Cooperative Projects Benefit Grouse, Woodcock, and Other Wildlife

Numerous initiatives by the Ruffed Grouse Society continue to manage woodland habitat to improve conditions for birds and wildlife.

"The Society is working to focus its efforts to create large patches of high quality habitats wherever it can," said Mark Banker, with the Southern Appalachians Region of the group, out of State College, PA.

Declining habitat is severely affecting the abundance of grouse, American woodcock and other wildlife all over the eastern U.S.

"Cutting trees to maintain old field habitat with a CAT and tree shear‏.‏" Images courtesy of Mark Banker.

"Through an ever-expanding network of public and private partners, the use of heavy equipment has greatly increased the ability of RGS to create quality grouse and woodcock habitat. Shared resources and expertise among the partners is the key."

More than 80 habitat projects – comprising 1241 acres – have been completed since 2004 in the Central Appalachian region of Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, West Virginia, and Ohio.

The habitat management in this region – including aspen and shrub regeneration, removal of exotic shrubs and tree shearing for example - has been done with public and private landowners, and in cooperation with the various Departments of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Pennsylvania Game Commission and DCNR, and the U.S. Forest Service.

A sizable cost-share project with the U. S. Forest Service to maintain native shrubs and other wildlife habitat on approximately 400 acres of reclaimed strip mines on the Wayne National Forest in eastern Ohio was completed by the RGS on December 31, 2008, and began a second year of work in mid-July.

"The Forest Service is battling invasive shrubs like autumn olive and multi-flora rose on these sites," according to the RGS. "Ideally, portions of the project will be allowed to succeed to native shrubs and small trees. This stage of succession will provide prime habitat for grouse, woodcock, possibly quail, and a group of songbirds that likely is found few other places on the Forest."

"This was probably the largest cooperative project RGS has ever done with the Forest Service and the first of any kind for RGS on the Wayne," noted Mark Banker, who is overseeing the project for RGS. "The Forest Service staff and local RGS members were the catalysts for getting it done. It was a very ambitious project, but a unique opportunity for RGS to support early successional habitat management on this national forest. Now we are going to try it again and are just underway."

A "cost-share agreement provided RGS with $24,000 for future habitat projects in return for the use of their equipment and a very skillful, local equipment operator."

The Society has also been a partner in projects conducted with the Army Corp of Engineers, Banker said: "A cooperative project at Raystown Lake in Huntingdon County, PA, known as the Bashline Project has created 1,300 acres of new habitat through timber harvest and hundreds of more acres via mowing with RGS equipment, chain-sawing and planting on Corps lands. RGS has committed over $60,000 to this project over more than a decade."

Aspen regenerated using a tree shear, Pennsylvania.‏

The equipment program of the Society has allowed them and their partners "to manage high quality habitats that typically are neglected because of the lack of proper equipment. Woodcock in particular have benefited because large areas of old fields, prime woodcock habitat, that are typically left to convert to forests are now maintained as shrublands."

To date, more than 1,300 hundred acres of habitat have been managed to provide habitat required by a variety of species.

"This success would not have been possible with financial assistance, especially from foundations," Banker said.

"In the Spring of 2009, the Society received three grants totaling $182,000 for two ASV/Terex PT-100 Forestry loaders with mulching heads with grants of from the R.K. Mellon Foundation, the Frey Foundation of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and from the Charlevoix County Community Foundation located in East Jordan, Michigan."

"The equipment will be used to manage neglected aspen, alder and brush habitats for ruffed grouse, woodcock and many other species, primarily in Michigan and Wisconsin," and are "important tools to help the Ruffed Grouse Society target habitat improvements for woodcock in habitat like alder, that is not being managed by commercial harvests," said Gary Zimmer, RGS senior biologist in the Western Great Lakes Region. "With this equipment the Society will be one of the primary implementers of the Upper Great Lakes Woodcock and Young Forest Habitat Initiative."

In 2007, the Society had received another grant from the R.K. Mellon Foundation to purchase two more CAT multi-terrain loaders and a new mulching cutting head. The grant, according to the Society, "made it possible for RGS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to expand the use of these machines into New England, Ohio, New Jersey, West Virginia and wherever they can address habitat management needs."

"We were really inspired by what the Service’s Partners for Wildlife program was doing with small machines in Pennsylvania," said Banker. "They were doing more for woodcock habitats with their small machines than the rest of us combined, so we decided to follow their lead."

The Society purchased its first-ever piece of machinery in 2004, a Caterpillar 277B multi-terrain loader, a tree sheer and a heavy-duty mower, with a grant from the R.K. Mellon Foundation, Society records show.

"As heavy equipment goes, these are not extremely expensive machines, but without the generosity of Foundations, they would be out of reach financially," Banker said. "To hire someone to do the same work with these machines would be at least $120 per hour, so they pay for themselves very quickly. RGS does charge for work on private lands and reinvests the money into keeping the equipment running and completing other conservation projects.

"The machine purchased with the grant funds has so-far accomplished more than $100,000 worth of habitat work on public land, based conservatively on the cost of contracting," according to the Society.

"Because many of the projects target woodcock and grouse, the Society often sees an immediate response from the birds after converting poor habitat to something more usable," Banker noted. "A recent project on public lands enticed woodcock to immediately use an area where none had been detected in the previous five years. Literally dozens of songbirds have the same habitat requirements as grouse and woodcock. Their response also has been dramatic. One managed area in Pennsylvania has even spawned a research project on golden-winged warblers, a relatively rare species that has benefited from the habitat manipulations.

"In some cases, Society members have acted as stewards of certain projects and have even volunteered to run the equipment. The machines are so user friendly that their basic operation can be taught in less than an hour. This has been a great way to get folks more involved with habitat management."

Barge Nesting Terns - Continuing Success at Riverlands

Least Terns nesting on two barges have been having continued success in nesting and raising young atop an artificial island in the Mississippi River at the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary.

"In this photo you see the interesting placement of the nest, on left between two logs and so close to the pair of decoys. 7 July 2009. Photo by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Rivers Project Office" — website caption

"Barges were pushed into place and anchored on April 30, 2009. First reported sighting of Least Terns in the area and landing on the barge was May 14, 2009. On June 19, 2009 confirmed one nest on the floating habitat with three eggs with a short visit to the barges." — project FAQ, provided by the Army Corps of Engineers, the managers of the project area

"The project consists of two floating pontoon barges anchored in Ellis Bay (no wake area), Mississippi River Mile 201.7. The two barges are lashed together for a combined 1,500 ft2 of temporary nesting habitat. These barges are topped with approximately 5” of a sand/gravel mix, to simulate a sandbar habitat. Timbers (6’x6’) are used to edge the barges, so the sand/gravel mix will stay on barges, but allow rain water to drain off. Conspecific attraction equipment (call boxes and decoys) are also used on the barges in an attempt to interest the birds in this particular site. There are a total of 20 decoys located on the barges; most of them are in pairs. The call box recordings run intermittently for 24hours. The main power source for the call boxes is a marine battery, which is connected to a solar panel to maintain a full charge. The call box will be stopped if and when the Least Tern eggs hatch."

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Illinois Natural History Survey have "provided technical expertise on barge placement, call box and decoy set-up, and may conduct studies if successful breeding occurs."

Regular Web Updates and Photos

Regular updates - with the Least Terns most recently watched chasing away pesky crows - are showing the saga of these endangered birds at the 2009 Endangered Interior Least Tern Nesting Barge Project website.

July 15

..."Second-2 American crows did try to attack the tern island (I am almost positive they were crows, however while I don't wish for another attack to occur, I would like confirmation if anyone else sees the same). For about 5 minutes these two crows would repeatedly fly around the barge and swoop in. While I did not see the crows actually take a chick or egg, I cannot say with confidence that they didn't either. There was so much going on between the terns attacking, the crows swooping, and I was trying to keep an eye on the chicks, that I might have missed something. ... Plans are underway to add more debris for cover out there." — Vincent Giammaria, NGRECC Intern, A.C.E.; graduate student

July 11

"20+ adults - difficult to count for sure. ... 2 chicks out in the open - front corner of the barge nearest to Ellis Island- being attended to and guarded from other approaching LETEs" — Charlene Malone

July 9

"About two years ago, corps biologists were approached by a graduate student from the University of Illinois who wanted to use con-specific attraction equipment to coax least terns into nesting. — article in the Kansas City Telegraph

July 6

As of today (July 6) the count is up to between 15-18 from what I could see...although I don't have eyes in the back of my head (nor on the sides) to watch the barge, Heron Pond, and the numerous mud-flats in the area at the same time. My best estimate is from when the entire population took flight at once over the barge airspace where I counted 15 for sure, and then lost track as numerous terns changed course direction and what not. My other best estimate came from a count of 7 on a nearby flat and 10 on the barge at the same time. So my guess is between 15-18, but there is likely more either off foraging in the distance, or just hidden from view on the barges. ... As far as nesting goes, I still think there is likely 3-4 with 1 confirmed." — Vincent Giammaria, intern with the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center

The efforts of the terns are closely chronicled, with numerous pictures of the nesting barge and the activities of the terns.

The Rivers Office had tried creating a sandy island nesting site in 2002, but the birds did not use the site.

Action Plan for Conservation Released for Lesser Flamingo

Both images are from the conservation plan.

An action plan to promote conservation of the Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) that was recently released in now available in entirety online.

The long-term goal of the plan — approved in December 2008 — "is to upgrade the Lesser Flamingo from a 'near-threatened' species to a species of 'least concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species," according to the report's executive summary.

A wide-range of people contributed to the documentation included on the species habits, habitat requirements, status and other details essential to provide a suitable understanding of threats and methods to improve conditions for the flamingo's to survive and thrive.

"The Lesser Flamingo occurs regularly in 30 countries from West Africa, across sub-Saharan Africa and along the SW Asian coast to South Asia, and occurs as a vagrant in 26 additional countries. However, its global population is concentrated in 12 primary range states. Because of its specialized diet of microscopic alkaline cyanobacteria (‘blue-green algae’), the Lesser Flamingo is totally dependent on a habitat of shallow saline/alkaline lakes, pans, wetlands and coastal areas, and >95% of its non-breeding population is concentrated at just 73 sites in the 12 primary range states." — from the Executive Summary of the International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the Lesser Flamingo

"Four separate populations are recognised for conservation purposes, although it is assumed that some interchange probably occurs among the populations. The largest population, estimated to be 1.5 - 2.5 million individuals, occurs on the alkaline-saline lakes of the Great Rift Valley in East Africa. Smaller populations occur in the Rann of Kachchh in north-western India, estimated to be approximately 390,000 birds, in southern Africa, estimated to be 55,000 - 65,000 birds, and in West Africa, estimated to be 15,000 - 25,000 birds."

Confirmed regular breeding is confined to just five sites in four of these countries: Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana, Etosha Pan in Namibia, Lake Natron in Tanzania, and Zinzuwada and Purabcheria salt pans in India. Breeding occurred at Lake Abijata in Ethiopia in 2005, producing approximately 3,000 chicks, and has also occurred in 2008 on a new artificial breeding island at Kamfers Dam in Kimberley, South Africa, producing approximately 9,000 chicks. However, it is not yet known whether these sites will become regular breeding sites. Other major breeding sites near Bela in the Great Rann of Kachchh in India and in Aftout es Sâheli in Mauritania are also suspected, but have yet to be documented."

"The major threats to the survival of the Lesser Flamingo are the loss and/or the degradation of its specialised habitat at these key sites through altered hydrology and water quality, wetland pollution, extraction of salt and soda ash, particularly at its breeding sites, and the disruption of its few breeding colonies by other human activities. Other threats include disruption of nesting colonies by predators, particularly by the Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus), poisoning, disease, harvesting of eggs and live birds, human disturbance at non-breeding sites, predation, and competition for food and breeding sites."

The technical report was produced by:

• IUCN-SSC/Wetlands International Flamingo Specialist Group
• Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
• Wetlands International
• BirdLife International Africa Partnership

It was issued by Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals and the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds, which is the host-site for the report, available as a PDF file.

Visiting Previously Explored Northwest Nebraska

Departed from Lincoln and via the highways until getting to Thedford then took a route northward to the turn-off in southerly Cherry County, and beyond to past Merritt reservoir and dam. A smooth scenic travel from Brownlee passed horses below in the Wamaduze Valley, past a lake place or two and to the first regulatory sign for more than 20 miles of uninterrupted travel.

Beyond the sandhills prairie, especially at the reservoir, hillsides abound with cedars in apparent, endless growths. At Merritt reservoir, and on its west side for miles, invasive cedars grow upon most every hill that can be seen on several scenes from the route that is well established for visitors. Within some measly miles is the Forest Service place of grass of the dominant prairie with varieties so suitably found amongst Cherry county sandhills.

Merritt was a predominant point along the route. The dam place and reservoir have the same name for a place appreciated by some pelicans, gulls, and motor-boats of a myriad sort ply beyond where birds gathered by the dam. Then the special drive to the west to the campground along the creek notable for its cowsian name.

The campground at McKelvie Forest, managed by the official Forest Service, was lesser used at first but turned to a hearty condition for the weekend. One day one, there was an unexpected realization of the obvious echo qualities worked so finely, live as shown by calls of the local Mourning Doves.

More subtle were the nuthatches, of two types. First heard were the red-breasted sort with its signature note. House wrens were simply boisterous. About the campground, the notable differences indicated other sorts of summer sojourners in the planted forest among a sublime sea of grass.

Camping Abounds

The recreation condition was spread at the many places noted during the few days roving in places prevalent for northwest Nebraska, up in the middle Niobrara River region.

There were some more people in about five vehicles comprised 2-3 more of the numbered sites along Steer Creek.

Past Valentine and the refuel scene, eventually the river's edge was available to get a view of the river channel and the water deemed so important to recreationists. Bunches of people in floatable craft were gathered below the Cornell Dam, brought in school buses, comprising groups of unknown origin going along the way for a float down the cool river.

Regular bunches, primarily associated with flotilla's of rafts, were making their way along the recreational trail of water.

Water-based recreations was underway along the Niobrara River beyond Fort Niobrara and further down the flow to where campgrounds haunts were filled with a weekend's bunch of visitors with the cars and colorful tents and assorted items needed a proper outdoor endeavor.

At Berry Bridge there were many floaters on the Saturday morning. There was no parking available in the private lot, but there was a shade tree still available on the east side of the county road.

Bridges were suitable for an overview of assorted events of a summer's weekend along a river finely suited to flow along in a floatable craft. Festive people were notable, often occurring in groups of rafts. Music was heard a time or two, as part of a group moving with the run of the water, unless a sandbar was a hinderance to movement.

Brewer's Bridge was busy and being used in several ways by recreationists along the scenic river.

Down the valley with its ample flow for the middle Niobrara, a flotilla was seen approaching. There was a dog providing the point position for one set of rafts. Many people were lounging upon the flotation devices. Two canoes were on the east side, and one towed an inflatable character of their sort. Another set was tied together, four aside.

Distinct combinations of crafts continued along on the water that included water-flows from recent storms of tornadic intensity over the west tributaries.

Floaters going past Brewer's Bridge on a Saturday.

Water-based recreation at Sunny Brook Camp.

Characters were out in abundance on a summer day with direct sun, hearty heat, easy weather for a sun-burn with some cool beverages nearby while floating along with a party of people along the running water of Niobrara places. A fine display of recreation along the scenic river was display in the multiple groups of people lounging along, as well as a bunch of gatherings at places suitable for egress. Local opportunities also provided a cool respite on a day with warm 80s weather.

Somewhere along the scenic river, a ranger(s) of the NPS were offering an "enhanced visitor experience through interpretive opportunities," according to the Valentine newspaper of this mid-July week. A ranger pickup - 4x4 model with a hefty type of engine - was parked at Brewer's Bridge.

Multitudes of Rafts and Music

Many river miles end at Sunny Brook. The place was busy with two teenagers packing up some of the floatation devices already used during Saturday.

Groups of floaters went past with varying amounts of recreational fervor. Some would wave in their unique manner. Comments were thrown out between the shore and water. Spirit was lots on display, indicated by the many different antics for having fun with a group of friends amongst a set of tubes lashed together to form a party of floatists.

Color and pageantry where on display. There were ample and varied sources for color on the brownish water going east. Tubes were the dominant part of the kaleidoscope, with garb and coolers and other assorted items, including hats of various sorts perched upon head of a whole bunch of folk, combined in something to be seen along the waterway. Inside the outfitter's facility, there was conversation, shower opportunities, key haven and other things that are part of this sort of day along the river road.

There was also the new cell tower, painted in alternate red and white, perched up on the ridge northeast of the camp ground, beyond the historic building where there had never ever been a tower before the past few weeks.

South scenic overlook on the north edge of Fort Niobrara NWR. Note a section of the Niobrara Scenic River in the lowest portion of the valley, the vehicles at the parking lot for Fort Falls, and the bison pens in the upland background.

Birdlife Observed

The environs prevalent in certain places along the route to and from the northwest region is the local home for numerous varieties of birds occurring during the summer season.

In Wamaduze Valley, past Brownlee, there were the usual species of the meadows and valley prairie. Merritt Reservoir and the same-named dam is a place where those bird-watchers can see some gulls and pelicans, with western grebes out beyond. The whole scene is a unique diversity, enhanced by a sprint to the cascades of Snake River Falls and the roiling waters noted by many visitors for a slight fee provided to the sportmens' club onsite.

Species noted during the long-weekend, predominantly in Cherry county, were:

American Crow, American Goldfinch, American Kestrel, American Redstart, American Robin, American White Pelican, Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black Tern, Black-capped Chickadee, Blue Jay, Bobolink, Brown-headed Cowbird, Burrowing Owl at the refuge prairie-dog town, Cedar Waxwing, Chimney Swift in towns, Chipping Sparrow, Cliff Swallow, Common Nighthawk, and Common Yellowthroat.

Also the Dickcissel, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Screech-Owl, Field Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Great Crested Flycatcher, Great Horned Owl, Hairy Woodpecker, Horned Lark, House Finch, House Sparrow, House Wren, Killdeer, Lark Sparrow, Least Flycatcher, Loggerhead Shrike, Mallard, Mourning Dove, Northern Flicker, Orchard Oriole, and remote Pied-billed Grebe.

Noted as well at some time during the four days were the Purple Martin, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-winged Blackbird, Ring-billed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Spotted Sandpiper, Spotted Towhee, Tree Swallow, Turkey Vulture, Upland Sandpiper, Western Grebe, Western Kingbird, Western Meadowlark, Western Wood-Pewee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, and Yellow-headed Blackbird.

The different places were the residence for distinct other sorts typical for wetland, river or forest. It was easy to listen for their songs, often an emphatic voice for the campground or wet places along the running water river. Something could occasionally be seen in the vast skies with subtle designs of scattered cloudiness.

Campground Business

The campground west of the Niobrara office at McKelvie Forest, had expressive birds, though human visitors were predominant. There were four different groups for the over-night on Saturday, using at least five camp units. A couple of drive-by gawkers went through to look at what was happening. There were camp-fires of various heights, some beyond reasonable rules in a purported compendium of rules for the camping site which designates an approved fire height, defines a suitable carbon output for groups of vehicles using the forest service facilities, status of dogs brought along, number of bosses per camping group, and other vague and uncertain particulars given as false doctrine. There was a whole other basis for behavior derived from actions and conversations about fire-pit flames central to each camp site.

The wind was called Mariah, upon which Zed, the dead dove arrived through some sort of descent to a forlorn pine among the camp-ground, then to the roost above the picnic table and firepit, for the weekend's place of repose ... near the manual water-pump among the pines spreading around dunes of sand.

Vehicles Fueling

During the drive to Cherry County and while about the region, the service stations with fuel were continually busy with nozzle's getting stuck into the typical variety of summer vehicles, predominated by cars, then sport-utility vehicles of assorted sizes, pickups which may have included an attachment of a trailer or mobile home to a limited extent, loud motorcycles going somewhere else, and some of the ranch community with their truck and sometimes a horse trailer.

Cash was the primary transaction for fuel stops along the primary highways of the region from Thedford, to Valentine, and eastward through Ainsworth and past Bassett to O'Neill.

Recreation in the Northwest Region

It was a primary summer weekend for outdoor recreation indicated throughout notable geographic places in the northwest region, in Cherry county beyond Valentine, along the scenic Niobrara River and other places among and beyond Nebraska.

Contrails in the skies above Long Pine. This pattern was distinctive and the primary feature of the mid-day skies, with other x-patterns further north.

Researching Twelve Millennia of Historic Ornithology an Expansive Endeavour

More than a dozen years ago an interest in particulars for wild birds formerly known to occur hither and yon, spread from beyond what was given in a couple of books on the topic for a state in the middle of the Great Plains. The focus presented continued in an expansive manner, and it has taken a whole bunch of some more years to reach a point where results are beyond what any early expectations or realizations might have been.

When this particular endeavour - using the British spelling appropriate for a perspective requiring a continual look into international sources essential for original North American ornithology - into the first bird history of a continent evolved from a local to a national to a continental consideration in mid-1990s, there was no particular goal other than having a rough approximation of what might be learned with some particular attention to the recorded information. The focus did change on a regular basis, anyway. There were lapses in attention when the last thing to contend with would be to look at and process more historic references and comprehend what birds were recorded therein. But the condition of inattention disappeared, and during the last two years this initiative has been a primary endeavor with a direct, particular emphasis on discovering what could readily be found among the many special chronicles for birdly history.

There is a vast array which has been written, so there is a plethora of records from the original sources that have been discovered, read, reviewed, and then with particular emphasis on details, entered as electronic records, noting each of the associated minutia in a relational database with multiple tables needed to depict and record the distinct components for so many different species of birds. Particular attention has been given to what, when and where, with an essential, proper citation of reference.

This has not been an effort that could rely on what someone else may have interpreted and noted in a summary fashion. A condensed version was not enough. Consider the endless and ongoing history of ornithology and how it might be understood. Some details have been considered to the nth degree, while other more essential aspects may have been ignored.

There is not an authoritative and detailed list which cites the particulars of observations for the early and formative period of the continent's bird history. Each and every specific record had to be determined in an original manner.

The importance of the first English explorers on their ships is a part of the legacy. There isn't a viable list of species for the birds seen at the Jamaica Islands by Hans Sloane in the latter 1680s to review.

Once the perspective was: Why consider the Lewis and Clark material as the task would be a complete drudge of work and how many hours would be needed to determine the particular place and time of the bird notes for this expansive exploration across the Louisiana Purchase of the western U.S. in the early 1800s? The view evolved to something that led to so much time with a big stack of books and map volumes to process the authoritative information. Then it was double-checked and confirmed! Whew, the chore took more than 100 hours, but the result was another expansion of the temporal period being considered for this research into history ornithology for a particular area, which at least did not spread beyond the chosen continent.

A bunch of burgeoning material beyond the first years of 1800, meant more and seemingly more sources to consider - with a forlorn dismay that each one meant more time to consider - since each one required its particular review and understanding of what, where and when. Every source is distinct and uniquely important, though the value varied depending upon what the source did present about birds.

Notations by Prince Maximilian were not adequately conveyed by historians generations ago so each and every detail could be presented in a manner of finality. This bunch of bird records will require more time as the authoritative renditions have not all been published.

Audubon was among the preeminent recorders of ornithological history, and his records have been published here and there, with no known source to document what and where and when.

And there are so many more people to appreciate for their taking the time to write about the birds they saw somewhere.

The time frame for this endeavour burst into the early decades of the century, and continued to reach the 1850 period. Then there was the special consideration of the wonderful Arctic expeditions of the latter 1850s. Then more revealed by searches of what might be found on the web of information available online. The 1860s are important. The 1870s have details which expand any knowledge of what bird species occur on the continent. And the details continue with the profound and expansive reports and studies and individual efforts for the first years of 1880s.

While the ornithological record blossoms in so many ways, any attempt to go beyond the current time period, could be considered a means of mental torture. Bird journals were flourishing. Reports of observations were spreading with a broad and expansive coverage from an unknown number of places across the continent. So many people wrote about the birds with an unlimited vitality in a wide array of publications. Each one has its value and essential place that points to another distinctive presentation of someone's view which is now part of the historic ornithology.

Any task to integrate the sprawl of details could be an endless task, so those details are no aspect for this consideration of bird history for my endeavor.

This particular initiative has still reached a condition beyond any expectations. More than 1000 narrative sources - using a definition of particularly notable sources - have been evaluated for the information presented about the birds during a particular historic time. When this number reached 500 it was amazing and unexpected. When the data-table entries continued to increase, there was a profound realization that this was a distinct and unique focus that was meant to continue the positive results!

After some approximate multitude in hours of work, the information from so many sources has entered and edited, processed and integrated, into the consistent format of a relational database with its constricts that necessitate consistency.

Any artificial barrier to progress has disappeared and was inconsequential. There have been constricts, but eventually this effort continue to move ahead with an effort to adequately determine more ornithological history. Findings available in newly discovered resources with new records of occurrence just could not be ignored.

This is a vitally interesting endeavour into learning more about a grand diversity of memories of birds from a spectrum of places across the continent and its offshore regions. Any map can reveal the vast scene and places where the birds were known in different ways distinct to the proclivities of an observer.

The details are endless and in no manner can be presented in a bunch of brief words. Yet, there are obvious results that might be appreciated in a personal manner, and might mean something to others if they only knew the importance of history for the many distinct birds recognized as occurring in northern America.

The number of narrative sources considered as of the current mid-July 2009 is at 1005 for now, plus details from a few hundred other anthro-sources with faunal studies presenting species based on bone relicts or artifacts.

How many species are known from this array of details beyond being considered as bird history trivia. The number of species is based on a database where each species must be specifically identified, and which for the region being considered - now in mid-July - is 1645 species. Then add in other types of birdly items - artifacts, decoys, bird-motif garments, petroglyphs, etc. - mentioned by a vast community of contributors that took the time to write about birds where they were.

There certainly will be additional species recognized once a bunch of archaic scientific names can get resolved to a equivalent in modern taxonomy. Most challenging are the species from middle American and the islands in the north and east Caribbean Sea.

The number of particular locations which have had to be considered on an individual basis is now beyond 7500, and since this is one the most important details, it has been resolved to a particular county, state or province. This information is one of most vital important, and gives key details to know about the distribution of the species indicated in details of various sorts within any historic references. For real value, each of the sites does need to be geo-coded so it may be integrated with modern details of bird distribution and range.

The reference list totals more than 2274 at this time. Each citation conveys distinct records, of which there are now more than 88,500 in the database, and which can be individually considered and analyzed and presented in a variety of ways based on the information which was determined from the source matter.

Details reveal what birds were extant in America northward from Panama from the early 1880s back to circa 10,000 B.C., or basically ... this bunch of details is 12,000 years of historic ornithology. It certainly conveys so much to appreciate, yet the basic details would reveal so much more with continued emphasis on meta-data and geo-coding and analysis and hopefully a burgeoning understanding. The value is in the details, though the distinctive, artistic aspects provide so many unforgettable perspectives that should never be ignored.

Several lists or data extracts could easily be shown for the records - perhaps a list to show the number of records for each known species; or the number of records for a state or province; maybe the known records which indicate the former distribution for an extinct species such as the Carolina Parakeet or Passenger Pigeon - but these might be boring and changes do occur so quickly that any summaries would be out-of-date and not accurate. This information is dynamic and should be presented in a similar fashion.

Obviously the details of this endeavour present a record based on known observations by so many observers, and it has been an interesting and revealing privilege to be able to know and understand each effort and to present them in a modern manner. Each individual deserves recognition, and that would be one value of a list of sources. But not here and now.

The list of known sources includes more than 100 additional references which have been identified, but where each distinctive record has not yet been considered and analyzed for inclusion into an electronic database, which is essential for integrating each of the contributions which, when combined, are essential for any consideration or understanding of where birds historically occurred in North America.

With some further research, there will be more particulars to be added to the list of species known to historic ornithology for this region. There will be more localities with geographic records of importance from the past but integral to the future of birds.

This untimely project has been a costly endeavour in accurately determining what bird enthusiasts noted during historic times. Yet? Results are the key, and the challenge is to understand and compile a plethora of details on the history of North American ornithology ... something which, previously, has only been partially considered based on current findings!

Fire Island Lighthouse Preeminent in Bird-Strike History

The still classic lighthouse at Fire Island is distinctive for many reasons, among which is its prominent place in the first-known history of bird strikes along the eastern Atlantic Ocean shore.

"The light is of the first order, flashing white every minute; is 168 feet above the level of the sea, and is visible 19 ¼ nautical miles. It is located on the east side of Fire Island Inlet, south side of Long Island, N.Y."

Due to the attention and efforts of the eventually reknowned William Dutcher - chairman of the American Ornithologists' Union Committee on the Protection of North American Birds, and founder of the National Association of Audubon Societies - the deadly impacts which occurred at this site can still be considered. When Dutcher wrote about this place and what it meant to migratory birds based on his focus of attention, it presented the particulars of variety of birds which struck the structure and were killed more than a century and 25 years in the past, during the first years of North America's burgeoning history of birds.

"For the purpose of determining the date of migration, the species migrating, and the numbers that are destroyed by striking a light-house during a spring and fall migration, I have for the past two years received all the birds killed by flying against the Fire Island Light."

His published results convey the detail needed to indicate a set of 751 records for 1882 and 1883 which document in detail the species and numbers which struck the light-house and were killed and then documented. This one of the article he prepared which dealt with bird notes from Long Island during this period.

This information could not have been determined without the able effort to gather the many carcasses by C.A. Blydenburgh, First Assistant Keeper, during 1882 and spring 1883, then by S.R. Hubbard, Keeper, during the autumn of 1883. These two men apparently searched for and gathered dead birds and sent them to Dutcher, who made an identification and eventually prepared the article published in the first volume of the Auk, at that time just a fledgling journal of ornithology.

The article included brief notations for some of the dates, especially on the wind conditions and its prevalent direction. There were a few other interesting notes:

May 9 records, with note from morning of May 10: "I send you thirteen birds which struck against the tower last night. A great many struck, but these are the only dead ones.

May 18 and 19; note on May 20: "I forward you ten birds which struck during the past two nights. Quite a number more struck, but it was impossible to get them. Many fall in the grass at some distance from the foot of the tower, and cannot be found until after they are spoiled."

Deadly Place on the Long Island Beach

There were more than 750 individual birds that were denoted in the article, with 65 species represented, plus a gull and scoter. There were 37 types which had more than one instance of a bird strike. The species were listed by scientific name, which has been updated to current avian nomenclature.

Common Name - Overall Number Noted Blackpoll Warbler - 244 Red-eyed Vireo - 63 Black-throated Blue Warbler - 49 Dark-eyed Junco - 38 Common Yellowthroat - 34 Veery - 32 Swainson's Thrush - 31 Savannah Sparrow - 28 White-eyed Vireo - 22 Northern Parula - 19 Scarlet Tanager - 19 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 18 Connecticut Warbler - 16 Northern Waterthrush - 16 Ovenbird - 15 Black-billed Cuckoo - 9 Gray-cheeked Thrush - 8 Fox Sparrow - 5 Sora - 5

American Redstart - 4 Eastern Phoebe - 4 Swamp Sparrow - 4 White-throated Sparrow - 4 Gull - 3 Gray Catbird - 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 3 Song Sparrow - 3 American Robin - 2 Black-throated Green Warbler - 2 Brown Thrasher - 2 Cedar Waxwing - 2 Common Goldeneye - 2 Eastern Towhee - 2 Hermit Thrush - 2 Long-tailed Duck - 2 Pine Siskin - 2 Snow Bunting - 2 Pine Warbler - 2 Yellow Warbler - 2

These are those species which had one known instance mentioned in the bird-strike records listed in the article: American Golden-Plover, American Pipit, American Tree Sparrow, Belted Kingfisher, Black Scoter, Black-and-white Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, Bobolink, Canada Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Clapper Rail, Common Tern, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Greater Scaup, Greater Yellowlegs, Horned Lark, Lincoln's Sparrow, Magnolia Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-necked Grebe, Scoter, Seaside Sparrow, Spotted Sandpiper, White-crowned Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Yellow-throated Vireo.

For further consideration of the historic observations, the records were entered into a database and each date of occurrence was converted to a Julian date, to determine and evaluate those days when the strikes occurred during the year, and when the greater number of recorded strikes took place, as this is a means to indicate a "calendar" of when bird strikes occur during the year.

Historic view of the Fire Island Lighthouse. Courtesy of Wikipedia.

Julian Date - Number of Instances

5 - 1

13 - 2

24 - 1

45 - 1

58 - 1

62 - 1

94 - 7

97 - 2

101 - 1

104 - 2

129 - 11

135 - 14; 15 May 1883

139 - 9

141 - 5; 21 May 1882

Apparently there were no records for the approximately nine-week period from the last week of May to mid-August.

225 - 1; 13 August 1882

226 - 1

232 - 1

241 - 1

244 - 1

246 - 4

252 - 20

Overall, September 30th was the deadliest date recorded, with a multitude of carcasses found and identified for this time during the autumn migration. This was the denoted tally for the 11 species: American Golden-Plover - 1 Black-billed Cuckoo - 9 Blackpoll Warbler - 230 Belted Kingfisher - 1 Connecticut Warbler - 16 Eastern Phoebe - 2 Northern Parula - 2 Scarlet Tanager - 7 Veery - 29 White-eyed Vireo - 20 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 1 "I send you a box of birds which struck Sunday night, Sept. 30. It is the first regular flight this fall, when the weather has been favorable for them to strike. I send one bird I don't remember to have ever seen strike before, viz., a kingfisher. - S.R. Hubbard

253 - 2

256 - 4

259 - 2

263 - 54

264 - 4

267 - 2

272 - 41

273 - 321; 30 September 1883

277 - 10

279 - 2

284 - 36

285 - 113; 12 October 1882

286 - 7

288 - 1

291 - 1

293 - 1

294 - 1

309 - 1

314 - 13

315 - 5

316 - 1

320 - 3

334 - 1

336 - 37; 2 December 1882

344 - 1

Dutcher summarized the findings for the two seasons:

	1882	1883
Total in spring migration:	28	45
Total in autumn migration:	228	517
Total for year:	256	562
Species in spring:	14	21
Species in autumn:	38	27

Historic Ornithology Considered

The Fire Island lighthouse began its operation in 1858, according to historic sources, and replaced a lighthouse that had been working since 1826.

No information on whether bird strikes still occur at this locality could be found during a cursory search on the internet. Whatever the current situation, the article prepared by William Dutcher is an important research effort in the annals of historic ornithology, adding many detailed particulars for known bird strikes at lighthouses. This was enough of a reason for the information to be entered into a database of historic bird records so it might be analyzed further, and be replicated beyond what is a vital, yet static article in a bird journal.

Cuckoos Movement Shown by Omaha Building Strikes

The early season southward movement of Yellow-billed Cuckoos is being shown by instances of dead birds found in downtown Omaha in the past few days.

A carcass was found on the 9th on the north side of the First National Bank tower, on the sidewalk by the atrium. This atrium is glass-enclosed and has large obvious plants. The setting is a prime example of what not to do to provide a bird-safe setting.

Frazzled carcass of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo at the First National Bank tower.

Although there is usually someone picking up trash around this structure on a regular basis each morning - to keep the place clean - the bird carcass still remains, as it was just pushed into the space around a planted tree, where it would not be obvious. It is quite a mess of feathers and bones now!

On the 13th, the very fresh carcass of another cuckoo was found on the east side of the south tower at Central Park Plaza. The colors and characteristics of this bird were quite dramatic, though the situation was forlorn.

Carcass and scene of Yellow-billed Cuckoo killed by striking a hazardous building, the Central Park Plaza south tower. July 13, 2009.

Fall migration for this species is usually not thought to occur until a couple of weeks later this month. These two birds may not have had any success raising a brood, and left to return to other havens, and then in another tragedy, were killed by a building hazard in Omaha.

There are five known instances of building strikes occurrences by the Yellow-billed Cuckoo thus far this year in Omaha.

Each death is a violation of the taking clause of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Each instance was document with a photographs, which in these two cases are shown above.