Bird Migration - Learn More Here!

Lots of interesting information from CloserToNature.com regarding bird migration. It appears to me that migration is becoming an annual event - but I'm no ornithologist. Happy birding!

Merry Audubon Christmas Birdcount!

Image by Luke Redmond via Flickr

'Tis the season for the annual Audubon Christmas Birdcount. The 110th season runs through Jan 5th and there are birdcounts all over the U.S. and Central America. Each year's count adds to the information gained in previous years. Scientists rely on the data to help identify declining bird populations which are in most urgent need of conservation help. Check with your local Audubon chapter to see how you can participate.

$50k Offered for Photographic Proof of Ivory-billed Woodpecker

$50,000 is offered to anyone who presents photographic proof of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker (recent photo I assume). You can read Kenneth Heard's entire article in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette here. I wonder if that's $50k before or after taxes.....excuse me while I look for a stuffed Ivory-bill and my camera.

Is Disease Included At Your Birdfeeder Buffet?

When was the last time you cleaned your backyard bird feeder? How about your bird bath? It’s unfortunate that the beneficial act of providing birds with food and water can be potentially life threatening to them. A variety of bacteria, fungi and parasites can plague birdseed feeders, particularly if the seed has become damp or wet. Unclean birdbaths and transmit avian diseases, as well.

Potential avian illnesses include:
• Salmonella, one of the most common bacterial diseases found at feeders and can kill birds quickly. It is spread among birds through direct contact at crowded feeders and also through ingestion of food or water tainted with infected avian fecal material.
• Aspergillosis, a common respiratory infection in birds caused by a fungus which grows on decaying seed.
• Trichomoniasis, a parasitic protozoan ailment that affects the digestive tracts of pigeons, doves, and even hawks that feed on these birds.
• Avian Pox, a virus distributed by direct contact of infected birds, contact with contaminated surfaces such as perches and bird feeders, and through ingestion of water and food that has been polluted by sick birds or carcasses of dead birds. The virus causes growths to form in the mouth, throat and respiratory system, resulting in difficulty breathing or swallowing.

If you have more than one feeder make sure you space them well apart to avoid crowding. Use only fresh, high quality bird seed and keep rodents out of the food. Rats and mice can carry bird diseases.

Cleaning feeders and birdbaths regularly with a 10% bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) is critical to the health and well being of our backyard friends. Clean at least once a month, always outdoors and rinse cleaned feeders and birdbaths thoroughly to remove all traces of the bleach solution. Cleaning should always be done away from any place human food is prepared. Wash your hands well when finished. Some of these pathogens like Salmonella are potentially harmful to humans, as well.

Ivory-billed Woodpecker Remains Elusive

It appears the ivory-billed woodpecker still remains elusive. According to an Associated Press article this is likely the last year current institutions heading the search will make a full-fledged effort to find the bird. Click here to read the full Associated Press article.

Shade-grown Organic Coffee – Recommended by Birds Everywhere!

For many years coffee has been grown in Latin America in the shade of large trees – hence the name “shade-grown” coffee. A coffee bean ripens slowly in the shady environment resulting in a dense more flavorful bean. This growing method is organic and works beautifully within the forest ecosystem. The tree canopies on shade-grown coffee plantations make natural homes for migratory and tropical bird species. Countless other organisms including reptiles, insects, butterflies and plant life living in the forest rely on these trees, as well.

Over the past few decades coffee growers in Latin America have come under increasing pressure to convert to “sun-grown” coffee farming. Large tracts of forest are destroyed to grow coffee in full sun or at best partial shade. There is a huge downside. During the time it takes you to read this article, acres of tropical forest will be lost to this method of growing coffee. Many sun-grown coffee plantations also rely on chemical fertilizers and pesticides to enhance coffee production. When synthetic chemicals and pesticides are used in combination, exposure can create a poisonous effect many times greater than the two used separately. These two factors alone may have already contributed to the decline of many migratory bird species. It’s even more disheartening when you realize all this is being done in the name of increased profits for a few.

You set into motion many positive benefits when you purchase only shade-grown organic coffee. Always look for packaging that indicates certified shade-grown organic coffee.

Birdpost.com - these guys are no birdbrains!

I stumbled upon a pretty cool website at Birdpost.com - the website allows you to track, compile and share bird observations. Satellite mapping technology makes it possible to report your bird sightings and search for the sightings of other birders.

Have you ever wanted to see a certain bird but didn't know where to look? Just set the alert for the birds you want to see using the site's Rare Bird Alert. You'll be notified by email the moment the bird is posted on the Birdpost Satellite Map.

Browse birds by a number of different methods, find regional checklists, upload your life list via "CSV" formated files.

Best of all....it's FREE (for now, anyway).

North American Birding Trails

Since their inception in 1996, birding trails now wind throughout the United States. Texas was the first of now almost 40 states to create birding trails. The trails were the inspiration of Ted Eubanks and Madge Lindsay. Their inspiration resulted in the first trail, the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail. The list continues to grow as birders and other nature lovers discover this great way to enjoy our wildlife resources.

