BIRD CONSERVATION The Magazine of American Bird Conservancy Winter 2012-2013 BIRD’S EYE VIEW TRAVELERS’ TALES tories are the currency of birdwatching: the more you have, the richer you are. Long hours en route to birding destinations pass more Squickly in the company of a globe-trotting raconteur of bird stories. For instance, I once spent This issue of Bird an afternoon in a car with Conservation carries that ABC’s early Chair, Howard theme to the next level – Brokaw, who delighted us an entire issue devoted to by tirelessly reciting bird travelers’ tales; tales that I poetry – but with the bird’s hope connect you to a time identity left out. We had to and place and nudge you guess the species! And eve- to think more about the nings in remote camps sans context of conservation of phone, internet, or televi- birds and your own stories. sion are to stories what a salt If we do nothing more, we marsh at dusk is to mosqui- can inspire others with our George Fenwick and Blue-footed Boobies at the Mitsubishi project site in toes. This is where lifelong Sinaloa, Mexico, 2006. Photo: Jim Brumm own narratives. friendships are born: swat- In a novel use (abuse?) of ABC’s Board of Directors, ting mosquitoes and swapping tales. three tales come from its members. Jon Franzen While one’s own birding stories provide us with recounts his visit to Chile’s Juan Fernández Islands; (mostly) fond looks back, others’ stories take us Victor Emanuel remembers seeing what may have forward as we imagine future trips to Machu Picchu been the last Eskimo Curlew; and Carolyn Hendricks or the Serengeti. A good story even helps to replace a tells the story of her birding “eureka” moment in a trip that you may never actually take. And the rich- way that cannot help but remind you of your own. ness of your own and others’ tales combine into the I thank them and the others who generously offered warp and woof of birding’s cultural tapestry, almost their stories here and hope you enjoy them as much as enriching as the birds themselves. as I did. Let me know what you think of this issue – and you might even want to tell me a story of your The idea that stories can carry messages is as old as own for the future. stories themselves, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that it finally dawned on me that audiences might I would like to tell you a few of my favorites, but you prefer a few stories from me to the dry recitation of will have to catch me on a trip to hear them! what threatens birds and what steps conservationists are taking to overcome those threats. So, since then, I have begun to weave a few of my own tales into something more like parables for conservation. George H. Fenwick President, American Bird Conservancy 2 bird conservation • WINTER 2012-2013 COVER PHOTO: Sandhill Cranes: Matthew Studebaker BIRD Conservation Bird Conservation is the magazine of American Bird Conservancy (ABC), and is published three times yearly. WINTER 2012-2013 American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is the Peregrine Falcon: Greg Homel, only 501(c)(3) organization that works Natural Elements Productions solely to conserve native wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. A copy of the current financial statement and registration filed by the organization may be obtained by contacting: ABC, P.O. TRAVELERS’ TALES Box 249, The Plains, VA 20198. Tel: (540) 253-5780, or by contacting the following state agencies: 7 Visting a Chilean Archipelago Florida: Division of Consumer Services, Juan Fernández Firecrown: Peter Hodum toll-free number within the State: with Jonathan Franzen 800-435-7352. Maryland: For the cost of copies and postage: Office of the Secretary of State, 10 Interview: Encounters with a Ghost Bird Statehouse, Annapolis, MD 21401. New Jersey: Attorney General, State of New Jersey: 201-504-6259. 12 A Raptor Workshop Turns a Doctor New York: Office of the Attorney General, Department of Law, Charities Bureau, Into an Owl Conservationist 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271. Pennsylvania: Department of State, toll-free number within the state: 15 How a Team of Researchers Helped 800-732-0999. Virginia: State Division of Consumer an Endangered Songbird Move to Affairs, Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, P.O. Box 1163, a New Home Northern Saw-whet Owl: Richmond, VA 23209. Benjamin Skolnik, ABC West Virginia: Secretary of State, State On a Golden-wing and a Prayer Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. 18 Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by any state. 21 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds: American Bird Conservancy is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts Marvelous Migrants or photographs. Approval is required for reproduction of any photographs or artwork. 