Category Archives: North America

Bird Count Reveals Migration Habit Changes

by Amy Posted on 23 March 2007

Results from the recent Great Backyard Bird Count reveal that more migratory birds across the United States are remaining in their summer breeding grounds year-round.

Birds are a sensitive indicator of changes in the environment; changes in distribution occur long before population changes as birds can simply fly to locations better suited for survival. Many more years of data are required before this year’s results can be considered a larger trend pointing to global climate change.

Read more about the changes in migratory bird habits across the United States.

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Robot Birdwatcher Searches For Ivory-billed

by Amy Posted on 24 February 2007

An automated birdwatching machine has been set up at a wildlife reserve in Arkansas to search for the rare Ivory-billed Woodpecker. The bird was presumed extinct for decades but unconfirmed sightings beginning in 2004 have sparked great interest in the bird.

The electronic system uses two video cameras to capture images of the sky. These images are later scanned for evidence of the elusive Ivory-billed.

Read more about the robot.

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Posted in Aside, Endangered, Extinct, North America | Leave a comment

Endangered Whooping Cranes Killed In Florida Storms

by Amy Posted on 4 February 2007

“All 18 endangered young whooping cranes that were led south from Wisconsin last fall as part of a project to create a second migratory flock of the birds were killed in storms in Florida, a spokesman said.”

“The cranes were being kept in an enclosure at the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge near Crystal River, Florida, when violent storms moved in Thursday night, said Joe Duff, co-founder of Operation Migration, the organization coordinating the project.”

Read the full article on CNN.com.

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Bald Eagles Put On A Show In Indiana

by Amy Posted on 1 February 2007

The water level Starve Hollow Lake in southern Indiana is being lowered and Bald Eagles are showing up to take advantage of the easy fishing. The water level is being lowered to reduce the population of a nuisance fish in the lake.

As many as 17 individual eagles have been spotted on the lake at one time, meaning the area population is healthy at around 25 birds. Birdwatchers from the region have come to the lake to watch the Bald Eagles feasting on fish.

eagle pair 664
eagle pair 664 by pmbell64, Creative Commons on Flickr

The eagles are expected to stay in the area until February.

Read more about the Bald Eagles at Starve Hollow Lake.

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U.S. Navy Proposes Airfield By Wildlife Refuge

by Amy Posted on 28 January 2007

Record numbers of ducks and geese have been spotted at Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina this winter. The U.S. Navy wants to build a landing field nearby, a plan opposed by naturalists.

The lakes are located about 5 miles from the site that the Navy wants to use for the landing strip. Environmentalists believe the proximity of the landing strip to the Refuge will harm wildlife and increase potential for collisions between aircraft and birds.

Read more about the proposed airfield.

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Posted in Aside, North America | 1 Comment

Missouri Town Uses Nonlethal Pigeon Removal

by Amy Posted on 9 January 2007

The Marquette Tower in downtown Marquette, Missouri used to be home to dozens of roosting pigeons. Their waste and noise was becoming a nuisance to pedestrians in the area so authorities are now employing two non-traditional methods to get rid of the birds.

A large device broadcasts the sound of birds in distress over the rooftops. And ‘spiders’, metal poles that move in the wind or when pigeons touch them, have been installed. Since installation, the number of pigeons roosting in the area has dramatically dropped.

Read more.

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Whooping Crane Population Thrives

by Amy Posted on 30 December 2006

There were less than 20 Whooping Cranes in 1941. Today, the U.S. population exceeds 500 birds.

The comeback of the Whooping Crane is due to a coordinated conservation effort. A recent survey counted 237 individuals over-wintering in the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas.

The large birds reach a height of 5 feed and their wingspan can be up to 7 feet.

Read more about the comeback of the Whooping Crane.

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Vulture Migrates In Cargo Class

by Amy Posted on 24 December 2006

An unhealthy vulture found in an Oak Park Illinois parking lot last month is heading south for the winter, on a commercial flight from Chicago to Tampa.

The Willowbrook Wildlife Center cared for the vulture until it was healthy again. The bird would be unlikely to survive the winter in Chicagoland so sending it to the usual winter hangout for vultures is the best solution.

Now, the center is caring for a Scarlett Tanager that survived a cat attack in October. Tanagers typically travel as far south as South America during the winter migration. The Tanager will remain in the center for the winter and be released in the spring. And a Great Blue Heron found injured in Lisle earlier this year will be driven south to Texas by a center volunteer.

Read more about these unusual wildlife rescues.

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Posted in Florida, Illinois, North America, Offbeat, Rehabilitation | Leave a comment

Western Tanager Spotted Outside Normal Range – In Ohio

by Amy Posted on 22 December 2006

A female Western Tanager was spotted in Grandview Heights, Ohio last week. The bird’s normal range is in the western United States, particularly in the Rocky Mountains.

Prior to this year, confirmed sightings of the Western Tanager in Ohio were recorded once in the 1980’s and once in the 1990’s. This year there have been three verified sightings.

Read more about the Tanager’s visit to Ohio.

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Posted in Aside, North America, Rare / Vagrant | 1 Comment

Agreement To Help Endangered Hawaiian Birds

by Amy Posted on 13 December 2006

A ‘safe harbor’ agreement is being offered to Hawaiian landowners in an effort to save five endangered species of birds endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.

Financial and technical help will be available for landowners who sign up for the agreement. Future land use restrictions will not be imposed by the government. In exchange, landowners need to provide some management to benefit five endangered birds: Hawaiian goose, Hawaiian duck, Hawaiian moorhen, Hawaiian coot and Hawaiian stilt.

Read more about the plan.

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Posted in Endangered, North America, Pacific | Leave a comment