1. This is cool: Emperor Penguin colony discovered – accidentally! - by satellite photos: A never-before-seen emperor penguin colony — one of only 66 known to exist — has been spotted by accident in satellite photographs of West Antarctica that clearly show their guano, or droppings, staining the ice. The colony is estimated to be home to about 1,000 adult birds, in 500 pairs with their young, which makes it relatively small for an emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) breeding site. But it's an important addition to what's known of the species. (via Live Science)
2. Checking in on the Snowy Owl (still) enjoying sunny Cypress, CA (or rains?): Nobody is quite sure why a snowy owl, usually found in Arctic regions, decided to relocate to sunny Cypress, Calif. Everyone you talk to has a theory. Some speculate that recent storms blew the bird off course; others think perhaps it is an escaped pet. One thing is for sure: For the last six weeks, the white-winged creature dubbed Snowy has been mesmerizing locals, birders and photographers from sunrise to sunset. Groups of up to 60, who come together largely through a Facebook group dedicated to tracking the owl, have been gathering in the streets of the town in Orange County to catch a glimpse of the owl. They snap photographs in almost silence, so they do not spook their newest, most-cherished neighbor. (via The Washington Post)
3. Hey, whatever works (including recliners): You are standing in a south Georgia swamp in the summer, and you know the temperature for the day is close to 100 and the humidity level is 95%-plus. Your body, your soaked, "sweat-wicking" clothes, and your worry about camera equipment not withstanding, such moisture will tell you this is not a smart way to go birdwatching or "birding." Never mind that you can't see the water moccasins, and just because you have not heard any alligators bellowing, you can't assume one is not near. Enter "birding in place". As of right now, I am a reformed birdwatcher or birder. The back porch is one of my fields, and I am Adam after the fall, fig leaves on a tree being robbed of its fruits by birds a gift offering instant gratification for the winged creatures and the human sitting on the steps watching return flight after return flight. (via Yahoo! News)
4. AI technology at work to help find the Eastern Bristlebird in Australia: The fact the eastern bristlebird had not been seen nor heard in south-east Queensland since its Gondwana rainforest home was ravaged in the black summer bushfires of 2019/20 was, in some ways, unsurprising. For one, there are thought to have been fewer than 40 individual birds in its northern population. Couple that to the fact it is a “nondescript, brown bird”, shy and secretive, that flits along the ground between shrubs doing its darnedest not to be seen. That makes the bristlebird’s call the most efficient way of tracking it down. So QUT researchers teamed up with BirdLife Australia and Healthy Land and Water to place five acoustic monitors in the bristlebird’s northern range mid last year, returning only to replace batteries and weeks later for the recordings. The results were heartening, confirming the existence of the elusive bird feared lost to south-east Queensland. (via The Guardian)
5. The power of eBird…”eBird makes it really easy” in India!: In November, Nagaland witnessed its first-ever bird count event. Birdwatchers from Dimapur, Kohima, Peren and Wokha districts came together to document the rich avian diversity of the state. Over four days, 178 species were recorded as part of the Tokhü Emong Bird Count (TEBC), including the Streak-breasted scimitar babbler, Red-billed liocichla and Rusty-capped fulvetta. Birds are considered excellent barometers for planetary health. Widely distributed, relatively easy to survey, and responsive to environmental change, they play a crucial role in revealing wider trends in natural ecosystems. An army of birdwatchers also collects data on them. Since 2014, for instance, around 20,000 birdwatchers have uploaded more than 15 million observations in India alone on eBird, an online database of bird observations. They cover all states and Union territories, with over 1,50,000 new observations being added every month. (via Money Control)
6. Travel tip #1: Have you ever been moved by the images of wild birds gracefully flying over a lake with a winter sunset in the background? Although it may seem intimidating, birdwatching is a straightforward method to connect with Greece’s untamed nature and witness rare species that can only be found in books. All you need is a pair of binoculars, patience and a passion to explore to uncover the marvels of wild Greece. Noted as the birdwatchers paradise of the country, the Ervos Delta is one of the most pristine natural wetlands in Greece. Hosting countless bird species, the Delta serves as an important crossroad in the migratory routes of birds traveling from cold northern Europe environments to warmer climes of the southern Mediterranean. Among many rare European species, one can encounter Spoonbills, dozens of different types of marshland birds, and even swans waiting patiently for the winter to pass before the summer arrives. (via Travel.Gr)
