RARITY FOCUS
There were some notable rarities appearing from coast to coast in April, rarities that might deserve a profile in this regular E-bulletin feature. They include – more or less in chronological order - Northern Lapwing in Maine and Newfoundland (wrapping up a seasonal flurry of this species in multiple locations in the Northeast), Nutting’s Flycatcher in Pima County, Arizona, While-eared Hummingbird in Cochise County, Arizona, Black-faced Grassquit in Key West, Florida, Bahama Mockingbird in Palm Beach County, Florida, Tufted Flycatcher in Cochise County, Arizona, European Golden-Plover in St. Johns, Newfoundland, Thick-billed Vireo in Miami-Dade County, Florida, Brambling in St. Johns Newfoundland, and Common Crane in Harney County, Oregon. There were also a few additional one-and-two-day rarity-wonders at other locations across the continent.
Despite this dazzling list, the bird that ultimately deserves extra mention for last month is a wandering and magnificent Steller’s Sea-Eagle that continued to amaze. This large Old-World eagle – a species normally found in northeastern China, Japan, Korea, and easternmost Russia - has been traversing north America for over a year and a half. This bird has been tracked by the presence of a distinctive white spot on one wing. After being identified first on Alaska’s Denali Highway in late August, 2020, it has subsequently been seen in Texas (probably the same bird), Quebec, New Brunswick, Massachusetts, and Maine as we previously reported, in January:
and, especially in March:
After seemingly leaving the central Maine coast in early March, the large raptor made a one-day appearance at Wallace Bay, Nova Scotia on 1 April, followed by a couple of sightings at Cumberland County, Nova Scotia into mid-April (where it may have been noted as far back as mid-March). By late April there was a single was report of Steller’s Sea-Eagle on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland. See this short video released by Andrew Pike:
This itinerant individual has now crossed most of the North American continent, observed first on Alaska’s Denali Highway in August, 2020 and last reported on the outer reaches of Atlantic Canada.
As we remarked in March, sightings of this roving adult Steller’s Sea-Eagle since the summer of 2020 have been simply astonishing. Who knows where this bird may appear next?
IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER RESURRECTION?
When it comes to rarities, we would surely be remiss if we didn’t mention the most recent intriguing report released on Ivory-billed Woodpeckers in the Southeast, with an emphasis on Louisiana.
The pre-publication announcement of compiled observations and reports now constitutes one of the most poorly held secrets in recent American bird-study, while still making sure the observation site in Louisiana remains undisclosed.
The species historically inhabited mature bottomland forests associated with southeastern river basins. In late September 2021, facing unconvincing evidence over decades, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made its position on the species known, with the agency officially proposing to remove the Ivory-billed Woodpecker from the Endangered Species List and declaring the iconic woodpecker species extinct. But this new unpublished manuscript declares, “Not so fast!”
A team of researchers drew on a decade of searching, including trail-camera photos and drone videos suggesting the presence of the woodpeckers at their study site. Prior to now, the quality of reports throughout the Southeast and over recent decades has been perceived to be so low that “decisive proof” has been believed to be lacking. The absence of quality images and the repeatability of observations have been dispiriting.
Nonetheless images from the undisclosed site – a single forested block and single watershed – are intriguing, and a number of observers are convinced that the species still persists at this location. One photo sequence that researchers find most compelling was taken 30 November 2019 of what appears to be a foraging family group of Ivorybills, with three of the woodpeckers moving and foraging together on one tree. Another photo taken on 9 January 2019 shows a likely male-female pair of the species.
The data presented offers little doubt that images/videos represent a large woodpecker species even though many photos are ambiguous. Perhaps most encouraging is that evidence acquired over many years of coverage indicates repeated re-use of foraging sites and key habitat.
The authors and researchers are optimistic that new technologies and persistent investigation will add to the evidence and that their methodologies can hopefully be used at other sites. You can see for yourself the case presented by the researchers and come to your own conclusions:
or
Of course, related to this article, and presented at the end of the manuscript, are the possibilities “that Ivorybills persist in some of these other places… Their numbers cannot be expected to improve unless many more large and continuous bottomland hardwood forests are actively or passively managed to exhibit old growth characteristics…Only then, can there be an expectation of a larger number of populations or subpopulations of this iconic species.”
To this tone of caution, we would only add that “saving” two, three, or half a dozen woodpeckers cannot be seen as the equivalent of saving the species, especially since we have yet to define what a “viable population” might be. There is still work of all sorts to be undertaken before any positive assessments and comforting conclusions can be made.
IBA NEWS: SALT PLAINS NWR, A WINNER
It’s one thing to recognize an Important Bird Area (IBA), it’s quite another to maintain the protection and maintenance of the site to assure the location’s vitality.
Last month, the Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) announced that Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge was the 2022 winner of the annual Outstanding WHSRN Site Award. The refuge, located in north-central Oklahoma, is a massively important stopover site for migratory shorebirds.
Salt Plains NWR provides habitat for high numbers of Semipalmated Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, and White-rumped Sandpiper during spring migration, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, Sanderling, Least Sandpiper, and Stilt Sandpiper during fall migration, and Spotted Sandpiper and Baird’s Sandpiper during both fall and spring.
The Salt Plains NWR joined WHSRN in 1994 as a Site of Regional Importance for shorebirds. In 1996, the refuge began participating in the International Shorebird Survey (ISS), tracking the number of shorebirds using the refuge during migration. Then in 2019, its status was upgraded to a Site of International Importance, due to improved understanding of the significant role the refuge plays in supporting more than 20 percent of the North American breeding population of Snowy Plovers.
The Outstanding WHSRN Site award is an honorary award intended to recognize and honor WHSRN sites in the U.S. that are living up to the true spirit of WHSRN, with partners demonstrating outstanding work in ongoing conservation and site management for shorebirds.
You can find the award announcement here:
Salt Plains is, not surprisingly, a designated IBA as well as a Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance, sheltering over 300 species of birds and is a key stopover site for vast numbers of migratory waterbirds, including up to 40,000 American White Pelicans, 100,000 geese, 70,000 ducks, and thousands of Sandhill Cranes, in addition to the shorebirds already cited.
You can read about its IBA status here:
For additional information about worldwide IBA programs, including those in the U.S., check the National Audubon Society's Important Bird Area program web site at:
SPACE-X ASSESSMENT DELAYED AGAIN
Last November, we reported on the ongoing controversy with the location of the on-site SpaceX facilities in Texas. The company founded by Elon Musk in 2002 may have been part of the billionaire space-race news over the past year or so, but the bird conservation consequences are not necessarily part of that general news.
Indeed, SpaceX’s site is surrounded by state and federally protected lands, including tracts of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Yes, a number of bird species are involved, from the federally Threatened Piping Plover and Red Knot to the Endangered Northern Aplomado Falcon.
The FAA has been working on a programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) of the site for many months now. The agency published a draft PEA in mid-September, 2021, estimating that the final report would be done by the end of the year. That goal was pushed back to 28 February, 28 March, 29 April, and now 31 May. The agency is reportedly reviewing about 18,000 general public comments:
Stay tuned!
BIRD DISEASE STATUS – BIRD FLU
Yes, the bird-flu concern is still out there, and we continue to hear of the ongoing impact. Indeed, we reported on this in March:
and April:
The incidence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)—which includes H5N1 bird flu virus— is approaching a record high set by the last outbreak in 2015. As of late April, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has reported 31 million “poultry” birds in 29 states affected, while more than 40+ species of wild birds, from waterfowl, to pelicans, and eagles, to crows - in 33 states have contracted the virus. This virus has also impacted wild birds in at least seven Canadian provinces.
The ongoing outbreak is the first time that H5N1 viruses have been recorded in the U.S. since 2016. But unlike that bird flu outbreak, experts say that this one is unlikely to just burn itself out.
"This outbreak in the wild bird population is a lot more extensive than [the last time]” said David Stallknecht, an avian influenza researcher with the University of Georgia. "Just a lot more birds appear to be affected."
In Florida, for example, more than 1,000 Lesser Scaup succumbed to the virus. In New Hampshire, about 50 Canada Geese died in a single event. And in the Great Plains, wildlife experts have witnessed massive die-offs in Snow Geese.
"In addition, there's a host of other species, including Black Vultures and Bald Eagles and some of the other scavenging species, that were likely infected by consuming the carcasses of those waterfowl," added Richards.
Indeed, waterfowl, and the raptors that eat them, seem to be bearing the brunt of it. Fortunately, the waterfowl/raptor connection with bird flu seems to be lessening as waterfowl move northward.
Not surprisingly, there has been some confusion over recommending that people should take down their bird feeders to stop the spread of this disease among wild birds. There is currently very low risk of an outbreak among wild songbirds, and there is no overall official recommendation to take down feeders - unless you also keep domestic poultry - according to the National Wildlife Disease Program. Just the same, a few states have announced take-down recommendations. But there is a springtime element in play here, too, as fewer folks feed birds with the passage of winter and the onset of spring.
As always, cleaning bird feeders and birdbaths regularly (with a mild bleach solution) is a fine way to keep many kinds of bird-associated diseases at bay.
MURRE DIE-OFF IN ATLANTIC CANADA
Another bird-health issue – in this case a seabird die-off – recently arose in Atlantic Canada.
Again, there are no simple answers, but early last month there were dead seabirds – mostly murres - showing up by the hundreds in western Newfoundland. Reports have also come in from southern Labrador about a similar incident. It originally left both residents and biologists stumped, although researchers later suggested that starvation was the likely cause of the deaths.
Sabina Wilhelm, a wildlife biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Service, said of the murres, "This time of year they feed primarily on fish and zooplankton. However sometimes the weather can push them inshore or the ice pushes them inshore and they just basically run out of enough food away from their usual foraging grounds. These birds have a very high metabolism so if they can't feed for several days they can very quickly become very weak and are then unable to return offshore."
Wilhelm also said that initial results failed to indicate that the deaths were related to avian flu.
You can see some of the early reporting of the die-off here:
And some conclusions here, pointing to the likely lack of available food and resulting bird starvation:
JUNIOR DUCK STAMP WINNERS
A creative young artist from South Dakota, 15-year-old Madison Grimm, took top honors at the National Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest last month. Her image of a male Green-winged Teal will appear on the 2022-2023 Junior Duck Stamp. That program raises funds to educate and engage youth in wildlife and wetlands conservation and outdoor recreation. This is Madison’s third national win.
Second place winner was Catheryn Liang, 15, from Texas, with an acrylic painting of Canada Geese. And third place went to 17-year-old London Peterson from Oklahoma who entered with a Common Goldeneye painted in acrylic.
You can read more on the contest and view this year’s wining first-place artwork here:
OUR STARLINGS REVISITED
It’s a great story: in 1890 and 1891, an eccentric by the name of Eugene Schieffelin, a man obsessed with importing all the birds mentioned by Shakespeare, became instrumental in releasing a few dozen European Starlings in New York’s Central Park, virtually across the street from the famed American Museum of Natural History. The birds then began to breed, spread, and flourish, proliferating from coast to coast within a few decades.
Recently, however, John MacNeil Miller, an Allegheny College professor in Pennsylvania and Lauren Fugate, a student collaborator, concluded that crucial sections of the colorful and near-sinister story are simply not true. Among other things, Schieffelin did not seem to have a particular affinity for Shakespeare; there were multiple releases of the European Starlings starting in 1872 from various locations (e.g., New York, Ohio, and Oregon); wild-flying birds were also caught and reported elsewhere before 1890 (e.g., Massachusetts in 1876 and New Jersey in 1884), and there is genetic ambiguity on the origins of “our” European Starling.
The fascinating article, “Shakespeare’s Starlings: Literary History and the Fictions of Invasiveness” was published in Environmental Humanities in November 2021:
and last month, the cautionary tale was reinvestigated in a piece in The New York Times:
MORE WISDOM… A CORRECTION
Last month, we reported that “Wisdom,” the world’s oldest known Laysan Albatross and banded wild bird, originally banded by Chan Robbins in 1956 on Midway, had not been sighted this year, a situation of potential concern. See here:
Apparently, we missed part of this albatross story. Wisdom had actually appeared on Midway on about her normal November return date, but she departed after a few weeks. Her mate from the last several years had not been seen. We have learned that Laysan Albatrosses may occasionally do this, skipping a year after producing a fledgling the previous winter season (2020-2021).
Here, at least, is a report on her November return last year:
We certainly hope that Wisdom is merely skipping a year, and that she will return again for another opportunity at raising an additional albatross chick.
LAST WORD
Finally, if you have any friends or co-workers who wish to join the monthly Birding Community E-bulletin mailing list, you can simply refer them to this link:
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You can access all the past E-bulletins on the National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) website:
