Wildlife rehabilitation center works to save trumpeter swans – Bellingham Herald

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Al Bergstein

Hunters, you are poisoning our wildlife with your buckshot. It would be great to see the hunting community take a more active role in education of their people to stop this destruction of the wildlife in our area. The duck hunting community has been a model for decades in preserving habitat, but it appears that a new educational campaign is needed. This is not just in the Skagit Valley, but has been a problem around all target practice sites in both Jefferson and Clallam counties.

At the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center on Friday, Dec. 11, Alysha Elsby held open the beak of a female trumpeter swan as Sarah Trudeau pushed a thin tube down the bird’s long throat so they could feed her…. The trumpeter swan was among 10 brought from Skagit and Whatcom counties into the center, which is part of the Whatcom Humane Society, in the past week. Eight were suffering from the effects of lead poisoning after ingesting lead shot, one from head trauma after possibly being hit by a vehicle, and one from lead poisoning and head trauma. Kie Relyea reports. (Bellingham Herald)

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article49701740.html

Filed under: Around the Salish Sea, Puget Sound | Tagged: , , | Comments Off on Wildlife rehabilitation center works to save trumpeter swans – Bellingham Herald

State considers conservation options for marbled murrelet – Skagit Valley Herold

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Al Bergstein

Some of the marbled murrelet habitat is in western Jefferson County. 

The state Department of Natural Resources is reviewing conservation plan options for the marbled murrelet, a seabird that is found along the state’s coast, including several bays on Skagit County’s shoreline. The state agency worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to draft five strategies to conserve the bird’s habitat. The options would protect between 594,000 and 734,000 acres of land managed by Natural Resources. The marbled murrelet is considered threatened under the Endangered Species Act, meaning it is likely to become endangered. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

http://www.goskagit.com/all_access/state-considers-conservation-options-for-marbled-murrelet/article_56a429ae-4a0e-573f-a06d-3e604468bf02.html

Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on State considers conservation options for marbled murrelet – Skagit Valley Herold

Restoring Bird Colonies with Social Attraction  – Birdnote

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Al Bergstein

Interesting ideas. Might be of use here in the Sound.

What does relocating Caspian Terns from an island in the Columbia River have to do with luring Short-tailed Albatrosses away from an active volcano in Japan? They both use methods of social attraction pioneered by Dr. Stephen Kress. Social attraction utilizes visual cues such as decoys and audio recordings of birdcalls. Using these, scientists can entice bird colonies out of harm’s way. These Atlantic Puffins represent another successful use of social attraction: Kress and his team established new colonies of puffins on the coast of Maine! (BirdNote)

http://birdnote.org/show/restoring-bird-colonies-social-attraction

Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: , | Comments Off on Restoring Bird Colonies with Social Attraction  – Birdnote

Jefferson County Dems Adopt Marbled Murrelet Resolution

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Al Bergstein

The Jefferson County Democrats adopted, on Tuesday, a resolution urging the Board of Natural Resources to adopt the strongest of the alternatives it is considering for protection of marbled murrelet habitat. As a federally listed threatened species, the murrelet is protected on federal lands, but not on private lands. The bird has been protected on state trust lands under an interim conservation strategy since 1997, years before most research on the murrelet’s ecological requirements took place.

“The state’s own scientists showed in 2008 that this threatened species is still declining because of our logging practices,” said Bruce Cowan, Chair of the Jefferson County Democrats. “If this species is going to survive, we can’t just keep cutting the trust lands where these birds nest.”

The meeting followed a presentation by Kevin Schmelzlen of the Murrelet Survival Project. Not until 1974 did scientists discover that, unlike any other seabird, the murrelet nests in forests, flying as far as fifty miles inland to nest on large branches high in old growth forests. Breeding pairs switch places daily, with one parent feeding on small fish while the other incubates their single egg.

The Washington State Board of Natural Resources is currently considering five alternatives for habitat protection on state trust lands. According to Shmelzlen, only Alternative E responds to the 2008 Science Report, developed by researchers for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The issue of murrelet habitat conservation has been contentious. In 2013, the courts halted a DNR approved harvest of 12,000 acres of timber in Southwest Washington. The Forest Resources Council, an advocate for the timber industry, was unsuccessful in its attempt to have the murrelet de-listed as a threatened species.

“We’ve waited long enough for action,” said Cowan. “Adopting a clear policy based on the 2008 Science Report will make it easier for DNR to do its work. With fewer lawsuits, the flow of timber revenues to state and local governments will be more predictable,” said Cowan. “The set aside is not huge, and it could save a species from extinction.”