7. Travel tip #2 (and closer to home for most of you): There’s no shortage of scenic getaways dotted around the California coast, but especially for nature lovers, it’s hard to find a better destination than Morro Bay. Located on the west coast of San Luis Obispo County, this charming city is a year-round destination thanks to its abundant natural beauty and outdoor adventure opportunities – and when January arrives, a certain event offers incredible opportunities for seasoned birdwatchers. For more than 25 years, the Morro Bay Bird Festival has drawn ecotourists from far and wide to experience the region’s vibrant biodiversity firsthand. This year, from January 13 to 16, each annual iteration offers visitors the chance to stake out a coveted spot along the Pacific Flyway, a migratory route stretching from Patagonia to Alaska on America’s western edge. (via The Bharat Express)
8. Sad story from Kenya – “war” declared on Red-billed Queleas (6 million of them!): A drive by the Kenyan government to kill up to 6 million red-billed quelea birds that have invaded farms will have unintended consequences for raptors and other wild species, experts have warned. The continuing drought in the Horn of Africa has reduced the amount of native grass, whose seeds are queleas’ main food source, causing the birds to increasingly invade grain fields, putting 2,000 acres (800 hectares) of rice under threat. About 300 acres of rice fields have been destroyed by the birds. Farmers in western Kenya stand to lose close to 60 tonnes of grain to the birds. In 2021, the FAO estimated crop losses attributable to the birds amounted to $50m (£40m) annually. (via The Guardian)
9. Troubling data from Turkish wetlands: The number of migratory birds from Europe to Turkey continues to decrease due to the increasing influence of climate change. Ornithologist Ömer Döndüren: "28 wetlands in Turkey, mainly Izmir, Manisa, Aydın and Muğla, are seeing droughts. We don't see many ducks this year because of the rising temperature; these birds spend their winter in Europe and immigrate to Turkey’s south later." Within the scope of the Mid-Winter Waterfowl Census (KOSKS), work is being carried out in the designated areas with the participation of nongovernmental organization (NGO) members and volunteer bird watchers under the coordination of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the 4th Regional Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks and the Hunting and Wildlife Branch Directorate. (via Daily Sabah)
10. Eagle Awareness in Alabama: Eagle Awareness weekend is back at Lake Guntersville State Park. The yearly event started in the eighties by Linda Reynolds who is the first naturalist for the Alabama State parks. The activities kick off today and run through Sunday. Naturalists in the park hope to maintain a culture of awareness to protect the Bald Eagle and other bird species. The website Outdoor Alabama says the Eagle Awareness Weekends began in 1985 alongside a bald eagle restoration program in Alabama. (via Alabama Public Radio)
11. For winter birders and feeder watchers, a refresher on how Black-capped Chickadees thrive in winter: On nearly every one of my daily walks in the neighborhood in January, a black-capped chickadee calls its name. It doesn’t matter if it’s snowing, cold, raining, gloomy or sunny, and if no other birds are active, the chickadee announces its presence, “Chick-a-dee-dee-dee.” On a few of those days, even though it’s not yet nesting time, I’ve heard it give its three-syllable courtship song, “Hey sweetie.” Some only hear two syllables, one high and one lower. What’s cheerful about the song is that the interval between the two notes is a happy one. Musicians will recognize it as a major third, as opposed to a minor third that might invoke sadness. As one of my favorite nature authors Bernd Heinrich wrote in “Winter World”: Day in, day out, they are active no matter the cold weather. (via Chicago Tribune)
12. And we’ll finish up with this wonderful travel log from “El fin del mundo” (hint: Argentina): They call it “The southernmost city in the world” and “El Fin del Mundo” (The end of the world). No matter how you describe it, Ushuaia, Argentina, is pretty damn remote. Ushuaia is not on the Straits of Magellan. It’s actually south of the Straits of Magellan, located along the Beagle Channel (named for Darwin’s ship) on the south shore of Tierra del Fuego. Tierra del Fuego has a great mix of habitats. The lowlands at the base of the Andes contain Patagonia nothofagus (southern beech) forest. The northern part of the island is the southern extension of the Pampas grassland and the wintering ground for several North American shorebird species as well as some unique breeding shorebirds. (via Daily Kos)
Bird Photo of the Week
Photo by Hap Ellis, White-throated Sparrow – Arnold Arboretum, Boston, MA.
Bird Videos of the Week
By KARE News, “Winter Birding in Minnesota”.
Cornell Live Bird Cam - Bushtits in West Texas.
Cornell Live Bird Cam - Nesting Bermuda Petrel.