Blog | Shasta Birding Society

Conservation Group Seeks Protection Of Rare Western Sparrow

By Larry Jordan on December 22, 2016 in Conservation

Vesper Sparrow with Nestlings by Suzanne Beauchesne

Calls for Oregon Vesper Sparrow to be Listed under the Endangered Species Act

(Washington, D.C., Dec. 21, 2016) American Bird Conservancy has petitioned the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to list the Oregon Vesper Sparrow as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In a letter sent to Sally Jewell, Secretary of the Interior, ABC describes this subspecies of the Vesper Sparrow as highly imperiled and threatened with extinction throughout its range.

The petition makes the case that the species warrants listing because of significant population declines and ongoing habitat loss and degradation, among other threats, and because it lacks adequate protection under existing regulatory mechanisms.

Without ESA listing, the sparrows’ future looks grim. The current estimated population of the Oregon Vesper Sparrow is fewer than 3,000 birds, and Breeding Bird Survey data indicates a statistically significant population decline of more than five percent every year over the last 45 years.

This migratory species has a restricted breeding range that historically included southwestern British Columbia, western Washington and Oregon, and northwestern California. Now, breeding populations have disappeared from British Columbia and California, along with numerous local breeding populations throughout the range.

The species overwinters in California west of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and south of San Francisco Bay, and historically it ranged into northwestern Baja California, Mexico. But wintering populations in Baja and southern parts of California have now disappeared.

“We are deeply concerned about the future of this bird,” said Bob Altman, ABC’s Pacific Northwest Conservation Officer. “With so few birds remaining, many in small and isolated populations, the Oregon Vesper Sparrow needs the immediate protection and conservation focus made possible through ESA listing.”

Several primary threats are driving the sparrow’s decline:

The continuing loss and degradation of its grassland and savannah habitats because of development, conversion of those habitats to intensive agriculture, and the encroachment of invasive shrubs, trees, and exotic grasses;
Harmful or poorly timed land-use activities such as mowing, overgrazing, military training, and recreational use; and
The vulnerability of small, isolated breeding groups of birds.

“Every year, more populations are being lost, and we are not seeing the establishment of new populations where habitat restoration has occurred,” Altman said.

Existing regulatory mechanisms do not provide the protection needed to prevent the Oregon Vesper Sparrow from continuing on its trajectory toward extinction. There are no Federal or State programs dedicated to its conservation, and only about 20 percent of the birds’ range-wide population occurs on public lands. Without ESA listing, this vulnerable species will continue to decline and is likely to disappear forever.

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American Bird Conservancy is the Western Hemisphere’s bird conservation specialist—the only organization with a single and steadfast commitment to achieving conservation results for native birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. With a focus on efficiency and working in partnership, we take on the toughest problems facing birds today, innovating and building on sound science to halt extinctions, protect habitats, eliminate threats, and build capacity for bird conservation.

Contact: Bob Altman, ABC’s Pacific Northwest Conservation Officer, 541-760-9520

Invasive Mammals Are Pushing Native Birds To The Brink

By Larry Jordan on December 13, 2016 in Conservation, In the News

Cats Among Biggest Threats to Global Biodiversity

(Washington, D.C., Dec. 13, 2016) Invasive mammalian predators are killing endangered species around the world at much higher rates than previously known and are “arguably the most damaging group of alien animal species for global biodiversity,” according to a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The findings are the latest evidence that cats and other invasive species pose a major threat to birds and other wildlife worldwide.

Non-native mammalian predators have contributed to the extinction of 87 bird, 45 mammal, and 10 reptile species, and have helped put another 596 species at risk of extinction, according to the study by Dr. Tim S. Doherty and colleagues, most of whom are researchers affiliated with Australian universities. Chief among these predators are cats, which have negatively affected 430 species of threatened or now-extinct birds, mammals, or reptiles.

The researchers estimate that cats have contributed to the extinction of 63 species, including 40 bird species—approximately double the number of extinctions previously attributed to these non-native predators. Combined with introduced rodents, such as Norway rats, “cats are major agents of extinction, collectively being listed as causal factors in 44 percent of modern bird, mammal, and reptile species extinctions,” Doherty et al. write. Both cats and rodents negatively affect the most bird species.

“This comprehensive study confirms yet again just how dramatic an impact cats and other invasive predators are having on bird and other wildlife populations,” said Grant Sizemore, Director of Invasive Species Programs at American Bird Conservancy. “Its findings are striking evidence that the problem is even bigger than previously recognized.”

ABC remains dedicated to confronting the challenge of outdoor cats. “Cats are popular pets, and many of us at ABC have pet cats. Once introduced into the environment by people, however, these cats cause extensive negative impacts,” Sizemore said. “Native species are ill-equipped to defend against such effective predators.” Not only do these cats kill birds and other native species, they also spread diseases such as rabies and toxoplasmosis that put human and wildlife health directly at risk. “The only realistic long-term solution is to contain cats, which simultaneously protects cats, wildlife, and people,” said Sizemore.

