RARITY FOCUS
Following our preference since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve chosen to set aside our rarity-of-the-month highlight for something “safer,” yet still interesting and encouraging.
In keeping with the season, we feature a minor avian media-star from last month, a tiny Northern Saw-whet Owl that was discovered roosting in a 75-foot Norway spruce cut down on 12 November in Oneonta, New York. The original location of the tree was about 80 miles southwest of Albany, and 170 miles north of its intended destination at the famous Rockefeller Plaza, in New York City.
Apparently, a worker who helped transport and secure the tree originally discovered the owl while his team was preparing to raise the spruce at Rockefeller Plaza. The tree was intended to be the center of the annual celebration and decoration as the iconic Christmas tree at the plaza. Once the stowaway owl was secured in a box, the worker’s wife contacted Ellen Kalish who runs the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center from her home in Saugerties, New York, to take care of the bird.
It’s unclear whether the owl roosted in the tree after it had been cut down and bound up, or if it was already there. Kalish suspects the owl was already in place, and never got out, for the three-days between cutting and on-site placement. The bird could have either been hiding or “had head trauma and held onto a branch and didn’t move. She may have been in shock,” said Kalish.
The tree crew-members felt responsible, since they had previously checked the tree carefully to make sure nothing was “inside.” But Saw-whets are very small and well-camouflaged. The rescuers were also concerned that the owl, possibly stuck in the tree for days, could have been injured. But the owl, soon nicknamed “Rockefeller,” was simply dehydrated, and “super-hungry” according to Kalish.
The story went viral, and the Saw-whet was quickly transformed into a symbol of resilience during difficult times. Supportive comments started flooding into Ravensbeard, and Kalish fielded calls from media outlets all across the country.
Rockefeller, responded well to a diet dominated by frozen mice and was ready for release after about a week of rehabilitation. “I always get choked up when I release birds because it’s such a labor of love. It’s beautiful and it’s what we live for—all the rehabbers—seeing them go back to the wild,” said Kalish.
Rockefeller was released back into the wild on November 24 in a conifer forest in upstate New York. Meanwhile, the owl’s former roost-site - the Rockefeller Plaza Christmas tree - will have been lit up in a miles-long strand of bright lights starting December 2.
For more on the original discovery, including photos, see here from the Big Apple’s very own New York Post:
VOTER FRAUD!
No, it’s not an accusation of voter fraud in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, or Georgia. It’s voter fraud in New Zealand, and it concerns birds.
There were charges of serious election rigging this year in the country’s "Bird of the Year" competition. It was a case of ballot-box stuffing extraordinaire when over 1,500 votes were sent from the same email address. Each of these votes was in favor of the Little Spotted Kiwi (Kiwi pukupuku), one of the country’s five kiwi species. This information came from a statement from Forest & Bird, a conservation organization that runs the competition. The fraudulent effort had initially placed the species into first place in the running of this year's contest.
Fortunately, the 1,500 votes for that kiwi were removed, and the actual winner of the competition was announced on 16 November: the Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus). This is the world’s heaviest and, perhaps, longest-living parrot. It is now a two-time winner, having won this same competition in 2008.
The contest site has other details on the winner, but, apparently, nothing on the shameless attempt to steal the election:
TIP OF THE MONTH: HOLIDAY GIFTS?
Yes, it's that time of year again, and it’s time to consider finishing your holiday giving and shopping. And it’s always nice to consider giving some gifts that are bird-and-nature oriented.
In past years, we have suggested some bird-oriented books that we may have previously reviewed, shade-grown coffee, the “Duck Stamp,” or nice binoculars. This year we are going to be more specific.
Since Americans are still coping with the pandemic and hopefully still staying near home, we are suggesting something to engage friends and family while they are remaining close to home: bird feeders!
The “backyard scene” is experiencing a genuine revival during these strange times, and birds at feeders and birdbaths are entertaining millions of people. The backyard feeding-station now fills a role as new entertainment – for adults and youth alike – during hours when they might otherwise be away at work or occupied in school classrooms. Bird feeders can provide a new “discovery,” and you can help facilitate the spread of the joy that comes from feeder-watching.
Warning: a gift of a feeder - hopper, tube, hummer, suet - may soon be followed by questions about this or that avian visitor. Be ready to provide follow-up answers! Think about field-guide and binocular recommendations. You could ignite an infectious curiosity and much more!
BOOK NOTES: DOWN EAST AND MORE
Peter Vickery (1949–2017), was one of New England’s leading field ornithologists. His enthusiasm for birds through the years led to the publication of dozens of articles along with his colleagues and graduate students at U Mass. Amherst. Among his many achievements, was co-authoring with Jan and Liz Pierson the popular, A Birder's Guide to Maine.
Peter’s major labor of love and life-long dream was to publish a comprehensive Birds of Maine, a project that was cut short with his passing in 2017. His efforts and his dream were not in vain, however, thanks to the generous and valued assistance of friends and colleagues, specifically Charles D. Duncan, William J. Sheehan, and Jeffrey V. Wells, along with significant input from co-editors Barbara Vickery and Scott Weidensaul.
Birds of Maine (Princeton University Press) is the first comprehensive review of Maine’s rich birdlife in more than seven decades, detailing all 464 species recorded in the Pine Tree State. The book is a masterful compendium of data on Maine birds presented in a comprehensive and readily accessible format, and its layout and visual presentation is nothing short of spectacular. The amazing color paintings by Lars Jonsson and the black-and-white illustrations by Barry Van Dusen provide the frosting on an otherwise delectable-looking cake!
This outstanding publication not only sets a new highwater mark in the history of Maine ornithology, it also represents a definitive treatise on Maine’s birdlife that will no doubt stand forever as an enduring and respected reference on the birds of New England and much of the northeastern United States.
IBA NEWS: SALINEÑO REPRIEVE
Last month, we reported in the category of Important Bird Areas (IBAs) on threats to sell off the little gem of birding opportunity in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, the 2.5-acre Salineño Preserve, owned and managed by the Valley Land Fund. Indeed, for many years, birders from far and wide have cherished the site along the Rio Grande in western Starr County as a prime location for “South Texas Specialties.” Our report last month was not encouraging:
Fortunately, the threat to the site – to be sold by the Fund’s board of directors and seemingly destined to be destroyed by the Army Corps of Engineers and their wall-building contractors – may have been reversed.
In mid-November, Debralee Rodriguez, executive director of The Valley Land Fund, said that the nonprofit’s board of directors had held an emergency meeting and decided against selling the Preserve, despite having already agreed on a “set price” with the federal government. An outpouring of opposition – especially by birders and local land conservationists – convinced the Board to back away from the deal.
The threat to this and other sites in the Lower Rio Grande Valley may continue, but the situation as of last month is summarized here:
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:
OTTAWA BUILDING STANDARDS
For those following the development of bird-safe building standards, we can report on new guidelines for Ottawa, Ontario, that were approved last month. These guidelines are the result of at least seven years of advocacy and input by Safe Wings Ottawa, several revisions, and a lot of patience among partners as they waited for approval and presentation to the city council.
While these are not “mandatory standards,” the city can still require certain projects to adhere to these guidelines, and it has the power to specify bird-friendly design for its own properties.
You can view the guidelines here:
ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE STILL AT RISK
When it comes to oil leasing at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, there is a bit of a race currently going on.
In 2017, a Republican-led Congress approved legislation that opened up part of the refuge to oil development. Two lease sales in the coastal section of the Arctic Refuge would be allowed within seven years, with the first one to be held by the end of 2021. The Trump Administration decided to proceed with the first lease sales, which might begin as early as next month.
Despite the clear results of the recent Presidential election, the Trump Administration is still intent on fast-tracking oil and gas development before leaving office. At the same time, it is unclear how much interest there may be in drilling. For one thing, oil extraction is expensive in such a remote area, and other challenges include currently low oil prices, the upcoming change in administration, and the concern for more litigation over environmental concerns.
The area in question – the Alaska Refuge’s coastal plain - is about 1.6 million acres. This is an area roughly the size of Delaware that makes up about 8% of the vast refuge. It’s a place where caribou migrate, polar bears den, and migratory birds - especially waterfowl and shorebirds – breed and feed.
For more information, see the report from National Public Radio, here:
Written comments (not electronic) on the sale are due at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) office in Anchorage by December 17. You can read the Call for Nominations and Comments for the Coastal Plain in the Federal Register here:
CLIPPING THE MBTA
In late November, the Trump Administration published a proposed industry-friendly relaxation of the century-old Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). It was part of the outgoing administration's race to rush through as many regulatory rollbacks and land leases as possible before leaving. (See the previous story.)
