Vol. 9, No. 1 BBBIRDIRDIRD CCCALLSALLSALLS March 2005
Red Knot May Be Candidate for ESA Listing Despite Horseshoe Crab Harvest Restrictions Po’ouli Dies in Captivity As was reported by ABC in its A coalition of environmental groups, November press release, what was including New Jersey Audubon, ABC, likely the last individual Po’ouli died Defenders of Wildlife, and National in captivity in Hawaii on November Audubon Society has begun 28, 2004. To view the full text see: proceedings to have the rufa subspecies www.abcbirds.org. of the Red Knot protected under the Endangered Species Act. Red Knot Top Stories in This Issue populations have declined globally in recent decades, but the rufa subspecies American Vet Association has fallen as much as 60% since the Revises its Stance on Feral The recent victory in regulating horseshoe late-1980s. This population winters in Cats. A new position statement by Tierra del Fuego and other parts of crab harvest has not yet been able to reverse declines in Red Knot populations. Photo: T. the AVMA states that free-roaming South America, migrating some 9,000 D. Rodda. cats represent a significant factor miles to its Arctic breeding grounds in in wildlife mortality. See story continue. Canada. Along the way, the birds page 4. concentrate in vast numbers at staging ABC and National Audubon Society have led efforts to protect areas, making them particularly Battles Over Alaska horseshoe crabs, and the knots and vulnerable. The Delaware Bay is the Wilderness Oil and Gas Drilling other shorebirds that rely on their eggs. most important of these stop-off Continue. The Federal points, where the knots feed on the These efforts appear to be paying off, Government continues to push eggs of horseshoe crabs to sustain as the 2004 take of crabs reached its for oil exploration in Alaskan them on their long journey north. lowest levels in more than a decade. In Overharvest of crabs for use 2004, crab landings in Delaware Bay, refuges and wilderness areas. as bait in conch and eel pots has been a critical place for both crabs and See story page 9. linked to the declines in Red Knots. The shorebirds, fell by 53% from 2003 knot has evolved a relatively long levels. Coast-wide landings dropped to lifespan and a commensurately low just 630,000 crabs. FWS will initiate a reproductive rate. Conservationists public comment period if they decide have predicted that although the to proceed with the listing process. Contact: Eric Stiles, New Jersey population still numbers in the tens of Photo: FWS thousands, it could be in peril if declines Audubon, (908) 766-5787.
Swarovski Land Purchase Protects Critically
Endangered Hummingbird in Colombia West Coast Purple Martins A grant from Swarovski is enabling ABC and ProAves Colombia to create a new Flying High. The species status reserve for the Critically Endangered Colorful Puffleg, along with other has improved thanks to endangered bird and amphibian species. conservation efforts, but more The Colorful Puffleg is one of the world’s most threatened work is needed. See story page 11. hummingbirds. It is an extreme habitat specialist, found only in wet montane forests on the Pacific slope of the west Andes, in southwest Colombia. Already For complete list of stories see page 2. Continued on page 7 BIRD CALLS MARCH 2005
ABC and the Corps Without the regular placement of sand workshops on dredging, beach on dredged material islands, terns and nourishment, and bird conservation at of Engineers: skimmers are forced to nest on Jekyll Island, Georgia. Emphasis was mainland beaches where increased placed on the importance of maintaining Dredging for Birds productive, low-energy, inter-tidal habitats around inlets and estuaries for Operations by the U.S. Army Corps of nesting and wintering Piping Plovers Engineers are a major force shaping and other migratory shorebirds. Best bird habitat along the coastlines and management practices for large dredge waterways of the United States. As the disposal sites that can produce highly federal agency responsible for productive foraging or roosting habitat maintaining navigable waterways and for migratory birds were also proposed. for shoreline protection, the Corps For example, seasonal management of dredges and relocates over 250 million water levels at seven disposal sites near cubic yards of material each year. the Savannah Harbor attracts tens of Coastal dredging and disposal thousands of migratory shorebirds each operations have tremendous, and often year. In total, over 288 bird species unrecognized, potential for bird habitat Shorebirds such as the Western Sandpiper have been documented at the site. creation and management. benefit from dredge-deposit habitat. Photo: ABC will provide expertise to In recognition