Learn more about ABC’s commitment to combating the threat of invasive species and our campaign to keep cats indoors. A recent Q&A on ABC’s Bird Calls blog has more on why cats represent such a serious threat to our irreplaceable wildlife.

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Contact: Grant Sizemore, 202-888-7480

Science Celebrities Visit Redding

By Larry Jordan on December 3, 2016 in BirdWords

Dark-eyed Junco “Oregon” Subspecies

The flit of little gray birds with a conspicuous flash of white outer tail feathers signals the arrival of our charming winter visitors, the Dark-eyed Juncos. Look more closely, and you will see a sparrow-shaped bird with a whitish bill and belly, gray central tail feathers, a rusty back and a black head. The female has a similar plumage pattern only more muted. In this part of the country, juncos migrate vertically. They nest in the high mountains – I’ve seen pairs on Mt. Lassen during the summer – then move downward to spend the winter in the valley.

Dark-eyed Juncos build a nest of grass, moss, rootlets, bark and twigs in a shallow depression with overhead protection. The three to five white eggs with reddish-brown markings are laid by the female and incubated by both parents for about 12 days; then the initially naked and helpless young are cared for for another 9-13 days before leaving the nest. Nestling juncos’ feet develop rapidly, so even before they are able to fly, they can run away if threatened by a predator.

Juncos are lively birds to watch at bird feeders this time of year. Most of the adult diet consists of seeds of various kinds. Juncos can also be seen in open woods, undergrowth and roadsides, and can frequently be found in parks such as Lema Ranch. In winter, flocks of 10-30 occupy a foraging territory, so your yard may have its own flock. Within a flock, each bird will have a definite social ranking with the “top bird” getting first crack at the edibles. See if you can tell who is who in your yard!

This common little bird is a “rock star” in scientific circles. Juncos easily accommodate to laboratory aviaries and so have been the subject of avian behavioral studies in courtship and nesting, care of young, and status of individuals in flocks.

Juncos have even been caught in the midst of evolving. At the University of California San Diego, a study is being performed to compare the “city” juncos on campus with “country” juncos in the nearby mountains. Differences have been found in the tolerance for proximity to humans, and those differences have proven to be inheritable. Also associated have been subtle physical differences, which, as time goes on could lead to separate subspecies. Evolution is often thought to take many, many years, but in fact changing conditions frequently cause rapid changes in species. In this case, it’s happening right before the researchers’ eyes!

Different populations in various geographical areas are highly variable, so much so that the western juncos were once split into four distinct species. Deeper studies revealed that the different groups can interbreed freely and are now considered to be one complex species. Thus, juncos are very interesting for genetic investigation.

So, this ordinary familiar little harbinger of winter is actually famous in scientific circles, and a very important bird in the furthering of human knowledge. Enjoy these avian celebrities in your yard and neighborhood until spring when they return to the mountains to produce the next generation.

Arctic and Atlantic Oceans Receive Reprieve from Drilling

By Larry Jordan on November 20, 2016 in Conservation, In the News

Alaska Maritime NWR

ANCHORAGE, AK/NEW YORK, NY – November 18,2016 – Today, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced it will remove the Arctic and Atlantic oceans from the offshore leasing program for the next five years, 2017-2022. This move spares crucial wildlife habitats, including the Arctic’s Barrow Canyon, Harrison Bay, and Smith Bay, from new leasing activities.

“Hitting the pause button on offshore drilling in the Arctic and the Atlantic is exactly the right thing to do,” said David Yarnold, president and CEO of the National Audubon Society. “Offshore drilling is a dirty and dangerous business, and removing the Arctic and Atlantic oceans from the offshore leasing plan gives everyone time to think hard about how well water and oil mix. The Obama Administration understands that the productivity of our oceans is jeopardized when we drill in the wrong places. We should be thinking first about protecting ocean life and quickly moving to cleaner sources of energy”

There are ten globally-significant Important Bird Areas, supporting millions of birds, in the Arctic Ocean and along its shoreline in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas lease areas. The Chukchi and Beaufort seas are also home to polar bears, walrus, four species of ice seals, and several species of whales.

“The Arctic Ocean contains vital ecological areas that are critical for the survival of many birds and wildlife species,” said Nils Warnock, Executive Director for Audubon Alaska. “This prudent Five-Year Program prevents new leasing in this crucial habitat at a time of unprecedented ecological change in the Arctic.”

Offshore from Barrow, the farthest north community in the US, Barrow Canyon is a hotspot of biodiversity. The seafloor drops suddenly, creating an underwater canyon. When the cold, nutrient-rich Arctic Current encounters this barrier, it rises to create a fertile upwelling of foods consumed by many types of larger marine animals, such as bowhead and beluga whales.

In the shallow waters of Harrison Bay, millions of birds congregate to take advantage of the rich aquatic foodweb. The Colville River is Alaska’s largest Arctic river, and the nutrient supply from the Colville combines with shallow water of Harrison Bay, resulting in higher productivity than other areas nearshore in the Beaufort Sea. The sheltered waters support a remarkable diversity of bird species of concern, from Artic Terns to Yellow-billed Loons, from Surf Scoters to King Eiders. Harrison Bay harbors a substantial abundance, as well as diversity, of seabirds and seaducks.

Smith Bay, another vital ecological area in the Arctic Ocean, is also well known for its bird life. Several rivers flow into Smith Bay, where a ring of barrier islands shelters shallow waters from the greater Beaufort Sea. Smith Bay is adjacent to the Teshekpuk Lake area, a known ecological hotspot for molting and nesting shorebirds and waterfowl. These birds also forage along the nearby coasts and marine waters. Birds such as Pomarine Jaegers, Red Phalaropes, shearwaters, and Thick-billed Murres rely on these areas; feeding bowhead whales use these waters in the summer and fall; and ice edges provide foraging and maternal denning habitat for polar bears.

“Removing the Arctic Ocean from the Five-Year Program is a tangible first step toward alleviating the pressures of oil spills and climate change on these most important Arctic marine areas,” said Warnock.

The Proposed Final Program now goes to Congress for a 60-day period, before BOEM registers the final Record of Decision.

More Information

The Vital Arctic Ocean Areas Storymap highlights ecologically important areas, told through articles written by Arctic field biologists and researchers

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Since 1977, Audubon Alaska’s mission is to conserve the spectacular natural ecosystems of the state, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats, for the benefit and enjoyment of current and future generations. Audubon Alaska uses science to identify conservation priorities and support conservation actions and policies, with an emphasis on public lands and waters. Audubon Alaska is a state office of the National Audubon Society. www.AudubonAlaska.org

CONTACTS:

Susan Culliney, Policy Associate, Audubon Alaska, sculliney@audubon.org, 907-276-7034

Nick Gonzalez, Media Relations Manager, National Audubon Society, ngonzalez@audubon.org, 212-979-3068

Something for the Canaries to Sing About

By Dan Greaney on October 29, 2016 in BirdWords, Conservation

As this hummingbird refuels on sunflower nectar, her heart beats over 615 times a minute, and she take 110 breaths

Fortunately for old miners, clean air may be even more immediately important to our feathered friends than it is to us.

Like us, birds are warm-blooded. That pretty much guarantees a high rate of metabolism, the routine internal processing done by a healthy body. Cold-blooded bodies generally work slowly–the heart rate of a resting one-pound snake is about 16 beats/minute—and these animals usually become inactive in cold seasons. But warm-blooded creatures burn their food to keep active even in cold weather. Their bodies must work faster. The heart rate of a one-pound crow is 345 beats/minute, five times ours and over twenty times as much as the snake’s!

Heart beats, of course, are pushing blood to every cell in the body, carrying food and, more urgently, the oxygen that can unlock food energy and keep each cell functioning. So along with their fast heartbeats, birds breathe rapidly. That puts a premium on clean air.

As birds process the air they breathe, any toxins present can take a toll. As I drive to work I create a whole cloud of trouble. Over time, ozone and nitrogen oxides can rupture blood vessels in the lungs. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons can cause DNA mutations, decrease body weight, and probably reduce egg-laying and hatching. Inhaled particulates damage lung tissue. Together, pollutants reduce red blood cells, effectively cutting the birds’ ability to process food. Further, extra carbon dioxide in the air creates climate change, altering habitats the birds need to live.

Some 20-50% of these pollutants are from vehicle emissions. Hence, the problem with me driving to work.

So what’s a person in intelligent consideration to do? One solution would be to quit work. Sometimes tempting, but fortunately there are less drastic fixes.

Not long ago it seemed reasonable to think that buying a cleaner emission car was reserved to Hollywood glitterati and Silicon Valley CEO’s. But it’s not that way now. An MIT study of ten-year costs, including purchase, fuel, and maintenance, of America’s 125 most popular vehicles showed that low-emission vehicles are often less expensive than their guzzling counterparts. Clustered at the least-expensive/least-polluting corner of the data are electric, battery-powered vehicles such as the Chevrolet Spark, Nissan Leaf, Ford Focus, Smart Fortwo, and Fiat 500E. Many of these vehicles have internal combustion versions, but with reduced fuel consumption and federal and state refunds the electric versions cost comparably or less.

And their emissions are cleaner—better already than 2030 Paris Accord goals.

Now a small car that needs recharging rather than refueling might not meet everybody’s needs. But it will meet some needs, and apparently can do so without requiring a second mortgage. The increasing options in affordable, cleaner cars may give the canaries something to sing about!