Seattle of either species. Contact: Joan management and improved Audubon Society, Sierra Club, and the Jewett, FWS, (503) 231-6121, or conservation of the species.” Wilderness Society, represented by Kristen Boyles, Earthjustice, However, support for the reviews by Earthjustice, tried to challenge the suit,
under a FWS permit when the Fund and Least Tern in Maryland. Mute Mute Swan for Animals filed a suit in federal Swans are also believed to pose a court. DNR subsequently halted its significant threat to the well-being of Removal Blocked control efforts until completion of an the wintering Chesapeake Bay Tundra Environmental Assessment. Swan population and may affect other Animal rights groups have temporarily Subsequently, another group has filed waterfowl. The swan has a voracious blocked efforts by the Maryland a federal suit contesting the efforts of appetite for submerged aquatic Department of Natural Resources other states to control populations of vegetation. Using past studies, the (DNR) to remove up to 1,500 the swan by lethal methods. Egg Maryland Mute Swan Task Force introduced Mute Swans from the addling/oiling has been shown to be Report and Recommendations Chesapeake Bay. ABC, National ineffective in decreasing populations. concluded that the current swan Audubon Society, Maryland From five escaped swans in 1962, population has the potential to Ornithological Society, and others the Chesapeake Bay population has consume more than 12 million pounds supported the removal because of the grown to more than 4,000 birds today. of Bay vegetation annually. Localized ecological damage caused by the This large, aggressive swan is blamed depletion of vegetation has already exploding Mute Swan population. for the disappearance of the last been documented. Contact: Gerald More than 100 birds had been taken breeding colonies of Black Skimmer Winegrad
division of FWS charged with research units (partnerships between Birds & Budgets conserving migratory birds in the U.S., the USGS, state natural resource was also increased $2.424 million agencies, host universities, and the Facts & Figures above last year’s enacted level, the Wildlife Management Institute to same as the President’s request. conduct research on environmental The House Interior Appropriations However, the subcommittee only issues) were funded at $250,000 more Subcommittee marked up the Fiscal provided $24.56 million for the North than the President’s request, at $14.4 Year ‘04 Interior Appropriations bill American Wetlands Conservation million, but still down $500,000 from on June 18, 2003, including some Fund (which provides funds for last year. USGS Biological Resources important funding for bird wetland conservation in the U.S.), Division was funded at $134.56 conservation. almost $14 million below last year’s million, $2.43 million above last year Neotropical Migratory Bird level and $25 million below the and $527,000 above the President’s Conservation Act grants (used to fund President’s request - a major blow for request. Contact: Gerald Winegrad, migratory bird conservation in the U.S. wetland conservation. ABC,
U.S. purchased $20 billion worth of Canada’s Boreal Canadian forest products in 2001, much of it ending up in junk mail and Forest Critical catalogs. More than 30% of the Canadian boreal forest has already for U.S. Birds been allocated for resource development for logging, agricultural conversion, oil and gas exploration and A new report, based on an production, mining, and hydropower. unprecedented compilation of bird Over the last year, several new census data from across Canada and the Typical boreal forest. Photo: NASA groups and initiatives have been U.S., has revealed that one in three created to ensure boreal ecosystem birds across North America owes its conservation. BSI is a new project existence to Canada’s boreal forest. fate of much of the continent’s birdlife dedicated to educating birdwatchers The report, The Importance of depends on the future of this vast and conservationists throughout the Canada’s Boreal Forest to Landbirds northern landscape, which stretches U.S. about the importance of the boreal by Dr. Peter Blancher of Bird Studies across the top of the continent from forest to migratory birds, and how they Canada, was commissioned by the Alaska to Newfoundland. It covers 2.3 can help conserve it. BSI is part of an Boreal Songbird Initiative (BSI) in million square miles and offers some emerging network of organizations conjunction with the Canadian Boreal of the best opportunity left in the world including ABC, Ducks Unlimited, the Initiative. It concludes that as many for large-scale forest ecosystem National Wildlife Federation, and the as five billion of North America’s conservation. Yet the boreal forest is Natural Resources Defense Council. warblers, thrushes, sparrows, hawks, under increasing pressure from To obtain a copy of the report, and woodpeckers, and other birds migrate development, much of it driven by U.S. for more information visit: each year from the Boreal Forest. consumption. The U.S. is the largest www.borealbirds.org From the report, it is clear that the user of Canada’s oil and gas, and the or www.borealcanada.ca.
