 | | | “Nature has introduced great variety into the landscape, but man has displayed a passion for simplifying it. Thus he undoes the built-in checks and balances by which nature holds the species within bounds.” ― Rachel Carson, Silent Spring The human tragedies, rescues and cleanups in North Carolina and Florida from Hurricanes Helene and Milton have, understandably, been the center of our attention over the past several weeks. Homes, highways, campuses, and landscapes from forests to beachfronts have been inundated, devastated. And the toxic debris, mud, and residues pose a continuing environmental health threat to residents. But this destruction of forests, fields, riverbanks, beaches and barrier islands also signals immense, as yet unmeasured, loss and disruption for wildlife – from bugs to bears. But this is especially true for the nesting sites, shelter, and food sources – entire ecosystems -- that birds depend upon. Scientists and agencies from NOAA to FEMA have verified that these hurricanes were intensified by the effects of human-induced global climate change. The burden of responsibility that we share for such damage is large. And, as several articles in this October issue of RCC’s Bird Watch and Wonder reveal, climate change is responsible for a significant portion of the overall decline in birds observed over the past few decades. But we know, too, that it is a smaller portion of humanity – fossil fuel corporations, climate deniers, and right-wing politicians and media — who have sowed doubt, delay, and misinformation and are most culpable. And so, we focus in this issue on the wonders, mysteries and marvels of birds, especially in migration. In “Bird Lore,” Ross Feldner assembles a compelling review of all the ways in which the intelligence, memory, communication, and navigational abilities of birds surpass our own. As usual, Feldner doesn’t mince words. The demeaning epithet “bird brain” is simply wrong.  Given the beauty and wonders of birds, most people actually love them and would not want to harm them. That’s why in our opening section “Action and Advocacy,” we highlight the efforts of those folks who go to great lengths to protect the birds and save them and their habitats, not destroy them. One of my favorites, since I spent years in Chicago for graduate school (and Rachel Carson actually worked there for a year with the US Fish and Wildlife Service), is the remarkably touching work of Annette Prince, Director of Chicago Bird Collision Monitors. Prince searches the sidewalks beneath Chicago’s architecturally splendid skyline for injured migrating birds, like Nashville Warblers, who have crashed into those endless windows and fallen stricken to the ground. Because of her work and others, Chicago has instituted measures to reduce the lighting on buildings and decorate windows with dots to make them visible. The result? A sharp decrease in the number of dead and injured migrating birds.  The lure and lore of birds is so strong, in fact, that amazing avians have been the subject of artwork for millennia. Artist George Boorujay’s work is featured in our “Art of Birds Section” with his 963-foot-long mural in Brooklyn featuring bid migration.
It is, of course, the close and careful observation of birds, especially in our backyards, that leads us from an early age to admire and love them, and so want to protect them. In our “Books” section, Joan E. Strassmann, author of The Slow Birding Journal: A Field Diary for Watching Birds Wherever You Are, introduces readers to the joys and wonders of learning about and even sketching the birds we encounter every day. It is how we come to love them and how, as Rachel Carson often put it, we no longer wish to destroy them. | | | | | | | |  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. | | | | | | Birds Are Flying South for the Winter. Here’s How You Can Help Them Stay Safe During Migration. As the weather gets chillier, birds are migrating, many crossing New Hampshire on their path to warmer climates. Hundreds of thousands of birds – warblers, tanagers, sandpipers, sparrows, hawks, even ducks – are crossing the state on a daily basis. They’re making their way to South and Central America, the Caribbean, Florida, sometimes stopping over in New Hampshire on a longer journey from Northern Canada. | | | | | | | | US Gives Protections to Rare Midwest Bird as Prairie Suffers The U.S. government announced protections Thursday for two populations of a rare prairie bird that's found in parts of the Midwest, including one of the country’s most prolific oil and gas fields. The lesser prairie chicken's range covers a portion of the oil-rich Permian Basin along the New Mexico-Texas state line and extends into parts of Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas. The habitat of the bird, a type of grouse, has diminished across about 90% of its historical range, officials said. | | | | | | | | Scientists Studying Impact of Painting Wind Turbine Blade Black to Reduce Bird Collisions Oregon State University researchers are part of a team looking at reducing bird collision risks with wind turbines by painting a single blade of the turbine black. Wind energy has a significant role during a time of climate change, rising energy demands and a transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, but it poses risks to birds and bats due to collision fatalities. | | | | | | | | Migrating Birds Continue Slamming Into Chicago High-rises. Here's How Some People Are Trying to Save Them With a neon-green net in hand, Annette Prince briskly walks a downtown Chicago plaza at dawn, looking left and right as she goes. It’s