Flight of the Hummingbird.

Bird News Items

1. Marshes are critical habitat for so many species of birds, and this thoughtful article explores the challenge that rising ocean levels pose: At a distance the trees are eerie — leafless in August, tangled with broken branches, bark drained of color. They ring the edges of the marsh in stands between Laudholm Beach and the marsh upland. “We call it a ghost forest,” said Susan Adamowicz, a biologist with the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service who has been studying marshes for decades. As the ocean rises, she said, it creeps farther into the watershed, killing trees whose roots cannot tolerate the salty water or higher groundwater. “It’s a sign of marsh migration,” said Adamowicz, “and is a natural response to climate change.” Trees at the woodland edge like red pines or maples usually go first; with more inland trees — ash and birch and oak — hanging on longer. (via The Maine Monitor)

2. The remarkable Black Swift: The sun was not up yet, but Rob Sparks and Colin Woolley were changing into their waders and rubber boots before heading on a short hike on a recent summer morning. Just downstream of Zapata Falls, they started to assemble their research setup. Lit only by their red headlamps and a thin moon, they used a pulley mechanism, like sailors hoisting a sail, to lift a special net. This mist net, which held several horizontal rows of pouches, hung from 21-foot metal poles that span the width of the rocky canyon. The scientists were looking for one of the most cryptic birds in the American continent: the black swift. (via Coloradoan)

By Hap Ellis, Least Sandpiper - Cape Porpoise Flats, Kennebunkport, ME.

3. Birding in the land of Genghis Khan: Mongolia is not really on the radar for most birders or even many travelers. To be honest, it was barely on my radar until it became “Plan C” for my spring birding holiday this year. But it turns out to be a wonderful place to visit and go birding with friendly people. And there’s some incredible scenery, too. So I’d like to share some of my experiences there along with information on the birds (and other wildlife). (via Daily Kos)

4. If you bother to look, it turns out New York City is “one of the most amazing places to bird and one of the wildest cities”: Angie Co’s favorite spots for birding in New York City are Prospect Park, Greenwood Cemetery, and Jamaica Bay, a wildlife refuge and National Park that’s host to over 325 species of birds, mostly migratory waterfowl. But it was in a community garden a few blocks from her Brooklyn home that her husband, also an avid birder (and one gifted in recognizing bird songs), spotted a bright yellow Kentucky warbler. Within minutes, birders descended on the park with cameras; they had gotten a rare bird alert on eBird. Co prefers not to sign up for alerts. “I like to be surprised and find birds myself,” she said. “I don’t like to chase birds.” (via 6 SqFt)

5. We need more Ron Canterbury’s - “Old and tired”, but refusing to give up: The sun is still rising when Ron Canterbury gathers a dozen students around him at the University of Cincinnati Center for Field Studies in Harrison. Everyone's focused on the crinkling paper bag in his hand. He reaches in and pulls out a house wren. “He’s going to jump around, wiggle around, until you get two fingers gently around the neck,” Canterbury said. The UC ornithologist is a bird bander. He records information about individual birds to study the whole population, which has been shrinking since the 1970s. “If they could speak to us, they’d be saying, ‘Hey, it’s (in) bad shape, please help,’ ” Canterbury said. “That’s the purpose of my research, is trying to save the birds.” He’s been at it for 35 years and has documented more than 80,000 birds. The data Canterbury collects from bird banding is used for local and national conservation projects. (via WVXU News)

6. A fun little primer on hummingbird migration: During the late summer and early fall, hummingbirds will migrate back to warmer weather after arriving in the Midwest earlier this spring. Bird-watchers can expect to see hummingbirds — the tiny birds that get their name from the sound of their wings — leaving the state toward the end of August. Here's when you can expect to see hummingbirds leave Wisconsin, and how to see them before they leave for the winter. (via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

By Hap Ellis, Northern Harrier - Cape Porpoise Flats, Kennebunkport, ME.

7. Urban birds and antimicrobial resistance: Urban ducks and crows might offer us a connection to nature, but scientists have found wild birds that live near humans are more likely to harbour bacteria resistant to important antibiotics. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is largely caused by the overuse of drugs such as antibiotics among humans and livestock. The issue is of serious concern:according to data for 2019, about 4.95 million deaths globally were associated with bacterial AMR, including 1.27 million directly caused by such resistance. Researchers say species of wild birds that tend to turn up in urban settings are reservoirs for bacteria with the hallmarks of resistance to a host of drugs. (via The Guardian)

8. This week’s bird flu article: Trupanion, a Seattle-based pet insurance company, is partnering with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to create a disease tracking system for pets, the company announced this week. The system will draw on insurance claims submitted to Trupanion in real time when sick dogs and cats visit the veterinarian. “The concept is to proactively detect potential threats to pets and public health,” said Dr. Steve Weinrauch, the chief veterinary and product officer at Trupanion. The effort, which also includes academic scientists and other companies in the pet industry, is still in its early stages. Initially, it will focus on bird flu, a virus that has been spreading through American dairy cows and spilling over into domestic cats. (via The New York Times)

9. From Springsteen’s  backyard - Hoboken’s “Most Famous Bird” wasn’t a bird at all: Jeffrey Train (AKA) Mr. Train is a Hoboken resident and birder. He is the co-founder of Our Tern, the newly fledged organization working to protect Hoboken’s tern colony. Train designs programs meant to inspire love and curiosity for the natural world. He has created curriculum and content for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, NJ Audubon, and Hog Island Audubon Camp. He leads family walks in the fall and spring with the Hoboken Public Library. He and his son have set out to identify 100 species of birds in Hoboken. Find out more at Ourtern.com and mrtrain.org. (via Hoboken Girl)

10. More on birds and fires: Wildfire smoke, which contains harmful particulate matter and toxic gases, is widely understood to be an acute threat to human health. But wildfire smoke harms so much more than just human lungs. For example, poor air quality can also cause trees to close the pores from which they release oxygen. Bird watchers have reported that landscapes teeming with birds are often eerily quiet during smoky days, underscoring that what’s harmful to humans is bad for the rest of the animal kingdom as well. And while empirical proof of just how bad recent wildfire seasons have been for birds and other animals is still developing, an emerging field of research is beginning to discover evidence of the harms that extreme wildfire smoke delivers to animal and bird health, too. (via Grist)

6718  By Hap Ellis, Black Guillemot - Cape Porpoise Harbor, Kennebunkport, ME.

11. Our first film review: In 2015, a story went viral of an enduring friendship between Joao, a retired Brazilian bricklayer and fisherman, and DinDim, a Magellanic penguin. Every year, the penguin travelled thousands of miles from his breeding grounds in Patagonia to see his human friend. The story charmed a lot of people furthering a fascination that many have with penguins. Our affection for these birds has played out on movie screens for years and in many genres: in documentaries, like 2005’s Oscar-winning documentary March of the Penguins, (which inspired a sequel and a mockumentary Farce of the Penguins), feature films like Mr. Popper’s Penguins with Jim Carrey, and a series of animated films, notably 2006’s Oscar winner for best animated film Happy Feet. So, it was perhaps inevitable that that this particular true story would inspire a movie. (via Original Cin)

12. We mentioned Sophie Osborn’s new book, “Feather Trails” last week but the review was paywalled - try this one: Endangered. Extinction. Research. Conservation. These are the words that define so much of our conversations about the natural world today. The chapter titles of Feather Trails: A Journey of Discovery Among Endangered Birds represent both ends of the spectrum: “A World Full of Poisons,” “Malaria,” “Forest Intruders,” “Lead Shock,” “Shot.” But also: “Delisted,” “Growing Up,” “Second Chances,” “No Tags.” And within these chapters are three marvelous stories told by Sophie A. H. Osborn, a passionate field biologist who participates to the core of her being three re-introduction projects aimed at saving three very different, endangered species: Peregrine Falcon, Hawaiian Crow (‘Alala)*, and California Condor. Sophie Osborn’s stories are personal and inspiring, but this is more than a personal memoir. Her experiences are framed within the larger scientific histories how once common species become endangered, and of how people and organizations have strategized and explored controversial paths to bring their numbers up and nurture them till they fill our skies. (via 1000 Birds)

6638 By Hap Ellis, Semipalmated Plover - Cape Porpoise Flats, Kennebunkport, ME.

13. Back yard birders take note: A bird frolicking in water is a joyful thing to see, especially when it’s happening in your own backyard bird bath. Besides providing an oasis in hot weather, a bird bath serves as a hydration station for birds. “Access to clean water is a lifesaver for birds—especially in areas where it is scarce—sparing them from the need to fly long distances in search of it,” says Alison Kondler, an Audubon Master Birder, 20-year veteran bird guide, and founder of Birding By Ear. Among the best bird baths we’ve compiled, our top pick is the Alpine Corporation 31-inch Tall Outdoor Antique Flower Birdbath. Its shallow, gently sloping bowl offers easy access for bathing. We also like that the plastic construction makes it easy to move, while reportedly withstanding the elements in all seasons. (via National Geographic)

14. Let’s finish with a photo essay on camouflage in birds: By necessity, birds are experts at camouflage. There are clear exceptions, like bright red male northern cardinals, but the rule is that birds thrive best when they’re least noticeable. Nesting females are a good example: They are often dull in color so they blend in with their surroundings during the vulnerable nesting season. Another well-camouflaged bird is the American goldfinch in winter; it molts into drab plumage so it’s harder to see, even on bare branches. But many birds are masters of disguise for all or most of the year, making them both a challenge and a thrill to discover. Here are a few clever examples of camouflage in birds you will want to watch out for, along with some tips on how to spot them. (via Birds and Blooms)

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Bird Videos of the Week

By WLKY News, “Archives: Kentucky State Fair Poultry contest”

Cornell Live Bird Cam - Northern Royal Albatross.

Cornell Live Bird Cam - Hellgate Osprey.

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