APRIL 2017 • VOLUME 49 • NUMBER 2

Advertising information: John Lowry ([email protected]), Ameri- can Birding Association, P.O. Box 744, 93 Clinton Street, Suite ABA, Delaware City, Delaware, 19706; 830-895-1144.

Membership inquiries: P.O. Box 3070, Colorado Springs, Colo- rado, 80934; 800-850-2473. Annual membership dues are pay- able in U.S. currency: Individual, $45 (Canadian and foreign, EDITOR add $10); Student, $25 (Canadian and foreign, add $10); House- Ted Floyd hold, $52 (Canadian and foreign, add $11); Supporter, $75; ASSOCIATE EDITORS Corporate, $150; Sustaining, $150; Benefactor, $300; Leader, Ioana Seritan $500; Trailblazer, $1,000; Legacy, $2,500. Noah Strycker COPY EDITOR ABA membership dues paid beyond the first $25/year are fully Macklin Smith tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

TECHNICAL REVIEWERS ® James J. Dinsmore, Donna Dittmann, Birding (ISSN 0161-1836; USPS 003-768) is published bi- Bill Pranty, Michael L. P. Retter monthly by the American Birding Association, Inc., P.O. Box 744, 93 Clinton Street, Suite ABA, Delaware City, Delaware, DEPARTMENT EDITORS 19706. Periodicals postage paid at Newark, Delaware and addi- Interviews: Noah Strycker tional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Book Reviews: Rick Wright Birding, P.O. Box 3070, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80934. Milestones: Ioana Seritan Membership prices are as noted above. Copyright © 2017 by News and Notes: Paul Hess, Nick Minor Featured Photo: Tom Johnson the American Birding Association, Inc. Printed by Publishers Tools of the Trade: Diana Doyle Press, Shepherdsville, Kentucky. All rights reserved. The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of each con- PUBLISHER tributing writer and do not necessarily represent the views and American Birding Association opinions of the American Birding Association or its manage- GRAPHIC DESIGN ment. The ABA is not responsible for the quality of products or & PRODUCTION services advertised in Birding, except those products or services Ed Rother offered directly by the association. Return postage guaranteed: ADVERTISING Send undeliverable copies and POD Forms 3579 to P.O. Box John Lowry 3070, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80934. For Canadian Bill Stewart returns mail to WDS, Station A, P.O. Box 54, Windsor, Ontario, N9A 6J5. GST registration No. R135943454. Canadian Publi- MAP PRODUCTION Kei Sochi cations Agreement No. 40033104. EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS Twitter: twitter.com/BirdingMagazine Jon L. Dunn David A. Sibley Facebook: facebook.com/Birders David S. Wilcove Blog: blog.aba.org WEBMASTER David Hartley Birding Online: publications.aba.org

About Birding Magazine Birding is the bimonthly members’ magazine of the American Birding Association. Coverage in Birding extends to all topics having to do with the awareness, understanding, and appreciation of wild birds and their habitats. Identification, conservation, and basic biology are major thematic emphases for Birding. Along with Birding, all ABA members receive the quarterly magazine Birder’s Guide, with each issue focusing on a particular theme or topic. Birding Online Birding and the ABA provide a wide array of e-resources for the association’s membership, as well as for the broader birding community. Get access to all ABA publications, including Birding, at publications. aba.org. From there, you are just one click away from the current issue of Birding (including expanded online content) and a complete run of all recent issues of Birding. Also get access to Birder’s Guide (all issues) and North American Birds (subscriber username required), plus The ABA Blog, Listing Central, and classified ads. Instructions for Contributors Birding welcomes contributions from all members of the birding community. We solicit contributions on anything having to do with wild birds and their habitats, and we particularly favor contributions that focus on North America, the joy of birding, and nature study in the digital era. If you are interested in contributing, an excellent first step is to acquaint yourself withBirding and the ABA membership. Browse Birding Online (publications.aba.org) to view recent content. Then contact Editor Ted Floyd ([email protected]) with an idea or proposal, and we’ll go from there.

2 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 Cover image: TABLE OF CONTENTS Roseate Spoonbill. Tampa Bay, Florida; March 2012. Photo by © Marie Read.

BirdingVOL.49 • NO.2 • APRIL 2017

Additional online content Additional online content Questions? for everyone exclusively for members Visit: publications.aba.org

10 Birding Together Our Conservation Agenda The ABA reaffirms its vision to inspire all people to enjoy and protect wild birds. Jeffrey A. Gordon 14 ABA Events Northern Tanzania: The Ultimate African Safari Join the ABA for a Tanzania Birds and Big Mammal Safari, 20 March 31–April 10, 2018. 20 Milestones ABA members’ personal birding accomplishments compiled by IoAnA SerItAn 24 A Birding Interview with BrIdGet J. StutchBury 30 30 News and Notes • Deformed Beaks: Progress toward Solving a Persistent Mystery • All Hail the Whiskey Jack! Canada’s New National Bird • An Odor of Floating Plastic is a Tragic Lure to Seabirds Extended content available to members in the digital edition. Go online: publications.aba.org PAul heSS 10 36 Listening to Nature’s Divas Research reveals that female songbirds commonly sing. Find out how you can help make their voices heard. lAuryn BenedIct and KArAn odom 46 Should We Let the Salton Sea Dry Up? The bird conservation conundrum of California’s inland sea elISA yAnG

Table of Contents continues on p. 5 14 PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Continued from p. 3

BirdingVOL.49 • NO.2 • APRIL 2017

Additional online content Additional online content Questions? for everyone exclusively for members Visit: publications.aba.org

54 Photo Salon The Extraordinary Lives of Ordinary Birds One of America’s foremost bird photographers showcases a behind-the-scenes look at bird behavior and ecology. commentary and photography by Marie read 68 Tools of the Trade How We Bird A roundtable discussion with five generations of birders diana doyle 54 76 Featured Photo Field ID of Rusty Blackbirds in Flight Thoughts on what to do when confronted with an entirely black bird flying past ToM Johnson Skip to p. 86 if you want the challenge of trying to ID this bird on your own. Join the online conversation about the featured photo: publications.aba.org 46 82 Book Reviews edited by rick WrighT • Serious Topics, with Flair and Humor a review by carrie laben • Neums, Staves, Notes, and Songbirds a review by Marky MuTchler Extended online book reviews! Read the reviews, 24 discuss the reviews, buy the books: publications.aba.org 85 Classified Advertising 86 Featured Photo Quiz yourself! Before you read the author’s answer and analysis (pp. 76–80), join the online conversation about this mystery bird: publications.aba.org 36 PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 5 Birding is published by the American Birding Associa- tion, Inc., a not-for-profit organization that inspires all people to enjoy and protect wild birds.

The American Birding Association, Inc., seeks to encourage and represent the North American birding community and to provide resources through publi- cations, meetings, partnerships, and birder networks. The ABA’s education programs develop birding skills, an understanding of birds, and the will to conserve. The ABA’s conservation programs offer birders unique ways to protect birds and their habitats.

CHAIR Louis Morrell

DIRECTORS Carl Bendorf Michael Bowen Julie Davis Matthew Fraker Scott Fraser Kenn Kaufman J. Drew Lanham Robin Leong Jennifer Owen-White Terry Rich Paul Riss John C. Robinson Linda Rockwell Bill Sain Lili Taylor Arnella Trent Magill Weber

PRESIDENT Jeffrey A. Gordon

FINANCE Lisa Slocum

MEMBERSHIP & COMMUNICATIONS David Hartley, Webmaster LeAnn Pilger, Member Services Greg Neise, Web Developer Nathan Swick, Social Media

CONSERVATION & COMMUNITY Bill Stewart, Director Liz Gordon, Birders’ Exchange Logistics Jennie Duberstein, Young Birder Liaison

EVENTS Liz Gordon, Coordinator

PUBLICATIONS Ted Floyd, Birding Michael L. P. Retter, Birder’s Guide Edward S. Brinkley, North American Birds John Lowry, Advertising Ed Rother, Design & Production

PAST BOARD CHAIRS Dick Ashford (2009–2010) Tom Pincelli (2007–2009) Bettie R. Harriman (2006–2007) Richard H. Payne (1999–2006) Allan R. Keith (1997–1999) Daniel T. Williams, Jr. (1993–1997) Allan R. Keith (1989–1993) Lawrence G. Balch (1983–1989) Joseph W. Taylor (1979–1983) Arnold Small (1976–1979) G. Stuart Keith (1973–1976) G. Stuart Keith (1970 pro tem)

6 BIRDING • APRIL 2017

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS

Marie Read grew up in England, began wildlife photography in East Africa, and lives near Ithaca, New York. Her images and articles are featured in magazines, books, and calendars worldwide. While pur- suing photography part time, Marie worked at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology as photo/illustrations editor, turning to full-time photography and writing in 2005. ➤

➤ Bridget J. Stutchbury is Distinguished Research Professor and Graduate Pro- gram Director at York University, where her lab has pioneered the use of geoloca- tors for elucidating songbird migration. Stutchbury is the author of numerous scientific articles and several books, including the acclaimed Silence of the Songbirds (Walker Books, 2007).

Lauryn Benedict is Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Northern Colo- rado. She studies the vocalizations and behavior of wild birds, and she teaches courses on ornithology and animal diversity. You can often find her observing and audio-recording wrens on the public lands of northern Colorado. ➤

➤ Karan Odom is a Postdoctoral Researcher with the Cornell Lab of Ornithol- ogy and Leiden University in The Netherlands. Odom studies the function and evolution of female and male birdsong, combining comparative approaches and fieldwork. She enjoys observing and audio- recording birds in Puerto Rico and many other locations for her research.

Elisa Yang is a 16-year-old birder and aspiring ornithologist living in Southern California. She enjoys anything involving birds and biology. In her free time, Yang works on writ- ing, photography, art, and projects for the California Young Birders Club (californiayoungbirders.weebly.com). She looks forward to being a writer for birding and ornithological publications. ➤

➤ In this issue of Birding, we say farewell to Diana Doyle, who has headed up the magazine’s “Tools of the Trade” column since 2011, dispatching from her desk on a live-aboard cruising boat (birdingaboard.org). Doyle has also written conservation and bird behavior articles for BirdWatch- ing, Bird Watcher’s Digest, and the ornithological societies of Minnesota and Florida.

Carrie Laben grew up in western New York and earned a master of fine arts degree amid the moun- tains of Montana. She now lives in Queens, where she spends her time searching for unexpected birds in out-of-the-way public parks. Her work has appeared in such venues as Montana Naturalist, Clarkesworld, and Camas. Laben blogs at 10,000 Birds. ➤

➤ High school senior Marky Mutchler is an ornithologist with expertise in flight calls, subspecies, and conservation. Mutchler has been the recipient of various birding and ornithology awards, and she was the 2015 ABA Young Birder of the Year. Her work has appeared in art galleries, with the Mis- souri Department of Conservation, and in several magazines.

8 BIRDING • APRIL 2017

BIRDING TOGETHER

Jeffrey A. Gordon • President, American Birding Association Our Conservation Agenda The ABA reaffirms its vision to inspire all people to enjoy and protect wild birds.

e at the ABA often say there are a million ways to bird, together, the ABA membership draws from the birding popu- Wand we encourage you to go birding whenever, wher- lations of more than three dozen countries in Eurasia, Aus- ever, and however you want. Just follow our Code of tralasia, Africa, and the Americas. In an organization as large Birding Ethics, and, at least some of the time, share birding and geographically diverse as the ABA, there are bound to be with others, especially others who may not have been exposed varied and even conflicting views on protecting wild birds and to birding up to now. That’s the ABA way. It’s who we are. We their habitats. How should we as birders respond and lead? know from personal experience that time spent birding is time well spent, and we take it as an article of faith that any person’s or better or worse, and personally I think for better, the ABA, life is improved by exposure to and awareness of the wonder Fby virtue of its status as a 501(c)(3) corporation, is barred of birds and the community of birders. from taking partisan stands for or against specific candidates That’s the enjoy part of our mission statement. And although or parties. That doesn’t mean we must or should be mute on we can debate some of the fine details, we’re pretty united as matters of policy, especially to the extent that events and legis- a community around the value of enjoying wild birds and the lation impact the interests of birders. One example: access to many ways of doing it. But things get trickier on the protect public lands and management of those lands in ways that do side, especially in this era of hyper-partisanship, when seem- the most achievable good for and least harm to birds. ingly every action we might take can be seen by some as overt- So it’s appropriate and indeed incumbent on us to speak out ly political. In this climate, which is getting hotter both liter- against something like the illegal occupation in 2015–2016 ally and metaphorically, just what, exactly, are we supposed to of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon. We did, swiftly do to protect wild birds? and forcefully, joining a diverse coalition of sporting and other Before I write another word, let me stress that I am address- wildlife conservation groups. The ABA will continue to raise ing not just the U.S. membership of the ABA. Hundreds of ABA its collective voice on such matters. And we encourage you to members, including many of the North American continent’s raise yours individually and corporately. most active and accomplished birders, hail from Canada. Al- That said, I believe the greatest good that the ABA can do for the protection of wild birds is to model, spotlight, and develop the millions of ways that birders are not only enjoying birds, but also contributing to their conservation. An unmistakable conservation ethic underlies everything that we do, part of our core belief that every person we can win over to birding is a net win for bird conservation—the very essence of the ABA’s renewed emphasis on Conservation & Community. Yes, the ABA has some initiatives that are straight-on con- servation: Song Bird Coffee, Birders’ Exchange, promoting and selling Duck Stamps, and more. But, really, everything we do reflects our conservation agenda. Here are just a few examples of our broader conservation agenda:

• Birding magazine. Each issue touches in one way or another on conservation. In this issue, see Elisa Yang’s article on the ABA President Jeffrey A. Gordon addresses luminaries at Salton Sea, Noah Strycker’s interview with Bridget Stutch- the celebration of a major funding initiative for Prime Hook bury, and Tom Johnson’s plea to learn how to ID Rusty National Wildlife Refuge, Delaware. Photo courtesy of © Mike Blackbirds in part to promote these birds’ conservation. Parr–American Bird Conservancy. Continued on page 12

10 BIRDING • APRIL 2017

BIRDING TOGETHER

Continued from page 10

Birders advance the conservation agenda through lifestyle deci- sions, corporate actions, community engage- ment, and the electoral process. Photo courtesy of © Jeffrey A. Gordon.

• Other ABA publica- tions. You’ll soon be receiving our annual Conservation & Com- munity issue of Birder’s Guide, an entire maga- zine that promotes and spotlights birders’ efforts in conservation and community devel- opment. North Ameri- can Birds, our journal of bird status and distribution, has for over a century been an outstanding model for citizen science and monitoring, not just on paper but also out in the field. These are the sorts of actions that any • Conservation & Community module, birder can and should support, regard- Young Birder of the Year contest. The less of political party. It’s refreshing and ABA’s programs for young birders are gratifying. Sure, we want you to vote much admired and emulated. And and to take the interests of birds and since 2012, we’ve encouraged contes- birders into account when you do, but tants to take on projects that directly we’re not about telling you which levers impact bird conservation and expand to pull. That’s up to you. support for it. Going forward, it’s our goal to keep • Local initiatives. Here in Delaware this reinforcing the idea that birding and past year, the ABA helped support a conservation are inextricably linked, Conservation Access Pass for state and that birders are among the most wildlife areas, giving birders the op- effective conservationists, even though portunity to directly and visibly sup- they do it in a million times a million port protection and enhancement of different ways. some of the world’s finest salt marsh habitat. We’re happy to lend our sup- Good birding, port and experience to birders doing this sort of work anywhere, and we ap- plaud ABA members, staff, and board members already engaged in such Jeffrey A. Gordon, work on behalf of the association. President

12 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 13 ABA EVENTS

Northern Tanzania: The Ultimate African Safari Join the ABA for a Tanzania Birds and Big Mammal Safari, March 31–April 10, 2018

anzania is the quintessential African safari nation. Nowhere else in Afri- We had been watching the mother cheetah and her playful cub for an Tca do the preconceived ideas of the continent come to life in such vivid detail: tall, red-robed Maasai people herding their skinny cattle; endless hour, and they were both hungry. She was frequently sniffing the breeze grasslands studded with flat-topped acacia trees and grazed by herds of between bouts of having her twitching tail pounced upon by her cub. As zebra and wildebeest; and a dramatic volcanic caldera brimming with large ungulates and iconic predators. the wind changed direction, she picked up a scent and immediately as- Highly recommended birding and wildlife sites around Tanzania in- sumed a businesslike demeanor. The cub, too, sensed the change in mood, clude the Selous Game Reserve, the Eastern Arc Mountains, Pemba and Zanzibar islands, and Arusha National Park. Northern Tanzania is soaking in every action as he absorbed the lessons of the hunt. She first the most frequently visited part of the country and rightly so. Vast climbed onto a termite mound and then a fallen tree, where she gave her swathes of this region are pristine protected areas, well served by modern infrastructure and great lodges, and offering the very best of cub a silent signal to stay. In a flash, too fast for my camera to follow, she African wildlife-watching and birding. Three must-see sites make up darted off, flushing a resting scrub hare that stood little chance against the classic Northern Tanzania Safari Circuit: Tarangire National Park, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater. the fastest animal on the planet. The doomed hare gave futile kicks as the These three essential northern Tanzanian sites will be featured in young cheetah joined his mother, literally running circles of joy in antici- the ABA’s next international safari in partnership with Rockjumper Birding Tours. This is the fourth ABA–Rockjumper tour, pation of his upcoming snack. This is one of the thousands of dramas that after successful and enjoyable safaris to South play out every day in Tanzania’s Serengeti, one of the world’s last great Africa, India, and New Zealand and its Sub- antarctic Islands. Tanzania prom- wildernesses, and I was privileged to recently be there to witness it. ises to be the best yet! Not only are these ABA sa- —Adam Riley, Managing Director, Rockjumper Birding Tours faris fun, profession- ally arranged and

All photos by © Adam Riley

14 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 Clockwise from top: Von der Decken’s Hornbill Leopard Orange-bellied Parrot Baobab tree

PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 15 ABA EVENTS

guided, and a great way to get to know people in the ABA, but they also help raise money for the ABA’s important conservation projects.

fter leaving the safari capital of Arusha, the first three nights Aof our adventure will be spent in Tarangire National Park, a 1,100-square-mile reserve on the Tarangire River. This perennial watercourse is a haven for wildlife, especially in the dry season when thousands of elephants and other large mammals congre- gate. The baobab-studded woodlands and wetlands of the park harbor over 550 bird species, and they sure come thick and fast! The entrance gate is one of the birdiest spots in the park, and in just an hour here one can rack up 100 species. Park special- ties include the Tanzanian endemic Ashy Starling, the beautiful Yellow-collared Lovebird, Mottled Spinetail (spinetails in Africa are short-bodied swifts, not skulking, long-tailed passerines), and Northern Pied Babbler. The wetlands and meandering sandy riv- erbeds harbor such delights as Rufous-bellied Heron, the stately Saddle-billed Stork, Gray Crowned-Crane, Long-toed Lapwing, and, if we are fortunate, Greater Painted-Snipe. Raptors, both di- urnal and nocturnal, abound in this park, from massive Verreaux’s Eagle-Owls roosting in leafy riverside trees to African Hawk-Eagles Clockwise from bottom: and Lizard Buzzards in the woodlands. Ngorongoro Crater Big mammals are a bonus. Elephants are nowhere more abun- White-browed Coucal dant, and one can often find oneself in the midst of a peaceful, Yellow-collared Lovebird grazing family herd. Tarangire is also an excellent reserve for see-

16 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 ing lions, cheetahs, and leopards. Leopards are especially fond of napping on the large branches of the park’s many sausage trees.

ext is the fabled Serengeti, deriving its Nname from the Maasai word meaning “endless plains.” This 12,000-square-mile ecosystem stretches across northwestern Tanzania into the Maasai Mara of Kenya. It is most famous for the great wildebeest migration, involving more than two million wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, and elands seasonally moving across the plains and woodlands following an ancient course charted by seasonal rainfall. In April, when the ABA safari is scheduled, this bellow- Above: ing multitude can be found in the Seren- Maasai giraffes geti. Beholding the long lines of grunting wildebeest moving across the plains is un- Left: forgettable. The migration is also tracked Black-bellied by many of the park’s predators, and great Bustard numbers of lions, cheetahs, leopards, spot- ted hyenas, jackals, and giant Nile croco- diles take advantage of this massive glut of protein. Over 500 bird species have been record- ed on the Serengeti. The staggering number is due to the variety of habitats encompass- ing open grasslands, riverine forests, acacia thickets, broad-leaved woodlands, swamps, and lakes. Typical birds include stately

PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 17 ABA EVENTS

Secretarybirds patrolling the grasslands, families of Common Ostriches, croaking White-bellied Bustards, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, vultures, snake-eagles, and numerous seedeaters—including the love- ly Purple Grenadier and Green-winged Py- tilia, to mention just a few. The Serengeti is also home to some serious specialties sought after by the most hardcore of bird- ers, including the localized Gray-breasted Spurfowl, the bizarre Rufous-tailed Weav- er, Gray-crested Helmetshrike, Fischer’s Lovebird, Usambiro Barbet, and the little- known Karamoja Apalis. Day upon day can be spent in this produc- tive region of epic proportions without ever feeling that the limits have been reached. We will enjoy an idyllic five-night stay at a lodge in the heart of this wilderness.

ur adventure will end with two magical Onights atop the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest unbroken volca- nic caldera. It is 2,000 feet deep with a val- ley floor of 100 square miles. The “crater” was originally a giant volcano, in height possibly challenging Mt. Kilimanjaro, but two to three million years ago it collapsed on itself to form this world-famous wildlife landmark. One never forgets a view of this legendary Garden of Eden. Our stunning lodge, perched on the forested rim of the crater, will provide every participant with breath-taking views—especially sunsets— and access to one of the world’s most in- credible wildlife spectacles. Approximately 25,000 herbivorous ungulates are at home in the crater, which also plays host to the highest density of large predators in the world. A typical day spent in the crater will produce sightings of numerous bull Afri- can elephants, thousands of approachable blue wildebeest, plains zebra, cape buffalo, and gazelle. Also on tap: East Africa’s most

Clockwise from top: Common Ostrich Baglafecht Weaver Topi Gray-headed Kingfisher

18 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 Clockwise from far left: Pygmy Falcon Coqui Francolin African elephants easily seen black rhinoceros, massive golden-maned lions, more birding is a delight. Right on our lodge grounds, sunbirds in spotted hyena than you can shake a stick at, and regular sight- particular thrive, and residents include the unique sickle-billed ings of cheetahs, leopards, and other predators. Golden-winged Sunbird. Other sunbirds are Tacazze, Bronzy, The birding is astounding. Open grasslands are dotted with and Eastern Double-collared. Meanwhile, we’ll keep an eye out Kori Bustards, the world’s heaviest flying bird. In the breeding for such specialties as Hildebrandt’s Francolin, the searingly season, Jackson’s Widowbirds jump out of the tall grass in one bright Schalow’s Turaco, the Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, and of the planet’s strangest display flights, and cute African Quail- the rare Oriole Finch. Finches are best seen as they settle to drink at waterholes. The lovely Rosy-throated Longclaw is nowhere easier to find, and e will travel in comfortable safari-converted vehicles, and the Pangani Longclaw also occurs here. The huge, salty Lake Weveryone will have access to their own window and roof- Magadi attracts thousands of Greater and Lesser flamingos, as top view. We welcome you to join the ABA and Rockjump- well as diverse waterfowl and waders. Lerai Forest is dominated er Birding Tours on this 11-day African birding and wild- by tall acacia trees and teems with birds. It’s a great place to look life safari of a lifetime. Several exciting optional extensions for roosting raptors, including the Bateleur, the Martial Eagle, throughout Africa are also available. For a detailed itinerary, and numerous species of vultures. Parts of the crater wall and booking form, and more information, visit the ABA’s website: slopes are dominated by Afro-montane cloud forests, where the events.aba.org/aba-tanzania-birds-and-big-game-safari

PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 19 MILESTONES compiled by Ioana Seritan

Do you have a birding milestone to share with other ABA members? Please email Birding Associate Editor Ioana Seritan ([email protected]) and clearly indicate your name, your place of residence, your e-mail address, and the exact details of your milestone: the bird, the date, and the location. Please write in the third person. Do you have a photo of your milestone bird or experience?—Please send it along! Also, feel free to complement your submission with a very brief anecdote or commentary.

Editor’s Note: ABA members voted in late 2016 to expand the sylvania and New Jersey in December 2014, Florida in Janu- ABA Area to include Hawaii, but the ABA Checklist has not ary 2015, Texas in March 2015, and New Jersey and North Carolina in June 2015, Allen was at #696. A trip to west Texas yet been revised so as to include the Hawaiian avifauna. The and Arizona in August 2015 brought him over the edge, with ABA Checklist Committee expects to publish a revised ABA a Sinaloa Wren at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, on Monday, August Checklist later this year. Until such time, ABA members’ Bird- 31, 2015 for #700. Allen wrote about many of his trips on his blog, mihummingbirdguy.blogspot.com. The effort brought ing milestones referring to the ABA Area should comply with him to 29 states, all by car, resulted in an ABA Area year list of the continental definition of the ABA Area. 498 for 2015, and brought his Lower 48 list up to 684. Allen’s next threshold goal is 700 in the Lower 48. His only progress Roy Carlson of San Carlos, California, submitted his 10,000th toward that goal in 2016 was an armchair split of the California checklist to the ABA’s Listing Central on Friday, December 2, and Woodhouse’s scrub-jays, so he has 15 more species to go! 2016. Roy started birding in high school in 1955 because of a biology class requirement, and then took up birding again On Monday, January 9, 2017, Sandy Darling of Flamborough, in 1970. Now a very active birder, he aims to count as many Ontario, saw species #5,000, an Amethyst-throated Humming- species as possible in each of California’s 58 counties, which is bird at Tecpán, Guatemala, followed at the same location by the main reason he has logged over 516,000 miles on his 2000 Pink-headed, Crescent-chested, and Hermit warblers, and Ru- Jeep Grand Cherokee. fous-collared Robin (#5,001–#5,004). Sandy also saw species #500 for the ABA Area on Wednesday, July 13, 2016: a Black- Allen Chartier of Inkster, Michigan, reached #700 on his ABA bellied Whistling-Duck, in Hamilton, Ontario, found earlier by Area list after three years of dedicated work to bring his list another birder. The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck was a first up from where it had stalled at 680. Following trips to Penn- record for the Hamilton Study Area, and a one-day wonder.

Left: Although this is not the actual Amethyst-throated Hummingbird that became #5,000 for Sandy Darling at Tecpán, Guatemala, on Monday, January 9, 2017, Darling photographed this juvenile at the same location later in the day. Right: These Black-bellied Whistling- Ducks, seen in Hamilton, Ontario, on Wednesday, July 13, 2016, were #500 in the ABA Area for Sandy Darling. Photos by © Sandy Darling.

20 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 Frank and Barb Haas of Nar- bird of that location, the Rufous-crested Coquette, was found a von, Pennsylvania, found this bit earlier on the same day for #1,997 as it fed in a flower bed Eurasian Sparrowhawk, right next to the parking area. the first photographically documented in the ABA Area, on Adak Island, Alaska, on Mark Korducki of New Berlin, Wisconsin, saw a Chukar on Wednesday, September 21, Antelope Island, Utah, for his 700th ABA Area bird on Thurs- 2016. Photo by © Frank Haas. day, July 21, 2016 while on a tour of Utah and Nevada. Later in the tour, Himalayan Snowcock became #701 as a reward for an Frank and Barb Haas of Narvon, Pennsylvania, got their 721st early morning hike in the beautiful Ruby Mountains of Nevada. and 723rd ABA Area lifers, respectively, on Adak Island, Alas- ka, on Wednesday, September 21, 2016, when they found a Bob McGuire of Ithaca, New York, picked up a microphone in Eurasian Sparrowhawk. Although not a round number like 700 2008 with the goal of recording 500 ABA species in 10 years. He or 800, this Eurasian Sparrowhawk was a first North American reached that goal on Saturday, January 21, 2017 by recording a record. (There are two previous sight records, one from Adak group of courting Redheads in Union Springs, New York, right and one from Attu, but this was the first photographed.) The at first light. Ducks such as these Redheads are especially difficult bird was seen on one of the high school spruces—a spot Frank to record because they are so skittish. Most of Bob’s collection of and Barb were checking regularly, but which had never pro- some 15,000 audio files is now archived in the Macaulay Library duced any noteworthy sightings for them. When asked why of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. they go to Adak (19 trips so far!), the couple’s stock answer is: “The next bird we see might be a first North American record.” On Wednesday, November 9, 2016, Kirk and Lois Moulton of And so it was! North Wales, Pennsylvania, were members of the first birding

On the night of Saturday, December 31, 2016, Brad Hammond On the final night of 2016, Brad Hammond of Wilder, Idaho, of Wilder, Idaho, drove six hours after working a 6.5-hour drove six hours to see this vagrant Red-flanked Bluetail in night shift to Hells Gate State Park, Idaho, to see his 700th ABA Hells Gate State Park, Idaho. Photo by © Brad Hammond. Area species, a beautiful Red-flanked Bluetail. Brad says, “The 24-hour marathon was worth every minute. It was a beautiful little bird with a constantly flicking tail that seemed to enjoy teasing the 40 birders who came to enjoy her presence.” A bo- nus was a playful otter on the banks of the Little Salmon River.

Pat Hodgson of Toronto, Ontario, recorded world bird #2,000 with the attractive Purple-throated Euphonia at Waqanki Lodge in Moyobamba, Peru, on Sunday, July 31, 2016. The specialty

When Bob McGuire of Ithaca, New York, made a record- ing of these Redheads in Union Springs, New York, they became the 500th species he had audio-recorded in the ABA Area. Photo by © Bob McGuire.

PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 21 MILESTONES

Left: Kurt Schwarz of Ellicott City, Maryland, did not mean to pursue a Big Year in Maryland last year, but realized by late November that he could make it to 300. This Cackling Goose on December 16 brought him to #300. Right: This Iceland Gull at the Eastern Sanitary Landfill Solid Waste Management Facility, Maryland, was Schwarz’s final bird, #304, of his 2016 Big Year in Maryland. Photo by © Kurt Schwarz. group to see a pair of the near-mythical Madanga on the is- birding trip to the island nation. Mark could not miss the op- land of Buru, Indonesia. As the only woman in the group, Lois portunity for an African trip with birding buddies Chris Haney, has the distinction of being the first Western woman known to Dale Herter, and Phil Martin. have seen this species. She finished the Southern Moluccas tour with 8,162 world life birds. Kirk lags behind at 8,161. Kurt Schwarz of Ellicott City, Maryland, did not set out to make 2016 a Big Year in his home state, but realized after tick- Mark Oberle of Seattle, Washington, saw his 3,000th life bird, ing Snow Buntings on Monday, November 21, 2016, and reach- a Madagascar Bee-eater near Antananarivo, Madagascar, on ing 290 species, that 300 was within reach. After a successful Monday, October 10, 2016, at the beginning of a three-week Short-eared Owl trip, which yielded bonus Long-eared Owls, he reached #292, and the game was on. Three excel- lent rarities—Black-throated Gray Warbler, Yellow- headed Blackbird, and Black-headed Grosbeak—plus some more routine birds, got him to #299. Finally, a single Richardson’s Cackling Goose on Friday, Decem- ber 16, 2016 at Springdale Quarry took him across the 300 threshold. Kurt finished 2016 with 304 species in Maryland, with his final bird being an Iceland Gull at the Eastern Sanitary Landfill Solid Waste Management Facility, Maryland, on Saturday, December 31.

On Saturday, December 3, 2016, Vjera Thompson of Eugene, Oregon, saw her 200th bird for her green list: birds seen by foot or bicycle round-trip from her home in west Eugene. Vjera was bicycling her regular Saturday patch route through a nearby wetland, Mead- owlark Prairie, when she found a Brant in a flock of This Brant in a flock of Cackling Geese at Meadowlark Prairie, Oregon, Cackling Geese for #200. Since starting her green list was #200 on Vjera Thompson’s green list of birds seen by foot or bicycle in 2009, Vjera has biked 7,787 miles, and has visited round-trip from her home. Photo by © Vjera Thompson. Meadowlark Prairie 217 times, often by bicycle.

