BIRDCONSERVATION The Magazine of American Bird Conservancy Winter 2015-2016 BIRD’S EYE VIEW From Mountains to Islands, the Journey Is in Every Step asping for breath, I turned one last time on the nearly 14,000-foot Peruvian mountain pass to watch the Mountain Caracara we had seen at eye level an hour Gbefore circling far below. My knees had turned to rubber, and my pounding heart and lungs begged for release. Tino Aucca, president of our partner organization, Asociación Ecosistemas Andinos (ECOAN), breathed easily nearby, smiling at my labored condition. We had just climbed to the Andean But the real trick of traveling is to pass, known as Abra Malaga, from enjoy it all—meetings and excur- the Polylepis forests on the slopes sions alike. Ralph Waldo Emerson well below. These are the highest said it best: “To finish the moment, forests in the world. Beneath this to find the journey’s end in every stunted forest are soft, rounded, step of the road, to live the greatest deep beds of mosses—Aulacomnuim, number of good hours, is wisdom.” Polytrichum, and a few Sphagnums— that are lovely to see but too wet to In this issue of Bird Conservation, lie on. These small fairylands harbor we are featuring stories of journeys an avifauna unlike any other on to places as varied as the caatinga Earth. of Brazil, the mountain forests of Hispaniola, and remote Laysan I have traveled to the Andes many Island, a Pacific atoll. In these times, but on this day I notched stories, the travel is fun, but the 28 birds I had never seen before: a Stripe-headed Antpitta. Photo by Kazuya Naoki work and the need for conservation remarkable collection of cinclodes, are very real. So journey with us intended to protect these plants. tit-spinetails, canasteros, tit-tyrants, to these and other places. Allow With some repairs, the trees would and even an antpitta found only your mind to imagine being there. continue to grow and expand, creat- in this rare, thin-air habitat. Unlike Envision the birds and habitats ing new fairyland for birds that rely other antpittas I have seen before, benefiting from conservation on Polylepis to survive. this Stripe-headed Antpitta foraged projects developed by ABC and its openly in a streamside meadow Most of my travel is for meetings to partners. And, as an ABC supporter, cropped close by grazing llamas persuade supporters of the impor- enjoy reading about what your and alpacas. tance of their role in conservation; support makes possible! to negotiate actions with partners; We had visited to check on some and to explain ABC’s work to varied Polylepis trees planted a few years ear- audiences. But when I can, I try to lier under the direction of ECOAN. tack on a day to go birding. Those The slow-growing trees slightly days outside are almost as impor- resemble small, gnarled oaks. Most tant as the meetings. I get a chance were faring well, though damage George H. Fenwick to see on-the-ground conservation from grazing and trampling was President, ABC and its attendant problems (such as evident near a break in the fence tree-chewing llamas). Cover photo: Eastern Screech-Owl by Dan Behm ABC is the Western Hemisphere’s bird conservation specialist—the only organization with a single and steadfast commitment to achieving conservation results for native Winter 2015-2016 wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. BIRDCONSERVATION A copy of the current financial statement and registration filed by the organization may be obtained by contacting: ABC, P.O. Box 249, The Plains, VA 20198. 540-253- Journeys with Birds 5780, or by contacting the following state agencies: Florida: Division of Consumer Services, Epic Adventures toll-free number within the state: 9 800-435-7352. to Save the Millerbird Maryland: For the cost of copies and postage: Office of the Secretary of State, Statehouse, Annapolis, MD 21401. New Jersey: Attorney General, State 15 Quest for the Bay-breasted Cuckoo of New Jersey: 201-504-6259. New York: Office of the Attorney General, Department of Law, Charities Bureau, 20 How to See a Lear's Macaw 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271. Pennsylvania: Department of State, toll-free number within the state: About to Fledge, Plovers Face a Test 800-732-0999. 23 Virginia: State Division of Consumer Affairs, Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 26 Storm-Petrels Return to the Sea 23209. West Virginia: Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. 28 The Ways and Wanderings of Owls Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by any state. Bird Conservation is the magazine of ABC and is published four times yearly for members. Senior Editor: Libby Sander VP of Communications: Clare Nielsen DEPARTMENTS Graphic Design: Gemma Radko Editors: Chris Farmer, Steve Holmer, Dan Lebbin, Merrie Morrison, Hannah Nevins, 2 Bird’s Eye View Cynthia Palmer, Glenn Phillips, Kacy Ray, Grant Sizemore, George Wallace, David Wiedenfeld 4 On the Wire For more information contact: American Bird Conservancy 34 Final Glimpse 4249 Loudoun Avenue P.O. Box 249 The Plains, VA 20198 540-253-5780 [email protected] Lear’s Macaws landing on a licuri palm. Photo by Ciro Albano Join us online! Top: Snowy Plovers in flight. Photo by Marlin Harms abcbirds.org BIRD CONSERVATION | WINTER 2015-2016 3 ON the WIRE New Refuge Promises Brighter Future for Rare Honduran Hummingbird he tiny, iridescent Honduran Forestry Department, the property Emerald may be most remark- will preserve dry tropical forests the Table for its rarity: Unrecorded Honduran Emerald needs to survive. for almost 40 years, from 1950 to Cattle ranching is widespread in the 1988, it is now listed as Endangered Agalta Valley, and as a result the on the IUCN Red List of Threatened land is rapidly changing from dry Species. forest to grasslands. But the future now looks a little Increasing summer temperatures, brighter for the rare humming- declining rainfall, and soil exhaus- bird that lives only in Honduras. tion reduce the quantity and quality Thanks to Honduran organization of milk from cows. Many ranchers La Asociación de Investigación compensate for this by clearing Honduran Emerald. Photo by Larry Thompson para el Desarrollo Ecológico y Socio forest for additional pasture. To Conservation of these forests would Económico (ASIDE), ABC, and other protect the remaining forests, ABC benefit not just the Honduran Emer- groups, the bird will benefit from and ASIDE are working to develop ald but also declining migratory the protection of 147 acres in a Payment for Ecosystem Services birds that winter in the area, such Honduras’ Agalta Valley. program to provide private land- as the Wood Thrush and Golden- owners with an incentive to main- winged Warbler, along with rare Officially designated as El Ciruelo tain and even improve tropical dry plants, reptiles, and other wildlife. Wildlife Refuge by the Honduran forests on their lands. New York Governor Nixes Feral Cat Support ew York Governor Andrew native wildlife, and are a potential “By vetoing this proposed legisla- Cuomo has vetoed legisla- source of diseases and parasites, tion, Governor Cuomo has acted Ntion that proposed the use such as rabies and toxoplasmosis. with vision and courage to protect of public funds to support statewide the wildlife of New York,” said Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR) programs Grant Sizemore, Director of Invasive for feral cats. Under the proposed Species Programs for ABC, noting legislation, up to 20 percent of the that studies have shown that free- state’s Animal Population Control roaming cats kill billions of birds in Program Fund could have been al- the United States each year. located to TNR. A diverse coalition of groups rallied to oppose the bill, “This bill was an effort to legitimize including ABC, Audubon New York, the systematic abandonment of birders, and animal welfare groups. cats, and to inappropriately require that public funds prop up a failed The governor’s stance is consistent TNR strategy,” Sizemore added. with ABC’s position on this issue: “We hope that other lawmakers TNR programs have been shown to draw inspiration from this decision be unsuccessful at reducing feral cat and recognize TNR is a ‘lose, lose, populations. The programs main- lose’ scenario for cats, wildlife, and tain outdoor colonies where cats A feral cat colony at Jones Beach, N.Y., that people.” is maintained by human caretakers. Photo by are free to prey on birds and other Kathy Baca 4 BIRD CONSERVATION | WINTER 2015-2016 High in the Andes, a New Reserve for Rare Birds are birds of the high Andes More than 14,000 feet above sea In addition to protecting and con- will now benefit from nearly level, the reserve will protect several serving these imperiled birds, the R2,500 additional acres of species of endangered birds. The new reserve also safeguards impor- protected land thanks to a new con- Andean Ibis, Yellow-billed Teal, and tant watersheds for the Quechua- servation area created by an indig- Crested Duck use the new area’s speaking people of the Quishuarani enous community in Peru. wetlands, said ECOAN’s Gregorio community. It lies adjacent to the Ferro Meza, while endangered birds Hatum Queuña-Quishuarani Private The Siete Cataratas-Qanchis Paccha such as the White-browed Tit-Spine- Conservation Area, a 580-acre re- Private Conservation Area, named tail and Ash-breasted Tit-tyrant use serve the community formed with for a dramatic system of waterfalls the Polylepis forest. ABC and ECOAN in 2009. within its borders, was officially recognized by the government of The waterfalls for which the Siete Cataratas-Qanchis Paccha Private Conservation Area is named.