DOCSLIB.ORG

REMINDER! Grissom Memorial Wetlands Near Brevard Zoo As a Birders’ Paradise

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
REMINDER! Grissom Memorial Wetlands Near Brevard Zoo As a Birders’ Paradise Volume 59, Number 5, May, 2017 FLORIDA BIRDING HIGHLIGHTS Article & Photos by Mike Birmingham, Entomologist Names from Wikipedia Excited about my trip, I printed eBird checklists of than the hotspots in Brevard County, Florida. I put the hotspot Common addresses in the GPS and I learned the field marks of Grackles unfamiliar birds seen on the checklists before departure. in our I stayed in Cocoa Beach next to the Lori Wilson Columbia Park. The park had a maritime hummock of oak and County. palms accessed by a boardwalk. Only a Yellow-rumped Common Warbler and Black-and-white Warblers were seen in Gallinules the dense evergreen swam canopy. A walker near told me the lizards reeds. with pink throat Their red fans were Green bills with anoles, the only white GREAT BLUE HERON (ARDEA HERODIAS) native species. She tips were said there were distinctive. American Coot are numerous, noisy and several brown Anole have white bills. species which had A pleasant surprise was seeing a Crested Caracara at been introduced to Brevard Zoo which I photographed. I had seen one near Florida from the Jacksonville along Rt. I 95 eating carrion, but traffic was West Indies. Birds continued on Page 2 GREEN ANOLE (ANOLIS CAROLINENSIS) prey on Anoles as evidenced by a tail missing on one. She enthusiastically described the Ritch REMINDER! Grissom Memorial Wetlands near Brevard Zoo as a birders’ paradise. CENTURY RUN/BIRDATHON That was all I needed to hear to make the trip to MAY 13, 2017 - SATURDAY - ALL DAY Grissom Wetlands. A birder there pointed out a Great Blue Heron with two nestlings on a stick-built nest Important Reminder to get pledges for our main on top of a pole. A pair of Limpkins waded along the fundraiser of the year. shoreline. I recognized these large, brown birds with We are still in need of money for Sanctuary repairs. white spots from photos in Peterson. A pair of Sandhill Cranes walked in a meadow of tall weeds. Their field May 14, 2017, Sunday 4 pm Potluck Picnic/ marks are a red cap and rusty brown flanks and rump. Count Tally at the home of Marcia Anderson. Boat-tailed Grackles are noisy birds and they are larger FLORIDA BIRDING HIGHLIGHTS continued from Page 1 too heavy to stop. The large hawk-like bird is named for its dark crest. Port Canaveral is north of Cocoa Beach and across the Banana River from the Kennedy Space Center. Space X Falcon 9 launched while I was birding at the Port. An Osprey plunged BLACK VULTURE (CORAGYPS ATRATUS) feet first into the immatures of the Little Blue Heron and White Ibis. The CRESTED CARACARA (CARACARA CHERIWAY) river lifting a fish from the water and Great Blue Heron and Great Egret did not mix with carrying it to a post to eat. Brown Pelicans sat on water in the locks looking for trapped fish. A Snowy Egret has a black bill and yellow feet, and rode the lock gates ANHINGA (ANHINGA ANHINGA) the others. Green Herons walked along the shoreline RUDDY TURNSTONE (ARENARIA INTERPRES) hunting as they opened and closed. Ruddy Turnstones used the creatures at under structure of the piers to perch and walked along the water’s the canal turning over stones to find food. edge. Dozens Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge visitor of American center validated my pass which I needed to enter the Avocets with seven mile Black Point Drive loop road. Upon exiting buff necks the center I came upon dozens of Black Vultures fed on the devouring a feral hog road kill. On the loop road I mudflats. saw Anhinga soaring high overhead in a broad circle. A birding Similar to cormorants they sit on the ground with wings hotspot on extended to dry. Mixed wader species fed together – the Island Roseate Spoonbill, Tricolor Heron, Snowy Egret, Little was the Dike REDDISH EGRET (EGRETTA RUFESCENS) Blue Heron, Glossy Ibis, and White Ibis including continued on Page 6 May 2017 The Warbler alandevoebirdclub.org 2 REMINDERS & NOTICES ADBC FIELD TRIPS CLC OUTINGS - For Information about CLC May 6, Sat. - OLANA (morning) events, programs & outings: Visit www.clctrust.org or Meet 8 am at the parking lot by the pond at Olana call 518-392-5252 State Historic Site, Route 9G, less than 1 mile south of the Rip Van Winkle Bridge. This is a good location for early MOH ON A S W UDSON OHAWK IRD LUB RIPS