RARITY FOCUS
Our rarity of the month, observed by many birders for about two weeks in July, is a White-winged Tern in Delaware, which was usually seen near the observation tower on both sides of Big Stone Beach Road at the Milford Neck Wildlife Area. The tern was observed over marshlands, often multiple times a day, but sometimes only for brief looks.
This species breeds from e. Europe to ne. China, se. Siberia, and Sakhalin, and it winters in tropical Africa, the Indian subcontinent, se. Asia, and Australia. It is a casual migrant and visitor along the Atlantic Coast, mostly during May through mid-September, with about 30 previous records. It has been reported from at least 11 East-coast states and two Canadian provinces. The species has also been reported in the West (e.g., Alaska and California), and a few times in the interior of the continent (e.g., Indiana and Manitoba).
Curiously, a cluster of records – in Virginia in the mid-1960s and from NY, NJ, DE, VA, and NC in the late 1980s to the late 1990s – could have pertained to some of the same few birds.
This most recent White-winged Tern was likely the 8th Delaware state record, and was originally found by Randy Fisher. More details and photos can be accessed here:
In an interesting note, there was another – or perhaps the same – White-winged Tern observed for four days in May at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, only 100 miles to the south, as the tern flies.
And before we forget, there was yet another one reported in Nova Scotia in mid-July, at Cole Harbour.
Another spectacular bird which might have been our rarity-of-the-month had it not been simply a one-day-wonder was a Common Redshank at a marsh near Detroit, specifically at Pointe Mouillee State Game Area. It was found and photographed by a number of lucky local birders on Independence Day, 4 July, but never seen again. This was the first U.S. record for this species. However, the species has appeared at least a half dozen times in Newfoundland (probably Iceland overshoots). Here’s an interesting story on the Michigan Common Redshank:
The fact that this species has not been found along the East Coast of the U.S. makes, this Michigan occurrence last month a real surprise.
A RARITY CONUNDRUM
There was another Michigan surprise to report, however. That was the sighting of what might be a first legitimate North American Record. It was a Southern Lapwing at a local airport near the shores of Lake Huron in Oscoda, Michigan.
We use the word “might” here because of questions concerning the bird’s provenance. While the species is a common inhabitant across South America in proper habitat, there are solid arguments both for and against the bird’s “legitimate” presence in Michigan.
First, the “good news”: Southern Lapwing has been expanding its range northward out of South America over the last few decades, a range expansion probably associated with increased forest clearing. It now ranges into the southern Caribbean and Central America (into Nicaragua). If range expansion continues, more northward vagrant records might be expected. Also, because populations fluctuate seasonally, wandering birds might be more likely to appear northward in spring/summer.
Next, the “bad news”: Two previous records (May/June 2006 in Florida and Maryland) have been considered to be of uncertain origin. Five Florida records (1959-1962) predate the recent range expansion of this species, and a pair of additional Florida records (2002-2003) were likely escapes. And, as for captive birds, a number of zoos have held Southern Lapwings (e.g., in Ohio, Utah, Florida, and Massachusetts), and some individuals have been for sale for private collections (e.g., in Florida).
The Southern Lapwing in Michigan came to the attention of birders at the very end of June, although workers at the Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport, said that they noticed the bird on the airstrip grass and taxiways as early as late May.
Birders visiting the airport – and the associated Wurtsmith Air Museum – would typically find the bird in the early hours of the morning and in the hours before sunset. It was usually seen near Gate 11 at the airfield, either inside or outside the fenced area, and mostly in the grass. Sometimes, thoughtful airport workers would open the gate to allow birders and birder-photographers to approach closer.
By the end of July, the Southern Lapwing was still there.
Is this a legitimate rare vagrant or an escaped bird? Some folks may insist on an established pattern of more records to know “for sure,” but other observers are convinced that the story is too good not to be true. Right now, you can take your pick!
BOOK NOTES: WHAT’S BEHIND VAGRANCY
And, since we’re on the subject, there is a recent book on this very subject that may interest readers, Vagrancy in Birds by Alexander Lees and James Gilroy (Princeton University Press, 2022).
Bird migration has been the source of interest and research for years, and vagrancy has proven to be mysterious to both researchers and birders alike. This new title explores in detail the
causes and patterns of avian vagrancy… especially in the opening chapters, and delves into broad concepts including compass error, wind drift, migration overshooting, extreme weather events, irruptions, natural dispersal, and other ways to possibly explain vagrancy and its biological significance.
The authors use recent research to address such fundamental questions as what causes avian vagrancy, why do some places attract so many vagrant birds, and why do some species seem more disposed to long-range vagrancy than others.
Following the thorough introductory chapters on the causes and mechanics of vagrancy, the rest of the book is devoted to extensive summaries of vagrancy that include often spectacular photographs and examples and patterns of family-by-family treatments of vagrant species and their geographical origins and ultimate destinations.
This attractive book and its thought-provoking content should be of interest to both armchair birders and active field ornithologists, and a must read for anyone interested in the mysteries of bird travels.
ACCESS MATTERS: VIP VISITATION
One of the best ways to maintain – or even increase – birder access to important birding sites in your area is to let your sitting politicians know how important these areas are for both birds and for people. This appreciation can even be essential for the ultimate security of your favorite public parks, forests, and refuges.
Looking at the issue of National Wildlife Refuges as a model, the National Wildlife Refuge Association recently ran a webinar to instruct their “Friends Groups” on how to build site awareness and political support from their representatives in Congress. Indeed, few actions can have as much impact as having your Members of Congress – and/or their top staff – schedule a site visit. You can view this recent NWRA webinar to learn how and why local Friends groups or bird clubs might want to plan just such a visit.
While this webinar was oriented for NWRs, it covers clues and hints appropriate for any public birding hotspot in your area. This is particularly important for budget issues as well as operations and maintenance concerns. Without secure funding and related awareness by your office holders, key birding sites, along with their health and access, could be in jeopardy.
Over the next few weeks, with Congress going into summer recess (6 August – 6 September), it would be an excellent time to arrange for one or more of these visits.
You can view the helpful webinar here:
IBA NEWS: GREAT SALT LAKE REVISITATION
It was only a few short months ago, in April, when we highlighted the importance of the Great Salt Lake in Utah as a significant Important Bird Area (IBA), since no less than five major bays on the lake (i.e., Farmington, Ogden, Bear River, Gilbert [or South Arm] and Gunnison [or North Arm]) are considered IBAs unto themselves. See here our April coverage:
For descriptions of the related IBA sites – all of which are under stress at the Great Salt Lake, see here:
The Great Salt Lake has a dual status as a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network site, with peak counts of over 1.4 million shorebirds (e.g., Wilson’s and Red-necked phalaropes, American Avocets, Black-necked Stilts, and Western Sandpiper) using the lake as breeding or staging areas:
Also, in mid-June, the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL) announced the National Audubon Society (Audubon) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) as the recipients of the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Program grant funds. These organizations, with staff and expertise in Utah, will jointly utilize the $40 million appropriated during the 2022 legislative session to lead and implement a water trust to benefit Great Salt Lake and its wetlands. See here:
This latest funding is encouraging, but it will not be enough to address the serious ongoing crisis at the shrinking and beleaguered lake. Two changes are sources of the problem: 1. A huge population growth in the region, diverting water from rivers that have fed the lake, and 2. climate change, causing record-breaking droughts and reducing snowmelt from nearby mountains feeding those rivers in the first place.
The surface area of the Great Salt Lake – sometimes referred to as the “Great Shrinking Lake” – covered about 3,300 square miles in the late 1980s. It has since shrunk to less than 1,000 square miles, according to the US. Geological Survey.
The salt content in the section of the lake closest to Salt Lake City used to fluctuate between 9% and 12%, but if it reaches 17% - perhaps this fall - the algae in the water will struggle, threatening the brine shrimp that live off it. The loss of brine shrimp – a major food for grebes and phalaropes – could be catastrophic. The phalaropes can feed on alkali flies or mudflats, if necessary, but they prefer swimming around. The grebes, which only forage in the water, will not be nearly as lucky. (Note: more than 50% of the continent's Eared Grebes and a larger percentage of Wilson's Phalaropes stage at the lake.)
There are no easy or painless solutions to saving the lake. Letting more snowmelt flow into the lake would mean less water for residents and farmers. That would bump into the region’s increasing population growth and high-value agriculture, something state leaders are reluctant to let happen.
This problem is not simply about the birds. The air quality around Salt Lake City could regularly turn poisonous to humans. The drying lake bed contains high levels of arsenic, as well as antimony, copper, zirconium and other dangerous heavy metals. Wind storms can carry this mix into the lungs of local residents, who make up three-quarters of Utah’s population.
The sooner these serious problems are addressed, the better it will be for the birds… and the local human residents! Here’s a news report from early July by CNN, with an emphasis on the foreboding human consequences of the situation:
For additional information about worldwide IBA programs, including those in the U.S., check the National Audubon Society's Important Bird Area program web site at:
ANOTHER BRITISH SEABIRD DIE-OFF
Last month, thousands of seabirds died in an outbreak of avian flu on the Farne Islands, in Northumberland, England, in the worst such disaster to hit the colonies in nearly a century.
These islands are home to about 200,000 birds. More than 3,000 dead birds were found, but an estimated 10 times more have simply fallen into the sea. The Farnes are an internationally important habitat for 23 bird species including Atlantic Puffins, Razorbills, gulls, terns (Arctic, Sandwich, and Common) and more.
The islands were closed to the public last month in an attempt to prevent the spread of bird flu.
Teams of rangers, who live and work on the islands, had to remove the bodies of the birds so that they could be incinerated. They workers wore full personal protective equipment (PPE) while collecting the carcasses, and used other methods to avoid further contamination of healthy seabirds.
Farther south along the Northumberland coast, rangers on Coquet Island collected and buried thousands of dead seabirds after bird flu was confirmed there, and its calamitous impact on the breeding season.
Officials at the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs said, "We recognize the significant threat posed by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to the UK's precious wild bird populations, but there are limited effective actions that can be taken to protect them, as opposed to captive bird flocks.”