22 BIRDING • APRIL 2017

BIRDING INTERVIEW

A Birding Interview with Bridget J. Stutchbury

nternationally known “bird detective” Bridget J. Stutchbury studies the migration, behavior, and social life of songbirds, Iincluding their sexual antics, and shares her juicy insights in popular books such as The Private Lives of Birds, Silence of the Songbirds (short-listed for the Governor General’s Award for Nonfiction), andBehavioral Ecology of Tropical Birds. Born in Montreal and raised in Toronto, Stutchbury studied at Queen’s University and Yale, and worked at the Smithsonian Institu- tion. She now focuses on behavioral and conservation ecology as a professor at York University in Toronto, where her lab has pioneered the use of geolocators to track the astonishing feats of migrating songbirds. In this high-flyingBirding interview, Stutchbury talks frankly about adultery, betrayal, divorce, and toilet paper—and reveals a hidden talent for putting birds in stitches. —Noah Strycker

Birding: Can we start with sex? How did you become the Dr. on males, and prefer to sneakily visit and copulate with neigh- Ruth of ornithology? bors who sing more, a test of male quality. Similar studies on Bridget J. Stutchbury: I got interested in birds by accident Blue-headed Vireos showed that females practice premedi- when I was hired to work on a Tree Swallow study as an tated divorce and abandon their young at the time of fledg- undergraduate student with no birding or field experience. ing, leaving the original mate to raise the fledglings alone. During the first nest box checks of spring, I discovered two The female immediately re-nests with an unmated male with females inside a box having a vicious fight, and was fasci- whom she has already begun building a second nest. nated that these delicate-looking birds had such a violent These types of fun studies help to engage people to learn side. As a graduate student in the 1980s, my first research more about birds and to care about bird conservation. Sex, studies focused on competition for ter- adultery, betrayal, and divorce…all in ritories in female Tree Swallows and in your own backyard! male Purple Martins. When I began a study of Hooded Warblers, I was sur- Birding: How do you go about studying prised at how often males snuck quietly bird behavior, including bird sex, in the onto a neighbor’s territory. Radiotrack- field? Can you give us some tips for hon- ing showed that males approached a ing our observational skills? female who was broadcasting her loca- BJS: Birders tend to go after a high spe- tion and fertility with erratic “chip” calls. cies count, so after one bird is identified Sometimes these furtive males would be the group quickly moves on to the next caught by the territory owner and a ma- sighting. Studying bird behavior often jor brawl would unfold while the female means watching an individual bird, or innocently looked on. This was in the nest, for half an hour or more. Finding early 1990s, just after DNA fingerprint- the nest of each breeding pair may mean ing had been invented and when many stalking a pair for several hours, hoping ornithologists assumed that females to see a bird carrying nesting material were unwilling participants in “extra- or food. pair copulations.” Some species give distinct vocal cues For the next 10 years, I used paternity when near their nest, which helps with Bridget J. Stutchbury is a pioneer in the use testing and radiotracking to be a bird de- of geolocator technology to understand what otherwise can be a needle-in-the- tective, and studied how males and fe- songbird migration; here, she poses at haystack game. Male Scarlet Tanagers males cheat on their mates. We showed her study site in northwest Pennsylvania. often give a quiet whisper song when that female Hooded Warblers eavesdrop Photo by © Douglas Morton. they approach a nest where their female

24 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 A Wood Thrush is equipped with a geolocator backpack. Photo by © Elizabeth Gow.

ing cup of java comes from? And I don’t mean Dunkin’ Do- nuts vs. Starbucks. BJS: Bird-Friendly© shade coffee farms in Central America and South America are safe havens for migratory birds, not to mention dozens of tropical wildlife and plant species. In many regions, much of the natural rainforest has been is incubating. If you watch, you may see he has food in his cleared for pastures, biofuels, and crops. Studies have shown mouth while singing softly, and he will fly to the nest to feed that heavily shaded coffee farms come close to mimicking a his suddenly noisy begging mate. Or, she’ll fly over to take natural forest and support high biodiversity. Our geolocator the food from him and begin giving chik-burr calls and fol- studies found that Wood Thrushes depend greatly on the for- low him around for more handouts before returning to her ests of Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica for their winter- nest. The male Blue-headed Vireo does half of the incubation ing sites; these are all coffee-growing regions heavily hit by duties and sings a very short, repetitive “nest” song when he deforestation. approaches the female to take his turn. Females signal their About half of U.S. adults drink coffee regularly, yet only a readiness to leave the nest by giving quiet, nasal yank calls. small fraction of those drink Bird-Friendly© certified. Buy- You can almost find a nest with your eyes closed! ing Bird-Friendly© certified coffee gets you a delicious cup Observing sex, at least in forest birds, is far more difficult, of sustainable Arabica coffee; guarantees that the coffee is which is why we resort to DNA testing or radiotracking to organic, fair-traded, and shade-grown; and provides critical measure infidelity. economic support to the many family farmers who still grow coffee sustainably. If stores and restaurants don’t have this Birding: From sex, we might as well go straight to toilet pa- coffee on the menu, you can order your Bird-Friendly© cof- per. Why should we choose TP wisely? fee online—and do something good for birds every morning BJS: Consumers can have a huge impact on the environment while you enjoy your java. [Note: Sales of Song Bird Coffee, by changing a few simple shopping habits. The boreal forest of Canada is North Amer- ica’s songbird nursery and home to several billion breeding pairs of songbirds. Yet log- ging in the southern regions is very extensive and often not done sustainably. All shoppers use toilet paper at home, and buying only recycled products will help conserve forests. Buying more organic fruits and vegetables than you currently do can help make habitats safer for all migratory birds. Pesticide regula- tions in Central America and South America are weakly enforced, and many pesticides in wide use there are banned in North America because they are so toxic. Pesticide residue on those imported foods is much higher than for most U.S.-grown food, so this affects human health, too. Birders don’t have to wait around for their government to increase funding for bird conservation, but instead can vote with their shopping carts.

Birding: Why does it matter where my morn- The interviewee investigates the sex lives of Hooded Warblers. Photo by © Ron Mumme.

PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 25 BIRDING INTERVIEW

Left: A geolocator has a light sensor at the end of a stalk, and measures sunrise and sunset times that in turn give latitude and longitude data. Photo by © Bridget J. Stutchbury.

Far right: The light stalk on a geolocator looks like a grain of rice on this Purple Martin’s lower back. Photo by © Jerome Jackson. a Bird-Friendly© certified product, benefit the American Birding short light stalk, and that we could track start-to-finish song- Association. —Ed.] bird migration for the first time. The geolocator houses a light sensor and a timer; by mea- Birding: Can you describe a geolocator, how you learned suring sunrise and sunset times as the bird migrates, the about this gadget, how it works, and what it shows? researcher can determine the latitude and longitude of the BJS: I discovered geolocator technology accidentally at a bird’s location each day. The devices do not transmit data. North American Ornithological Congress meeting in Vera- They are archival, so you must recapture the bird when it cruz, Mexico, in September 2006. Killing time before the returns the next year to the original deployment site. Natural lunch break, I happened upon a poster that showed a map migratory mortality is around 50%, so at least half the tags of year-round movements of individual albatrosses in the deployed will never be seen again. Nonetheless, over several Southern Hemisphere; what really caught my eye on that years we were able to track about 100 Wood Thrushes and poster was a photo of a human hand holding a tiny, 1.5-gram 200 Purple Martins across their breeding range. One big sur- tracking device that could be attached to a bird’s leg band. prise was that the eastern subspecies of the Purple Martin With all my radiotracking experience, I immediately realized winters in remote stretches of the upper Amazon River basin; that we could customize the device to be a backpack with a in that region, the western and eastern breeding populations completely mix at winter roosts. A Texas Gulf Coast bird could be sitting on a branch in a night roost beside a bird that came from Disney’s Orlando resorts or a bird from central Alberta. Earlier research and band returns had pointed to the agricultural regions of southern Brazil as the main wintering area, but not one of our eastern birds has been tracked to that region. That’s good news because it means that most are relatively safe from pesticide exposure.

Birding: Geolocator data show that birds migrate much faster in spring than in fall. Why is that? BJS: A quick answer is sex and competition for the best breed- ing territories and mates. In spring, the first birds back at the breeding site are usually older individuals that have first pick of everything. Early breeders get better nest sites, territories, and mates. Latecomers risk getting poor territories and, for Bridget Stutchbury learned the ladylike art of stitchery from her males, risk being unmated for the whole summer. Our geo- mother, originally from England, and enjoys making bird images locator research found that martins and thrushes take unex- for her friends and family. This one was for her parents-in-law, Gene pectedly long breaks on fall migration. Migratory songbirds and Jane Morton, who loved to sit on their porch in summer watch- do not breed on their wintering grounds, so they can stop ing their hummers. Crewel embroidery by © Bridget J. Stutchbury. Continued on page 28

26 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 27 BIRDING INTERVIEW

Continued from page 26 for longer periods on migration if they birds have inadvertently planted seeds encounter good food and habitat. via their droppings. Birds are highly sensitive to their environment, and, as Birding: Why do you write popular- canaries in the coal mine once did, give press books? Do your words help birds? us a foreshadowing of how the collapse BJS: Popular books are creative and fun of ecosystems will affect humans too. to write compared with dry, terse, sci- entific journal articles—and allow me Birding: Serious bird research aside, to learn about a wider range of conser- what do you do for fun?—and does it vation issues than in my own research. involve birds? I also reach many thousands of readers BJS: I have always enjoyed sports and through the books, my book talks, and the outdoors. Now in my mid-50s, I am media coverage. I am writing a new thankful to be healthy enough to swim, book about triage for extinction, ask- kayak, sail, paddleboard, and hike at ing which expensive animal species we the cottage. I confess that I often leave should allow to go extinct so that we can my binoculars at home, but my brain afford to save many other species. Cali- is always listening to birdsong and au- fornia Condor and Whooping Crane tomatically identifying what I hear. I conservation is very expensive ($5 mil- also enjoy crewel embroidery, and with lion/year) while many other threatened thousands of tiny colorful stitches can bird species like the Tricolored Black- produce very lifelike birds, such as bird get very little funding. Is this the Bobolinks, Ruby-throated Humming- most effective way to achieve conserva- birds, and Tree Swallows. tion? This is a very controversial subject and there is no right or wrong answer, but it reveals how unprepared we are for the wave of extinctions we face over the next century, the difficult choices we must make, and the severe under- funding of conservation efforts.

Birding: What roles do birds play in the natural world? BJS: Birds are nature’s blue-collar work- ers and do important jobs in their eco- systems. Insectivorous birds, particular- ly during the breeding season, consume huge quantities of insects, which helps promote forest growth. An experiment in Costa Rica showed that when birds are prevented from feeding on coffee plants, the number of damaging coffee borer beetles increases and coffee pro- duction goes down. Birds that eat fruit Bridget Stutchbury’s Silence of the help plants and trees to reproduce by Songbirds explores the causes of mi- moving the otherwise-immobile seeds gratory songbird declines and what far away from the parent plant. Open we can all do to help. Image courtesy fields give way to shrubs partly because of Bridget J. Stutchbury.

28 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 29 NEWS AND NOTES

Paul Hess Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania • [email protected]

Deformed Beaks: The mystery took a remarkable new turn in 2016. Not Progress toward Solving only did researchers detect a strong association between the deformities and a pathogen, but they also discovered a a Persistent Mystery previously unknown virus in their search. The authors call An epidemic of gruesome bill deformities in Black-capped the virus Poecivirus, which refers to Poecile, the chickadee Chickadees was first noticed in Alaska nearly two decades genus in which it was first reported. ago, and pinning down the cause has befuddled investiga- Maxine Zylberberg, Caroline Van Hemert, John P. Dum- tors ever since. Something had clearly changed in the birds bacher, Colleen M. Handel, Tarik Tihan, and Joseph L. or in their environment because such gross abnormalities DeRisi announced the discovery in mBio, the journal of the had previously been rare. Other species, including nut- American Society for Microbiology (tinyurl.com/poecivirus). hatches, woodpeckers, corvids, and raptors, also began to Van Hemert and Handel at the U.S. Geological Survey’s show similar deformities. Alaska Science Center in Anchorage have been at the fore- Year after year, researchers examined various chemical front of the research since the beginning. contaminants in the environment and evaluated the pos- The characteristic beak deformities, which include elon- sibilities of infectious disease or nutritional problems. No gation, crossing, and curvature, are also known as avian convincing evidence of a likely cause emerged from those keratin disorder (AKD). The beak is made of keratin, which intensive studies. A 2010 report at The ABA Blog chroni- is a strong material, but the defects caused by AKD interfere cles the long list of affected species—and researchers’ quest with birds’ ability to eat, preen, and care for young. to discover the etiology of the deformity (tinyurl.com/ Advanced genetic analysis of chickadees’ beaks point to ABA-Blog-beaks). a strong link between the virus and the deformity. Among 19 abnormal chickadees and 9 unaffected “con- trol” individuals, the virus was present in all of the AKD-affected birds but in only two of the controls. A similar virus was detected in North- western Crows and Red-breasted Nuthatches with AKD. Zylberberg and her colleagues note that the link is not proven as a lone factor and that other pathogens or some “environmental trig- ger” could be involved in initiating the virus’s activity. Nevertheless, the authors comment that “this is a promising candidate for the causative agent,” and a future captive study will deter- mine whether infection with the virus in fact causes AKD. In an article titled “Alaskan Birds at Risk” in the September/October 2007 issue of Birding (tinyurl.com/Van-Hemert-Birding), Caroline Van Hemert reported that more than 1,500 Black- capped Chickadees had been observed with the deformities in south–central Alaska. As of 2017, This Black-capped Chickadee in Anchorage, Alaska, is afflicted with avian keratin disorder, a malady that produces gruesomely deformed bills in many other bird she says, more than 3,000 affected individuals species as well. Scientists have spent nearly two decades searching unsuccess- have been documented. fully for a likely cause. New research associates the deformity with a previously Van Hemert reports that the prevalence of unknown virus, but a direct link remains to be proven. Photo by © John DeLapp. AKD has remained fairly stable (estimated at

30 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 6.5% of adults) in areas where the disorder was first recog- nized. But she also notes that observations have increased After we had gone to press with the print elsewhere in North America. A cluster of such deformities version of the April Birding, we learned has also been reported in the U.K., affecting taxonomically of major coverage in Ontario Birds (April similar species (tinyurl.com/Beaks-in-Britain). 2017 issue) of the Gray Jay story also Birders have an important role in the research. In her 2007 reported in “News and Notes.” In the article, Van Hemert asked for reports of abnormal beaks. Ontario Birds article, author Dan Strick- The request is still critical for science. If you see a deformed land makes a strong case for a name beak, send your observation to the Alaska database (tinyurl. change from Gray Jay to Canada Jay. com/report-AKD).

Perky, confiding, always ready to steal a bite from a picnic table All Hail the Whiskey Jack! or to fly fearlessly in to take seeds from your hand, the Gray Jay is proposed to the Canadian government for status as the Canada’s New National Bird country’s national bird. It was highly ranked in a nationwide Well, not exactly all are hailing, but those who do hail are poll conducted by Canadian Geographic magazine, and gov- overjoyed. The Gray Jay—wiskedjak in First Nations mythol- ernment acceptance is awaited. Left: Photo by © Jim Zipp. ogy; “whiskey jack” in a delectable corruption of the name Right: Bill Schmoker and friend; photo by © Christopher L. Wood. by old-time trappers and lumbermen; and “camp robber” to later generations of ramblers in the northwoods—has been nominated for the national honor in a roundabout way. The Royal Canadian Geographical Society and its Cana- dian Geographic magazine thought the country should have a national bird by 2017, the 150th anniversary of Canada’s confederation. The society also decided that the populace

PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 31 NEWS AND NOTES

should have a say in the selection, and thus was born the of academic, insightful, emotional, and hilariously irrever- National Bird Project. With 40 species as candidates, voting ent arguments for and against all birds involved.” online began in 2015. The jay’s defenders carried the day. Enjoy their comic quar- When it was over, the Gray Jay was announced as the win- rels at tinyurl.com/hear-the-debate, and go to tinyurl.com/ ner in November 2016. But wait a minute. Nearly 50,000 meet-national-bird to learn why the panel chose the winner. Canadians voted, and here were their top 10 choices: During the voting period, more than 1,300 people sub- - Common Loon 13,995 votes mitted brief comments, long essays, and even poems salut- - Snowy Owl 8,948 ing the Gray Jay. Some writers called attention to the bird’s - Gray Jay 7,918 mythical stature in First Nations folklore as a mischievous - Canada Goose 3,616 spirit, a trickster, and a welcome companion. Others told - Black-capped Chickadee 3,324 stories of jays helping lost foresters find their way out of the - Common Raven 1,680 woods. And others emphasized the species’ energetic and - Blue Jay 1,037 confiding personality, recalling how a jay took seeds from - Atlantic Puffin 764 their hands or snatched food at a campsite or a picnic. Read - Great Blue Heron 617 many such recollections on the Canadian Geographic website - Pileated Woodpecker 353 (tinyurl.com/Gray-Jay-essays). The loon was no surprise. It has been the beloved emblem The project’s leaders hope Canada’s government will give of Canada’s one-dollar coin, affectionately called the “loonie,” the jay this new national status. Proponents would also for 30 years. The owl’s magnificence surely made it a prime like to see the species’ former English name Canada Jay contender. But the Gray Jay didn’t quite make the grade. restored—a reasonable request. After all, its scientific name Never mind. In the end, the final decision was granted is Perisoreus canadensis, and its French name has long been to a panel of notable Canadians in what was lightheartedly Mésangeai du Canada. called the “Great Canadian National Bird Debate.” Nick Walker, managing editor of Canadian Geographic, An Odor of Floating Plastic described the proceedings: “Each panelist was prepared to Is a Tragic Lure to Seabirds champion their chosen bird and disparage all others, and Why do seabirds mistake chunks of hard, brightly colored the debate raged on through four timed rounds with a mix plastic trash for the soft, subtly colored natural prey their species evolved to recognize across countless millennia be- fore the advent of plastic? It doesn’t make sense. Billions of discarded plastic pieces discarded by humans are swept incessantly around the world’s oceans by winds and currents. Many foraging albatrosses, shearwaters, pe- trels, prions, storm-petrels, and diving-petrels in the “tube- nose” order Procellariiformes snap up pieces, swallow them whole, carry them back to the nest, and regurgitate them to the young as if the plastics were normal foods. Chris Jor- dan’s online gallery of Laysan Albatross carcasses on Midway Island (tinyurl.com/plastic-tragedy) illustrates the ghastly outcome, and the matter was summarized for ABA members in “News and Notes” in the May 2010 Birding, pp. 31–32. After two decades of research, the reason for the birds’ error of judgment has become increasingly clear. It is an odor emitted from the plastic that apparently overrides any visual cue the birds might use to identify food. The odor is The open ocean may look all the same to human eyes, but tubenoses like this Laysan Albatross “see” variation in olfactory signals at the wa- dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a chemical released into the water ter’s surface. Guided by olfactory maps in their brains, albatrosses and and then the air when the small zooplankton known as krill other tubenoses hunt for prey that emit a chemical called dimethyl graze on marine algae. sulfide.Marin County, California; August 2015. Photo by © Steve Howell. Many tubenoses specialize on krill for their diet, and many

32 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 also feed on fish and squid that dine on the krill. When the birds smell DMS, they sense that food is near. As long ago as 1995, in a paper in the journal Nature, Ga- brielle A. Nevitt, Richard R. Veit, and Peter Kareiva demon- strated experimentally that many seabirds can detect DMS and that some species are highly attracted to it (tinyurl.com/ foraging-cue). The authors suggested that DMS is a foraging cue, a signal enabling the birds to locate prey. Subsequent studies by Nevitt and others confirmed that the birds’ re- sponse is an attraction to grazing krill. What does that have to do with plastic? After a series of novel experiments, Matthew S. Savoca, Like many other seabirds, adult Laysan Albatrosses transport Martha E. Wohlfeil, Susan E. Ebeler, and Gabrielle A. Nevitt food long distances to the breeding colonies, where they regurgi- answer the question in a 2016 paper in Science Advances tate food for their young. Unfortunately, an increasing proportion (tinyurl.com/scent-from-plastic): Plastics floating on the of this “food” is plastic trash dumped up in the world’s oceans. ocean emit the odor of DMS. Many plastics emit the odor of dimethyl sulfide, the “infochemi- The team demonstrated the phenomenon by filling mesh cal” that albatrosses associate with their natural prey. Photo by © Chris Jordan. bags with three common types of plastic found on the sea and attaching them to oceanographic buoys off central Cali- fornia. After only a few weeks in the water, the beads emit- ted the odor at levels seabirds are known to detect. Previous experimental work by Nevitt and colleagues had shown that some tubenose species respond to DMS at sea, whereas others show little or no response to it. In the new study, the authors compared the species’ responses with data compiled by other researchers on frequencies of plastic ingestion by the same species. Among 13,350 individuals of 25 species, a strong association appeared between species’ responsiveness to DMS and prevalence of plastic ingestion.

These three Laysan Albatrosses, all juveniles, are from the re- cently established population off the west coast of Mexico. Some ornithologists have speculated that Laysans may soon breed off According to albatross activist Chris Jordan, “Kneeling over their the coast of California. But the good news of recent population carcasses is like looking into a macabre mirror. These birds reflect expansion in the species is tempered by our increasing awareness back an appallingly emblematic result of the collective trance of of the global crisis of ocean pollution, affecting not only all Laysan our consumerism and runaway industrial growth.” This immature Albatrosses but indeed all ocean life. Marin County, California; Au- Laysan Albatross carcass was photo documented by Jordan at gust 2015. Photo by © Steve Howell. Midway Island, Hawaiian Islands. Photo by © Chris Jordan.

PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 33 NEWS AND NOTES

DMS-responsive species analyzed in the study ingested plastic five times as frequently as non-responders. Among the most frequent of these responders in ABA Area waters were Short-tailed Shearwaters, Sooty Shearwaters, and Wilson’s Storm-Petrels. DMS is an “infochemical”—in this case, a tragic signal for many seabirds seeking food, and a brand new threat the birds’ ancient evolutionary back- ground has not equipped them to rec- ognize. In a sidelight to the study, Savoca and his coauthors expanded on previous research showing a much greater fre- quency of plastic ingestion by burrow- nesters than by ground-nesters. An analysis of 20,852 individuals from 62 tubenose species showed that burrow- nesters ingested plastic nearly three times as frequently as ground-nesters. The authors suggest that burrow-nest- ers’ behavior may be an ancestral trait related to DMS responsiveness. There are exceptions among ground- nesters. Most prominent is the Laysan Albatross, a poster species for the trag- edy depicted so forcefully in Jordan’s photographs. “For me,” he says on his website, “kneeling over their carcasses is like looking into a macabre mirror. These birds reflect back an appalling- ly emblematic result of the collective trance of our consumerism and run- away industrial growth.” Savoca and his coauthors remind us that more than 200 species of marine fishes, mammals, turtles, and seabirds are known to consume plastic at sea. These mariners are confronted by dan- ger on an almost unimaginable scale. Marcus Eriksen and associates esti- mated in a 2014 paper in PLOS One (tinyurl.com/Marcus-Eriksen) that over five trillion pieces of plastic weighing more than 250,000 tons are suspended in the world’s oceans. We must wonder what chance there is for a solution.

34 BIRDING • APRIL 2017

Listening to Nature’s Divas Research reveals that female songbirds commonly sing. Find out how you can help make their voices heard.

magine stepping into your backyard one 26 and March 25, 1932. It might have been tempt- ing to label K56’s behavior as anomalous, but K56 morning in spring to find a Song Sparrow was one of several female Song Sparrows that Nice singing persistently while vigorously chasing recorded singing vigorously. What were these females doing? Were they exhib- a second Song Sparrow whenever it comes iting abnormal, “male-like” behavior? Our view is near.I What is going on? Most observers would confi- that those birds were exhibiting perfectly appropri- ate “female-like” behavior. We now know that female dently conclude that they were watching a male bird birds of many species regularly sing. So ornitholo- stake his territorial claim. gists and birders must stop assuming that a singing bird is a male. Instead, we need to start asking, “Was If you were Margaret Morse Nice, however, you would that singing bird a male or a female?” not have made this assumption. Instead, you would In the ABA Area, we have at least 120 songbird have looked closely before drawing any conclusions. species in which females are known to sing. That’s In fact, the pioneering ornithologist described this close to half of all common oscines in North Amer- exact observation in her 1943 classic, Studies in the ica north of Mexico, and that number is surely an Life History of the Song Sparrow, and because she was underestimate because of the pervasive assumption observing a color-banded population of birds, she that only males sing. knew that the singing bird was a female she had la- The diversity of female song is astounding. In beled K56. Nice reported that this female Song Spar- some North American species, females sing frequent- row sang loudly and persistently between February ly, while in others females sing only occasionally. In

Lauryn Benedict • Greeley, Colorado • [email protected] Karan Odom • Leiden, The Netherlands • [email protected]

36 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 This Song Sparrow is singing, so it must be a male, right? Not neces- sarily! Research by the authors and their colleagues has demonstrated that females of many species rou- tinely sing. In this article, we take a look at the pervasiveness of female song—and we learn how birders can contribute to ongoing efforts to document singing by female birds. Victoria, British Columbia. May 2006. Photo by © Glenn Bartley.

PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 37 FEMALE BIRD SONG

Who Cooks For You? The hooting of the Barred Owl is one of the most familiar of avian vocalizations. Less well known is that this song is given by both males and females—and that the vocalization dif- fers consistently between the sexes. Fairfield County, Connecticut; May 2010. Photo by © Jim Zipp.

some species, female song sounds like male song, while in oth- tern holds across most temperate-zone regions of the world. ers it is entirely distinct. Moreover, researchers now have good Nevertheless, there has been a longstanding recognition that evidence that song likely existed in the female ancestors of female song is present and highly functional in many species all songbirds (see tinyurl.com/Odom-et-al). This means that, worldwide. Margaret Morse Nice named over 50 species with among species in which males sing but females do not, female female song in her 1943 monograph, and she suggested that song is absent because females in some lineages stopped sing- the ancestor of all modern bird species likely had both singing ing, not because only male ancestors started singing. So, to males and singing females—a hypothesis that took 70 years to understand how songbirds got their sweet songs in the first confirm. Ideas about the evolution and importance of female place, we have to study song in both males and females. song are not new, but they have been ignored for far too long. Researchers are working to reveal how and why songbirds Across the globe, female song is most common in tropical of both sexes developed their diverse and intricate songs, but and subtropical areas. This pattern likely exists due to both we’re struggling. We need more data—especially observa- evolutionary history and the natural history of individual spe- tional reports and recordings of female song. Because female cies. We know that female song is ancestral in songbirds, and song is simply not described for most species, we lack a good many of the oldest lineages within this group live in the trop- understanding of it. To address this problem, we are calling on ics and subtropics. Additionally, tropical species are frequently everyone with an interest in bird song to help us document non-migratory and monogamous, creating a situation in which this understudied behavior. males and females have similar patterns of behavior through- out the year. When males and females have similar territorial Some Background: He Sings, She Sings and breeding biology, they seem to more often retain the an- Among North American songbirds, there is no question that, cestral trait of song in both sexes. (On an evolutionarily re- in many species, males sing more than females, and this pat- lated note, they also frequently look alike.) Males and females

38 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 Female song is most readily detected and documented in species that exhibit strong sexual dimorphism. Not sur- prisingly, then, the female in many of these species use song in Northern Cardinal has long similar ways. For example, both sex- been known to sing. Hidalgo es of Australian Magpie-Larks sing to defend territories, often combining County, Texas; March 2008. their songs into a “duet.” Males and Photo by © Jim Zipp. females of many Neotropical wren species also sing duets, with the part- ners using song to announce their presence and involvement in the social partnership. Among species in which females do more of the ter- ritorial defense than males, we even see a shift toward more frequent and more elaborate female song. In the Stripe-headed Sparrow of Central America, for example, females typi- cally lead the charge against intrud- ers and sing more aggressively than males. And in pairs of Venezuelan Troupials, females also take a domi- nant role, producing most of the songs sung during the day. In the ABA Area, some of the more well-known female singers in- clude Northern Cardinals and House Wrens, but these are not the only common backyard divas. Song Spar- row females sing, as we have noted, and so do the females of certain spe- cies of sparrows, chickadees, black- birds, orioles, kinglets, grosbeaks, tanagers, and others. For some of these groups, such as cardinals, ori- oles, blackbirds, and tanagers, obser- vations of female song are relatively easy to make because males and fe- males have distinctive plumage. It can be much more difficult to identify female song in monomorphic species in which the sexes look alike. Many of the existing reports and recordings of female song in monomorphic spe- cies come from researchers studying color-banded populations, as Marga- ret Morse Nice did. Such studies have revealed that female Black-capped Chickadees sing a fee-beeee song like that of their male partners, and that some Dark-eyed Junco females sing a song similar in form to male song.

PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 39 FEMALE BIRD SONG Do males and females sing the same songs? For some species, the answer appears to be yes. Case in point: the Black-capped Chicka- dee, whose familiar fee-beeee Our research projects have also revealed variation song is given by both sexes. Fair- in female song behavior: Lauryn is studying a color- field County, Connecticut; February banded population of Canyon Wrens to investigate 2007. Photo by © Jim Zipp. why females sing a unique song type not produced by males, and Karan is studying male and female song in a color-banded population of Venezuelan Troupials in Puerto Rico. Karan’s work has shown that females sing more day songs than males in this species. Of course, most birds in the world are not conveniently color-banded, so in practice it is challenging to iden- tify the sex of a singing bird in a monomorphic spe- cies. Knowing that so many females do sing, however, makes us wonder how many female troubadours are going unrecognized. How often is female song present in monomorphic species but mistakenly recorded and labeled as male song? A Clarification: When is a Song a Song? Avian vocalizations are often classified as either “songs” or “calls.” It is generally agreed that, in most bird species, males and females produce similar types and numbers of calls, which usually have consistent structure and function across individuals. Examples include stereotyped alarm calls, begging calls, and contact calls. In contrast, songs are more variable and more difficult to define. Most definitions recognize that songs are typically longer and more complex (and perhaps more melodious) than calls, but if you were to ask 10 different ornithologists to define bird “song,” you would likely get 10 different answers (see tinyurl.com/Spector-Bird-Song). Some might say that songs are the learned vocalizations of songbirds within the group of oscine passerines. Others might say that songs are the broadcast vocalizations given by males when defending a territory or attracting a mate. This first definition, however, doesn’t recog- nize the fascinating complex vocalizations given by non-songbirds, and the second excludes females. For our purposes of studying female and male song, we generally define song as any long, com- plex vocalization given by birds, especially during resource defense or mate-attraction situations. This definition might sound overly vague, but it allows us to study singing behavior across all kinds of birds without biasing our thinking regarding what song “should” sound like. This definition also separates songs from calls in a way that encourages investiga- tion of the more varied and intriguingly complex vo- calizations of birds. As field biologists, both of us have personal ex-

40 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 Resources for Researching and Observing Female Song –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– INFORMATION AND COMMUNITY: • Website: femalebirdsong.org perience studying a wide variety of songs given by male • Xeno-Canto Facebook group: facebook.com/xenocanto and female birds, including some nontraditional songs. Lauryn spent five years studying California Towhees • Macaulay Library Facebook group: facebook.com/macaulaylibrary in Carmel Valley, California. In this species, males es- • Birds of North American Online: birdsna.org tablish a territory and begin to sing a mate-attraction –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– song that sounds a bit like the repeated tink tink tink of REPORTING OBSERVATIONS OF FEMALE SONG: a spoon quickly tapping a tin cup. Once that male finds • eBird: ebird.org a mate, he stops singing this song entirely and his most • iNaturalist: inaturalist.org frequently given vocalizations become a quick tink call • Observation.org: observation.org and a “squeal” sound. His mate never sings the tin cup –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– song, but gives both of the other two vocalizations, and ARCHIVING RECORDINGS OF FEMALE SONG: whenever one of them begins the squeal sound, the sec- • eBird/Macaulay Library media upload tool: ebird.org ond joins it to form a duet. This squeal duet might not • Xeno-Canto: xeno-canto.org be classified as a typical song by some observers, but –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– it offers an interesting example of a complex vocaliza- INCLUDE WITH YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RECORDINGS: tion that can provide insight into how partners commu- nicate. Lauryn’s research showed that pairs of towhees • Sex of the bird mate for life and use these squeal duets to coordinate • How you determined the sex of the bird behaviors that require teamwork, such as cooperatively • The phrase: “Contributed for the female bird song project: femalebirdsong.org” defending a territory or working together to feed chicks.

Suppose you were to observe this Wilson’s Warbler singing. Would you call it a male? In Wilson’s Warblers and other songbirds, many females exhibit “male-like” characters and vice versa. In particular, older females may resem- ble males. So don’t rely simply on plumage to sex birds; see if you can record other sex-relat- ed characters, like brooding. Somerset County, Maine; May 2008. Photo by © Jim Zipp.

PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 41 FEMALE BIRD SONG

Karan has also conducted in-depth ing the prevalence, form, and func- fieldwork on a species with atypical tion of complex female vocalizations. female song behavior, the Barred Owl. We believe that the best way to over- Some might say that Barred Owls do not come this barrier is to spread the word “sing” because they do not learn their among ornithologists and birders that calls. However, both female and male female birds do sing. Female birds sing Barred Owls produce a range of extrava- in every country on Earth, and they of- gant, sexually distinct sounds. The dif- ten do so in important and meaningful ference between female and male Barred ways. Some female birds also may sing Owl calls can be distinguished even by in anomalous and nonfunctional ways. the untrained ear: the male gives a trun- How can we distinguish these situa- cated hoo-ah, whereas the female boasts tions and measure the evolutionary his- an emphatic, higher-pitched hoo-ahhhhh tory and consequences of female song at the end of her calls. Moreover, female among all species? We have to start by and male Barred Owls each play their documenting it. own part in a boisterous combination of Excellent resources exist for the docu- hoots and cackles, which form a duet. mentation of female song in many spe- Unbeknownst to many a startled camp- cies, including sound libraries that have er, the cackling “gurgle” calls in this amassed recordings of nearly every duet are carried out by the male, while extant bird species—and a few extinct the female maintains the bass line with ones, as well. Researchers can use these a consistent series of low hoots. resources for various studies, including Studies like ours, along with the excel- looking for evidence of female song in lent research of our colleagues around the many groups. The best evidence comes world, have provided insight into female from recordings that are clearly labeled song form and function in many species. as female song, with documentation The diversity of female singing behaviors on how the singer was identified as a in a few groups points to the importance female. This type of documentation is of documenting female song more widely. critical because recordings don’t pre- Our next challenge is to tackle big ques- serve any physical evidence that can tions about how female song evolves and be used to verify the sex of the singer. varies across a taxonomic and geographic Recordists, therefore, have a heavy re- breadth of species. sponsibility to ensure that all recordings come with accurate and complete data. How to Participate: If you want to help document female Get Your Recorders Ready! song, there are a number of things you For all of us who study female song, can do. First, look closely at every sing- the major barrier to conducting broad- ing bird you see and make an informed scale research is a lack of data regard- Continued on page 44

How To Record and Upload –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– • Macaulay Library, tips for field recording: macaulaylibrary.org/field-recording • eBird, instructions for editing and uploading sounds: tinyurl.com/ebird-best-audio • Xeno-Canto, frequently asked questions: tinyurl.com/Xeno-Canto-FAQ • Xeno-Canto, tips for uploading valuable recordings: tinyurl.com/Xeno-Canto-Value • The ABA Blog, Birding Editor Ted Floyd on how to get started with recording: tinyurl.com/Record-Birdsong-1 • The ABA Blog, Birding Editor Ted Floyd on how to edit recordings: tinyurl.com/Record-Birdsong-2

42 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 43 FEMALE BIRD SONG

Continued from page 42 judgment about whether that bird is a male or a female. In When you find a singing female, report it! This can be some dimorphic species, this can be an easy call, but in oth- done in a number of ways. The most complete reports in- ers it may be difficult or impossible. For example, many war- clude recordings of the song, but observations on their own bler species are sexually dimorphic, but not diagnostically are valuable, as well. For observations (field notes, with or so. Among Wilson’s Warblers, a young male may be indis- without digital media), eBird is a great place to archive your tinguishable from a female in appearance, and older females data. In eBird, click “Add details” next to the species to add a often show “male-like” traits. Similarly, American Robin fe- description of your observation. Include sex, how you sexed males are typically paler than males, but that trend does not the singer, and “female bird song” somewhere in your notes. guarantee that the paler bird in any given pair is the female. Additional online databases for submitting observations in- In general, if you’re not sure of the sex of a singing bird, you clude iNaturalist and Observation.org. Whichever platform should consider it an unknown. If you have a strong hunch you choose, we recommend submitting to large, managed da- that it is one sex or the other, document how you determined tabases, so that your contribution is easily searched for and that. Often your determination may be based on appearance permanently archived. (color, pattern, size, or shape), but sometimes it may be based Recordings of female song can be collected with simple on behavior. If you saw a pair of birds working together to equipment and stored for free through multiple public servic- feed chicks in a nest and both were singing, you would prob- es. Sound files can be easily uploaded and archived through ably be justified in concluding that one of those two was a Xeno-Canto or through the eBird media upload tool, which female. Similarly, if you watched an incubating bird sing from stores all contributed files at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s the nest, and you were confident that only females of that spe- Macaulay Library. If you use the eBird/Macaulay Library plat- cies incubate, you could reasonably infer that you were hear- form, it will automatically link your eBird observations with ing female song. By documenting how you sexed a bird, you your media file, creating a record that includes both types validate your identification and you provide some confidence of information. Xeno-Canto and eBird/Macaulay offer user- in your observation to others who may use your data later. friendly uploading platforms, and their existing collections can

Do you never leave the house without your binoculars? Are birds always on your mind? How would you like to stretch and grow your birding skills under the guidance of some of the most respected birders in North America, have a lot of fun in the process and win some great prizes? If you are age 10 to 18 years old and enjoy any or all aspects of birding, then the ABA Young Birder of the Year Contest is for you! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

For more information, including how to enter, prizes, and deadlines, please visit: youngbirders.aba.org/young-birder-of-the-year-contest

To the right are just a few photo and illustration entries from our 2016 Young Birder of the Year winners Caroline Biel and Avery Scott

44 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 be searched or browsed. Both of these outlets ask users to tag their sound files with information including the sound type (call or song), species, and sex of the singer. We advise filling in the sex field for every recording, whether it be male, female, or unknown. Information on how you sexed the singer should be added to the notes or remarks. In gen- eral, the more information you can pro- vide, the better—because listeners and researchers rely on these metadata. Are you interested in knowing more about female bird song and the status of our efforts to increase awareness and doc- umentation of female bird song? Visit our website: femalebirdsong.org. We have a large citizen science project to encour- age documentation of female bird song, and we need all the help we can get! It is easy to participate: Simply include the phrase “Contributed for the female bird song project: femalebirdsong.org” in your notes when you submit a recording or observation of female song to eBird/Ma- caulay Library or Xeno-Canto. Adding this phrase provides important, search- able context, while allowing you and us to track your contributions to the project. What happens to all of these archived data? Rest assured, people will use the sound files that you upload! Both of us have written research papers that ana- lyzed sound files obtained from sound libraries to supplement our own field data. Researchers are very apprecia- tive of the donations to these resources because they make much of our work possible and all of our work better. We strongly believe that researchers can’t do comprehensive studies on the songs of female birds worldwide without the help of citizen scientists. Therefore, we hope that you will join us in this en- deavor by looking and listening closely, and by sharing what you learn. Per- haps, like Margaret Morse Nice, you will be the first to document a singing female of a common species in your own backyard.

PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 45 All images in this commentary were obtained by the author during a recent visit to the Salton Sea.

46 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 t’s Thanksgiving Day. Instead of preparing to argue about ITrump at the dinner table, I’m in my own political conundrum. I’m at the Salton Sea. No turkeys are to be found, unless you count the lines of pelicans and gulls scattered across the water. Noth- ing remotely reminiscent of pilgrims and feasts is in sight. I glance out at the Sea as the sun rises, wondering at the pink and purple swabs fading in and out of the glowing water; I am mesmerized by the gentle flow and ebb of birds flying from their roosts to their feeding grounds for the day. It is hard for me to fathom that all this is disappearing— and the Salton Sea is disappearing, as the sound of crunching salt under your feet is quick to remind you. Piles of dried tilapia, still held in their death throes by the salt, are omnipresent, vastly outnumbering the noisy birds and tourists. I pick one up, a memento mori, and run my fingers up and down the browned scales. Embarrassingly, I feel a distant pang of hunger, it being Thanksgiving, after all. It is also a gruesome reminder that nothing lasts forever—including the Sea.

commentary and photography by Elisa Yang • Mission Viejo, California • [email protected]

PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 47 THE FATE OF THE SALTON SEA

When you’re in the throes of the spell the Salton Sea casts the Sea doesn’t have time to fight. on you, it might be hard to understand why anyone would be And yet all this takes place under the radar: Public opinion overjoyed at its disappearance. Yet there are plenty who are. on the Sea is next to nonexistent. To get an idea of what people “Salton Sea Disappearing? Good Riddance,” reads one blog post think about the Salton Sea, I surveyed two groups of people: written by a self-declared wildlife lover. Others call for the op- (1) dedicated, knowledgeable bird lovers and (2) my peers in posite, pushing for universal conservation efforts to be directed a Southern California high school. The results were telling. toward the Sea and its shrinking coasts. Part of the controversy Group 2, comprising a number of straight-A students, claimed is explained by what many view as a sketchy history: For all a passing interest in nature and were self-declared stewards of its wondrous biodiversity, the Salton Sea is not all natural. Its the environment, but they knew little of the Sea. “Wait, does accidental creation was a blip by the California Development the Salton Sea even exist?” one student, at the top of his class, Company’s attempts to construct an irrigation canal—the Great inquired, while others knew nothing of the Sea, save the fact Diversion of 1905—which helps explains the raging disagree- that it is there. Birders were a bit more engaged. After read- ments on what exactly to do with the Sea. And raging they are: ing information provided in a survey about wildlife viewing Triumphant victories for the Sea, such as the recent granting of opportunities, birders replied that they cared more about the $14 million to Salton Sea conservation, alternate between dis- Salton Sea; nevertheless, most reported no knowledge of the mal blows in what is a constant and costly battle, a battle that Sea’s conservation issues. I noticed that many had heard of the

48 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 Sea on the TV news only in the context of recent earthquake threats. Those who live far from Imperial County, where the Sea is located, are somewhat justified in their ignorance. But the Sea is a fabled landmark on the American birding and outdoor recreation landscape, and coverage of its conservation seems to have had pitiful reach.

art of my Thanksgiving Day trip to the Salton Sea was to Preflect on the issue myself. All around the landscape—from the quiet northern shores, to Salt Creek and its renowned Yel- low-footed Gulls, to the south tip of the Sea and its Burrowing Owls and Mountain Plovers hiding in the agricultural fields and Bermudagrass—one thing was clear to me. If a single word summarizes the Salton Sea, it is not the word that survey par- ticipants listed more than any other: dead. The Sea is a magnet for birds that are hard to find elsewhere in California, such as

PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 49 THE FATE OF THE SALTON SEA

Neotropic Cormorant and Stilt Sandpiper; the Sea hosts winter- look forward to visiting it in the future, then, the dilemma re- ing populations of Eared Grebes and Sandhill Cranes, interior mains. Do we engage in the challenge of its preservation with breeding populations of such species as the California Brown vigor or do we simply enjoy the Sea for what it is, while it still Pelican, and millions of birds passing through Imperial County; exists? and you never know when a mega-rarity—a recent Black-tailed We are getting a little ahead of ourselves. I mean, what could Gull comes to mind—will pop up. But rattling off the names be so controversial about preserving a critical bird area? Sure, of those birds does not do justice to the place. You have to be the Salton Sea is no Disneyland for the average tourist, and its there, kayaking, or just standing at the edge of the Sea. You desert-meets-Central-Valley persona may not appeal to all, but have to see it to believe it. You have to watch 5,000 Ring-billed no other birding hotspot in the ABA Area offers the amazing Gulls, 500 Long-billed Curlews, and 50 Cattle Egrets lift off an combination of austere beauty and extreme avian diversity— agricultural field; 700 Sandhill Cranes and 1,000 Snow Geese well below sea level, to boot. Conservationists share a general fly over with a great ruckus; and endless lines of pelicans flying consensus on the importance of the Salton Sea at the present from their roosts to their feeding grounds. See these things and time for pelicans, terns, and others. But that is a recent devel- you will know that the Sea is unmistakably alive. But you can’t opment. Surely the birds that flourish today at the Sea weren’t take it to the next level: You can’t honestly say that the Salton simply nonexistent a century ago, before its inadvertent birth. Sea is alive and well. Underneath the seeming paradise of the We have to ask the question: Was the creation of the Salton Sea Sea lurks a sinister force. Avian botulism, promoted by algae a good thing? and tilapia corpses, is quick to kill. In 1996, 15,000 birds died The answer is not simple. For starters, the creation of the from botulism, including 1,900 California Brown Pelicans. As Salton Sea coincided with the elimination of over half of Califor- the unstoppable tilapia die-off continues and bacteria fester in nia’s wetlands, which left many bird populations with nowhere the fish corpses, colonies are pushed closer and closer to the to go. Another conservation angle to consider is the long-term verge of outbreak. and ongoing ecological deterioration of the Colorado River del- For bird lovers who enjoy the Salton Sea, and for those who ta. Before the Salton Sea, the delta was a conservation hotspot supporting bird populations far exceeding the Sea today. When the delta dried up, many of the birds that relied on it for food, breeding, wintering, and migration made the switch to the Sea as their new home. One view is that restoration of the Colorado River delta is the real issue at hand, and that trying to save the

50 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 Sea would divert resources—actual water, as well as funding and conservation implementation—that should go to the delta instead. No matter what, restoration of the river delta would take time, and time is something the birds of the Salton Sea do not have. When you visit the Sea, and walk its receded shore- lines and orange pools littered with dead fish, you wonder why the birds are still here; you feel a tug, a sense of urgency. The time to make a decision is running short.

esticide-laden agricultural water flows into the Salton Sea at Pan alarming rate, threatening the protected wetlands at the south end of the Sea and leaving 13,500 train loads worth of salt behind each year. Yet in a mocking catch-22, this runoff is what keeps the Salton Sea’s water level stable now, given that there are no diversions at the present time from the Colorado River. The future of the Sea has been rewritten: In accordance with a new 2017 measure, inflows are now going to San Di- ego—for luxuries like jacuzzis and swimming pools, among other things—instead of their current destination to the Sea. An additional complication is paradoxical: Water conservation and technological improvements have reduced inflow rates Map by © Kei Sochi. into the Sea. Even those who agree that the drying up of the Sea is a mistake to be avoided at all costs disagree on how to accomplish that goal. Wildlife lovers aren’t the only ones concerned about the fu- ture of the Sea. Health officials and human residents of Imperial County, too, are alarmed. At the bottom of the seabed lies a layer of muck laced with toxins such as DDT and PCP, accumu-

PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 51 THE FATE OF THE SALTON SEA

lated from decades of contaminated agricultural inflows. The It is not only unnecessary to import large amounts of Colorado drying water threatens to release a torrent of toxic dust. This River water to the Sea, but it is in fact impossible following a wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen what can happen when 2003 contract between California and other U.S. states called dust mixes with chemicals from agricultural inflows. In 2014, the Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA) cutting down the East Basin of the Aral Sea of Central Asia dried up after a wet on the amount of Colorado River water allocated to California. cycle of at least 600 years. Centuries’ worth of polluted soil blew There is also the view that any Colorado River water shuttled to onto the surrounding fields, contaminating crops and sickening the Sea would be far more useful going to the Colorado River residents. To avoid repeating that scenario at the Salton Sea, delta, which, if restored to its former condition, would support scientists are racing to implement bioremediation programs to more wildlife than the Sea. Anyhow, with the Colorado River remove all the toxins from the muck at the sea bottom. The no longer an option, a long-term solution for the Sea seems future looks bleak: At the current rate the Sea disappearing, re- out of reach for now. But perhaps there is hope to be found in mediation may not be able to remove enough in time. a surprising place: the QSA itself. The QSA isn’t just a restric- Doing something is better than doing nothing. The conser- tion on Colorado River water; it also promotes water allocation vation of the Salton Sea is not impossible. Preserving the Sea to the Sea through a local agricultural initiative, the Imperial would not require massive importations of Colorado River Irrigation District (IID). Further water projects by the IID and water or drastic farming revolutions. Easy, low-cost measures other bodies are probably the last hope for the Sea. The Sea is can be taken to help preserve the dwindling waters. It starts at parched, and it will take every drop of water it can get, agricul- home: The locally organized Red Hill Bay Restoration Project tural or otherwise, if it is to survive. works to blend dilute Alamo River water with salty Salton Sea The future of the Salton Sea is unknown. As conservation water to create a more habitable environment. Other local ef- efforts stall, the Salton Sea creeps along in its slow death. From forts are working to restore wasting wetland habitat for birds the moment of its birth, the Sea was at once both an anomaly and fish. These programs offer both avian and human denizens and the continuation of a long series of sporadic flooding of the of the Salton Sea basin at least temporary relief from rising sa- Salton Basin. The larger biological significance of the Salton Sea linity levels. is unclear; its very existence and place in the world are complex Long-term solutions are not as simple. The Colorado River and problematic. The fight to save the Sea is a tangled web that seems like an obvious starting point. Yet anyone who has stud- ied the complex politics of Colorado River water usage realizes that there’s more going on here than the science of hydrology.

52 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 might be broken at any minute, an unstable balance between Michael Patten, Guy McCaskie, and Philip Unitt. 2003. Birds of the Salton agriculture, ecosystem, urban development, public opinion, Sea. University of California Press, Berkeley. and recreation. Go there this year. See the birds, the scenery, W. David Shuford and Kathy C. Molina, eds. 2004. Ecology and Conserva- the strange beauty. Celebrate the birds and cherish the memory. tion of Birds of the Salton Sink: An Endangered Ecosystem. Studies in You may well be witnessing the last decade of the Salton Sea. Avian Biology, no. 27.

Further Reading As both works are more than a decade out of date, the inter- To gain an initial appreciation of and awareness for the chal- ested reader is urged to consult eBird and Southern California lenges facing the birds of the Salton Sea, two monographs are regional reports in North American Birds for current and recent especially recommended: bird records from the Salton Sea.

PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 53 54 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 55 PHOTO SALON

hroughout my thirty-year photography career, my goal has been to stand out from the crowd by portraying birds in a T different way from the typical tack-sharp identification-style portraits so commonplace now. I’ve done that mostly by concentrating on capturing behavior, but sometimes by showing the bird in its habi- tat going about its life, occasionally by making purely abstract bird im- ages. I began wildlife photography in Kenya in the 1980s, while I was part of a research team studying social behavior in the White-fronted Bee-eater. We would spend hours a day staring through spotting scopes and recording every behavioral interaction we observed. That really honed my powers of concentration and determination, of prime im- portance in my photographic career. I’m still at it, still drawn toward opportunities to photograph birds doing things. For this Photo Salon, I have chosen 10 images that vary widely in composition and taxonomy: copulating avocets, a berry-eat- ing waxwing, Wilson’s Phalaropes staging at Mono Lake, and more. In all of these photos, I strive to bring to life the cool things birds do, those snippets of avian lives that are easily overlooked by us humans with our fast-paced lifestyles. I’d like to think that these images capture something of each bird’s spirit. And my hope is to inspire viewers to want to explore the deeper story.

Birding: Is there a kind of bird you action hummingbird photography is particularly like to photograph? Why? out. I do like to shoot hummers in Marie Read: My favorite subjects are natural light if feasible. birds with interesting behaviors or elaborate social systems. If they are Birding: Give us the Cliffs Notes ver- colorful and attractive, too, so much sion of how photographing birds can the better. Put that together and you lead one to become a better birder. come up with Acorn Woodpecker! MR: Taking the time needed to get I never tire of photographing these good photos keeps you out in the highly social birds at their granary field, often in one location, longer than trees, the stores of acorns they defend if you were identifying birds and mov- communally. ing on. You’ll discover how birds’ ac- tivities play out over time and notice Birding: Is there a kind of bird that is things about a bird—whether behavior especially challenging for you? or appearance—that you may not have MR: I am very patient and persistent, known about. That leads to a richer but anything that involves arrang- birding experience. I think birding and ing multiple flashes, artificial back- photography complement each oth- grounds, and flowers would drive me er: Time spent simply observing will crazy, so that means high-speed, stop- make you a better photographer, too.

56 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 Over the years I’ve had love affairs with certain species or taxonomic groups, delving in to photograph each in depth: Central American manakins, Bobolinks, Acorn Woodpeckers, Black Terns, and the list goes on. 2016 was the Year of the Grebe! At a Montana lake I no- ticed Eared Grebe families habitually gathered close to shore to forage in floating algae for damselfly ymphs.n Wearing camouflage, I lay on the shore each morning, hoping they’d approach. Ground-level shooting is hard on one’s body, but my reward was intimate, eye- level views. Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge, Montana; June 2017. Photo by © Marie Read.

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Birding: Can you share with us “Marie’s Top 5 Tips for Being a 3. Lighting can make or break an image. On a sunny day, Better Bird Photographer”? avoid harsh shadows and burned-out highlights by shooting MR: 1. Before you click the shutter, look past the bird at the at the ends of the day, the two hours or so after sunrise and background and surroundings. Avoid distractions, such as before sunset. Don’t neglect bright and overcast days. Light sticks behind the bird’s head, by changing your perspective, cloud cover helps plumage color and details really pop. moving side to side, or raising or lowering your tripod slightly. 4. Instead of pursuing birds in vain, take advantage of 2. Take your time and be patient. Get some record shots their predictable habits. Watch for an individual’s activ- first, but then be prepared to wait until your subject moves ity patterns, such as a favorite singing perch, feeding spot, into better light or strikes an interesting pose. resting area, or somewhere it gathers nest material, and

I photographed this preening male Wood Duck floating in water colored by the re- flections of brilliant fall foliage. The ripples caused by the bird’s movements are picking up the reflected blue sky. North Chagrin Reservation, near Cleveland, Ohio; October 2009. Photo by © Marie Read.

58 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 then wait quietly nearby. land on a perch I’d set up in a pond instead of the Wood Duck 5. Practice! Get to know your camera and lens. Learn what box it preferred. First I covered the box top with prickly this- all those buttons and menus do, so you can quickly change tles. Didn’t work—the kingfisher just sat on them. Then I put settings when needed. Turn the camera off “Program” mode, the wobbly lid of a wok on it. Nope—the bird landed on the and take control of the technology. rim, the wok fell off, and then the wok floated away into the middle of the pond. After days of frustration, the kingfisher Birding: Tell us the funniest bird photography situation you’ve landed on top of my blind! From inside, I tickled its feet, and ever been in. it jumped up and finally landed on my perch, and I got four MR: Many years ago, I tried to persuade a Belted Kingfisher to shots before it flew away for good!

Being able to aanticipatenticipate wwhat’shat’s gogoinging to occoccurur may be a bbirdird phophottograpographer’sher’s greatest asset. BBirdsirds often give cues that ssignalignal iimpendingmpending actaction.ion. When a female American Avocet assumed a copulation solicitation pose,pose, I quickly focfocusedused oonn her with tthehe aaimim ooff capturing the pair’spair’s ppost-copulatoryost-copulatory ddisplay.isplay. As matmatinging endended,ed, I fired off a burst of shotso t tocapture capture the the photogenic photogenic ritual. The male slides off the female, leaving one wing draped overover her babackck and crossicrossingng hhisis bbillill wiwithth hers, remaining inin this popositionsition as ttheyhey walwalkk a few sstepsteps togettogetherher befobeforere sepaseparating.rating. Bear RiveRiverr MigraMigratorytory BiBirdrd Refuge, Utah; May 2017. Photo by © Marie Read.

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My favorite Cedar Waxwing image shows the bird tossing back a shriveled crabapple in late winter. Knowing the waxwing was likely to toss the fruit in the air to swallow it, I selected a shut- ter speed of 1/1,250 sec. to capture it in midair. What the viewer misses is a sense of the bone-chilling cold with biting wind and intermittent snow squalls I endured that February day. I get some of my best images in the worst weather! Ithaca, New York; February 2014. Photo by © Marie Read.

60 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 Pinyon Jays eluded me for a long time, yet I challenged myself to photograph these elusive nomads for a book project. Late summer I vainly tried following post-breeding flocks, returning in autumn when flocks roam widely in search of piñon pine nuts. One day I lucked upon the mother lode of ripe piñon cones, and hung out nearby for several days in hopes the jays would arrive. Several times they did, and I captured one flying off to cache the nuts packed into its throat and bill. They can carry as many as 40 at once! Mono Lake basin, California; October 2011. Photo by © Marie Read.

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62 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 In certain situations, for instance when photo- graphing birds in flight, I ditch my heavy tripod- mounted gear and switch to a hand-held system, substituting a 100–400mm lens for the big 500mm. Hand-holding gear gives me more mobility so I can adapt quickly to a develop- ing situation. I once found myself in the midst of a territorial battle between two Limpkins in Florida. Apparently oblivious to me, they chased each other around, sometimes scuffling in midair, while I constantly moved position to keep them framed and in focus. I’m sure I would have missed many shots if I’d been constrained by a tripod. Ritch Grissom Me- morial Wetlands (a.k.a. Viera Wetlands), Brevard County, Florida; March 2009. Photo by © Marie Read.

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64 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 I’m always striving to be different, to portray birds in a different way than the norm, to help my images stand out from the crowd. Recently I’ve been exploring backlighting. Instead of shooting with the sun behind me, I point the lens toward the sun to show the light shining through birds’ wings or edging the bird with silver. It works especially well with white or light-colored birds like this Roseate Spoonbill. Exposure in such instances is trickier than for regular front lighting, but the results are much more artistic. Tampa Bay, Florida; March 2012. Photo by © Marie Read.

A Horned Puffin hesitates briefly with outstretched wings as it lands on a rock facing its mate. I don’t always favor anthropo- morphism, but people love this shot because it seems like the two birds are kissing! One important skill for bird photographers is to always be ready to capture the unexpected: camera turned on, exposure settings correct, paying attention to the surround- ings, and so on. Having quick reflexes helps, too. St. Paul Island, Pribilof Islands, Alaska; July 2015. Photo by © Marie Read.

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I love close-ups, but I also like to show birds in the landscape, creating images with a sense of place. Wilson’s Phalaropes and other shorebirds use California’s Mono Lake as a staging area during their southbound migration, gathering in the tens of thousands from late summer into September. I spent several springs and summers here photographing the birds of the region for my book Sierra Wings: Birds of the Mono Lake Basin, published 2014. Mono Lake, California; July 2013. Photo by © Marie Read.

66 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 67 TOOLS OF THE TRADE How We Bird A roundtable discussion with five generations of birders

irding is one of those passions that can be enjoyed from ages 8 to

80 and beyond. But how do our birding tools differ across gener-

Diana Doyle ations? An iGen birder has never known life before smartphones,

Green Cove Springs, Florida whereas a Baby Boomer birder likely grew up with the Golden [email protected] BGuide. And how do our birding tools evolve over the inevitable life passages?

EDITOR’S NOTE: After 34 issues, this In this article, we bring together 15 birders across the generations to chat about is Diana Doyle’s last contribution as how they use smartphones, their views on paper field guides, the role of digital “Tools of the Trade” Department Ed- cameras, what optics they now carry, and tips for other birders their age. itor. She’s planning some extended Representing the Centennials, also known as iGen or Gen Z, we welcome teen- travel, including “eBirding the Ap- agers Elisa Yang and Patrick Maurice. For the large Millennial generation, the palachian Trail,” and hopes to write 20- and 30-somethings also known as Gen Y, we’ll hear from Frank Izaguirre, Erik Bruhnke, Nick Block, Mariel Abreu, and Angel Abreu. Corey Finger and a birding-oriented natural history Jennie Duberstein represent Generation X, now in their 40s. Our Baby Boomer book based on her birders are Mary Gustafson, Laura Erickson, and Debi Shearwater. And for our sailing years. elder statespeople, Septuagenarian+, we’re honored to hear from Bob Ake, Wayne Petersen, and Mary Ann Kolb. So, do elder birders rely on smartphones as much as iGens? What are the gen- erational opinions on paper field guides? Must every “serious birder” carry a DSLR camera? Do today’s young birders own scopes? What sort of nontraditional equip- ment matters most to each age group? Read on to glean ideas about tools that may improve the birding experience at your current stage in life, or see into your future with suggested equipment adaptations and investments.

68 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 out to other birders. I also use bird apps to teach others about birds. Nick Block, 36: I just got a smartphone, but I rarely use it in the field. Most of my checklists are entered after returning. I do use it for mapping a new site or checking listserv reports. Mariel Abreu, 37: I use my smartphone in the field daily, to record video, to navigate, to record bird vocalizations, and to “ enter data into eBird. And my smartphone has become the fastest way to receive rare bird information. We seek time surrounded Angel Abreu, 37: My smartphone has almost replaced my by birds, their behaviors, camera. I couple my phone to a scope via a PhoneSkope™ adapter to record video or get a quick photo. And I use a notes their sounds, their colors. app to jot down observations. Corey Finger, 40: I also always have my iPhone with me and ” use it constantly. The top two field uses are eBirding and com- munication via text, email, and voice. Jennie Duberstein, 43: Yes, I use my smartphone in the Mariel and Angel Abreu, 37, are professional guides field—to keep an eBird checklist, for the BirdsEye app to help and naturalists with their company, Nature is Awesome me decide where to go birding, and, less often, as a field guide Tours. They especially enjoy showing urban birds to bird- (my favorite is the Sibley app). I also digiscope with my Phone- Skope™ adapter, not only for photos, but also to gather people ers from around the world in dynamic South Florida. The around for a scope view without each taking turns individually. Abreus live in Miami, Florida. Mary Gustafson, 56: I’m never without one, if not two, smart- phones in the field. In addition to the other comments, I use the phone to surf the web for pictures of plumages not in pa- Smartphones per field guides, to show someone in the field. Birding: In the style of a roundtable discussion, from young- Laura Erickson, 65: My husband gave me a smartphone four est to oldest, ages 16 to 81, we’ll discuss the issues. We’ll hear years ago and I came to depend on it during my 2013 Big Year: from everybody, although not necessarily on each topic. It’s Google Maps to find my way and BirdLog (now eBird Mobile) okay to take a pass. And don’t hog the microphone! Okay, we’ll to list my birds in the field. But I almost never use the phone’s start with smartphones. Do you regularly use a smartphone in camera or recording because I usually have a “real” camera and the field? If so, how? Bob Ake, 78, is Emeri- Elisa Yang, 16: Kids, including young bird- tus Professor of Chem- ers, “spend too much time on their phones.” It must irk some people, but all the older gen- istry at Old Dominion “ erations do it, too. University. He enjoys After Big Year Patrick Maurice, 18: Most young birders carry conducting bird sur- smartphones to stay connected through social birding, I now veys and leading bird media. Many of us don’t have other young bird- enjoy discerning er friends nearby, but through our phones we walks at local wildlife can chat with others thousands of miles away. refuges, visiting new patterns Frank Izaguirre, 30: I’m late to this game, places, and discerning from bird but I have begun regularly using a smart- patterns from bird ob- phone in the field, mostly for Google Maps observations. and its camera. servations. Ake lives in Erik Bruhnke, 31: Being able to digiscope Norfolk, Virginia. images and videos is a great venue to reach ”

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recording setup with me. I also now use an app called Track My Tour to log my route and stops. Debi Shearwater, 65: I live in a rural county with no cell ser- vice, so I’m still using a 3G flip phone, which I don’t even carry with me. Wayne Petersen, 72: I use a smartphone in the field mainly for taking pictures other than birds, and for communicating by text or telephone. Honestly, I never use birding apps and “ seldom use it for digiscoping. After 20 years of annual Bob Ake, 78: I am never far from my cell phone. I use the Big Days, I’ve now Sibley app to assist beginners and I receive rare bird alerts by text. I use eBird Mobile constantly—virtually all my checklists expanded to dragonflies are recorded in the field. and butterflies. Mary Ann Kolb, 81: My daughter birds with me often, using her smartphone as a field guide. I still don’t have one! ” Paper Field Guides Birding: Do you use paper field guides and in what context? Nick Block, 36, is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Has your use of paper field guides changed over your life? Stonehill College and the Secretary of the ABA’s Record- Should publishers of paper guides be concerned? ing Standards and Ethics Committee. He is a fan of Big Elisa: I think everyone starts out with a paper field guide. Days and building his campus list. Block lives in Easton, Even with the advent of online guides and bird-recognizing Massachusetts. software, nothing will be superior to a paper field guide for beginners. But nowadays everything is published online: The internet is a bird guide. Frank: I love paper field guides. I must own at least a hun- Patrick: I still like to use paper field guides, either Sibley or dred. But I also typically leave them in the car. Mostly I just Kaufman, but I generally leave it in the car. When I’m home I like reading them and enjoying the artwork. go through my field guides. Erik: I use paper field guides to study up on birds before tours, as well as teaching others about birds while leading tours. Nothing can replace flipping through a field Erik Bruhnke, 31, guide. The view is easier on your eyes and there is a hails from Wiscon- physical connection with turning the pages. “ Nick: Teaching sin and leads birding Paper field guides are still the only field guides tours for Naturally Avi- I really use. Like the others, I now use them as a refer- ornithology ence when I get back to the car or home. The exception an and Victor Emanuel is in a foreign country. Then I carry one at all times. courses got Nature Tours. He loves Mariel: I will admit to using paper guides a bit less me hooked on hawkwatching, snow, than in the past, but I still feel they are essential and cooking, and teaching were instrumental in helping me learn. sharing the world Angel: I agree with Nick. Purchasing a paper field others about birds. of birds with guide for a foreign destination is a must. I’ve also Bird-Friendly© cof- become a fan of the new approach, such as Birding by others. fee makes him happy. Impression, The Shorebird Guide, The Warbler Guide, Bruhnke lives in Min- and Hawks in Flight. Corey: I still use paper field guides all the time to nesota and Texas. ” supplement whatever I’ve downloaded on my phone. Jennie: I always have a paper field guide with me

70 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 when I’m leading a field trip, or teaching a field course or leading a Jennie Duberstein, 43, young birder camp. The Kaufman is a bird biologist and guide is my favorite for beginners. “ conservation social sci- Apps are great, but they can be very I’m deeply difficult to show, especially if your entist working to bridge group is large. the gap between people committed to Mary: I still use paper field guides and bird conservation. young birders almost exclusively. I use them to You can find her every figure out where birders are get- and the next summer leading young ting side-tracked between the field generation marks they saw in the field and what birder camps in Colo- they enter in eBird. rado and elsewhere. Du- of birders. Laura: I still use paper field guides berstein lives in Tucson, when in unfamiliar places outside of Arizona. ” North America, but I virtually never use a paper field guide in the field anymore. Now the only time I use one is to tease out the iden- eral hundred titles. tification of a puzzling photograph I’ve received by email. Bob: My use of paper field guides has declined to the point Debi: I still use paper field guides for all of my travels. Al- that I almost never use them in the U.S. However, I do still use though next year, when I bird the Trans-Siberian Railway, be- them when I travel abroad. cause of weight I’ll carry a small iPad loaded with the field Mary Ann: My very first field guide was Peterson’s second edi- guide. And I agree with Angel about specialized guides—cur- tion, which I still have. Like the others, I still keep a field guide rently in my car: two guides to sparrows, one to raptors, and in my car, mostly to confirm a sighting. one to shorebirds. I think it might be a long time, if ever, until I give up my paper field guides. Digital Cameras Wayne: Yes, I have always used paper field guides and to Birding: Do you regularly use a digital camera in the field? If this day generally still find them more favorable than digital you use a camera, how does it fit with birding at your age and field guides. Like Frank, I have a collection, now over sev- experience?

Elisa: There is a high demand for photos of rarities Laura Erickson, 65, produces the radio program/podcast “For the unless you’re well known. My young birder friends Birds,” is author of 11 bird books, and writes for BirdWatching maga- posted a rare Brown Creeper on a listserv, with no zine. She enjoys watching, photographing, and making sound re- photos, and no one believed them. Shucks. Your cam- cordings of the birds she sees. Erickson lives in Duluth, Minnesota. era only needs to be good enough to document rare birds. Patrick: I try to always carry two cameras into the field, my Nikon D7100 and my iPhone 6s. I think car- rying a camera helps me become a better birder be- “ cause I focus on the fine plumage details. Identifying Frank: I often bring a digital camera with a 100– 400mm lens into the field for the narrative element. birds is like I use my photos to tell stories to birders and to non- knowing the birders. Erik: For me, in-the-moment study of birds, with bin- names of oculars or scope, is the most vital aspect, rather than my students: pictures to savor later. But I do regularly use a Canon critical, yet not 7D Mark ii and Canon 100–400mm lens. I also use the final point.

