Bird Feeding Staples - Black Oil Sunflower Seed Is Magic Mix

Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

LITTLE ROCK, AR --(Ammoland.com)- Feeding birds in yards enthralls many thousands of Arkansans every winter.

When they are ready to move up a notch from using bags of mixed seed from discount stores and groceries, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission suggests, there are two effective steps to take.

1. Black oil sunflower seed.
2. Magic Mix.

Using these, the backyard bird feeder gets many more varieties of visitors. The ratio of wanted versus unwanted species like house sparrows and starlings increases sharply.
Black oil sunflower seed is available from farm supply outlets, garden centers and bird specialty stores. Magic Mix is something you concoct at home.

It’s simple. Like making a stew or chili, there are all sorts of variations to Magic Mix, and no one insists you have to go by a recipe or formula. Magic Mix is a name that came from somewhere years ago, and capitalizing it just seems logical, although it’s not a brand name by any means.

Magic Mix is lard, peanut butter and cornmeal. You can add other things. Exact proportions aren’t needed. Just mix it so it looks and feels right.

In a large mixing bowl, blend in lard and peanut butter, using more lard than peanut butter. A pastry blender works well or you may prefer other kitchen tools you have on hand. Then gradually mix in cornmeal to reach a consistency somewhere in the vicinity of Play-Do or muffin mix. It needs to be fairly stiff and solid but moldable and not crumbly. You’ll use a goodly amount of cornmeal.

It will be greasy. You’re using lard. If the greasiness bothers you, wear latex gloves, but you can wash hands later.

A very rough guide on proportions is two parts lard, one part peanut butter, one part cornmeal. Some Arkansans toss in a handful of flour also, saying this small addition helps the mix achieve the preferred consistency.

To get the Magic Mix to the birds, just put it out anywhere above the ground. Purchased or homemade suet feeders work well. So does pressing a handful of Magic Mix into the bark of a tree.

Hanging log feeders are heavily used in some yards. These are just sections of a fence post with several large holes drilled and a sturdy screw eye placed in one end. Then it is wired or hung on a bent-out coat hanger form a tree limb.

To make several of these log feeders, buy a cedar fence post from a lumberyard, fence company or a farm supply store. A six-foot post can be cut into six sections, each a foot long.

Secure an inch-and-a-half spade bit in an electric drill or drill press and bore staggered holes about an inch deep around the post. Four holes to a section are about right. Below and slightly to one side of each large hole bore a quarter-inch hole. Insert a three-inch piece of wooden dowel into each of these small holes for perches. Don’t glue the dowels in place because they will rot and break before the cedar deteriorates. Pull out the stub of dowel and replace it with a new one.

Use a good-sized screw eye and put it in the center of the top of your feeder. Screw it all the way down. Then use a wire or coat hanger and hang the feeder after it’s filled with Magic Mix. These cedar feeders will last for years.

Bluebird Nest Boxes Help Pennsylvanians Connect With Wildlife

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA --(Ammoland.com)- If you are interested in connecting with wildlife in your own backyard, beginning Monday, Jan. 23, the Pennsylvania Game Commission will be selling bluebird nesting boxes at its Harrisburg headquarters at 2001 Elmerton Avenue.

The boxes sell for $9.54 (includes sales tax), and customers can select from assembled boxes or kits that can be assembled as a wood-working project.

“Bluebirds are early nesters, so now is the time to put up new nest boxes, as well as to clean and repair existing boxes,” said Dan Brauning, Game Commission Wildlife Diversity Division chief. “These bluebird boxes enable Pennsylvanians to help wildlife in a natural way.

“Also, building nesting boxes is a great project for individuals, families or civic organizations interested in connecting with wildlife. These box designs are proven to attract bluebirds and other native species, such as tree swallows and house wrens.”

Bluebirds live in open country, and are a beautiful songbird native to Pennsylvania. Bluebirds are cavity nesters and have become less common due to a lack of suitable nest sites. Many nest sites have been lost through changing land-use practices, as well as to urban and suburban sprawl. But the introductions of house sparrows and starlings in 1851 and 1890 have been the primary reasons for the bluebirds’ decline, as these non-native species took over native bluebird nesting cavities.

The bluebird boxes offered by the Game Commission include an opening that is the prescribed one-and-one-half inches in diameter. This precludes starlings from being able to enter. However, house sparrows still may be able to enter the boxes. If this occurs, the house sparrow nests should be removed immediately.

Boxes should be erected on a free-standing pole three to five feet above the ground – facing south, if possible – and facing a nearby tree or fence where young birds can safely land on their initial flights from the box. To reduce predation and competition from other species, no perch should be placed on the box; bluebirds do not need one. Boxes placed in pairs, about 20 feet apart, may help reduce competition from swallows.

The Game Commission’s Howard Nursery has been manufacturing bluebird nest boxes and box kits for more than a quarter century. Each year, about 9,000 boxes are manufactured there and sold or provided to Pennsylvanians to help bluebirds. That annual influx of new nest boxes helps ensure Pennsylvania remains a “keystone state” in bluebird conservation.

Sales will continue while supplies last, and office hours are Monday-Friday from 7:45 a.m. until 4 p.m. The Game Commission’s headquarters is at 2001 Elmerton Ave., just off the Progress Avenue exit of Interstate 81 in Harrisburg. To order by phone, call the Game Commission’s Harrisburg office at 1-888-888-3459. If ordering by phone, shipping and handling costs will apply depending on how many boxes are ordered.

For more information on bluebirds, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), click on “Wildlife” in the menu bar at the top of the homepage, and then select “Bluebird” in the “Wild Birds and Birding” section of the page. Also, information about additional wildlife nesting structures can be found by putting your cursor on “Self-Help” in the menu bar at the top of the homepage, then clicking on “Download Forms and Brochures” in the drop-down menu listing, and then clicking on “Wildlife Homes Order Form” in the “Agency Programs” section.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. --(Ammoland.com)- When Richard Crossley spoke at this year’s Georgia Ornithological Society meeting, the acclaimed birder and photographer noticed the number of youth in attendance.

Crossley also noticed that each one he asked said their interest in birding began with Georgia’s Youth Birding Competition, said Tim Keyes, who coordinates the annual birdathon.

Now on a nationwide book tour, Crossley is mentioning the Youth Birding Competition as a way to get youth interested in birds. All of which certainly fits the event’s intent, according to Keyes, a wildlife biologist with the Department of Natural Resources’ Nongame Conservation Section.

“I think it’s giving kids an opportunity to get outside and learn about the natural world in an exciting way that catches their attention,” he said.

It also points participants toward the long-term goal: an interest in conservation, Keyes said.

The 24-hour competition sponsored by DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division, The Environmental Resources Network Inc. (TERN) and other partners returns for its seventh year on April 27-28, 2012. A banquet and awards ceremony will be held April 28 at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center near Mansfield.

Teams register in age divisions varying from kindergarten to high school (participants compete against other teams their age, in four age divisions). Teams can also volunteer to raise money for conservation organizations on a per-bird or lump sum basis.

Some 25 teams from preschool ages to teens and ranging from first-timer birders to veterans saw or heard scores of bird species and raised nearly $1,500 during the 2011 competition.

The deadline to register for the 2012 event is March 31. The competition starts at 5 p.m. Friday, April 27, and ends at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 28. Groups may use as much or as little of that time to count as many birds as possible throughout Georgia.

Although teams may start birding anywhere in the state, they must turn in their checklists at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center by 5 p.m. Saturday. While judges examine and score checklists, participants will be treated to a live animal show followed by an awards banquet packed with prizes.

The Youth Birding Competition also includes a T-shirt Art Contest – enter by March 5 – and nature journal category. Participation in the birding competition is encouraged but not required to submit artwork for the T-shirt Art Contest. Taking part in both is free, aside from the optional cost of overnight lodging.

Competition sponsors include Atlanta Audubon Society and the Georgia Ornithological Society. For more information about registering for the Youth Birding Competition, visit www.georgiawildlife.org/getinvolved or contact Lacy Mitchell at Charlie Elliott Conference Center, (770) 784-3152 or lacy.mitchell@dnr.state.ga.us. Tim Keyes, at (912) 262-3191 or tim.keyes@dnr.state.ga.us, can answer questions about the competition.

For more information on the T-shirt Art Contest, visit www.georgiawildlife.org/YBCTshirtArtContest or contact art contest coordinator Linda May at (706) 557-3226 or linda.may@dnr.state.ga.us.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Washington, DC --(Ammoland.com)- Most snowy owls normally live year-round in the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other sites north of Alaska’s Brooks Range; a few overwinter in the Northern Plains and New England.

But this fall they are spreading across the United States in great numbers and turning heads. The nearly two-foot-tall, predominantly white owls – Harry Potter’s Hedwig is a snowy – are hard to miss.

Sharp-eyed folks at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Washington state have reported sightings. Other sightings come from as far east as Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Massachusetts and as far south as Kansas. Snowy owls have also been spotted in Connecticut, Maine, New York, Vermont, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and North Dakota.

Why do snowy owls sometimes fly south en masse? Snowy owls’ favorite prey is small rodents called lemmings, which are notorious for boom and bust population cycles. Biologists think the owls’ sudden upsurge south from the Arctic occurs when lemmings are in short supply. See a map of snowy owl sightings in the Lower 48, compiled this fall from reports on eBird and state bird listservs. (Check the map again in a few days, and see how sightings have multiplied.)

Snowy Owl, Newburyport, MA, 28 November 2011. Photograph by Ryan Schain.

Unlike many other owls, snowy owls are active in the daytime. They tend to perch at high points overlooking open sites such as beaches and airports. Exhausted from their long flights, some starve if prey is scarce.

Read more about refuge sightings of snowy owls on the Refuge System’s Facebook page. Katie Brashear Koch wrote recently, “We had an adult female at the USFWS Marquette Biological Station in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula this morning!”

She took a photo of it perched on a power pole. She added that there have been sightings of the owls across the Upper Peninsula for the past two weeks, with each day seeming to bring more.

See the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for additional information on snowy owls.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov. Connect with our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usfws, follow our tweets at www.twitter.com/usfwshq, watch our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Washington, DC --(Ammoland.com)- The Montrose and Luckenbach Trustee Councils and the Government of Mexico have announced a $4 million dollar award to a U.S-Mexico partnership that will implement a comprehensive five-year program focused on restoring seabird populations on seven islands off the Pacific coast of Mexico.

Improvement of nesting grounds in Mexico will create more stable and viable populations of seabirds in California and the Mexican islands off the Baja California peninsula.

With support from the Trustee Councils, a partnership comprised of the National Audubon Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Grupo de Ecología y Conservación de Islas (GECI), and the Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature will implement the seabird restoration program. This partnership will strengthen an ongoing successful conservation program conducted by GECI on these islands over the past 15 years.

The Montrose and Luckenbach Trustee Councils manage funds received in settlements from pollution releases involving the Montrose Chemical Corporation and the SS Jacob Luckenbach. The Trustees of natural resources act on behalf of the public to recover and direct funds to projects that will provide for restoration of natural resources that were injured by the releases. The natural resource trustees for these councils include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Park Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), California State Lands Commission, and California Department of Parks and Recreation. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will provide administrative support of the program.

“The Trustee Councils are thrilled to support this partnership between leading conservation organizations in both Mexico and the U.S.” said Dan Ashe, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Seabirds cross freely over international boundaries and so must our restoration efforts. This bi-national project on the Baja California Pacific Islands will benefit seabird populations in both countries for years to come.”

The partnership will begin work in January 2012 on Coronado, Todos Santos, San Martín, San Jerónimo, Natividad, Asunción, and San Roque Islands, targeting seabird species such as the California Brown Pelican, Cassin’s Auklet, Ashy Storm-Petrel, and Xantus’s Murrelet. These populations face threats from non-native species; nest and burrow destruction in high use areas; and disturbances from lights and other man-made structures.

Restoration projects will use decoys, mirrors, and broadcast calls and songs to increase social interactions and construct artificial nests to improve nesting opportunities. The partners will also conduct habitat restoration, reduce human disturbance and artificial light, and support environmental education in surrounding communities.

The target islands are located in the northwestern portion of Mexico, off of the Pacific coast of the Baja California peninsula.

These islands support a diverse group of breeding seabirds and are known for high levels of biological diversity. Seventeen species of seabirds breed on the islands, ten of which also breed on the California Channel Islands in the U.S. Most of the seabird colonies in Mexico form part of a larger population that breeds, forages, and disperses into California.

About:
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

Ohio Department Natural Resources

COLUMBUS, OH --(Ammoland.com)- Young peregrine falcons across Ohio have fledged, marking the end of the 2011 nesting season.

There were 39 sites with territorial pairs, of which 34 nests produced eggs. There were an additional five sites with single peregrines present.

This year there were 34 nest sites where an estimated 111 eggs were produced; 26 of those nests hatched young falcons and 24 sites fledged 67 juveniles successfully. The 2011 hatch rate was 70 percent, up slightly from 2010 (67 percent). Additionally, there were two new sites with territorial pairs across the state this year from the 37 pairs in 2010.

The first pair of peregrines nested in Ohio in 1988 at the Commodore Perry Hotel in Toledo. From 1989-1993, along with several other Midwestern states, the Ohio Division of Wildlife hacked 46 birds throughout the state. Peregrine falcons were delisted as a federal endangered species in 1999, and down-listed in Ohio to state threatened in 2008. Peregrines remain on the state threatened list and the Division of Wildlife continues to monitor the population.

Ohio’s peregrine falcon program is supported by the state income tax check-off program, donations to the Wildlife Diversity and Endangered Species Fund, and sales of the Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp, and the cardinal license plate. Individuals wanting to donate can also make an online contribution at wildohio.com.

Matching federal funds are provided through the State Wildlife Grant Program for this project and other wildlife diversity efforts of the Division of Wildlife that target species of greatest conservation need.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA --(Ammoland.com)- Representatives of waterfowl organizations, interested hunters and the public are invited to attend a briefing on Friday, Aug. 5, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, on the status of Atlantic Flyway waterfowl populations and proposed preliminary federal frameworks for the 2011-12 waterfowl hunting seasons.

The briefing will begin at 1 p.m., at Presque Isle State Park, Picnic Shelter # 2, near the Waterworks.

In addition to reviewing frameworks established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for upcoming waterfowl and migratory bird seasons, Game Commission staff will provide updates on current and planned research and management programs, as well as past hunting results.

Public comments will be accepted at the meeting; or by sending a letter to: Pennsylvania Game Commission, Bureau of Wildlife Management, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797; or via e-mail through waterfowlcomments@state.pa.us.

Based on public comments, Game Commission staff will prepare and present recommended waterfowl and migratory bird seasons, bag limits and related criteria to the USFWS for final approval. All migratory bird hunting seasons and bag limits must conform to frameworks set by the USFWS. States select their hunting seasons within these established frameworks.

Early migratory bird hunting seasons – including September Canada goose, mourning dove, American woodcock and webless species – will be announced in late July.

By mid-August, when the final selections are made, the Game Commission will issue a news release on the remaining hunting seasons for migratory birds. The agency also will print and distribute the annual brochure outlining the seasons and bag limits for waterfowl and migratory bird seasons to U.S. Post Offices, where hunters may purchase their mandatory federal duck stamp. The annual brochure also will be posted on the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us).

Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife

Delaware --(Ammoland.com)- The now-renowned Wilmington Falcon Cam Peregrine Falcons are finishing flight school and soon to disperse to new horizons, capping an outstanding and intriguing season for thousands of cam viewers – and of course for the falcons’ parents.

Last week, all five of the falcon chicks left their nest site atop the Brandywine Building in downtown Wilmington.

Two of the eyasses (as falcon chicks are known), both males, are now flying free above the city while their two sisters have been translocated to West Virginia as part of a regional effort to restore the Peregrine falcons to their native habitat. (Unfortunately, one of the males was not successful in his first attempts at flight and died trying.)

In mid-March, DNREC Falcon Cam watchers were delighted to see the resident pair produce their first clutch, a whopping five eggs, all of which later hatched. Typical clutches are three to four eggs, but these falcons were making up for a failed mating season in 2010. And in doing so they exceeded expectations to give cam viewers continuous thrills over the next three months. (A complete chronology of this year’s falcon cam action can be found at www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Admin/Pages/Peregrine_Falcon_Cam.aspx.)

In the early evening hours of May 26 came another aspect of wildlife management for the Peregrine Falcons – four of the chicks received leg bands so they could be monitored and identified wherever they fly. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) raptor biologist Craig Koppie did the banding, assisted by falcon aficionado Kim Steininger who has been watching and photographing the Wilmington Peregrines for several years. Each of the four chicks received a silver USFWS migratory bird band with an identifying number on one leg and a color band (black over green with numbers and letters) on the other leg.

During the first week of June, the youngsters transitioned from chicks to fledglings as they took flight for the first time. For two of the males, all went well and they are currently flying around the city, preparing to start life on their own. Unfortunately, the third male was found dead near the ground floor of the Brandywine Building – it’s not known how the fledgling died, but the city can be a dangerous place for a young falcon on the ground.

The two sisters also had their struggles early on, as both ended up grounded on city streets. After several attempts to place one of them back on the roof of the Brandywine Building – and with the other still lacking fully-developed tail feathers – both were taken to Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research Center near Newark. There, both birds were given a clean bill of health. But having been rescued from the busy streets of Wilmington and it not being in their best interest to fledge in the confines of Tri-State’s facility, the females were given a new aerial opportunity in more natural settings in West Virginia – through an ongoing reintroduction effort known as hacking.

After DNREC and U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologists conferred over their situation, the young Wilmington females were selected to begin a new adventure, joining other young Peregrine Falcons from New Jersey and Delaware. The two Wilmington females were transported to a cliffside hacking site near the New River Gorge, W. Va.

Urban Peregrine Falcon fledglings, particularly those that nest on tall buildings or bridges, face many dangers in their environment. Often, weather and wind events or poorly-timed attempts at flight can lead to mortality. The two Wilmington females have a better chance at survival in their natural habitat. They will be temporarily kept in a protective cage, provided food, and closely monitored – all while biologists stay concealed monitoring them. The young falcons will get acclimated to their new surroundings for several days during which time they will also observe other recently released falcons coming to the hack site to feed and interact.

“Hacking has its greatest potential for success when groups (six or more) of similar-aged young are released together,” USFW S raptor biologist Koppie said. “The success of reintroduction was dependent in part, on an adequate food supply provided at the release site, thus allowing minimal energy expenditure by the falcon young. With enough food, the young can sustain an optimal energy level for engaging in ‘play’ with other falcons, including tail-chasing, capturing song birds and harassing vultures.”

Once the Wilmington females are released, they will join their new siblings in learning to forage through this playful interaction. Still, while basking in this natural habitat, the young falcons nevertheless face danger such as great horned owls, but they have a far safer environment in other respects, away from busy city streets where danger lurks in the form of tall buildings, glass windows, traffic, and electrical utilities.

Cliffs provide a natural place for them to develop their flight, with many tiers of ledges to land rather than the steep face of a building and no plate glass windows to accidentally fly in to. In addition, by releasing these falcons at the hacking site, biologists hope that the site will be imprinted on the birds, and that they will return to similar surroundings in the future, further restoring the regional population of Peregrine Falcons.

“It’s a great honor that the Wilmington falcons can contribute to the recovery of the species in its natural range,” Division of Fish & Wildlife biologist Anthony Gonzon said. “With luck, we will see our Wilmington girls again with their own nests in the wilds of West Virginia.”

And as for the ongoing exploits of the Peregrines on the DNREC Falcon Cam? Wait’ll next year – but certainly not because the season just ended fell short in any sense. “The same as the hundreds of online watchers, I too was captivated by the drama of the parents and their young, from egg laying to fledging,” said Bill Stewart of the Delmarva Ornithological Society, one of the webcam partners, along with DuPont’s Clear Into the Future program. “One could not help but become almost parentally attached! Although selfishly saddened to see the two girls leave Wilmington, smart and wise wildlife conservation became the guiding light in an attempt to provide our falcons the best chance for a successful life.” Only time will tell if an encore performance is in the nest box for the Wilmington Peregrine Falcons in 2012, but they certainly had viewers on the edge of their PC screens for three months this year.

For more information on the falcons, contact Anthony Gonzon, 302-735-8673, or Craig Koppie, 410-573-4534.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

ATLANTA, Ga. --(Ammoland.com)- Four new falcons will soon be eligible for drafting, riding the air currents that swirl around their high-rise home in downtown Atlanta.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources officials recently examined and banded the four young peregrine falcons in a nest outside the offices of McKenna, Long & Aldridge, 51 floors up in the SunTrust Plaza building.

Law firm chairman Jeff Haidet said the same two falcons have been nesting on the balcony for five years. The number of young this spring only increased his excitement and pride.

“This is the first year that the pair has produced four babies … and it’s always a special treat to observe their transition from hatching to flying,” Haidet said.

Two or three falcons hatched each of the previous years. Before this pair of parents, peregrines fledged foursomes outside the firm in 1999, 2000 and 2005. The 2011 nestlings will be flying within two weeks.

Peregrines are possibly the world’s fastest animal, diving at more than 200 mph to nab pigeons, ducks and other birds in mid-air. The nest at SunTrust Plaza is one of only two confirmed in Georgia. The other is in midtown Atlanta.

Jim Ozier, a program manager with DNR’s Nongame Conservation Section, occasionally hears reports that suggest there are other peregrine nests in metro Atlanta. He encouraged residents who see the falcons in pairs or possibly tending a nest in the spring to notify his office, (478) 994-1438 in Forsyth.

Peregrines were removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species because of a successful population recovery effort, but Georgia still lists the birds as rare. Historically, the only known nest in the state was at Cloudland Canyon in the early 1940s. Peregrines were apparently absent for several years during and after the DDT era.

DNR normally offers a web camera view of the nest at McKenna, Long & Aldridge, thanks to the law firm and a grant from The Garden Club of Georgia. The equipment needs upgrading, and the hope is to re-establish the behind-the-scenes look at Georgia’s highest-flying falcons in 2012.

This year’s clutch hatched in mid-April. The nestlings leave the nest at about 5 weeks old. Life can be hard for them in metro Atlanta. Hazards vary from traffic to large windows. A peregrine hatched at the firm last year was found days later suffering from trichomoniasis, a parasitic disease of young birds. The falcon was rehabilitated by Kathryn Dudeck of the Chattahoochee Nature Center and released.

Georgians can conserve endangered and other nongame wildlife such as peregrines through buying a bald eagle or ruby-throated hummingbird license plate, or donating directly to the Georgia Nongame Wildlife Conservation Fund. Wildlife plate sales and direct contributions provide vital support for the DNR’s Nongame Conservation Section, which receives no state general funds for its mission to conserve wildlife not legally hunted, fished for or trapped, as well as rare plants and natural habitats.

Visit www.georgiawildlife.com for more information, or call Nongame Conservation offices in Social Circle (770-761-3035), Forsyth (478-994-1438) or Brunswick (912-264-7218).

Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife

LEWES, Delaware --(Ammoland.com)- Volunteers who would like to learn more about Delaware’s endangered piping plovers and other beach-nesting birds.

Find out how they can join DNREC’s monitoring team are invited to attend a training session from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at the Biden Center at Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes.

The session, which is free of charge, will begin with refreshments and a slideshow, followed by a discussion on the monitoring program and how volunteers can help to ensure that our beachnesting shorebirds are given the peace and quiet they need to successfully rear their chicks.

Weather permitting, the group will finish out the session by going out to the Point at Cape Henlopen to look for piping plovers and other shorebirds that will likely be out on the tidal flats feeding. A few birding scopes and pairs of binoculars will be available for use, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own optics if they have them.

Wildlife Biologist Matthew Bailey hopes the session will draw both new and seasoned volunteers in good numbers to help DNREC staff in their efforts to protect beachnesters and educate the public.

“Volunteers are a critical component of our protection efforts. When posted at the boundaries of the nesting areas, they can help explain to the public facts about the breeding birds and the importance of keeping closed areas free of human disturbance. Without having volunteers to supplement the coverage that our staff can provide, many people might never have the chance to better understand how humans can make a difference in the breeding success of beach-nesting birds,” Bailey said.

Pre-registration is encouraged, but attendees also will be accepted at the door. Park entrance fees will be waived for volunteers attending the training by notifying the fee booth attendant. For more information, please contact Wildlife Biologist Matt Bailey at 302-382-4151 or email matthew.bailey@state.de.us.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Michigan --(Ammoland.com)- The fifth annual Ornithological Congress of the Michigan Bird Conservation Initiative will be held at North Central Michigan College in Petoskey, starting Wednesday, April 6, through Saturday, April 9.

The Congress is being held jointly with the Michigan Chapter of the American Fisheries Society and the Michigan Chapter of The Wildlife Society. Participants may attend any of the symposia, workshops, talks, and events hosted by any organization on the days for which they register.

“We’re very excited about this year’s Ornithological Congress. Several representatives of nationally recognized programs will be in attendance to discuss their projects with Michigan’s conservation community,” said Lori Sargent, a nongame wildlife biologist with the Department of Natural Resources.

The Congress provides an opportunity for organizations, agencies, and individuals to develop partnerships for current and future projects. “No one organization can conserve all of the birds in Michigan,” according to Chair Keith Harrison, “but the connections made at the Ornithological Congress helps pool resources and achieves larger goals.”

The annual Ornithological Congress is an opportunity for conservation-minded individuals to come together to discuss issues of importance for bird conservation, share information about research projects, and build partnerships to better address threats to bird life in Michigan. The Congress is open to all; attendance at past Congresses included professional wildlife biologists, students, hunters, and birders. The dress code for the event is casual. The primary goal of the event is providing a forum for conservation connections to be made and information to be shared.

The Ornithological Congress will include symposia on social networking, and sessions on the Kalamazoo River oil spill, and climate change. Speakers from The Nature Conservancy, the Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan Audubon Society, and Michigan State University will be discussing the impacts of the Kalamazoo River oil spill and tall towers on wildlife and what can be done about them. There will also be the annual owl prowl, silent auction, poster sessions and food.

In addition, there will be concurrent meetings with the American Fisheries Society and the Michigan Chapter of The Wildlife Society.

“This is a great opportunity for our members to share information and work together to conserve the state’s wildlife,” said Karen Cleveland, DNR wildlife biologist and president of the Michigan Chapter of the Wildlife Society. “So many conservation issues are relevant to all species, not just birds.”

For more information about the Ornithological Congress, contact Karen Cleveland at 517-241-4250 or clevelandk1@michigan.gov, or go online to www.mibci.org and click on Ornithological Congress. Pre-registration is preferred, but not required.

North Central Michigan College is located at 1515 Howard St., just off of US-31, in Petoskey.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

SPONSORS

• DTE Energy
• The Forestland Group, LLC

DONORS

• Binder Park Zoo
• Karen Cleveland
• Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division
• Tom Funke
• Kalamazoo Nature Center
• Kellogg Bird Sanctuary
• Kingman Museum
• Michigan Audubon Society
• Mike Sanders
• National Wild Turkey Federation, Michigan Chapter
• Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy
• Terry Rich, Partners in Flight
• Dick Wolinski

ORGANIZERS

• Michigan Department of Natural Resources
• Michigan Department of Transportation
• Michigan Audubon Society
• Kalamazoo Nature Center
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
• Kellogg Bird Sanctuary

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. --(Ammoland.com)- Hey kids, do you like birds and love to draw or paint?

Georgia’s sixth annual Youth Birding Competition is offering a T-shirt Art Contest for resident children and teens. Many famous ornithologists were bird artists when they were young, so perhaps you could be the next John James Audubon, Roger Tory Peterson or David Allen Sibley!

A winner will be picked from each of the following age categories: primary (pre-K-second grade), elementary (third-fifth), middle school (sixth-eighth) and high school. One winner will be awarded the grand prize – their artwork will appear on the 2011 YBC T-shirt and they’ll receive a $100 gift card to Michaels. The three other winners will each receive a $50 Michaels gift card, redeemable for art supplies.

Entering is easy. Participants must draw or paint their favorite Georgia bird on paper or sheet canvas (at least 8-by-10 inches but no larger than 11-by-17 inches). Mail it in a large envelope – flat, not folded – in time to be received by 4 p.m. March 1 to: GA DNR-WRD, YBC T-shirt Art Contest (Attn: Linda May), 2065 US Hwy. 278 SE, Social Circle, GA 30025.

On a separate piece of paper, gently attached to the back of the artwork, include the participant’s name, school, age, grade level, mailing address, phone number, parent or teacher’s e-mail address and the species name of the bird depicted. The illustrated bird must be a wild species and native to Georgia. Please make sure the bird is the main focus of the artwork, and draw or paint its features as accurately as possible. Also keep in mind that rich colors will show up better on a T-shirt than faint pencil drawings.

Only one entry per person is allowed, and it must be the child’s artwork. Participation in the Youth Birding Competition is encouraged but not required to submit artwork for the T-shirt Art Contest.

Competitors in the birding event can pick up their submissions at the April 17 banquet at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center, where select artwork will be displayed and winners announced.

Artwork from children and teens who do not take part in the Youth Birding Competition can either be picked up at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center in Mansfield during normal business hours or returned by mail – but only if a large, self-addressed envelope with four first-class stamps is included with the submission.

The 2011 Youth Birding Competition starts at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 16, and ends at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 17. Groups may use as much or as little of that time to count as many birds as possible throughout Georgia. Although teams may start birding anywhere in the state, they must turn in their checklists at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center by 5 p.m. Sunday. While judges examine and score checklists, participants will enjoy a live animal show followed by an awards banquet packed with prizes.

For more information on the T-shirt Art Contest, visit www.georgiawildlife.com, click on the “Get Involved” tab and then the “YBC T-shirt Art Contest” link (www.georgiawildlife.com/node/950). You can also contact art contest coordinator Linda May at (770) 918-6792 or linda.may@dnr.state.ga.us.

The same web site includes Youth Birding Competition details, including how to register a team for this exciting event. You can also contact the competition coordinator Tim Keyes at (912) 262-3191 or tim.keyes@dnr.state.ga.us.

BRIEFLY: WILD FACTS: BACKYARD BIRD COUNT

Even if you’re not a biologist, you can help monitor bird population health. How? By participating in the annual Great Backyard Bird Count! Sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, this citizen science event is set for Feb. 18-21. Just count birds from a favorite place (perhaps your yard or a nature center) for at least 15 minutes on one or more of the days. Record the highest number of each species you see together at any one time. Then enter your checklist at www.birdsource.org/gbbc. By combining your count information with other nationwide data, the Great Backyard Bird Count provides an early warning system for birds in need of conservation help.

WILD Facts is a regular feature written by Linda May, environmental outreach coordinator with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. --(Ammoland.com)- Tim Keyes hope for the 2011 Youth Birding Competition is more birds and more birders.

“We always like to see the (bird) numbers increase, but hopefully participants will continue to increase,” as well, said Keyes, a Georgia Wildlife Resources Division biologist who coordinates the competition.

Bird and youth totals have been on the rise since the Wildlife Resources Division joined with The Environmental Resources Network Inc. and other partners to begin the 24-hour birdathon about six years ago. Greater participation fits the event’s long-term focus of cultivating a deep interest in wildlife and conservation.

Teams totaling more than 130 birders ages 6-18 and ranging from first-timers to veterans reported an amazing 184 bird species last year. There are about 200 bird species in Georgia during mid-spring.

The 2011 competition is April 16-17, with a Sunday evening banquet and awards ceremony at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center near Mansfield. Teams can register in age divisions varying from kindergarten to high school (participants compete against other teams their age, in four age divisions).

Fundraising is a voluntary component. Teams can raise money to support their chosen organization on a per-bird or lump sum basis.

The deadline to register is March 31.

The sixth annual competition includes a T-shirt Art Contest – enter by March 1 – and nature journal category, two areas in which Keyes and T-shirt Art Contest coordinator Linda May also welcome more entries. “There are so many different ways to appreciate birds other than just counting them,” Keyes said.

Participation in the birding competition is encouraged but not required to submit artwork for the T-shirt Art Contest.

All of the events are free.
The Youth Birding Competition is based on the World Series of Birding event in Cape May, N.J., and sponsored by the Wildlife Resources Division and T.E.R.N., the friends group of the division’s Nongame Conservation Section.

The competition starts at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 16, and ends at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 17. Groups can use as much or as little of that time to count as many birds as possible throughout Georgia. Although teams may start birding anywhere in the state, they must arrive at the “finish line” at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center by 5 p.m. Sunday.

The Youth Birding Competition T-shirt Art Contest was started in 2008. It is open to Georgia residents in pre-K through high school. The grand-prize winner will receive a $100 Michaels gift card and their artwork will be featured on the 2011 Youth Birding Competition T-shirt. Other participants may win $50 Michaels gift cards.

For details on the T-shirt Art Contest, go to www.georgiawildlife.com/node/950 or contact Linda May at (770) 918- 6792 or linda.may@dnr.state.ga.us.

For more information about registering for the Youth Birding Competition, go to www.georgiawildlife.com/node/951, or contact Lacy Mitchell at Charlie Elliott Conference Center, (770) 784-3152 or lacy.mitchell@dnr.state.ga.us.

Tim Keyes, at (912) 262-3191 or tim.keyes@dnr.state.ga.us, can answer questions about the competition.

2011 Youth Birding Competition

** What: Free bird-a-thon and fundraiser for youth from kindergarten through high school. ** When: April 16-17. Registration is open. Deadline to enter: March 31. ** Where: Teams can bird anywhere in the state, but must arrive at the finish line at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center in Mansfield by 5 p.m. April 17. ** T-shirt Art Contest: Deadline to enter is March 1. Details at www.georgiawildlife.com/node/950 or contact Linda May at (770) 918- 6792 or linda.may@dnr.state.ga.us. ** Registration: Lacy Mitchell, Charlie Elliott Conference Center, (770) 784-3152 or lacy.mitchell@dnr.state.ga.us ** Competition contact: Tim Keyes, (912) 262-3191 or tim.keyes@dnr.state.ga.us ** Online: www.georgiawildlife.com/node/951

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Washington, DC --(Ammoland.com)- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today a final rule to list the black-hooded antwren, Brazilian merganser, cherry-throated tanager, fringe-backed fire-eye, Kaempfer’s tody-tyrant, Margaretta’s hermit, and southeastern rufous-vented ground-cuckoo as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

This rule implements the Federal protections provided by the ESA for these seven foreign bird species.

These species are found in the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biome in Brazil. All seven species face immediate and significant threats primarily from the threatened destruction and modification of their habitats from conversion of agricultural fields (e.g., soybeans, sugarcane, and corn), plantations (e.g., eucalyptus, pine, coffee, cocoa, rubber, and bananas), livestock pastures, centers of human habitation, and industrial developments (e.g., charcoal production, steel plants, and hydropower reservoirs).

Although there is limited information on the specific nature of potential impacts from climate change to the species included in this final rule, we are concerned about projected climate change, particularly the effect of rising temperatures in combination with the potential loss of genetic diversity, and population isolation; and cumulative effects including El Niño events. Furthermore, we have determined that the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms is a contributory risk factor that endangers each of these species’ continued existence.

Granting protection under the ESA for these seven species prohibits the import or export of the species, or their parts or products, as well as their sale in interstate or foreign commerce. The only exceptions are for scientific purposes and to assist in efforts aimed at enhancing the propagation or survival of these species. The final rule will publish in the Federal Register on December 28, 2010.

The ESA provides a critical safety net for native fish, wildlife and plants and to date has prevented the extinction of hundreds of imperiled species across the nation, as well as promoting the recovery of many others. The Service is actively engaged with conservation partners and the public in the search for improved and innovative ways to conserve and recover imperiled species. To learn more about the Service’s implementation of the ESA, go to http://www.fws.gov/endangered/.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

This event gives birders a chance to get together and have a good time while gathering information on bird diversity and abundance in the area

West Virginia DNR

ELKINS, W.Va. – -(Ammoland.com)- Local bird enthusiasts will take to the roads and woods during the 29th annual Elkins Area Christmas Bird Count on Jan. 3, 2011.

“This event gives birders a chance to get together and have a good time while gathering information on bird diversity and abundance in the area,” said Jim Fregonara, wildlife biologist for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

Participants will meet at 8 a.m. at the DNR Operations Center on Ward Road in Elkins. Both novice and experienced bird watchers are invited to take part.

The Elkins area bird count is just one of hundreds of Christmas Bird Counts that occur around the country this time of year. The aim is to tally all birds observed within a 7.5 mile radius of a given point. Over time, these annual counts can reveal trends in populations of various avian species.

On the morning of Jan. 3, birders will be grouped into teams of 2-3 observers and assigned specific routes to survey. If you live in or near Elkins, you can participate by just tallying the birds in your yard by species and reporting that information.

Anyone interested in participating in this year’s Christmas Bird Count should contact Jim Fregonara jimfregonara@wvdnr.gov or Craig Stihler craigstihler@wvdnr.gov or phone the WVDNR at 304-637-0245 for more information.

Michigan’s Kirtland’s Warbler Continues to Exceed Recovery Goal Pic: Mike McDowell**

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Michigan --(Ammoland.com)- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment today released annual survey information indicating the state’s population of the endangered Kirtland’s warbler remains steady.

Biologists, researchers and volunteers in Michigan observed 1,733 singing males during the official 2010 survey period. The population has not increased or decreased by more than 5 percent since 2007. The lowest numbers were recorded in 1974 and 1987, when only 167 singing males were found. The highest numbers were in 2009 when 1,813 males were observed.

The Kirtland’s warbler survey is conducted each year during the second and third weeks of June when the birds are establishing their nesting territories. Warblers are detected by listening for their songs. The songs can be heard at distances up to one-quarter mile, providing an excellent way to detect the birds with minimum disturbance. Only the males sing, so estimates of breeding population size are obtained by doubling the number of singing males recorded, based on the assumption that each male has a mate in its territory.

The 2010 survey was a joint effort by the DNRE, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Michigan Department of Veterans and Military Affairs, Michigan Audubon Society, and citizen volunteers.

This year, singing males (numbers in parentheses) were found in 11 Northern Lower Peninsula counties: Alcona (178), Clare (99), Crawford (288), Iosco (167), Kalkaska (60), Montmorency (28), Ogemaw (552), Oscoda (256), Otsego (24), Presque Isle (6), and Roscommon (41). Surveyors identified 29 singing males in five Upper Peninsula counties: Baraga (3), Chippewa (15), Delta (7), Marquette (5), and Schoolcraft (4). Twenty-six additional singing males were observed outside Michigan: 23 in Wisconsin and three in Ontario.

As the amount of habitat has stabilized, the population of warblers has stabilized in the core of the range: northern Michigan’s jack pine barrens ecosystem. The warblers nest on the ground and typically select nesting sites in stands of jack pine between four and 20 years old. Historically, these stands of young jack pine were created by natural wildfires that frequently swept through northern Michigan. Modern fire suppression programs altered this natural process, reducing Kirtland’s warbler habitat. The result was that the population of Kirtland’s warblers declined to the point that they were listed as endangered.

To mimic the effects of wildfire and ensure the future Kirtland’s warblers, the DNRE and its partners manage the forests through a combination of clear-cutting, burning, seeding, and replanting that promotes habitat for many species, including deer, snowshoe hare, other warbler species, and rare plants, in addition to Kirtland warblers. Because large prescribed fires are neither safe nor economical in northern Michigan, approximately 3,000 acres of jack pine trees are harvested and then planted annually on state and federal lands. This use of public lands creates jobs, provides habitat wildlife, and brings to northern Michigan birders and hunters from across the state and around the world.

“The recovery goal for Kirtland’s warblers is 1,000 singing males, and the population has stabilized at nearly twice that number,” said DNRE Endangered Species Coordinator Chris Hoving. “We are working with our federal partners to secure habitat plans for the future and remove the species from state and federal endangered species lists.”

Elaine Carlson, DNRE wildlife biologist, emphasized how the habitat management program has produced benefits that extend well beyond the recovery of a single species. “In addition to generating habitat for the Kirtland’s warbler, the jack pine forests that we plant provide valuable timber products as well as habitat for a variety of plants, songbirds, game animals and other wildlife,” Carlson said.

For more information on the Kirtland’s warbler, contact the DNRE Wildlife Division, Natural Heritage Program, Box 30444, Lansing, MI 48909, or visit the DNRE website: www.michigan.gov/dnre.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is committed to the conservation, protection, management, and accessible use and enjoyment of the state’s environment, natural resources and related economic interests for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnre.

** Image by Mike McDowell of www.birddigiscoper.com Mike is an active birder recording the avifauna of Pheasant Branch Conservancy in Middleton for the past 15 years. He created Birds of Pheasant Branch Conservancy, a monthly bird checklist. He regularly leads Madison Audubon Society field trips to Pheasant Branch. He is an expert on nature photography and digiscoping and works at Eagle Optics.

PA Game Commission Urges Participation In Christmas Bird Count

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA --(Ammoland.com)- Pennsylvania Game Commission officials are urging wildlife enthusiasts to join the tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the United States in the Audubon Society’s 111th Annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC), which will take place Dec. 14, through Jan. 5.

“Bird enthusiasts, armed with binoculars, bird guides and checklists, will head out on an annual mission – often before dawn – to make a difference and to experience the beauty of creation,” said Dan Brauning, Game Commission Wildlife Diversity Division chief. “Each year, volunteers brave snow, wind, or rain, to take part in the Christmas Bird Count, and they have made an enormous contribution to conservation to help guide conservation actions.

“The data collected through this effort – which is the longest-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations – allows researchers, conservation biologists, and other interested individuals to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America. When combined with other surveys such as the Breeding Bird Survey, it provides a picture of how the continent’s bird populations have changed in time and space over the past hundred years.”

Local counts will occur on one day between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5. Volunteers can pick the most convenient circle, or participate in more than one count. There is a specific methodology to the CBC, but everyone can participate. The count takes place within “Count Circles,” which focus on specific geographical areas. Each circle is led by a “Count Compiler,” who is an experienced birdwatcher, enabling beginning birders to learn while they assist. Also, those who live within the boundaries of a Count Circle can even stay at home and report the birds that visit their backyard feeders, or join a group of birdwatchers in a local field.

“In either case, if you have never been on a CBC before your first step is to locate and contact your local Count Compiler to find out how you can volunteer,” Brauning said.

Doug Gross, Game Commission ornithologist, noted that the CBC does contribute to conservation because it allows monitoring of bird species that spend winters in Pennsylvania.

“Some of these species are much easier to count or monitor in winter because their breeding ground is so far north in areas where there are few people or roads to give access to habitat,” Gross said. “An example of this is the rusty blackbird that migrates from the boreal taiga forests of Canada and Alaska to the southeastern United States in winter. Pennsylvania is on the northern edge of its winter range, and some CBCs do count this declining wetland songbird. Hawks also are more easily counted in winter and our state is a good place to see several hawk species in winter, including red-tailed hawks and rough-legged hawks.”

Gross also noted that the CBC is a good way to introduce beginners to bird identification.

“There are fewer bird species around in winter than at other times of year, so it is easier to learn the bird species identification,” Gross said. “Also, birds are easier to spot because there are not so many leaves on the trees where birds are well-hidden in spring and summer. In fact, many birders started out in winter in a car with more experienced birders on a Christmas count. CBC allows for mentoring in the field.

“A wide variety of birds are observed in winter counts including a wide variety of songbirds and our upland game birds, mostly permanent residents. It is a challenge, for instance, to find a ruffed grouse on a CBC in many circles. People go out of their way to find a wintering woodcock in a seepy area, in a wet pasture, or along a stream. Birders learn more about habitat associations and the value of cover and food sources for birds, such as wild fruits like winterberry, rose hips and sumac. For instance, bluebirds, hermit thrushes, and American robins are often found in grape arbors, sumac patches, or other places where wild fruits are located.”

To view instructions on how to search for a circle and sign-up for an open count, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and click on “Wildlife” in menu bar at the top of the homepage, and then choose the “Christmas Bird Count” under the “Wild Birds and Birding” listing. Information also can be obtained from Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count website (www.audubon.org/Bird/cbc/), or on the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology’s website (www.pabirds.org).

Weather Conditions Lead To Deaths Of Migrating Songbirds

Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife

Delaware --(Ammoland.com)- DOVER (Nov. 2, 2010) – A significant number of songbirds were silenced last week in Delaware when their southerly migration ran afoul of circumstantial weather conditions that led to their flying into glass windows causing mortal injuries to nearly a dozen species of thrushes and sparrows, common and rare birds alike.

As a cold front moved into the northeastern United States on the night of October 28, conditions were perfect for a mass migration of songbirds throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. After almost a week in which no strong bird migratory movements had been detected across Delmarva, many songbirds seized on the coming cold front to depart ahead of it, leading to a historic fallout of migrants in Delaware. Reports from birders indicate that migrant songbirds, particularly sparrows and thrushes, had descended on Delaware in record numbers as they worked their way south for the upcoming winter. Unfortunately, their epic migration also provided a glimpse into the dangers that many migratory birds face along their journey.

Just after daylight Friday morning, Oct. 29, shopkeepers, residents, and visitors of Rehoboth began noticing a number of dead birds along the boardwalk. Their concern led them to contact the Rehoboth Beach Police Department, which got through to the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section. Later, as he identified photos of some of the dead birds as thrushes, Anthony Gonzon, a wildlife biologist with the Division’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, knew immediately that something disturbing had happened in the resort beach town.

For Gonzon, finding one or two dead songbirds almost anywhere would not be surprising, but an initial report of 12-15 birds at a localized site was highly unusual – especially occurring away from large cities where tall buildings and the potential for birds to strike windows would be much more prevalent.

Joined by Sr. Cpl. Tommy Penuel of the Division’s Enforcement Section and officers from the Rehoboth Police Department, Gonzon searched the Rehoboth boardwalk and side streets for dead migrants, eventually turning up 60 dead songbirds representing 11 different species. Counted among them were 20 White-throated Sparrows, 17 Hermit Thrushes, along with uncommon species such as the Lincoln’s and Nelson’s Sparrows.

Nearly all of the birds had injuries consistent with window or building strikes. Others had already been scavenged by cats and other birds, but all were found in proximity to those that had died as a result of collision. Sites along the northern half of the Rehoboth boardwalk resulted in the greatest number of mortalities. Windows along that stretch showed obvious signs of avian impacts, several with dead songbirds having fallen directly below them. While there were likely far more dead birds than searchers found at the time, between boardwalk residents and maintenance workers removing and discarding some birds and scavengers taking others, the actual number of mortalities is difficult to speculate.

All of the events leading to this mortality event might never be truly understood, but Gonzon ironically pegged it in the larger picture to perfect migration weather patterns.

“I’d received word from several sources that migration on Thursday night (Oct. 28) would be historic in terms of the sheer number of birds on the move,” he said. “Given that hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of birds were passing by and descending on us very early Friday morning, and with winds blowing out of the north-northwest, birds coming off Cape May and crossing over to Delaware may have been forced a bit further south. This would result in a landfall at or about Rehoboth Beach.”

As exhausted birds reached the Delaware coast during the predawn period, lights and reflections from buildings and glass could disorient them, resulting in strikes. Because birds fly lower over water as they descend upon reaching land, it’s possible that buildings and glass along the boardwalk were directly in their path. Gonzon also noted that ominously perfect conditions aligned for the unfortunate mortality, and that until those conditions coalesce again, Delaware would likely not see an event like this anytime in the near future.

Unfortunately, there are no easy preventatives for birds striking buildings or glass. Because birds often cannot see glass or comprehend the difference between a flyway and a reflection, bird strikes on glass are implicated as one of the most significant causes of mortality for migrants. Mortality estimates from glass strikes range from a conservative 100 million annually to nearly 1 billion.

“However, we can do some things to reduce the impacts of this type of mortality,” Gonzon said. “Decreasing the use of building and window lighting during peak migration periods and using bird-safe glass can help to reduce the number of strikes. The use of exterior window treatments such as pull down shades also can reduce or eliminate reflectivity, and prevent birds from striking.”

Piping Plover

Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife

Delaware --(AmmoLand.com)- As of today, May 10, six piping plover nests had been spotted at Cape Henlopen, all on the Point. Things are progressing more slowly down at Gordons Pond, where two pairs of plovers have staked out territories and no nests have been seen yet.

The first four nests at the Point have complete clutches of four eggs. The newest nests, when checked earlier today, had two eggs each. Two of the nests have had predator exclosures built around them, and a third will likely receive an exclosure when its clutch of eggs is complete. The other three nests are in spots where there is relatively heavy vegetation and/or steep dunes nearby.

“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service suggests avoiding use of exclosures around nests in such low visibility areas, since predators may be able to sneak up on the adult plovers as they incubate the nest,” explained Wildlife Biologist Matthew Bailey.

Two pairs of American oystercatchers have nested at Cape Henlopen, one at the Point and one at Gordons Pond. The nest at the Point was taken by a predator, but hopefully the pair will renest, Bailey said, noting predators and May high tides will continue to threaten the nests.

Volunteers who would like to help monitor the progress of Delaware’s endangered piping plovers and other beachnesters this season are invited to a free training session from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 15, at the Biden Center at Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes.

The session will begin with refreshments and a slideshow, followed by a discussion on the monitoring program and how volunteers can help to ensure that our beachnesting shorebirds are given the peace and quiet they need to successfully rear their chicks. Weather permitting, the group will finish out the session by going out to the Point at Cape Henlopen to look for piping plovers and other shorebirds. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own scopes or binoculars if they have them.

Preregistration is encouraged, but attendees also will be accepted at the door. Park entrance fees will be waived for volunteers attending the training by notifying the fee booth attendant. For more information, please contact Wildlife Biologist Matt Bailey at 302-382-4151 or email matthew.bailey@state.de.us.

Swallow-Tailed Kites

GoHuntGeorgia.com

BRUNSWICK, Ga --(AmmoLand.com)- High among the branches of pines in southeast Georgia, the lifeless eyes of strategically placed swallow-tailed kite decoys stare at the world, eyeing platforms for artificial nests that biologists hope will soon lure the state-listed kites.

Based on research on establishing post-breeding roosts in Florida, Tim Keyes of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources thinks the decoys and platforms may attract swallow-tailed kites to nest on state lands.

Most kite nests in Georgia have been recorded on private lands.

“While we have had excellent working relationships with many private land owners, we have also lost some important nesting habitat on private lands,” said Keyes, a wildlife biologist with the DNR’s Nongame Conservation Section. “The goal of this project is to determine whether we can establish nesting sites on state lands where we can actively protect and manage for them.”

Keyes and tree climbers from Avian Research and Conservation Institute, or ARCI, carefully picked five sites, then added nest platforms and mounted three decoys for each site in nearby trees. The decoys are actually repainted crow decoys with the kites’ distinguishing scissor-like tails added.

Artificial nesting platforms have been used only once before in Georgia, and with limited success. In 2008, one nest was recorded at an artificial nest site.

“Kites appear to have plenty of suitable habitat along the lower reaches of our large rivers, but they seem reluctant to expand into new areas, often using the same nesting clusters year after year,” Keyes said.

“Based on their social nature (the birds nest in small clusters of two to three pairs), we hope to attract birds to new nesting sites with the decoys.”

Swallow-tailed kites breed between late March and July, so the season is in full swing and 29 nests have been confirmed. Most of these nests were spotted during surveys by helicopter. Researchers will survey nests from the ground and air, monitoring sites and nesting success, twice a week through the nesting season.

Although the swallow-tailed kite has no federal status under the Endangered Species Act, it is listed as rare in Georgia. Populations appear stable but not increasing, with about 1,200 breeding pairs in the U.S. Approximately 100 pairs breed in Georgia.

“After fledging, kites form post-breeding groups which are important to document for population estimates. In Florida, these groups can be as large as 2,000 birds, but the largest roost found in Georgia was 100 birds, with 15 to 30 birds more typical,” Keyes explained.

“Here in Georgia we see smaller groups and they move around from one day to the next, maybe 100 birds but usually more like 20 to 30 birds, and we don’t know why. There is still a lot we don’t know about these birds.”

Once these roosts break up, the kites start their arduous southbound migration to southern Brazil.

The best places to see a swallow-tailed kite in Georgia are near any of the large rivers in the lower Coastal Plain, such as the Satilla, Altamaha, Ogeechee or Savannah. One of the best times to see the birds is in late summer when they regularly feed over open fields with Mississippi kites, and often ranging well into the Piedmont region.

Georgians can help conserve swallow-tailed kites and other animals not legally hunted, fished for or trapped, as well as native plants and habitats, through buying wildlife license plates featuring a bald eagle or a ruby-throated hummingbird. They can also donate to the Georgia Wildlife Conservation Fund state income tax checkoff. Both programs are vital to the Nongame Conservation Section, which receives no state funds.

Visit www.georgiawildlife.com for more information, or call Nongame Conservation offices in Social Circle (770-761-3035), Forsyth (478-994-1438) or Brunswick (912-264-7218).

In the early 1960s, the eastern bluebird was hanging on for dear life

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA –-(AmmoLand.com)- In an effort to garner appreciation for wildlife, especially the state’s bluebird population, the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s webcasting of a live video feed from a bluebird nestbox on the grounds of its Harrisburg Headquarters now is providing a glimpse into an active nest.

To view the live feed, visit the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and click on the “Bluebird Nestbox Cam” icon under the opening photo in the center of the homepage.

“After several weeks of nest building and waiting, the bluebird nestbox camera now is allowing viewers to follow along with an active nest that presently contains five recently laid bluebird eggs,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director.

“The best way to get Pennsylvanians – in fact most Americans – excited about wildlife is to show them what makes wildlife so irreplaceable and priceless.

“We decided to set-up and use this live webcast to help us educate the public about the importance of wildlife, how to make backyards friendlier to wildlife and also provide a way for folks to simply get closer to bluebirds. Last year, it was a huge hit, and we expect that the broadcasting of this year’s activities again will be well received.”

Launched last year, the bluebird camera was the agency’s first foray into the world of live nest camera feeds. It provides a color video feed plus audio from the bluebird nestbox quarters, which is situated near the agency’s headquarters. A live feed also is broadcast to a monitor in the agency’s lobby.

New this year is the installation of an infrared video camera, which will enable visitors to tune in after dark, too.

Steps are taken to deter house sparrows from using the nestbox by mounting monofilament fishing line from the roof over the entrance hole, which compels sparrows to stay away. Bluebird nestboxes placed close to buildings almost always attract competition from sparrows, which annually chase native bluebirds from nestboxes and nesting cavities.

“In the early 1960s, the eastern bluebird was hanging on for dear life,” said Dan Brauning, Game Commission Wildlife Diversity Section supervisor. “The species was suffering from a European invasion of house sparrows and European starlings. Today, it’s not hard to imagine the harm that would come from releasing starlings and house sparrows in New York City during the 1800s. But back then, at a time when people were trying to reverse declining songbird populations, it seemed like the right thing to do in New York.

“The starling spread quickly across America. Released in 1890 and 1891, starlings were building nests in California by the 1940s. What our forefathers didn’t expect, in addition to the rapid range expansion of these alien species, was that they would almost immediately begin competing with bluebirds and other beneficial songbirds for cavity nesting sites.”

Bluebirds were enjoying a satisfying existence around 1900. It is when some ornithologists believe Pennsylvania’s bluebird population was at its largest, because fully two-thirds of the Commonwealth was farmland. But the runaway populations of starlings and sparrows would begin to compete with and ultimately cripple the bluebird’s ability to secure adequate nesting.

The species’ problems would be further compounded by farmlands reverting to forestland or being swallowed by development, the increased use of pesticides, and the replacement of wooden fence-posts with metal posts.

By 1960, the bottom was ready to fall out, and the Game Commission and many other conservation agencies and organizations launched an aggressive campaign to rescue the species.

With the aid of its Howard Nursery, the Game Commission manufactured inexpensive bluebird nestboxes and bluebird nestbox kits for the public to place afield. Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts became involved, as well as 4-H Clubs, schools and Audubon chapters. Bluebirds became the poster child for efforts aimed at getting people to do something for wildlife in their backyards.

“Today, bluebirds are back in a big way, even in the southeastern counties, where they compete heavily with large populations of house sparrows,” Brauning said. “It’s fair to say that our bluebird population is stronger today than it has been in 50 years. With time and continued assistance from caring Pennsylvanians, it seems likely bluebirds will continue to prosper.”

For more information on bluebirds, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), click on “Wildlife” in the menu bar in the banner, then choose “Bluebird” from the listing under the “Wild Birds and Birding” section.

Bushnell Trophy Cam Trail Camera

Bushnell Outdoor Products

Overland Park, KS – -(AmmoLand.com)- With the advent of digital versus film cameras in the last few years, the popularity of trail cameras has skyrocketed.

Consumers can now take hundreds, even thousands of digital photos at a fraction of the cost of film.

With this technological breakthrough it makes more sense than ever to own at least one trail camera.

Traditionally trail cameras have been used primarily by deer hunters to photograph the animals in their hunting area for the purpose of scouting for the upcoming season. This is still a big part of their use, but outdoorsmen have begun to discover a whole host of new ways to use their cameras.

Sportsmen and wildlife enthusiasts are now using trail cameras for other types of wildlife watching, such as placing a camera near a bird feeder to see what comes in while they are at work or at night, while they’re asleep. Turkey hunters are using cameras to record the times when a particular gobbler walks by, or to see what predators and fur bearers are roaming about. Trail cameras with infrared night vision LEDs, like the new Bushnell Trophy Cam can also be used for nighttime surveillance to catch possible trespassers or intruders.

Trail camera technology has continued to improve over the years to the point that now there are some great affordable units on the market. The Bushnell Trophy Cam models have a host of great features, while still being highly affordable.

All Trophy Cams feature: Day/Night auto sensor, are external power compatible, shoot VGA video at 16 fps, QVGA video at 20 fps, and have an adjustable PIR(Lo/Medium/High) that is activated out to 45’. With a trigger speed of 1 second, adjustable trigger intervals from 0-60 minutes, multi-image mode with 1-3 images per trigger, and a programmable video length of 1-60 seconds, you’ll be sure to capture all the action. The cameras can also operate at temperatures from -5F-140F.

They use either 4 or 8 AA batteries and will operate up to a year on one set of lithium batteries. Using a 16 GB SD memory card, they are capable of taking thousands of photos on one set of batteries, minimizing the amount of potentially game spooking trips necessary to check the camera.

The new 2010 Trophy Cams have 32 infrared night vision LEDs, resolution settings of 3, 5 or 8 Megapixels, a maximum video resolution of 720×480 and they can record a time and date stamp on photos. The cameras come with an adjustable web belt and ¼ x 20 socket for mounting the camera to a tree. They are also cable lock adaptable.

The three new Trophy Cam models for 2010 include the standard model with black & white text LCD screen at $199.99, the Bone Collector model in RealTree AP HD with a black & white text LCD at $229.99 and the Trophy XLT model with full color LCD view screen at $249.99.

Using a trail camera is a great way to photograph undisturbed wildlife and stay connected to the outdoors, even when you can’t be there. Visit Bushnell for more info: www.bushnell.com

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Washington, DC --(AmmoLand.com)- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Acting Director Rowan Gould today announced revisions to the list of bird species protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA).

Species appearing on this list are governed under migratory bird hunting and permitting regulations concerning most aspects of possession, transportation, sale, purchase, exportation, and importation of protected species.

The list, last updated in 1985, incorporates the latest taxonomic and scientific data for migratory birds. The changes include 186 new additions and 11 subtractions, bringing the total number of species protected under the MBTA to 1007.

“This update to the list of federally protected birds reflects the best available science on bird taxonomy and distribution and will help us improve management of our nation’s migratory birds,” said Gould.

“The new list benefits researchers, hunters, conservationists, state agencies, tribal governments, and birdwatchers by extending federal protection to all migratory bird species native to the United States while highlighting advances and changes in bird taxonomy that have accumulated since the list was last published.”

The Service is the primary federal agency responsible for managing migratory birds. Federal migratory bird regulations, including the list, implement the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, which in turn implements treaties with Canada, Mexico, Japan and Russia. All species included on the list are considered federally protected, and governed by federal regulations limiting take (from the wild), possession, and other use.

The newly revised list reflects the addition of species based on new evidence of their occurrence in the United States or its territories. The revisions also remove species no longer known to occur within the United States and change some names to conform to accepted usages.

The changes also reflect taxonomic revisions to the bird taxa of North America published by the American Ornithologists’ Union and changes in the Migratory Bird List incorporate name changes and revisions moving some species from one taxon to another.

The final rule can be found online at http://migratorybirds.fws.gov.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov/.

Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife

Delaware --(AmmoLand.com)- Delaware’s frigid temperatures, high winds and recent snowfalls can be difficult for the more than 40 species of wintering songbirds that share our state’s nature resources.

Their food sources – nuts, seeds, and berries – are harder for these small birds to locate and reach, especially when covered with large accumulations of snow.

To help songbirds survive this winter, follow these tips:

• Provide a variety of seed types and regularly clean bird feeders.
• Locate feeders near cover and out of the wind so that the birds will have a place to go to escape the elements and predators.
• Suet can be a great resource during harsh weather events. Suet is a high energy, pure fat resource. Purchase pre-made suet cakes at your local retail store or search the internet for directions on how to make your own.
• Water can be hard to find, but you can provide warm water in a bowl or pan near your feeders. Heated birdbaths are also available. If you have concerns about birds bathing and then freezing, fill the container deep enough to prevent bathing.
• Use extra caution while driving. While there is snow on the ground, birds may feed along the borders of roads where the snow has melted and exposed seeds and other food sources.

According to Anthony Gonzon, wildlife biologist with the Division of Fish and Wildlife, the majority of wintering birds in our area are well adapted to make it through these challenging days. “Birds have the innate ability to track and locate food resources – if one area is covered by snow, they will move to another and continue searching until they find a food source that is accessible.”

Although some birds may perish in extreme conditions, a bird’s body is well adapted to keep it warm even when everything around it is freezing. Feathers act as natural insulators; as birds “fluff up,” they trap air between layers to retain heat. Fat stores from the high-energy foods that birds consume during the warmer weather further help them to maintain their body temperatures.

For more information on Delaware’s wild birds, contact Anthony Gonzon at 302-653-2880.

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA –-(AmmoLand.com)- If you are interested in helping wildlife in your own backyard, the Pennsylvania Game Commission now is selling bluebird nesting boxes at its Harrisburg headquarters at 2001 Elmerton Avenue. The boxes sell for $7, and customers can select from assembled boxes or kits that can be assembled as a wood-working project.

“Bluebirds are early nesters, so now is the time put up new nest boxes, as well as to clean and repair existing boxes,” said Dan Brauning, Game Commission Wildlife Diversity chief. “These bluebird boxes enable Pennsylvanians to help wildlife in a natural way.

“Also, building nesting boxes is a great project for individuals, families or civic organizations interested in wildlife. These box designs are proven to attract bluebirds and other species, including tree swallows and house wrens.”

Bluebirds live in open country, and are a beautiful songbird native to Pennsylvania. Bluebirds are cavity nesters and have become less common due to a lack of suitable nest sites. Many nest sites have been lost through changing land-use practices, as well as to urban and suburban sprawl. But the introductions of house sparrows and starlings in 1851 and 1890 have been the primary reasons for the bluebirds’ decline.

The bluebird boxes offered by the Game Commission include an opening that is the prescribed one-and-one-half inches in diameter. This precludes starlings from being able to enter. However, house sparrows still will enter the boxes, particularly those placed in close proximity to houses. If this occurs, the house sparrow nests should be removed immediately. If it happens repeatedly, consider moving the next box to another, and preferably more open, location.

Boxes should be erected on a free-standing pole three to five feet above the ground – facing south, if possible – and facing a nearby tree or fence where young birds can safely land on their initial flights from the box. To reduce predation and competition from other species, no perch should be placed on the box; bluebirds do not need one. Boxes placed in pairs, about 20 feet apart, may help reduce competition from swallows.

The Game Commission’s Howard Nursery has been manufacturing bluebird nest boxes and box kits for more than a quarter century. Each year, about 9,000 boxes are manufactured there and sold or provided to Pennsylvanians to help bluebirds. That annual influx of new nest boxes helps ensure Pennsylvania remains a “keystone state” in bluebird conservation.

Sales will continue while supplies last, and office hours are Monday-Friday from 7:45 a.m. until 4 p.m. The Game Commission’s headquarters is at 2001 Elmerton Ave., just off the Progress Avenue exit of Interstate 81 in Harrisburg. To order by phone, call the Game Commission’s Harrisburg office at 1-888-888-3459. If ordering by phone, shipping and handling costs will apply depending on how many boxes are ordered.

For more information on bluebirds, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.p.us), select “Birds” from the “Wildlife” drop-down menu, then select “Bluebirds Home.” Also, information about additional wildlife nesting structures can be found by clicking on “Howard Nursery” under the “General Store” drop-down menu and then selecting “Wild Homes Order Form.

Delaware Bald Eagles

Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife

DOVER, Del - –(AmmoLand.com)- In past years, the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife’s annual Mid-Winter Bald Eagle Survey – conducted as part of a nationwide survey – has found fewer than 40 birds in the state.

However, in the just-completed 2010 survey, DNREC Wildlife Biologist Anthony Gonzon tallied a record 120 bald eagles – 77 adults and 43 immature birds, including resident nesting birds as well as winter visitors. The survey also located two new eagle nests, increasing the number of eagle territories in Delaware to 60.

“The Division had been receiving recent reports from the public of up to 40 eagles in one place at one time, and the numbers we observed during the mid-winter flight further support that Delaware can be a great place for bald eagles during the winter,” said Gonzon. He also noted that the actual number of bald eagles currently in Delaware could be higher, as more eagles are likely overwintering in parts of western Sussex County and north of the C&D Canal in New Castle County, both areas not covered by the survey.

Federally de-listed as an endangered species by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in 2007, bald eagles remain listed as endangered in Delaware. Although they are not as rare as in the last century, bald eagles continue to face many threats such as disturbance, pollutants and habitat loss. Coordinated through the United States Geological Survey and the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the mid-winter survey produces data that allows state and federal agencies to examine population trends in our national bird.

During the winter, Delaware is second home for some bald eagles whose breeding grounds are farther north. These visitors come south to take advantage of food resources ranging from fish to carrion that may not be as plentiful in their northern territories in the winter. Because many birds will feed on road-killed animals and may not perceive the threat of an oncoming vehicle, winter can be a dangerous time.

“In October 2009, a bald eagle was struck and killed by car while feeding along a roadside near Seaford, so motorists need to be especially aware of their possible presence on the roadways,” Gonzon said.

In January, Delaware’s resident bald eagles are conducting nest maintenance, preparing to nest and defending their nesting territories from the northern invaders and each other. Once numbering as few as two to four nesting pairs during the 1980s, bald eagles continue to rebound in Delaware, largely due to federal protections.

Delaware’s mid-winter survey also marks the beginning of the Division’s annual nest monitoring program. From January through May, the Division conducts monthly aerial surveys of all known bald eagle nest sites. In 2009, the Division monitored 56 active bald eagle nesting territories in Delaware.

“In these territories, 48 eagle pairs attempted nesting and successfully raised 60 young. That was nine fewer than 2008 when Delaware’s eagles produced an astounding 69 young,” Gonzon noted. “During the mid-winter survey, we observed a number of our birds that are already close to laying the first eggs of 2010,” he added.

With the high number of wintering and resident bald eagles, Delawareans could potentially see a bald eagle perched in a tree or soaring high overhead in many locations throughout the state. As part of the annual monitoring program, the Division encourages citizens to report such sightings to help track our resident bald eagles and locate possible new nest sites.

Here are some tips for reporting bald eagle sightings:

• Note the number of eagles observed and whether each eagle is an adult or immature.
• Adults display the distinctive completely white heads and tails. Immature bald eagles have mostly brown heads and tails, often with some white on their breasts and bellies, as well as under the wings.
• Note what the eagle is doing. Is it flying or sitting? Is it carrying something or eating on the ground?
• If the bald eagle is flying, please note the direction that it flew from and the direction in which it was headed.
• Note the time, date and location of the observation. Use nearest towns and intersections or prominent landmarks as reference points (for example, on Route 6, a half mile west of the intersection with Route 9).
• If you believe you have located a bald eagle nest, please contact the Division as soon as possible. Please do not approach nesting eagles, as some pairs may be highly disturbed by innocent spectators.

The Division of Fish and Wildlife also receives many calls about possibly injured eagles, often sitting in fields or yards for long periods of time. In most cases, the eagles are perfectly healthy. Bald eagles may remain in a single location for hours as they recover from a territorial battle with other adult eagles or as they feed, rest and conserve energy.

“These are large, strong birds that are capable of injuring a would-be rescuer, so we encourage the public not to approach or attempt to capture any potentially injured eagle. Instead, observe the bird from a distance and note whether it appears to be in distress or having difficulty flying, before contacting someone with the proper training to help,” Gonzon said.

To report observations, potential nests or possible injuries, or to ask other questions, please contact Wildlife Biologist Anthony Gonzon, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, at 302-653-2880, or by email at anthony.gonzon@state.de.us.

2010 Great Texas Birding Classic

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Texas - -(AmmoLand.com)- You’re invited to come join the biggest, longest, wildest birdwatching tournament in the United States!

Who: Birders of all ages and abilities

What: The 14th Annual Great Texas Birding Classic

When: Various tournaments for all ages, abilities and Texas coastal regions from April 24 – May 2, 2010 (during the spring migration!)

Why: To have fun outside with friends and family and to support habitat conservation on the Texas coast. Winning teams get to select which projects are funded. To date, this event has donated $686,000 directly to on-the-ground habitat conservation projects. Be the first team to register and win a prize (registration book available online).

Learn more at www.birdingclassic.org!

Alpen 711 20X50 Mini Spotting Scope

Alpenoptics.com

Rancho Cucamonga, CA --(AmmoLand.com)- With 48 million Americans reporting they watch birds around the home and on trips, chances are there’s a birder in your life who would love to get a pair of binoculars or a spotting scope this holiday season.

The good news is you can surprise that special someone with high quality binoculars and scopes from Alpen Optics and stay within your budget.

Alpen Optics is known for its superior quality optical products and great features and accessories at affordable prices. You can find Alpen’s products, which are backed by a limited lifetime factory warranty, at online stores or official dealers near you.

Monoculars are a great gift for young bird watchers. Alpen’s 8×25 and 10×25 waterproof monoculars are perfect for small hands and faces. They are lightweight, compact and can stand up to tough conditions. At a MSRP of about $80, they provide clear, crisp viewing for beginning birders.

Backyard birders will appreciate Alpen’s 8×42 wide angle binoculars. If you watch birds from the comfort of your armchair, you want top viewing performance without paying extra for features you don’t need such as waterproofing. The 8×42 non waterproof binoculars carry an MSRP of about $53 yet will offer bright, sharp viewing of the birds at your backyard birdfeeders.

If you’re buying binoculars for someone who is more serious about their wildlife watching hobby, consider Alpen’s 8×42 or 10×42 waterproof models. Also, shop for fully multicoated optics for maximum light gathering properties so you can bringin all the color and detail you need to ID birds even in low light conditions. At MSRPs ranging from $180 to $400, you can get top notch glass at a great value.

Alpen Optics spotting scopes are the ultimate tool for getting up close and personal with the world of birds whether it’s mockingbirds nesting in your yard or eagle watching at a wildlife refuge. MSRPs can range from just over $200 up to about $1,200 depending on what features are most important to you. If you want something a bit more portable for viewing from your car at the local park, check out Alpen’s compact spotting scopes. With an easy-to-use window car mount, you’ll be checking out birds on the fly.

For more information about Alpen Optics, visit their website www.alpenoutdoor.com or www.alpenoptics.com, or call 877-987-8370.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Washington, DC --(AmmoLand.com)-What’s the most natural place to marvel at autumn’s show? A National Wildlife Refuge is hard to beat — and you can see for yourself during National Wildlife Refuge Week, October 12-18, 2009.

Whether you prefer to admire the fall colors, thrill to a skyful of migratory birds, explore a mountain trail or learn about the cultural resources that are part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s conservation mission, you can find what you like at a National Wildlife Refuge.

National Wildlife Refuge Week celebrates the richness of the 550 units that make up America’s National Wildlife Refuge System. And it’s a great opportunity to find an outdoor family event near where you live.

“President Teddy Roosevelt established tiny Pelican Island in Florida in 1903 as the first National Wildlife Refuge. Roosevelt’s mission was clear: protect Pelican Island’s birds from poachers and plume hunters,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. “And with that simple promise of wildlife protection, the National Wildlife Refuge System was born. It is my hope that citizens across the country will take advantage of this weeklong celebration to experience wildlife in their natural habitats and play a firsthand role in conservation by participating in special events and programs, or simply observing and enjoying the great outdoors at a local refuge.”

National Wildlife Refuges are dedicated to the conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats. They also offer a wide range of wildlife-dependent recreation — from fishing, boating, hunting and hiking — to wildlife observation and photography, nature interpretation and environmental education. The Refuge System includes more than 2,500 miles of land and water trails. There is at least one National Wildlife Refuge in every state and one within an hour’s drive of most major cities.

“If we’re serious about wanting to save the environment and the many wild things dependent on wild places, we can’t afford to have children growing up disconnected from nature,” said Sam Hamilton, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Teaching children ways to enjoy the outdoors while respecting the chain of life that sustains the natural world is what National Wildlife Refuge Week is all about.”

This year, Refuge Week also focuses on the health of the world’s birds — especially those that depend on refuge lands and waters for nesting, foraging, wintering or as rest stops during their migrations. This past spring, a national report by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners under the U.S. North American Bird Conservation Initiative, credited conservation efforts over the past four decades with averting the extinctions of some previously threatened bird species, including the bald eagle and the peregrine falcon. However, the U.S. State of the Birds report noted major population drops for several other bird species, particularly those along the coasts and in the Hawaiian Islands. In the North, 38 percent of Arctic nesting birds are thought to be in decline. Threats to birds include climate change, loss of habitat and disease.

Meanwhile, the number of Americans enjoying birding as a hobby is on the rise. More than 40 million Americans feed wild birds at home or travel to see them, according to the Service’s National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. Many of the refuges in the United States were officially established as bird sanctuaries. Following recommendations offered by a panel of government and private industry birding experts convened by the Service, refuges are seeking out new ways to encourage and support birding activities.

Some refuges are erecting bird feeding stations and posting bird sighting updates on boards outside their visitor centers. Some are loaning binoculars and birding guides to visitors as well as offering tips on certain species. Others are providing scopes at popular bird viewing areas. Some are even installing computer stations that visitors can use to confirm and map bird sightings (with the help of photos and bird calls) and share their finds with other users, wherever they’re located.

This long-distance aspect is being joined by amateur radio enthusiasts who are also supporting Refuge Week by operating special event stations on a number of refuges. They will be communicating with other stations operating from other refuges as well as stations across the United States promoting refuges. Amateur radio operators must obtain permission from the refuge manager to operate within the boundaries of a national wildlife refuge. Interested licensed operators can find a registration form and more information at: http://www.nwrweek-radio.info.

National Wildlife Refuge Week Highlights From the end of September through the month of October, many events are planned in celebration of National Wildlife Refuge Week. Here’s a sample:

National Bird Count – The Big Sit!
On Sunday, October 11, participate in the 15th annual Big Sit!, an international bird count. National Wildlife Refuges across the United States from Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge in Texas to Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge in Indiana are hosting a Big Sit!

Participants sit in a designated circle counting all the bird species seen or heard for 24 hours. Observers can work in shifts; they are not required to stay in the circle for the entire day. Observers can leave and return to the circle as frequently as desired, but they must return to the exact same circle.

Only birds seen from the circle can be included in the Big Sit! count. Bird Watcher’s Digest will conduct the final tally of birds and identify prize winners in several categories. To register your circle and find out more information on the Big Sit! go to: http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/funbirds/bigsit/bigsit.aspx.

More Events:

• Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, Minnesota Saturday, September 26, Fall Festival: Enjoy educational programs and family activities. Photo contest winners will be displayed. 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. For more information: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/tamarac or 218-847-2641.
• Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Friday, October 2, Islands & Rivers of Life: A photo exhibit in Celebration of a Century of Conserving Alaska’s Wildlife & Wild Lands, 7:00 p.m., Wendy Williamson Auditorium, Anchorage. For more information: http://alaskamaritime.fws.gov or 907-226-4606.
• Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 1, Birdfest and Bluegrass Festival: Enjoy owl walks, sandhill crane sunrise tours, kayak tours, plus indoor and outdoor music jamming sessions. For more information: http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ridgefield or 360-887-3883.
• Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana Saturday, October 17, Annual Fall Celebration: Enjoy family activities and free fried fish dinners. For more information: http://www.fws.gov/northlouisiana/blackbayoulake or 318-387-1114.
• Southeast Louisiana Refuges, Lacombe Saturday, October 17, Annual Wild Things Festival: Attend a festival showcasing eight National Wildlife Refuges. The festival features speakers, live animals, wildlife crafts, live entertainment, gardens and grounds tours. Children’s highlights include the Youth Wildlife Art Show, orienteering, decoy painting and nature crafts. Wild Things also features canoe and pontoon boat tours of Bayou Lacombe. For more information: http://www.fws.gov/southeastlouisiana or contact Byron Fortier at 985-882-2025.

For more information on National Wildlife Refuge Week events: http://www.fws.gov/refuges/SpecialEvents/FWS_SpecialEvents_Search.cfm.

For more information on a specific refuge: http://www.fws.gov/refuges/refugeLocatorMaps/index.html.

About:
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.