BIRDCONSERVATION The Magazine of American Bird Conservancy Fall 2016 BIRD’S EYE VIEW A Life Shaped By Migration The years have rolled by, leaving me with many memories touched by migrating birds. Migrations tell the chronicle of my life, made more poignant by their steady lessening through the years. still remember my first glimmer haunting calls of the cranes and Will the historic development of of understanding of the bird swans together, just out of sight. improved relations between the Imigration phenomenon. I was U.S. and Cuba nonetheless result in nine or ten years old and had The years have rolled by, leaving me the loss of habitats so important to spotted a male Yellow Warbler in with many memories touched by species such as the Black-throated spring plumage. Although I had migrating birds. Tracking a Golden Blue Warbler (page 18)? And will passing familiarity with the year- Eagle with a radio on its back Congress strengthen or weaken the round and wintertime birds at through downtown Milwaukee. Migratory Bird Treaty Act (page home, this springtime beauty was Walking down the Cape May beach 27), America’s most important law new to me. I went to my father for each afternoon to watch the Least protecting migratory birds? an explanation of how I had missed Tern colony. The thrill of seeing this bird before. Dad explained bird “our” migrants leave Colombia to We must address each of these migration, a talk that lit a small pour back north. And, on a recent concerns and a thousand more, fire in me that has never been summer evening, standing outside but we cannot be daunted by their extinguished. my home in Virginia to listen to the complexity. Though I haven’t Wood Thrush songs slowly change space here to explain ABC’s bold A decade later, in 1971, I crawled on to call notes, followed by the silence new plans to bring back the hands and knees up a grassy North that comes with dusk. Migrations migratory birds, know that we are Dakota hillside, trying to sneak up tell the chronicle of my life, made working in key areas—which we on Whistling Swans (as they were more poignant by their steady call “Birdscapes,” short for critical called then) with numbered neck lessening through the years. bird landscapes—and that we will collars. These collars—used decades succeed simply because we must. before today’s tiny geolocators So, here I am at ABC, doing my (see story, page 12)—were the best small part to keep alive the world’s Thanks for being part of the ABC available way to piece together the most astounding migration team, and stand by to hear much migration story for swans. Suddenly phenomenon. We all know the more in the months ahead. the sky was filled with Sandhill threats: mostly loss of habitat due to Cranes; thousands of them, wings unsustainable population growth, set for landing across the hill. I no compounded by overconsumption, longer remember what collars I geopolitics, and sometimes read that day, but I do remember indifference. The articles in this watching the cranes arrive for issue of Bird Conservation reflect the more than an hour, and remaining challenges. Will our beach-breeding another hour listening to the specialists survive the increasing George H. Fenwick pressure on beaches (page 22)? President, ABC Cover photo: Black Skimmer by Betty Rizzotti TOP: Yellow Warbler by John Abner, Shutterstock ABC is the Western Hemisphere’s bird conservation specialist—the only organization with a single and steadfast commitment to achieving conservation results for native Fall 2016 wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. BIRDCONSERVATION A copy of the current financial statement and registration filed by the organization Our Quest to Save Migration may be obtained by contacting: ABC, P.O. Box 249, The Plains, VA 20198. 540-253- 5780, or by contacting the following state agencies: Florida: Division of Consumer Services, Science Unlocks the Secrets toll-free number within the state: 12 800-435-7352. Maryland: For the cost of copies and of Migration postage: Office of the Secretary of State, Statehouse, Annapolis, MD 21401. New Jersey: Attorney General, State Cuba: A Hub for Migratory Birds, of New Jersey: 201-504-6259. 18 New York: Office of the Attorney General, Department of Law, Charities Bureau, a Haven for Endemic Species 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271. Pennsylvania: Department of State, toll-free number within the state: Sharing the Beach with Shorebirds 800-732-0999. 22 Virginia: State Division of Consumer Affairs, Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer on the Gulf Coast Services, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23209. West Virginia: Secretary of State, State 27 The Migratory Bird Treaty Celebrates Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. Registration does not imply endorsement, 100 Years of Conservation 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 Graphic Design: Gemma Radko DEPARTMENTS Contributors: Aditi Desai, Chris Farmer, Audrey Goldfarb, Bennett Hennessey, 2 Bird’s Eye View Steve Holmer, Jennifer Howard, Michael Hutchins, Jeff Larkin, Jack Morrison, Kacy Ray, Andrew Rothman, Kristen Vale, 4 On the Wire EJ Williams For more information contact: 30 Final Glimpse American Bird Conservancy 4249 Loudoun Avenue, P.O. Box 249 The Plains, VA 20198 540-253-5780 • [email protected] Join us online! Cuban Tody by Alfred Yan TOP: Palm Warbler by Mark Johnson abcbirds.org BIRD CONSERVATION | FALL 2016 3 ON the WIRE Rare Parakeet Gains More Protected Habitat in Ecuador he Ecuadorian nonprofit says Roger Wilson, World Land Fundación Jocotoco, with the Trust's Director of Conservation. T support of ABC and U.K.- “Fundación Jocotoco is to be based international conservation congratulated on successfully group World Land Trust, has expanding this protected area acquired 233 acres of critically and safeguarding the future of its important cloud-forest habitat in endangered species.” Ecuador, home to a rare parrot—the El Oro Parakeet—as well as the El The colorful, highly social, cavity- Oro Tapaculo and other endangered nesting El Oro Parakeet was only species. This acquisition expands discovered in 1980, and its range is the existing Buenaventura Reserve limited to a few areas on the western from 5,583 acres to 5,816 acres and slope of the Andes in southwestern contributes to the creation of an Ecuador. The Buenaventura Reserve, ecological corridor that will connect a stronghold for the birds, is the only Buenventura to three proposed place where they are protected. government reserves, encompassing ABC and World Land Trust each an area 56 miles long. raised half the money to cover the “This corridor is vital because Bue- purchase of the land and related naventura, although a haven for legal costs. More than 200 donors “This corridor is vital numerous endangered species, was supported the Buenaventura expan- becoming isolated within a vast ex- sion, including David and Patricia because Buenaventura, Davidson, David Harrison, Barbara panse of cattle ranches,” says Wendy although a haven for Willis, ABC’s International Conserva- Rizzo, and a matching contribution tion Program Officer. by The Robert W. Wilson Trust. numerous endangered ABC also raised an additional “This is a crucial addition to $15,000 to cover management species, was becoming Buenaventura Reserve,” says costs for the new property, which Martin Schaefer, Executive Director includes guard salaries, fencing, isolated within a of Fundación Jocotoco. “Most and marking boundaries. vast expanse of important, the newly acquired The acquisition enables Fundación property includes one of the last cattle ranches.” remaining forests in the area. Jocotoco to fill in some gaps in a landscape increasingly threatened Protecting it allows us to reduce Wendy Willis, by habitat loss. Less than 10 the largest nonforested gap in the International Conservation percent of the original forests in southern distribution range of the Program Officer, ABC El Oro Parakeet.” Pastureland that the area remain, putting both the is also part of the acquisition will El Oro Parakeet and the El Oro be allowed to regenerate, restoring Tapaculo at risk. That makes the expansion of the forest cover for the rare parakeet and “More than 14 years of intense Buenaventura Reserve and the other birds. research have shown that the creation of an ecological corridor “Until 1999, when Fundación genetic diversity of both species essential to the conservation of Jocotoco stepped in, none of this suffers from ongoing fragmenta- area’s unique species. important habitat was protected,” tion and isolation,” Schaefer says. El Oro Parakeets by Dušan Brinkhuizen 4 BIRD CONSERVATION | FALL 2016 HELPHELP SAVE MIGRATIONMIGRATION In a single year, Red Knots will twice traverse the entire hemisphere from Patagonia to the Arctic and back. Some birds, such as tiny Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, cross the Gulf of Mexico. Others island- hop across the Caribbean. Millions upon millions more pour north over Central America in spring, then fan out across North America—and then head south again in late summer and fall. Migratory birds have been making these epic journeys for millennia. But many of these species are in serious decline and need our immediate help. You can help today with your extra gift to ABC! Loss of breeding, wintering, or stopover habitat is the most threatening issue migratory birds and conservationists face. That’s why ABC is working to tackle the decline of migratory birds on a scale never before attempted. Your support is crucial for this effort. We must recover and save the extraordinary phenomenon of bird migration in the Western Hemisphere. With your help, we can succeed! Please use the enclosed envelope to make a gift, or give online at abcbirds.org.