K H M B C T D U warblers and a good way to gear up for the Century Run next H B & PROGRAMS I B week. Coordinators: Chris Franks and Tim O’Connor 518- R U D CL 781-0204, 518-822-1232. More info: 518-439-8080 or www.hmbc.net May 11, Thurs. - DROWNED LANDS SWAMP (morning) WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! Meet 8 am at the visitor parking lot of Drowned Lands Lisa E. Noferi & Brooke Hapeman Deborah Allen & Conservation Area on Route 3 in the township of Ancram Daniel Dillon Elizaville NY Robert Hoch about 3.5 miles north of Ancramdale Route 82. We will be Canaan NY Hensonville NY looking for spring migrants. Coordinator: Bill Cook 518-851- 2678. RENEWING MEMBERS FOR 2017 May 13, Sat. - CENTURY RUN/Birdathon (full day) John & Clare Bracken May 14, Sun. - LEWIS A. SWYER PRESERVE-MILL John Loz Tim O’Connor CREEK (morning) Meet 7:30 am at the pull off on the west side of Route 9J north of the hamlet of Stuyvesant. We will be looking for spring ALAN DEVOE BIRD CLUB MEMBERSHIP FORM migrants. Coordinator: Bill Cook 518-851-2678. Membership Annual Renewal Date: January 1st Send check to: Sandra Williams, 1730 Co. Rte 9, Chatham, NY May 14, Sun. - POTLUCK PICNIC/BBQ/CENTURY 12037, payable to the Alan Devoe Bird Club, Inc. RUN COUNT TALLY (afternoon) Meet 4 pm at the home of Marcia and Richard Anderson. NAME: Bring a dish to share; hamburgers and hotdogs provided STREET ADDRESS: by Marcia and Richard. Please phone if you plan to attend. Coordinator: Marcia Anderson 518-758-6433. CITY, STATE & ZIP: May 20, Sat. - HAND HOLLOW (morning) TELEPHONE: Meet 8 am at the parking lot. From the intersection of Route 22 and US 20, go west on US20, turn left on CR 5, E-Mail: proceeding south to the intersection with CR 34. Turn right Paper Warbler or E-Warbler (please circle your preference) and proceed to the intersection of CR 34 with CR 9. As you prepare to turn right, you will see across the road the farmhouse MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES: that marks the parking lot of the Hand Hollow preserve Adult $20 [ ] Junior (18 or younger) $10 [ ] immediately on the left, marked by the distinctive green and Supporting Adult $30 [ ] Individual Life $500 [ ] white logo of the Columbia Land Conservancy. Coordinators: Family/Household $25 [ ] Supporting Family/Household $45 [ ] Chris Franks and Drew Hopkins 518-781-0204. continued on page 5 ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS: General Fund: Sanctuary Fund: Educational Opportunities Fund: TOTAL ENCLOSED: May 2017 The Warbler alandevoebirdclub.org 3 EXCERPT FROM THE DEC HUDSON RIVER ALMANAC by Tom Lake, Hudson River Estuary Program Consulting Naturalist “4/8 - Stuyvesant, HRM 127: We found a Pink- at this same location for over two weeks. The Pink-footed footed Goose a quarter to a third of a mile out in a field Goose was a first sighting for Region 8 and Columbia within a flock of a dozen Canada Geese and seven Snow County. Thanks to Debbie Shaw and Kathy Schneider Geese. This was near where six Sandhill Cranes were et. al., I was also able to view it. To subscribe to the HR sighted yesterday feeding in a cornfield. After a while, Almanac, use the links on DEC’s Hudson River Almanac or the entire flock of geese took off heading north and DEC Delivers web pages.) east, but still flying low, probably relocating rather than leaving. Debbie Shaw - Alan Devoe Bird Club, Naomi Lloyd, Will Raup, Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club [In recent year, pink-footed goose sightings have been increasing in frequency in northeastern North America. There has been a dramatic increase in the reports of this species from Quebec, Newfoundland, Maine, Massachusetts and New York. Pink-footed geese breed in Greenland and Iceland and their presence has become an inexplicable phenomenon mirrored in a similar increase of other Eurasian goose species in our area such as barnacle goose and greater white-fronted goose. Rich Guthrie.]” (Editor’s Note: The Sandhill Cranes were originally found west of Kinderhook by me on March 30, 2017, and seen SANDHILL CRANE PHOTO BY NANCY KERN IN MEMORIUM CHANDLER S. ROBBINS: 1918-2017 Ornithologist and birding legend Chandler S. Robbins recently died at the age of 98. Birders are probably most familiar with Chandler Robbins as the author (with Bertel Bruun and Herbert Zim) of the groundbreaking Birds of North America: A Guide to Field Identification, illustrated by Arthur Singer, published in 1966 - often called by birders, the “Singer Guide” or the “Golden Guide”. Chan joined the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a biologist in 1945 and retired in 2005 from the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel Maryland, after sixty years with the Service. He organized and for decades ran the annual North American Breeding Bird Survey. He was also an active bird bander and in 1956 banded a Laysan Albatross on Midway Island in the Pacific that has come to be nicknamed “Wisdom”. The albatross is now the oldest banded wild bird in the world and in 2017 was still nesting on Midway. Since the bird was an adult when it was banded, it is at least 66 years old.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Wisdom in the Thanksgiving Season: 64-Year Old Laysan Albatross Is
    Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge/Battle of Midway National Memorial Box 50167 Honolulu, HI 96850 Phone: 808-954-4817 http://www.fws./gov/refuge/Midway-Atoll \ November 26, 2015 Contact: Bret Wolfe 808-954-4817 Email: [email protected] Wisdom in the Thanksgiving Season: 64-year old Laysan albatross is sighted on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge The world’s oldest known seabird returns and finds her mate! U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials are pleased to announce that the world’s oldest known banded bird in the wild, a Laysan albatross named Wisdom, was sighted on November 19 on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge within Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Just in time for the special day of giving thanks, Wisdom was spotted with her mate amongst the world’s largest nesting albatross colony. “In the face of dramatic seabird population decreases worldwide –70% drop since the 1950’s when Wisdom was first banded–Wisdom has become a symbol of hope and inspiration,” said Refuge Manager, Dan Clark.” We are a part of the fate of Wisdom and it is gratifying to see her return because of the decades of hard work conducted to manage and protect albatross nesting habitat.” “Wisdom left soon after mating but we expect her back any day now to lay her egg,” noted Deputy Refuge Manager, Bret Wolfe. “It is very humbling to think that she has been visiting Midway for at least 64 years. Navy sailors and their families likely walked by her not knowing she could possibly be rearing a chick over 50 years later.
    [Show full text]
  • Contents News and Announcements
    Newsletter of the International Working Group of Partners in Flight No 62 A Hemisphere-wide bird conservation initiative. August – September 2006 Sponsored by: US Fish and Wildlife Service. Produced by: International Working Group of Partners in Flight CONTENTS News and Announcements • Rainforest Alliance offers Free, Online Reference to Promote Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Conservation • Parrot Conservation Campaign in Ecuador • Information on Wintering Purple Martins Needed • Building Migratory Bridges Program in Panama • 2006 Biotropica Award for Excellence in Tropical Biology and Conservation • Hornero available on line • PIFMESO honors Dr. Chandler Robbins • New Bird Discovered next to Cerulean Warbler Bird Reserve • Marvelous Spatuletail Protected by Conservation Easement in Peru • Andean Welcome for Migratory Birds this October Web News Funding Training / Job Opportunities Meetings Publications Available Recent Literature NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS RAINFOREST ALLIANCE OFFERS FREE, ONLINE REFERENCE TO PROMOTE WESTERN HEMISPHERE MIGRATORY SPECIES CONSERVATION A free online reference is now available to wildlife managers and conservationists working to conserve migratory species in the Western Hemisphere. The Rainforest Alliance’s Migratory Species Pathway offers detailed information in English and Spanish about more than 50 initiatives to conserve migratory species in the Americas and the Caribbean, along with interviews and advice from conservation leaders. With support from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s International Division, the Rainforest Alliance took on the challenge of creating a space on the Internet where the migratory species conservation community could easily come together to share information. The new Pathway features a "Projects and Tools" section, which includes a list of specific needs identified at the first Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Conference, held in Chile in 2003.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report Edition from the PRESIDENT’S DESK
