Christmas Bird Counts

From December 14 through January 5 tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas take part in the longest running citizen science count of winter avian populations. The annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count has built a database of bird population trends for the past 109 years enabling scientists to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America. Observers count birds in an established 15 mile diameter circle on one day during the count period. The local CBC circle is centered in Winhall, VT and includes Bromley, Magic and Stratton Mountain.

In 2007, CBC data were instrumental in the development of two Audubon State of the Birds Reports - Common Birds in Decline, which revealed that some of America's most beloved and familiar birds have declined over the past forty years. Watchlist 2007 identified 178 rarer species in the continental U.S. and 39 in Hawaii that are imperiled. In 2009, the data were instrumental in Audubon’s Birds & Climate Change analysis which documented range shifts of bird species over time. These three reports helped scientists and policy-makers to both identify threats to birds and habitat, and promote broad awareness of the need to address them.

From feeder-watchers and field observers to count compilers and regional editors, everyone who takes part in the Christmas Bird Count does it for love of birds and the excitement of friendly competition -- and with the knowledge that their efforts are making a difference for science and bird conservation. Contact the Bird Lady for information about the Winhall Count scheduled for December 20, 2009.

L.B.J.s

Courtesy of Beautiful Flying Objects

Nope—this is not about a past US President—it's about sparrows, 'Little Brown Jobs', a collective term birders use when immediate I.D. of a bird is not possible. There are 14 species of sparrows listed on the VT Bird Checklist. Recently two 'rare to VT' species have been reported - a Le Conte's Sparrow and the pictured, Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, both seen at the Pomainville WMA, just north of Pittsford, VT. Unfortunately, the Le Conte's was only recorded on one day, but the Nelson's remains for those willing to squish through the wetland habitat it prefers.

These two sparrows not only look alike, but they frequent the same marshy meadows with high grasses. Both are skulkers, slow to flush and then fly only a short distance. Both look buffy orange in flight as opposed to the 'brown' of most sparrows. If one is lucky enough to see one of these birds long enough, let alone photograph one as Peter Manship did, the Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow has a bold gray ear patch and shoulder 'collar'. The strip on the crown is buffy, whereas the strip is white in the Le Conte's.

Breeding in Canada both of these sparrows use the mid-section of the U.S. as their migratory path. The Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow is often seen along the eastern coast, but a Le Conte's this far east is a true treat. It just proves the old adage - 'always expect the unexpected!' Go birding!

How do they do It? Monarchs Aloft

A recent report published on the BBC News website reports monarch's GPS systems are located in their antennae rather than their brains. Experiments involving the removal of antennae or painting the antennae black caused these butterflies to fly in a group in the wrong direction. Antennae aren't just for detecting odors anymore! Scientists are now looking at antennae navigation in foraging bees and ants.

In case you haven't noticed, there are few to no monarch butterflies winging their way south this season. It has been a poor year for all butterflies—period. Seasonal counts for local butterflies have been a few here and there. One has to speculate that our rainy spring/summer weather has been a factor and this is a temporary shortage. However, think of the implications—less food for our avian friends. A drought in TX and other southern states can also be a factor in the low monarch counts. When monarchs leave their wintering roosts in Mexico, their first generation of eggs, larva and adults happens in TX. It takes 3-4 generations of northern moving monarchs to reach their northern territories such as VT. With fewer host milkweed plants, adults just died without reproducing. We all hope for a better butterfly season in 2010.

Nest Boxes

For those interested in bird watching, observations and enjoyment can go beyond simple identification. Here in the Dorset area, the Lions Club and interested parties have erected 32 nest boxes at the local Recreation Area. Twelve weeks of monitoring began on April 29; thirteen boxes were already being claimed by Tree Swallows, House Wrens and Eastern Bluebirds. In fact, there were two boxes already hosting bluebird eggs.

What have we learned during our box checks?

• Tree Swallows use feathers to decorate their nests. Only the female incubates and often remained on nest when the front of box was removed. Both parents feed and tend young. Boxes out in the open away from vegetation are preferred by Tree Swallows.
• House Wren males fill nest boxes with sticks, many times just creating a dummy nest, perhaps to thwart nearby competition. An interior cup is made with fine grasses. The boxes closest to vegetation were preferred by the wrens. Inexplicably, a House Wren successfully nested in a box in which Bluebirds had started to construct a nest, but the wrens never added any of their signature sticks.
• The Eastern Bluebirds were our earliest nesters and sometimes succeeded in raising 2 broods.
• There was nest failure from blowflies, ants and unknown causes - too wet and cold?, malicious House Wrens destroying eggs or killing young?

• Of the 34 boxes, 18 were used by Tree Swallows, 10 by House Wrens and 4 by Eastern Bluebirds and 2 did not host any bird nest, although the mice did persist in filling one of the boxes with leaves and grasses.
• The number of possible fledglings based on egg hatching was 53 Tree Swallows, 35 House Wrens and 17 Eastern Bluebirds.
• There were also 9 Cliff Swallow nests under the eves of one of the buildings at the Park.
• In three cases Tree Swallows lost out to House Wrens and bluebirds for box 'ownership'.

What is amazing is that there was activity in all our boxes despite their relative proximity to each other. It is hard to believe that so many birds could coexist is such a small area, but this is the wonderment of expanding your bird observations. For more on bird boxes visit the Tree Swallow Nest Box Project.

Bird Watching

If you are reading this, you probably consider yourself a birdwatcher or, at the very least, interested in birds at some level. You are not alone.

A new report released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows one of every five Americans watches birds, and in doing so, birdwatchers contributed $36 billion to the U.S. economy in 2006, the most recent year for which economic data are available. The report - Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis shows that total participation in birdwatching is strong at 48 million, and remaining at a steady 20 percent of the U.S. population since 1996.

The report identifies who birders are, where they live, how avid they are, and what kinds of birds they watch. In addition to demographic information, this report also provides an estimate of how much birders spend on their hobby and the economic impact of these expenditures. Trip-related and equipment-related expenditures associated with birding generated over $82 billion in total industry output, 671,000 jobs, and $11 billion in local, state, and federal tax revenue from 48 billion birders. Interestingly, Vermont rated third in birding participation rates by state residents.

Cliff Swallows

The Cliff Swallow is one of five swallow species that nest in Vermont. It is a small, stocky bird with a blue/black back and head cap, buffy forehead, dark wings and tail, tan belly and a distinctive orange rump patch. The cheek and neck is orangish. It is the only swallow with a square tail. The others have forked tails. Swallows are insect eaters who mostly feed on the wing usually over or near open water.

The bulb shaped, dried mud nest with its entrance tunnel is attached to a vertical surface - originally on cliffs, but now frequently under bridges or the eve overhang on buildings. Fine grasses and feathers are used to line the inside. Cliff Swallows nest in colonies which tend to be small in the East. Up to 3,700 nests in one spot were counted at a western colony.

Cliff Swallows breed throughout North America, but migrate to west/central South America in the winter.

Sitting in the "Catbird Seat"

The Gray Catbird is a mimic that can sound like a cat meowing (thus the name) or imitate others in the thrush family such as the Brown Thrasher, American Robin or Mockingbird. The slim gray catbird sports a black cap, long tail and chestnut feathers under the tail. Although skulking and secretive when nesting, it will find a high perch for courtship singing. The Gray Catbird population spreads across the U.S. except the western coast. It winters in Central America.

Sitting in the 'catbird seat' means having a superior or advantageous position, (as in the top of a bush!). In seems to have originated during baseball days in the 1940s, when "Red Barber announce(d) the Dodger games over the radio and he use(d) (the) expression... 'sitting in the catbird seat' (to) mean 'sitting pretty', as a batter would be with three balls and no strikes on him."

Perils of Migration

Migrating birds are the most visible in May. They come in 'waves' and mixed flocks often twittering, chattering or singing along their way. But more than one third of the 650 species that breed in the United States are in long-term decline! At least 29 species of migratory birds have experienced population declines of 45% or greater since the 1960s. Some species, such as the Cerulean Warbler and Olive-sided Flycatcher, have declined more than 70%.

What are some things that can be done to mitigate this decline?

The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) is up for renewal this year in Congress. NMBCA is the only federal U.S. grants program specifically dedicated to the conservation of our migrant birds. Since its inception in 2002, NMBCA has supported 225 projects in 44 U.S. states/territories and 34 other countries which have proven to reverse habitat loss and advance conservation strategies for the broad range of Neotropical birds that populate America and the Western Hemisphere. Support the renewal of NMBCA.

Millions of birds collide with communication towers during migration. Apparently just by switching from steady-burning to strobe lights, bird kills can be dramatically reduced without sacrificing aviation safety. Despite overwhelming evidence about the problem and suggested solutions, the Federal Communications Commission has failed to act. Encourage the FCC to 'Take Action Now!' Go to the American Bird Conservancy, www.abcbirds.org, for more information about these subjects.

Bats Again!

The April 2008 subject was about 'White Nose Syndrome" which is affecting bats in the Northeast. While summer populations seemed healthy with thousands of bats returning to their hibernation sites, high mortality in 2009 has continued and infection is spreading.

The Mt. Aeolus Cave in E. Dorset is the largest known hibernaculum in New England. Bats were studied here in the 1930s and 1960s. In 2008, scientists compared fat reserves of bats in the area from May through November to data collected in the '60s. Fat measurements were comparable UNTIL October when the 2008 bats started weighing in far below their earlier recordings. Why? What is causing the weight loss? Are bats going into hibernation undernourished? How is this related to white-nose syndrome? Is it a cause or a symptom?

In October 2008, experts identified the fungus growing on the bats noses, ears or wings as a Geomyces genus. It is known to grow in cooler environments, but they do not have a clue how it might be linked to bat mortality. What is known is that bats consume approximately 1/3 of their body weight in insects per night! What effect will the loss of thousands of bats have on insect populations? The situation is dire!

For information about the bat populations at Mt. Aeolus cave see this video.

Pine Siskin

There have been many reports of PINE SISKINS throughout the Northeast this winter. One might mistake them for Goldfinches, except for their heavily streaked brown upper and lower parts. The bill is slender and the tail distinctively notched. Yellow is visible on the wings and under tail in flight.

These tiny birds inhabit coniferous or mixed coniferous-deciduous forests north of us and are unpredictable winter visitors. It is speculated that when food resources are low, Siskins head south looking for those feeders offering niger/thistle seed or sunflower seeds. They usually travel in small flocks, tend to be rather skittish and depart with the undulating flight characterized by other finches calling their harsh, grating chattering or 'zreeeeeeet' as they go.

The Great Backyard Bird Count

The Great Backyard Bird Count is February 13-16. The 12th annual event is coordinated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. On one day or all four days beginners and experts count birds at their favorite location for at least 15 minutes. Scientists can use the information to track the ups and downs of bird populations and to learn more about their migratory movements. Some of the questions your count may help answer:

• How will this winter's snow and cold temperatures influence bird populations?
• Where are winter finches and other "irruptive" species that appear in large numbers during some years but not others?
• How will the timing of birds' migrations compare with past years?
• How are bird diseases, such as West Nile virus, affecting birds in different regions?
• What kinds of differences in bird diversity are apparent in cities versus suburban, rural, and natural areas?
• Are any birds undergoing worrisome declines that point to the need for conservation attention?

How can you participate? Review the information on the GBBC web site. Tally the highest number of individuals for each species seen together at one time. Enter your data at www.birdcount.org. The hope is to break last year's record of 85,000 checklists reporting 635 species seen across North America. And the most frequently reported bird seen last year? The Northern Cardinal!

Brown Creeper

The Brown Creeper is a little known, streaky brown backed bird with a sparkling, high pitched song. It is often overlooked as it spirals upward from the base of a tree, to fly down to another and back up. This energetic bird searches the bark crannies for insects with his specialized down curved bill, using its long tail for a third balance point, much like woodpeckers. Note the plumage and direction of travel of a spiraling bird to make sure you are not looking at a nuthatch.

This year-round VT resident tucks its nest between a loose flap of bark on a tree trunk 20-30 feet off the ground. These nests are very hard to find in the mid-canopy of the deciduous forest. The easiest way to find a Brown Creeper in winter and summer is to listen for their 'chatter' as they forage.