Laughing Gulls no match for rising seas
In one of the most dramatic responses to sea-level rise to date, laughing gulls within a historic
stronghold along the Lower Delmarva Peninsula have collapsed in less than a decade. A recent survey
conducted by the Center for Conservation Biology has revealed that the population declined from
more than 25,000 to less than 4,400 breeding pairs between 2003 and 2013.
By Bryan Watts
click
here for full story.
Help the Cornell Lab of Ornithology raise $500,000 to reach all the places that birds fly.
Donate today to double your year-end gift
Your generous support enables the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to conduct and use conservation research to protect the future of birds, other wildlife, and the habitats on which they depend. When you *give between now and December 31*, your gift will have twice the impact on bird conservation.
A Cornell Lab member has promised to match each dollar of your year-end donation up to a total of *$250,000*. Inspired by our work in conservation science and our State of the Birds 2013 report, this Lab member initiated this matching gift opportunity to help turn the tides for declining bird populations.
Together, we can raise $500,000 by the end of this year for bird conservation. Your donation of $35, $50, $250—whatever you choose to give—will be doubled, but only if you *make your gift* by December 31. By contributing to this unique fundraising challenge, you strengthen the Lab's capacity to keep common birds common, prevent threatened species from disappearing, and ensure that humans and wildlife can flourish side by side.
Birds and Wind Development
Baltimore Sun reports on effects on Eastern Shore wind turbine project
A wind power project proposed on the lower Eastern Shore that's struggling to overcome objections from the Navy has a new, airborne worry — bald eagles.
Proposed Federal Rule Change Will Lead to More Dead Eagles at Wind Energy Projects
American Bird Conservancy media release
(Washington, D.C., April 12, 2012)
American Bird Conservancy (ABC), the nation’s leading bird conservation organization, has charged that
the eagle rule change proposed today by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will result in more
eagles being killed at wind energy projects.
American Bird Conservancy media release
(Washington, D.C., June 26, 2012).
In a lawsuit filed today in Washington D.C. District Court American Bird Conservancy
has accused the federal government of suppressing information about wind energy projects and their
potential negative impact on America’s wildlife. ABC is being represented in the suit by the
Washington D.C. public-interest law firm of Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal.
Full release here
»
Fewer Lights Safer Lights
Every year, approximately 7 million birds die from collisions with communication towers in North America.
Lead Poisoning in the news
More Grand Canyon Condors Die of Lead Poisoning
Ingestion of Lead Ammunition Is Leading Cause of Death for Endangered Birds. April 16, 2013.
TUCSON, Ariz.— Lead ammunition continues to take a deadly toll on endangered California condors that live in and around the Grand Canyon. Seven of the 80 wild condors in Arizona and Utah have died since December; three of those deaths have been definitively linked to lead poisoning from ingesting spent lead ammunition fragments in carrion and lead poisoning is suspected in the other four deaths. Read the full press release from the Center for Biological Diversity.
Bill to require nonlead ammunition for hunting in California passes first Assembly committee test
Sacramento, CA - Apr 16, 2013
Proposed legislation that would require the use of non-lead ammunition for all hunting in California today passed its first legislative test. Assembly Bill 711, co-authored by Assemblymembers Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) and Dr. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) sailed through the Assembly’s Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee. Audubon California is co-sponsoring the bill with the Humane Society of the United States and Defenders of Wildlife. Read the full press release from Audubon California.
More links on this topic
Lead ammo ban gains traction in California. Assembly, Fresno Bee - April 16, 2013
Lead Ammo Poisons Condors in Grand Canyon, LiveScience - April 16, 2013
Conservationists renew push to ban lead shot, Arizona Daily Sun - April 17, 2013
Lead bullet fragments poison rare US condors, BBC News - April 17, 2013
Several California condors dead since September, Houston Chronicle - April 17, 2013
American Bird Conservancy Updates
New Study Finds Pesticides Leading Cause of Grassland Bird Declines
American Bird Conservancy media release
(Washington, D.C., February 25, 2013)
A new study led by a preeminent Canadian toxicologist identifies acutely toxic pesticides as the most
likely leading cause of the widespread decline in grassland bird numbers in the United States, a finding
that challenges the widely-held assumption that loss of habitat is the primary cause of those population
declines.
Cats Indoors
Study
Finds Free-Roaming Cats Pose Threat from “Serious Public Health Diseases”
American Bird Conservancy media release
(Washington, D.C., September 18, 2012).
A study published in the peer-reviewed public health journal, Zoonoses and Public Health,
has found that free-roaming cats pose a threat from “serious public health diseases” to
humans, domestic animals, and wildlife.
Uranium bill is stopped
The uranium bill did not pass. Well it's almost here: crossover, the midway point of the General Assembly session, and bad bills are dropping like flies. Most notably Senate bills to regulate uranium mining -- effectively lifting the state's 30 year ban -- and to establish severance taxes on uranium were both withdrawn when it became clear they would suffer defeat. This was a major victory for conservationists, farmers, health care advocates, and the business community from Southern Virginia and Hampton Roads. All these constituencies worked together to convince lawmakers that uranium mining was a high-risk, low-reward proposition in Virginia, and we will continue to collaborate to insure that no pro- uranium mining provision is slipped into the state budget.
Thank you for being a part of this conservation victory.
Update on Stadium Woods
On 21 August 2012, the Virginia Tech administration announced that after evaluating the options presented by the Athletic Practice Facility Siting Committee, Virginia Tech will not build the indoor football practice facility in Stadium Woods. Since that announcement, the administration has established a new internal committee that is tasked with developing a comprehensive management plan for the Stadium Woods. Members of this new Stadium Woods management committee include Professor John Seiler of the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, who was instrumental in identifying the uniqueness of this old-growth fragment, and Professor John Randolph from the Department of Urban Affairs & Planning, who chaired the site evaluation committee as well as other campus constituents. In addition to the ongoing work by this management committee, the local chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists' Club and various student groups have been actively working to remove invasive species from the woods. At this time, the university does not plan to place the woods in a conservation easement or give other protected status to the woods, although numerous internal and external stakeholders continue to push for further long-term protection. For more information on the topic and for links to news stories, see the Friends of Stadium Woods website, www.savestadiumwoods.com.
House of Representatives cut over $50 million in funding for key bird conservation programs
The House of Representatives has cut over $50 million in funding for key bird conservation programs in its budget. If passed by the Senate, these destructive cuts will harm birds and other wildlife, and undo decades of successful conservation efforts.
Three of our most valuable programs are threatened by the proposed cuts: the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act Grants Program, State Wildlife Grants and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.
Representatives and Senators need to hear from bird advocates like you today to ensure that these critical bird conservation programs continue to be funded.
Thank you for your help in ensuring the next generation of Americans will have a chance to appreciate the native birds we enjoy today.
Why Bambi Must Go
Professor Daniel Cristol, of William & Mary published in the Op-Ed section of the New York Times,18 May, 2012. Increasing deer populations are a major contributor to declining migratory bird populations .
Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Agrees to Plead Guilty to Charges in Federal Court
Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. has agreed to plead guilty to charges in federal court and pay $4.5 m illion in fines in two incidents that date to 2008.
That year, the company recalled packages of wild birdseed coated with pesticides that were toxic to birds. Court documents state that, from November 2005 to March 2008, Scotts distributed 73 million units of birdseed coated with insecticides called Storcide II and Actellic 5E. This was done to keep insects from eating the seeds during storage.
Storcide’s label says the pesticide is “extremely toxic to fish and toxic to birds and other wildlife.” Documents state that Scotts continued to sell the products despite warnings in the summer and fall of 2007 from a pesticide chemist and an ornithologist, both of whom worked for the company. Full story here »
Kurt Schwarz
Conservation Chair
Maryland Ornithological Society
VSO Conservation Fund
The VSO Board established the VSO Conservation Fund (originally named the Small Grants Conservation Fund) in March 2007. The VSO Conservation Committee manages the fund. Grants of $500 to $1000 are made from the fund to aid the conservation of Virginia’s birds.
Applicants are encouraged to make a request in writing to the Conservation Committee Chair, Patti Reum. Provide an amount of money being requested, what the money will be used for, a justification as to why it is important to bird conservation in Virginia and what positive impact will be made on the conservation of Virginia birds.
Patti can be reached by email at pareum_AT_gmail.com.
Donations to the VSO Conservation Fund are tax deductible and always welcome. Mail donations to: Virginia Society of Ornithology, VSO Conservation Fund, P.O. Box 5994 Williamsburg, VA 23188.