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my photographed images to sketch birds. Mariel: We tend to mainly use a smartphone to capture can- did nature moments, and to digiscope or digi-bin videos. My favorite thing about birding is observing a bird’s behavior. When I’m able to capture this on video, I learn more by re- viewing the footage. Corey: I used to always carry my digital SLR and a digiscoping adaptor to provide grist for my blog mill. But lately I’ve been leaving my SLR behind more often. When I’m behind the lens, I see less of what is around me, and having my seven-year-old son with me means I’m spending time helping him see. “ Jennie: I regularly use my Leica V-Lux (Typ 114) digital cam- I started blogging era in the field, but mostly to take pictures of people and landscapes for social media and blogging. nearly simultaneously Laura: After I bought my first DSLR and long lens, I be- with birding. came addicted to photographing birds. But my Canon 80D and 100–400mm lens are a bit heavier each year. I’ll be be- reft when I have to give it up for a smaller extended zoom ” model. Debi: It was a birder on one of my pelagic trips who convinced Corey Finger, 40, is a union organizer, co-owner of 10,000 me to buy my first digital camera. I’ve never looked back. It Birds, and author of the ABA Field Guide to Birds of New has always been important for me to have images for my pre- sentations and for documenting significant records of seabirds York. He loves digiscoping, bird blogging, and watching in North America. birds from his balcony. Finger lives in Queens, New York. Wayne: I regularly use a Canon camera with a 100–400mm lens, although in recent years not as much. There are now so many fine photos on the web, I no longer feel the need to try to I should use it more. My increasing age has brought with it photograph everything myself. But I’m thinking about switch- more patience in birding and that change carries over to pho- ing to something smaller, like the Canon SX50. tography. Bob: I regularly carry a DSLR camera with a 500mm lens, but Mary Ann: I do not use a camera in the field. Optics Mary Gustafson, 56, Birding: Besides a camera, what is a biologist and bird optics equipment do you use guide. She enjoys pe- now and why? lagic birding when Elisa: I’m fortunate to have the “ she’s not guiding, I’m a biologist whole package of binoculars and birding, or promoting scope. Good scopes are godly— who is interested birding in the Lower every young birder wants to car- ry a scope! in everything Rio Grande Valley. Patrick: I use the 10x50 Eagle related She is a member of Optics Ranger binocular, hand- to birds. the ABA Checklist me-down from my mother. Committee. Gustafson Once I became more interest- ed in birding, we got a Kowa lives in Mission, Texas. ” TSN-773 scope, very helpful for seawatching, shorebirding,

72 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 Frank Izaguirre, 30, “ is a doctoral student Being a Millennial in English literature I think in #hashtags, at West Virginia Uni- but I can never get versity. He loves read- ing any bird book he is permanently a half- enough bird-based can find, from explo- inch lower than my left because I always storytelling in ration narratives of carry my scope over any form. early naturalists to that one. Big Year adventure Jennie: I use Leica Ul- stories. Izaguirre lives travid HD-Plus 8x42 ” binoculars and the Lei- in Morgantown, West ca APO-Televid 65mm Virginia. scope with a Manfrot- to 190Go carbon fiber tripod. My gear has and finding rarities. definitely evolved as I’ve been able to afford better optics. Frank: I try to ID an increasingly large percentage of birds Mary: Like Corey, I use all Swarovski: EL bins, ATS scope, and by unassisted eyesight or by recognizing their vocalizations, their carbon fiber tripod. I like that the scope has a built-in although I do carry 10x50s. I like the challenge of using only foot so there’s no base plate to tighten. my eyes and ears. I prefer to not hunker down with a scope Laura: I love 10x, but as my cataracts have worsened, I need because my favorite kind of birding is to be in motion—physi- more light, and my hands are not as steady, especially when cally, intellectually, emotionally—exploring an interesting I’m shivering here in northern Minnesota. My new Zeiss Vic- landscape with people whose company I enjoy. tory SF 10x42s are ideal—the ergonomics press them against Erik: I use 8.5x45 Vanguard Endeavor binoculars and a my eyeglasses so I can hold them very steady, and they provide Leica APO-Televid 65mm scope, opting for the heavy Man- lots of light. I used to bring my spotting scope, but now my frotto 055 tripod. Stability is important when guiding and higher priority is the camera. hawkwatching. Debi: I’ve always used 10x binoculars, now the Zeiss Victory Nick: I’ve used the same binoculars (Bausch & Lomb Elite SF 10x42. For backup I bring a pair of Swarovski 8x32 EL 8x42) and scope (Leica APO-Televid) for over 15 years. I still and small Kowa 8x32. I suffered repetitive strain injuries as think the B&L Elites are one of the best all-around bins out a 40-year-old and the new lighter equipment has been a god- there for my other interest in entomology. Not too many high- send. I use two spotting scopes: a larger Swarovski on a heavy end binoculars can focus on my feet. tripod and a smaller lightweight Kowa on a carbon tripod for Mariel: Leica Ultravid HD 8x42 binoculars, Leica APO-Televid traveling. Yes, I would say that I have too much equipment! 65mm scope, and Manfrotto carbon fiber tripod. I hadn’t realized how much eye Mary Ann Kolb, strain I was enduring with 81, began birding “ lower-grade optics. Today I over 50 years ago can bird over 12 hours with- A weekly column about out eye strain or headaches. as a young mother. backyard birding started Angel: The best advice I can It has opened up my decades-long give a birder of my genera- a new world that tion is to look for used qual- continues to bring birding life. ity optics if you can’t afford new. Older models of high- her new friends quality optics are often leaps and take her to new ” and bounds better than new places. Kolb lives lower-quality optics. in Barnwell, South Corey: I use the latest Swarovski across the board. Carolina. I joke that my right shoulder

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Wayne: I have used Swarovski 8.5x42 binoculars, Zeiss 8x42 binoculars, and a Swarovski 80mm scope for many years. Like Jennie, through the years the quality of my optics has been consistently upgraded. Bob: I use Zeiss Conquest HD 10x42 binoculars. I’m very rough on binoculars, so spending more would be a waste of money. I have two scopes, a Leica Televid 77mm and a Lei- ca Televid 65mm, the first with a straight eyepiece, the other angled. I use the bigger scope with a heavy Manfrotto tripod for hawkwatching or seawatching, or with a window mount “ for car surveys. The smaller scope with a carbon fiber tripod is Sharing what I have used primarily for international travel. learned along the way has been particularly ”satisfying to me. Wayne Petersen, 72, is Director of Mass Audubon’s Important Bird Area (IBA) program, coauthor of Birds of Massachusetts, New England regional editor for North American Birds, and recipient of the ABA’s 2005 Ludlow Griscom Award. Petersen lives in Hanson, Massachusetts.

Mary Ann: Someone told me that the older you are, the better your binoculars need to be since our eyes are not as good. So several years ago I invested in the best I could afford. I now have two pairs of binoculars, one of which has image stabiliz- ing since I have a tremor in my hands. I“ became interested in Essential Extras Birding: Are there any tools that aren’t typically thought of as nature at a very young birding-specific equipment, but are crucial to birding at your age because of my mother. age? From the Gas Buddy app to…?

Elisa: A good wifi connection! Not all plans can support those ” gigabyte field guide downloads. Patrick: I’d say Google Maps. I can click from an eBird check- Patrick Maurice, 18, is a high school student. Maurice list to turn-by-turn directions. I also use the satellite feature to is an active member of the Georgia Ornithological Soci- search for interesting ecosystems or trails. Frank: For tangible, I’d say laptop. For every hour in the field, ety and long-time participant in Georgia’s Youth Birding how many hours do birders of my generation spend on their Competition. He enjoys bird photography and learning laptop? I don’t think this is a bad thing—I know I’ve absorbed about bird behavior. Maurice lives in Atlanta, Georgia. an incredible amount of knowledge on bird distribution and physical structure that way. For intangible, storytelling. I can’t

74 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 Mary: I don’t leave for a day in the field without a pocket-sized power stick for my iPhone. It’s amazing how quickly the bat- tery drains. Laura: I’m with Jennie. Three skin cancers in the past two years have made me an advocate for sun protection. I’d also add my hearing aids and Lang Elliott’s SongFinder device. And, along Frank’s theme of non-tangible tools, I’d add an ex- “ ercise regimen outside of birding, to keep up in difficult terrain Connie Hagar of Rockport, and to live longer. Debi: I carry a 10-ounce can of bear-deterrent pepper spray in Texas, inspired me to my car cup holder, with a holster when I’m hiking. No bears find a place and record here—it’s for self-defense. For travel: a Big Pockets travel vest, Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling® Headphones, com- its bird life. pression socks for long flights, and luggage with wheels. Bob: I’d add proper dress and footwear. I feel the cold more ” now, but if I’m properly dressed I can go all day comfortably. And I’m not as sure-footed as I used to be, so a good pair of hiking boots with Vibram® soles. Debi Shearwater, 65, is founder/owner of Shearwater Mary Ann: For me, a good strong walking stick! And I’d like to add my daughter—or any younger companion. There was Journeys, a tour company that specializes in pelagic trips a time in my life when I took my daughter birding, bought off the California coast. She also leads expedition voyag- her equipment, and taught her about birds and our place in es to remote places such as Antarctica and the Russian nature. Now, as I approach my 82nd birthday, she has become Far East. Shearwater lives in Hollister, California. my essential birding equipment.

hat a perfect close to the intergenerational connections think of anything that helps connect the community, protect Wbetween birders: mentorship to mobility. Young birders, birds, or spread the hobby more than good birding stories. often geographically isolated from other young birders, ben- Angel: A mentor, hands down. Mentors also foster an appre- efit from the knowledge and community of local elders. And ciation for stewardship and conservation of the lands you bird eventually, perhaps inevitably, the most valuable birding asset together. becomes a younger companion. Pay-it-forward birding across Corey: Social media in general, and Facebook in particular, are the generations—bringing along a young birder, or escorting key to birders of my age. We connect, we learn identification an older birder. Priceless throughout the generations. points, we get travel tips, and we feel part of a larger community. Elisa Yang, 16, is an aspiring Jennie: Sunscreen, hat, ornithologist and naturalist. “ and Hydro Flask® water She enjoys writing, draw- I’m the quintessential bottle! As I’ve gotten old- ing, and photographing er, protecting myself from nerdy nature kid. the sun and good hydra- for her blog (forthebirders. tion have become more weebly.com), and birding important. After a hot with other young birders in ” triple-digit hike in search her club, California Young of a Rufous-capped War- bler, I can open my Hydro Birders. Yang lives in Mis- Flask® and still have ice sion Viejo, California. cubes.

PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 75 FEATURED PHOTO

Field ID of Rusty Blackbirds in Flight Thoughts on what to do when confronted with an entirely black bird flying past Tom Johnson • Cape May, New Jersey • [email protected]

usty Blackbirds are widespread but be found nearly anywhere in the east- field. I’ve found it puzzling that the in- Rmysterious songbirds of the U.S. ern part of North America as well as in flight identification of blackbirds has and Canada, breeding across the a vagrant context in the West. Because been largely bypassed in identification boreal forest and wintering broadly but of steep population declines in the Rusty materials. Why is this? As birders, we patchily in the Southeast and Midwest. Blackbird, approaching 90% in some re- see blackbirds in flight frequently. When During migration, these fine birds can gions since the 1960s (see Greenberg and flocks are en route to feeding areas or Droege 1999, Greenberg et al. 2011), heading to roost, flight views are the pri- ID Summary there is heightened conservation interest mary way to identify large numbers of surrounding this species. blackbirds quickly. Fortunately, it turns Bill and head. Rusties have a small or medium- In order to ensure that our current out that Rusty Blackbirds have subtle sized head set on a short neck; the slim, medium- understanding of the Rusty Blackbird’s but highly distinctive shapes that, once length, pointed bill lends a dart-like appearance to status and distribution is accurate and learned, make it relatively easy to detect the front of the bird in flight. complete, it’s important to identify these and identify these special and declining Body shape. The broadest part of the bird’s body is and other blackbirds properly in the songbirds in flight. the breast, with the body slimming evenly toward the lower belly and vent. To me, this is reminiscent of the body shape of Arctic Tern or Long-tailed Jae- ger. This shape varies a bit during each wing beat, but extended viewing (a few seconds is enough) tends to reveal a rather distinctive chesty look. Wing shape. While it would be misleading to call the wings of a Rusty Blackbird “pointed,” they are relatively pointed in comparison to the squat, rounded wings of a Red-winged Blackbird. Most of the difference is in the way the primaries stick out, forming an elongated “hand.” Tail shape. The base of the tail is the narrow- est part of the bird’s body in flight, often looking noticeably pinched in. This look is accentuated by the flared tips of the tail feathers. The outer vane of the tail feathers broadens near the tip, contrib- uting to the tail’s club-like shape. Proportions. A very helpful tool in assessing the shape of any bird in flight is the ratio of wing width (measured at the body) to body–tail pro- jection (simply, the total length of the body and tail that stick out beyond the trailing edge of the wings). In Rusty Blackbird, this ratio is nearly 1:1. Featured Photo–Rusty Blackbird. Cape May, New Jersey; March 2016. Photo by © Tom Johnson.

76 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 This is the way we often see blackbirds: in flight, in flocks, and in silhouette. Can these birds be ID’d without any plumage-based field marks? Cape May, New Jersey; March 2016. Photo by © Tom Johnson.

Elegant and slim blackbirds, Rusties n much of the breeding range of the sion species in the East are Red-winged show a consistent set of shapes and IRusty Blackbird, identification is not an Blackbird, Common Grackle, and curves that are useful for ID across age issue in the boreal bogs where the spe- Brown-headed Cowbird. In flight, Red- and sex classes. Rusty Blackbirds have cies nests. But be aware of Red-winged winged Blackbird is short-tailed, squat- a slender, pointed bill on a small head; Blackbirds and Common Grackles, often billed, and broad-winged with a blunt they sport a stubby neck, deep breast, in the same general habitats. In migration wingtip in comparison to Rusty. On the long wings, narrow “waist,” and broad- and wintering areas, the primary confu- other side of the coin, Common Grackle tipped tail. Review of the photos in this article should result in a “search image” for Rusties when they fly over. In flight, shape characteristics—especially when combined with an awareness of Rusty Blackbird vocalizations, discussed be- low—are much more helpful for ID than standard field marks like pale edging to body and wing feathers, contrasting head patterns, and pale irides. Those things are more useful for identifying a perched Rusty Blackbird.

PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 77 FEATURED PHOTO

is considerably larger, longer-tailed, and thicker in the body and bill than Rusty. Brown-headed Cowbird appears small and compact in flight with a pointed wing profile. To be sure, blackbirds often occur in mixed flocks and so considering the possibility of multiple species side by side is important. The most similar species is the close- ly related Brewer’s Blackbird; Rusty and Brewer’s are the only blackbirds in the ge- nus Euphagus. So this species pair has to be considered carefully, especially in areas of the Midwest and South where Rusty and Brewer’s blackbirds co-occur. Brew- er’s is a bit stockier in shape and lacks the elegant lines and curves of Rusty. In winter, the two species tend to segregate by foraging habitat: Rusty in wet woods, Brewer’s in open fields, often near live- stock. However, this doesn’t work 100% Although there are slight variations due to the posture of the Rusty Blackbirds in this of the time, and the two species mix in flock relative to the camera, all show the proportions described in the text, including flocks on occasion. It should be noted the deep chest; the lobed, mid-length tail; and the slim “waist.” Cape May, New Jersey; March 2016. Photo by © Tom Johnson. that flight views might not be enough to

While some rusty edging is visible on the upper chest of this male Rusty Even directly overhead, the slim bill and small head of Blackbird, that mark is rarely discernible on birds in flight. It is more useful to this female Rusty Blackbird combine with the “chesty” focus on the shape of the bird, including the projection of the body and tail look and lobed tail tip to form a distinctive shape. Cape behind the wings. Cape May, New Jersey; March 2016. Photo by © Tom Johnson. May, New Jersey; March 2016. Photo by © Tom Johnson.

78 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 confidently separate these two species, espe- cially at a distance. The guidelines discussed here are meant primarily to help recognize the The pale eye, slim bill, deep chest, and narrow-based, lobed tail all contribute to the ID of classic profile of Rusty Blackbird in flight in this male Rusty Blackbird. Cape May, New Jersey; March 2016. Photo by © Tom Johnson. the core range, but solidly identifying a Euph- agus blackbird in the overlap zone or a vagrant out of range may require a higher burden of proof than a typical flight view offers. A note on flocking behavior. During migra- tion and in the winter, Rusties mix with other species of blackbirds in flocks, but they tend to separate into their own flocks. During fall migration in Cape May, New Jersey, I see them in several contexts: solitary Rusties by them- selves; isolated Rusties mixed in with flocks This brownish female Rusty Blackbird shows off the elegant curves and proportions typi- of other blackbirds, especially Red-wings; and cal of its species. Female Rusties have pale eyes, unlike females of the similar Brewer’s small flocks of 3–10 Rusties by themselves. In Blackbird. Also, note the expansion near the tip of the outer vane of the outermost tail winter, it seems more typical to find groups of feather. It is this shape that helps to contribute to the lobed or “club-shaped” appearance Rusties isolated by themselves in wet woods, of the tail tip of Rusty Blackbird—as well as some other species of blackbirds, including their preferred non-breeding habitat. For Red-winged and Brewer’s. Cape May, New Jersey; March 2016. Photo by © Tom Johnson. morning and evening roost flights, however, they often mix in with other blackbird species with abandon. While this article is by necessity oriented toward visual ID, it is critical to point out the distinctive calls of Rusty Blackbirds and their importance in identification. Like many black- birds, Rusties have a “chuck” call that they frequently give in flight. With some exposure and comparison, the hard, nasal “chuck” of the Rusty Blackbird can often be distinguished In spring and summer, when blackbirds are typically in their most worn plumage, the pale edg- from that of other blackbirds. Perhaps even ings of fresh fall male Rusty Blackbirds can be all but worn away, inviting confusion with the more helpful is the song: Throughout the similarly glossy-black Brewer’s Blackbird. It is in these seasons that consideration of shape is par- ticularly important for identification. The slim bill and slender “waist” and base of the tail, evident year, even in fall migration and on the winter - in this photo, are particularly helpful. Cape May, New Jersey; March 2016. Photo by © Tom Johnson. ing grounds, Rusty Blackbirds frequently give vocalizations that are essentially snippets of song. The standard version is a thin, creaky Chuck–Slusheeeeee! To familiarize yourself with these call types, I recommend exploring the online audio archive of the Cornell Lab of

While they do still occasionally form flocks of hundreds or exceptionally thousands, Rusty Blackbirds typically occur in flocks of fewer individuals than other species of blackbirds. On the East Coast in fall through spring, it is common to see male–female Rusty Blackbird duos traveling alone without any other blackbirds around. Cape May, New Jersey; March 2016. Photo by © Tom Johnson.

PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 79 FEATURED PHOTO

Ornithology’s Macaulay Library, which to researchers studying the decline of this has a large selection of Rusty Blackbird mysterious and under-loved songbird. audio recordings, including both of the calls described above. Xeno-canto.org is References another good resource for gaining famil- Greenberg, R. and S. Droege. 1999. On the de- iarity with these vocalizations. cline of the Rusty Blackbird and the use of I hope that the text descriptions of the ornithological literature to document long- distinctive shape of Rusty Blackbird in term population trends. Conservation Biol- flight are helpful, but I also caution that ogy 13: 553–559. these photos are a learning aid. Yes, I Greenberg, R., D. W. Demarest, S. M. Matsuoka, spend a considerable amount of time— C. Mettke-Hofmann, D. Evers, P. B. Hamel, J. perhaps too much time!—studying pho- Luscier, L. L. Powell, D. Shaw, M. L. Avery, K. A. tos of songbirds in flight, and I’ve found Hobson, P. J. Blancher, and D. K. Niven. 2011. that this virtual practice has helped me Understanding declines in Rusty Blackbirds, absorb shape impressions that translate pp. 107–126 in: J. V. Wells, ed. Boreal Birds of to quicker recognition of those shapes North America: A Hemispheric View of Their when they appear in the field on real, Conservation Links and Significance–Studies in live birds. When learning identification, Avian Biology, no. 41. University of California however, nothing beats time in the field Press, Berkeley (tinyurl.com/Greenberg-RuBl). with a bird, so I urge you to get out there Rich, T. 2006. Monitoring Needs of North and find some Rusty Blackbirds. While America’s Landbirds. Birding 38(4): 30–34. you’re at it, please report your sightings to Sibley, David A. 2014. The Sibley Guide to Birds. eBird, so that your data will be available Alfred A. Knopf, New York. Gift Planning Leave an enduring legacy that supports the well-being of birds and the future of birding.

Planned gifts allow you to remain in control of your assets throughout your life, while giving you the ability to modify your gift based on life’s changing circumstances. For more information on how we can assist you in planning a gift that meets your interests and the long-term goals of the ABA, please visit aba.org/gift-planning or call Jeffrey Gordon at 800.850.2473

80 BIRDING • APRIL 2017

BOOK REVIEWS Purchase these titles at ABA Sales / Buteo Books edited by Rick Wright • Bloomfield, New Jersey • [email protected]

on’s tendency to vomit on intruders at the nest? Or, for that matter, Read the reviews, discuss the reviews, the Cooper’s Hawk’s transformation from villain to conservation buy the books: aba.org/birding victory? Alvo uses tidbits like this, culled from the ornithological literature and from his own nearly four-decade career as a con- servation biologist, to place his subjects in a context that subtly Serious Topics, With Flair and Humor reinforces the links among bird populations, habitats, and human • a review by Carrie Laben threats such as poaching and pollution. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Helpfully, the most important and most improbable facts pre- Being a Bird in North America, North of Mexico. sented here are all cross-referenced to a thorough Literature Cited section, containing everything from A. C. Bent’s foundational life Volume 1: Waterfowl to Shorebirds histories to the 2014 Supplement to the AOU Check-list, encour- by Robert Alvo aging readers to explore further for themselves. There is also an Friesens, 2015. 255 pages, $39.95–hardcover. ABA Sales #14628. appendix giving the Latin, English, French, and Mexican Spanish names of the species included, along with their North American itchhiking herons, vultures in chef’s hats, Black Rails borne aloft breeding status and NatureServe conservation status. Despite the Hby balloons: This ain’t Sibley. The first volume of Robert Alvo’s cartoons, this is a book that covers serious topics with a serious new series Being a Bird in North America commitment to facts. North of Mexico includes species accounts Among the buteos, for instance, the and range maps and photographs along- White-tailed Hawk gets written up for at- side its lively cartoon-like illustrations, tending fires. The Red-tailed Hawk is not- but as the title tells you right off the bat, ed for its wide distribution and its habit of this is a book less about watching birds including green, leafy branches in its nest. than about being one. Instead of identifi- The Zone-tailed Hawk’s entry explains cation, Alvo focuses on behavior and con- its mimicry of Turkey Vultures, while the servation, topics he covers with flair and Swainson’s Hawk account gives a nod to humor; the result is something different the dangers posed by organophosphate in the market serving older kids and adult insecticides. The entry for the Red-shoul- beginning birders, and a useful addition dered Hawk includes a pocket history of to school and nature center libraries. raptor persecution and bounties. The short entries that make up Being a These are all interesting and important Bird cannot offer an exhaustive account topics. Sometimes, though—in an effort, I of any one species. Instead, the author suspect, to avoid repetition in the entries presents each bird in a sampler platter of for closely-related species—Alvo’s choice facts and anecdotes about its life history, of factoids is downright eccentric, and his the reasons for its most curious traits and cartoons even more so. The opener for the behaviors, or the conservation threats it Rough-legged Hawk is a rather tenuous faces. Like any well-composed hors meditation on the coincidence between d’oeuvre, these species accounts whet the its scientific name, lagopus, “hare-foot,” reader’s appetite for the feast of bird lore and the fact that it sometimes eats rabbits, out there. Being a Bird will appeal particu- illustrated by a macabre little illustration larly to young teens and bright pre-teens of a hawk cutting the legs off a road-killed in the phase of life where a random encounter with a bit of fasci- rabbit to replace its own. There’s nothing really wrong with a little nating trivia can spark an obsession or even a career, and to adults gleeful ghoulishness, and large birds of prey are a natural com- lucky enough to have never outgrown that phase. As the source bination with dead rabbits, but nothing in this flight of fancy is of our future ornithologists, conservationists, and activists, this any more interesting than a straightforward presentation of why audience needs and deserves books like this, pitched just to them. this hawk has such heavily feathered extremities. There’s a general What healthy-minded youngster wouldn’t be intrigued by the sense of cheerful jumble to many of the entries, which will appeal Brown Pelican’s siblicidal habits, or the Black-crowned Night-Her- to some readers but may irk others.

82 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 he cartoons, by fifteen different illustrators, vary considerably in carry it in the field. Overall, the look and feel are similar to the Tstyle and approach, ranging from slick to scrappy, from cute to other guides in the Peterson series. clever to proudly weird. The best convey a great deal of informa- This eastern volume—to be followed, I hope, by its western com- tion while provoking a chuckle, such as the drawings of a stinky plement—comprises three main sections: an introduction, the spe- Ashy Storm-Petrel and a nest-parasitizing Redhead. Photos fill in cies accounts, and a visual bird sound index. There is also a website, the gaps where the drawings are more fanciful; in keeping with petersonbirdsounds.com, that lets the user hear a specific sound the book’s overall intention, though, there’s no particular effort to while studying its visual representation—but more on that later. highlight field marks or subtle plumage details. The range maps are the weakest link, visually speaking. Even for ntroductions tend to be skimmed or completely ignored. It is strictly New World species, the maps show the whole globe, mak- Iespecially important to take the time to read this one, though. ing some of them cramped and confusing to look at; in the most The topic of visualizing sound is foreign to most of us, and there extreme example, the Gunnison Sage-Grouse’s range is invisible is plenty of new and intriguing information in the 33 pages of unless you already know where to look. introductory material. The reader learns about the several types of sound, how birds create sound, a standard terminology for bird his first volume of Being a Bird in North America was published sound, and most importantly, how to read spectrograms. Spectro- Tby the author, with the collaboration of NatureServe, Nature grams, or sonograms, are a visual graphing of sound, representing Conservancy Canada, and the American Birding Association. I frequency on the y-axis and time on the x-axis. Pieplow tackles note this because the book is a shining example of self-publishing the learning curve by describing five basic pitch patterns, meth- done right. Targeted to a specific audience and produced with ods for reading spectrograms like music, and repetition of patterns sturdy, high-quality materials, Being a Bird is clearly a labor of love among other commonly encountered bird sounds. I am relatively and the product of considerable thought about what the author well versed in working with spectrograms, but I still found myself wanted to achieve. Alvo even includes a poem in the front matter learning new things, such as polyphonic sounds and the “stack- to justify his choice of print over digital publication—absolutely ing” of “partials” (analogous to overtones in human-made music) the right decision, given the small screens of so many e-readers. to create different sound qualities. The introduction may just be A downside of self-publishing is that all the risk falls to one my favorite part of the guide. party, and publishing is a risky business indeed. The back cover Next are the species accounts, making up most of the book. notes that Alvo makes no guarantee about release dates for fu- They are laid out similarly to the accounts in traditional field ture volumes, but I hope we’ll see them soon. I hope they will guides, with a lovely painting (most from other Peterson guides) sit proudly alongside this volume in libraries throughout the U.S. and an inch-square range map showing state and province bound- and Canada, waiting for the right readers to stumble across them: aries. A very brief text summarizes visual field marks and charac- young readers and old with a passion for nature, insatiable curios- teristic behaviors. ity, and an offbeat sense of humor. Needless to say, the accounts’ main focus is on the several spec- trograms devoted to each species. Each spectrogram is labeled, Neums, Staves, Notes, and Songbirds sometimes as a “call” or “song,” but more often descriptively, as a “pip,” a “short twitter,” a “chuckle,” a “ka-lip series,” and so on. • a review by Marky Mutchler The accounts indicate the circumstances and times of year when ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– each sound can be heard, and also point out variation within a Peterson Field Guide to Bird Sounds of species, to cover such special matters as the six Red Crossbill Eastern North America call types found in the East. (Pieplow mentions six, but actually by Nathan Pieplow treats only Types One through Four and Type Ten; I assume that Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017. the sixth, missing type is Type Five, a rare stray to New York.) 608 pages, $18.30–softcover. ABA Sales #14630 he last section includes a traditional alphabetical index, but it ongs and calls are very important in bird identification, in many Talso provides something not found in other field guides. The Scases as useful as the classic visual field marks, but they are very last page and the back pastedown are a quick, neatly col- often ignored. Nathan Pieplow’s Peterson Field Guide to Bird Sounds or-coded key to bird sounds, breaking them into “single notes,” of Eastern North America tackles this underused aspect of birding “single notes repeated,” “phrases of 2–3 syllables,” and so on, all more thoroughly than anyone ever before. of them directing the user to a visual index more than 80 pages in The stunning and colorful cover makes a good first impression. extent. That visual index groups the species that produce a given In spite of the complexities of the subject, Bird Sounds is only a tad sound type, encouraging the user to consider and compare spe- larger than the small, regional Sibley guides, and one could easily cies that sound similar. By narrowing the field of possible iden-

PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 83 BOOK REVIEWS

tifications, this index helps the user focus on the species most The bulk of the guide consists in the species accounts, but to ef- likely behind a mystery sound and on vocal, visual, behavioral, fectively use them in the field as someone new to birding by ear, the and habitat clues to distinguish among them. If you hear what Quick Index in the back may be your best friend. The understand- Pieplow diagnoses as a “Kweeah, like Kwirr, but higher and finer, ing of “seeing sound” is central to birding by ear. With the ability often harsher; lower and finer than Grate,” you do not need to flip to at least roughly picture, say, the nasal sound of some migrant through the entire guide, but can concentrate instead on the two rasping above in the tree tops, a beginner can flip to the Quick In- species the index lists as giving calls that fit that description—the dex and find that nasal sounds are created by a stacking of partials, Red-headed Woodpecker and the Horned Grebe. It shouldn’t be with the higher frequencies relatively strongly pronounced. With hard from there. a combination of descriptions, habitat, and behavior, the identification can be he accompanying website, peterson- reasonably assumed to be something Tbirdsounds.com, is easy to use. Typing like a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. a species name into the search bar brings The vocalizations of some birds are so up a selection of sound files; each sound similar that a recording is necessary for file also has a live view of the spectro- diagnosis, as in identifying some noctur- gram produced from it. The recordings nal flight calls and distinguishing certain that were used to produce the guide’s subspecies. Especially for users who are spectrograms are marked with a small new to spectrograms, this guide might book icon. Each recording is labeled with be best after the fact, as an excellent descriptors (such as “psit”) that correlate aid to “record-now-identify-later” study. directly to the terms used in the index With dedicated use, picturing sounds as and in the species accounts. The website you hear them becomes easier, and the includes additional samples, not in the book becomes more and more helpful in printed guide, of the call or song of many the field. species to provide examples of individu- al variation. Using the website with the cannot write about this guide without book makes for a seamless progression Imentioning the 1966 Birds of North from hearing sound to reading sound. America, better known as the “Golden Guide.” More than half a century ago, ith all the high praise come a couple Chandler S. Robbins, Bertel Bruun, and Wof criticisms, though there do not Herbert Zim attempted something simi- appear to be any major flaws. Obviously, not every single call and lar to what Pieplow has undertaken here. The inclusion of a spec- song of every species in eastern North America can be described trogram of a common song or call next to many species accounts and depicted here, but I would have liked to have seen more in- was a breakthrough in bird identification, but this revolutionary depth treatment of nocturnal flight calls, the short calls given by feature went, frankly, unappreciated. Over the years, I have met migrating birds as they fly over during the night hours. Those vo- very few birders who praised the Golden Guide specifically for its calizations in warblers and sparrows are addressed briefly here, inclusion of spectrograms. but the identification of flight calls often requires closer attention Fifty years later, this new Peterson guide, a second, more ambi- and more detailed analysis. Of course, a whole book could be tious and more sophisticated pioneer in the world of sound, may written on nocturnal flight calls, and more comprehensive cov- finally lead more and more birders to take full advantage of the erage might not be necessary or interesting for the more general spectrogram as an identification tool. Those of us who use Xeno- audience targeted by this guide. No single book can, or probably Canto have already grown accustomed to these visual aids, and should, do everything. thanks to the Cornell Lab’s Macaulay Library, eBird users can now My other concern is the practical challenge in the field of taking view and hear their own recorded sounds on their checklists. The the step between hearing a sound and seeing it in the book. This increasing popularity of birding apps for smartphones has also en- guide contains a bounty of information, but its effectiveness as a couraged the increased use of sound in birding. guide for the field requires some time and effort on the user’s part. Nathan Pieplow’s user-friendly book effectively attacks a com- No matter how closely we listen and how critically we compare, plex topic with simple explanations in a beautifully designed our minds cannot produce a perfect spectrogram to match exactly guide. The next time you hear an unfamiliar “pwik” or “zeep” as the one on the page. Instead, it takes a recording device and a something flies over, this book might just help you identify a bird computer program to create an accurate spectrogram. you would never have noticed.

84 BIRDING • APRIL 2017 CLASSIFIEDS

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PUBLICATIONS.ABA.ORG 85 BOOK REVIEWS FEATURED PHOTO SPONSORED BY The brilliant answer is hink of the birds we often see in flight. Raptors of course. Loons at seawatches. Tubenoses always... T when we’re out at sea. And how about blackbirds? Seriously, a lot of encounters with black- birds are of birds coming and going to roosts and feedlots. Yet the primary field guide literature has relatively little to say about in-flight ID of American blackbirds in the familyIcteridae . In this installment of the Featured Photo, we take a look at one of the most frequent—but relatively underappreciated—ID challenges for birders in the ABA Area: blackbirds in flight.

• Read Tom Johnson’s analysis of the Featured Photo, beginning on p. 76 of this issue.

What are your experiences with identifying blackbirds in flight? Have you noticed a field mark that isn’t mentioned in the primary ID literature? Do you want to put a question or idea out there for the birding community to ponder? Please join the online discussion, still ongoing, about the Featured Photo in this issue: publications.aba.org

86 BIRDING • APRIL 2017