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Pass on Chilean Sea Bass,” aimed at of toothfish before landing at port, and Toothfish convincing chefs from top restaurants that foreign importers designate a U.S. to remove the fish from their menus, agent. These measures supplement the Advance May thus helping to reduce demand. The current “Catch Documentation restaurant industry accounts for 70 Scheme” that has been widely Help Seabirds percent of all toothfish sold in the U.S., criticized as unenforceable due to the and U.S. consumption accounts for lack of monitoring and ease of New developments in the fight to approximately 33 percent of the global falsification. Environmental groups control pirate fishing for Patagonian market. The “Pass on the Bass” still consider these new regulations toothfish (marketed in the U.S. as campaign has enlisted more than 1,000 insufficient however, and continue to “Chilean Sea Bass”) may help to restaurants in major U.S. cities to date. press forward with their consumer- reduce the number of seabirds hooked This May, NMFS introduced new based campaign. and killed on longlines in the southern regulations aimed at curbing the illegal An alliance of legal toothfish fishing oceans. Over the past six years, at least fishery by banning the import of vessels has also recently offered a 700,000 seabirds, including 144,000 toothfish caught in known pirate $100,000 reward for information albatrosses and 378,000 White- fishing hotspots in the Southern Ocean. leading to the capture of toothfish chinned Petrels, have been killed in the The new regulations also include a pirates, and an international telephone pirate toothfish fishery. Few if any requirement that NMFS approve all hotline has been set up that can be pirate vessels use seabird avoidance shipments of more than 4,400 pounds accessed from 15 countries and can measures. Many of these species are take toll-free calls in five languages. now considered threatened with The “Coalition of Legal Toothfish extinction as a result of this and other Operators” described the pirate fishery longline mortality (Bird Calls Vol. 5, as “syndicated crime on a global No. 3). scale.” Australia is in the process of The Antarctica Project estimates that sinking a confiscated, illegal toothfish nearly 40,000 tons of illegal toothfish vessel, the South Tomi, and the were caught in the southern oceans in Republic of Seychelles has recently 2002, seriously jeopardizing the revoked toothfish licenses to three fishery and the toothfish itself. In nationally flagged vessels over pirate 2001, the National Environmental fishing concerns. Contact: Andrea Trust and The Antarctica Project Patagonian toothfish on sale as Chilean seabass in a Kavanagh, NET, (202) 251-2802, or (TAP) launched a campaign: “Take a Washington D.C. market. Photo: ABC Beth Clark, TAP, (202) 234-2480.
Ted Turner Hosts has declined rapidly range-wide due to flying in the direction of New Mexico logging practices in Mexico. early in the program, and sporadic Rare Parrot The Armendaris Ranch bird, though reports from the Arizona-Mexico fully feathered and behaving normally, border area since 1993 are thought to On May 7, 2003, a guest at Ted has sparked speculation as to its origin. have been of birds from this group. Turner’s Armendaris Ranch in New The area where the bird was found lies Ted Turner has given permission for Mexico found a Thick-billed Parrot in at 4,800 feet in the Chihuahuan desert, birdwatchers to visit the area to see the a small grove of pine trees next to the some 200 miles from the nearest parrot, which is still present at press ranch buildings. If this is a wild bird, regularly occurring, wild Thick-bills in time (though it was absent for a period it is the first definitive, documented northern Mexico. Although it is of three days at one point). To date, record of this species in the U.S. in possible that the bird escaped from birders from 30 states and 5 countries decades. The species nests only in the captivity, there is no evidence of this. have made the pilgrimage. The ranch Sierra Madre Occidental of western It is more likely to be a wild bird, or manager has requested that visitors do Mexico, and is listed as Endangered potentially a survivor of the Arizona not arrive prior to 8:00 a.m. and check under IUCN-World Conservation Game and Fish Department in with the ranch office before Union criteria. The last large influx reintroduction program that took place searching for the bird. Contact: Tom of Thick-bills was in 1918-19, and in Arizona between 1986 and 1993. A Waddell, Armendaris Ranch, (505) since that time, the species’ population group of reintroduced birds was seen 894-6782 for visitation details.
