Two new podcasts channels have been added.

Parrot Science
Parrots are complex creatures. This podcast will feature parrot news, behaviour information, news about wild parrots and other ways to get along with your pet parrot more effectively. Whether or not you are a bird owner with some questions, a breeder, or involved in conservation, there is something for everyone. From ParrotScience.com.

Whooper Happenings
Whooper Happenings will present current information about Whooping Cranes across North America and those who work with and help to preserve and guide this highly endangered species. Actual voice-cuts and interviews with the biologists who do the work and handle the birds as well as those who fly with them (Operation Migration ultralight pilots) is offered.

Make sure to check them out!

Wow, what a week! Today, I finally finished up processing the photos I took last weekend at the Los Angeles Audubon Society's winter field trip to Salton Sea. I had a wonderful time. My new Nikon D200 camera and 80-400mm VR lens were definitely up for the task, and although I only had them for a week, the combination proved to be quite impressive in usability and in the results. At the end of the two days, I had taken over 1300 photos, and ran up an 18-gigabyte tab! Going through them all and trying to pick out the best ones was quite a chore, but enjoyable and educational nonetheless.

This was the second trip for Carol and I to the Salton Sea. Our first trip last August, was incredibly hot and humid, but there were some amazing birds. (Read "Sultry Salton Sea for a recap.) This time the weather was great. It was mostly sunny and in the 60s, and the birds were abundant!

On Saturday, we met up at the Wister Unit, just north of Niland, at 7:30am. The temperature was around the 40s and it was sunny, with a light breeze. As we were getting organized, we saw the first "official" birds of the trip: Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus), Common Ground-Dove (Columbina passerina), Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Picoides scalaris), and Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto). Around 8am we headed down the 111 and turned east on Sinclair Road, where a Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) flew over. Just past the corrections facility, we made our first stop to watch for longspurs. We were three-for-four with Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus), Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus), and Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus). They were really skittish and kept their distance. They didn't lend themselved to a good photo, but there were others who were more accomodating. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) and Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) were abundant, flying by and landing in the fields to get some breakfast. Other vistors were Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus), American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia), Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis), Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus), Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya), Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta), and Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura).

After figuring we'd seen all the longspur we were going to see, we headed back to the Wister Unit to see if we could find the Rufous-backed Robin (Turdus rufopalliatus) that had been seen there in the previous days. It's a real rarity in the US and was seen eating the dates from a tree by the side of the road. It never showed up, but we did get a good look (and photos) of a Dusky-capped Flycatcher (Myiarchus tuberculifer), another rare vistor to the area. After snapping off a few shots, the flycatcher flew away. A few minutes later, a Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) swooped in and circled a few times before continuing on. The big buffer on the camera really came into play and I was able to get a lot of flight shots. Also in the area were Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) and American Coot (Fulica americana).

Another interesting piece of the Salton Sea is that is lies along the southern part of the San Andreas fault system and encounters some geothermic activity. Hot mud and gas spews up from deep down causing mud pots and mud volcanoes. Some of these volcanoes reach five or six feet in height. You can walk right up to them and watch the mud sputter out. If you're ever in the area, make sure to check them out on Davis Road, north of Schrimpf.

It was around 2pm when we stopped for lunch at the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge. As we got out of our cars, we heard the unmistakable cackling of geese. We climed the ramp to the top of the observation tower to see a field filled with Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens) and Ross's Geese (Chen rossii). They're very similar, but having them side by side makes it easier to identify the difference in markings. While making a restroom stop before continuing on, it was hard to miss the Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii) chasing each other around. Some stopped long enough to get their photos taken.

Our last stop of the day was south of Brawley on McConnell Road, south of Keystone. There was a small body of water next to the road. As we arrived, we spotted a flock of Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) trying to decide where to land. They didn't seem to want to make up their minds, so we got out to see what else we could find.

There were plenty of other birds in the water and out in the field to observe. Large flocks including Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), Long-billed Curlew, Cattle Egret, Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus), Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata), Ring-billed Gull, American Coot, Kildeer (Charadrius vociferus), American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana), and Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) were all hanging around and feeding. There was even a lone Sandhill Crane in the mix. As the sun started setting, large swarms of birds would appear seemingly out of nowhere and then land again. It was quite a sight. A flock of Sandhill Cranes started approaching, but veered off and few west. A few minutes later another flock neared and landed in a field about a hundred yards away. They really have an unmistakable call.

After a busy day of birding, we made our way to a Mexican restaurant in Brawley, where we were joined by Bob Miller of Southwest Birders. Bob was raised in the Salton Sea area and is an amazing guide. If you ever need a guide there, make sure to hire him for the day...you won't be disappointed. After a tasty dinner, Bob was kind enough to take us to his neighborhood, where Western Screech-Owls (Megascops kennicottii) frequented. We heard a call at one tree, but gave up searching after 20 minutes, since it was apparent it didn't want to be found. The next spot, however, turned up two calls from the same tree. No more than five minutes later, Bob spotted the two owls only about ten feet over our heads. It was almost as if they wanted to be seen. I guess after a day of watching birds, it was time for the birds to watch us. What a great way to end the day.

Continue to Day 2.

• Georgie, a three-year-old conure, stolen from his cage at a restaurant in Bonita Springs, Florida. He speaks English and Greek. If you have any information, please call Crime Stoppers at (800) 780-TIPS. There's a $500 reward being offered for his return.
• Big O Birding Festival to be held January 27-29 in Moore Haven, Florida. Dr. Jerome Jackson, one of the world experts on the Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis), will be giving the keynote address Saturday night. The festival has an excellent schedule, so make sure to check it out if you're in the area.
• US Fish and Wildlife Service rejects proposal to reclassify the Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) as endangered. It's currently listed as threatened. About 3000-4000 breeding pairs remain, but its restricted habitat faces heavy development pressure. "I was not only disappointed with the initial determination of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, but also surprised," said Mary Sphar of the Sierra Club. "The evidence has been mounting that the Florida Scrub-Jay population has been declining at a rapid rate.
• Five-year study by Matt Holloran, a doctoral student at the University of Wyoming, shows that oil and gas development is adversely affecting populations of Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in Pinedale Anticline and Jonah Field. Focusing on the impact of drilling close to leks, the study found drilling activity cut male Sage-grouse populations at nearby mating grounds by 51 percent. "This study changes the debate on sage grouse and oil and gas development," said Erik Molvar, a wildlife biologist with Biodiversity Conservation Alliance. "The Bureau of Land Management will have to change their oil and gas practices and mitigation measures to protect the sage grouse."
• Redwood Region Audubon Society in Eureka, CA holding their annual banquet and auction on Saturday, February 25. The speaker will be Phil Nott, a research scientist at the Institute of Bird Populations at Point Reyes. His presentation is titled "Birds, Climate Change, and Migration Connectivity." If you'd like to attend, make sure to contact the RRAS as tickets must be purchased in advance.

• Volunteers needed by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island to become guides for their Exhibit Hall and Wildlife Refuge at the Environmental Education Center in Bristol. Training will start on February 9 and will continue for five consecutive Thursday evenings. Training will include field and forest habitats, birds, fresh and saltwater habitats, whales, seals and animal handling. Graduates of the program will be qualified to lead tours at the center. If you're interested, please contact them.
• Thirteen-year-old in Fairbanks Ranch, California donates $2,000 he received at his bar mitzvah to the Helen Woodward Animal Center. Since adopting a dog there ten years ago, Jack Doshay has really taken to animals. His family now has six companions. "Animals are just like little people. They have feelings," he said. Jack has grown to appreciate the center and is counting the days until he turns fourteen and becomes old enough to volunteer there.
• Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) in Binghamton, Vermont receive new nest box atop the ten-story Security Mutual Life Insurance building. The falcons have fledged ten chicks since arriving there several years ago, but they've been unsuccessful the last two years, so the state, the insurance company, and volunteers pitched in to help them out.
• Terry Knight of the Record-Bee recalls his encounters with the Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) in Minnesota and California and describes some of their diverse feeding habits.

• South Florida Birding Trail officially opens, completing the 2000-mile, 446-stop Great Florida Birding Trail. "We're trying to get communities aware they can draw birders from Florida and from all over the world by taking good care of their wildlife," said Mark Kiser, birding trail coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "Some tourists are looking for experiences where they can get a better feel for what Florida used to look like many years ago, where they can get a more natural kind of experience."
• Commissioners in Coos County, Oregon suing the US Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) from the threatened species list so logging can proceed. The bird was declared an endangered species in 1992, but the commissioners say the 17,000 to 20,000 birds nesting in Oregon, Washington, and Northern California are not significantly different from the one million birds in Canada and Alaska. Marbled Murrelets prefer nesting in trees more than 200 years old and it's not okay to eradicate any species from an area just because they exist elsewhere.
• Trustees of the Dudley Butterfield estate donate island to the Bermuda Audubon Society. Pearl Island, part of the Great Sound islands in Bermuda, is barely a quarter of an acre, but is an important breeding area for the Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). "When sailing around the Great Sound my father delighted in saying he'd bought [Pearl Island] for five pounds," said trustee Jim Butterfield. "Now it is of very little use to anyone other than the birds and navigational aid. By giving it to the Audubon Society, everyone is a winner."
• Socorro Soil and Water Conservation District working to create nature area and education center on a piece of land in New Mexico deemed unsuitable for agriculture and housing. The owners donated 178 acres of land after the district approached them saying the land was ideal for bosque restoration work.

• US Army Corps of Engineers to spend $54 million to protect endangered and threatened species along the Missouri River. Included in the plans is the building of a sandbar habitat for the Least Tern (Sterna antillarum) and the Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus). The corps will also monitor adult populations and nesting success. "This level of funding allows us to not just comply with the Endangered Species Act, but gives us a good start on the path to recovery for these species," said Brig. Gen. Gregg Martin, northwestern division engineer for the corps.
• Seventeen of Hawaii's endangered state bird, the Nene (Branta Sandvicensis), to be released at the remote area of Paliku in Haleakala National Park. They were hatched and raised at the Maui Bird Conservation Center in Olinda and will be trucked to Hosmer Grove, where they will catch a short helicopter flight, courtesy of the Friends of Haleakala National Park Inc.'s Adopt-a-Nene program. The addition of these birds will bring up the total population in the park to about 250. Around 25,000 Nene existed on Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai when the islands were discovered by Captain Cook in the late 1700s, but due to habitat destruction and hunting during its breeding season, the population took a serious dive and by 1950, only about 50 remained. Thanks to captive breeding programs and conservation efforts, the population is on the rise.
• Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) found shot in Hopkins County, Kentucky. It's currently being treated at Raptor Rehabilitation of Kentucky, but will not be able to return to the wild. Wildlife officials are offering up to a $1000 reward for information. If you have any information, please contact Bob Snow of the US Fish and Wildlife Service at (502) 695-2722.
• Check out "Birds of a father" by Tony Deyal. It's very punny. "Polly has to be a mathematical genius. She figured out the odds on escaping and beat them fairly but not squarely. Instead, it was a perfect polly-gone."

Last week, I was lucky enough to score a new D200 SLR camera from Nikon. They were released in mid-December, but the high demand has made it difficult for Nikon to keep up with all the orders. I was following all the rumors, and after the camera was officially announced on November 1, 2005, I knew right away I had to have one. I wanted to upgrade my 6-megapixel D70, and for the price, the 10-megapixel D200 was a great deal. There were a few places taking pre-orders, but due to holiday plans possibly conflicting with a shipping destination, I decided to hold off and get one when they were in stock somewhere. I never thought getting this camera would be such a challenge. The Nikon fan site, Nikonians, helped keep me up to date with the availability of the D200. People there are like a family. There's the occasional argument with siblings, but they generally stick up for their family. Posters were diligent on letting the community know when and where a D200 went on sale. After a couple of misses, Tuesday I got lucky and Wednesday I had my camera. Oh, and in case you were wondering, I'm keeping the D70. :)

There are some enhancements to the D200 that made me especially eager to get it for my trip to the Salton Sea next weekend. My trip last August turned out some spectacular birds and some great photos, and the upgrades in the D200 should help get some even better shots. If you're looking for a review or specs on the camera, DP Review has a comprehensive report. Maybe some day I'll get my equipment list posted here.

With the camera upgrade, I figured I could use a lens upgrade too. Through the last year of shooting, I've discovered the 70-300mm that was included with the D70 kit isn't quite enough for what I need to do. On Saturday, I drove to Samy's Camera and added the 80-400mm VR lens to my repertoire. It had rained most of the morning, but after I got home from running around, it was afternoon and the clouds appeared to be clearing so I headed out to break in my new setup.

Just a few minutes from home is the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve. It's a 48-acre riparian habitat with a small lake located in the middle of the San Fernando Valley (California), right off the 405 Freeway. I've been there several times and it's always teeming with birds. This time was no exception. As I entered the refuge around 3pm, I was immediately greeted by an Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) zipping back and forth from an exposed tree branch right by the main path. It would sit there for a few minutes looking around and preening, then it would buzz away to a nearby tree, returning 30 seconds later. I never pinpointed where it was going, and after watching for about 15 minutes, it finally flashed past my head and disappeared.

As I approached the first viewing area, two Pied-billed Grebes (Podilymbus podiceps) surfaced for a quick breath before taking another dive. Across the way was a Black-Crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) resting in the reeds, and an American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) cruising around for food. After watching for a few minutes, the pelican decided it needed to get a little excercise. When a pelican flaps, it's hard to miss, and the new camera and lens did an excellent job capturing it. After 20 minutes of observation, I headed over to the next observation point. The second area extends more into the lake and allows for an excellent view of the island, and all the Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) that like to nest there. Great Egrets (Ardea alba) and American White Pelicans were also seen there napping along the western shore. At the end of the point, I noticed a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) land in a tree. Just then, I caught a glimpse of something white approaching from the left. A Great Egret flew past, providing a perfect exhibition of grace in flight. I have found egrets in general to be really photogenic. In the past, I've got some really good photos of the Snowy Egret (Egretta thula); today it was almost elusive and was able to get away unphotographed, but not unseen.

Some other feathered friends noted at Sepulveda Basin were Canada Goose (Branta canadensis), European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), American Coot (Fulica americana), California Towhee (Pipilo crissalis), Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis), and Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis).

I had Monday off due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so I took the opportunity to return to Sepulveda Basin. I got there around 1pm. It was 60 degrees, sunny, and windy, although the wind let up shortly after I arrived. As I approached the entrance to the reserve, a Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) made itself apparent as it hopped around the lower branches of a tree. It was in complete shade, so exposures were difficult. But it must have wanted its photo taken as it hopped down to a sunny spot near the path and sat there long enough for me to get a few good shots.

After reviewing the photos I had taken on Saturday, the Anna's Hummingbird turned out a bit dark. I was more prepared this time, though. But no luck, it wasn't in the place I had seen it two days before. The birds I saw were much the same I had seen on Saturday, though the American White Pelicans were more abundant and actively cruising around in the water near the first viewing area. At one point a Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) dashed past and was evasive enough to avoid the lens. One specimen however, posed for quite some time. The Allen's Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin) made a few poses on a tall branch before buzzing over to a bushy tree where it hung out on an outer branch and preened itself, sometimes flashing some of that brilliant orange iridescence. It must have hung around for at least 20-30 minutes.

It was almost 4pm when I started to head out. As I passed the spot I'd seen the Anna's Hummingbird on Saturday, it flew in, right on cue. This time I was ready, and so was the bird. And the display it provided this time was incredible. It knew right where to stand for me to catch that amazing iridescent red gorget. Wow, thank you!

I really like the usability of the D200, and after looking at the photos I took at the Sepulveda Basin, I'm impressed with the results as well. I look forward to using it more this coming weekend at the Salton Sea.

I've been following Charlie's Bird Blog for quite some time and consider it an essential read. I recently received an email from Charlie asking for some help.

I've just posted a piece on my homepage about the reclamation (ie destruction) of 40100ha of critically-important tidal-flats at a place called Saemangeum in South Korea, and plans to help finance a team of internationally-recognised researchers to survey the area before the sea-wall closes.

Charlie co-founded Birds Korea with his brother and two Korean colleagues a few years ago to help stop the destruction of habitat in the Yellow Sea eco-region. The posting on Charlie's website is rather alarming.

This huge area is in the process of being closed off by a 6 metre high sea-wall. There will be no habitat left when "Saemangeum" is dried out, despite "plans" to build a 300ha "marsh": a totally unsuitable habitat for tidal-flat, saltwater specialist feeders. In just a few years time 400,000 birds will have lost the most important staging area in the Yellow Sea. Add Saemangeum's destroyed tidal flats to the huge reclamations that have already happened in Korea and China - and try to work out how these species are supposed to survive the 21st Century (we're trying to, but it's not easy is it?).

We (and other Korean NGOs) have fought very hard to get this project stopped, but the forces stacked up against us are rich, powerful, and influential. They may not have science on their side, but they have the impetus of a region that is developing without much regard to the environment whatsoever. Ask them to justify wiping off the map such an important staging area, and they counter - I'm paraphrasing here a little - with "Why not?". An argument that the pro-reclamation camp has always used is that there is insufficient scientifically-valid data to show that a) the number of shorebirds using the area is as high as we know it to be, and that b) no-one can say for sure - despite it being obvious to anyone but a complete idiot - that reclaiming 40100ha of prime shorebird habitat will actually impact on the birds (I know, staggering, but any port in a storm of criticism...).

Birds Korea has been working hard to get an internationally-recognized group of researchers and ornithologists to South Korea to show how important the area is, but they need help. They're up against developers with no conscience and a lot of money. Visit Charlie's site for the full low-down and participate in "Birdwatch Day for Saemangeum". Around 400,000 birds such as the Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris), critically endangered Nordmann's Greenshank (Tringa guttifer), and 10% of the world's population of Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmeus) are being threatened by this development. They could all use a little help.

• Braveheart Raptor Rehabilitation Center in Twin Lake, Michigan releases Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) after helping it survive a three-month bout of lead poisoning. "This is a bird that fought to stay alive," said Susan Stamy, the one credited with bringing the bird back to life. "We need to be better stewards of the air and the land and water," she said. "I swear I'm going to be a better person because of this. It's always a privilege to work with a bird ... but I feel like my life has changed because of him."
• Cypress trees in San Fancisco spared. They are important to the parrots who starred in the movie "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill". Months ago, Mark Bittner, human star of the movie, stopped the aging trees from being cut down by the land owner. A compromise has been reached; new trees will be planted next to the troubled cypresses and will hopefully be able to replace the them when they're deemed a danger to falling.
• Updated Vietnam Red Book to be released. The book was first compiled in 1992, but biodiversity changes had warranted an update. The book shows that endangered species increased 209 species for animals and 173 for plants, and scientists consider six species to have gone extinct.
• What would you do if you discovered the breeding location of a rare bird or animal? Do you keep it secret in hopes nobody will find it, or do you announce it and hope it will provide protection? Mark Brazil of The Japan Times took the "honey-pot approach" with the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) in Britain when he was younger. Now he suggests doing the same with the endangered Blakiston's Fish Owl (Bubo blakistoni, formerly Ketupa blakistoni) in Japan.

• Although the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was recently spared from oil drilling, Teshekpuk Lake wasn't so lucky. Last week, The US Department of the Interior opened the Teshekpuk Lake area to oil drilling. The wetlands around the 315-acre lake are popular Inupiat hunting and fishing grounds and are widely considered among the most vital in the Arctic for molting geese. It's part of the 23.5 million acres designated the National Petroleum Reserve, but in the 1980s, Reagan's Interior Secretary, James Watt, protected the area around the lake from development, arguing it was too sensitive. Bush is promising special protections, but environmental groups are concerned it will fragment the habitat. In all, 389,000 acres of Alaskan lakes, tundra, and shoreline will be affected.
• US Fish and Wildlife Service denies emergency request to list the Red Knot (Calidris canutus) as endangered. In the last decade, the population of Red Knots has dropped from nearly 100,000 on the Delaware Bay, a migratory stopover, to fewer than 15,000. Computer models predict the bird could be extinct by 2010. Under a non-emergency basis, the USFWS has 90 days after a petition is filed to consider if a species should be listed. It's been almost six months since environmental groups filed petitions and the USFWS still hasn't proposed it for listing. According to them, "We have so many issues and so few resources that it takes us longer." Tell that to the birds.
• Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) spotted near Davis, California. The last reported sighting of a Snowy Owl in California was in 1978. There's an unusually high influx of these owls in the US this year due to a shortage of food in Canada and Alaska.
• Bird watchers gather near Lyndonville, New York to get rare sighting of Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula). "This is one of those rare birds that people will come from hundreds of miles to see," said Garner Light, an organizer for the Buffalo Audubon Society. Like the many Snowy Owls (Bubo scandiacus) seen lately, it probably came down from Canada looking for food.
• Macaw bites alleged burglar, helping police to identify the suspect. The man confessed to breaking the glass in the door to get into the apartment, but said he was too drunk to remember anything else but his encounter with the bird.
• Maine woman sets world record for largest collection of owl memorabilia.
• Investigation by ProFauna Indonesia reveals that birds are being smuggled from Indonesia in crates used to ship dogs, cats and other animals. Many of the birds are protected and endangered. Birds are confined in the tight space and their beaks are taped shut to prevent them from making any sound. They are also deprived of food and water. Said one investigator, "It's no surprise to see that 40% die before reaching the markets."

• Endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) spotted during bird count in Mathews, Virginia on New Year's Day. It's "a pretty rare bird for this part of the country," said the organizer/compiler Mary Pulley.
• Iowa Tribe opens rehabilitation center in Perkins, Oklahoma. It's the second Indian tribe to open an avian care facility. The first one, the Zuni Eagle Aviary in New Mexico, is a reservation-based aviary for non-releasable eagles. Some birds rehabilitated at the Iowa Tribe's center will be eligible for release. John Antonio, Native American liaison for the Fish and Wildlife Service, said "These eagles will eventually be released back into the wild, so this is the first tribal rehab center in the whole country."
• Purdue researchers discover that feather-plucking is influenced more by stress and genetics rather than being learned from other birds. "It leads to an obvious change to suggest to people," said Joseph Garner, assistant professor of animal sciences and author of the study. "You don't want to have your bird on the edge of a kitchen island or something where someone can come in and surprise him." Good advice for those with feathered companions.
• Help the Birds 2006 campaign launched in India to help save the lives of birds during the Uttarayan and international kite festivals. The Animal Help Foundation, India's forest department, and Bombay Natural History Society are all working to rescue injured birds. Dr. Devojit Das, an avian expert working with BNHS from Chandigarh, said: "The population of vultures has gone down by 99 per cent in the span of 10 years. We are here to ensure that no deaths of this endangered speices take place during the kite festival." They're short of volunteers, so help them out if you can.
• Male Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) released at Trinidad Lake in Colorado. It was taken to the Pueblo Raptor Center in November after being poisoned by feeding on the carcass of a horse that had been euthanized and left in a field.

• Northern Ireland residents being asked to report sightings of a White-tailed Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla). The bird is rare to the area; it's found in western Scotland and is thought to have been blown off course by severe weather over Christmas. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds fears that it may feed off of illegally-poisoned carrion used to kill foxes and vermin. If you happen to spot the bird, please contact them.
• Christmas bird count at Glacier National Park in Montana records promising number of Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). With 16 reported, it's the most since the mid 1980s. Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) also showed higher-than-normal numbers. In all, the park reported a near-high count of 37 species, with a total of 592 individual birds.
• Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus provides brief excitement for residents at Martin's Lake in Robertson County, Kentucky. "I have never seen an eagle before and this is just wonderful," said resident Larry Beckett.

• Wyoming wildlife managers studying effects of industrial and residential development on wildlife. Alison Holloran of Audubon Wyoming found disturbances with Sage Grouse when researching her master's thesis. "I found that in areas disturbed by gas development, the hens moved farther to nest than hens in undisturbed areas," Holloran said. "There's potential for them to be pushed out into subpar habitat, and that could impact their recruitment and nest success."
• Australia government rejects development plan on part of Kangaroo Island essential for the endangered Glossy Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami). State Environment Minister John Hill noted "The proposed subdivision and development would have had a significant impact on the (cockatoo) through destruction of critical habitat and disturbance through the heightened activity that would occur in the area following development."
• California's Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) to be counted during a 2006 census starting in March. Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group is organizing the 2006 census, which is required by the US Fish and Wildlife Service every three years. There are an estimated 1650 to 3000 breeding pairs in North America. The Peregrine Falcon was removed from the federal list of endangered species in 1999, but remains on California's list.

• Carolina Raptor Center at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve in Huntersville, North Carolina holding its annual Wild Wings Winter Festival on Saturday, January 21, from noon until 4 pm.
• Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in Florida Keys rebuilding nests destroyed by hurricanes in 2004 and 2005. Within weeks of the 2004 storms, 80 percent of the destroyed nests were rebuilt. In October 2005, Hurricane Wilma wiped out or heavily damaged 12 of the 13 nests in St. Lucie County. "Every one of them has been rebuilt, which is amazing to me," said Bob Carey, Audubon eagle monitor.
• Barn Owl (Tyto alba) rescued from woman's chimney in Buhl, Idaho. After spending the night in the chimney, the woman's son-in-law lowered a rope down and the owl hung onto long enough for it to be grabbed. It then recovered and flew off. "I am going to get a grate installed on the top of the chimney," she said. "I like the owls, but not stuck in my chimney." Good advice for all.
• Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) released back into the wild in Mountain View, California. It was found November 22 with a chest injury and fluid in its lungs, and was rehabilitated at Wildlife Rescue Inc. in Palo Alto. There's an estimated 1650 to 3000 breeding pairs of Peregrine Falcons in North America, and although they were removed from the federal list of endangered species in 1999, they still remain on some states' lists. Many rehabilitation centers such as Wildlife Rescue Inc. operate on very limited budgets and rely heavily on volunteers. Please help support your local rehab center through donations of money or time.
• Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) recovering after hitting a power line in Palm Bay, Florida. It was taken to the Florida Wildlife Hospital and Sanctuary before being transferred to Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland for further rehabilitation.

"Lake Birdbegon Days" is I and the Bird #14. Professional storyteller Gwyn Calvetti of Bird brained stories! pays tribute to Garrison Keillor of A Prairie Home Companion as she weaves in the many wonderful blog stories that comprise this week's show.

If you missed the last two editions of "I and the Bird" because of December craziness, like Beakspeak did, make sure to check out "I And The Bird 12: The Canterbirdy Tales" by David Ringer of Search and Serendipity and "I And The Bird 13" by Cindy at Woodsong. They're both worth catching up on.

To participate in a future "I and the Bird" carnival, check out the "I and the Bird" info page. The deadline for submissions for the next edition at Snail's Tales is January 17.

• Bruce Bacon, Wildlife Biologist for Iron County Department of Natural Resources, leading Owl Invasion Field Trip on January 14 in Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin. Contact North Lakeland Discovery Center for required registration by January 10.
• Help the Skagit River Bald Eagle Natural Area (SRBENA) celebrate its 30th birthday at the 19th annual Upper Skagit Bald Eagle Festival on February 4 and 5 in northern Washington. Admission is free, but reservations are required for the guided bus tour, so start planning now.
• Umbrella Cockatoo (Cacatua alba) stolen from pet store in Fairfield, Ohio. The theives fled in a green minivan with temporary tags. If you have any information, please contact Crimestoppers. Update Jan. 10, 2005: Thanks to a Crimestoppers tip, Murphy has been found and a woman is being held pending arraignment.
• Endangered Whooping Cranes (Grus americana) spotted in East Tennessee. They travel with their relative, the Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis). About 65,000 cranes stop at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge every year during their southern migration. "And they feel secure, so each year we've had a number of those endangered whooping cranes visit us here at this location. And this year we've had seven total," said Dan Hicks, public information officer with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
• BirdLife International Cambodia counts record number of critically endangered White-shouldered Ibis (Pseudibis davisoni) at wetlands in Western Siem Pang Important Bird Area. Up to 70 were recorded in November 2005. A count in January 2003 turned up 23, while one in November 2004 recorded 33. The global population of the While-shouldered Ibis is thought to be no more than 250 mature individuals.

• Ohio Division of Fish and Wildlife asking Ohio residents to report eagle sightings through the 15th of this month. Both Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) have been seen in the area. The Bald Eagle population in Ohio has grown from only four nesting pairs in the late 1970s to more than 125 breeding pairs.
• Annual Eagle Watch being held by Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation on January 7 and 14. It's free and reservations are not needed. Show up at the refuge at 3pm for viewing, or arrive at 1pm for a winter bird identification program. Oklahoma plays host to 700 to 1,500 Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) every winter.
• Dale Bowman of the Chicago Sun-Times recounts his recent sightings of Snowy Owls (Bubo scandiacus) in Iroquois and Kankakee Counties in Illinois. "I loved it. Oh, I still dream of catching a 61/2-pound, Illinois-record smallmouth bass, but for now I savor tentatively documenting Iroquois County's first snowy owl."
• Louisiana man admits to shooting and killing a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). He says he thought he was shooting at a "chicken hawk", but it doesn't matter...shooting any raptor is illegal. The man faces a fine of up to $100,000 and a year in jail. Raptors provide more benefit than harm. If one happens to be causing damage or problems, don't illegally kill it. Instead contact your local fish and wildlife service.

• It's estimated that at least a billion birds a year are killed by flying into windows. Swarthmore College near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is using a $71 million science center to test a new kind of glass designed to ward off oncoming birds. NPR has the details.
• Increased farming causing threat to the Missouri Coteau, a haven for some of the world's largest concentrations of waterfowl and grassland birds. A study led by Ducks Unlimited showed 144,000 acres of grasslands were converted to cropland in the Coteau between 1984 and 2002, a grassland conversion rate of 2 percent annually. At that rate, half the Coteau grasslands could be lost in 30 years. If the plowing accelerates, as it has since 2002, half the grasslands could be lost in 15 years.
• Raptor Education Group in Antigo, Wisconsin currently rehabilitating 75 birds, one of them a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) suffering from rat poisoning. It's an unusually high number for them. "Normally, winter is a quieter time for us, so we count on it, with no baby birds to feed. But this year we've been seeing a lot more poisonings, some shootings and trapping incidents," said Executive Director Marge Gibson.
• 22nd annual Bald Eagle Watch to take place on Saturday, January 7 near the Iowa/Illinois border. Clinton Community College in Clinton, Iowa will host exhibits, while eagle Watching will take place at Lock & Dam #13 in Fulton, Illinois. A free courtesy bus will take participants from the college to the viewing site starting at 9am.
• Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) attracting attention in Berks County, Pennsylvania. It's the first sighting of the bird in the area since 1996.
• Bird Island at Lambert's Bay on South Africa's West Coast deserted after seal attacks on bird colonies. It's normally home to more than 30,000 gannets. Between 200 and 300 breeding adult gannets have been killed by seals. The rest, frightened by the night attacks, have left the island and no one knows where they have gone.

Happy belated New Year! I hope everyone's holiday seasons were good ones. With all the business going on in our lives these days, it seems like these are the best times for families to get together. I spent mine in Nebraska. In my last post of last year, I figured I'd be "trading the warm California sunshine for the more 'seasonal' weather". I was hoping for a postcard White Christmas, but some California weather must have snuck in my luggage, for Nebraska had some record high temps. But I'm not complaining...that weather allowed me to get out and appreciate the local wildlife.

My parents have lived in the same town most of their lives and know the land exceptionally well. When I was growing up, they taught me how to enjoy and respect nature, which I am truly grateful for. My dad recently retired and has had extra time to observe some of the wintering residents. He also knows his wildlife and birds and was more than accomodating in sharing his knowledge.

Birding in Nebraska is a bit different than the birding I'm used to in California. Sunrise is almost an hour later in Nebraska than it is in California, and instead of an hour or more of driving, we were out of town in five minutes. It's not unusual for me to wake up at 4:30 or 5 to go birding, but I was able to sleep in until 7am, shower, and still be out on location before sunrise!

Sunrise on the 26th was at 7:51, so we headed out around 7:40. It was a chilly 31 degrees, but clear and calm. Just after leaving town, we made our first spot of the day—a Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus). It was a good way to start the day. My dad pointed it out nonchalantly, but I now see that the guide books are listing it as "rare". A few minutes later put us at our first stop, with a field and row of trees to the right, and a slight, tree-lined valley on the left. Ahead and to the left was a pond protected by some low hills. Just as my dad was mentioning Bobcats (Lynx rufus or Felis rufus) in the area, one magically appeared about thirty yards in front of the pickup, paused for a second, and was gone as quickly as it appeared. Bobcats are elusive and don't like to be in open area for very long; it was nice to see one in real (wild) life. I realized how cold it really was when setting up my digiscope to get a shot of a Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) perched in one of the trees. It's a good thing I had gloves; metal tripods can get really cold. I was able to snap off a few shots before the hawk took off.

For most of the morning we drove around, spotting birds in flight and stopping for some occasional photo opps. Among some of the specimens seen were White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta), American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris, and Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) and Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). One more thing about birding in Nebraska: birds are really skittish. Maybe it's due to all the hunting, but birds in California seem much more cooperative when posing for pictures and giving autographs. After we got home a little after noon, the GPS showed a round trip of 64 miles.

As a kid, our family did most of our camping at Lovewell Lake in Kansas. From my grandparents' house, it was a quick fifteen-minute ride across the Nebraska/Kansas border. My grandparents used to spend nearly the entire summer there enjoying the outdoors, camping, boating, and fishing. They left for a day every two weeks to restock and satisfy park requirements. Both of my grandparents were bird watchers. They both had bird books, marked up with the dates they saw their first of the species. They knew all the birds in the area and taught us the names, but I didn't really have a great interest in learning about them at the time. It's funny how things come around.

I saw my grandma on Christmas day and on the 28th, my parents and I took the hour drive to spend some more time with her. On our way there, we spotted a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) feeding on a dead calf about 20 yards from the road, we slowed down to take a closer look, but by the time we stopped, the eagle had taken off. Still, we got a great look at such an awesome and powerful bird. Ten minutes later, we were at Grandma's. We had lunch and headed to the lake, arriving around 2pm. It was 55 degrees, clear skies, and breezy.

A lot has changed at the lake since I was a kid; there's now more paved roads, bathhouses, cabins, and boat ramps. Not like "roughing" it like we had to do years ago. My grandpa is no longer here, but the birds he taught me are. The winter doesn't bring nearly the amount of species as in the other seasons, but the population count of the species that are here are great. Our first stop near the marina turned up birds taking advantage of the good weather and ice to take a nap. Here we spotted Mallard and Canada Goose (Branta canadensis). There were some other geese that weren't recognizable: mostly brown, white face with black cap, orange bill, white vertical stripe on the chest, and yellow legs. I snapped off a few digiscoping shots, They came out a little blurry due to the wind, but they're still good proofs. Varous birding guides show that it may be a Canada Goose/domestic hybrid, but if you have any other ideas, please email me or leave them in the comments. Driving around the lake near Cedar Point, we came upon a large gathering of Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens), mixed with Canada Geese and Mallards. I'm no expert counter, but I think it's safe to say there were tens of thousands of them in the middle of the lake. What an amazing sight!

On the 29th, my parents and I decided to try the same route we'd taken on the 26th, this time in the afteroon. It was around 3pm, 38 degrees, and breezy, with drizzling rain. As we walked through the back yard to the pickup truck, we noticed the neighborhood Cottontail Rabbit (most likely Sylvilagus floridanus) "hiding" in the grass near the bird feeder. She has been seen on a regular basis; and she raised her babies by our garden. She was rather trusting, or thought she was well hidden since we were less than 10 feet away from her when we stopped to take a couple of shots. I didn't bother her for an autograph.

There wasn't much out and about that afternoon, even as it started to clear off around 4:30. Mostly Red-tailed Hawks and European Starlings. We saw a larger hawk sitting on a wire but with the cloudy sky it was difficult to identify and whenever we tried to stop and set up the scope, it would hop down a pole or two. It finally took off for good behind some trees, but when we started driving away, it came back around. After a couple of short flights it stayed still long enough for me to get a proof shot. It turned out to be a Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus), which is a common sight in the winter. On our return home later that evening, the rabbit was still tucked away in the same place we saw her earlier. On Interstate 80 on the way to the Omaha airport Friday, I saw the occasional Red-tailed Hawk sitting on a telephone pole or fence post, just like I see on the West Coast. As the saying goes, "There are hawks everywhere. All you need to do is look." It's so true. I don't remember seeing any hawks when I was younger, but I guess I just wasn't looking. I took notice of nature in general, but not in specific. I knew the names of animals that were hunted and the fish that were caught, but I took much of it for granted. It's different now. I spent many years in a place that I just visited for a week, and it seems like I just saw much of it for the first time. I've been actively observing birds for almost a year now, and the joys of birding never fail to amaze me.