This week in birds - #74

A roundup of the week's news of birds and the environment

Photo by Tom Grey, courtesy of the American Bird Conservancy. 

Most of us are familiar with the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, a bird of the eastern two-thirds of North America. It's fairly common in our area in winter. But along the Pacific coast of the United States and Canada another sapsucker makes its home. It is the Red-breasted Sapsucker and it is the American Bird Conservancy's Bird of the Week. Its favored habitat is moist mixed and coniferous forests, of which the Pacific coast has plenty. The species population is considered stable at present.

*~*~*~*

Just in time for National Moth Week, July 20 - 28, it has been announced that two new species of moths have been found and identified - one in China and one in Iran.

*~*~*~*

Feral rodents have posed a lethal problem for native wildlife on South Georgia Island in the South Atlantic, near Antarctica. Now a team of conservationists have managed to successfully eliminate the problem. The non-native rodents have been exterminated. 

*~*~*~*

A recent study indicates that bird brains and human brains are wired in essentially the same way. So, does that make us birdbrains? 

*~*~*~*

Western bumblebees have been scarce to nonexistent in Washington state since the 1990s, but recently some of the critters have been seen in Seattle and conservationists are rejoicing. 

*~*~*~*

Every new technology seems to come with its price for the environment. The latest problem is related to an industrial solar project in a remote area of California desert. It seems that birds are crashing into the solar panels, apparently mistaking them for bodies of water glistening in the sun. The dead birds includes several species of ducks, herons, cormorants, pelicans, even Yellow-headed Blackbirds.

*~*~*~*

Meanwhile, Mexican officials in Veracruz, are investigating the cause of death of some 300 large stingrays that recently washed up on a beach there.

*~*~*~*

Atlantic Puffins on the Farne Islands in the North Sea off Northumberland have experienced a bit of a population boom. That's good news because the population had crashed a few years ago. 

*~*~*~*

In more good news, Spain's endangered Iberian lynx has been brought back from the brink of extinction through conservation efforts there. Scientists believe there is now reason to hope for the species' survival.

*~*~*~*

And still more good news! Arctic Loons, or as they are known in the UK Black-throated Divers, are being aided by the construction of artificial rafts covered in vegetation that mimic the birds' natural nesting sites. This is allowing the birds to successfully breed on Scotland's lochs and has raised the number of breeding pairs in the area.

*~*~*~*

The political imbroglio over the farm bill has impacted more than hungry people. It is also affecting hungry birds. The Conservation Reserve Program, which recently accounted for 7 percent of farm bill funding, essentially pays farmers to produce wildlife, instead of producing crops. Since there’s no market that rewards farmers for preserving biodiversity, or enriching the world with birdsong, it’s the sort of thing that government is uniquely equipped to do. This program has been a lifesaver for many grassland and prairie species. Refusing to fund it would be a huge setback for those vulnerable birds.

*~*~*~*

American chestnut trees were wiped out by the millions in the early 20th century by a deadly fungus. Since then, scientists have attempted to recreate the species in an improved form that can withstand the fungus. At last, they believe they have succeeded. If they are right, some day in the future, American landscapes may again be graced by the iconic chestnut tree.

*~*~*~*

Around the backyard:  

We finally got some rain this week which provided relief both for the birds and the birder. But in fact I didn't do much birding this week, because I was a bit under the weather. 

I did manage to go out yesterday to refill all the bird feeders and I can't help noticing that traffic around the feeders seems down this week. The White-winged Doves are most noticeable. Previously, I would have seen flocks of ten to fifteen of the birds at the feeders. Now it is more like four or five. Even the number of cardinals is down from previous weeks. 

This may be a reflection of the fact that there is more wild food available now, but that's just speculation. We go through these periods from time to time throughout the year. If there is one thing that I'm sure of it is that the birds will return when they are hungry.