6 BIRD CALLS JULY 2003 Flightless Grebe Red Siskin Plummets Discovered and The last of the world’s truly flightless Protected in grebes is undergoing a severe population crash. The species is likely Guyana headed for extinction unless action is taken to control gill-net fishing on A paper published in the April 2003 Lake Titicaca and surrounding lakes issue of The Auk, the journal of the in southern Peru and northern Bolivia. American Ornithologists’ Union, has Lake Titicaca is the world’s largest unveiled one of the best-kept secrets high mountain lake, with a surface area in international bird conservation. On of 3,200 square miles. It straddles the April 12, 2000, a team of researchers Peru-Bolivia border at an altitude of led by Mark B. Robbins of the 12,500 feet. Survey results along the University of Kansas and Michael J. Red Siskin. Photo: Mike Braun. Peruvian side of the lake have shown Braun of the Smithsonian Institution a recent decline of 75 percent in the made a stunning discovery: a Red up by the Wildlife Division through the grebe population there. Population Siskin population in southwestern Wildlife Management and Scientific declines have also been noted on lakes Guyana, approximately 600 miles Authorities. Thanks to Guyana’s EPA Apapa and Umayo, but the Bolivian from the nearest known population. and Wildlife Division actions and the lakes Uru-uru and Poopó remain The siskin once occurred widely combined support of an international without a complete recent census. The from eastern Colombia through coalition of concerned groups, population has crashed from a northern Venezuela, but its numbers including ABC, Conservation maximum of around 10,000 birds in have been greatly reduced by intense, International, the Smithsonian the 1970s and 1980s, to a current illegal trapping and it now persists in Institution, Bushnell Sports Optics, maximum population assessment of small, isolated populations consisting American Federation of Aviculture, 750 birds. Until recently, the Titicaca of no more than a few hundred the National Aviary, Rupununi Grebe was not even considered individuals each. As a result, the bird Conservation Society, Rupununi Vulnerable, but has now been listed as is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Development Corporation, the Endangered, and may yet be upgraded Red List and by FWS. It is also listed University of Guyana, and the to Critically Endangered unless some in Appendix I by CITES (Convention University of Kansas. improvement in its conservation is on International Trade in Endangered In May 2003, the Guyanese seen. Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), government added the Red Siskin to Two other species of grebe, not which recognizes that the species is Schedule III of its Species Protection strictly flightless but extremely poor threatened with extinction, and Regulations. Schedule III contains fliers, are both listed as Critically prohibits international trade. native Guyanese plants and animals Endangered, and also confined to high The report details that the new that are considered threatened with altitude lakes in the Neotropics. The population appears to be larger - extinction. Under these regulations, Atitlan Grebe (or Giant Pied-billed perhaps as many as a few thousand trade in the siskin is now prohibited Grebe) is now widely considered to be individuals - than any known extant except for zoos and scientific purposes. extinct, and the Junín Flightless Grebe population, offering new hope for the The exact location of the new is confined to Lake Junín, also in Peru. species’ survival in the wild. The population is being kept secret to ABC is providing support to discovery remained undisclosed for prevent trapping, and several groups, Fundación Armonia to survey the three years to enable the Guyanese including ABC, are working to secure Titicaca Grebe’s remaining habitat in government to officially protect the the future of the bird through on-the- the hope that a population that is not bird. A petition to list the siskin as an ground conservation efforts that subject to fishing pressure can be endangered species in Guyana was combine strict controls on trapping and located and subsequently protected. submitted to the Office of the President protected area designation. Contact: George Wallace, ABC, by the Guyana Environmental Contact: George Wallace, ABC,
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Because of the national implications, Conservation Plan for the lands before Privatization ABC suggested that a public hearing any consideration is given of a be held in Washington, D.C. management change. Compatibility Plan: Precedent A large portion of the NBR consists issues still unresolved include the for Refuges? of native Palouse Prairie. Elk, deer, tribe’s grazing and farming practices, pronghorn, black bear, and coyote expansion of a stock car racetrack onto ABC and others are attempting to share the range with 350 to 450 bison. refuge lands, gravel pits, and block plans to turn over management Ninepipe Refuge was established by placement of overhead power lines. functions at the National Bison Range Congress to function “as a refuge and Conservationists are concerned (NBR) and related National Wildlife breeding ground for native birds.” about the precedent of taking Refuges to private interests. The U.S. More than 200 species of birds are management away from wildlife Department of Interior is negotiating found in the region including FWS- professionals and passing it to private an agreement to contract management designated Species of Conservation entities. The Department of Interior functions on 20,000 acres of land that Concern, such as Northern Harrier, has listed all National Wildlife Refuges includes NBR and its affiliated Peregrine Falcon, Long-billed Curlew, in Alaska and 18 other refuges Ninepipe and Pablo Refuges, and other Wilson’s Phalarope, Short-eared Owl, nationally, plus 34 National Parks as lands to the Confederated Salish & Black Swift, Lewis’s Woodpecker, potential management takeover targets Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) in Montana. Red-naped Sapsucker, Grasshopper for Native American tribes. Several groups, including ABC, have Sparrow, and Brewer’s Sparrow. ABC 2003 is the centennial year for written letters to key Interior officials is demanding that FWS, with the input the National Wildlife Refuge system. and Congressional members detailing of all stakeholders, including the tribe, Contact: GeraldWinegrad , ABC, concerns over such a turnover. first complete a comprehensive