24 Flying in the Crane Plane Senior Editor: John Nielsen Editors: George Fenwick, DEPARTMENTS Jack Morrison, Merrie Morrison, Gavin Shire, George Wallace Migrating with Whooping Cranes: 2 Bird’s Eye View Operation Migration Graphic Design: Gemma Radko ABC’s Bird Conservation magazine 4 On The Wire brings you the best in bird conservation news and features. For more information contact: 28 Species Profile American Bird Conservancy California Condor 4249 Loudoun Avenue P.O. Box 249 Scan to check out ABC’s The Plains, VA 20198 new mobile website! 540-253-5780 Web: www.abcbirds.org Email: [email protected] California Condor: Greg Homel, Natural Elements Productions bird conservation • WINTER 2012-2013 3 Tropical dry forest at Gotas de Agua, characterized by a ON the WIRE mixture of deciduous trees and cacti. Photo: Daniel J. Lebbin New Private Reserve Recognized by Peruvian Government or decades, Luciano Troyes and his family have been managing their land at Gotas F de Agua as a nature reserve for birds. The area, located about four miles from the city of Jaen in northern Peru, supports several threatened endemic species, including the Marañon Spinetail, Peruvian Pigeon, Little Inca-Finch, and Marañon ro Crescentchest. Many birds commute daily into the Marvelous Spatuletail: Dubi Shapi reserve from the surrounding landscape to roost for the night as well. The dry forests in this part of Peru are rapidly disappearing due to logging, agriculture, and grazing. But the forests owned by Troyes family look like they are here to stay. The efforts of the Troyes family to conserve these forests received official recognition on October 9, 2012, when SERNANP, the Peruvian agency in charge of national protected areas, approved two portions of their private property as Private Conservation Areas (PCAs). Asociación Ecosistemas Andinos (ECOAN), American Bird Conservancy’s partner in Peru, assisted the Troyes family with the legal process to establish these PCAs on their land. Marañon Crescentchest: Dubi Shaprio “I am so thankful for the support of ECOAN and ABC in establishing this new conservation area to conserve the endemic birds and biodiversity of the Marañon-Chinchipe dry forests. The success of Gotas de Agua reflects our profound passion for nature,” said Luciano Troyes. ABC has worked to promote Gotas de Agua for its conservation importance within a regional Alto Mayo-Marañon conservation plan and as a bird-watching destination. “Gotas de Agua is a fantastic and scenic place to see some challenging and fascinating endemic birds of Blue-throated Macaws: Benjami n Skol Peru’s Marañon Valley. It is a must-see for any birding tour traveling nik, ABC between northern Peru’s coast and the eastern Andean slope,” said Daniel Lebbin, ABC Conservation Biologist. Birdwatchers interested in visiting Gotas de Agua should visit the Conservation Birding website at http://conservationbirding.org, or visit the reserve’s website at www.acpgotasdeagua.com for more information. Pier Troyes (on left) with some of his artwork, and his brother Andre, August 2011. Photo: Daniel J. Lebbin 4 bird conservation • WINTER 2012-2013 Marvelous Spatuletail: Heinz Plenge Help ABC Protect the Rarest of the Rare ro Marvelous Spatuletail: Dubi Shapi ight now, we have a ter- and our partners are actively rific opportunity to in- protecting 23, and supporting Rcrease protection for the the protection of another 20. With your help, ABC can pro- rarest birds in the Americas, but tect habitat now for the Esmeral- we need your help. An anony- The Lear’s Macaw in Brazil da’s Woodstar in Ecuador, Mar- mous donor has made a year- is evidence that we can suc- velous Spatuletail in Peru, and end, dollar-for-dollar challenge ceed in protecting the most Worthen’s Sparrow in Mexico. match up to $100,000, but endangered bird species. In We will work toward new acqui- it ends 12/31/2012. Can we the late 1980s there were sitions of critical habitat for the count on you for an extra gift only 70 individual Lear’s Ma- Blue-throated Macaw and Stre- this year to support bird conser- caws. Now there are nearly semann’s Bristlefront next year. vation for these most critically 1,300, and their conservation We can keep highly threatened endangered birds? status has been downgraded birds such as the Yellow-billed from Critically Endangered to Cotinga and Royal Cinclodes Some bird species are found at Endangered. With help from from becoming AZE species by only one last location on Earth. supporters like you, ABC and acting now to protect their re- These places have been identi- our partners made this hap- maining habitat. fied by the Alliance for Zero pen. Our challenge match will Extinction (AZE) as imperative help us advance conservation This dollar-for-dollar match will to save in order to prevent ex- for rare bird species at other mean $200,000 for the most tinctions.