of the potential FWS. the Corps on the needs of priority birds, benefit to bird populations, ABC and the in coordination with the North Corps have initiated a partnership to American Waterbird Conservation Plan, explore ways of integrating the disturbance from human recreational the U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan, conservation of priority bird species activity and predators such as raccoons and the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture. into the planning and execution of large, and cats can significantly reduce nest Proceedings from the Jekyll Island coastal, engineering projects. For success. With increasing development workshop and information about future example, sediments from the routine along the entire U.S. coastline, there will regional workshops on dredging, beach maintenance dredging of the Atlantic be a much greater need for the creation nourishment, and bird conservation will Intra-Coastal Waterway have been and active management of suitable soon be available online at: http:// used to create productive near-shore nesting, foraging, and roosting habitats el.erdc.usace.army.mil/training.cfm? and offshore island nesting habitat for for coastal birds. Topic=Workshop&List=05feb-dots. many species of terns and for Black In January 2005, ABC and the Contact: Casey Lott, ABC, Skimmers. Corps held the first of four regional
Study of Rare Birds birds, ranked by IUCN-World previously unknown; Rusty-faced Conservation Union as globally Parrot was found at 29 localities; in Colombian Oak Endangered or Critically Endangered. Mountain Grackle was found at 22 The four species, Mountain localities; and Gorgeted Wood-Quail Forests Encouraging Grackle (Critical), Black Inca was detected at 20 localities – more than (Endangered), Rusty-faced Parrot were initially expected. The Eastern Andes of Colombia is a (Endangered), and Gorgeted Wood- The study concluded that all priority area for bird conservation due Quail (Critical), depend at least four species should be reclassified as to its high level of endemism combined seasonally on oak forests. However, Vulnerable. Care is necessary, however, with a lack of protected areas and between 66% and 85% of their historic as downgrading a species ranking can limited knowledge about its biota. Of ranges have now been converted to impact the attention and funding it particular interest are stands of the agriculture. Yet despite this dire habitat receives. The goal of evaluating the endemic Humboldt oak, many of which situation, the investigators turned up status of species is to use the best have been logged. ABC, under its some encouraging results. From 151 available information so conservation William Belton Small Grants Program, counting points at five sites in the area, can be prioritized for the species most provided funding to ProAves Colombia the team observed Black Inca at 27 in need. Contact: Robert Chipley, ABC, to study the status of four oak forest localities, seven of which were
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World’s Largest Caspian Tern ABC, Defenders of Wildlife, National Audubon Society, and Seattle Audubon Society. The groups contend that the terns Colony to be Decimated have only a minute impact on salmon returns and are being unfairly scapegoated, while the real causes of salmon declines Plans to devastate the world’s largest colony of Caspian – dams, habitat loss, over-harvest, and fish hatcheries – go Terns look set to go ahead under a final Environmental largely uncontested. Impact Statement (EIS), completed by FWS and the National The plan, estimated to cost $2.4 million in its first Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The plan calls for the year, calls for new tern habitat to be established elsewhere elimination of up to 74% of the tern colony on East Sand in Washington, Oregon, and California. However, some of Island in the Columbia River on the Washington-Oregon these sites are up to 800 miles from the present colony, and border. All but 1-1.5 acres of the 6 acres of sandy habitat all would expose terns to greater threats from predators on the island would be destroyed and birds relocated, and environmental toxins, as well as increased competition reducing tern numbers over several years from 9,500 current from other birds. Until suitable, predator-free habitat is breeding pairs to as few as 2,500 pairs. The colony currently established elsewhere, and terns have colonized and bred holds 70% of the Pacific Coast population, due mostly to successfully there, conservationists do not support moving the loss of suitable alternate nesting habitat (such as the terns off East Sand. deliberate destruction of habitat at neighboring Rice Island Long-term ownership