emergency exemption process as a ABC Pressures loophole for obtaining this extremely hazardous pesticide for routine use,” EPA Over said Dr. Patti Bright, Director of ABC’s Pesticide and Birds Campaign. Carbofuran “This is a particularly important issue because EPA is reviewing all ABC and members of the National formulations of carbofuran to decide Pesticide Coalition recently submitted if the substance should continue to be a letter to EPA, signed by 61 registered in the U.S.” ABC is fighting the application by four southern organizations from around the country, states to use flowable carbofuran on cotton fields. If these emergency exemptions are urging EPA to deny requests from Photo: National Institute of Health. granted, the impact on wildlife could Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and be devastating because of 1) the vast Arkansas for emergency exemptions to killed by carbofuran include many amount of acreage involved, 2) use the liquid (“flowable”) form of the species that are protected under the carbofuran’s persistence in the highly toxic pesticide carbofuran on up Endangered Species Act and the environment (up to 120 days), and 3) to 3.4 million acres of cotton. Migratory Bird Treaty Act, yet EPA the timing and location of the In the 1990s almost all uses of the has not consulted with the USFWS applications, which could potentially granular form of carbofuran were regarding these exemptions. impact millions of birds migrating withdrawn from the market due to its EPA has been granting similar south during late summer and early fall high toxicity to wildlife. FWS wrote “emergency” exemptions to these along the central flyway. Earlier this multiple letters to EPA urging states for more than five years even year, ABC and other conservation cancellation of all formulations of though safer, equally effective, groups successfully blocked an attempt carbofuran, including flowable. They chemical and non-chemical to grant an emergency exemption stated, “There are no known alternatives are available. “Carbofuran request from Louisiana to use the circumstances under which carbofuran has not been deemed safe for use on granular form of carbofuran on rice. can be used without killing birds.” cotton because of its extreme risk to Contact: Dr. Patti Bright, ABC, Birds documented as having been wildlife. The states are using the
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Plans. Safe Harbor has been used to Critical Habitat in aid in Hawaiian Goose reintroduction on the Hawaiian island of Molokai, Critical Situation and 113 Private Stewardship Grants have been awarded this year totaling According to a FWS press release, “the more than $9.4 million to individuals Endangered Species Act is broken.” and groups undertaking conservation The phrase is being used with regard projects on private lands in 43 states. to the controversial system of Critical FWS is due to run out of money in Habitat (CH) designation for species its FY ‘03 budget for CH designations protected under the Act, which requires in July, and has asked Congress to shift the Service to allocate areas essential funds from other endangered species to the survival of Endangered or programs to cover the shortfall. The Threatened species. According to Service is now advocating a CH FWS, Critical Habitat is only of system whereby no deadlines are “marginal value” in a few cases - those imposed, thereby eliminating lawsuits. where it covers “unoccupied,” The debate continues over CH Designations for endangered species. Birds recently apportioned CH This has set off alarm bells in the federally-owned land. Rather than include the California Gnatcatcher. Photo: USGS. conservation community as being automatically protecting land (in the tantamount to eradicating CH same way a refuge would), designation Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, and designations altogether. CH of CH triggers a consultation process, California Gnatcatcher. In the process, proponents believe that a system which, argues FWS, usually occurs it has used up a substantial portion of without mandated deadlines will be a anyway because a species is listed as its available budget for the endangered system where designations are never Endangered or Threatened. It costs the species program. “We are simply completed. same amount ($400,000 on average) unable to run a scientifically prioritized There are currently 280 species to define CH for one species already system that addresses the most urgent proposed for listing under the included under the Act as it does to add needs first,” said FWS spokesperson, Endangered Species Act and 13 CH two entirely new species to the Act. Megan Durham, of the lawsuits. lawsuits on 31 species pending. In However, following multiple law FWS says that rather than relying on addition, several lawsuits have been suits over the past six years, by such mandated CH regulations to protect filed on behalf of industry, farming, groups as the Center for Biological essential habitat, it favors cooperative or other private groups against CH Diversity, FWS has been forced to measures such as Safe Harbor designations already enacted by FWS. pursue CH designations for species Agreements, Private Stewardship Contact: Megan Durham, FWS, (202) such as Spectacled and Steller’s Eiders, Grants, and Habitat Conservation 208-5634.
