JULY 2024

Birds don’t sweat. Humans do. The heat and humidity of July finds us hiding in air conditioned homes, cars, and hanging on the refrigerator door as we rummage for a frosty. Until vacation, we are closer to home, gardening a little in the backyard, then retreating. Our windows are closed. It seems a silent summer when no birds sing. And so we humans find ways to celebrate the birds even in the sweaty season. Our July issue of RCC’s Bird Watch and Wonder, which you are likely reading indoors on your electronic device of choice, opens with “A Fanfare for the Birds.” The fanfare is for and from our most common backyard birds – robins and cardinals and blue jays and such. As you recover indoors, our bird maestro, Ross Feldner, has assembled the sounds and songs of fifteen familiar favorites to delight you in your chair.

The birds, meanwhile, go about their business without air conditioning. They don’t have pores or sweat glands, but cool off instead by drinking, bathing, and a form of panting which is why you often see them in summer with their beaks open as if gasping. But with the extreme heat we humans have helped increase with global climate change, even the birds can succumb. Please be sure to take a look at Tenielle Johnson’s piece in our “Action and Advocacy” section on how to help garden birds with water and food in summer. Summer is also breeding season for the birds, a good time to see robin’s nests and fledglings of all kinds. But how often have we seen or found baby birds and young ones fluttering and floundering on the ground? Unfortunately, most chicks never survive to adulthood. Again, you find out how to save them from the American Bird Conservancy’s “How to Help Chicks and Fledglings in this Breeding Season.”

While watching your backyard birds, whether from inside or out, keep handy a copy of Amy Tan’s The Backyard Bird Chronicles, whose highlights and remarkable bird drawings are shared here by Margaret Roach of the New York Times. Tan, the popular author of The Joy Luck Club, downsized to a house in Sausalito, California, let her lawn go, planted native plants and flowers, and began drawing lessons at age 64. When she began to draw, Tan could only name three backyard birds. Now she can say hello to individuals, depict squabbling siblings, and hosts 76 species in her yard, including Great Blue Herons. Tan has even switched her special spot for writing and drawing to her dining room – where she has the best view of the birds!

Amy Tan is not alone in knowing and describing individual birds. On Cape Cod, at the Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary, scientists James Junda and Valérie Bourdeau began banding and studying Pine Warblers in the shorter, wind-swept, easily accessible pines in the campground near their parking lot. As they studied the behavior of the little, long-tailed warblers who they say “are mostly gray with a yellow head and breast, as though dipped in mustard,” Junda and Bourdeau began to identify individuals. Now they are attached to them – even giving them names like Sergio and Christmas. The lesson from these experts? Don’t overlook the birds in your backyard. Over time, the more closely you observe them, the more fascinating they become.

Even as climate change, extreme storms, pesticides, and development continue to threaten America’s birds, there is much to celebrate and see in this season of nesting and new avian life. In California, the Fish and Game Commission has forbidden the use of “neonic” pesticides, harmful to birds and pollinators, on 1.1 million acres of state wildlife refuges and other public lands. And, in Austin, Texas, Austin Wildlife Rescue is caring for baby birds (30 Mississippi Kites and 30 Cattle Egrets) whose rookeries were destroyed by Hurricane Beryl, separating them from their parents.

Take a look, too, at “The Best of Momentary Meditations” by RCC Senior Correspondent, Stephen Shick, whose short videos and poetic musings grace our weekly newsletter. In “Mother Merganser” feel the serenity of a Hooded Merganser guarding her young in a small, still pond.

If you wish to be still, serene, and stay cool in this overheated summer season, check our “Books” section and put Kenn Kaufman’s, The Birds That Audubon Missed, on the top of your pile beside the armchair near that bird window with a view. Kaufman presents the huge egos, competition, exaggeration, and outright fabrications that Audubon and his rivals engaged in to be at the top.

The result? Audubon missed large numbers of bird species, despite his claims. Kaufman has figured out the birds that were never identified by the egregious “experts” of the time and presents them now with his own descriptions and drawings. They will make you want to take drawing lessons like Amy Tan and get to know your own backyard birds through such loving observations.

Bob Musil is the President & CEO of the Rachel Carson Council and author of Rachel Carson and Her Sisters: Extraordinary Women Who Have Shaped America’s Environment (Rutgers, 2016) and Washington in Spring: A Nature Journal for a Changing Capital (Bartleby, 2016). He is also the editor of the forthcoming annotated edition from Rutgers University Press of Rachel Carson’s Under the Sea-Wind with his Introduction, updated marine science, and historic and contemporary illustrations and photographs.

Fanfare for the Common Bird

Rare and exotic looking birds get a lot of attention. But we shouldn’t forget the delight we get from our more common feathered friends.

Birds are everywhere. And it seems they are abundant. But some recent studies show bird populations are declining. In fact, in the past 50 years, almost a third of all North American birds have vanished. But not all birds are in trouble. Here are fifteen “common” birds that are thriving and bringing color and song to our world. The birdsong of each can be heard by clicking on the audio play button.

Birds, Friends, Fathers, and the Quest to Be Present

A comforting tradition of evening bird walks with a colleague helped the author become more present not just in her own life, but in her parents' lives as well.

Anyone who birds knows it is a pastime that brings people together into new flocks of friendships. Just as people have their favorite birds, some people have their favorite birding partners. My favorite birding partner is my colleague Sarah, who is roughly 13 years my senior and a professor of English literature at Fordham University in New York City.

Birds Exemplify the Cycle of Life

One of the themes of this “Bird Lore” column is the annual cycle of bird life. The marvels of bird migration, which follow our seasonal changes, result in a wonderful diversity of bird life throughout the year in the central Susquehanna Valley (and of course, worldwide). This edition reflects on what’s happening with birds during the summer doldrums, the lazy days of summer, and the dog days! Bird life in July!

While we are seeking a cool refuge from the July heat, birds are wrapping up their nesting season, preparing for harder times ahead.

Amy Tan Takes a Novel Approach to Bird-Watching: ‘Be the Bird’

In her most recent book, “The Backyard Bird Chronicles,” the best-selling author revels in a newfound preoccupation with birds — and drawing.

To them, she isn’t a best-selling novelist, but simply “the flightless creature” — and, most important, a reliable source of food. They would not know her at all, nor she them, if not for the garden created around the home in Sausalito, Calif., that she and her husband downsized to in 2012.

Zoom Out: Tips for Photographing Birds in their Landscapes

Put down the telephoto lens, and you might just enhance your art.

When I was starting out as a photographer, all the professionals I knew lugged around lenses that cost five-figures that allowed them to take incredible close-ups. I couldn’t take on debt and buying a lens longer than 100mm was not an option, so I had to enter the photography scene through another door.

The Supreme Court’s Overruling of Chevron Deference

In June, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a decision in Loper Bright v. Raimondo on the deference courts must give to federal agencies interpreting and implementing through regulations the laws they administer—a doctrine informally known as “Chevron deference.” This decision will impact how critically-important environmental laws that Audubon cares about – such as the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, and Clean Air Act – will be implemented moving forward.

A Major Climate Threat Could Be Disastrous for Birds

The rash of severe storms this spring and summer has also taken a toll on wildlife. The Raptor Conservation Alliance has seen a flock of injured birds come into its facility near Elmwood.

Advertisement "Every outdoor cage and both barns are full," said RCA Director Betsy Finch. She and the volunteers have been busy. Many baby birds have been found without their parents, including a month-old kestrel found on the Fourth of July.

Climate Poses Greatest Threat to North American Birds

Specialist birds are at an elevated risk.

A number of factors put birds at risk, from pesticides to pollution to habitat loss, but none have as great an effect as climate change, researchers have found. In a recent study published in Global Environmental Change Advances, researchers found climate change plays the greatest role in ongoing bird declines in North America. That’s particularly true for specialist birds with specific habitat and diet needs.

The Rare Work of Seeing Birds as Individuals

When you walk into the campground area north of the parking lot at Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary, you’ll likely hear the twittery trill of birdsong emanating from the pines. Look into the canopy, and you’ll see the source: small, long-tailed warblers in the treetops — pine warblers.

The adults’ bodies are mostly gray with a yellow head and breast, as though dipped in mustard. Some of the juveniles have this goldenrod color in patches around the breast and flanks.

How to Help Chicks and Fledglings This Breeding Season

It’s a vulnerable time of year for young birds, but you can help reduce potential threats

Summer is the peak of bird breeding season in the U.S. and Canada. Both countries serve as bird nurseries for hundreds of species at this time of year. It's also a risky time, and most chicks don't survive to adulthood. Given the loss of nearly 3 billion birds since 1970, American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is encouraging action to help birds survive and thrive. Here are ways to help.

1.1 Million Acres in California Protected from Dangerous ‘Neonic' Insecticides

Regulations Prohibiting the Use of Neonicotinoid Insecticides on State Lands Managed By the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife Will Protect Birds, Bees, and Other Pollinators. After years of advocacy, the California Fish and Game Commission has finalized a rule in its “Department Lands” regulation package that prohibits the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) from using neonicotinoid pesticides — often called “neonics” — on state wildlife refuges and other land under its jurisdiction.

Advances in Window Safety Come to the Cornell Lab and Cornell Campus

Every year, up to one billion birds die from window strikes in the U.S, species of all sizes brought down by the invisible tragedy of glass. A growing body of research surrounding the severity of window collisions—and ways to avoid them—has resulted in more organizations moving toward bird-friendly buildings, including the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.Constructed in 2002, the Lab’s home in Sapsucker Woods was designed to harmonize with the landscape and allow visitors to immerse themselves in the world of birds.

Austin Wildlife Rescue Saves Dozens of Birds From Hurricane Beryl

Dozens of baby birds made their way from Houston’s coast to Austin this week. Not by flying, but huddled together in cardboard boxes loaded in the back of an SUV.

The birds — 30 Mississippi kites and 30 cattle egrets — are staying at Austin Wildlife Rescue after Hurricane Beryl destroyed their rookeries and separated them from their parents. They are lucky survivors among thousands of birds that died in the storm.

How to Help Garden Birds in Summer – 5 expert Tips For Providing Food and Safety

Doing these things will encourage and support birdlife in your yard

We're not the only ones who like to enjoy our backyards in summer, as the warmer weather encourages wildlife to bask in the sun and take advantage of what our yards have to offer. No matter where you garden, it's likely you'll encounter birds flying from tree to tree and searching for food in your outdoor space.

‘Unexpected visitor:’ Rare Bird Known For Its Beauty Spotted in Ohio

A rare bird known for its beauty was spotted in northern Ohio recently and may be the first of its kind ever documented in the state.

Naturalist and author Kenn Kaufman posted a picture of the bird he identifies as an adult Roseate Tern to social media on July 7, 2024. He wrote that the bird was first spotted in Huron the day prior and has since attracted “scores of birders enjoying great views of this unexpected visitor.”

Angry Birds Take on Drones at New York City Beach

American Oystercatchers are attacking drones that have been deployed to scan for sharks and swimmers in distress.

One is a distinctive shorebird, slightly smaller than an average sea gull, with a bright orange bill that pries open clams, oysters and other shellfish. The other is a remote-controlled gadget with rotating blades.

In the skies above Rockaway Beach in Queens, bird and drone are not, it seems, coexisting in harmony.

Summer's Swallows Are Graceful, Aerodynamic Birds

They took their time this year, but the tree swallows are finally putting in appearances almost daily, especially on the string of sunny, hot days the region has experience lately. This pair of swallows has become frequent visitors since the middle of last month.

Based on their behavior, which primarily consists of aerial foraging over fields and a pond at my home, I’m convinced they are feeding young. They don’t, however, appear to be residing in any of my nest boxes.

The Free Merlin App Can Record and Identify Thousands of Bird Calls, and Now I’m Hooked

Countryside living. Getting on a bit. It was only a matter of time before I gave into certain impulses: I’m curious about birdlife. It’s a curiosity that’s at risk of developing into outright geekiness. It all started with a bird feeder outside the kitchen window – the regular kind, not a bird feeder camera currently on my wishlist. The feeder has enticed all manner of bird families; tits, chaffinches, nuthatches, treecreepers, sparrows, robins, magpies and the occasional Green or Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Rare White Crow Rescued After ‘dive bombed’ By Other Crows in Virginia

“There are just too many hazards for a bird that looks like her,” said Catherine Sevcenko, the founder of rehab clinic Diva Crows.

Many of the fledgling crows that appear at her door have fallen from nests, were hit by cars or crashed into windows. But there’s one constant in the past 12 years: each one is covered in shiny black feathers, sharp black beaks and dark eyes.

Elf Owl

This diminutive bird has the distinction of being the world’s smallest raptor.

Elf Owls live in pine-oak forests, deserts and riparian woodlands along the southern US border with Mexico nesting in cavities that give them shelter from the heat, rain and predators.

The Elf Owl is a nocturnal predator that hunts mostly insects including moths, crickets, scorpions, centipedes, and beetles and is notoriously territorial.

Momentary Meditations are published every Monday to awaken what Rachel Carson called “the sense of wonder” and what Albert Schweitzer called “a reverence for life.” Looking deeply into our interdependence with all life on earth helps us know what we must do. In our harried world, these meditations are meant to serve as a renewable resource for compassion and love.

Mother Merganser

In a small, almost out-of-sight pond, this Mother Hooded Merganser guards her young. The quietness of the scene was magical.

Watch here

Birding Festivals and Events

A great way to enjoy birdwatching is by going to festivals—they’re organized to get you to great birding spots at a great time of year, and they’re a great way to meet people.

Experts and locals help you see more birds, and you’ll meet other visitors who share your hobby. While you’re there, keep an eye out for Cornell Lab representatives, as we do attend several festivals each year.

The Birds That Audubon Missed:
Discovery and Desire in the American Wilderness

Renowned naturalist Kenn Kaufman examines the scientific discoveries of John James Audubon and his artistic and ornithologist peers to show how what they saw (and what they missed) reflects how we perceive and understand the natural world.
Raging ambition. Towering egos. Competition under a veneer of courtesy. Heroic effort combined with plagiarism, theft, exaggeration, and fraud. This was the state of bird study in eastern North America during the early 1800s, as a handful of intrepid men raced to find the last few birds that were still unknown to science.

The most famous name in the bird world was John James Audubon, who painted spectacular portraits of birds. But although his images were beautiful, creating great art was not his main goal. Instead, he aimed to illustrate (and write about) as many different species as possible, obsessed with trying to outdo his rival, Alexander Wilson. George Ord, a fan and protégé of Wilson, held a bitter grudge against Audubon for years, claiming he had faked much of his information and his scientific claims. A few of Audubon’s birds were pure fiction, and some of his writing was invented or plagiarized. Other naturalists of the era, including Charles Bonaparte (nephew of Napoleon), John Townsend, and Thomas Nuttall, also became entangled in the scientific derby, as they stumbled toward an understanding of the natural world—an endeavor that continues to this day.

Despite this intense competition, a few species—including some surprisingly common songbirds, hawks, sandpipers, and more—managed to evade discovery for years. Here, renowned bird expert and artist Kenn Kaufman explores this period in history from a new angle, by considering the birds these people discovered and, especially, the ones they missed. Kaufman has created portraits of the birds that Audubon never saw, attempting to paint them in that artist’s own stunning style, as a way of examining the history of natural sciences and nature art. He shows how our understanding of birds continues to gain clarity, even as some mysteries persist from Audubon’s time until ours. Click here to purchase.