    SUMMER 2017 Annual Report Edition FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK am so excited about this Newsletter! I This issue represents our Annual NH AUDUBON Report edition where we share the wide diversity of your impact on the work we BOARD OF TRUSTEES Michael Amaral, Vice Chair, Warner accomplish each year. We feel enormous Louis DeMato, Treasurer, Manchester gratitude for all the volunteers, donors, David Howe, Secretary, Concord foundations, and grants we receive each Tom Kelly, Londonderry Lauren Kras, Merrimack year that support our critical work in Dawn Lemieux, Groton environmental education, conservation Paul Nickerson, Hudson Chris Picotte, Webster science, land management, and advocacy. David Ries, Chair, Warner For example, Larry Sunderland Tony Sayess, Concord Thomas Warren, Dublin represents not only an individual donor who supports our policy work, he is also of our work-force. We applaud their STAFF one of our most loyal donors. Larry’s level of dedication and consistent high Douglas A. Bechtel, President Shelby Bernier, Education Coordinator involvement with NH Audubon spans performance. Next time you see one of Nancy Boisvert, Nature Store Manager 30 years. Thank you Larry, for your these folks, make sure to thank them for Lynn Bouchard, Director of Human Resources support and loyalty! their work, too! Phil Brown, Director of Land Management Another amazing example of support Finally, we recognize two leaders Hillary Chapman, Education Specialist Gail Coffey, Grants Manager comes from the estate of Drs. Lorus in the environmental and Audubon Joseph Consentino, Director of Finance and Margery Milne, both of whom movement that passed this year. Barbara Ian Cullison, Newfound Center Director were acclaimed scientists and authors Day Richards and Chan Robbins were Helen Dalbeck, Amoskeag Fishways Executive Director of their time.
    [Show full text]
  • The Bluebir D
    TT H H E E BLUEBIRBLUEBIR DD The voice of ASM since 1934 June 2017 Volume 84, No. 2 The Audubon Society of Missouri Missouri’s Ornithological Society Since 1901 The Audubon Society of Missouri Officers Regional Directors Mark Haas*+, President (2018) Charles Burwick+ (2017) 614 Otto Drive; Jackson MO 63755; Springfield (417) 860-9505 (573) 204-0626 Lottie Bushmann+ (2018) [email protected] Columbia, (573) 445-3942 Louise Wilkinson*+, Vice-President Jeff Cantrell+ (2017) (2018); P.O. Box 804, Rolla, MO 65402- Neosho (471) 476-3311 0804; (573) 578-4695 [email protected] Mike Doyen+ (2017) Rolla (573) 364-0020 Scott Laurent*+, Secretary (2017) 610 W. 46th Street, #103; Kansas City, Allen Gathman+ (2018) MO 64112; (816) 916-5014 Pocahontas (573) 579-5464 [email protected] Brent Galliart+ (2018) Pat Lueders*+, Treasurer (2017) St. Joseph (816) 232-6038 1147 Hawken Pl., St. Louis, MO Greg Leonard+ (2019) 63119; (314) 222-1711 Columbia (573) 443-8263 [email protected] Terry McNeely+ (2019) Honorary Directors Jameson, MO (660) 828-4215 Richard A. Anderson, St. Louis** Phil Wire+ (2019) Nathan Fay, Ozark** Bowling Green (314) 960-0370 Leo Galloway, St. Joseph** Jim Jackson, Marthasville Lisle Jeffrey, Columbia** Chairs Floyd Lawhon, St. Joseph** Bill Clark, Historian Patrick Mahnkey, Forsyth** 3906 Grace Ellen Dr. Rebecca Matthews, Springfield** Columbia, MO 65202 Sydney Wade, Jefferson City** (573) 474-4510 Dave Witten, Columbia** Kevin Wehner, Membership John Wylie, Jefferson City** 510 Ridgeway Ave. Brad Jacobs, 2016 Recipient of the Columbia, MO 65203 Rudolf Bennitt Award (573) 815-0352 [email protected] Jim Jackson, 2012 Recipient of the Rudolf Bennitt Award Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • 2015 Annual Report
    2015 ANNUAL REPORT . American Bird Conservancy is the Western Hemisphere’s bird conservation specialist—the only organization with a single and steadfast commitment to achieving conservation results for birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. abcbirds.org COVER: Green-headed Tanager by Glenn Bartley . Message from the Chairman and President Board Chair Warren Cooke ABC President George Fenwick Dear ABC friends and supporters: An acquaintance from the business world recently said that what he likes about ABC is our “effective business model” and wondered whether we had ever distributed a description of it. In response, we described ABC’s culture instead. Year after year, it is what drives our success. Some aspects of ABC’s culture are not unique. We have top-notch staff and board; use the best science available; are unequivocally ethical; and follow excellent business practices. But other aspects of ABC stand out. With every project, we: • Get results that exceed expectations. Like the hummingbird in our logo, we are fearless, nimble, and fast-moving in achieving change for birds now. • Focus rigorously on our mission. For example, it is not within the scope of our mission to address the basic causes of climate change. But we plant millions of trees to contribute to bird habitat—helping the fight against climate change in the process. • Make no small plans. Small plans get small results. Our vision encompasses the conservation of all bird species in the Western Hemisphere. • Take pride in having low overhead and high output. ABC consistently receives Charity Navigator’s highest rating. • Make partnerships fundamental to almost everything we do.
    [Show full text]
  • Summer 2017 No
    Goodbye, old friends SUMMER 2017 NO. 400 Chan Robbins dies at age 98 INSIDE THIS ISSUE It is with sadness we pay homage to the memory of Chan Robbins, who passed Goodbye, old friends ..............1, 8 away on March 20. Revered as a father Welcome New Members ............1 of modern ornithology and an inspiration President’s Corner to all birders, he dedicated his life to the Moving Bird Collection .................2 study of avian life. He worked primarily Conservation Corner as an ornithologist at Patuxent Research Conservation Actions Refuge in Laurel, MD. (See Insert) ...................................2 Among his many achievements, Chan My Big Year, continued ......3, 8, 9 documented the damage wrought by the Bird Bits 2017 pesticide DDT. His data were used by BBC Summer Picnic .....................4 Rachel Carson in researching her 1962 manifesto, “Silent Spring.” He was Claire’s Scholarship Award ...........4 a champion of citizen science, founding the annual American Breeding Bird Audubon Plants for Birds Database ......................................4 Survey in 1965 as well as publishing his “A Guide to Field Identification: Gone Missing- Baltimore ..............5 Birds of North America” the same year. He was senior editor of the “Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Maryland and the District of Columbia.” And, of Birds and Buildings ................6, 7 course, we all remember that early in his career he banded “Wisdom,” the Catalytic Converter For Laysan albatross who is still laying eggs in the Pacific Island of Midway 65 Bird
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix C Remnant Prairies, Grasslands, and Birds
    SOUTH DAKOTA PUC FACILITY PERMIT APPLICATION Appendix C Remnant Prairies, Grasslands, and Birds BROOKINGS COUNTY TO HAMPTON PAGE C-1 FALL 2010 SOUTH DAKOTA PUC FACILITY PERMIT APPLICATION This page intentionally left blank. FALL 2010 PAGE C-2 BROOKINGS COUNTY TO HAMPTON SOUTH DAKOTA PUC FACILITY PERMIT APPLICATION BROOKINGS COUNTY TO HAMPTON PAGE C-3 FALL 2010 SOUTH DAKOTA PUC FACILITY PERMIT APPLICATION FALL 2010 PAGE C-4 BROOKINGS COUNTY TO HAMPTON SOUTH DAKOTA PUC FACILITY PERMIT APPLICATION North American Breeding Bird Survey The U.S. Geological Survey’s Patuxent Wildlife Research Center website provides the following information on the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS): What is the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS)? The BBS is a long-term, large-scale, international avian monitoring program initiated in 1966 to track the status and trends of North American bird populations. The USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and the Canadian Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Research Center jointly coordinate the BBS program. Why was the BBS created? In the mid-twentieth century, the success of DDT as a pesticide ushered in a new era of synthetic chemical pest control. As pesticide use grew, concerns, as epitomized by Rachel Carson in Silent Spring, regarding their effects on wildlife began to surface. Local studies had attributed some bird kills to pesticides, but it was unclear how, or if, bird populations were being affected at regional or national levels. Responding to this concern, Chandler Robbins and colleagues at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center developed the North American Breeding Bird Survey to monitor bird populations over large geographic areas.
