Surfbirds News

July 12, 2008

Congressional Hearing Today Investigates Declining Bird Populations

(Washington, D.C. – July 10, 2008) American Bird Conservancy (ABC) will testify today at a hearing before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans to alert Congress to the plight of bird species in the United States. Dr. George Wallace, ABC’s Vice President for International Programs, will ask Congress to act to protect habitats, eliminate threats, and boost funding for bird conservation programs. The hearing will be webcast live at http://resourcescommittee.house.gov. Dr. Wallace’s testimony is available at www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/information/afs_testimony.pdf

“With 127 species of neotropical migratory birds in decline, including 60 species that have plummeted 45% or more in the past 40 years, I wonder if future generations will hear these birds singing each spring,” said Wallace. “Congress can help stem this decline by reauthorizing the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act and boosting funding for this very effective program that conserves migratory birds.”

Prothonotary Warbler from the Surfbirds Galleries, Indianapolis, Indiana 06-25-06 © Tim Avery

Representatives Ron Kind (D-WI) and Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) have introduced H.R. 5756 which reauthorizes the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) at a significantly higher funding level to help halt this decline.

An American Bird Conservancy report, Saving Migratory Birds for Future Generations: The Success of the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act, reveals that habitat loss and fragmentation is the greatest threat to migratory bird populations. In addition, there are other threats contributing to population declines, including poisoning by pesticides, collisions with buildings and communications towers, over-fishing, predation by cats, and global warming.

“Congress can take a number of other steps act to ensure healthy bird populations such as protecting threatened shorebirds like the Red Knot by halting over-harvesting of horseshoe crabs whose eggs the birds rely on to fuel their migration,” said Wallace. “Legislation (H.R. 767) that passed the House to help halt the spread of invasive weeds choking off National Wildlife Refuges is now waiting for approval in the Senate.”

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May 1, 2008

Bird Studies Implicate Lead Bullet Residues as a Possible Threat to Human Health

(Washington, D.C. – April 30, 2008) Studies of several bird species, including the endangered California Condor, have provided extensive documentation of the health hazard posed to birds that ingest lead ammunition residues in the remains of gun-killed animals. Now, new studies suggest that humans who eat game shot with lead ammunition may also be at risk. A conference to further explore these links, “Ingestion of Spent Lead Ammunition: Implications for Wildlife and Humans,” sponsored by The Peregrine Fund, will be held May 12-15, 2008, at Boise State University.

California Condor, Arizona, Bright Angel, Grand Canyon 4th June 2005 © Marcus Lawson

“We’ve been studying the effects of condor lead ingestion for years,” said Rick Watson, Vice President of The Peregrine Fund, a conservation organization that leads the California Condor recovery program in Arizona. “Condors are sickened and some die from eating the remains of shot animals. The possibility that other species, including humans, are also at risk prompted us to organize this conference.”

Recently published research suggests that even very low levels of lead exposure in children can cause learning disabilities, and in adults may increase risk of Alzheimer’s disease and death from stroke or heart attack. Lead is also associated with impaired visual and motor function, growth abnormality, neurological and organ damage, hearing loss, hypertension and reproductive complications. The degree of lead exposure associated with many of these problems is much lower than previously believed.

North Dakota state health officials recently ordered food banks to discard donated venison because it can contain lead fragments. Dr. William Cornatzer, a Bismarck physician and member of The Peregrine Fund board of directors, made the discovery after learning about the problem in a Peregrine Fund report. Cornatzer collected about 100 one-pound packages of ground venison from food pantries in December and ran CT scans on the meat. The North Dakota Health Department confirmed the presence of lead in its own tests. Cornatzer plans to present his findings at the conference.

“The lead studies have once again shown us that we ignore the plight of birds at our own peril,” said Dr. Michael Fry, Director of Conservation Advocacy at American Bird Conservancy. “Condors, eagles, ravens, and other wildlife have given us advanced warning of a problem that we are now learning may also have human health consequences.”

The Peregrine Fund will present results of its own recent investigation on lead in hunter-killed animals at the conference. The group is studying the amount of lead in venison from deer shot with standard lead bullets, which fragment into hundreds of tiny pieces upon impact. Their previously published research has shown that these fragments scatter widely into the meat along the bullet’s path of travel. Preliminary results of The Peregrine Fund’s current study will be given at the conference on May 13. The final report will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

A recent study found elevated levels of lead in Common Ravens during the hunting season for deer and elk in the Yellowstone region. Scavengers, such as ravens and raptors, eat offal piles left by hunters, or animals that were shot and not recovered. These remains contain lead bullet fragments. Derek Craighead and co-authors of the raven study, are expected to present additional data at the conference showing that lead is also reaching elevated levels in Golden Eagles, Bald Eagles, and other scavengers during the hunting season.

“Unfortunately, the study of ravens in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem indicates that poisonings of birds, both scavengers and raptors, by lead bullets is a widespread problem,” said Dr. Fry.

Recently, there has been a great deal of attention on the problem of lead bullets due to the poisonings of endangered California Condors, highlighted by several independent studies that will be presented at the conference. The use of lead bullets has been banned in the California range of the condor, and work continues to protect the species in Arizona through voluntary use by hunters of non-lead ammunition.

“When informed of the severity of the problem for condors, most hunters in Arizona have chosen to use non-lead ammunition to benefit wildlife,” added Watson, “and once the results from the conference become widely understood, hunters may also choose non-lead ammunition to benefit themselves and their families.”

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April 21, 2008

Legislation Introduced to Conserve Rapidly Disappearing Migratory Birds

Representatives Ron Kind (D-WI) and Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) have introduced legislation to fund efforts to help protect migratory birds. The act, H.R. 5756, reauthorizes the existing Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA), but at significantly higher levels, to meet the growing needs of our migrants, many of which are in rapid decline.

“The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act has a proven track record of reversing habitat loss and advancing conservation strategies for the broad range of Neotropical birds that populate America and the western hemisphere,” Rep. Kind said. “The public-private partnerships along with the international collaboration it provides are integral to preserving vulnerable bird populations. Expanding this program is vital to achieving conservation goals critical to our environment and economy.”

Olive-sided Flycatcher, Cook,IL, North Pond,Chicago Sep 14th © Steve Huggins

NMBCA supports partnership programs to conserve birds in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean, where approximately five billion birds of over 500 species, including some of the most endangered birds in North America, spend their winters. Projects include activities that benefit bird populations such as habitat restoration, research and monitoring, law enforcement, and outreach and education. Between 2002 and 2007, the program supported 225 projects, coordinated by partners in 44 U.S. states/territories and 34 countries. More than $21 million from NMBCA grants has leveraged over $95 million in partner contributions. Projects involving land conservation have affected about 3 million acres of bird habitat.

“By passing this legislation we can help prevent America’s native birds from disappearing,” said Darin Schroeder, American Bird Conservancy’s Executive Director of Conservation Advocacy. “Nearly half of our songbird population is now in decline or facing serious threats; the good news is that it isn’t too late to turn that around.”

NMBCA currently provides a maximum authorization of $6 million per year; last year Congress appropriated $4.5 million, a $500 thousand increase from the previous year. Under the new law, that amount would increase to $20 million by 2015. Grants require matching funds from other non-federal sources, and are distributed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Agency staff report that they currently receive many more requests for high quality conservation projects than they can currently provide grants for. FWS lists 341 bird species as Neotropical migrants: http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NMBCA/BirdList.shtm

“The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act is helping ensure that shorebirds and songbirds that migrate through Maryland have healthy and abundant habitat so they can keep returning here each year,” said Rep. Gilchrest. “Just as importantly, this federal program is a good value for taxpayers, leveraging over four dollars in partner contributions for every one that we spend.”

Of the 178 continental bird species included on the American Bird Conservancy/Audubon WatchList of birds of highest conservation concern, over one-third, 69 species, are Neotropical migrants. At least 29 species of these migratory birds are experiencing significant population declines. Several species, the Cerulean Warbler and Olive-sided Flycatcher, have declined as much as 70% since surveys began in the 1960s.

“Over the years I became aware that I was not only seeing fewer species, but also fewer total numbers of birds,” said Barth Schorre, a nature photographer who from 1977 to 2004 observed spring migrants at a single 3.5 acre site in south Texas. “Looking back through my log books I can see that on a typical spring day in the 1980s, a list of migrant species filled a page to overflowing. More recently I am logging the observations of three or four days on a single page.”

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March 7, 2008

Last Refuge of Rediscovered Fuertes’s Parrot Acquired by Conservationists

Roving Classroom Helps Rare Parrot Once Feared Extinct

(Washington, D.C. – March 5, 2008) American Bird Conservancy’s partner group Fundación ProAves has established the first private protected area for the critically endangered Fuertes’s Parrot. The species, whose population size is estimated at just 160 individuals, lives only in a small area in the Andes of Colombia that is heavily impacted by deforestation.

“Until recently, the Fuertes’s Parrot was feared to be extinct,” said Paul Salaman, American Bird Conservancy’s Director of International Programs. “The species inhabits a cloud forest threatened by clearance for cattle ranching and agriculture. By conserving the remaining patches of forest and taking other steps to help this species, we hope to see its numbers rebound.”

Fuertes’s Parrot. Photo: Fundación ProAves, www.proaves.org.

In 2002, Fundación ProAves’ President Alonso Quevedo found a flock of 14 Fuertes’s Parrots (or Indigo-winged Parrots), and confirmed the survival of a species that had last been seen in 1911.

The 1,500 acre reserve is in the same area, and at the core of a site identified by the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) as essential to maintain this species. The AZE, a coalition of biodiversity conservation organizations from around the world, prioritizes protection for endangered and critically endangered species, such as the Fuertes’s Parrot, that are in their last remaining refuge.

The reserve, a joint project of American Bird Conservancy, ProAves, and IUCN NL/SPN, sponsored by the Netherlands Postcode Lottery, and supported by Robert Giles and Robert Wilson, consolidates a 5,000 acre zone of protected lands with the municipality of Genova in the department of Quindío. A management plan and guidance on how to conserve the Fuertes’s Parrot have been developed for the area, and an education and outreach program to local communities is underway.

“Public education together with forest protection is critical for the long term conservation of the Fuertes’s Parrot,” said Alonso Quevedo. “Since 2005, the ProAves ‘Parrot Bus’ has brought the conservation message to communities across the Central Andes, the priority zone for threatened parrots and biodiversity in Colombia.”
The Parrot Bus has proven to be a practical way of reaching the remotest rural communities and represents an important mechanism for gaining support for conservation actions. The Parrot Bus helps to protect Fuertes’s Parrot and acts as a mobile environmental education classroom. Since its first tour in 2005 it has reached over 70,000 children and adults who have attended demonstrations and workshops, and received information on the conservation of birds and their habitats. This education project has been made possible by support from the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund.

Posted by Surfbirds at 6:58 AM | Comments (0)

October 20, 2007

President Bush Announces New Initiative to Conserve Birds

(Washington, D.C.) President George W. Bush is expected to outline a series of new conservation initiatives to benefit birds while speaking at an event Saturday morning October 20 at the Patuxent Research Refuge in Maryland. Many bird species are in decline and will require collaboration between governments, conservation groups and private landowners to restore the habitats on which they depend.

The critically endangered Cerulean Warbler © Stuart Elsom from Surfbirds Galleries

“We appreciate that President Bush and the First Lady understand the value of birds and the need to boost conservation efforts,” said George Fenwick, President of American Bird Conservancy who represents the bird conservation community at the event. “Birds don’t recognize boundaries – geographic or political. All Americans will welcome the President’s initiative to conserve wild birds.”

Two-thirds of the bird species that breed in or migrate through the U.S. have declining populations. Habitat loss and poor habitat management threaten these species, and without improved effort they will continue to decline. The Cerulean Warbler, which breeds in the eastern forests of North America and winters in South America, and a species American Bird Conservancy is working hard to conserve, has declined 80% in the last forty years.

“Like the proverbial canary in the coalmine, the decline of so many bird species is an indicator of the many environmental challenges society now faces,” said Fenwick. “But, as the recovery of the American Bald Eagle has proven, we can reverse population declines with concerted effort, cooperation, and a can-do spirit.”

Not all of the details have yet been made available but we expect the initiative may include:

Providing additional resources for Joint Ventures, 18 public-private regional partnerships that set conservation priorities and leverage funding from government and private sources to acquire and manage key habitats.
Partnering with Mexico to protect wintering habitats for over 200 species of migratory birds.
Becoming a signatory to the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP).
Creating a “State of the Birds” report to measure environmental health and conservation progress.
Cleaning up marine debris which is harming seabirds and other marine life.
Increasing conservation incentives for private landowners found in the Farm Bill and other programs.
Expanding support for National Wildlife Refuges which provide essential habitat for hundreds of bird species in the U.S.

“This initiative will build on and expand many of the most effective conservation programs such as Joint Ventures and the Conservation Reserve Program,” said Fenwick. “Additional resources for these programs will make a tremendous difference.”

The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, ACAP, is a multilateral agreement which seeks to conserve albatrosses and petrels. ACAP urges member nations to minimize seabird bycatch by fishermen, protect the birds’ nesting and foraging areas, and confront other threats that jeopardize species listed under the agreement. Nineteen out of 22 species of albatrosses are regarded as threatened due to a variety of causes, including mortality form longline fishing, lead poisoning, loss of nesting habitat, and predation of eggs and chicks by introduces animals.

Posted by Surfbirds at 10:52 PM | Comments (0)

October 18, 2007

Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Bill to Protect Endangered California Condors

(Washington, D.C., October 13, 2007) California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
signed legislation today intended to protect the endangered California Condor.
There have been 276 documented cases of lead poisoning of California Condors
since 2000, and a dozen deaths possibly linked to lead. Only 127 of the birds
currently fly free in the wild, 70 of them in California.

California Condor, Arizona, Bright Angel, Grand Canyon 4th June 2005 © Marcus Lawson from Surfbirds Galleries

We very much appreciate that Gov. Schwarzenegger chose to do what’s right for
the California Condor by signing this bill into law,” said Dr. Michael Fry,
American Bird Conservancy’s Director of Conservation Advocacy. “Gov.
Schwarzenegger is very pro-hunting and pro-gun rights. His signing this bill
is a confirmation that this law is not anti-gun – it is an anti-lead measure.
Non-toxic, lead-free ammunition is widely available, and hunters are able to
obtain ammunition that will not poison condors if they eat bullet fragments
left in carcasses in the field.”

The California Senate and Assembly recently passed and now Gov. Schwarzenegger
has signed into law the Ridley-Tree Condor Preservation Act (Assembly Bill 821,
proposed by Pedro Nava, D-Santa Barbara), an historic protection measure for
the condors. The act mandates non-toxic bullets for big-game hunting in condor
habitat, and will significantly reduced the risk of lead poisoning of condors
in California.

Posted by Surfbirds at 7:11 AM | Comments (0)

July 21, 2007

Lear’s Macaw Making a Remarkable Comeback in Protected Reserve

New Survey Finds Species on Brink of Extinction Growing in Numbers – Now Up to 750 birds

(Washington, D.C. – July 18, 2007) The Lear’s Macaw, one of the most spectacular of the world’s parrots, now numbers more than 750 birds thanks to the protection of the species’ primary breeding area in Brazil. The Lear’s Macaw had only 70 surviving individuals left in the wild in late 1980’s.

“This is a remarkable success story – a species on the brink of extinction is now rebounding because its nesting grounds were protected,” said Michael J. Parr, Vice President of American Bird Conservancy (ABC) and co-author of A Guide to the Parrots of the World.

The count of the Lear’s Macaw population was undertaken by Fundação Biodiversitas staff in June 2007 at the Canudos Biological Station in Brazil, a reserve supported by ABC. A total of 751 individuals were counted as they flew out of the canyons where they roost and nest to their licuri palm feeding areas. The global population in 1987 was just 70 birds, the 2003 census was 455, and until last month’s count, the current population was estimated at 600.

The Lear’s Macaw is found only in the state of Bahia in northeastern Brazil, where it nests on spectacular sandstone cliffs and feeds primarily on licuri palm nuts. The species is currently threatened by hunting and the illegal pet trade.

With the support of ABC, Biodiversitas has acquired properties to expand the Canudos Biological Station to a 3,600 acre nature reserve, a ten-fold increase from its original size. Currently, this represents the sole protected area for this Critically Endangered species.

“The protection of such a vital site for the Lear’s Macaw, through the expansion of the Canudos Biological Station, is a huge step towards the preservation of the species,” said Eduardo Figueiredo, Coordinator of the Biodiversitas Lear’s Macaw Conservation Program. “The growing population confirms how essential it is to protect an endangered species’ habitat.”

For 18 years, Biodiversitas has protected the Lear’s Macaw colony in the state of Bahia. Now the conservation group is implementing protective measures for the reserve, and aims to secure additional dry forest areas that are vital for the species feeding. In addition, the project involves extensive environmental education, through both ecotourism and improving pride and understanding of the natural ecosystem among local people.

The Lear’s Macaw and the protection of its habitat are priorities for the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE), a global initiative that seeks to protect threatened species that depend on single sites for their survival. The goal of the Alliance is to create a front line of defense against extinction by eliminating threats and restoring habitat to allow species populations to rebound.

“This spectacular blue macaw is on the road to recovery but still faces several severe threats to its existence in the wild before it can be removed from the AZE list,” said Michael Parr. “To consolidate protection efforts, expand the reserve and secure a bright future for the species, an additional $140,000 is needed to complete the Lear’s Macaw conservation project.”

Posted by Surfbirds at 10:12 PM | Comments (0)

June 27, 2007

Bald Eagle to be Removed from Endangered Species List

Growing Population Heralds Conservation Success

(Washington, D.C. – June 27, 2007) The administration will announce tomorrow that the Bald Eagle will be removed from the Endangered Species Act’s list of threatened species.

“All Americans have reason to be proud. Our nation’s symbol, the Bald Eagle is once again thriving,” said George Fenwick, President of American Bird Conservancy (ABC). “The conservation of the Bald Eagle is a true success story and a reflection of the concern Americans have for the environment. We strongly support delisting the eagle.”

Bald Eagle © Mark Hows

Although the Bald Eagle is our national symbol, eagles were hunted and poisoned until the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act was passed in 1940. By this time, only a small population remained, and eagles had completely disappeared from many states. By 1963, only 417 pairs of Bald Eagles remained in the lower 48 states. Then, DDT caused the remaining populations outside of Alaska to plummet.

“The Endangered Species Act works,” said Fenwick. “Because of this safety net, a flourishing legacy of Bald Eagles can be passed on to future generations.”
Bald Eagles were declared an endangered species in 1967 under a law that preceded the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Congress banned most uses of DDT in 1972 and the eagle began to rebound. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) also stepped up efforts to protect habitat and reintroduce eagles in areas where they had been extirpated.

FWS changed the Bald Eagle’s status from endangered to threatened in 1995 to reflect its growing numbers. The Bald Eagle population in the lower 48 states and the District of Columbia is now 11,040 pairs. This is a nearly 1,300-pair increase from the 2006 estimate of 9,789 pairs according to the Center for Biological Diversity.

While the Bald Eagle is perhaps the ESA’s most famous success story, 44% of bird species listed under the Act have seen increases in their populations. American Birds: An Endangered Species Success Story, a report by ABC, highlights many conservation triumphs, with nine species having experienced more than tenfold population increases since they were first protected by the Act. These include the Bald Eagle, Brown Pelican, Peregrine Falcon, Aleutian Canada Goose, California Condor, San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike, and Whooping Crane.

The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act will be the principal safeguard for Bald Eagles after they are removed from the endangered species list. FWS recently issued new regulations to ensure that eagle populations are monitored and that they will be sufficiently protected after delisting.

“ABC commends the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for working cooperatively with national conservation organizations in ensuring that Bald Eagles, though no longer on the threatened species list, will receive appropriate federal protection so their numbers will continue to grow,” said Fenwick.

Posted by Surfbirds at 10:37 PM | Comments (0)

June 5, 2007

Should the last Ivory-Bills be collected?

Millions of dead bird specimens lie in trays in the world’s museums. These collections form the foundation of much of today’s ornithological knowledge, but recent events have led us to conclude that changes are needed in some specimen collecting activities.

We recently spoke with one of the scientists involved with the Ivory-billed Woodpecker search effort about the problem of collecting extremely rare species as scientific specimens. We were advised not to touch this sensitive issue that has deeply divided some conservationists and scientists...

When we replied, “So you wouldn’t mind if the last Ivory-bills were collected?” he immediately recoiled and said emphatically, “Yes, I would!” Collecting the last Ivory-bills may sound absurd, but elsewhere in the world, species that are down to tiny populations are still being collected.

ABC believes that from this point forward, the world’s rarest birds should not be collected, especially given recent advances in genetics and digital recording media. As an ethical foundation to collecting, the survival of a species or subspecies should take precedence over the reference value of a skin or specimen. We were struck by some recent examples that provoked our thinking on this topic.

On 6 January 2004, a team of biologists from ABC’s Colombian partner group, Fundación ProAves, trapped a distinctive brush-finch during an exploration of the Yariguíes mountains. The description of the bird, now recognized as a subspecies new to science, was published in June 2006 in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club. The description is noteworthy in that the type specimen was released unharmed after a DNA sample and photographs had been taken. It was the first time a live type specimen had been used for the description of a new bird in the Americas, and follows last year’s approval of the technique by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature.

By contrast, a collecting expedition conducted by another institution during the summer of 2006 visited a previously little studied region of northern Peru, and following up on reports of the Endangered Jocotoco Antpitta there, collected two of only three known individuals in Peru. Even with the most optimistic estimations of the Ecuadorian population, this represents at least 1% of the species ‘ maximum global population of 200 birds - perhaps much more - and two-thirds of the known, recently-discovered Peruvian population.

Jocotoco Antpitta, Ecuador, Tapichalaca 11 May 2007 © Mark Harper

In another recent case, approximately seven Recurve-billed Bushbirds were collected in Santander, Colombia, shortly after this Endangered species was discovered there in 2005. The bushbird had been lost to science for forty years, before being rediscovered in western Venezuela in 2004, and then in Colombia the following year. Despite its rarity, this species is already well represented in the world’s museum collections from historical specimens.

Given that habitat loss is the most significant threat to most species, why is it important that we also consider the mortality of what might be only be a tiny fraction of their populations caused by collecting? Firstly, for some species it is not at all clear how large their populations are, and the loss of genetic diversity caused by the removal of even a few individuals could be costly. Also, the most easily accessible sites for rare species are where collections are most likely to take place; these are also likely to be the sites where ecotourism based around these species could help to pay for habitat protection. More importantly though, as demonstrated by the Colombian brush-finch example, the collection of these specimens is no longer necessary to establish the validity of species (ABC believes that potentially new species should be assumed rare until proven otherwise).

ABC and others are investing significantly in the conservation of species, such as those mentioned above, many of which are teetering on the brink of global extinction. It is a philosophical contradiction for national governments and conservation organizations and their donors to invest in protecting these birds while others are shooting them for collections. It is ABC’s mission to ensure these species survive. In recognition of the contribution to ornithological knowledge that collecting has made historically, we begin our approach to this issue by calling on our friends in conservation and ornithology to suggest how we might find common ground that both enables us to advance science and protect species. We look forward to hearing from you with your views on this topic.

Posted by Surfbirds at 8:10 AM | Comments (0)

May 12, 2007

Ten Billion Migratory Birds Arrive in North America but Threats Increasing

International Migratory Bird Day is Saturday May 12

(Washington, D.C. – May 10, 2007) Millions of Americans enjoy the return of migratory songbirds and shorebirds each spring – an annual event celebrated by International Migratory Bird Day which this year falls on Saturday May 12.

However, the return of fewer birds of many vulnerable species is prompting concern among conservation groups.

"This weekend sees the peak of spring songbird migration across much of North America. The marvel of millions of migratory birds returning each year is something to pass on to future generations – by taking action now we can ensure this great natural phenomena can be celebrated by our children and their children,” said Dr. George Fenwick, President of ABC.

More than one third of the 650 bird species that breed in the U.S. now have declining populations, are restricted to small ranges, or face serious threats. Conservationists are particularly concerned about species such as the Cerulean Warbler, a beautiful blue and white songbird that has lost as much as 70% of its population in the past 40 years and which has become a flagship species for songbird declines. Other species of particular concern are the eastern Red Knot, a shorebird which has declined by 90% since the early 1990s, and the Long-billed Curlew, which has lost over one-third of its breeding habitat to development.

Each year, an estimated 2.5 billion birds are also killed inadvertently in the U.S. due to human activities. Such bird mortality includes collisions with lighted buildings and communication towers, pesticide poisoning, and free-roaming cat predation. Two million acres of bird habitat are also lost to development annually. New concerns over the potential impacts of climate change, especially among coastal, alpine, and Arctic bird species; as well as the spread of corn for biofuels which may replace vital bird habitats; and poorly placed wind farms that can kill thousands of birds are also causing serious concern. The combination of mass mortality and serious habitat loss poses a grave risk to many bird species across all regions and habitats.

“We’ve all heard of the canary in the coalmine – it is clearly time to heed a warning here” said Mike Parr, Vice President of American Bird Conservancy (ABC).
To counter these threats ABC and its allies in the Bird Conservation Alliance are calling for increased federal funding for bird conservation programs – such as the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act - and engaging in a range of conservation actions aimed at reversing songbird declines. Please see a fact sheet on protecting the Cerulean Warbler and other migratory birds at
https://www.abcbirds.org/protectsongbirds.htm

International Migratory Bird Day itself is highlighting the threat posed to birds by climate change. Other initiatives aimed at conserving birds include the North American Bird Conservation Initiative, Partners in Flight, and the Bird Conservation Alliance. These programs and partnerships are building capacity among both public and private organizations to protect birds across the entire U.S. landscape. ABC also leads programs to reduce pesticide poisoning, to minimize cat predation, to halt the impacts of communications towers on birds, to protect key sites for birds, and to safeguard winter habitat in Central and South America for North American migratory species and rare endemic birds.

Posted by Surfbirds at 7:36 PM | Comments (0)

April 26, 2007

Next U.S. Species to go Extinct May be Two Hawaiian Birds

Global Warming Heightens Threat to Their Survival

(Washington, D.C. – April 25, 2007) A dramatic drop in sightings of the Akekee and the Akikiki, two very rare birds on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai, is raising concern that these species may be on the brink of extinction. Beginning this month the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources will conduct population surveys of forest birds on Kauai to see if the suspected decline is taking place.

“The strongest available measures such as captive-breeding, fencing out and removing invasive species, and emergency listing under the Endangered Species Act, are all necessary due to the recent history of Hawaiian birds in similar circumstances going extinct,” said George Fenwick, President of American Bird Conservancy (ABC).

The Akekee possesses an unusual bill in which the lower mandible is bent to one side allowing the birds to open up leaf and flower buds in search of bugs. Photo by Jim Denny kauaibirds.com

Hawaii leads the U.S. in the total number of endangered and threatened species with 329, and in extinctions – with over 1,000 plants and animals having disappeared since humans colonized the islands. When Captain Cook landed on the islands in 1778, there were at least 71 endemic bird species. Since then, 26 of those species have gone extinct, and 32 more are now listed under the Endangered Species Act as threatened or endangered. Several Hawaiian bird species, the Poouli and the Ou are assumed to have recently gone extinct before captive-breeding or other protection measures could be implemented.


Fewer than 1,500 Akikiki remain in the wild and its population continues to decline. Photo by Jim Denny kauaibirds.com

David Kuhn, Doug Pratt, and Alvaro Jararillo, who lead birding tours on Kauai, recently alerted scientists, state officials, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to their concerns about the drop in sightings of the once relatively abundant Akekee.

“I and others paying attention to Kauai’s endangered endemics have supposed that the Akikiki would be the next species to disappear – now it is more like a race to the finish,” said David Kuhn a birdwatching tour guide and observer of bird populations on Kauai. “While the Akikiki de-population and range contraction has been linear and relatively slow, Akekee is suddenly crashing. At this point both species can still be found with assiduous listening and searching—how long this might be is anyone’s guess.”

“Disappointing birding along the Alakai Swamp trails. No sightings, and heard only a couple of possible calls of the Akekee,” said Doug Pratt describing a tour he led in March. “This bird was common when I was last here in fall of 2004, and has apparently crashed drastically in the last three years.”

The Akikiki, a small bi-colored bird that lives in wet montane forests in central Kauai, has less than 1,500 remaining individuals and now occupies less than 10% of its former range. Surveys indicate that the population declined 64% in its core area in the Alakai Swamp from 1970 to 2000 due to habitat loss and alteration, the introduction of invasive species, mosquito-born diseases such as avian malaria and pox, and the impacts of hurricanes. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced in 2005 that the Akikiki should be officially designated an endangered species, but declined to move forward with the listing for budgetary reasons.

The Akekee, a small yellow and green bird that lives in the high-elevation rainforests of Kauai, was until recently thought to have a stable population, estimated at 20,000 individuals. Like the Akikiki, the Akekee is threatened by habitat loss, invasive species and disease.

Of particular concern is evidence that rising average temperatures could allow mosquitoes to survive at higher-elevations, exposing the birds to deadly diseases. Researchers for the U.S. Geological Survey have concluded that even a small increase in temperatures in Hawaii’s forests will eliminate much of the mosquito-free safe zone that once existed for Kauai’s birds.

“American Bird Conservancy’s research has shown how effective concerted endangered species conservation can be. The Pacific nation of New Zealand has taken the decision to invest in protecting its unique species, and has been succeeding while the U.S. has stood by and watched as species after species has disappeared from Hawaii,” said Mike Parr American Bird Conservancy’s Vice President. “It is time to stand up and fully support and expand the excellent conservation programs already underway in Hawaii so these great birds are around for our children and grandchildren to enjoy.”

Posted by Surfbirds at 6:58 AM | Comments (0)

April 6, 2007

Spectacular Courtship Display of Rare Hummingbird Filmed For First Time

Washington DC, 5 April 2007. American Bird Conservancy (ABC) today released the first ever film of the spectacular courtship display of the Marvelous Spatuletail, a highly endangered hummingbird that lives in the mountains of northern Peru. The video was shot by wildlife filmmaker Greg Homel of Natural Elements Productions. To view a segment of this extremely rare footage, please click on the graphic below:

The Marvelous Spatuletail is unique among hummingbirds in that it has only four tail feathers. The tail of the adult male is more than twice as long as its body and ends in two great spoon-shaped ‘spatules’ that radiate a metallic purplish gloss. The males compete for females by whirling their long tails around their bodies in an amazing courtship display, which had previously only been witnessed by a few ornithologists, and had never been filmed. This display is considered to be one of the most bizarre in the bird world - the males repeatedly attack each other in the air, contorting their bodies and tails into strange shapes at incredible speed.

“The Marvelous Spatuletail is the ultimate hummingbird for most birdwatchers because of its rarity, spectacular tail, and vibrant plumage,” said Mike Parr, Vice President of American Bird Conservancy. “It is also the focus of conservation efforts in an area that is rapidly becoming one of the birding hotspots in South America.”

ABC is working with its Peruvian partner group Asociación Ecosistemas Andinos (ECOAN) to protect the spatuletail, which is considered to be one of the world’s most endangered hummingbirds. The groups have set up a new protected area under a conservation easement, are developing a nature tourism program to benefit local communities, and conducting reforestation programs in the area.

“Conservation is not the role of single individuals but of our entire society. When you see communities that understand such challenges and sign such commitments as this conservation easement, you see progress and feel there is hope,” said Constantino Aucca Chutas, President of ECOAN.
To support the conservation of the spatuletail, visit https://www.abcbirds.org/membership/donate_spt.cfm

The Spatuletail is also becoming a flagship species for tourism in the area. It has been declared the “Regional Bird” for Peru’s Amazonas region, and is featured in the Commission for the Promotion of Peru’s tourism brochures and the Northern Peru Birding Route (www.perubirdingroutes.com).

Birdwatchers wishing to search for the spatuletail should contact Hugo Arnal at American Bird Conservancy, abc@abcbirds.org

Posted by Surfbirds at 3:59 AM | Comments (0)

March 23, 2007

Long Sought After Bird Spotted in Peruvian Nature Reserve

Endangered species known only from captured individuals seen in wild for first time.

The extremely rare Long-whiskered Owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi), a species that wasn’t discovered until 1976, and until now was only known from a few specimens captured in nets after dark, has been seen in the wild for the first time by researchers monitoring the Area de Conservación Privada de Abra Patricia – Alto Nieva, a private conservation area in Northern Peru. The sighting is considered a holy grail of South American ornithology and has not been accomplished in thirty years, despite the efforts of hundreds of birders.

The species is among the world’s smallest owls. It is so distinct that it has been named in its own genus: Xenoglaux meaning “strange owl” on account of the long wispy feathers or whiskers that stream out from its wild-looking reddish-orange eyes. The owl inhabits the dense undergrowth of mountain forests in a remote part of northern Peru.

“Seeing the Long-whiskered Owlet is a huge thrill,” said David Geale of Asociación Ecosistemas Andinos (ECOAN) who was part of the research team. “Its population is estimated to be less than 1,000 birds, and possibly as few as 250. Due to the rapid destruction of its forest habitat and its tiny range, it is inferred that the species is in serious decline. Until recently, the owlet’s key habitat was completely unprotected.”

The Long-whiskered Owlet has previously been captured by researchers on at least three occasions, but until 2002 nothing was known of the bird’s natural history. At that point, calls were recorded from a captive bird, but its biology still remained virtually unknown. Last month, researchers Geale and Juvenal Ccahuana, rangers of Abra Patricia and monitors of the MNBCA program from Alto Mayo, encountered the owlet three times during daylight hours and recorded its calls frequently at night. Several photographs were also taken of a bird captured in a mist-net and later released onto a tree branch where it posed for photographs before disappearing into the night. These additional photos are available at http://www.abcbirds.org/whiskeredowlpic.htm and high resolution copies are available upon request.

“The creation of the Area de Conservación Privada de Abra Patricia – Alto Nieva, located in the Northern end of the Peruvian Yungas ecosystem, provides protection for the key site for the Long-whiskered Owlet,” said Hugo Arnal, American Bird Conservancy’s (ABC) Tropical Andes Program Director. “By establishing a reserve and protecting the owlet’s forest habitat, ABC and its partner ECOAN are giving many other species a chance to survive as well.”

The northeastern section of the Peruvian Yungas, comprises habitat for 317 resident bird species, of which 23 are considered globally threatened. The conservation area also protects much of the known habitat for the endangered Ochre-fronted Antpitta, and has been declared a priority by the Alliance for Zero Extinction. Other endemics in the area include the endangered Royal Sunangel (a hummingbird), the rare and recently-described Johnson’s Tody-Tyrant, and the endangered Ash-throated Antwren.

Several songbirds that breed in North America such as the beautiful Blackburnian Warbler also use these forests during the winter. Other migratory species include the Broad-winged Hawk, Swainson’s Hawk, Swainson's Thrush, and Alder Flycatcher. In total, 29 neotropical migrant species use this area, of which 13 are of conservation concern. Nearly 98% of the reserve consists of well-preserved stands of typical Yungas forests, and it is also considered a rich area for orchids.

ABC’s work in the region is supported by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Conoco Phillips, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and Robert Wilson. Birdwatchers wishing to search for the owl should contact Hugo Arnal at American Bird Conservancy (see: www.abcbirds.org). Access is strictly limited to small groups and the chances of success though better than in the past are still considered very low for anything but the luckiest groups.

American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is the only 501(c)(3) organization that works solely to conserve native wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. ABC is a membership organization that is consistently awarded a top, four-star rating by the independent group, Charity Navigator.

Posted by Surfbirds at 5:51 AM | Comments (0)

March 7, 2007

Land Purchase Helps to Save Endangered Parrot

(Washington DC, March 5, 2007) American Bird Conservancy has teamed up with the Brazilian conservation group Fundação Biodiversitas and the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund to purchase more than 3,000 acres of vital habitat to protect the Lear’s Macaw, one of the worlds’ most endangered birds. The project will protect key nesting sites; ensure their protection through hiring of forest guards, and support education efforts in local communities.

“The Critically Endangered Lear's Macaw is one of the rarest and most spectacular of the world’s parrots,” said George Fenwick, President of American Bird Conservancy. “We are grateful for the support of the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund and the outstanding work of Biodiversitas to conserve a species that is on the brink of extinction.”

The Lear’s Macaw and the protection of its habitat are priorities for the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE), a global initiative that aims to protect critically endangered and endangered species that depend on single sites for their survival. Recent surveys suggest that only 451 individual macaws survive in the state of Bahia in northeast Brazil.

“The protection of such a vital site for the Lear’s Macaw, through the expansion of the Canudos Biological Station, is a huge step towards the preservation of the species,” said Eduardo Figueiredo. “Important partners such as American Bird Conservancy and Disney are fundamental to keep us working for the conservation of such a wonderful and threatened bird.”

“This large blue macaw faces several severe threats to its continued existence in the wild,” said Michael J. Parr, Vice President of American Bird Conservancy and co-author of A Guide to the Parrots of the World. “It requires constant protection from the illegal wild bird trade while the licuri palm, on which the bird depends, is becoming increasingly scarce. They key area for the species includes sandstone cliffs where it roosts and nests and where it is vulnerable to illegal trappers.”

Posted by Surfbirds at 8:09 AM | Comments (0)

March 5, 2007

Cerulean Warbler Campaign

Whilst the technicians have been working on moving Surfbirds to a faster, stronger server, we have been helping American Bird Conservancy with their Cerulean Warbler Campaign. Please download an email signature icon or avatar to enliven your signature in email messages and online discussion forums and help save the Cerulean Warbler.

Please right-click the images of your choosing and choose "Copy", "Save Image", or "Save Picture As"

Some instructions on how to add email signatures at About.com

If you have web-based email such as Yahoo!, Hotmail or Surfbirder email (or want to just put one of these on your blogs), then copy and paste the html code below the icon you want.

Email signature icon

html code <a href="http://www.abcbirds.org" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.abcbirds.org/images/ceruleansignature.gif" alt="save the cerulean warbler" height="72" width="216" border="0"></a>

html code <a href="http://www.abcbirds.org" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.abcbirds.org/images/cerw-gif.gif" alt="save the cerulean warbler" border="0"></a>

Avatars

Robert Royse kindly allowed use of his superb Cerulean Warbler images for the ABC campaign.

Posted by Surfbirds at 2:19 AM | Comments (0)

March 1, 2007

American Bird Conservancy Report Documents Top 20 Most Threatened Bird Habitats

Multi-Billion Dollar Benefits of Bird Watching At Risk

(Washington, D.C.) Significant portions of the American landscape are no longer providing adequate habitat for many native bird species, according to the Top 20 Most Threatened Bird Habitats in the United States, a new report by American Bird Conservancy (ABC). ABC’s report is available online at www.abcbirds.org/habitatreport.pdf

“Millions of Americans love to watch birds, whether on organized outings or in their own backyards,” said George Fenwick, President of American Bird Conservancy. “Without action to conserve these dwindling habitats, there will be fewer and fewer bird species for everyone to enjoy.”

Hawaiian forests topped the list as the most threatened bird habitat, where 30 Hawaiian birds are listed under the Endangered Species Act as Endangered or Threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Rainforests in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, Florida wetlands, longleaf pine forests in the Southeast, tallgrass prairies in the Midwest, sagebrush in the Intermountain West, coastal beaches, and seabird nesting islands were all among the most threatened habitats.

Hawaiian Forests are the most threatened habitats from Surfbirds Galleries by A. Birch

The primary causes for the loss of the 20 most threatened bird habitats include invasive species, sprawling development, fire suppression, agriculture, deforestation, poor habitat management, overgrazing, pesticides, and water diversion. The report identifies threats in each habitat, lists birds of high conservation concern, and offers solutions and opportunities to restore lost habitat.

Bird watching and other wildlife viewing by 66 million Americans contribute $43 billion annually to the nation’s economy, according to a 2006 report by the Outdoor Industry Foundation. Retail sales of birding gear, birding trips, and state and federal tax receipts comprise a substantial portion of this.

“As well as a biological imperative, it makes good economic sense to conserve bird habitats,” said Fenwick. “In addition to the direct economic benefits of bird watching, birds play an important role in maintaining the ecosystems on which humans ultimately depend.”

The most threatened habitats include:

1. Hawaiian Forests

2. Open Ocean/Sea Bird Nesting Islands

3. Sagebrush (WA, OR, ID, MT, WY, and NV)

4. Edwards Plateau Savannah (Central Texas)

5. Southwest Riparian (AZ, NM, CA, NV, and TX)

6. Tallgrass Prairies (IL, IN, OH, MO, KS, and IA)

7. Coastal Beaches and Marshes (U.S. coastline)

8. Gulf Coast Prairie (LA and TX)

9. Lake Wales Oak Ridge Scrub (Central Florida)

10. Mixed Longleaf Pine/Bottomland Hardwood Forest (NC, SC, GA, FL, MS, and AL)

11. Great Plains Wetlands (MN, ND, SD, NE)

12. California’s Central Valley (CA)

13. Florida Wetlands (FL)

14. Chaparral (CA)

15. Shortgrass Prairie (KS, NE, CO, OK, TX, and NM)

16. Bottomland Hardwood Forest (LA, AR, MS, and TN)

17. Ponderosa Pine (MT, ID, OR, and WA)

18. Oak Savannah (OR, WA, and CA)

19. Early Successional/Eastern Deciduous Forests (eastern states)

20. Northwest Rainforest (AK, BC, OR, WA, and CA)

The Top 20 Most Threatened Bird Habitats in the U.S. is available at www.abcbirds.org/habitatreport.pdf

Posted by Surfbirds at 9:02 AM | Comments (0)

January 24, 2007

New Coffee Helps Rare Songbird

American Bird Conservancy Launches Shade Grown Coffee to Protect Cerulean Warblers

(Washington, D.C. January 22) American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is pleased to announce that Cerulean Warbler Conservation Coffee is now available for sale to the public. Cerulean Warbler Conservation Coffee is shade grown coffee from plantations in Central Colombia that the Cerulean Warbler - a declining songbird that nests in North America - depends on during the winter. Proceeds from the coffee sales will be used to maintain the shade plantations and an adjacent Cerulean Warbler forest reserve.

“By purchasing this premium coffee today, you are helping traditional coffee cooperatives maintain shade plantations, and preserving habitat for the Cerulean Warbler and other migratory songbirds,” said George Fenwick, President of American Bird Conservancy.

Shade grown coffee plantations are at risk of being converted to sun coffee and other cash crops, resulting in a loss of forest cover and bird habitat. The loss of these plantations is cited as a reason for the bird’s decline.

“This is the best Colombian coffee I have tasted, and I have been roasting coffee since 1969,”said Paul Katzeff, roastmaster for Thanksgiving Coffee. “The flavor is deeply blessed with heavy body, silky smooth notes of cashew and apricot, and has a long fruity finish. If you like coffee ice cream, you will love this classic Colombian coffee.”

ABC has teamed up with its Colombian partner, Fundacion ProAves, local growers’ cooperative COOPERAN, American Birding Association, and the Thanksgiving Coffee Company to bring this high-quality, shade grown and organic coffee to market. Cerulean Warbler Conservation Coffee can be ordered from www.abcbirds.org or by calling 800-648-6491.

“We at ABA have long been involved in the shade grown coffee market with Thanksgiving Coffee and are pleased to now have the opportunity to also work with ABC, Fundacion ProAves, and COOPERAN in a meaningful effort to protect Cerulean Warbler and other songbird habitat in Colombia. Maintaining shade plantations and the forest reserve may be our last real chance to reverse the negative population trends among these birds,” said Richard Payne, President of the American Birding Association.

“The Cerulean Warbler is North America’s fastest declining neotropical migratory songbird - loss and fragmentation of its wintering habitat is a major reason why its population is down 80% since 1966,” said Fenwick. “ABC is working to reverse this trend by bringing shade grown coffee benefiting birds and local communities to market and by raising funds to conserve the warbler across its range.”

Posted by Surfbirds at 6:46 AM | Comments (0)

January 21, 2007

Recently Discovered Species Gain Protection

New Forest Reserve Created for Colombian Rarities

Washington, D.C. (Jan. 18, 2007) – The chestnut-capped piha is an unassuming robin-sized bird restricted to a few tiny remnant forest patches in the Antioquia Department of Colombia, in the Central Cordillera of the Andes. It is so restricted in its distribution that it evaded discovery until 1999, and has been identified by the Alliance for Zero Extinction as a priority conservation species (see www.zeroextinction.org).

Cerulean Warbler will gain from protection

© Aaron Boone from Surfbirds galleries

Affectionately called Arrierito Antioqueño or “little herdsman of Antioquia” by the locals for its call, reminiscent of the whistles made by horsemen herding cattle, this Endangered species hangs on in an area devastated by gold mining in the early 20th Century and subsequently by broad scale deforestation for pasturelands. Only 370 acres of the bird’s habitat previously had been in any way protected, but even this limited sanctuary is at risk from timber extraction clearing the last subtropical forest fragments surrounding it.

Now, support from the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) and partners has allowed for the purchase of further habitat area in a crucial move to protect the chestnut-capped piha and other Endangered species.

“Thanks to the generous support of Conservation International, the IUCN/SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, Robert Wilson, and Robert Giles, ABC has funded the purchase of an additional 1,310 acres, to be owned and managed by Colombian partner Fundación ProAves,” said George Fenwick, the ABC president.

The reserve is also critically important for globally threatened frog species, whose last remaining habitat is diminishing rapidly within the Central Cordillera. Seven vulnerable and four endangered frog species occur within the new reserve, as do five additional species so new to science that they are still awaiting formal descriptions. At least one of these species is believed to be found only at this site, known as La Forzosa, and belongs to one of the most globally threatened amphibian groups, the harlequin toads.

In addition to the piha, the reserve also contains populations of many other rare and restricted birds, including the black tinamou (known from one other site in southern Colombia, and one in central Peru), sharpbill, Stiles’ tapaculo, Parker’s antbird, semi-collared hawk, red-bellied grackle, multicolored tanager, black-and-gold tanager, and a wintering population of the rapidly declining cerulean warbler – a migratory songbird that nests in North America.

“The area is such a remarkable center of micro-endemism that scientists believe more species may be there waiting to be discovered,” said Claude Gascon of Conservation International, who is co-chair of the IUCN/SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. “The new Arrierito Antioqueño Bird Reserve will ensure that the piha, its habitat, and the astonishing biodiversity contained there are better protected and can thrive into the future.”

Posted by Surfbirds at 12:51 AM | Comments (0)

VICTORY FOR BIRDS AND WILDLIFE

EPA to Put Limits on Toxic Rat Poisons
(Washington, D.C., January 17, 2007) In a decision applauded by conservationists, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today published in the Federal Register its proposed mitigation plan for rat poisons that should greatly reduce accidental poisonings of birds and other wildlife. Specifically, EPA will make three of the nine rodenticides restricted use pesticides, which means only certified pesticide applicators can use the chemicals and all over-the-counter sales of the non-restricted rodenticides will now have to be in tamper resistant bait stations.

San Joaquin Kit Fox Vulpes macrotis mutica will benefit

© Philip Precey from Surfbirds galleries

“This is an important victory for birds like eagles and hawks,” said Dr. Michael Fry, Director of American Bird Conservancy’s (ABC) Pesticides and Birds Program. “Over the years thousands of birds of prey, including Golden and Bald Eagles, have been killed as a result of eating dead or dying rodents that have been carelessly poisoned. The new regulations will limit the indiscriminate use of these highly toxic chemicals, and the tamper resistant bait stations will also help prevent up to 15,000 poisonings of children each year.”

ABC, Defenders of Wildlife, the National Pesticides Reform Coalition and other conservation groups have been pressuring the EPA for years to address the threats to wildlife and human health. In 1998, the EPA initiated a special review that has led to today’s mitigation plan.

The three highly toxic pesticides that will no longer be available over the counter are brodifacoum, bromodialone, and difethialone, which have the greatest potential for poisoning wild birds and scavenging mammals as a result of eating poisoned rodents. These will become “restricted use only” and will be available only to certified pest control operators.

“The proposed EPA restrictions will significantly benefit several endangered species including the San Joaquin kit fox, and other wildlife species such as mountain lions and bobcats, each of which have been found poisoned by these chemicals in both suburban and rural areas,” said Caroline Kennedy, Senior Director of Field Conservation for Defenders of Wildlife.

There will be a 60-day comment period on the mitigation plan, followed by a review of comments, and then a rule. The federal register notice is available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-351.pdf

Posted by Surfbirds at 12:47 AM | Comments (0)

December 8, 2006

Hopes Fade for the Survival of the Cozumel Thrasher

A team of researchers, sponsored by American Bird Conservancy (ABC) has failed to find conclusive evidence of any Cozumel Thrashers on the island of Cozumel, off Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, leading to fears that the species may be extinct. Just twenty years ago, the Cozumel Thrasher was common and easily found, but storms and introduced predators, such as cats and boa constrictors, decimated the species. Following Hurricane Gilbert, a Category Five storm that devastated the island in 1988, only one or two sporadic sightings were made.

In 2004, an ABC-sponsored research team located a single bird. Since then, however, two Category Four hurricanes have hit Cozumel and much of the island’s forest cover was demolished. Nevertheless, remnant populations may persist. The Island also holds two other endemic species and 15 endemic subspecies, including the rare Cozumel Great Curassow and Cozumel Roadside Hawk, which were glimpsed during the 2006 survey. Contact: Paul Salaman, American Bird Conservancy, 540/253-5780, psalaman@abcbirds.org

Posted by Surfbirds at 5:05 AM | Comments (0)

November 26, 2006

Global Warming Causes Meltdown for Gray Jay

A 25-year study by scientists at Ohio State University, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society, has revealed that the Gray Jay is being negatively affected by global warming. The Gray Jay inhabits the boreal and sub-alpine forests of Canada and the northern United States. Jays breed so far north that young often hatch before spring thaws. To compensate, adult jays cache enormous amounts of food during the summer, so that food remains available to feed to their young throughout the year. This process relies on sub-zero temperatures, beginning in the fall, to freeze these stores and keep the food fresh through spring.

Gray Jay, Oregon, Mount Hood 24th April 2005 from the Surfbirds Galleries © Ian Boustead

Rising temperatures across North America have meant that this natural refrigeration is not being turned on until later in the year. Food is spoiling, shortages are ensuing, and breeding success is being reduced. According to the researchers, the species is in danger of extirpation from the southern part of its range in southern Canada, New England and the northern Rockies. Scientists predict that average global temperatures could rise by as much as 10oF over the next century, making the Gray Jay a likely bellweather of problems to come for birds and people. For information about the impact of climate change on birds, please see http://www.abcbirds.org/climatechange/ or contact Michael Fry, American Bird Conservancy, 202/234-7181 ext. 205, mfry@abcbirds.org

Posted by Surfbirds at 10:15 PM | Comments (0)

Penguin Population Plummets Due to Overfishing

Humboldt Penguins that breed along the desert coast of Peru and Chile are in trouble. Once numbering over 20 million birds, the species is now one-tenth its former size due to overfishing in the region. Listed as Vulnerable to Extinction on the IUCN Red List, Humboldt Penguins feed in nutrient-rich waters which abound with anchovy and other small fish. This very abundance has attracted commercial fishing fleets that are poorly regulated by the Chilean and Peruvian governments. As fish stocks dwindle, the penguins are failing to breed in ever greater numbers.

The Brookfield Zoo, together with the St. Louis Zoo and the Philadelphia Zoo, has a flourishing Humboldt captive-breeding program, and are helping to monitor the penguin population in the wild. The zoos are also helping pay for guards to prevent poaching of guano, birds, and eggs. They have also petitioned to have one of the main Peruvian breeding sites, Punta San Juan, designated as a Marine Reserve. For more information visit: http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/0.asp?nSection=10&PageID=194&nLinkID=283

Posted by Surfbirds at 10:14 PM | Comments (0)

August 6, 2005

Eastern population of the Red Knot is heading towards extinction

American Bird Conservancy reveals the cause us a dramatic decline in the bird's available food source on its northward migration. Please help them achieve an emergency moratorium on horseshoe crab harvest in the Delaware Bay to protect the Red Knot and other shorebirds. Click Here to Sign Petition

Posted by Surfbirds at 9:06 PM | Comments (0)

June 5, 2005

Northern Californians Asked to Stop Feeding Birds

For the second time in less than a year, the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) asked that people take down their bird feeders to slow the spread of avian disease. In this most recent request, DFG asked residents of Northern California to remove feeders for at least one month, starting on February 10, to help slow an outbreak of salmonellosis, a bacterial disease that is affecting Pine Siskins. Hundreds of dead siskins have been reported in Grass Valley, Eureka, and Santa Cruz County – spanning a distance of some 350 miles.

In July 2004, DFG asked that all bird feeders be removed to slow the spread of the deadly parasite trichomoniasis in Mourning Dove and Band-tailed Pigeon populations (http://www.dfg.ca.gov).

Human contraction of salmonellosis from wild birds is rare, and even less likely when correct precautions are taken (see below). However, pets can contract the disease, especially if they are exposed to bird droppings below the feeders. Pine Siskins contract salmonellosis from each other, most often by eating fecal-contaminated food, but also by direct contact with the insides of contaminated tube feeders.

Pine Siskin at feeder from Surfbirds Galleries by Neil Gilbert

DFG recommended that after resuming feeding, residents use only small amounts of food in their feeders and replace uneaten food daily, each time cleaning the feeder with a 10% bleach solution. DFG also recommends removing spilt food from around the feeders daily, replacing wooden bird feeders with plastic or metal versions, (wood cannot be effectively sterilized), spreading small amounts of seed over a large area in the sun, and varying the location of feeding to avoid consistent concentration of birds at one site. To minimize the risk to humans, DFG suggests gloves should be used when handling feeders and sick or dead birds. Hands should also be washed with anti-bacterial soap.

Posted by Surfbirds at 10:23 PM | Comments (0)

May 31, 2005

World's Largest Caspian Tern Colony to be Decimated

Plans to devastate the world’s largest colony of Caspian Terns look set to go ahead under a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), completed by FWS and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The plan calls for the elimination of up to 74% of the tern colony on East Sand Island in the Columbia River on the Washington-Oregon border.

All but 1-1.5 acres of the 6 acres of sandy habitat on the island would be destroyed and birds relocated, reducing tern numbers over several years from 9,500 current breeding pairs to as few as 2,500 pairs. The colony currently holds 70% of the Pacific Coast population, due mostly to the loss of suitable alternate nesting habitat (such as the deliberate destruction of habitat at neighboring Rice Island by federal agencies).

While Pacific salmon in Alaska remain in plentiful supply, salmon numbers in the Columbia River have declined precipitously in recent years. NMFS has long blamed the terns for inhibiting salmon recovery by their consumption of juvenile salmonids – a conclusion disputed by scientists. The EIS was completed in settlement of a lawsuit, filed by ABC, Defenders of Wildlife, National Audubon Society, and Seattle Audubon Society. The groups contend that the terns have only a minute impact on salmon returns and are being unfairly scapegoated, while the real causes of salmon declines – dams, habitat loss, over-harvest, and fish hatcheries – go largely uncontested.

Caspian Tern, CA, © Andrew Birch

The plan, estimated to cost $2.4 million in its first year, calls for new tern habitat to be established elsewhere in Washington, Oregon, and California. However, some of these sites are up to 800 miles from the present colony, and all would expose terns to greater threats from predators and environmental toxins, as well as increased competition from other birds. Until suitable, predator-free habitat is established elsewhere, and terns have colonized and bred successfully there, conservationists do not support moving terns off East Sand.

Long-term ownership of East Sand Island, currently in Army Corps of Engineers hands, is not addressed by the EIS. The Corps and conservationists have urged its addition to the National Wildlife Refuge system. An ABC-designated globally Important Bird Area, the island also has over 6,700 roosting endangered "California" Brown Pelicans, and a large mixed gull colony.

Posted by Surfbirds at 7:56 AM | Comments (0)

May 21, 2005

Rainforest Protected Areas Created in Conflict-Torn Area of Brazil

On February 17, 2005, Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva created one of the world’s largest protected areas in the Amazon in an effort to stem illegal logging. The total area covers portions of three states (Para, Mato Grosso, and Rondonia), and measures some 12.8 million acres (20,000 square miles), twice the size of the state of Maryland.

The announcement comes on the heels of a similar decree last November that set aside five million acres of rainforest in two new reserves, in the state of Para. While certain parts of these two reserves will be fully protected from any use, with local communities acting as stewards, other parts will be cooperatively managed by local communities for low-impact activities such as rubber tapping and vegetable oil extraction.

Para has been at the center of a bitter dispute since President da Silva reversed some logging restrictions in the early part of 2005, angering local environmentalists and indigenous groups. Following the death of an American missionary, Dorothy Stang on February 12, at the suspected hands of illegal loggers, da Silva reinstated the restrictions and created the new, larger protected area. Although tensions in Para have calmed for now, illegal land use remains a constant threat to these new reserves and the rest of the Amazon’s rainforests.

Olive-sided Flycatcher from the Surfbirds Galleries © Robert Hughes

Over 1,000 bird species inhabit the Amazon, along with approximately 60,000 plant species, 2,000 freshwater fish species, and over 300 species of mammals. Many North American birds use Amazonian rainforests as their wintering grounds, such as the Olive-sided Flycatcher (an ABC Green List species) and Veery.

Posted by Surfbirds at 7:24 AM | Comments (0)

May 20, 2005

American Veterinary Association Revises Feral Cat Stance

In November 2004, the AVMA issued a new position statement on stray and feral cats that represented a significant strengthening of its stance in favor of birds and other wildlife.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is one of America’s oldest and largest veterinary associations. Its objective is the advancement of veterinary medicine, including its relationship to public health, biological science, and agriculture. In November 2004, the AVMA issued a new position statement on stray and feral cats that represented a significant strengthening of its stance in favor of birds and other wildlife. No longer can advocates of TNR (the practice of trapping feral cats, neutering them, and then releasing them back into the wild into so-called ‘managed’ colonies) claim that the AVMA supports their actions. The AVMA neither endorses nor opposes the practice.

The Association clearly states that free-roaming cats represent a significant factor in wildlife mortality, and pose a disease risk for the public. They even go as far as to say, "All free-roaming abandoned and feral cats that are not in managed colonies should be removed from their environment and treated in the same manner as other abandoned and stray animals in accord with local and state ordinances." State and local agencies are also encouraged to adopt ordinances that prevent the establishment of ‘managed’ cat colonies in wildlife-sensitive ecosystems.

Contrary to the continuing assertions of TNR advocates, the AVMA now states, "An insignificant percentage of the total number of unowned free-roaming and feral cats are being managed by humane organizations. Consequently, the reduction in the total number of free-roaming cats these programs will affect is insignificant." The AVMA does, however, encourage the establishment of properly designed and maintained enclosed feral cat sanctuaries, which ABC has endorsed and encouraged for several years. For the full position statement, visit AVMA’s Website at: www.avma.org/policies/animalwelfare.asp#feralcats.

Posted by Surfbirds at 5:35 AM | Comments (0)

April 26, 2005

Study of Rare Birds in Colombian Oak Forests Encouraging

The Eastern Andes of Colombia is a priority area for bird conservation due to its high level of endemism combined with a lack of protected areas and limited knowledge about its biota. Four endangered species Mountain Grackle (Critical), Black Inca (Endangered), Rusty-faced Parrot (Endangered), and Gorgeted Wood-Quail (Critical) have been downgraded to Vulnerable.

Of particular interest are stands of the endemic Humboldt oak, many of which have been logged. ABC, under its William Belton Small Grants Program, provided funding to ProAves Colombia to study the status of four oak forest birds, ranked by IUCN-World Conservation Union as globally Endangered or Critically Endangered.

White-tipped Quetzal, Colombia, Santa Marta May 2004 © Nigel Driver

The four species, Mountain Grackle (Critical), Black Inca (Endangered), Rusty-faced Parrot (Endangered), and Gorgeted Wood-Quail (Critical), depend at least seasonally on oak forests. However, between 66% and 85% of their historic ranges have now been converted to agriculture. Yet despite this dire habitat situation, the investigators turned up some encouraging results. From 151 counting points at five sites in the area, the team observed Black Inca at 27 localities, seven of which were previously unknown; Rusty-faced Parrot was found at 29 localities; Mountain Grackle was found at 22 localities; and Gorgeted Wood-Quail was detected at 20 localities – more than were initially expected.

The study concluded that all four species should be reclassified as Vulnerable. Care is necessary, however, as downgrading a species ranking can impact the attention and funding it receives. The goal of evaluating the status of species is to use the best available information so conservation can be prioritized for the species most in need.

Posted by Surfbirds at 8:11 AM | Comments (0)

April 22, 2005

ABC and the Corps of Engineers: Dredging for Birds

Operations by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are a major force shaping bird habitat along the coastlines and waterways of the United States.

As the federal agency responsible for maintaining navigable waterways and for shoreline protection, the Corps dredges and relocates over 250 million cubic yards of material each year. Coastal dredging and disposal operations have tremendous, and often unrecognized, potential for bird habitat creation and management.

Piping Plover Chicago, Illinois, Montrose Beach 9/27/04 from the Surfbirds Galleries © Robert Hughes

In recognition of the potential benefit to bird populations, ABC and the Corps have initiated a partnership to explore ways of integrating the conservation of priority bird species into the planning and execution of large, coastal, engineering projects. For example, sediments from the routine maintenance dredging of the Atlantic Intra-Coastal Waterway have been used to create productive near-shore and offshore island nesting habitat for many species of terns and for Black Skimmers.

Without the regular placement of sand on dredged material islands, terns and skimmers are forced to nest on mainland beaches where increased disturbance from human recreational activity and predators such as raccoons and cats can significantly reduce nest success. With increasing development along the entire U.S. coastline, there will be a much greater need for the creation and active management of suitable nesting, foraging, and roosting habitats for coastal birds.

In January 2005, ABC and the Corps held the first of four regional workshops on dredging, beach nourishment, and bird conservation at Jekyll Island, Georgia. Emphasis was placed on the importance of maintaining productive, low-energy, inter-tidal habitats around inlets and estuaries for nesting and wintering Piping Plovers and other migratory shorebirds. Best management practices for large dredge disposal sites that can produce highly productive foraging or roosting habitat for migratory birds were also proposed. For example, seasonal management of water levels at seven disposal sites near the Savannah Harbor attracts tens of thousands of migratory shorebirds each year. In total, over 288 bird species have been documented at the site.

ABC will provide expertise to the Corps on the needs of priority birds, in coordination with the North American Waterbird Conservation Plan, the U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan, and the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture. Proceedings from the Jekyll Island workshop and information about future regional workshops on dredging, beach nourishment, and bird conservation will soon be available online at: Click Here

Posted by Surfbirds at 5:26 AM | Comments (0)

April 14, 2005

Seabird Mortality Up in Alaska. Not Just Longlines to Blame

Newly released figures reveal that the numbers of seabirds killed by longline fishing in Alaska took a dramatic rise in 2003. More than 5,000 seabirds were incidentally caught on longline hooks, still down from a decade-long average of over 13,551 birds per year, but up by 40% over 2002.

The 2003 mortality included 179 Laysan and 176 Black-footed Albatrosses. Part of this increase is likely due to a 28% jump in the number of hooks set in the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands fishery, where over 90% of the Alaskan longline seabird mortality occurs.

Laysan Albatross by Ashley Banwell from Surfbirds Galleries

Meanwhile, a group of 705 scientists from 83 countries, supported by 230 non-governmental organizations from 54 countries, has petitioned the United Nations to implement a moratorium on all longline fishing in the Pacific Ocean to prevent the extinction of the leatherback sea turtle. While ABC believes that seabird mortality can be mitigated without such measures, a ban would clearly also benefit albatrosses and other seabirds.

Of recent, growing concern to conservationists is the substantial mortality in the Alaskan trawl fishery. The federal government estimates that between 8,000 and 29,000 seabirds were killed in 2003, primarily in collisions with cables behind the boats. This includes 365-432 Laysan Albatrosses. The data indicate that seabird mortality in the Alaskan trawl fishery may exceed that of longlining, and needs to be aggressively addressed and mitigated.

On February 10, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council voted to extend an existing ban on bottom trawling in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea to an additional 370,000 square miles of ocean around Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. Though a major conservation victory, the ban is designed to protect coral beds and other sensitive marine habitat, and will likely not have a significant impact on seabird bycatch, as the bulk of the billion dollar bottom fish harvest occurs further out to sea.

Posted by Surfbirds at 6:49 AM | Comments (0)

April 10, 2005

Swarovski Land Purchase Protects Critically Endangered Hummingbird in Colombia

A grant from Swarovski is enabling ABC and ProAves Colombia to create a new reserve for the Critically Endangered Colorful Puffleg, along with other endangered bird and amphibian species.

The Colorful Puffleg is one of the world’s most threatened hummingbirds. It is an extreme habitat specialist, found only in wet montane forests on the Pacific slope of the west Andes, in southwest Colombia. Already scarce (its population is estimated at only 50-250 individuals), the Colorful Puffleg is further threatened by logging, grazing, and other habitat degradation.

Coppery-bellied Puffleg, Colombia, Bogota May 2004 © Nigel Driver from Surfbirds Galleries

ProAves is in the process of negotiating the purchase of 5,000 acres of land that would protect core populations of the Colorful Puffleg and another critically endangered species, the Munchique Wood-Wren. Surveys at the site have revealed 16 other threatened bird species, two endangered frog species, and high levels of endemism in other flora and fauna. The Alliance for Zero Extinction has declared the property an essential site for conservation.

ProAves Colombia will restore, manage, and protect the site. The Colorful Puffleg population will continue to be studied and monitored, helping to bring this species back from the brink of extinction.

ABC is grateful to Tropical Birding for their assistance in making this grant possible..

Posted by Surfbirds at 12:18 AM | Comments (0)

March 31, 2005

Red Knot May Be Candidate for ESA Listing Despite Horseshoe Crab Harvest Restrictions

A coalition of environmental groups, including New Jersey Audubon, ABC, Defenders of Wildlife, and National Audubon Society has begun proceedings to have the rufa subspecies of the Red Knot protected under the Endangered Species Act. Red Knot populations have declined globally in recent decades, but the rufa subspecies has fallen as much as 60% since the late-1980s.

This population winters in Tierra del Fuego and other parts of South America, migrating some 9,000 miles to its Arctic breeding grounds in Canada. Along the way, the birds concentrate in vast numbers at staging areas, making them particularly vulnerable. The Delaware Bay is the most important of these stop-off points, where the knots feed on the eggs of horseshoe crabs to sustain them on their long journey north.

© Sue & Andy Tranter >>Tranter's Website

Overharvest of crabs for use as bait in conch and eel pots has been linked to the declines in Red Knots. The knot has evolved a relatively long lifespan and a commensurately low reproductive rate. Conservationists have predicted that although the population still numbers in the tens of thousands, it could be in peril if declines continue.

ABC and National Audubon Society have led efforts to protect horseshoe crabs, and the knots and other shorebirds that rely on their eggs. These efforts appear to be paying off, as the 2004 take of crabs reached its lowest levels in more than a decade. In 2004, crab landings in Delaware Bay, a critical place for both crabs and shorebirds, fell by 53% from 2003 levels. Coast-wide landings dropped to just 630,000 crabs. FWS will initiate a public comment period if they decide to proceed with the listing process.

Posted by Surfbirds at 3:26 AM | Comments (0)

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.

Why not get these articles and more in an abbreviated electronic version of ABC's newsletter, Bird Calls. Click here to sign up FREE

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.

Why not get these articles and more in an abbreviated electronic version of ABC's newsletter, Bird Calls. Click here to sign up FREE

Posted by Surfbirds at 1:24 AM | Comments (0)

November 30, 2004

Hawaiian Bird Goes Extinct

A native Hawaiian bird died in captivity on November 28, probably signaling the extinction of the species.

AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY

Hawaiian Bird Goes Extinct: Government Must Act Now to Prevent Dozens More Losses

A native Hawaiian bird died in captivity on November 28, probably signaling the extinction of the species. Saving the Po'ouli, a small honeycreeper found only on the island of Maui, had been the mission of a few dedicated biologists at the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project over the past year. Sadly, their stalwart efforts seem to have come to a sad juncture, and a lack of funding and commitment from the federal and state governments could result in the extinction of many more Hawaiian birds.

By the time the decision was made to begin captive-breeding efforts, only three birds were thought to survive on Maui. Bad weather caused delays to capture efforts, but cancellation of an expedition during one of the few available weather windows due to temporary cessation of funding seemed symbolic of the situation at such a critical time. Ultimately only one bird could be located, and though successfully caught, it has now died in a Maui breeding facility. A slim but waning hope remains that the other two known birds may yet survive; however, neither has been seen in months.

The questions being asked in the conservation community are how could the situation have been allowed to get so desperate before captive-breeding attempts were made? Why has funding been so hard to obtain recently for a species so perilously close to extinction? And how do we ensure that the Po’ouli’s plight is not repeated by other endangered species, particularly those in Hawaii?

The Po’ouli’s tragic story follows a series of bird extinctions that has swept Hawaii since humans arrived on the islands. Most of the surviving native land birds are heading towards extinction. As with the Po’ouli, a combination of introduced predators, disease, and habitat clearance have caused their declines. At the same time that these species are slipping away, seemingly unnoticed, well-funded programs to protect the Bald Eagle, California Condor, and Whooping Crane - species that faced a similar, if not greater barrage of threats - are succeeding, showing that species conservation programs can and do work if properly resourced.

"Hawaii's bird extinction crisis is a global tragedy that is largely being ignored. That the World's wealthiest nation is allowing bird extinctions to continue, largely unchecked, in its own back yard is unconscionable," said Dr. George H. Fenwick, President of American Bird Conservancy. "Fully one third of the birds on the U.S. Endangered Species List occur only in Hawaii, several of which may already be extinct. Funding for the conservation of those that remain needs to be increased by orders of magnitude if we are to avert a biological disaster in our lifetimes."

Thirty-two bird species that breed primarily on islands in the Hawaiian chain are listed on the global "Red List" of threatened species, several of which have not been seen in decades and may already be extinct. Others survive but in desperately low numbers. Another, the Hawaiian Crow survives only in captivity. In fact, only a handful of Hawaiian birds appear not to be in decline. The surviving species could likely still be saved from extinction if the required effort is made.

At a time when the Endangered Species Act is coming under criticism, the probable extinction of the Po’ouli should serve as a wake up call to the government and the American people. American Bird Conservancy is calling for a commitment from the Bush Administration, Congress, and the environmental community to dramatically increase their efforts to prevent bird species extinctions, particularly in Hawaii.
Background Information:

The Po’ouli was first discovered in 1973 and placed on the Endangered Species List the following year. In the mid 1980s, the total population was thought to number around 100 birds, though no more than a handful have ever been seen. At one point, three birds were shot by researchers to learn more about the species’ diet by examining their stomach contents. In 2002, one of the three known remaining birds was caught and released within the territory of another, in an attempt to get the two to breed. However, the translocated bird did not remain in the area. Captive breeding efforts began in 2003, when members of the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project attempted to locate and capture all remaining birds. Only one has been located in the year since, and this was the bird that was captured on September 9, 2004. Decline and likely extinction of the Po’ouli has been attributed to loss of forest habitat, introduced species such as feral pigs, and, quite probably, disease such as avian malaria.

The Hawaiian Islands are unique in terms of their biological diversity. Many species of plants and animals there occur nowhere else on Earth, having evolved in isolation, thousands of miles from the next nearest land. Hawaii's birds exhibit one of the world's best examples of adaptive radiation, in which many forms are derived from a common ancestor. Variation observed by Darwin in finches on the Galapagos Islands gave rise to his theory of evolution. Had Darwin studied Hawaiian birds, he would have discovered an even more marked diversity among Hawaii's honeycreepers than exists among those Galapagos finches.

The decline of Hawaii's birds is symptomatic of the gradual destruction of Hawaii's ecosystems. This destruction began with the arrival of Polynesian settlers who cleared much of the lowland forest in the archipelago. This was compounded by a suite of introduced species ranging from predatory mongooses, to diseases such as avian pox and malaria. In combination these factors have caused the extinction of more than 20 Hawaiian bird species since 1500. Despite this, a few Hawaiian landbirds still have stable populations. Among them are the Apapane and Hawaii Amakihi. Captive breeding programs involving the Zoological Society of San Diego, The Peregrine Fund, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Hawaii Department of Forestry and Wildlife have been successful in the case of other rare Hawaiian species, including the Maui Parrotbill, Small Kauai Thrush, Pallila, and Hawaii Creeper. The Nature Conservancy has also played a key role in Hawaiian bird conservation through habitat acquisition and management.

Photographs of the Po’ouli can be seen at:

Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project - www.mauiforestbird.org
Hawaii Dept. of Forestry and Wildlife – www.dofaw.net

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American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is a U.S.-based 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to conserving wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. ABC is headquartered in Virginia, with offices in ten states and the District of Columbia. ABC has more than 300 partner organizations throughout the Americas, primarily through its leadership roles in the North American Bird Conservation Initiative, Partners in Flight, the Bird Conservation Alliance, the National Pesticide Reform Coalition, and the Alliance for Zero Extinction. ABC was recently rated one of the best-managed small charities in the U.S. by the independent group "Charity Navigator," and given their highest rating for fiscal management. For more information, see: www.abcbirds.org..

Posted by Surfbirds at 7:01 PM | Comments (0)