Count Birds With a Buddy!
February’s Great Backyard Bird Count Encourages First-Timers
The
Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) returns for its ninth season February 17-20,
2006. The National Audubon Society and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology
encourage everyone to COUNT BIRDS WITH A BUDDY! Bird enthusiasts of all ages
can share their love of birds with a friend, a child, a scout troop, a class,
or a co-worker opening new eyes to the joy of birding and the fun of creating
a unique snapshot of winter bird abundance and distribution across the
continent. Every pair of eyes is needed and every bird counts, whether in a
backyard, on a high-rise balcony, in a park, or on any of the 730 million acres
of public lands.
In
2005, participants sent in more than 52,000 checklists, with a record-breaking
613 species and more than 6 million birds counted. These millions of sightings
generate what would be otherwise impossible, continent-wide information about
where the birds are and how their numbers compare with those of previous years.
Anyone with Internet access can see the results in maps and charts as the
sightings pour in.
“The level of energy created each February by Great Backyard Bird
counters is phenomenal,” said Dr. Paul Green, director of Citizen Science for
Audubon. “What always amazes me are the new discoveries made by people across
North America. Some bird watchers even send digital 
photos to back up their reports. Last year participants
sent in more than 1,000 photos and many are now part of the GBBC website
gallery.”
For
nearly a decade, the GBBC has kept tabs on the ever-changing patterns of birds
in winter. How far north will American Robins be reported this year? Will
Sandhill Cranes migrate early or late? Introduced Eurasian Collared-Doves have
been turning up in new states. Where
will they be this year? Native Red-bellied Woodpeckers have been spreading to
the northeast. Will the trend continue? Scientists also want more information
on declining species, such as Rusty Blackbirds and Painted Buntings. While these species are
suffering due to the continued destruction of their preferred habitats, other
factors, such as mercury accumulation in Rusty Blackbirds, and removal of
Painted Buntings for the illegal cage bird industry, may make a bad situation
worse.
“This
project has become a major source of scientific information about North
American bird populations,” said Dr. John Fitzpatrick, director of the Cornell
Laboratory of Ornithology. “It is a classic example of the vital role citizens
and the Internet now play in understanding our planet.”
In 2006, for the first time, the Lab of
Ornithology and Audubon are launching an element of friendly competition.
Awards will be given to localities that submit the most checklists, record the
greatest number species, or count the highest number of birds. (Last year’s top
numbers: 433 checklists from Gautier, Mississippi, 169 species from Corpus
Christi, Texas, and 291,246 birds from Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge,
Missouri.) A photo contest will also be held based on bird pictures taken
during the event and submitted for posting on the GBBC gallery. Winners will be
announced after all the data from the event have been submitted.
Everyone
can participate, from beginning bird watchers to seasoned experts. During the
count, bird watchers tally up birds for as little as 15 minutes, or for as long
as they like, keeping track of the highest number of each bird species they see
together at one time. People are encouraged to report birds from public lands
and local parks, as well as from their backyards. Participants enter their numbers
online at www.birdsource.org/gbbc and can explore sightings maps, lists, and charts as the
count progresses.
Year-round,
anyone can view results from past counts and learn how to participate by
visiting: www.birdsource.org/gbbc. There is no fee or registration for the event, which is
sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited.
Audubon
Members Make a Difference
GREEN TIPS
Green tips will be a monthly feature in our
newsletter. It is designed to give you
ideas for taking personal conservation
action to improve the environmental health and habitat quality of our yards and
neighborhoods. (Members are
encouraged to send tips to the editor for inclusion in future
newsletters.)
DRY-CLEANING
Lisa Hardy
That
distinctive smell given off by newly dry-cleaned clothes is perchlorethylene, a
hydro-carbon solvent effective at removing soil and stains from fabric. But
perchloroethylene, or "perc", is also a known endo-crine disruptor,
meaning that it interferes with hormone function in the body. Perc is also a
known animal carcinogen, and a probable human carcinogen. Perc residues on dry-cleaned clothes may
be a problem for those with chemical sensitivities, and many people hang newly
cleaned clothes in a garage or other non-lived-in area until the odor has
dissipated. But perc is a more serious health problem for those exposed to the
higher levels found in a dry-cleaning establishment. This includes employees of
the business and people who live in apartments in the same building. The EPA
considers perc to be a toxic air pollutant. California has legis-lated that
perc be phased out of dry-cleaning operations by 2020, but you can start
phasing perc out of your life right now.
The simplest option is to avoid buying clothes that require dry-cleaning. The
other option is to have your clothes cleaned using a perc-free method. Several alternatives to perc have been
developed in recent years. These include silicon-based solvents, hydrocarbon
solvents other than perc, carbon dioxide, and "wet-cleaning" using
water-soluble detergents. In our area, the only dry cleaning business that uses
a perc alternative is "Sonja's Cleaner by Nature". Sonja's uses a
hydrocarbon solvent, DF 2000, that is considered more benign than
perchloroethylene. One of our members reports that she was pleased with the
results when she had a number of heirloom baby clothes cleaned by Sonja's.
A
link to alternative dry-cleaning methods:
http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc.mhtml?i=ask&s=wetclean
2005 YARDLIST
cHALLENGE
Lisa Hardy
Nine
yard watchers reported a total 136 species. Forty of these (29%) were reported by
only a single yard. Eight species were reported by all 9 yards: California
Quail, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American
Robin, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch. An additional 8 species were
seen by 8 of the 9 yards.
Highlights were the White-breasted Nuthatch seen by Dick Cripe, the Wilson's
Warbler that visited Janet Callen, the hybrid Steller's X Blue Jay spotted by
the Warings, and the Red-tailed Hawk seen by Lynn Sheridan. Dick thought he
might have had a Red-tailed Hawk in his neighborhood too, but he concluded it
was the Steller's Jays doing their excellent imitation of a hawk cry. Lynn had
to rescue two House Finches in distress during the year.
Highlights from yards with water views include the
Buchlers' American White Pelican and Double-crested Cormorant, and Robert
Hanson's Black Tern. The Hansons also reported the only Clark's Nutcracker and
Pine Grosbeak, and their resident Bewick's Wrens are a new species to the yard
list total. Shirley Sturts had the only American Wigeon and Brown Creeper. The
biggest highlight for me was a Northern Water-thrush that came to forage on the
front lawn several days in a row.
The
Hansons also noted the absence of bluebirds and Townsend's Solitaires for the
second year in a row.
Stephen
Johnson gets a category all to himself living out on the Rathdrum Prairie. His
yard list added many new species (7) to the all-time yardlist total, such as 
Long-eared Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Horned Lark and Snow
Bunting. All together, we had 9 new
species added to the list this year, bringing our 6 year total to
169 species
.
A big Thank You to all participants!
Click here for Complete results
6th
in a series of articles about lawn care
Next month: Back
to Organics
The Beautiful Lawn,
Part VI
Judy Waring, Janet Callen
The
information in this section is the result of an exceptional effort by Judy
Waring. She prowled the lawn and garden
aisles of hardware stores reading the minute print of labels to find the killer
chemicals in the products, not to
mention breathing in the headache-causing and eye-burning fumes.
HERBICIDE/FERTILIZER
COMBINATIONS
The
primary chemical in the following products is 2-4-D.
·
Sta-Green Weed and Feed
·
Lilly-Miller Weed and
Feed
·
Scott’s Turf Builder
with Plus 2 Weed Control
·
Vigoro Ultra Turf Weed
and Feed
2-4-D
is a widely used herbicide with a startling number of adverse effects on
species other than the weeds it is designed to kill. It reduces successful hatching of bird eggs, and destroys birds’
food and nesting habitat. It is acutely
toxic to earthworms and harms beneficial insects. A breakdown product is very toxic to fish. 2-4-D has been associated with acute
lymphoma in dogs and causes genetic damage in barley, wheat, rice, and
onions. (3)
Pendimethalin
is in:
·
Scotts Turf Builder with
Crabgrass Preventer
Inhalation of dusts or fumes from this chemical may be
irritating to the linings of the mouth, nose, throat and lungs. It is considered slightly toxic to birds and
highly toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. It is classified by the EPA as a “possible human carcinogen.”
INSECTICIDE/FERTILIZER
COMBINATIONS
Keep in mind, while reading about these
products that the University of Idaho Extension Office has stated that rarely
do Idaho lawns have serious insect problems
and use of such products is unnecessary. \
Permethrin is the insecticide in:
·
Sta-Green Summer Green
Fertilizer + Insect Control.
It
is also found in household insect foggers, flea dips and sprays, insect
repellent for clothing, termite products, lice shampoos and body lotions for
scabies. This synthetic chemical
supposedly has low to moderate toxicity to humans. However, exposure can cause
skin and respiratory problems and numbing, tingling and burning sensations of
the skin. There is no human cancer data
available and limited evidence of cancer in animals. However, it has been found to be highly toxic to fish and bees.
Bifenthrin is the insecticide in:
·
Scott’s Turf Builder with
Summer Guard.
This chemical is highly toxic to fish
and aquatic organisms. It is supposedly
moderately toxic to birds.
Lambda Cyhalothrin is in the product:
·
Vigoro Summer Fertilizer
and Insect Control.
It is highly to moderately toxic to
mammals when ingested, inhaled and when in contact with the skin. This is a
chemical
which is highly toxic to fish and
bees, and classified mildly toxic to birds.
NON-SELECTIVE
HERBICIDES
Glyphosate: is the effective chemical in the following herbicides:
·
Ortho Ground Clear,
Complete Vegetation Killer
·
Ortho Basic Solutions,
Weed and Grass Killer
·
Ortho Season-Long Grass
and Weed Killer
·
Round-Up Grass and Weed Killer
·
Round-Up Extended Control
Weed & Grass Killer Plus Weed
·
Preventer Concentrate
The
herbicide Round-Up is highly lethal to amphibians in a natural setting. However, the lethal ingredient is not glyphosate,
but instead is the surfactant, or detergent, that allows the product to
penetrate the waxy surfaces of plants.
The chemical is polyethoxylated tallowamine. A gardeners note from Pat Munts of the Spokesman Review regarding
Round-up Extended Control Weed & Grass Killer Plus Weed Preventer
Concentrate. This is a new product,
marketed in a tan container. This
product stays effective in the soil for up to three months. That means anything planted in the treated
area during those three months will be killed also.
Diquat Dibromide: is in:
·
Spectracide Triple Strike
Grass and Weed Killer
·
Spectracide Season-Plus
Grass and Weed Killer
It is a quick-acting herbicide
and plant growth regulator. It is used
to desiccate potato vines and seed crops.
This herbicide is moderately toxic via ingestion, affecting a range from
mice to dogs and cows. According to the
printed material, there is moderate toxicity for birds, fish and aquatic
invertebrates.
The brief summaries regarding the effects
of the above pesticides were from detailed information about each chemical
found at the following web sites.
Either site is an excellent resource for complete information about EPA
registered products. Sadly, when one
reads the official fact sheet about a chemical, details of the tests on mice,
rats, bunnies, dogs, ducks, cows and other animals are a part of the
“facts.” Another reason to quit using
these deadly products.
NATIONAL
PESTICIDE INFORMATION CENTER
1-800-858-7378
Available
7 days a week between 6:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. www.npic.orst.edu
NATIONAL COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES (541) 344-504
www.pesticide.org This site also has
information about safe solutions to weed and insect problems.
AND THERE ARE
MORE
Weed Killing Products:
Dichlorbenil
Lilly Miller Granular Noxall
Lilly Miller Casoron
Trifluarlin
Miracle Grow Garden Weed
Preventer
Preen Garden Weed
Preventer
Methyl-4 clorophenoxyacetic
acid & 2-4-D
Ortho Weed-B-Gone
Ortho Weed-B-Gone Max
Calcium Acid Methanearsonate
Ortho Weed-B-Gone
Crabgrass Killer
2-4-D
Bayer Advanced Weed Killer
for Lawns.
Spectracide Weed Stop
Ortho Basic Solutions Lawn
Weed Killer
Insect Killing Products:
Imidicloprid
Bayer Advanced Lawn
Complete Insect Killer
Metaldehyde
Ortho Bug-Geta-Plus
Ortho Snail and Bug Killer
Bifenthrin
Ortho Insect Killer for Lawns
Ortho Max Lawn and Garden
Insect Killer
Permethrin
Ortho Basic Solutions Lawn
and Garden Insect Killer
Cyfluthrin
Bayer Advanced Lawn Power
Force Multi-Insect Killer .
Fungicides:
Thiophanate Methyl-Plus
Scott’s Lawn Fungus Control
Miclobutanil
Spectracide Immunox Lawn
Disease Control
Surely the killer product of all killer products must be BAYER
ADVANCED LAWN POWER FORCE MULTI-INSECT KILLER.
(3) Journal of
Pesticide Reform/Fall 1999
IS ECO POND DEAD?
Kris Buchler
Some of you may wonder what effects Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma have
had on the birds and other wildlife in Florida and other gulf states. It will take years to determine long-term
damages but many are apparent right now.
My husband Ed and I took part in the Coot Bay (Everglades) Christmas
Bird Count on December 31. Another trip
to Shark Valley on the northern edge of the Everglades gave us an overall view
of hurricanes versus wildlife in this delicate habitat.
We met our team at 6:30 AM on
a very foggy morning in Flamingo, the southernmost outpost in Everglades National
Park. Three teams covered the count
circle. Our team of six had Flamingo,
Eco Pond, the campgrounds, shoreline, bays and facilities of the area. This part of the park was completely closed
to the public except for a boat launch.
We were the only people allowed in, experiencing the emptiness of an
area usually full of campers and vacationers in the cabins and motel. Winds
devastated most of the peninsula of Florida all the way up to Miami and even
Fort Lauderdale. The coastal area was
subjected to a 4-5 foot storm surge that destroyed all lower levels of the
facilities and more importantly, flooded the fresh water ponds with mud and
salt water. Altitude in the Everglades
is counted in inches, not feet so a surge that large was devastating.
Our first stop at 7:00 AM was
Eco Pond, a rich fresh water habitat usually teaming with bird life. As fuchsia Roseate Spoonbills flew over the
pond in dawn light, we were stricken to see nothing but the color brown. Despite the death of cattails and all other
freshwater wetland plants, many of the trees would recover and some were trying
to bud with new leaves. We managed to
observe Green Herons, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Palm Warblers, Little Blue
Herons and other birds around the pond.
Our leader, John Boyd,
explained that much food for wildlife was lost in the Everglades as well as in
downed trees throughout Florida. The
effects on migrating species and breeding birds will not be known for some
time. Three large crocodiles basked in
the sun near the marina. They are coastal and prefer salt and brackish water.
Alligators are primarily freshwater animals and the storm surge forced many of
them further inland. As we searched for the Prairie Warblers, White-eyed Vireo
and other songbirds along the coastal trail, we observed many raccoon tracks,
making us wonder and picture the poor creatures clinging to tree branches as
the water surged overland beneath them.
Somehow, numbers of small animals survived which was evidenced by the
numerous Red-shouldered Hawks we encountered and observed dropping from lofty
perches to the ground onto prey. Our
raptor highlight was a Peregrine Falcon that cruised overhead. This species is a fairly common migrant over
the park.
Flamingo Bay held thousands of birds on its waters, islands and
sandbars. Black Skimmers roosted in
rows pointed in one direction or soared in long lines over the water. Little Blue Heron, Tricolor Heron,
Black-crowned Night Heron, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Roseate
Spoonbill, While Ibis, Glossy Ibis and Wood Stork populated the bay along with
hundreds of shorebirds. A Common Loon
with an injured foot watched us back as we counted from the observation
deck. Several porpoises leaped and
enjoyed the sparkling waters in the midst of all the avian life. Fishing must have been good. Our leader seemed satisfied with our count
numbers and Ed and I were able to contribute some sightings. However, I really felt my lack of knowledge
and experience with tropical bird songs and calls. About the only ones Ed and I remembered were the Blue Jay,
Cardinal and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher which makes a very distinctive whiny
buzz. It is difficult to really learn
bird songs in an area where you do not live.
Our team mates were top-notch
birders. John really had an ear and
could tell a bunting with a few notes.
Katrina lived in Pennsylvania but had been a bird guide for a tour
company in Florida and had a very trained eye.
She could spot a flock of something tiny and white miles away and tell
you it was ibis. Susan really knew her
shorebirds and was a professor at FIU.
Todd had many trips to Belize and Ecuador and was part of a husband and
wife team. We were in terrific company.
All of us sensed the ghosts of past vacationers as we peered into damaged
cabins and motels. Holiday dreams were
dashed in broken windows, cabins pushed off foundations, piles and piles of
water damaged mattresses and furniture, toilets pushed off bases and lying
tumbled on floors, and in every dwelling the layers of mud covering carpeted
floors. We wonder if millions of
dollars will ever be put to use restoring this once popular Everglades
destination. We had originally planned
to stay there the night before the bird count but instead made the hour and
forty minute trip from Palmetto Bay in the early morning.
A few days later we made a
trip to Shark Valley which runs south from the northern edge of the
Everglades. The hurricanes have had a
definite effect on the “river of grass” which comprises this part of the park and
south Florida. A river valley of only
inches, Shark Valley is essentially still flooded from the storms. Acres of ponds, puddles and standing water
remain during what would now be a dry season.
An observation tower about two miles into the glades is accessible by a
tram and bike path. The view is
amazing, allowing one to gaze over thousands of acres of wetlands and grassy or
treed hammocks. What effect the water
has on the deer or panther populations is unknown.
Those of you who have family scattered around the country have a
rare opportunity. If you should visit
family or friends over the Christmas holiday, you could participate in
Audubon’s Christmas Bird Counts in other states and new locales. All official
counts are listed on Audubon Chapter websites by mid fall. The dates, locations and contact numbers or
email addresses for leaders are usually listed. This is a wonderful way to meet local birders for future trips
and to learn about birding locations in the area. You might also add some new species to your “Life Lists.”
Lisa Hardy and my husband and
I have been team members on counts in Florida.
Two years ago Lisa took part in the CBC
in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and one in Puerto Rico. Ed and I were part of the team that did the
Kendall, Florida CBC that same year.
Our leader, Dick Cunningham, had worked in the Everglades for the
National Park Service for years. It
couldn’t get much better than that.
Dick made us “Out-of- Staters” feel most welcome and part of the
team. He is the one who encouraged us
to do the Everglades Count.
bROWN BAG BIRDING
January 17, 2006
Lynn Sheridan
Roland
Craft, Shirley Sturts and I met at the west end of Fernan Lake. We
surveyed the gulls carefully for a possible Mew Gull which was recently
sighted, but only a California was seen among the Ring-billed. A few
Bufflehead mingled with the resident Mallard. In a nearby garden, House
Finch and sparrows chirped noisily.
Shirley
headed toward town, while Roland and I continued up along the lake. A few
California Quail scurried across the road, and at open water further along, we
saw 2 pair of pretty Hooded Merganser.
At the east end of the lake, less frozen, a few more Bufflehead were seen and
about 40 Common Goldeneye. Some were making the courting head gesture,
bending their heads onto their backs, most just diving for food.
Great! Only other bird was a Common Raven.
Thanks,
Auduboners
THE FISH HAWK 