Testing positive were Hispaniola some scientists to speculate that there West Nile Lizard Cuckoo, Red-legged Thrush, may be cross immunity in birds with and Ruddy Quail Dove, but of other flaviviruses, or that West Nile Migrates South particular concern to biologists is the has been on the island long enough to Critically Endangered and declining promote West Nile-specific immunity Ridgway’s Hawk. This species is now in native species. The first cases of West Nile virus were confined to a small corner of the island, The discovery of West Nile in the confirmed in the Caribbean this spring, the same area where West Nile virus Dominican Republic coincides with with the discovery of pathogen- was discovered. In the U.S., hawks the first reports of the disease in specific antibodies in birds in the have been some of the hardest hit birds Mexico. Alerts have been issued by Dominican Republic. This would after the corvids. As yet, no Ridgway’s the municipalities of Lampazos, San seem to indicate that migratory birds Hawks have been trapped and tested. Pedro, Pesqueria, and Los Aldamas, have carried the virus from the eastern Despite the presence of West Nile- where dead birds have been discovered U.S., where incidents of West Nile specific antibodies in the Dominican that yielded positive results for West have been steadily accelerating for the Republic, however, no sick or dying Nile. Contact: Dr. Patti Bright, ABC, past four years. birds have yet been found, leading
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in both people and animals. rheumatoid arthritis, but in Pakistan Cause of Mystery Researchers have been working hard and India it is widely used to treat a to determine the cause of the vulture variety of ailments in livestock. It Deaths in Vultures deaths, and, after ruling out several appears that the vultures are being possibilities, many believed a new poisoned when they eat the tissues of Identified? strain of virus was likely to blame. dead animals that had been treated with This gave rise to concerns that DS. Over the past 10 years, India has lost migrating birds might spread such a If DS is indeed the cause, the real more than 95 percent of its vulture disease to Central Asia and Africa. challenge will be how to remedy the population to a mystery cause. Three In a recent presentation at the Sixth situation. Preventing the sale of DS species of vulture, Indian, White- World Conference on Birds of Prey for use in livestock could prove to be rumped, and Slender-billed are all now and Owls, held in Budapest, Hungary, extremely difficult. It would be the considered Critically Endangered, and Dr. Lindsay Oaks, a veterinarian and equivalent of trying to stop the sale of population models predict that they microbiologist at the Washington State a widely available drug like aspirin in could all be extinct in as little as five University College of Veterinary the U.S., requiring government years. Medicine, presented the results of intervention. The drug manufacturers This dramatic vulture die-off has work in Pakistan that may indicate an would almost certainly oppose such a enormous implications for the alternative cause: an over-the-counter move. Educating the public, especially ecosystem. Vultures perform a vital drug. Dr. Oaks and others discovered farmers, about the impact of using DS function as scavengers, acting as many of the symptoms exhibited by the on livestock will be a challenging task, efficient waste disposal systems vultures, including gout, mirrored but perhaps the most likely to succeed. particularly for livestock carcasses, symptoms found in birds poisoned by Further research will also be required which are typically left in fields with a certain class of drug. Further to determine if other similar drugs that the expectation that the vultures will research led them to a cheap and farmers could use to replace DS would dispose of them. Without vultures, the widely available painkiller called have the same effect. Contact: Dr. carcasses can accumulate leading to diclofenac sodium (DS). In the U.S., Lindsay Oaks, (509) 335-6044, increased risk of disease transmission DS is used to treat people with
Ogallala Aquifer. Educating the public To Save the and regulators about the importance of playas for the aquifer may help Ogallala Aquifer, conserve the lakes for the mutual benefit of birds and people. Save Playa Lakes PLJV is sharing this information with natural resource managers, landowners The Playa Lakes Joint Venture (PLJV), and policy-makers. In May 2003, a cooperative public-private PLJV Coordinator Mike Carter met partnership in the western prairies, has Playa Lakes are valuable for a vast array of bird spe- with top Kansas government officials recently launched a campaign aimed cies such as Blue-winged Teal. Photo: Clipart.com to discuss the role of playa lakes and at saving the Ogallala Aquifer. The aquifer recharge. “This is a new and aquifer underlies approximately rainfall and runoff to briefly become emerging issue for the PLJV,” Carter 174,000 square miles of the Great wetlands - to birds and other wildlife said. “If we can tie aquifer recharge Plains region, primarily in Texas, New in the western Great Plains. About 200 protection to playa protection, then we Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, species of birds and 40 species of can directly benefit landowners and and Nebraska, and has been a major mammals have been documented on wildlife with the same programs.” water source for agricultural, playas. Millions of waterfowl, The full text of the press release sent municipal, and industrial use since the waterbirds, shorebirds, and land birds to the local media is available at turn of the century. use playas during portions of their life www.pljv.org/newsarchive/ The conservation community is well cycle each year. What is less well release061603.html. Contact Debbie aware of the value of playa lakes - known is that playa lakes play a critical F. Slobe, PLJV, (303) 926-0777, shallow depressions that collect role in replenishing and protecting the
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the disease has claimed the lives of at the water. AVM Declining least 93 Bald Eagles, a large number The most consistent finding in of American Coots, several species of affected birds is microscopic lesions but Still Killing duck, Great Horned Owls, Killdeer, in the brains and spinal cords. and Canada Geese in four southern Examinations of fresh brain tissue During the migratory and wintering states. Affected birds often appear revealed open spaces in the white season of 2002-2003, two Bald Eagles intoxicated, frequently flying matter of the central nervous system. submitted to the Southeastern erratically or unable to fly at all. The spaces are caused by separation Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study in According to the USGS National of the myelin layers that surround and Athens, Georgia, were diagnosed with Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) protect the nerves. Researchers have Avian Vacuolar Myelinopathy eagles have been observed flying into been able to reproduce these (AVM). A third Bald Eagle is rock walls, and water birds have been microscopic lesions in ducks and suspected to have died from the seen trailing a wing or leg while chickens by feeding them tissue from disease. This is a considerable swimming, or lying on their backs in birds that died of AVM. reduction from fall and winter 2000- Both the cause of the disease and the 2001 and 2001-2002, when 16 and route of exposure are still unknown. seven Bald Eagles respectively were Wildlife experts believe that a man- confirmed or suspected to have AVM. made or naturally occurring toxin is the A further positive sign was that during most likely cause. Tissue samples 2002-2003, the disease was not from the birds have been tested for a detected in other avian species as it was wide range of toxins, including those during previously. previously associated with vacuolar AVM was first detected in 1994, myelinopathy in other species, but so when 29 Bald Eagles were found dead far no cause has been identified. during the fall and winter in Contact: Dr. Patti Bright, ABC, southwestern Arkansas. Since then, Adult Bald Eagle with chicks. Photo: Clipart.com
Important Bird Area, in large part Royal Blue WMA. The letter Reprieve for because of the high densities of suggested that high quality warbler Cerulean Warblers that breed there. nesting areas on Royal Blue WMA be Mountain Top TVA estimates a potential loss of designated as “Lands Unsuitable for more than 100 breeding pairs of Mining.” Breeding Bird Survey data Warblers Cerulean Warblers if the Braden indicates that Cerulean Warbler Mountain project were to proceed. populations have declined by 50 Responding to pressure from ABC and An official letter of comment, percent or more in recent years and the other partners, the Tennessee Valley submitted by Tennessee species has been petitioned for Authority (TVA) has put on hold its Ornithological Society, ABC, protection under the Endangered proposal to mine coal from Braden Tennessee Environmental Council, Species Act. Contact: Melinda Mountain in the Koppers Coal and the Southern Alliance for Clean Welton, Conservation Director, Reserve, pending the completion of an Energy, called for comprehensive Tennessee Ornithological Society, Environmental Impact Statement. The surveys for all federal and state listed
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momentum in their efforts to have the Battle for Vieques land turned over to private interests. The groups claim that the cleanup of Begins as Navy the island’s polluted areas and unexploded ordinances will not be Leaves effectively or efficiently carried out by the federal government, but many On May 1, 2003, the U.S. Navy believe that the groups’ real motive is officially handed over its former to gain access to prime beach real bombing range on the small Puerto estate for development. Rican island of Vieques to the Now encompassing some 15,500 Department of the Interior, to be acres, the island is one of the largest managed by FWS as a National refuges in the Caribbean, and includes Wildlife Refuge. The island is home beaches used by threatened and to more than 120 bird species, many endangered sea turtles for nesting, Brown Pelicans are under increased pressure from rare, such as White-cheeked Pintail, islanders on Vieques. Photo: Clipart.com subtropical dry forest, mangrove West Indian Whistling-Duck, Brown lagoons, salt flats, and bays noted for Pelican, and Caribbean Coot. In 1978, the threat of human encroachment is their bioluminescence. The Navy’s a lawsuit was brought to have the range being renewed. Incidents of locals former 900-acre Live Impact Area, on shut down because of the damage shooting Brown Pelicans from boats, the tip of the eastern end of the island, caused to the environment by the using scuba equipment and spear guns was designated as a Wilderness Area bombing, but a federal judge ruled that to harvest marine life, and collecting and closed to public access by an act the Navy was actually protecting eggs have already been reported. of Congress. Contact: Brian & Sue endangered species by keeping people Wildlife is being further threatened Robertson, Vieques, (787) 741-0865, out. Now, with the Navy finally gone, by citizen protest groups, gaining
Environmental Commissioners in the inclusion in welcome packets to 7,000 New Jersey Cats state. Additional outreach is being summer renters in the popular vacation accomplished through nine NJAS spot. For more information, contact Indoors! centers, public nature centers, and other Brian Vernachio, (609) 897-9400, Campaign Audubon Society chapters. A co-