not long before she spots a tiny yellow bird sitting on the concrete. It doesn't fly away, and she quickly nets the bird, gently places it inside a paper bag and labels the bag with the date, time and place. | | | | | | | | Huffman, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Protections for Migratory Birds [I]n honor of World Migratory Bird Day on October 12th, U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman (D-CA-02) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) introduced the Migratory Bird Protection Act and the Albatross and Petrel Conservation Act– two bills that will strengthen conservation efforts for protected species of birds. These bills will give the US the tools to build upon existing efforts to protect migratory birds and the most threatened species of seabirds. | | | | | | | | ‘Alala Released Into the Wild on Maui In a significant milestone for the conservation of Hawai’i’s native birds, five ‘alalā, or Native Hawaiian crow were transferred last week, from the Maui Bird Conservation Center (MBCC) to a temporary field aviary on the slopes of Haleakalā. This marks the beginning of their adaptation period before their eventual release into the wild. The ‘alalā, revered in Hawaiian culture and known for their intelligence, are the only surviving native crow species in Hawai’i. | | | | | | | | | | Bird Brain. It’s Actually a Compliment! Since the early twentieth century, to call someone a “bird-brain” is to call them, simple, unintelligent, or, frankly, stupid. I think we need a reset on that phrase. It’s an insult to birds! Bird intelligence comes in many forms, and recent scientific studies show that many bird species display intelligence similar to some primates, marine mammals, and even humans. Parrots are well known for their ability to solve problems, mimic speech, form emotional bonds, and even understand some basic grammar. | | | | | | | | Study Reveals Bird-Migration Mystery By outfitting blackbirds with heart-rate monitors, scientists debunked a long-held assumption about the benefits of spending the winter in warm climates. For migrating birds, fall brings difficulty and danger. To reach warm winter climes, many birds must fly hundreds or thousands of miles, expend immense amounts of energy and successfully dodge storms, skyscrapers and other potential threats. | | | | | | | | 10 Fun Facts About the Killdeer Even if you haven’t seen one, chances are good you’ve heard this notoriously noisy shorebird. A common sight across much of North America, the Killdeer is full of surprises. Though it’s considered a shorebird, the species is often found far from the beach. And despite its modest stature, slightly bigger than a robin, it has a big voice that is impossible to miss even from a distance. Up close, the bird has a subtle beauty, with dark bands across its breast, a chestnut back, and striking rings of red around its eyes. | | | | | | | | Birders Argue Over Plan to Change Dozens of Bird Names Say goodbye to Bachman’s Sparrow, Scott’s Oriole and Townsend’s Warbler. Those three birds are among a half-dozen that will get renamed first under a plan by the American Ornithological Society to do away with common bird names that honor people. But whether or not the society will keep going after that, and get rid of all eponymous bird names, remains to be seen. | | | | | | | | Audubon South Carolina Uses New Techniques to Understand Prothonotary Warblers Project Protho, Audubon South Carolina’s community science project at the Beidler Forest Audubon Center & Sanctuary, has worked for over a decade studying the Prothonotary Warbler, Protonotaria citrea. This sunny ball of feathers and energy that sings a “sweet-sweet-sweet” song from the heart of shady Four Holes Swamp has kept many secrets about its life during the other part of the year when it’s not at Beidler. | | | | | | | | Top 10 Tips for Better Bird Watching Anyone can see a bird. Just go outside and look around. No matter where you are you should see birds. Bird watchers have developed some techniques that make it possible to find, and get good looks at, more birds than if you just step out and look around. Use these tips to see more birds, have more fun! | | | | | | | | What Flying in a Wind Tunnel Reveals About Birds Some birds migrate thousands of miles every autumn. How exactly do they manage it? Scientists built a flight chamber to find out. It happens every fall: The days grow colder, the nights grow longer, the birds grow restless and then they take flight. In North America alone, billions of birds fly south for the winter, sometimes in enormous undulating flocks. It is one of nature’s great spectacles as well as an athletic feat: Some birds regularly migrate thousands of miles or stay aloft for days at a time. | | | | | | | | Why Are Peregrine Falcon Numbers Falling in the United States Again? In a decline not seen since the DDT era, the spectacular raptors have noticeably decreased in numbers over the past two years. Some concerned experts believe avian flu is to blame. Something disturbing is happening to Peregrine Falcons in North America. Their numbers are heading downward for the first time since the 1960s and ’70s, when the birds were teetering at the edge of extinction due to the widespread use of the pesticide DDT. | | | | | | | | Offshore Wind is a Solvable Problem For Birds. Climate Change Status Quo is Not. Climate change is one of the greatest threats to birds everywhere. There’s no question that we must do everything we can to reverse climate change and ensure a sustainable future for birds, people, and the planet. This is why the National Audubon Society