About Birding / Wild Birds

The Perils of Penguins

2009-11-24T11:29:19Z

Wild bird rehabilitation centers are regularly home to convalescing songbirds, birds of prey and other birds, but according to the Washington Post, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds in Cape Town, South Africa, has different patrons.

This rehab center is where thousands of African penguins have regularly been treated for oil spills, malnutrition or just being out of range. Penguins are of special interest to many ornithologists and conservationists, as they can be a very accurate indicator of climate change and environmental shifts. Most penguin species are considered endangered or threatened, and small changes in the environment can have huge impacts on their populations. Overfishing and oceanic pollution are other risks these penguins face, and their reactions can help conservationists gauge natural changes and improve environmental protection measures.

To learn more about the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds, including how you can help adopt a penguin and support the facility, visit www.sanccob.co.za.

African Penguin
Photo � Paul Mannix

The Perils of Penguins originally appeared on About.com Birding / Wild Birds on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 11:29:19.

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Bird Sanctuary in Danger of Closing

2009-11-23T13:02:14Z

According to the North-West Evening Mail, the Hawcliffe Bird Sanctuary in Barrow is facing imminent closure. Run by Pat Denny, the sanctuary cares for 40 unreleasable birds with permanent injuries, and the costs of food and care can reach �100 or more per week. While many individuals who drop off injured birds and animals kindly donate what they can, Denny is searching for a permanent sponsor to help alleviate the hefty costs of caring for injured wildlife. Without such a sponsor, the sanctuary may be unable to take any new residents.

Bird sanctuaries and wildlife rehabilitation centers around the world are facing similar financial crises. The cost of food, housing, medical care, recuperative training and administrative expenses can be extreme, and donations are always welcome to help care for the birds. Volunteers and material donations of office supplies, newspapers, animal food, cleaning supplies and other equipment are also welcome. Contact your local bird rehabilitation center or wildlife care facility for details on how you can help.

Two Pence
Photo � John

Bird Sanctuary in Danger of Closing originally appeared on About.com Birding / Wild Birds on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 13:02:14.

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Birding Volunteers Needed for Count

2009-11-22T08:08:14Z

The annual Cape Cod Lake and Pond Waterfowl Survey will take place on December 6 and birding volunteers are needed to help record the different ducks, geese and waterfowl in the region, according to the Cape Cod Times. The survey will cover 12 sites during the day, ranging from Woodneck Beach to Childs River, and the event is expected to take approximately six hours. Hooded mergansers, ring-necked ducks, great blue herons and other bird species should be on hand.

Many nature preserves and conservation groups organize bird counts during migration periods or after birds have settled into their winter habitats. These counts provide a record of the previous breeding season's success and can support conservation initiatives and other actions throughout the year. Contact your local nature centers, birding groups and wildlife management offices for information about planned counts in your area.

Hooded Merganser
Photo � Steve Ryan

Birding Volunteers Needed for Count originally appeared on About.com Birding / Wild Birds on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 08:08:14.

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Tuna Fishing Endangers Seabirds

2009-11-21T08:58:16Z

Two U.K.-based organizations, BirdLife International and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), have recently released a study indicating that commercial tuna fishing may be killing albatrosses and other endangered seabirds as quickly as one bird every five minutes, according to Scientific American. South Atlantic populations of the birds, in particular, are under the greatest threat.

Fortunately, several methods can be used to minimize commercial fishing's impact on seabirds. Dyeing bait so it is difficult for birds to see, fishing at night when birds are less active and deploying ribbons at the surface of the water, above the fishing lines, to deter birds from approaching are all effective techniques.

It is hoped that raising awareness of the critically endangered status of these seabirds can help encourage more responsible fishing and better conservation initiatives worldwide.

Tristan Albatross
Photo � Michael Clarke Stuff

Tuna Fishing Endangers Seabirds originally appeared on About.com Birding / Wild Birds on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 08:58:16.

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Rare Gull Visits Great Falls

2009-11-20T11:12:32Z

Montana birders were flying high earlier this month as they enjoyed a visit from a lesser black-backed gull, a European gull species regularly seen in the northeast but rarely found in the west, according to the Great Falls Tribune. For more than a week the gull was sighted at West Bank Park in Great Falls, where it mingled with a flock of ring-billed gulls - common gulls throughout the United States in the winter.

The lesser black-backed gull has only been recorded twice previously in Montana, both times in 2008.

The fall migration season is an excellent time to spot unusual bird species as they travel from place to place, occasionally getting lost during their extensive journeys and delighting birders in areas far removed from the birds' regular ranges. What unique birds have you seen this fall? Share your sightings in the comments!

Lesser Black-Backed Gull
Photo � Mike Scott

Rare Gull Visits Great Falls originally appeared on About.com Birding / Wild Birds on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 11:12:32.

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Bird of the Week: Dark-Eyed Junco

2009-11-19T13:16:39Z

It's time to bundle up when you see this week's featured bird: dark-eyed juncos prefer cold climates and are often called "snowbirds" because they are common winter feeder birds, where they will monopolize your millet.

Dark-eyed juncos are also fascinating because they have quite a few plumage variations, from the plain gray slate-colored junco of the east to the Oregon junco of the west with its black hood and rufous sides. A greater number of junco variations can be found in the west, from gray-headed to red-backed to pink-sided birds.

What juncos visit your feeders in the winter? Share your sightings and junco tips in the comments!

Slate-Colored Dark-Eyed Junco
Photo � Gary Irwin

Bird of the Week: Dark-Eyed Junco originally appeared on About.com Birding / Wild Birds on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 13:16:39.

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Water Birds Abandon Florida Refuge

2009-11-18T09:43:21Z

The first national wildlife refuge in the United States, Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, has been nearly abandoned by nesting and migrating water birds, according to TCPalm.com. The 5,400 acre refuge was first established in 1903 and was once home to thousands of birds and hundreds of nesting pairs, but this year the small coastal island at the heart of the refuge hosted just 14 pairs of nesting birds.

Several factors have threatened the refuge's appeal to birds, including expanding housing developments, erosion and recent hurricanes. Rangers and conservationists suspect that the birds have shifted their behavior to more sheltered areas, including the nearby Indian River Lagoon. It is hoped that the birds will eventually return to the refuge, though it could take years for young birds to seek out new nesting territories.

Have you visited Pelican Island National Refuge? Share your birding experiences in the comments!

Black-Crowned Night-Heron, Indian River Lagoon
Photo � Andrea Westmoreland

Water Birds Abandon Florida Refuge originally appeared on About.com Birding / Wild Birds on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 09:43:21.

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Seeing the Magnetism of Migration

2009-11-17T10:09:55Z

Scientists have long suspected that birds' sensitivity to the Earth's magnetic field may be how they manage to migrate thousands of miles without frequent landmarks, but there has been disagreement about how the birds were aware of the magnetism to make their journey. According to Inside Science News Service, a new study from Germany may have revealed the link between birds' eyesight and migration.

A group of scientists studied European robins with lesions in their brains, specifically in the area responsible for light-processing, and found that the birds with the lesions were unable to orient themselves with the Earth's magnetic field. Birds with similar damage to nerves connecting their bills to their brains - the bill has been theorized as another possibility for magnetic orientation - did not have difficulty.

Regardless of how they manage the journey, you can attract migrating birds with the right feeding tips, shelter and water to give your yard "migration magnetism."

European Robin
Photo � Claire

Seeing the Magnetism of Migration originally appeared on About.com Birding / Wild Birds on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 10:09:55.

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Ocean Litter Threatens Birds

2009-11-16T09:25:37Z

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is anything but great for birds. According to USA Today, the patch - an area in the Pacific Ocean where flotsam collects due to converging currents - is twice the size of Texas. Confused seabirds, attracted by plankton that grows in the patch, ingest trash including syringes, toys, plastic lighters, bottle caps and other dangerous materials. The plastic blocks the stomach, ultimately leading to starvation.

While some of the trash is discarded from cargo ships and oil platforms, much of it washes off beaches. The patch itself is in international waters and there are no firm plans to do anything about the growing problem.

Birders can help draw attention to this seabird threat by getting involved in conservation organizations and seabird preservation societies. Organizing beach cleanup events and advocating stronger littering penalties can also help protect seabirds from floating garbage.

The next time you visit a beach, be sure to pick up your own litter, and pick up extra to help the birds. To help even more, check out these beach bird safety tips.

Beach Litter
Photo � Ingrid Taylar

Ocean Litter Threatens Birds originally appeared on About.com Birding / Wild Birds on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 09:25:37.

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Bird Uses Feathers for Song

2009-11-15T08:29:34Z

A recent study of the club-winged manakin, a tiny South American songbird, has revealed that these birds use their feathers to "sing" as part of courtship displays. According to National Geographic News, male club-winged manakins use a series of feathers vibrating in concert to create intricate sounds. The study from Cornell University used lasers to monitor the frequency vibrations of individual feathers and groups of nearby feathers, which were proven to match the frequency - 1,500 hertz - of the birds' high pitched sounds.

Many types of bird sounds are part of avian language, and the whirring or clapping of wings is a common nonvocal sound birds use. This study, however, is the first evidence that birds may manipulate their feathers for more complicated communication.

Club-Winged Manakin
Photo � Michael Woodruff

Bird Uses Feathers for Song originally appeared on About.com Birding / Wild Birds on Sunday, November 15th, 2009 at 08:29:34.

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