Warbler Abuse at First National Bank

A blatant act of bird abuse occurred at the downtown office building of the First National Bank early in the morning on May 27th. While bicycling about on the usual bird window strike survey, my route passed along the north side of the bank tower, by the atrium. A quick glance indicated there were no disabled or dead birds, so my travel continued. Upon looking back when a bit further along, there seemed to be a bird present near the east doorway of the atrium. A return to the location occurred just when an employee of the bank was present. He was seen using a broom to violently sweep the bird away from the doorway. The bird was moved 5-10 feet into the courtyard. Upon a close-up look, it was a female Common Yellowthroat. It had been disabled upon striking the glass of the atrium, and was trying to recover enough to leave the site, but was abused by the bank worker.

It is quite pathetic that an injured bird had to be treated as though it was some piece of unwanted trash.

The warbler was moved to a safer spot nearby, where it could recover without any further threats by pedestrians or anyone else.

This atrium is a known hazard to migratory birds due to its glass facade and the obvious presence of interior vegetation adjacent to the glass wall. There have been numerous bird window strikes here, and which bank officials are aware of. Yet they do nothing as birds continue to die. And their employee is an abuser of birds!.

MECA Staff Possess and Dispose of Wildbirds

During recent weeks of surveys to determine the extent of birds hitting glass facades in downtown Omaha, there seemed to be a dearth of bird carcasses associated with the CenturyLink Center Omaha. Typically there are one or more carcasses or disabled birds found on a regular basis.

The reason there were have been no carcasses was finally determined, and was — as expected — because of staff working for the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority. Morning's when they do their rounds to clean up trash, they also include bird carcasses. The dead birds are picked up and placed in a bucket on their cart as they continue along their route.

The morning of May 26th, upon approaching the north portion of the west facade of the center, one of two MECA workers was seen using "trash tongs" to pickup two bird carcasses and then place them into the bucket on their cart. Coming up to the cart, the worker was asked: "What kind of birds are those?" The response: "Yellow ones," confirms that the worker knew he was handling birds. Being nearly adjacent to the cart, a quick stop was made and the two carcasses were removed from the plastic bucket. They were two female Common Yellowthroats. Both carcasses were then suitably disposed of in a manner of respect for their natural origin, rather than being dealt with like a discarded styrofoam cup or errant piece of trash. The manner in which the MECA workers dealt with the birds killed at their facility is a crass manner of suitably dealing with the deadly tragedies, and shows a complete lack of respect for formerly vibrant wildbirds.

It is not known how the MECA staff deal with temporarily disabled birds which strike the western, glass facade of the facility. Are the staff workers aware enough or do they take the time to determine if a bird is alive but stunned, or is it treated as if dead. Disabled birds are often in a position similar to a carcass, as they try to recover to an extent where they can fly away. Grasping a bird with trash tongs may also be enough to kill it.

Numerous bird window strikes continue at the CenturyLink Center Omaha, despite the many decals placed upon the upper portion of the glass has not been efficiently effective in reducing the number of bird strikes, based upon findings last year.

There were four violations of the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act by MECA in association with the situation observed Tuesday morning, about 6:30 a.m. Each death of two warblers was a taking action. By picking up the carcasses and carrying them around in a plastic bucket, the workers had "possession" of the birds. It is illegal to possess birds without a permit.

This is just one instance of this sort of activity, as the MECA workers certainly have undertaken similar activity on multiple other days this spring, and during past times.

This situation was referred to law enforcement staff of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by other agency personnel.

There was apparently nothing done about this ongoing disposal of dead birds by MECA employees. Just as expected based upon the lack of action by the F.W.S.

Omaha Companies Work to Reduce Bird Window Strikes

An article in the May 22nd Omaha World-Herald discusses steps taken by three companies to reduce the number of bird window-strikes associated with their buildings. Companies such as the Omaha Public Power District, Union Pacific Railroad and the Nebraska certainly deserve the recognition for taking active steps to help migratory wild birds. A special thanks to the reporter for her interest and effort to get this information into the newspaper, so others can read about it!

I would like to thank Shari and John for these kind words as posted on NEbirds...

"Subject: Hero for the birds

"Date: Fri May 22 2015 23:37 pm

"From: NEBirds AT yahoogroups.com

"Hello birders,

"Great news in today's Omaha World Herald! Union Pacific and OPPD have both agreed to mitigate migrating bird strikes on their huge office buildings thanks to the efforts of Jim Ducey. His dedication to saving the lives of the birds we love to watch is a difficult job that includes documenting dead and dying birds at dawn before building employees arrive to clean up the victims. The article encourages other businesses to consider turning lights off at night and minimizing the attraction of windows for birds. Maybe one of those Connecticut Warblers will survive the treacherous bi-annual journey long enough for us to see it! Huge thanks to Jim Ducey for giving us something to really celebrate for International Migratory Bird Month.

"Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln"

Migrating Golden Eagles to be Slaughtered in Ontario

Press release provided by Save the Eagles International, May 22, 2015.

In October/November each year, as snow covers their hunting grounds, golden eagles from Canada fly south to warmer climates in the United States. Those migrating from Northern Ontario and the western half of Quebec (all the way up to the Ungava Peninsula) must deal with a major obstacle: the Great Lakes.

Unlike sea gulls, large raptors won’t travel long distances over water if they can avoid it. They prefer to follow the shore till they find a convenient crossing point, such as Holiday Beach at the western tip of Lake Erie, where 93 golden eagles were counted over a migration period, and thousands of other raptors (1). Prince Edward County (PEC), a headland protruding southwards into Lake Ontario where it meets a string of islands leading to the US shore, is another concentration area: 60 golden eagles (GEs), 25 bald eagles, and 1,100 raptors were counted there on a single day, October 29th 2009 (1). The Species at Risk study, commissioned for the White Pines’ wind project on PEC, reports the sighting of four migrating GEs per day on average, which would come to 120 a month. “This is clearly the main flyway for this species”, comments the South Shore Conservancy (2). Indeed, the entire GE population of Ontario and Western Quebec is estimated to number no more than 250 birds. Equally alarming is this observation reported in the study: “most were flying at blade level” (2).

​Map showing the Prince Edward headland, the string of islands used by migrating birds to cross the lake, and the wind projects that will butcher them. Available at Ontario Wind Turbines

According to Parks Canada: the island chain is a migration corridor for birds. Over 12 million birds pass through this area each year (3). Before crossing the lake, large numbers of birds often congregate on the south shore of PEC, which is a designated Important Bird Area (4). Yet, two wind projects may soon be built within that “protected” area - Whites Pines and Ostander Point - and a third one is in waiting: Loyalist. If this is not a premeditated crime against migrating birds, what is? These are indeed "protected" under Canada's Migratory Birds Convention Act and the international Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

The Ontario government state on their webpage (5) that the conservation status of the Golden Eagle in Ontario is “endangered”: “the species lives in the wild in Ontario but is facing imminent extinction or extirpation”. They also acknowledge that “during migration they (GEs) … are most frequently seen migrating west along the shores of Lake Ontario and Erie in November”. “In the fall of 2008, several stations on Lake Ontario and Erie reported more than 50 (GEs) in one day”. Finally, the risk of collision is acknowledged, if grudgingly: “collisions with wind turbines have been documented at some sites”.

The “some sites” they refer to are those rare wind farms where monitoring of bird mortality has been performed. At most wind plants, where no monitoring is done, no carcasses are found, or at least reported, except on rare occasions. Windfarm employees are not keen on reporting what will hurt their employers, and their own jobs. Besides, eagle feathers, talons and beaks are worth money on the black market. But in spite of this cover up on eagle mortality, it has been documented that thousands of GEs have been killed by wind turbines (6). They are in fact attracted to them, as are ospreys and other raptors (7). This is why so many are getting struck by turbine blades, something that financial and political interests have been trying to hide, while proposing ineffective measures of mitigation or compensation (8).

Common sense demands that migration routes, bottlenecks and staging areas be spared by wind developers. The Ontario government agrees to this in its Golden Eagle Recovery Strategy: “It is recommended that provisions should be made to incorporate any future information gathered on migration corridors and stop-over sites (habitat used for resting, roosting and foraging during migration) for inclusion within a habitat regulation” (9).

This hasn’t been done, yet it has been known for years that PEC is a vital stop-over site for GEs and 12 million birds each year (3), and possibly for millions of bats as well. The Ontario government knows it, ornithologists know it, and so do bird watchers. There will be carnage, but the decision makers behave as if the developers' impact assessments were unbiased. In fact, this attitude is fairly common all over the world: conflicts of interest, i.e. corruption, pave the way for the destruction of our environment (10).

Once the wind projects are built (White Pines and Ostander Point, and later perhaps Loyalist, Amherst, Trillium Power Wind 1, Wolfe Island Shoals), "habitat regulation" will become meaningless. It will be too late. The massacre will begin.

We respectfully request the Ontario government to stop these projects.

Contact:

Mark Duchamp, President

save.the.eagles@gmail.com

References:

1) – golden-eagles-would-funnel-through-a-turbine-killing-zone-in-prince-edward-county

Of particular interest, the mention of a letter from the Ministry of the Environment which states: “An observation credited to Phil Taylor of 1100 raptors at Prince Edward Point Oct 29 2009, including 60 Golden Eagles and 25 Bald Eagles (BR Sec. 3.7, p. 3.9, para 6). These numbers are confirmed by David Okine, director of Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory.” Note: this is a one-day count.

2) - species at risk

3) - effects of wind turbines
wind turbines

4) - important bird area

Important Bird Area ”During fall migration, large numbers of raptors, both diurnal and nocturnal, move over the Point. Up to 2,000 hawks a day can regularly be observed including large numbers of Sharp-shinned, Red-shouldered, and Red-tailed Hawks.” And: “In total, some 298 species of birds have been recorded at Prince Edward Point with about 220 species being recorded during the average year. Most of these species are recorded during migration, although at least 74 species nest within the area. The number and diversity of landbirds that concentrate in this small area during spring and fall migration is outstanding.”

5) - golden eagle
golden eagle

6) - eagle mortality statistics

Note: these eagle mortality statistics were gathered by chance, and represent the tip of the iceberg. Besides, they haven’t been updated since 2006.

– Some of the ospreys killed by wind turbines (tip of the iceberg)

– Effects on red kites: (pages 96, 97).

7) - raptors attracted to windfarms

8) - covering up the massacre

9) - golden eagle

10) - Tax Agency uncovers alleged wind farm payoff scheme in Castilla y León

Further Swift Chimney Losses in Omaha

Additional chimneys have been lost as habitat for the Chimney Swift in east Omaha. Both are along south 31st Street, between Dewey Park and St. Mary's Avenue.

Ekard Court was demolished during the past winter, and a new building is currently being built.

Records of swift use of either of the two chimneys once at 617 or 625 north 31st include:

• 17 on 18 August 2003
• 250 on 10 September 2005
• 65 on 20 August 2013

The loss of both of these chimneys is a dramatic loss to the swifts which occur in this area of 31st and St. Mary's Avenue, especially with the loss of multiple chimneys at the Canterbury apartments.

Eradication of swift habitat is ongoing and pervasive.

To the north, the big chimney at the Monticello Apartment building has been recently capped, probably within the last year or so, since a 2013 aerial photograph shows an open chimney. This and the Mt. Vernon, adjacent to the south, were both built in 1922. The Mt. Vernon is more essential, but as apartment renovation in the area continues, it is very possible that new HVAC work will result in this chimney also getting capped.

The Mount Vernon (in the foreground) and Monticello (in the background) apartment buildings on south 31st Street. Photograph taken August 2003.

Joys of the Carthage Wrens

A colorful bird house placed for decorative purposes has hung from a great oak tree for many months. It is hanging from a tree branch, near the big window at the back of the house so it can be enjoyed by an elderly mother. The wooden construct provided by a sister.

During the winter any potential residents was far away. As May weather of spring arrived, the song of the House Wren burst forth in a wonderful expression amidst an urban neighborhood. Wrens soon found the house. One kept singing virtues for the pending breeding season. The bubbly song can't be ignored by any sort of a bird aficionado, as its song is readily heard each of these spring days, closely or in another yard among the blocks.

The little songster found the vacant house and so got busy getting it ready for a nest. Twigs were gathered and songs were sung from the branches and other prominent places nearby. Mr. and Mrs. Wren visited, according to an observer with a realized intent. There were additional times of appreciation. The times of songs were not always when the song of the little wren was bubbling forth within the yards of north 49th street, both a bit north and across the block to the east.

Twigs of various sorts, as found nearby, were carried into the place. Some too lengthy to fit through the "door" were dropped once the little mite realized there was a limitation on size, due to the diameter of the house entrance. The antics of effort were a joy to watch.

There were numerous days of abbreviated moments of observation, which were something. Wren sounds became an attraction of interest, whenever. This was the situation one day after another as the early days of spring arrived at Carthage. Activity by a little bit of feathered mite about the wonderfully decorated bird house became excitement to appreciate, once and again.

To facilitate the efforts of the active wren, one morning, notably the 12th, the first minutes of the morning were devoted to finding sticks. Those of a suitable size were broken into short pieces which could be of interest to a wren intent on furnishing its house. The twigs were closely placed on one corner the deck in the backyard, within just a few feet of the wren house locale.

With the birds interest, it seemed to be a time for urban renewal to promote the birdly residence. During an evening when the wrens were not about, the work was done. It involved a stepladder, tools and associated necessities. The bird house had to be placed sufficiently for the season. The evenings effort involved moving the house a few inches downward along the branch so it would have a better place of origin. The single wire used to attach the house to the branch was supplemented by a hefty string wrapped multiple times around the house attachment, then anchored to the mighty branch of the oak tree several times to make certain that the house would not fall in any sort of stormy breeze conditions.

The singing wren arrived soon thereafter, flitting into the place with its own intent. It always bounced about the oak branches just prior to darting through the hole of a place it prefers, once and again.

Many of the shortish twigs left upon the deck are gone. The mother of the house mentioned this, as she appreciates having wrens singing and active at a birdhouse of her origin. The wooden construct might have been placed further back in the yard, but the wrens accept the situation. It is all good for multiple residents at the place on North 49th Street.

Late in the evening of May 13, the singing wren arrived to enjoy its house, darting in and out of the place, once clinging upon the bark of the oak, until going once again into the painted house. The bird then took care of necessities and carried out its pellet of excrement for disposal.

The little bird was obviously appreciative again, though in an obtuse manner.

As May goes along, the singing wren continued to be busy in its gathering of material to make a suitable nest within the painted house at the oak tree.

Outside, the wren sings. It is wonderful as appreciated. Giving some attention to the birdly activity, it's obvious that one of them was looking for smaller twigs of a length that could be gotten into the house. Several times the itty-bitty twigs were moved in one manner or another so they could get within. Multiple moves by the wren were obvious. Eventually the force of the little mite turned its cargo in a direction that worked for another addition to the nest box.

While the active bird was doing its best to create a suitable nesting place, another wren was languishing on a nearby branch.

The results are not known but the endeavors are obvious, and certainly appreciated amidst one household.

It would seem that the little house in the yard is a secondary nest, as there is not enough activity to denote it as a primary nest place. Perhaps adding a ready source of food to the setting would help, though it is probably too late for a buffet to make a difference.

Maybe the nesting cardinals would also appreciate some bird food, close to their home in the nearby flowery bush.

Nebraska Migratory Bird Month Proclamation

May was officially designated as International Migratory Bird Month by Governor Pete Ricketts on May 13th. This is the text of the proclamation, and a courtesy photo provided by the governor's office.

Proclamation

Whereas, International Migratory Bird Day has been a celebration of birds across North American every May since 1993; and

Whereas, Nebraska plays a critical role on an international scale for migratory birds that have no boundaries or borders, and it is our responsibility as a part of the global community to make certain that birds have the habitats they require; and

Whereas, We recognize Nebraska's rich birding heritage and the need for the ongoing conservation of birds and their habitats so future generations may continue to enjoy the diversity of birds found across our great state; and

Whereas, We recognize the need to educate our children and adults about Nebraska's wildlife and importance of conservation and good land stewardship; and

Whereas, We recognize that Nebraska is host to over 450 bird species and has become a birding destination for national and international bird watchers; and

Whereas, We recognize the economic benefits birding tourism in Nebraska provides to our state's communities, private landowners, and to Nebraska's Department of Travel and Tourism, and

Wheras, We recognize the outdoor recreational benefits and values associated with bird watching across Nebraska.

Now, Therefore, I, Pete Ricketts, Governor of the State of Nebraska, Do Hereby Proclaim the month of May 2015, as

International Migratory Bird Month

In Nebraska, and I do hereby urge all citizens to take due note of the observance.

Shown in the photograph are Lindsay Rogers, outdoor education specialist with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lt. Governor Mike Foley, and Dave Titterington of the Wild Bird Habitat Store.