    [Show full text]
  • The 109Th Christmas Bird Count American Birds Volume 63
    The 109th Christmas Bird Count American Birds Volume 63 Published by the National Audubon Society 225 Varick Street, 7th floor New York, NY 10014 October 2009 G. Thomas Bancroft Vice-President and Chief Scientist Geoffrey S. LeBaron Director, Christmas Bird Count and Editor-in-Chief Birders may not often think of American Coots (Fulica americana) as lovely photo- Greg Butcher graphic subjects, but these coots in motion at Clear Lake, California, provide just such Director, Bird Conservation an image. Photo/Barbara Bridges Kathy Dale Director of IT, Audubon Science CONTENTS Richard J. Cannings The 109th Christmas Bird Count . .2 Christmas Bird Count Coordinator, Geoffrey S. LeBaron Bird Studies Canada The 109th Christmas Bird Count in Canada . .8 Avery English-Elliott Richard J. Cannings Ruth Helmich Christmas Bird Count Assistants Christmas Bird Counts and Climate Change: Northward Shifts in Early Winter Abundance . .10 Connie Isbell Daniel K. Niven, Gregory S. Butcher, and G. Thomas Bancroft Managing Editor Four Hundred and Counting: Mickey Boisvert Reflections on a Long Association with the Christmas Bird Count . .16 www.mbdesign-us.com Art Director/Graphic Designer Paul W. Sykes Jr. Greg Merhar Not Just a Walk in the Park: New York’s Central Park Christmas Bird Count . .24 Graphics Associate Sarah McCarn Elliott Caroline Jackson On the Ice: The First Christmas Bird Count in Antarctica . .30 GIS Technician Noah Strycker Heidi DeVos The Birds of Christmas in London, Ontario: One Hundred Years and Going Strong . .35 Production Director Peter Read Gregory P. Licciardi Pictorial Highlights . .40 Managing Director of Advertising Alphabetical Index to Regional Summaries .
    [Show full text]
  • NFBB Vol. 35 1960
    A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE WESTERN BIRD-BANDING ASSOCIATION A METHODFOR PROPER DETERMINATIONOF BANDSIZES IN NORTHAMERICANBIRDS by Don Bleitz. • . • . • . • . 1 DATER (OR WING) METHODOF REMOVINGBIRDS FROMMIST NETS • 4 BANDINGWHITE PELICANS by Eugene Kridler. • • • • . 5 RECOVERIES OF GLAUCOUS-WINGEDGULLS by Zelle. M. Schultz • 6 RECOVERIES OF ROBINS by Howard L~ cogswell. • . • • • . • .• 7 FOR HIGBER MIST NETS by Gerald Klingenberg • . • . • • • . 10 A METHODFOR PROPER DETERMINATIONOF BANDSIZES IN NORTHAMERICANBIRDS There have been a number of methods used to determine band sizes, all consisting of utilizing some method of accurate measurement of the legs of the living birds. Since there is such extreme variation between various races of the same species, and even between individuals of the same races, the compilation of an accurate list of the proper band sizes by species presents certain complications. In order to alleviate these problems as much as possible, a durable and accurate field gauge of some sort is necessary. The design I offer is probably similar to that thought of by many other banders, but seems to me to be the best and most simple way of approaching the problem. It consists of a rectangular piece of aluminum or duraluminum in which slots corres- ponding to the inside diameter of the various band sizes have been accurately ~"~~~""~~~~"~~~~_"~""mi]]ed. ~_In-"o~derto"JIlBke~:thi.agaJlge,_Lstarted-..by maki ng -S.OlIIe-.feeJer. gaJlges.__ of the exact inside diameter of each of the pand sizes. In addition to the normal band sizes utilized by the Fish and Wildlife Service, I have added three others which I designate as X, Xa, and Xb.