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Wildlife Federation initiated a lawsuit cancelled, and it is gratifying that Bayer Withdraws against the agency for violations of the Bayer has elected to do the right thing.” Endangered Species Act and Migratory Under the proposed withdrawal, use Fenthion, Florida Bird Treaty Act in the bird deaths on of the pesticide will still be permitted Marco Island, between October 1998 until the end of November 2004. Birds to Benefit and August 1999 (Bird Calls Vol. 6, However, EPA has agreed to increased No. 3). One of the complaintants label restrictions for the months that The chemical and drug manufacturer demands was that Bayer be required the chemical remains available. This Bayer announced in March 2003 that to carry out avian safety testing, and will help to protect the largest it intends to voluntarily withdraw the in its letter to EPA, Bayer cited a wintering flock of Great Lakes Piping pesticide, fenthion, from the market. reluctance to complete these tests as Plovers and other birds such as Dunlin, Fenthion has been at the center of a one reason for their withdrawal. Black Skimmer, and Sanderling in major ABC Pesticides and Birds “This is a very important victory for Collier and other Florida counties. campaign following the deaths of birds and for the pesticide and wildlife ABC will also attempt to safeguard several species of bird on Marco Island movement as a whole,” said Dr. Patti against the possibility that Bayer will in Florida, where it is used to kill Bright, Director of ABC’s Pesticides sell the license to manufacture fenthion mosquitoes. Included in the list of and Birds Campaign, and to a local Florida mosquito control birds killed was an Endangered Piping spokesperson for the National district that could then begin producing Plover. ABC pressured EPA to cancel Pesticide Coalition, a consortium of 20 fenthion on its own. Meanwhile, the the pesticide based on the extreme groups working for improved lawsuit is in negotiation between the toxicity of fenthion to birds, and the restrictions on pesticides to protect plaintiffs, the EPA, and the existence of safer and equally effective wildlife, the environment, and human Department of Justice. Contact: Dr. alternatives. In October 2002, ABC, and worker health. “We have been Patti Bright, ABC, (540) 253-5780, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Florida adamant that this pesticide must be
nesting in the U.S. occur in western Wild Peregrine states (the western Peregrine was never listed). Chicks May Go to All Peregrines are still protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Falconers which allows for permitted take for uses such as falconry. An initial In April 2003, the FWS Division of Environmental Assessment on Migratory Bird Management released falconry use was released by FWS in a Draft Revised Environmental February 2000, followed by a finding Assessment on the take of wild of no significant impact in spring 2001. Peregrine chicks in the western U.S. FWS later acknowledged that this was for falconry. The total Peregrine Juvenile Peregrine Falcon. Photo: FWS based on a potentially erroneous population west of 1000 longitude has estimate of the minimum breeding age grown ten percent since 1998, and term recovery following the ban on of Peregrines, which had been FWS now believes that a take of one DDT. This pesticide and its calculated at age two years instead of in twenty western Peregrine chicks will metabolites caused eggshell thinning the more usual three. The new model slow population growth by just 0.5 to that frequently led to eggs breaking is based on this latter age but still 0.7 percent. during incubation. By 1998, the total presents the same conclusion regarding Following a precipitous decline, the U.S. population had rebounded to allowable take. Comments on the new American (eastern) race of the 1,650 pairs, and after substantial public assessment were due to FWS by June Peregrine Falcon was classified as consultation, the American race was 30, 2003. A final Environmental endangered in 1970 (prior to the removed from the Endangered Species Assessment and finding will follow. passage of the Endangered Species List a year later (Bird Calls Vol. 3, No. Contact: George Allen, FWS, (703) Act), but has since sustained a long- 2). Today 82 percent of all Peregrines 358-1714.
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violating the Endangered Species Act Condors May Have Chick: Three Birds in Brief (ESA) by the attempted take of the pairs of reintroduced California threatened Mexican Spotted Owl. Condors nesting in Arizona have Reprieve for Humbolt Penguin Valdez pled guilty to the arson charge produced eggs, and although two nests Reserve: The Chilean government and was ordered to serve 30 months in failed, a third may now contain a has formally decided against allowing prison and to pay a fine of $15,700 in young condor. The nest known as private tourism development on Isla restitution. He also pled guilty to a “Salt Creek” lies in an inaccessible Damas, part of the National Humboldt Class A misdemeanor under the part of the Grand Canyon, and so Penguin Reserve. ABC had sent a Endangered Species Act, and will serve visual confirmation of the chick is formal letter opposing the proposed an additional twelve months in prison impossible. The behavior of the adult development (Bird Calls Vol. 7, No. for that offense. Contact: Tom birds however, seems to indicate that 1) because of potential detrimental MacKenzie, FWS, (404) 679-7291; a hatchling, perhaps as much as three effects to several bird species Victoria Fox, FWS, (505) 248-6455. weeks old, may be present. If so, the including the Endangered Peruvian bird would likely fledge in October. Diving-Petrel and globally Vulnerable Po’ouli Capture Plan Postponed: There are presently 35 free-flying Humboldt Penguin. Although Isla The recent attempt to capture the three condors in Arizona. At press time Damas has been officially ruled out of remaining Po’oulis on the island of there is also still a surviving condor future development plans, doubt still Maui (Bird Calls Vol.7, No.1) was nestling in California. Last year, three exists as to the extent to which hampered by weather, and researchers nestlings that hatched there died at development on neighboring Isla will now try for a capture program later around five months of age. Gaviota (outside the reserve) may be in the summer or fall. The species may Breeding failure is common among pursued. Contact: George Wallace, now be the world’s rarest bird, and as inexperienced condor pairs, and these ABC,
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issued a Draft Environmental since 1994, with the majority of these FWS Prefers Assessment proposing that the Tundra shot in Montana and Utah. Swan hunt in Montana, Utah, and The allowable take of Trumpeters Continued Swan Nevada be allowed to continue with began in 1995, with an annual cap of permitted incidental take of Trumpeter 25 birds, divided among the states. Hunt Swans (and also Mute Swans, should Should any state reach its quota, the any reach that area and be killed). season would automatically be closed. FWS issued a January 15, 2003, Under the Assessment’s preferred Reporting in Montana is currently finding that a petition to list the Tri- alternative, the hunt would continue to required only by mail, though both State (Montana, Idaho, Wyoming) allow a limited number of permits Nevada and Utah require independent Area Trumpeter Swan flock under the (3,150) close early in hopes of examinations by state wildlife Endangered Species Act provided avoiding late-migrating Trumpeters; officials. The public comment period insufficient information that the flock and be limited geographically in the on the Draft Assessment closed June was a ‘Distinct Population Segment’ hope of minimizing Trumpeter kills. 16. Contact: Robert Trost, Pacific that would be required for listing. This Experienced birders are frequently Flyway Representative, (503) 231- finding was quickly followed by a U.S. given pause when confronted by a lone 6162. District Court ruling in favor of FWS Tundra or Trumpeter Swan. This in a case brought by a coalition of similarity of appearance means that environmental and welfare groups, hunters too cannot always be sure To join ABC visit: challenging the Service’s actions to which species they are shooting until WWW.ABCBIRDS.ORG approve Trumpeter Swan quotas under it is too late. It is estimated that up to or use the membership the Tundra Swan hunt. Then, on April 60 Trumpeter Swans may have been form on the back page. 24 (Federal Register May 16), FWS killed this way in the Pacific Flyway
Critically Endangered (CR) species are Alliance for confined to a single site (95 percent of their population or more), and to gain Zero Extinction adequate protection for them. A preliminary analysis for Latin America Formed and the Caribbean indicates that there are likely at least 120 sites that hold The Alliance for Zero Extinction the last remaining population of an EN (AZE) is a new initiative, led by an or CR bird, reptile, mammal, or international coalition of biodiversity amphibian species. The initial findings conservation organizations, to identify also indicate that more than 90 bird and protect the last remaining habitats species that are regarded as either EN for the world’s most threatened or CR in the Americas may now have species. The Alliance aims to stem the vast majority of their population species extinctions, beginning with The Araripe Manakin is representative of an AZE confined to a single site. terrestrial vertebrates whose species in Latin America. Photo: Paul Noakes. The Alliance will now work with populations and distributions are best local groups to refine this analysis for known. Other species are to be sufficient habitat to enable populations publication in 2004, and begin to included as soon as sufficient to rebound. develop conservation plans for the sites information becomes available to Some current AZE members are that are identified. A website has been assess their threat level systematically. BirdLife International, The Nature established at www.zeroextinction.org By starting with the species that are Conservancy, World Parks and where you can learn more, review the most imperiled, the Alliance aims to Conservation International. These answers to frequently asked questions, create a front line of defense against groups are working collaboratively to and find the current list of AZE extinction that will hold until broader identify all the places worldwide where members. Contact: Mike Parr, ABC, scale conservation efforts can restore IUCN-defined Endangered (EN) and
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available in bookstores across the awareness among the public, managing Globally Important country, and from online retailers. agencies, and private owners of the Each site is covered in detail, with special value of these sites to bird Bird Areas Book to information on conservation issues, conservation. Identifying threats, be Published priority bird species, habitats, and conservation and management needs, visitor information. The book also and finding additional resources to contains maps, illustrations of key manage these sites will ensure their Following a six-year research program species, and a checklist of IBAs that long-term protection. In total, 60 led by ABC scientists in collaboration birders can use to keep track of sites percent of the IBAs are found on with hundreds of ornithologists and they have visited. federal lands, with the remainder on wildlife managers nationwide, the book The goal of ABC’s IBA program is state and private lands. More than six “The ABC Guide to the 500 Most to mobilize the resources needed to percent are owned and managed by The Important Bird Areas in the United safeguard these sites for future Nature Conservancy. Contact: States,” will be published shortly by generations. Recognition is an Robert Chipley, ABC, Random House. The book will be important first step in raising
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