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January 12, 2005
ABC's Birds in Brief
Wildlife Services Escalates Vulture Killing Nationwide
In 2003, USDA's Wildlife Services stepped up its take of vultures, killing 2,884 nationwide. More than 2,400 of these were Black Vultures, most of which were taken in Texas and Virginia. These numbers do not include vultures killed by other permitees. ABC, other scientists, and raptor specialists are concerned over rapidly increasing take numbers, and have particularly protested the killing in Virginia, where USDA had originally applied for a permit to kill 4,000 vultures. By comparison, the total nationwide vulture take by Wildlife Services between 1989 and 1991 was just 157 birds. Wildlife Services has refused, even when subjected to Freedom of Information Act requests, to release current data on vulture kills in Virginia in 2004.
New Radar Technology Used By Ornithologists
The Nature Conservancy has teamed up with NASA scientists for a novel use for the latest generation of weather radar technology. When NASA requested that they be permitted to set up a new radar station on the Conservancy's Virginia Coast Reserve, biologists realized that any equipment sensitive enough to detect raindrops could also be used to detect birds. A pilot study is now underway to evaluate the importance of the Delmarva Peninsula as a stopover site for neotropical migratory songbirds. Using mist nets as a way of ground-truthing the data, scientist hope to demonstrate the value of this new tool to bird conservation.
Shrike Back from Brink
Loggerhead Shrike from the Surfbirds Galleries by Robert Hughes
In 1996, when ABC and its partners first intervened under the Endangered Species Act in the Navy's use of San Clemente Island as a bombardment site, the San Clemente race of the Loggerhead Shrike was nearing extinction. Since then, the Navy has gone to extraordinary lengths to assure the recovery of this species, including spending between $1.7 and $2.5 million each year on conservation efforts. By 2000, the Shrike numbers had dwindled to just 13 individual birds in the wild, but with the Navy's extensive efforts, 217 birds were counted in the wild in August 2004. The San Diego Zoo has contributed invaluably to the recovery through an intensive captive-breeding program. Vigilance is still in order though, as introduced rats and cats are still present and FWS has yet to complete a Recovery Plan for this Endangered subspecies.
Stronghold for Lesser Prairie-Chicken Protected
On August 6, 2004, The Nature Conservancy announced plans to purchase the 18,500 acre Creamer Ranch in New Mexico. The Ranch holds more than 40 leks (display sites) of the rare Lesser Prairie-Chicken, making it a key place for this species, whose global range is now confined to just five U.S. states (Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas).
The species has undergone a dramatic decline since the 1800s, due initially to over-hunting and subsequently to conversion of grasslands to agriculture. Once estimated to number two million birds in Texas alone, as few as 10,000 survive today. Seventy percent of its total population and 90% of its New Mexico population - occurs on private lands. As an upland game bird, the species is not protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, nor is it currently afforded protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, though it is regarded as threatened with extinction under IUCN-World Conservation Union criteria. The ranch will be owned by The Nature Conservancy, leased back by the Creamer family, and jointly managed as a working ranch and conservation area.
Roseate Terns Return to Maine Island
For the first time in nearly 100 years, Endangered Roseate Terns have nested on Outer Green Island, five miles offshore from Portland, Maine, in outer Casco Bay. The island is owned by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, but managed by National Audubon Society, which has encouraged the terns by playing recorded vocalizations and placing decoys. The appearance of Roseate Terns on Outer Green Island comes at a time when the species has declined on several other Maine islands, due to predation and other factors. See: www.audubon.org/bird/puffin/island_news.html for more information.
Wind Energy/Birds Workshop
ABC co-sponsored a two day Wind Energy and Birds Workshop in May 2004. The proceedings have now been posted on ABC's Website (www.abcbirds.org/policy/webb_proceedings.pdf), and include excellent summaries of presentations, with a good deal of current information on wind energy and birds. Wind turbine projects have been on hold following expiration of the wind energy tax credit at the end of 2003, but the credit was renewed recently through the end of 2005. This will likely produce an immediate increase in new wind turbine projects.
Posted by Surfbirds at January 12, 2005 01:24 AM
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