The proposal sets the stage for modification of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's long-term interpretation of the MBTA. The proposed rule reinterpretation would let energy, construction, and land development companies off the hook for "incidentally" killing birds, even though the Interior Department's analysis concludes that "increased bird mortality" will "likely result" from the change.
The process began in late December 2017, when the Interior Department issued a legal opinion that would potentially open a wide swath of “unintentional” bird deaths, including especially those caused by oil and gas production, power lines and chemical spills. This broke from decades of legal precedent and has had federal wildlife officials largely abandoning investigating bird fatalities. This evolving policy has essentially allowed both industry and individuals to kill birds with little fear of consequence.
This most recent proposal would permanently codify the immediate past practice, and might allow the outgoing Administration to finalize the rule before President-elect Joe Biden leaves office.
This represents another rush-job occurring before our very eyes. Still, the public backlash to the Trump Administration policy has been fierce. (Of the c. 6,500 public comments already submitted regarding the proposed rule, an estimated 98% voiced opposition.)
The final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is available for public inspection for 30 days (through December 28, 2020), after which the USFWS expects to issue a Record of Decision and Final Rule. In this case, you can check out the MBTA Rulemaking Process and Timeline:
It is highly likely that the incoming Biden Administration will be able to reverse this sort of Trump-era rule change, although doing so might take years.
LOOKING AT RUFOUS HUMMER DECLINE
While commonly observed throughout its range, the Rufous Hummingbird is still recognized as an at-risk species. Unfortunately, the Breeding Bird Survey data suggest that this hummingbird’s population has declined by as much as 60% since 1974.
The ongoing causes for decline seem to be unclear; however, recent research indicates that accelerated climate change could result in extensive range loss in the United States. Out of concern for the future of this species, the Western Hummingbird Partnership (WHP) published a recent report with multiple partners, "Rufous Hummingbird: The State of the Science and Conservation." It covers the biology and ecology of this classic western hummer, and it highlights the many gaps in information that impede our ability to effectively protect it.
You can find it here:
RIP: TOM GILMORE
Thomas J. Gilmore, 74, died unexpectedly Friday, November 6, 2020, at his home in Pocono Pines, New Jersey. Tom had been the President and CEO of the New Jersey Audubon Society (NJAS) for 30 years. When Tom retired from New Jersey Audubon in 2012, the organization had grown from a birding club into an effective conservation organization.
During his tenure, he was instrumental in the passage of landmark conservation laws and the preservation of hundreds of thousands of acres of open space in New Jersey. A dedicated and cheerful advocate for bringing people closer to nature, he advanced environmental education through New Jersey Audubon Nature Centers, as well as in schools and communities.
With his passing, his colleagues regularly shared one of Tom’s favorite precepts: “Do the difficult first; the impossible takes longer.”
RIP: NED BRINKLEY
We were also saddened to hear of the passing of Edward S. “Ned” Brinkley, of Cape Charles, Virginia. His death was unexpected while on a trip to Ecuador on 22 November. Vocationally, he had been a professor of European literature and film (at University of Virginia), General Manager of boutique Hotel Cape Charles, Director of Manufacturing at New Ravenna Mosaics & Stone, owner-operator of Sterling House Bed & Breakfast, editor-in-chief for two decades for North American Birds, a tour-leader for Field Guides Inc., and a prolific author of many articles and books on birds and birding, among them the National Wildlife Federation’s Field Guide to Birds of North America.
Ned’s accomplishments were many, his breadth of knowledge dazzling, and his friends broad and dear.
LAST WORD
As we round up this memorable and strange year of 2020, we recall the things we all have had to endure and the fact that this particular issue of the Birding Community E-bulletin is the 200th such product we have produced. Yes, we began in 2004.
And you may have noticed that this issue appears in a slightly different format – one using a more mobile-responsive template. Still, we will continue to provide the same sort of news and information, emphasizing the enjoyment of birding and the protection of birds and their vital habitats.
In the meantime, if you have any friends or co-workers who want to receive the monthly Birding Community E-bulletin, you can have them simply sign up for future issues, using this page:
