BIRDCONSERVATION The Magazine of American Bird Conservancy WINTER 2016-17 BIRD’S EYE VIEW The Nature of Threats to Birds ABC is the Western Hemisphere’s bird conservation specialist—the only organization ere’s a simple taxonomy of level effect” exists. What’s a few threats to birds. Those that birds lost to window collisions in with a single and steadfast Hare natural (normal preda- the larger scheme of things, these commitment to achieving tion, disease, weather events, etc.); scientists think. (In fact, it’s billions conservation results for native Winter 2016-17 those affecting reproduction (nest- each year.) We should put this wild birds and their habitats ing habitat loss or degradation); and myth to rest. What really matters is throughout the Americas. those affecting the survivorship of the cumulative effect of all threats BIRDCONSERVATION adults (everything else). How we on bird species’ populations— think about these in the context of especially the 40 percent or so A copy of the current financial statement human priorities is critical in under- that are now in decline. Such and registration filed by the organization Making a Safer World for Birds may be obtained by contacting: ABC, P.O. standing the future of birds. callousness for individual birds is Box 249, The Plains, VA 20198. 540-253- perilous in considering the future of 5780, or by contacting the following state We largely accept natural threats conservation. agencies: Wind Energy Takes On a New Look as an unfortunate matter of course. Bird populations have Florida: Division of Consumer Services, 10 Bird populations have evolved to Addressing threats to birds has been toll-free number within the state: 800-435-7352. survive natural threats—unless evolved to survive a major component of ABC’s work Maryland: For the cost of copies and 15 Advocacy and Art: An Architect something else gets out of whack. since our very beginning. Our Cats postage: Office of the Secretary of State, natural threats—unless Statehouse, Annapolis, MD 21401. Robust populations can survive a Indoors program is now in its 20th Uses ABC's Bird-Smart Guidelines New Jersey: Attorney General, State hurricane, but what about a species year. And we continue to take on something else gets of New Jersey: 201-504-6259. whose range has dwindled to a the toughest challenges for birds, New York: Office of the Attorney General, single island? That’s why Hurricane out of whack. Robust whether it’s opposing poorly sited Department of Law, Charities Bureau, 18 One Veterinarian’s Mission: 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271. Matthew’s recent track over the wind energy projects or developing Pennsylvania: Department of State, A Conversation with Dr. Dave McRuer Bahamas has us worried about populations can survive bird-friendly building guidelines toll-free number within the state: 800-732-0999. the Bahama Oriole and the still- a hurricane, but what for architects. We’ve learned that recovering Kirtland’s Warbler on reducing threats to birds is a lot like Virginia: State Division of Consumer Affairs, Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer 21 Can Biotechnology Save its wintering grounds. about a species whose stopping cigarette smoking: It is the Services, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA work of decades, requiring endur- 23209. Hawai'i’s Native Forest Birds? Threats that adversely affect habi- range has dwindled to a West Virginia: Secretary of State, State ance and persistence. Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. tat, such as agricultural expansion single island? Registration does not imply endorsement, and wind energy facilities, are The lesson here is that we can approval, or recommendation by any state. worse because they are normally develop solutions that both protect irreversible. Most habitat lost to de- wildlife and serve people. Some- Bird Conservation is the magazine of ABC and is published four times yearly for velopment is lost forever; examples these non-habitat threats sometimes times it’s difficult to find those members. of restoration are rare. Some of the requires policy action, our govern- solutions, and sometimes the solu- Senior Editor: Libby Sander best-known conservation groups ment friends, barred from advocat- tions are not perfect. But as this is- VP of Communications: Clare Nielsen ing for policy positions, cannot Graphic Design: Gemma Radko focus on preventing habitat loss. sue of Bird Conservation shows, they DEPARTMENTS They do this because it is important touch these issues, much as they are always there if we work hard to Contributors: Aditi Desai, Chris Farmer, Steve Holmer, Jennifer Howard, Michael may care. So the job of protecting and because many people regret find them. Hutchins, Casey Lott, Jack Morrison, 2 Bird’s Eye View habitat loss and support protection birds falls to a subset of conserva- Mike Parr, Andrew Rothman, Cristina Santiestevan, Christine Sheppard for what remains. tion nonprofit groups and con- 4 On the Wire cerned citizens. For more information contact: It is the “everything else” category— American Bird Conservancy 26 Final Glimpse Further complicating matters, 4249 Loudoun Avenue, P.O. Box 249 free-roaming cats, pesticides, wind The Plains, VA 20198 turbines in migratory corridors— some ecologists and ornithologists 540-253-5780 • [email protected] are susceptible to the canard that that causes most man-versus-birds Yellow-billed Cuckoo by Paul Sparks, Shutterstock problems. Although addressing a threat to birds is unimportant George H. Fenwick Join us online! unless a demonstrable “population President, ABC COVER: The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is known to be a victim of window collisions and TOP: Long-billed Curlews by Betty Rizzotti free-roaming cats, two of the threats discussed in this issue. Photo by Daniel Cadieux TOP: Bahama Oriole by D. Belasco abcbirds.org BIRD CONSERVATION | WINTER 2016-17 3 the ON WIRE N ewell’s Shearwater chick by Hannah Nevins New Colony of Chicks Keeps Hope In the Dominican Republic, Helping to Alive for Rare Newell’s Shearwater Protect Habitat for Bicknell’s Thrush or the second year in a row, at the same colony. Since these has been working Bicknell’s Thrush by Jacob Spendelow conservationists in Hawai‘i chicks were removed from their ABC closely with Fhave translocated seabird natural burrows before that critical SOH Conservación (SOH) and With more than 70 percent chicks to a predator-proof colony. imprinting stage, it’s hoped that Last year, ABC and its Hawai‘i-based they will emerge from their artifi- the Ministry of Environment of all Bicknell’s Thrush and Natural Resources of the partners successfully moved 10 cial burrows, imprint on the new Dominican Republic (MARENA) wintering on the island of Hawaiian Petrels to a protected site colony, and return there as adults to improve the protection of at Kilauea Point National Wildlife after three to five years at sea. the globally important Sierra de Hispaniola, maintaining Refuge. Last month, it was the turn of eight threatened Newell’s The new colony will be the only Bahoruco National Park and the The translocation was made pos- effective protection is key to Shearwater (‘A‘o) chicks to be flown fully protected colony of this spe- neighboring Loma Charco Azul sible by multiple partners, includ- by helicopter from their montane cies anywhere in the Hawaiian Biological Reserve, which ABC this species’ survival. ing the Kaua‘i Endangered Seabird nesting areas to their new home at Islands—an enormous step toward lobbied to create. Recovery Project, Pacific Rim Conser- the refuge. Both species breed only recovering this rare seabird. vation, the Hawai‘i Department of The park and reserve, which are in Hawai‘i. So far the young birds appear to be Land and Natural Resources’ Division on the border with Haiti, include guard communications and patrol relocated outside the park. Together, adjusting nicely to their big move, of Forestry and Wildlife, University forest that provides habitat for protocols; and construct two new ABC and partners continue to look It’s the first translocation of New- says Dr. Lindsay Young, the project of Hawaii-Pacific Cooperative Studies the rare and threatened Bicknell’s guard houses in areas that were for solutions that protect habitat ell’s Shearwater chicks ever un- coordinator with Pacific Rim Con- Unit, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Thrush. They are also home to 28 heavily impacted by illegal activities. and support local livelihoods. dertaken. Like Hawaiian Petrels, servation, one of several partners Service. The National Fish and Wild- of 31 bird species endemic to the Newell’s Shearwater chicks imprint The efforts are making a differ- Funding for this work comes from the that made this project possible. life Foundation, The David and Lucile Dominican Republic and provide on their birth colony location the ence. Guards have destroyed or Neotropical Migratory Bird Conserva- By mid-October, five of the eight Packard Foundation, and ABC donors one of the few known nesting first time they emerge from their confiscated more than 150 charcoal tion Act, administered by U.S. Fish and chicks had already flown away provided funding support. sites for the Black-capped Petrel. burrows and see the night sky; as ovens and have installed bound- Wildlife Service, Critical Ecosystem adults, they will return to breed from their burrows, headed to sea. Yet the protected areas are experi- ary markers, and many people who Partnership Fund; private donors; encing a human and environmen- were living illegally in the park have and MARENA. tal crisis. Until 2014, large tracts Millerbirds Continue to Flourish on Laysan of forest were illegally converted into small subsistence agricultural illerbirds are thriving on There were five to eight birds de- plots, or cut down and baked into Laysan Island in the North- tected outside the extended core charcoal for use in Haiti and for western Hawaiian Islands breeding habitat in two different export to international markets.