was sure to have a presence at Climate Week NYC, one of the largest gatherings of global leaders, environmental organizations, business partners and others dedicated to reducing the effects of climate change on our world. | | | | | | | | Boiling Point: Burrowing Owls and Solar Farms Will Need to Coexist If you don’t love burrowing owls, you’ve probably never seen a burrowing owl. They’re 7 to 10 inches tall, with bright yellow eyes and long, skinny legs. The western variety doesn’t even dig its own underground burrows. It depends on other critters, such as ground squirrels and desert tortoises. Building solar projects in spots where burrowing owls are struggling to survive would be a terrible idea, right? | | | | | | | | Migrating Birds Find Refuge in Pop-up Habitats Every July, the western sandpiper, a dun-colored, long-beaked bird, leaves the shores of Alaska and migrates south. It may fly as far as the coast of Peru, where it spends several months before making the return trip. Western sandpipers travel along the Pacific Flyway, a strip of land that stretches along the Western coast of the Americas, from the Arctic down to Patagonia. The wetlands of California’s Central Valley offer sandpipers and thousands of other species a crucial place to rest and feed. | | | | | | | | The Art of Birds: Fall Online Lecture Series Avians as Symbols, Stewards, and Storytellers. Learn from our distinguished group of lecturers about the wonder of birds as inspiration for diverse artistic traditions, cultural storytelling, and effective social change. Explore new perspectives on bird art through a diverse range of subject areas and through the research and work of curators, artists, conservationists, and scholars, in this series of five free programs, which all take place via Zoom. All registrants will receive a link to a program recording after each lecture. | | | | | | | | For the Birds: Massive Mural Sends Message About Climate Change's Impacts On a recent 90-plus-degree day in Red Hook, Brooklyn, artist George Boorujy spent hours on the hot concrete, working on a 963-foot-long mural. It's called "Migratory Pathways," located on a retaining wall on Bay Street near the Red Hook Ball Fields. The mural features birds that make their way through New York City during their thousands-miles-long travels. It depicts eight migratory birds that are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. | | | | | | | | The Joys of Sketching Birds All through the summer, as part of our birding project, The Times has encouraged readers to try different ways of observing birds. One of those ways is sketching. We invited readers to share their drawing efforts, and to describe how sketching changes the birding experience. Here is an additional selection of what readers submitted: I love to draw birds and I plant flowers in my garden to attract them. I have been drawing and painting with watercolors most of my life. - Herenia Doerr, 92, Silver Spring, Md. | | | | | | | | Ross’s Goose Although we share a name it’s not my personal goose. This small goose is named in honor of Bernard R. Ross, who was associated with the Hudson’s Bay Company in Canada’s Northwest Territories. Members of the Hudson’s Bay Company were the first Europeans to discover its arctic nesting grounds in 1940. Ross’s Goose is the smallest of the three white geese that breed in North America. It is similar in appearance to a white-phase Snow Goose, but about 40% smaller. | | | | | | | | 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. Take Off Together - I have seen this scene many times, and each time, it moves my heart to wonder: What signal does the lead goose give, and why do the others patiently wait for it before taking off in unified motion? | | | | | | | | Birding Festivals and Events A great way to enjoy birdwatching is by going to festivals—they’re organized to get you to well-known birding spots at the right time of year, and they’re a perfect way to meet people. Experts and locals help you see more birds, and you’ll meet other visitors who share your hobby. Click “Read More” for map and listings of upcoming festivals. | | | | | | | | The Slow Birding Journal A Field Diary for Watching Birds Wherever You Are By Joan E. Strassmann  The perfect journal for keen daily observation of the spectacular birds all around you.
Many birding journals are geared around a life list, which requires traveling far and wide to see rare birds. Evolutionary biologist Joan Strassmann advocates for a different kind of birding: slow birding, focused on the joys of birding right where you are and at your own pace.
This one-of-a-kind journal, filled with detailed sections for daily use, is the ideal companion for local and backyard birders. The Slow Birding Journal features:
• Space for recording your observations of the birds you see
• Targeted prompts and questions to incorporate into your birding
• Advice and guidance on watching birds: what to look for and pay attention to • Detailed illustrations of several well-known birds, and blank pages to make your own illustrations The best birding is where you are right now: in your backyard, your local parks, or on your favorite day hikes. This journal will lead you to a deeper understanding of the birds you see each day. Click here to purchase | | | | | | | | | | The October 2024 issue of Bird Watch and Wonder was produced by Ross Feldner | | | | | |  The Rachel Carson Council Depends on Tax-deductible Gifts From Concerned Individuals Like You. Please Help If You can. | | | |  Sign Up Here to Receive the RCC E-News and Other RCC Newsletters, Information and Alerts. | | | | | | | | | | | |
