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The WorldBirds Data Base – an Exciting Conservation Tool Open to all Birders

December 23, 2011 2 Comments 4104 Views

Red Shining ParrotEstablished in 2003 by Birdlife International, the WorldBirds Birdwatcher’s Data Base now has 16,000 regular users and over 3 million recorded observations.  Unlike many professionally-organized efforts, WorldBirds is open to ornithologists and casual and serious birders alike. It is an excellent, enjoyable way to contribute to worldwide conservation projects and communicate with others who share your passion.

Your Observations Count

Research fund availability and the sheer scope of what needs to be done places severe limits on conservationists…paid professionals can not handle everything. Even when I worked for the Bronx Zoo and other well-funded organizations, I relied heavily upon volunteers.  Much of the data that later found its way into professional publications was generated by them, not I.  Read More »

Winter Bird Feeding – Rare Bird Update and Some Useful Products

December 13, 2011 4 Comments 5725 Views

Mountian BluebirdWinter brings with it unique bird-watching opportunities, as cold weather forces otherwise-shy species to visit feeders in search of food.  Rare visitors driven south by severe weather and others blown off course during migration also brighten birders’ days.  Today I’d like to alert you to several new (and standard) bird feeding products, and highlight some ways to see the unusual avian visitors to your neighborhood.

Birding Surprises

Wherever you are located, winter birding is an exciting prospect.  Often, unexpected birds tend to stay put for quite awhile, due to disorientation and the need to remain near a newfound food source.  Checking with the many on-line and telephone services (yes, phone-based reports still exist, check here!) is a great way to remain aware of what’s going on nearby; if luck is with you, you can then go out and see the bird that has been reported. Read More »

Conserving and Observing Finches in Uganda’s Impenetrable Forest

December 6, 2011 Comments Off on Conserving and Observing Finches in Uganda’s Impenetrable Forest 6404 Views

Calyptomena viridisUganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is best known as the last stronghold of the Mountain Gorilla.  However, this troubled African wildlife paradise is also home to at least 43 finch species, many of which face a future as uncertain as that of the Mountain Gorilla.  While most bird enthusiasts are aware of the problems facing Africa’s parrots (please see this article), the plight of the continent’s finches receives far less attention.  Through birding trips and hands-on projects, the Rare Finch Conservation Group is working to change that situation, but it’s been a long, uphill battle.

Troubles and Opportunities

The Rare Finch Conservation Group (RFCG) was formed in 2005, but has already made significant progress in addressing the problems that face Uganda’s finches.  Mountain Gorillas act as “umbrella species” for the region’s wildlife – concern for them indirectly benefits many animals – but the RFCG believes that finches and other small birds deserve more direct conservation action.  The organization is currently formulating a plan to study the needs of a locally-endangered bird, Shelly’s Crimsonwing.  Read More »

Blue-Throated Macaws Cling to Survival in a Single Bolivian Reserve

December 2, 2011 Comments Off on Blue-Throated Macaws Cling to Survival in a Single Bolivian Reserve 6405 Views

Blue Throated MacawParrot conservation news has been somewhat dismal lately (please see here for some examples), so today I’d like to highlight a bright spot. Surveys have shown that Bolivia’s Barba Azul Reserve supports a breeding population of Blue-Throated Macaws (Ara glaucogularis), a species so rare that it was believed extinct until its “re-discovery” in 1992.  Maned Wolves, Orinoco Geese, Bush Dogs, Pampas Deer and other rare animals are also making themselves at home in the reserve’s 12,300 acres.

Wildlife Oasis amid Ranches

Managed by the World Land Trust, Barba Azul Reserve is comprised of tropical savannas, “forest islands” and marshes.  I had the good fortune to work in a similar area inVenezuela, and can attest to the incredible diversity of wildlife that such habitats support.  As was true for protected areas in Venezuela, Barba Azul is surrounded by huge cattle ranches.  Read More »

Privately-Owned Reserves in Australia Benefit Parrots and Other Wildlife

November 4, 2011 2 Comments 4154 Views

White-winged FairywrenIn times of economic distress, government-funded wildlife conservation often takes a back seat to competing concerns.  InAustralia, private (non-governmental) groups are taking up some of the slack…and doing a fine job.  Over 6,000,000 acres of land are now being privately managed for the benefit of native animals and plants.

Wildlife in Peril

Parrot conservation often takes center stage when talk turns to Australian wildlife, but a wide variety of other animals are also in trouble.  A recent report (please see below) states that 27 species of Australian birds are now extinct, 20 are critically endangered, 68 are vulnerable and 63 are classified as near-threatened. Australia leads the world mammal extinctions, and severe declines have also been noted among reptiles, amphibians and fishes. Read More »

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