of East Sand Island, by federal agencies – Bird Calls V. 6, No. 3). currently in Army Corps of Engineers hands, is not addressed While Pacific salmon in Alaska remain in plentiful by the EIS. The Corps and conservationists have urged its supply, salmon numbers in the Columbia River have declined addition to the National Wildlife Refuge system. An ABC- precipitously in recent years. NMFS has long blamed the designated globally Important Bird Area, the island also has terns for inhibiting salmon recovery by their consumption over 6,700 roosting endangered “California” Brown Pelicans, of juvenile salmonids – a conclusion disputed by scientists. and a large mixed gull colony. Contact: Gavin Shire, ABC, The EIS was completed in settlement of a lawsuit, filed by
Northern Californians Asked to Stop Feeding Birds
For the second time in less than a year, the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) asked that people take down their bird feeders to slow the spread of avian disease. In this most recent request, DFG asked residents of Northern California to remove feeders for at least one month, starting on February 10, to help slow an outbreak of salmonellosis, a bacterial disease that is affecting Pine Siskins. Hundreds of dead siskins have been reported in Grass Valley, Eureka, and Santa Cruz County – spanning a distance of some 350 miles. State biologists in California hope that a month-long halt in backyard In July 2004, DFG asked that all bird feeders be bird feeding followed by better feeder hygeine practices will help prevent the spread of a disease affecting Pine Siskins. Photo: FWS. removed to slow the spread of the deadly parasite trichomoniasis in Mourning Dove and Band-tailed Pigeon populations (http://www.dfg.ca.gov). Human contraction of salmonellosis from wild birds with a 10% bleach solution. DFG also recommends is rare, and even less likely when correct precautions are removing spilt food from around the feeders daily, replacing taken (see below). However, pets can contract the disease, wooden bird feeders with plastic or metal versions, (wood especially if they are exposed to bird droppings below the cannot be effectively sterilized), spreading small amounts feeders. Pine Siskins contract salmonellosis from each other, of seed over a large area in the sun, and varying the location most often by eating fecal-contaminated food, but also by of feeding to avoid consistent concentration of birds at one direct contact with the insides of contaminated tube feeders. site. To minimize the risk to humans, DFG suggests gloves DFG recommended that after resuming feeding, should be used when handling feeders and sick or dead residents use only small amounts of food in their feeders birds. Hands should also be washed with anti-bacterial soap. and replace uneaten food daily, each time cleaning the feeder Contact Patrick Foy, DFG, (916) 651-9130.
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Obscure Act Poses Challenge to Federal Puffleg continued from front page: Wildlife Management Agencies scarce (its population is estimated at only 50-250 individuals), the Colorful Few people have heard of the Information Quality Act (IQA) of 2000 – not Puffleg is further threatened by logging, surprising, since it has little or no legislative history, was passed without any grazing, and other habitat degradation. hearings, and has seemingly no documentation indicating what Congress ProAves is in the process of intended for this single line amendment to the Office of Management Budget’s negotiating the purchase of 5,000 acres appropriations bill. Its implications to conservationists could be significant, of land that would protect core however, if a recent challenge to FWS’s June 2004 Conservation Assessment populations of the Colorful Puffleg and of Greater Sage-Grouse and Sagebrush Habitats is any indication. another critically endangered species, The Information Quality Act (sometimes referred to as the “Data the Munchique Wood-Wren. Surveys Quality Act”) requires federal agencies to maintain guidelines to “ensure and at the site have revealed 16 other maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information” that they threatened bird species, two endangered disseminate. Data presented by an agency can be challenged on the basis that frog species, and high levels of it does not conform to these guidelines. This was the case in the recent IQA endemism in other flora and fauna. The challenge by the Partnership for the West (PFW), a group of primarily energy Alliance for Zero Extinction companies, which requested that FWS correct or retract information presented (www.zeroextinction.org) has declared in its June 2004 Sage-Grouse Assessment. This 600-page, peer-reviewed, the property an essential site for conservation analysis was the product of a year-along effort by 11 state fish conservation. and wildlife agencies, yet according to PFW, overstated threats to the sage- ProAves Colombia will restore, grouse, underestimated species abundance, and understated current manage, and protect the site. The conservation efforts. The IQA challenge was worded to indicate that it would Colorful Puffleg population will be dropped if FWS denied the petition to list the sage-grouse under the continue to be studied and monitored, Endangered Species Act. The petition to list the species was denied by FWS in helping to bring this species back from December (See article P. 15). the brink of extinction. A growing number of similar IQA challenges have elicited concern by ABC is grateful to Tropical some that the ill-defined act could be used by industry groups to tie regulatory Birding for their assistance in making agencies in knots and delay decisions that might otherwise adversely impact this grant possible. Contact: Paul them. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency has already been the Salaman, ProAves Colombia, recipient of several IQA challenges, that have required review of documents
Revisions to the Endangered Species Act Anticipated
The Endangered Species Act (ESA), passed in 1972, looks poised to be revised during the 109th Congress. During a February 10th press conference, Senators Crapo and Chaffee joined Representatives Pombo and Walden to discuss a new, coordinated House-Senate approach to improve and update the ESA. Current areas of focus include landowner incentives, creating a bigger role for states, strengthening habitat conservation and recovery, and bolstering the underlying science of ESA decisions. The Administration will wait to see what legislators propose before taking a firm position on changes to the ESA, but Secretary of Interior Gale Norton has stated that the administration would support efforts to add more peer review of the department’s science. Members A new land purchase will help the Colorful of the Bird Conservation Alliance, including ABC, will be closely following Pufleg and other birds in the Western andes of legislative developments. Contact: David Fischer, ABC, Colombia. Photo: Luis Mazariegos.
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Battles Over Alaska the last five percent of Alaska’s North five million waterfowl and shorebirds, Slope that is not open to oil exploration as well as the calving grounds for more Wilderness Oil and or drilling, because of potential impacts than 450,000 caribou. Despite letters to 180 bird species, including 70 of opposition from hundreds of Gas Drilling Continue breeding species. ornithologists and many conservation groups, drilling looks set to ptoceed in Congress is again considering opening several critical areas, including the the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to Colville River corridor, the Utukok River oil and gas drilling. The Administration Uplands, and lands around Teshekpuk reaffirmed its commitment to Lake, a critical area for molting developing ANWR in the FY 2006 waterfowl such as the “Pacific” Black budget request that assumes $2.4 Brant and Greater White-fronted Goose billion in revenues from ANWR leasing. (Bird Calls Vol. 8, No. 2). Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) vowed to Outside of Alaska, more than circumvent any potential filibuster by eight million acres of environmentally opponents of ANWR drilling by simply Drilling near Teshekpuk Lake could impact important lands in New Mexico, formulating budget reconciliation the Black Brants and other waterfowl that Wyoming, and Utah will be opened to legislation that cannot be filibustered. rely on the area. Photo: FWS. oil and gas development under BLM The House is also considering resource management plans. The plans inclusion of ANWR drilling in the Meanwhile, the Administration include New Mexico’s Greater Otero comprehensive House energy bill. If has initiated proceedings to open more Mesa area, which contains the largest both Houses agree, and place ANWR lands to oil and gas drilling in Alaska’s Chihuahuan Desert grassland in the drilling in the budget language, it may 23.5 million acre National Petroleum United States, the Wyoming Great well gain passage. ABC and many other Reserve in the Western Arctic. A vast Divide, and Utah’s 1.9 million-acre conservation groups have opposed network of wetlands, the reserve Vernal Field Office. Contact: David drilling in the Refuge, which represents serves as the breeding grounds for over Fischer, ABC,
Bay-breasted Warbler and Blackpoll new antennae on existing structures; Towers: FCC Not Warbler were similarly alarming. The keeping towers below 200' in height Swayed by Bird Kill study also estimated an annual mortality (and thus not requiring lights or guy of thousands of Cerulean Warblers, a wires); and the use of only white or Stats species that conservationists have red strobes where lighting is necessary. petitioned for listing under the Height, lighting regime, and the Despite a new study further Endangered Species Act. The groups presence/absence of guy wires demonstrating the significant bird submitted the data to the FCC in substantially influence the likelihood of mortality at communication towers, February 2005, and urged the immediate significant bird kills at towers. and the existence of avoidance adoption of mitigation measures to In an April 6, 2004 measures to prevent such mortality, the prevent bird kills. memorandum, the Federal Aviation Federal Communications Commission The FCC dismissed the Administration (FAA), the agency (FCC) and telecommunication industry mortality data as inconclusive, and responsible for aircraft safety, continue to stonewall conservationists. further concluded, “Not enough is recommended medium intensity white An analysis of available known to recommend different types strobe lights over red obstruction literature, commissioned by ABC, the of mitigation for mortality.” ABC and lighting as the preferred system for all Forest Conservation Council, The its partners have solidly documented new towers (Bird Calls Vol. 8, No. 3). Humane Society of the United States, that key mitigation measures do exist Yet the FCC refuses to follow the FAA’s and Defenders of Wildlife, concluded to dramatically reduce bird kills at the lead and require its tower licensees to that for the ten avian species killed more than 80,000 towers in the United use strobe lights. ABC and its partners most frequently at towers (including States. The groups support current will continue to press a recalcitrant Ovenbird, Red-eyed Vireo, and FWS voluntary tower guidelines as FCC and communication tower Tennessee Warbler), total annual representing the best measures industry to better protect migratory mortality ranged from 490,000 to 4.9 currently known to help avoid fatal bird birds. Contact: Gavin Shire, ABC, million for each species. Statistics for collisions, including: co-location of
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Andean Land share of land in Santa Teresa to the ABC is the principal U.S. north, attaining partial rights to protect partner of Fundación Jocotoco, and Purchase Protects the origin of the area’s watershed. In has supported the development of the February, additional land to the east, Jorupe Reserve with grants from the Suite of Rare Forest containing a large house suitable to use Western Alliance for Nature, SeaWorld Birds as a reserve headquarters, was Busch Gardens, and several generous purchased. Fundraising is still individuals. Fundación Jocotoco also underway to acquire further property owns six other reserves in Ecuador and On October 13, 2004, Fundación to link the southern and northern Peru for the protection of several Jocotoco acquired 736 acres of land sections. endangered, endemic species, such as in the Andes of southern Ecuador, The area has some of the best the Jocotoco Antpitta, El Oro Parakeet, northeast of Macará, close to the available habitat for the Henna-hooded Pale-headed Brush Finch, and Gray- border with Peru, to create the Jorupe Foliage-gleaner, Rufous-necked backed Hawk. For more information, Reserve (formerly referred to as Foliage-gleaner, and the Red-masked and a chance to help these and other Jatunpamba). Parakeet, all species endemic to this international reserves supported by In January of 2005, the region of dry tumbesian forest, and all ABC, visit www.abcbirds.org/ foundation was able to acquire an considered Endangered under IUCN- counterparts. Contact: Richard Moore, adjacent 983 acres, as well as a 40% World Conservation Union criteria. ABC,
HelpHelp UsUs SolveSolve thethe MysteryMystery ofof thethe CeruleanCerulean Warbler!Warbler!
The Cerulean Warbler is one of the most spectacular of America’s forest dwelling migrants. Sadly, this magnificent, electric-blue and white bird has suffered precipitous declines in recent decades, with an estimated 70% of its global population lost since the mid 1960s. Although the declines are well documented, their exact reasons remain a conservation mystery. Photo: USGS
We do know that the warbler is threatened both in the U.S. by habitat loss from such devastating practices as mountaintop mining, during migration by collisions with communication towers, and on its wintering grounds in South America by changing land-use patterns. Its migration route, however, is poorly understood, and could hold a valuable key to help save the species.
We urgently need your help to protect the Cerulean Warbler. ABC and its partners have already confirmed an important migration stop- over site in the Maya Mountains of Belize, and plan to search for more, as-yet unknown, critical stop-over habitat in Honduras and Guatemala for future conservation. ABC is also engaging in other conservation efforts throughout the species’ range, including land protection in countries where the Cerulean Warbler winters, and policy and legal efforts to mitigate the threat posed by communication towers to this species and other neotropical migrants. Please send a donation using the enclosed envelope, and help us protect the Cerulean Warbler today. Photo: Jason Jones
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U.S., Canada, Mexico governmental institutions in partnerships called Joint Ventures. Reaffirm Comittment These partnerships facilitate local or regional implementation of a plan that to Declining Waterfowl is otherwise international in scope. Virtually all Joint Ventures have also now expanded their scope to embrace the Due mostly to post-European conservation of all bird species. settlement development, less than half There have been notable of North America’s original wetlands accomplishments in reversing some of now remain. In some U.S. states, such the population declines, particularly in as California, wetland destruction tops the case of the Mallard and Blue-winged 90%. In Canada, figures are similar, Teal, and in stemming the rate of with widespread conversion of tidal and decline of the Black Duck. For salt marshes, swamps, prairie potholes, example, there were close to a million and estuarine wetlands to farmland, more Blue-winged Teals, and close to industrial uses, and housing. 1.5 million more Mallards nesting in the This habitat destruction has “Prairie Pothole Region” (which covers Destruction of wetland habitat has resulted in been, in large measure, responsible for steep declines in some waterfowl species such a vast area of the interior spanning from alarming declines in waterfowl as the Northern Pintail. Photo: FWS. Iowa northwest to Alberta) in the mid populations throughout North America, 1990s than there had been in 1986. in particular Mallard, Black Duck, These populations also faced a severe Northern Pintail, and Blue-winged Teal. 15-year plan has now been signed by drought in the late 80s and early By the 1980s, breeding surveys were U.S. Department of Interior Secretary 90s, and have almost doubled since their showing that there were more than ten Gale Norton, Canada’s Minister for the 1988 low. Northern Pintail populations million fewer waterfowl nesting Environment, Stéphane Dion, and continue to fall range-wide however, in North America than there had been Mexico’s Secretary of Environment and and this has been a significant impetus 30 years earlier. In reaction to this Natural Resources, Alberto Cardenas- behind efforts to renew the Plan. decline, the U.S. and Canadian Jimenez, signifying full reaffirmation Funding from the FWS- Governments took action in 1986 by the plan. administered North American Wetlands signing the North American Waterfowl Since its inception, the Plan Conservation Act of 1989 has been a Management Plan (NAWMP), a 15- has been responsible for protecting, major source of U.S. federal funding year cooperative agreement aimed at enhancing, or restoring some 1.3 million for NAWMP-related projects (requiring reversing waterfowl population acres of wetlands, with investments a 1:1 match in non-federal money), as declines through wetland habitat totaling approximately U.S. $3.2 billion have the Wetlands Reserve Program conservation and restoration. Mexico (double the initial expected (WRP) and Conservation Reserve became a signatory to an amended commitment). Some of the plan’s Program (CRP) of the U.S. Department version of the Plan in 1994. success can be attributed to its unique of Agriculture. For more information Following three years of conceptual framework involving visit: http://birdhabitat.fws.gov/ review and reassessment, a renewed federal, state, tribal, private, and non- NAWMP/nawmphp.htm.
ABC Publishes New Solutions to Benefit Seabirds and been printed in Spanish for distribution Fishermen. Developed from ABC’s to longlining nations in Latin America. Resource for original longlining report, this new With help from the U.S. version focuses on the southern Department of State, ABC is Longline Regulators oceans, and contains greater detail on distributing the reports, at no charge, the use of mitigation measures that can to key groups and individuals in at least ABC has completed the publication of dramatically reduce the deaths of 20 countries around the world. a new report, Stopping Seabird albatrosses and other seabirds from ABC will be making both Bycatch: Longline Fishing – A Global longlines. An invaluable resource for language versions available on its Crisis for Seabirds. Working for fisheries regulators, the report has also Website at www.abcbirds.org.
