June 3, 2013 by prairiebirder

Birding News #20

:: Birders in Fredericton, New Brunswick are excited by the large numbers of large numbers of Chimney Swifts in the area

:: The endangered Hawaiian Hawks have been found injured on Big Island

:: A story from The New Yorker about how birds talk

:: In some places, bumblebees steal bird nests, using their “buzz” to scare away the birds.

:: Arctic Terns breeding in the Netherlands migrate to their wintering in Antarctica, by way of New Zealand!

:: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has released its Master Set of 4,938 downloadable bird songs, a project that has taken 80 years to complete.

:: Many Atlantic Puffins are dying of starvation because of what scientists think is a shifting fish population and the rise of the ocean’s temperature.

:: The Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station in Toronto banded its 2,500th bird for the Spring season earlier this week! And here is a story from CBC about the research station.

:: 48 birders were rescued from a sinking ship while on a pelagic trip in England

:: Tree Swallows are getting lots of help in Pointe-Claire, Quebec

Great posts in birding blogs this week:

:: From Linda at Photo Feathers: American Woodcocks at The Biggest Week

:: From Timothy at Backyard Chirper: Birder vs. Birdwatcher: What’s in a Name?

:: From Mia at On The Wing Photography: Bubble, Bubble, Oil is Trouble

:: From Sharon at Birdchick: Biggest Week 2013

:: From Pat, beat writer for Birding is Fun: Whoo Says It’s Too Close

:: From Greg, guest writer for Birds Calgary: Frank Lake Ibis Colony Destroyed?

:: From David at A Calgary Birder: Magic Moments with a Nest Box (full disclosure — I have a photo and get a mention in the post…)

:: My friend Marcel’s Baillie Birdathon results — featuring spudnuts!

May 28, 2013 by prairiebirder

Birding News #19

:: The famous Red Knot called B95 or Moonbird has survived another Spring migration. Moonbird is about 20 years old and researchers believe he is the oldest living Red Knot.

:: Alaska is experiencing some very rare birds this Spring migration, and higher numbers than usual.

:: Marbled Murrelets are an endangered species and Steller’s Jays are eating their eggs in California. Researchers are putting out fake Murrelets eggs that induce vomiting in the Jays, so they won’t want to eat the endangered seabirds eggs.

:: CBS News visited the Biggest Week in American Birding and aired a segment on birding.

:: If you would like to see LEGO add a collection of North American bird kits to their line of products, please vote for these great LEGO birds by Thomas Poulsom (you may have seen his British, European, Oceana, or Tropical Lego birds already)!

:: The American Bird Conservancy is requesting a ban on the insecticide neonicotinoid, poison so deadly it can kill a songbird with one kernel of corn.

:: A pair of rare Common Cranes and their nest in Britain are under 24 hour surveillance to protect the eggs from collectors.

:: An article about why penguins don’t fly and why they are so good at swimming

Great posts in birding blogs this week:

:: From Steve at Steve Creek Wildlife Photography: Pied-billed Grebe Eating Crayfish

:: From Rich, beat writer for Birding Is Fun: Horse of the Woods — The Capercaillie

:: From Gordon at Birding Adventures: Willcox, Arizona — 18 May 2013

:: From Landon at Two Birders and Binoculars: Planning a Big Year

:: From Mia at On the Wing Photography: Potpourri of Birds — from this week

:: From Rebecca at Rebecca in the Woods: Killdeer! Killdeer! Killdeer!

May 20, 2013 by prairiebirder

Birding News #18

:: Rare Bird Alert in Canada: A Purple Sandpiper was found May 9th at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary in Calgary, Alberta.

:: Rare Bird Alert in Canada: A Little Egret (Code 4) has been spotted in Fair Haven, Newfoundland.

:: Birds in Egypt are being threatened because hunters are putting out nets to trap the birds for illegal proposes. You can sign a petition here set up by the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union to encourage making the trapping of birds in Egypt illegal.

:: A group of blind birders in Michigan are teaching others about the joys of birding through birding by ear.

:: Bird Studies Canada has a new citizen scientist program for monitoring Barn Swallows as part of NestWatch.

:: The Bahamas National Trust is taking measures to protect crucial wintering habitat for the endangered Kirtland’s Warbler.

:: Bird songs are used in more ways than you might think!

:: An environmental adviser with an Alberta electric utility company has established Canada’s first Avian Protection Plan, to prevent bird collisions with the power lines.

Great posts in birding blogs this week:

:: From Linda at Photo Feathers: A Canoeing Adventure at The Biggest Week

:: From Dan at Birds Calgary: Wednesday Wings: Chasing Rarities — Purple Sandpiper — First Alberta Record

:: From Larry at Brownstone Birding Blog: Spring Census Mystery Bird Makes Number 100

:: From Tami at CabinGirl: A Curious, and Hungry Chestnut-sided Warbler

:: From Mia at On The Wing Photography: Ospreys of Flaming Gorge

:: A new friend I met at the Snow Goose Chase has just started a bird blog so please head over to his new blog, Bird Boy!

May 6, 2013 by prairiebirder

Birding News #16

:: Rare Bird Alert in Canada: A Garganey (Code 4) has been found around Mirabel, Laurentides, Quebec.

:: A pair of Peregrine Falcons at the Bell Tower in Edmonton, Alberta, have laid three eggs, and the Alberta Conservation Association has put up a cam so you can watch the pair via live streaming.

:: BirdWatching Magazine has a list of 19 books about birds that have been recently published, and the editors’ favorites

:: A man from Alaska defended his family from a bear attack using his spotting scope and tripod

:: About 50 ducks were rescued in Belle Plaine, Saskatchewan, after landing in potash waste water ponds

:: The Madagascar Pochard is the world’s rarest duck and now, 58 of them are part of a captive breeding program to help stabilize the wild population

:: Birders are getting very frustrated with shooters who are disrespectful of the Pawnee National Grassland in Colorado

Great posts in birding blogs this week:

:: From Landon at Two Birders and Binoculars: Where do Birds Sleep?

:: From Russell at BC Rare Bird Alert: Help Support The Spoon-billed Sandpiper

:: From Sharon, beat writer for 10,000 Birds: How Close is “Too Close” to an Owl?

:: From Ryan, beat writer for Birding is Fun: A Hybrid Dusky Grouse x Sharp-tailed Grouse

:: From Mia at On The Wing Photography: Bird Sampler for April 28 through May 4, 2013