RARITY FOCUS

October’s rarity of the month is “one for the books.” The species is Red-legged Honeycreeper, a species that normally can be found in Cuba, Mexico, and Central and South America.

One individual of this species appeared in South Texas in late November 2014 and was present at Estero Llano Grande State Park for a number of days into December of that year. That female-plumaged individual was assumed to be from the Mexican population.

Other individual Red-legged Honeycreepers have also been reported in Florida in the past. For example, six individual Red-legged Honeycreepers were reported in Florida during the 2003–2005-period alone, but they were simply presumed to be escapes or exotics.

Last month, however, we experienced what some birders have called “honeycreeper madness” with multiple individuals appearing in Florida… and even elsewhere. Multiple individuals in the Sunshine State began being reported in mid-month, and the numbers gradually grew:

• Two female- type Red-legged Honeycreepers were photographed at the Florida Keys Hawkwatch at Curry Hammock State Park on 13 October.
• Two more were photographed at the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden on 14 October.
• One was first reported in Miami-Dade County Florida, at the L31W Canal by Glenn Garrett Memorial Park on 16 October, then with a second bird, for a three-day presence.
• Another was found at Orchard View Park in Delray Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida on 20 October for about four days, and sometimes was joined by a second bird.
• One was reported at Sandalfoot Cove Park, Boca Raton, Palm Beach County on 22 October.
• Then two birds, a female and an immature male, appeared at Dubois Park, Jupiter Inlet, also in Palm Beach County.
• There was another duo – a female and an immature male – at Sebastian Inlet State Park, at Indian River County on 26 October.
• And finally, we think, up to three birds were at A. D. Barnes Park, Miami-Dade County, and were reported intermittently for a few days, appearing last on 28 October

This means that a minimum of 15 individuals was present in Florida last month.

But that’s not all! Red-legged Honeycreepers also appeared outside Florida last month. Two early Red-legged Honeycreepers were first found at Lafitte Woods Preserve at Grand Isle, Louisiana, Jefferson Parish, and were present from 14-23 October. And another individual was spotted on the East Texas coast at Sabine Wood, Jefferson County, 17-28 October.

Common wisdom is that these birds were byproducts of Hurricane Ian which roared across Cuba and made Florida landfall on 28 September.

That’s an estimated 18 birds sprinkled across Florida and the Louisiana and Texas coasts. Whether or not we have the exact number correct, and whether or not these were dropped via Hurricane Ian, one can probably ask: How many more Red-legged Honeycreepers went undiscovered? And, are there some still out there?

Most – but not all - of these 18 honeycreepers were found at heavily-birded locations. There are likely more out there, in places that may be currently closed. (See “Access Matters” below.) Keep looking!

Here is a photo by Kyle Matera of one of the multi-day Florida individuals, from Orchard View Park in Delray Beach, Florida:

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/495523021

IBA NEWS: AT “DING”

Since we’re on the subject of Hurricane Ian, in last month’s Birding Community E-bulletin, we discussed the initial impact of the hurricane on the very popular J. N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, which is an Important Bird Area (IBA) of state importance:

https://conta.cc/3UWch9l

In the aftermath of the hurricane, refuge staff and supporters have been working tirelessly on repairs to the refuge. The refuge offices, trails, the Visitor & Education Center, Tarpon Bay Explorers, official concessionaire, and the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society- Friends of the Refuge offices, will be closed until further notice. You can find a good update here, on the refuge and surrounding community, in the latest issue of “Ding” on the Wing:

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from--Ding--Darling-Wildlife-Society.html?soid=1104247002649&aid=-oE9Yk4BpCY

For additional information about worldwide IBA programs, including those in the U.S., go to the National Audubon Society's Important Bird Area program web site at:

https://www.audubon.org/important-bird-areas

ACCESS MATTERS: CLOSURES IN FLORIDA

The Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge was not the only popular birding location impacted by Ian, of course. As a result of the hurricane, many Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail locations – some of which are also IBA sites in affected areas – are partially or totally closed for repair and restoration.

You can check the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail homepage for an up-to-date listing of more than two dozen sites in six counties experiencing closures. The website will be updated as locations begin opening for public access. Be aware that some sites, particularly those in Southwest Florida, may be closed for several months:

https://floridabirdingtrail.com/

BOOK NOTES: NOT JUST CUTSIE

Linda Tuttle-Adams has taken on an under-appreciated aspect of our birdlife in Baby Bird Identification: A North American Guide (Cornell University Press/Comstock, 2022). Her work is a comprehensive illustrated guide for identifying hundreds of North American bird species in their early stages of life. The author helps the user through the identification process for young birds, from the just-hatched to the fledgling-stage, and she does it very well.

While it is surely a must-have book for every wildlife rehabilitator and nature center in the U.S. and Canada, it is also an invaluable resource for field ornithologists, citizen scientists, and engaged and curious birders. Enhanced by more than four hundred of her fine watercolor paintings in 36 plates and a helpful photo gallery, Baby Bird Identification gives us a systematic method for discerning a baby bird's identity, offering descriptions of telling features as well as details of a bird's daily growth.

Wisely, not included in the book are intricate details related to habitat, ranges, breeding behavior, or adult vocalization. That information can easily be found elsewhere. Consequently, this work is a superb companion volume for a variety of popular field guides and an added bonus in field-study during the breeding season.

Indeed, far beyond the presentation of those adorable baby birds, the work takes the identification of these young birds - overwhelming at first glance - and makes their ID approachable. In short, Linda Tuttle-Adams has provided us with a ground-breaking field or library reference.

LATEST “STATE OF THE BIRDS”

The 2022 State of the Birds Report for the United States was released last month, and it presents a situation that is urgent, but not without hope. Thirty-three science and conservation organizations and agencies contributed to this latest report. It is the first look at the nation’s birds since a sobering 2019 study showed the loss of 3 billion birds in the United States and Canada in the last 50 years.

The report identifies 70 "Tipping Point" species that have lost 50% or more of their populations in the past 50 years, and are potentially on pace to lose another half in the next five decades. Nonetheless, “Everyone can make a difference to help turn declines around,” says Mike Parr, President of the American Bird Conservancy (ABC).

You can read a good summary of the report from ABC here:

https://abcbirds.org/news/2022-state-of-the-birds-press-release/

  and access the full report here:

https://www.stateofthebirds.org/2022/

LISTEN UP: IT’S BIRDSONG CALMING!

Listening to birdsong appears to have a positive impact on mental health and mood, a recent study suggests.

A German team of researchers probed the effect of urban traffic noise versus natural birdsong on the mood and cognitive performance of participants. The study was published last month in the journal Scientific Reports.

The study’s lead investigator, Emil Stobbe, based at the Max Planck Institute, said, “If someone is seeking an easily accessible intervention to lower distress, listening to an audio clip of birds singing might be a great option… Going for a walk in nature to consciously listen to birds sing in reality could even have a stronger impact… with respect to experience connectedness to nature.”

The study showed that brief exposure to birdsongs reduced anxious and paranoid states in healthy subjects, independent of whether the birdsong came from two different or more different bird species. "The presence of birdsong may be a subtle indication of an intact natural environment signaling a vital, biologically valuable and threat-free safe space for humans," Stobbe added.

An alternative explanation is that humans may associate positive experiences with natural sounds, like birdsongs, which, when heard, “activates these memories and relieves stress."

You can find a popular summary of the research here:

https://www.newsweek.com/listening-birds-reduces-anxiety-paranoia-study-1752039

UPDATE ON “RECOVERING AMERICA’S WILDLIFE ACT”

The crucial “Recovering America’s Wildlife Act” remains close to the finish line, as it awaits final Senate action. As we’ve indicated before, the legislation would provide $1.4 billion yearly to states and tribes to help prevent birds and other wildlife from becoming endangered in every corner of the country.

When the bill passed the House in mid-June – with a vote of 231 to 190 – we followed up with a report in July:

https://conta.cc/3urOqme

  and provided an additional summary in September:

https://conta.cc/3d3k0Bl

Not surprisingly, what still remains is Senate passage. In fact, some 42 Senators have co-sponsored the proposal back, some as far back as when the bill (S. 2372) was originally introduced, but even those Senators need reminding that they did a smart thing. Right now, passage is all about persistence.

If you or your organizations haven’t already acted on this piece of wildlife legislation, you might want to spread the word via this recent effective letter sign-on by the folks at the World Wildlife Fund:

https://support.worldwildlife.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=di%20splay&page=UserAction&id=1088

LAST WORD

Finally, if you have any friends or co-workers who wish to be included in the monthly Birding Community E-bulletin mailing list, you can simply refer them to this link:

https://bit.ly/35Xd3hO