    [Show full text]
  • Newsletter | Winter 2021
    WINTER NEWSLETTER 2021 IN THIS ISSUE PAGE Bird Seed 1 Welcome to New Birdwatchers 1 We Congratulate Terra 3 Let's Go Birding Update 4 Wisdom 4 Valentine's Day 7 Word Search 7 Services at Los Gatos Birdwatcher 7 Seasons Bring New Yard Birds 8 Dates to Remember 8 Loyal Customer Discount 8 Bird Seed – Its in High Demand By Lisa Myers Winter Bird feeders are popping up everywhere and all in the family are enjoying the show. With so many more people feeding birds, it has increased the Coupon demand for bird seed all across the nation during this pandemic. We have run out of seed on several occasions over the last 6 months and that Mention this inspired us to talk to you about seed - where we get it and what impacts coupon and take... inventory. We are sharing this to remind ourselves that what makes us essential here at the store is a product that is grown from the Earth and is delivered to us using people-power in a world living with Covid. We thank 15% everyone for understanding. off one Continue page 2… item Excludes all food items or seed, sale or consignment items, excursions & optics. Not to be combined with any other offers. Welcome to All the Expires Mar. 31, 2021 #WINTER2021 New Birdwatchers We want to start 2021 with a warm welcome to all the new birdwatchers we have met over the past several months. Sheltering in place has people noticing the nature happening outside their windows. Everyday we are introducing folks to the bird world and answering questions to all that are eager to learn.
    [Show full text]
  • By Laurel Gould, Friends Volunteer
    I SSUE F IFTY - E IGHT GREAT SWAMP WILDERNESS AREA TURNS FIFTY N OVEMBER 2 0 1 8 By Laurel Gould, Friends Volunteer H i g h l i g h t s ifty years ago, in Thwack in the Park 3 F 1968, President Volunteers Reach 16,000 Hours 4 Lyndon Johnson signed the Great Swamp Wilder- Robbins Viewing Platform 6 ness Act which created Millington Gorge 8 the first Wilderness Area in New Jersey. Wait a mi- Wildlife Population Changes 9 nute, you say! Wilderness in New Jersey? It sounds Board of Directors like an oxymoron. But the 3,660 acre Wilderness Joe Balwierczak President Area at Great Swamp Steve Herdman National Wildlife Refuge Vice-President was created by law and is Walter Willwerth part of the 110 million Secretary acre National Wilderness Laurel Gould Preservation Systema Treasurer unique collection of pub- lic lands set aside by Con- Jane Bell gress to ensure future generations will be There are two Wilderness Areas in New John Berry able to experience wilderness. Jerseythe other is at Forsythe NWR. There are 8 ½ miles of marked trails in the Allen Dreikorn Here are some things you may not know. Great Swamp Wilderness Area, but visitors The Wilderness Act was passed in 1964 may hike off trail. Randi Emmer preserving the wildest of our public lands Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are Susan Garretson Friedman with the highest level of protection. permitted in the Wilderness Area. In 1968, Great Swamp became the first Before Congress would pass the law creat- Ellen Greenhorn national wildlife refuge with formally de- ing the Great Swamp Wilderness Area, the Jim Mulvey signed wilderness.
    [Show full text]
  • North American Breeding Bird Survey
    The North American Breeding Bird Survey 1966 - 2009 Summary Analysis and Species Accounts Introduction The North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is a unique collaborative effort to increase our understanding of North American bird populations. Started at a time when concern about bird populations was focused on pesticide effects, the BBS is now used as the primary data source for estimation of population change and modeling of the possible consequences of change in land use, climate, and many other possible stressors on bird populations. Jointly coordinated by the United States Geological Survey and the Canadian Wildlife Service, the BBS incorporates the efforts of thousands of volunteer bird counters across the Unites States and Canada. From their efforts, comprehensive summaries of population change have been calculated for >400 species of birds (Sauer et al 2003). For most of these species, the BBS forms the only basis of our understanding of the dynamics of the populations. It has also had a strong effect on the avocation of birding, as the knowledge requirements for conducting a breeding bird survey provides a standard for competence in identifying birds by sight and sound. Although it has limitations, no other survey comes close in combining public participation and scientific rigor to provide information for bird conservation and natural history. As scientists who use the information from the survey, we acknowledge our debt to Chandler Robbins (Figure 1), who had the vision and energy to develop and implement the survey and remains its greatest advocate, the coordinators who have augmented the program and maintained the information, and the thousands of volunteers who conduct the surveys and dutifully submit the information to be analyzed and presented to the world.
    [Show full text]