The trails are created using existing highways, byways and county roads to link prime public and private birding areas. Distinctive signs mark the way and detailed maps are available for each of the trails (some are free and some have a small charge). Both can be a big help to birders unfamiliar with an area.

Expert birders and beginners alike are drawn to the trails. A boost to local economies and a boon to birds – birding trails are a win-win situation for all involved. Not only do birders spend money while traveling along birding trails, the trails also help communities become aware of the treasures they may have in their own back yard – and the need to protect those treasures.

The National Audubon Society and the American Birding Association both have extensive lists of birding trails on their web sites. Plan a birding road-trip to somewhere you haven’t been in a while or explore someplace totally new to you. Discover and enjoy what our wildlife resources have to offer.

Please do your part - keep your frickin' cat indoors!

The number of songbirds killed by cats each year is significant. This problem will worsen if left unchecked. Even well fed domestic house cats when left outside will kill birds. Cats hunt out of instinct even when not hungry. Even declawed cats are effective hunters and it is widely know that a bell on a cat’s collar is no deterrent.

Consider this: it is typical for a domestic female cat which is kept indoors to become sexual mature at five to nine months of age. A free roaming cat can become sexually active much sooner than that. Cats from the same litter can mate and female cats, especially in milder climates, can become pregnant any time of year. The average gestation period of a cat is under 70 days and the litter size ranges from three to six (or more) kittens. It is not uncommon for cats to go back into heat one to two months after giving birth - some sooner. Cats can have up to five litters per year. This would give just one female cat the potential to have 15 to 30 kittens (or more) per year. The cycle starts over again when these kittens become sexually mature in five to nine months. You do the math…

There are an estimated 60 million or more pet cats in the United States (this does not include the millions of strays and feral cats). Studies show the percentage of cat owners that allow their cat outside to be conservatively 25% or more. Cats allowed outdoors are not only a threat to birds but also at risk themselves (example: car vs. cat = car winning nearly every time). Neither of these losses is necessary.

The American Bird Conservatory’s citizen education and action program Cats Indoors! encourages responsible cat ownership. You can find recommendations on how you can help on their website. The National Audubon Society has passed a Resolution on Cats supporting the need for action.

Please do your part - keep your cat indoors!

Birding By Ear

Birding by ear is at the apex of birding skills. It is the goal of birding by ear to separate one song or call from another, and then determine which species is making the sound. It is probably one of the best skills a birder can develop. Birding by ear is an essential skill for paid birding guides, or anyone who studies or surveys birds.

We've all birded with someone who is able to distinguish between an eastern and a western meadowlark just by hearing it. Or someone who is able to identify half a dozen birds before leaving the parking lot when the only thing that's flown by is a black vulture.

If you know someone who has a mastery of birding by ear, accompanying them in the field is a great way to gain insight into the world of bird songs. It sometimes take a very discerning ear to point out subtle differences that a novice might miss.

Sometimes mnemonics is a useful tool in learning bird songs. Mnemonics is accomplished by translating the bird sounds and calls into human speech. "Who cooks for you?" for the Barred Owl, "teakettle, teakettle, teakettle," for the Carolina Wren, "what-cheer, what-cheer, what-cheer," for the Northern Cardinal, etc.

Perhaps the key to learning to bird by ear is repetition. Luckily, we live in the age of mp3 players (such as an IPod, etc.). Not only can you load hundreds of bird sounds and listen over and over in the comfort of your home, the small, lightweight devices can easily be carried into the field, supplementing your learning experience there.

Learning bird songs and calls takes time and patience. Some are easy to remember while others, like migrating warblers, are more challenging. Keep trying and your skills will improve rapidly. Above all else, enjoy yourself and enjoy the experience of being in the moment birding!

MP3PlayerStore.com

Birding With Field Notes And Sketches

To what extent you take field notes when birding is a matter of personal choice. The goal of using field notes varies among birders. Birding field notes range from a list of birds seen on a particular day at a particular place - to observing birds for the purpose of identification and/or the collection of data, using habitat, time of year, voice, markings, color, size, posture, how the bird flies and anything else that will help you in the endeavor. So, the first step in taking field notes is to make a conscious decision what you want to record.

For instance, if your goal is to ID a bird, consider using this field noting technique. After observing the bird and before opening your field guide do two things. 1) Immediately write down what you see (there is really a reason short term memory is called “short term”). 2) Accompany your notes with sketches. No matter how rough the sketch, drawing forces you to observe detail. Don’t waste time flipping through your field guide when you could be observing the bird and noting detail!

When finished writing and sketching, now open your field guide and try to match what you’ve written/sketched with the description given by the guide. If the bird is still around, look for any markings or characteristics the book mentions that you may not have noted.

Lastly, the only person that will see your field notes is you unless you choose to share them. Don’t be concerned about spelling or grammar and don’t be concerned about a lack of writing or drawing ability. When is the last time you heard someone say, “He has the bird ID correct but just look at that dangling participle!” Happy birding.