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Aplomado Falcon by state and local officials to increase Birds in Brief the sage-grouse population were Reintroduction Proposed deemed sufficient to maintain current Cattlemen Prosecuted for In New Mexico populations of the birds, which have Bird Poisonings declined steeply from historical In conjunction with The Peregrine Fund numbers and still appear to be and the New Mexico Department of declining. For more information visit: Cattle company owner, Roger F. Kahn Game and Fish, FWS has announced http://www.r6.fws.gov/species/birds/ and his farm manager Glen M. Bramlett its intention to reintroduce the sagegrouse/. pled guilty in U.S. District Court on “Northern” Aplomado Falcon to New January 21 to unlawfully killing Mexico. Using section 10(j) of the thousands of birds in violation of the Endangered Species Act, the population Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The two Black Hills Population of would be designated as non-essential- men spread corn laced with famphur experimental, thus placing no burden American Dipper Could (a highly toxic pesticide, licensed only on private landowners to restrict land be Listed for application on cattle hides to control use. While relatively common south of insects) around a pond to kill the border, the species had been Under threat of a lawsuit from the “nuisance” birds. As a result, 3,326 Wyoming-based environmental group, birds were killed, including Red-tailed extirpated in the United States prior the Biodiversity Conservation Alliance, Hawks, Mourning Doves, Canada to reintroduction efforts. Successful FWS has agreed to review the Black Geese, Red-winged Blackbirds, reintroductions of the falcon have Hills population of the American Dipper grackles, crows, cowbirds, a Brown already taken place in Texas. For more as a candidate for protection under the Thrasher, and a Great Horned Owl. The information, visit the Peregrine Fund’s Endangered Species Act. Biologists case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Website at: www.peregrinefund.org. estimate that fewer than 100 American Attorney’s office in Atlanta. The two Dippers remain in the Black Hills, men could each face up to $15,000 in which the Alliance claims qualifies as a fines and six months in jail if convicted. discreet population segment. Major Contact: David E. Nahmias, U.S. threats to the birds include water Attorney, Atlanta, (404) 581-6000. pollution and habitat degradation. For more information, visit the Biodiversity Conservation Alliance Website at: Vulture and Waterbird www.biodiversityassociates.org. Killing Temporarily Halted Aplomado Falcon. Photo: Cal Sandfort, The California Refuses to Ban Peregrine Fund Responding to demands from scientists Lead Ammunition and conservationists, FWS has, so far, refused to issue any new permits for On February 4, 2005, the California USDA’s Wildlife Services (WS) to kill Fish and Game Commission voted vultures and fish-eating birds. In 2003, Greater Sage-Grouse Not against banning the use of lead WS killed more than 2,500 “nuisance” Endangered Says ammunition, both statewide and vultures nationwide, as well as tens of specifically in California Condor thousands of gulls, cormorants, terns, Government habitat. Condors and other raptors and herons that areblamed for reducing frequently ingest lead when scavenging fish populations at dams and fish The Greater Sage-Grouse has been prey that has been killed with lead shot, hatcheries. denied listing under the Endangered but not recovered by the hunter. Two In Virginia, WS killed at least Species Act, despite efforts by a wide Condors have died from lead 400 vultures in the first half of 2004 variety of conservation groups to have poisoning over the last eight years, and without a permit before FWS halted all the grouse recognized and protected as 19 others have shown signs of high take, pending a review. Conservationists an endangered or threatened species. lead levels. Californians are still subject have long maintained that there is no This decision was based on a recently to the federal ban on the use of lead sound scientific basis for the killings completed status review of the Greater shot in wetlands (Bird Calls Vol. 4, No. (Bird Calls Vol. 8, No. 1). Contact: Sage-Grouse throughout its range. 3). Contact: California Fish and Game Gavin Shire, ABC,
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