When it comes to potential contact with birds under these circumstances, it may be good to review some of the standard protocols to be considered:
- Avoid direct skin contact with dead birds. (Use gloves or a plastic bag inside-out.)
- Consider wearing a mask under these circumstances.
- Double-bag birds to reduce any leaks of fluids.
- Wear waterproof boots during collections.
- Change/wash clothes/boots, and thoroughly wash hands right after field work.
- Scrub tools and equipment between field sites to avoid virus transportation.
Finally, for a BBC news coverage on the Northumberland situation, see here:
REFUGES AND GETTING THE LEAD OUT
Once again, we touch on the situation of getting lead out of the environment, specifically at National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs).
While the NWR system should be a prime example for the best wildlife protection and conservation on public lands, lead shot and fishing tackle continue to pose a threat to birds and other wildlife. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposed rule for “Station-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations” aims to acknowledge and significantly reduce the effects of lead ammunition and tackle on NWRs across the country.
In a recently-proposed rule, the lead situation should be addressed for a number of NWRs: Patoka River (IN), Blackwater (MD), Canaan Valley (WV), Chincoteague (VA), Eastern Neck (MD), Erie PA), Patuxent Research Refuge (MD), Rachel Carson (ME), Wallops Island (VA), and Great Thicket (NY and New England states).
The National Wildlife Refuge Association acknowledges the need for a transition period for this task, so that necessary administrative and practical changes can be made. But the NWRA also urges that the four-year period proposed for phasing out the use of lead be shortened to 18 months.
NWRs are intended to provide healthy habitats where birds and other wildlife can thrive; evidence of the effects of lead on wildlife and human health is too strong to ignore.
You can submit comments on this – as crafted by the NWRA – here, for the comment period which ends on 8 August:
IVORY-BILLED DE-LISTING DELAYED
In early July, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that it would allow for six more months to decide whether to delist the Ivory-billed Woodpecker “due to extinction.”
Here’s a link to our May report on the Ivory-bill situation and listing:
An announcement in the Federal Register in early July stated: “This situation has led to a significant disagreement regarding whether the species is extinct. Therefore, in consideration of the disagreements among experts surrounding the Ivory-billed Woodpecker’s status, we are extending the final determination on the proposal to delist the species for 6 months in order to solicit additional information that will help to clarify these issues.”
The FWS reopened the public-comment period on the proposed delisting rule for 30 more days. All comments would have to be received before midnight on 8 August. You can find details and instructions on how to submit comments, here:
THREAT TO REPEAL THE PITTMAN-ROBERTSON ACT
There is a current House Bill in circulation that would repeal the Pittman-Robertson Act (PR), the federal excise tax on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment and reduce the tax on fishing equipment. It’s called the RETURN Act (Repealing Excise Tax on Unalienable Rights Now), H.R. 8167.
The proposal was introduced in late June by Cong. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) and supported by 51 members of the House (all Republicans). The Federal Aid in Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration Acts (also known as the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Acts) have been in place for many decades, providing the majority of funding for state fish and wildlife conservation efforts. The proposed bill would replace the dedicated funding from the PR with annual unreliable appropriations from the general Treasury and funds from questionable offshore oil and gas development.
Last year alone, these proven and existing PR-oriented excise taxes generated more than $1 billion in funding to assist state wildlife agencies in fulfilling their missions.
This proposed PR repeal is really unlikely, but it is a reminder that there is a constant threat to take away funding from state wildlife agencies when there is actually a need to increase funding these agencies need in order to conserve and manage all the species in the states.
And this is a perfect introduction to the news development below…
STATUS: RECOVERING AMERICA’S WILDLIFE ACT
If the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act passed Congress, it would send some $1.3 billion each year to states, territories, and tribal wildlife management agencies. It is seen as essential dedicated (guaranteed) funding since the current PR-type funding is simply not enough for the states to do the wildlife job expected of them.
We covered the meaning of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act in June:
And when it passed the House – with a vote of 231 to 190 – we followed up with a report in July:
It’s a far-reaching and bipartisan bill to conserve birds and other wildlife, creating the opportunity to deliver much-needed federal funding, mainly via the states. In fact, it could serve as a significant supplement to the PR-type dedicated funding described in the article above.
It’s also really smart. For example, under the bill, the greatest amount of federal funding would be distributed to the states with the greatest need. Hawaii, for instance, home to almost one-third of plants and animals on the federal endangered species list, would receive $60 million a year, more than any other state. It’s significant to realize that 33 of Hawaii's remaining 44 endemic birds are listed under the Endangered Species Act.
Anyhow, the focus is now on the U.S. Senate. Since we last reported, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act continued to gain co-sponsors – now 42 - with Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) being added late last month. (As chair of the Senate Budget Committee her addition is particularly significant.)
The bill will likely be considered sometime after the Congressional recess, after 6 September. You can follow some of the developments here:
and here:
LAST WORD
Finally, if you have any friends or co-workers who wish to join the monthly Birding Community E-bulletin mailing list, you can simply refer them to this link:
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You can access all the past E-bulletins on the National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) website:
