Birdwatching Still In Vogue and Drawing In a New Generation

The hobby that once was the domain of James Audubon has continued to draw young and old alike into an appreciation of avian species.

By Mark Hoerrner

Birdwatching, once ranked with exciting hobbies like stamp and bug collecting is seeing a new generation of hobbyists take to the activity.

Sixteen year-old Robert Reichfeldt of Oregon is just one of a group of teens getting into birdwatching. Though he and friends Oliver Sanger and James McFlynn used to think that simply peering at wildlife through binoculars was about as unhip as a Lawrence Welk rerun, they’ve found a new respect for the animals they track.

Using field guides and field glasses, the trio peer through the coastal scrub in search of a variety of early morning visitors. Shorebirds, primarily, but you never know what you will find, James says.

"Sometimes, you can catch crabs feeding or you run into animals prowling the beach," McFlynn says.

It’s likely cyclical, but the rebirth among youth in the hobby is likely due to a move toward greater interest in wildlife stewardship motivated by the current presidential administration, some enthusiasts say, but not because the administration is actively promoting the hobby. Recent decimations of environmental laws have led to a renewed movement to protect natural resources.

In fact, birdwatchers have had a significant effect on wildlife on the eastern coast of the U.S. Near Delaware, watchers noticed a decline in shorebirds. Looking into the disappearing numbers, birdwatchers discovered that a decline in the population of horseshoe crabs was affecting the birds’ feeding patterns since many northeastern shorebirds spend seasonal migrations in the extreme north and then fly south.

On their way south, the birds stop and gorge themselves on horseshoe crab eggs. But the eggs were less plentiful because local conch and eel fishermen had started taking the crabs to use as bait. Motivated by care for the birds, local watchers sparked a conservation effort for the crabs that in turn benefited the birds. State legislatures in the area have now passed legislation governing the crab harvest.

Chris Stenson, a birdwatcher in Chicago, Ill., started the hobby when he was 12 by traveling to wild areas with his parents. Now 24 and a recent college graduate, he’s seeking work as a wildlife biologist.

"At first, I thought it was going to be a pretty lame experience," Stenson says. "But my mom kept harping on me to go with them and when I did, I found that I really had a good time. So much so that I started studying about all kinds of animals, not just the birds. Now, I plan to make wildlife conservation my career."

By Buzzle Staff and Agencies Published: 4/30/2006

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Wind Turbines And Bird Kills 

A column published in 2004 contained concerns raised by naturalists that birds were being killed by wind turbines. It is true that birds have been killed by the machines. Naturalists argued that though wind turbines could be a good thing, they were a risk when it came to the birds that inhabited the area where the wind turbine fields were located.

Small home wind turbines, designed for home use, rely solely on the wind to move the blades and were a concern as well. When the wind isn’t blowing and the wind turbine is not moving, this would allow birds to perch or try to build a nest. These machines were changed too, although most of the incidents with birds were in the wind turbine fields.

The first step is always knowing a problem does exist. However, that is also the means of finding a solution. There are more positive aspects and evaluations than there are negative with the wind turbine. Every product has a negative side, but every product has room for improvement, and better development.

Since this extensive column was published by the Buffalo Sunday News, researchers as well as Wind Turbine companies are taking extra measures of precaution so the machines are more ‘bird friendly.’

With new technology, researchers were also able to slow the rotation of the bigger wind turbines down. This was accomplished by making the blade angle in a different way. Also, larger wind turbines in the wind fields no longer have space for birds to get into the back where the shaft is located. In order for the bird to perch or nest, this means more bird fatalities were during bird migration apparently. Amazingly consumers believed companies designed the new wind turbines with carbon fiber blades that weighed more. This is not true. And the wattage output by these machines though rotating slower, remained consistent.

The result of a recent study indicated that the bird mortality rate at wind turbine fields had dropped. Communication towers now have more fatalities per tower than a wind turbine rotating in a field. Household wind turbine fatalities with birds have almost ceased completely.

There are approximately 16,000 wind turbines operating in the United States today. Companies and manufacturers as well as owners all comply with the guidelines and restrictions concerning the environment and the safety of the birds.

It is a continuous effort upgrading the larger wind turbines. Research is constant and improvements are made at a rapid pace. Not only for the efficiency of the wind turbine and how they operate but for the safety of birds too.

In an unofficial study, the conclusion stated that for one wind turbine there were three bird fatalities for one year. In effect a cat roaming loose in a residential area will kill on average of six birds in one year.

On average, research and development improvements are the highest priority concerning the wind turbine. And this process continues as more wind turbines are used. Providing better use, as well as safety for the environment and requirements that are in effect pertaining to the wind turbine.

By: DJ Bankey

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Purple Martin Scouting Season

The coming of a new year is an exciting time for many, but purple martin landlords have an extra reason to be excited. That reason is that purple martin "scouts" will soon begin arriving and searching for nesting sites. Purple martin enthusiasts should be busying themselves with cleaning and maintaining their birdhouses in preparation for a colony of martins, which could arrive as early as December.

In the following paragraphs, we will discuss what purple martin scouts really are, when to get purple martin birdhouses up and ready for them, and why being a purple martin landlord is an important role.

When a Scout Is Not a Scout

It was once believed that the early arriving martins would somehow communicate with other purple martins upon finding a suitable nesting site, but such is not the case. They are often still referred to as "scouts" out of habit and familiarity, but it is a misnomer. Early birds of the purple martin variety are simply adults that know where they are going. They get preferred seating, one might say.

Nesting Site Fidelity

Site fidelity is a term describing a very interesting characteristic of purple martin behavior. If a purple martin pair finds a birdhouse where they successfully nest and raise their young, there is a very high likelihood that they will return to that same purple martin birdhouse the next year.

For purple martin landlords, site fidelity means that the hardest part of hosting a purple martin colony is getting that first pair or two to nest. After that, the birds will probably return. Of course, the owner of a purple martin birdhouse must always be vigilant and diligent in his or her efforts. The reward of a successful colony is worth it.

If You See It, Say It

Over the last twenty to thirty years, purple martins have recovered from near-disastrous population declines, mostly because of caring people who put up and properly maintain purple martin birdhouses. These wonderful birds are not out of the woods yet, however. Opportunities for new purple martin landlords abound.

Another thing people can do to help bolster the purple martins’ progress is to report sightings and breeding successes to proper organizations. There are many such institutions, like the Audubon Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and the Purple Martin Conservation Association.

The PMCA has several "citizen science" projects, including the annual Scout Arrival Study. Purple martin lovers (not necessarily landlords) report to the PMCA whenever they see a purple martin scout in their area. This helps monitor the migration habits of the birds; purple martin landlords may use it to know when to open up their purple martin birdhouses in a particular area. For example, in the 2004, 2005, and 2006 seasons, the first sightings in Florida came in December of the previous year! Meanwhile, the first scout sightings in New York came in mid-April of those years. The rest of the purple martins begin arriving two to four weeks after the scouts in a given area.

Purple martin scouts, which are not scouts at all, but adult birds eager to return to a familiar birdhouse, are a welcome sight in the early months of a new year. The full population of martins completes its spring migration as late as June in its northern abodes, so there are many opportunities for purple martin landlords to begin or expand colonies. It is a happy time, indeed; so put your purple martin birdhouse up and get ready to enjoy the show!

By Michael Rasco Published: 12/25/2007

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How to Attract Winter Birds to Your Garden

There’s nothing more delightful than watching birds flit from one area of your garden to the next. Attracting birds to your yard is really quite simple: if you supply their three basic needs — food, shelter and water — you will have an avian oasis in your own backyard.

The experts at Garden Artisans, www.gardenartisans.com, offer these tips for enjoying birds in your backyard all winter long:

Food

As winter approaches and the natural food supply for birds dwindles, birds become dependent on bird feeders for seeds and suet. Although there is debate about whether artificial feeding disrupts the migration urge of some birds, research shows this is not a significant concern.

For birds that are not strong enough to migrate due to injury or illness or because of some undeveloped natural migration cue, your feeder may be what enables them to live through winter. Also, for birds that do not migrate, winter storms can bury their food supply. When you add to that the natural condition of reduced time for foraging due to shorter days, winter is a real hardship for birds.

There are two ways to provide food: through bird feeders and by growing plants around your yard that offer fruits, seeds and a habitat that birds love. Black oil sunflower seed is the best seed to attract a diverse group of birds to your feeder, including chickadees, nuthatches, finches, cardinals, grosbeaks, sparrows, blackbirds and jays.

To attract insect-eating birds such as woodpeckers, chickadees and nuthatches, offer suet in the wintertime. Ground feeding birds like juncos, sparrows, towhees and mourning doves prefer cracked corn scattered on the ground or placed in an elevated tray.

Plants to add to your landscape include serviceberry, dogwood, fir, hawthorn, sweet gum, crabapple, pine, coralberry and fruit-bearing viburnums. Seed-producing flowers that will attract birds include aster, blanket flower, cone flower, sunflowers, black-eyed Susans, California poppies, goldenrod, marigolds, phlox, salvias and zinnias.

Things to remember about feeders:

— It’s nice if you can place the feeder so you can watch birds from a comfortable location, but also keep in mind their needs. They need an escape route, so make sure you place the feeder near shrubs or evergreen trees so they can make a quick get-away. Woody plants with thorns, such as roses or hawthorn, are helpful to birds because they provide refuge from predators such as house cats. This can also help keep the feeders out of the rain and food dry.

— Keep your feeders clean to prevent diseases and deter pests. Disinfect occasionally with one part chlorine bleach and nine parts lukewarm water and dry thoroughly before refilling.

— Once you start to provide food for birds, continue throughout the cold season. It’s best to provide only one type of food per feeder. Birds feeding at feeders with mixed seed discard the seeds they do not want while selecting their favorites.

— Do not feed birds spoiled leftovers, salty snack foods or sugary cereals.

Shelter

Shelter can be provided in many ways, including bird houses or nest boxes. As winter days grow longer after solstice, birds get ready to mate and nest, so it is time to start thinking about putting up a bird house or nest shelf. Fall is a great time to shop for bird houses, remembering that many people you know would welcome a birdhouse as a Christmas present.

Choosing a bird house will depend on your goal. Do you want a great looking garden ornament or are you looking to attract a certain type of bird? All birds have their own particular preferences. For example, robins will not nest in an enclosed box, while wrens and bluebirds are attracted to single unit, enclosed bird houses. One other way to provide shelter is with the types of trees and shrubs in your yard. For a list of shrubs and plants that attract birds to your yard, refer to the Garden Artisans’ February 2001 online newsletter.

Things to remember about birdhouses:

— Face the entrance hole to the north or east to prevent the birds from overheating if summers are hot in your area.

— Mount bird houses on poles or posts rather than nailing them to trees or hanging them from limbs, making them less vulnerable to predators.

— Don’t put bird houses next to bird feeders.

— Clean your bird house yearly.

Water

While water is the least important of the three requirements, it can make a difference to the number of birds visiting your feeders. If birds must fly long distances to find water in the winter, they may choose to stay near their water source rather than coming back to your feeder.

The easiest way to provide water is by maintaining your bird bath year round. This could mean filling the bird bath several times a day, which is not always practical. The easiest method is to have a heated bird bath. Heaters are completely safe, but make sure they have an automatic shut-off feature if the bath goes dry, which can happen on windy days or if there are too many birds drinking from the bath. The plug must be attached to a grounded (three pronged) outlet — preferably a GFI (ground fault interrupt) outlet. This will eliminate the risk of electrical shock. The heating element also should be covered in some way. If yours is uncovered, it would be good to place a piece of shale over the top to prevent any birds from burning their feet. In addition, birds will enjoy perching on the warm rock, especially the mourning doves.

To view a large selection of bird feeders and houses and to learn more about plantings to attract wild birds, hummingbirds and butterflies to your backyard, visit www.GardenArtisans.com

Courtesy ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com, e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com

By ARA Content Published: 11/14/2001

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Waved Albatross Migration

The Waved Albatross leaves the Galapagos Islands before their reproductive cycle, take a closer look about this unique bird.

The largest bird in the Galapagos Islands, the waved albatross, is getting ready to depart, as it follows the cool waters back to lower southern latitudes. Albatrosses nest only on Espaola (Hood) Island, and live here from late March through early January.

The sole purpose of coming here is to reproduce, and so all their mating efforts must succeed before the arrival of the warm waters. This also brings the first rains, and their inland habitat is just impossible for them to cope with, as grasses particularly turn the dessert-like environment into a thick green lush jungle. Their offspring must be ready to leave too, as subaldults (adults with no previous mating experience), and so from October through December the most amazing flying lessons and wing exercises are witnessed on those brand new individuals.

Lots of downy feathers are seen being swept by the wind; the newer feathers are just coming out, and albatrosses must be ready to take off. Because of their big size, the young adults cannot have a second chance to take off. Once they jump off the cliffs near Punta Surez, they will start their long journey until the nutrient-rich waters start heading back to the islands. Our ships have reported as of December 30th, a total of just 12 albatrosses left on the island. The latest they have stayed is the end of the second week in January. Bon Voyage!

Authors
This article was developed by Metropolitan Touring, for their newsletter, and was wrote by a team of travelers, field guides, operations and marketing staff inside the company, all of them has more than 10 years working in the Galapagos cruises and tours guiding and sales, Sylvia Moncayo, Francisco Dousdebs, Santiago Tamayo, Gonzalo Alvarez are the team who produce our articles, Email info@metropolitan-touring.com Article Copyright Metropolitan Touring Corporation 2005 - 2006

Source:

• Galapagos Islands Cruises

By jorge alvarado Published: 8/8/2006

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