Filed under: legislation | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Jefferson County Dems Adopt Marbled Murrelet Resolution

Wintering species are arriving – Coast Reporter

Posted on October 23, 2015 by Al Bergstein

Another low cost bit of entertainment for the weekend. Head to the beach, wetlands, lakes or estuaries and check out the winter birds now arriving. Here’s a report from the BC Sunshine Coast, which gets a lot of the same birds as us. Worth a trip up if you are looking to get away. While Pender Harbour is a long way from the Peninsula, the ferries to the Island are usually easier to get on with short notice this time of year.

The Sunshine Coast has four well-defined birding seasons, and we are now well into the fall season as our common wintering species begin to arrive for their winter residency. The most obvious of these species are Barrow’s goldeneyes and buffleheads, which return in huge numbers from their freshwater breeding lakes all across interior and northern Canada. As the interior water bodies begin to freeze over, the ducks return to the balmy waters of the Salish Sea to winter. Joe Harrison reported the first Barrow’s goldeneyes of the winter on Oct. 18 at Oyster Bay, Pender Harbour, one day later than last year. Tony Greenfeld writes. (Coast Reporter)

http://www.coastreporter.net/community/columnists/wintering-species-are-arriving-1.2092834

Filed under: Around the Salish Sea, Around the Sound | Tagged: , , | Comments Off on Wintering species are arriving – Coast Reporter

Little seabird’s advocates hope protection plan is near – Seattle Times

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Al Bergstein

The Marbled Murrelet has been at the center of one of the most contentious environmental controversy’s in this country’s history, along with the spotted owl. The battle to save this small bird, has focused on it’s habitat, the shrinking world of old growth timber. There likely are other causes, from dwindling food sources in our warming oceans, pollution at sea and other issues, but the old growth battle has been intense. It went to court last year in an unsuccessful attempt to set aside larger tracts of timber. Here’s an update from the Seattle Times.

In 1992, a small, speedy seabird called the marbled murrelet was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Its home — the old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest — had dwindled, leaving it few places to nest. Twenty-three years later, the population of the bird has continued to decline. By some counts, its numbers are 50 percent lower than they were a decade ago. … The Murrelet Survival Project, which started last August, is pressuring the state and federal governments to come up with a long-term conservation plan, aimed at increasing the murrelet’s nesting habitat. Miguel Otarola reports. (Seattle Times)

Read the whole story and subscribe to the Times. Keep journalism local.

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/little-seabirds-advocates-hope-protection-plan-near/

Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Little seabird’s advocates hope protection plan is near – Seattle Times

Pacific Coast sea bird die-off puzzles scientists – Statesman Journal via Seattle Times

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Al Bergstein

Hundreds of young birds are washing up on coastal beaches, dead of what may be starvation. Although it’s grim news, there’s some belief it could be a natural event. My wonder is with changes to the ocean due to global warming, could a lack of food be affecting a lot more than just these? Say, also whales? Read the whole story at Earthfix.org.

Scientists are trying to figure out what’s behind the deaths of seabirds that have been found by the hundreds along the Pacific Coast since October. Mass die-offs of the small, white-bellied gray birds known as Cassin’s aucklets have been reported from British Columbia to San Luis Obispo, California. (Earthfix.org)

 

http://earthfix.opb.org/flora-and-fauna/article/small-seabird-washing-up-dead-on-northwest-beaches/

Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Pacific Coast sea bird die-off puzzles scientists – Statesman Journal via Seattle Times

State of the Birds Report: Conservation Works, but There’s More Work to Do – Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Posted on September 12, 2014 by Al Bergstein

cropped-2014-double-eagle001-mxf-still001-5.jpg

This week, the Cornell Lab and partners released the 2014 State of the Birds Report. The report commemorates Martha, the world’s last Passenger Pigeon, whose tragic passing 100 years ago spurred the creation of the world’s greatest conservation movement.

In the last century we’ve saved Wood Ducks and Bald Eagles, Kirtland’s Warblers and Brown Pelicans, and more. The new report offers the most comprehensive review of long-term trend data for U.S. birds ever, identifying a Watch List of 228 high-concern species as well as 33 Common Birds in Steep Decline to begin conserving now. See the full report and download the lists.

Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on State of the Birds Report: Conservation Works, but There’s More Work to Do – Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Once-common marine birds disappearing from our coast – Seattle Times

Posted on July 25, 2014 by Al Bergstein

For many years I’ve been commenting to friends that I felt I’ve seen a substantial drop in shorebirds around Port Townsend, and on the coast in general. It appears I unfortunately may be correct.

“Scoters down 75% from the 1970’s. Murres have dropped even more. Western Grebes have mostly vanished…”

Craig Welch reports for the Seattle Times.

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2024155783_birddeclinesxml.html

Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Once-common marine birds disappearing from our coast – Seattle Times

BirdNote: Woodpeckers as Keystone Species

Posted on August 21, 2013 by Al Bergstein

Woodpeckers – including this Northern Flicker – are master carpenters of the bird world. They’re called “keystone species” for their crucial role in creating habitat suited to other woodland wildlife. Abandoned woodpecker nest-holes become nests or roosts for small owls, cavity-nesting ducks, swifts, bluebirds, swallows, wrens, and other birds, as well as many small mammals.
http://birdnote.org/show/woodpeckers-keystone-species

Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on BirdNote: Woodpeckers as Keystone Species

BirdNote: Monitoring the Health of Coastal Raptors

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Al Bergstein

If you like to listen: “Since 1995, biologist Dan Varland, Executive Director of Coastal Raptors, has been monitoring the health of raptors on the Washington coast, where Peregrine Falcons stoop on shorebirds feeding along the tideline…”
http://birdnote.org/show/monitoring-health-coastal-raptors

Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on BirdNote: Monitoring the Health of Coastal Raptors

Battle over use of Dungeness Spit National Wildlife Refuge brewing

Posted on January 5, 2013 by Al Bergstein

Washington State Representative Kevin Van De Wege of the 24th Legislative District has threatened legislation revoking federal control of Dungeness Spit. This in response to a proposed U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conservation plan that would ban all jogging and horseback riding on the Dungeness Spit and nearby upland trails, Rep. Van De Wege (D-Sequim) is looking into legislation allowing the state to retake control of part of the spit.

While we understand that jogging and horseback riding are not normally thought as being incompatible with a ‘park’, a gentle reminder is that this refuge was not set up as a standard ‘park’, such as Fort Worden, but as a wildlife refuge’, to protect specific birds that were nesting there. It was established in 1915 for the specific purpose of protecting nesting shorebirds. The refuge was not created to help people jog or horseback ride. To repeat, it is not a “park” it is a refuge.

There apparently was an incident last year between a horse and a pedestrian that has led to this current situation. The person had serious injuries. Whether this refuge is suitable for horse riding is certainly a separate and debatable issue.

We believe that Representative Van De Wege, who was elected with great help from the environmental community, should sit down and work with Olympic Audubon to forge a plan to help the horse community and the refuge come to a solution. It may be that jogging may have to be rerouted around a more workable situation, and an educational program for the community be mounted to help people understand the purpose of this ’wildlife refuge.”

Filed under: Around the Sound, Government, Olympic Peninsula, Places | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Battle over use of Dungeness Spit National Wildlife Refuge brewing

Eleanor Stopps – In her own words

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Al Bergstein

Eleanor Stopps passed away today, after a short illness. She was attended to by hospice. I think it time we brought out the unpublished interview Mountainstone Productions shot of her as part of “Voices of the Strait”. Video will follow, but takes quite a bit longer to get right.

Eleanor talks about her life, and how she came to protect Protection Island. Interview by Betsy Wharton and Jo Anne Bailey.

Downloads allowed. However, no commercial use of this audio track is allowed without written permission. Please contact mountainstoneproductions AT gmail.com for use questions (replace the AT with @ as usual)

http://soundcloud.com/mountainstone/eleanor-stopps-in-her-own

Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Eleanor Stopps – In her own words

EVENT CANCELED- “Sea of Birds” lecture on March 24

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Al Bergstein

Julia Parrish, Executive Director of COASST, will discuss “Sea of Birds: Population Patterns of Washington’s Coastal Residents and Migrants” at the March 21 Olympic Peninsula Audubon general meeting at the Dungeness River Audubon Center, beginning at 7 pm.

COASST training will be held Saturday, March 24, 10 am – 4 pm at the Feiro Marine Life Center. Please see attached flyer for details.

Treats and coffee provided; rsvp: 206-221-6893 or coasst@uw.edu

Cathy

Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on EVENT CANCELED- “Sea of Birds” lecture on March 24

Feds looking to expand protection of Plover

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Al Bergstein

The pressures continue to mount for wildlife due to the rapid heating of our planet. The federal government now wants to expand the protection of the Snowy Plover to try and save it, as their numbers dwindle.
———————————-
Feds want to double nesting areas for shorebird
JEFF BARNARD

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to double the amount of West Coast beaches protected for a threatened shorebird in anticipation that sea levels will be rising due to global warming.

The proposal announced Monday would expand critical habitat designations for the western snowy plover in California, Oregon and Washington to a total of 68 units covering more than 28,000 acres.

Biologists estimate the snowy plover numbers no more than 2,270 individuals. Its numbers have declined as the bare sandy dunes where it lays its eggs were developed and covered with European beach grass, which makes the nests more vulnerable to predators.

The proposal also calls for expanding protected beaches to give the birds room to move into new nesting areas.

More at
http://www.theolympian.com/2011/03/21/1587807/feds-want-to-double-nesting-areas.html

Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: , | Comments Off on Feds looking to expand protection of Plover