Continue reading »]]> Together since 2007, their courtship proceeded slowly on Eastern Island in the Midway Atoll. During that year, they were seldom seen in each other’s company. The subsequent year, the pair spent more and more time courting. By 2009, the relationship had progressed to the point of building a nest, but alas, no egg was to be laid that year.  On November 16, 2010, they made history with a single egg lying in the scrape. For the first time in as long as people cared to record such things, a Short-tailed Albatross pair had nested outside of Japan.

In a time before the human abuse the Short-tailed Albatross has a commodity had begun, the numbers of this large oceanic wander were estimated as high as 5 million individuals. They fed on squid over the entire North Pacific with males and immature birds concentrating among the great swells of the Bering Sea, while the females tended to roam along the coastlines of Far East Russia and Japan. They nested on many of the small, isolated Japanese islands such as Bonin Islands. But then, the humans came to islands, lusting for attractive feathers. The aho-dori, translated to stupid bird, was what the Japanese called the Short-tailed Albatross as they killed them for the feather trade. Up to 5 million albatrosses from one colony were dispatched in under 20 years. For a species that reaches sexual maturity in 5-7 years and also has a low reproductive rate (one egg per year maximum), this pace of exploitation was not sustainable. The Short-tailed Albatross’ population plummeted to dangerously low levels. They were restricted to 2 colonies on the islands of Torishima and Minami-kojima. As if this wasn’t frightful enough, these islands was not the best places in the world for Short-tailed Albatross to have as last havens. Torishima is volcanically active, and Minami-kojima is small dot of land that is disputed by Japan, Taiwan, and China, and therefore, no active management is possible. In 1939, the worst case scenario happened; Torishima erupted and covered the colony with over 30 feet of lava. The entire world population and future of the Short-tailed Albatross fell upon just 10 nesting pairs. In 1949, a researcher visiting the island found no breeding pairs to be present, and prematurely declared the species extinct, even though up to 50 individuals were still wandering around the vast Pacific Ocean.

Luckily, the Short-tailed Albatross began to receive the attention of conservationists, and the numbers started to climb ever so slowly to the point where there are upwards of 2,400 albatrosses currently. The problem was that there were only 2 nesting colonies. To remedy this situation, initiatives to create new and geographically dispersed nesting colonies were started.  The Japanese have been successful in establishing a new colony, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service sought to create another nesting colony in Eastern Island, a small, 334 acre coral island in the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. Short-tailed Albatross decoys were placed amongst the existing Laysan Albatross colony. This is point of the story where our pair of Short-tailed Albatross makes their debut.

January 14, 2011 is an historic day for the Short-tailed Albatrosses at Eastern Island. That single egg, that single hope, hatched with a fuzzy little chick lying beneath its parents. That single chick may lead to renewed hope for the continued survival of the Short-tailed Albatross. Torishima is due for another eruption, and one never knows if that event could be a devastating repeat of 1939. The Short-tailed Albatross faces many difficulties to its existence. The by-catch of commercial long-line fishing, environmental pollutants such as oil and pesticides, and competition with other albatross species and introduced predators top the list of hazards. But for today the news is all good.

Continue reading »]]> Recently on Montana Online Birders (MOB) there has been an ongoing conversation centered around whether or not it is ethical to publicly disclose the precise locations of falcons due to the threat of their being captured by falconers. The thread went predictably, which is to say that the discussion flowed from the ethics of licensed falconers morphed into the effects of bird banding  and making comparisons between the two activities. Now, while I was intrigued by the discussion, to me it seemed to overlook the 600 pound gorilla in the room; namely, it is not local falconers who are licensed by the state that pose the greatest threat, rather it is the international illegal falcon trade that sends thousands of falcons to Middle East.

Illegal trade in falcons stems from the Arab world’s desire for the birds, which are viewed as status symbols. The eggs or young birds are taken from the wild, and smuggled into these countries where they can fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars for the smugglers. These prices, of course, are representative of the near unlimited wealth of those members of Middle Eastern royal families and their ministers. This seems like a massive motivation for criminal gangs looking for an easy payday. These illegal takings have had a marked impact on the populations of several falcons throughout the world. For example, Saker Falcon populations in China have fallen to between 1000 and 2000 pairs since the year 1990. In Kazakhstan, the Saker Falcon population has plummeted from 2000 pairs to around 200 breeding pairs, and all of this lose is directly attributable to the illegal taking of falcons for export to the Middle East.

The falcons are not the only victims of this insidious trade. Most of the trappers are brought in from Pakistan, where these same individuals have already decimated falcon populations in that country. These typically impoverished people will be paid as little as a few dollars for their illicit efforts. The gangs maintain the trappers in dependent poverty, and therefore, they will continue trapping falcons.

The trappers often use a decoy Laggar Falcon to draw in the target bird. Once noosed, the falcon is stuffed in a thermos or tube for transport that can last nearly a week, in some cases. This initial humiliation is but the first of many cruelties.  Often corrupt public officials are paid off to allow the unfettered exit of the birds from their respective countries. The level corruption has reached the point where the illegal falcon trade has been characterized as, “not a person-to-person trade, but rather a government-to-government trade.” Tradition once held that the falcons that were passing through the Gulf region were captured in the fall and released after the hunting season in the spring; however, this tradition is dying out as commercialism and its companion, clinging to possessions, as pervaded the Arabic world. The birds are now kept indefinitely, and they more likely than not to die in captivity as their keepers regularly lack proper care knowledge and compassion.

Arabic culture possesses a long standing tradition of falconry. Owning a falcon is a sign of wealth and prestige, and with the influx of oil money, the disease of one-upmanship has infected the society with a terminal diagnose. It was no longer enough to have a single falcon over the winter and then release it, now one has to have aviaries filled with, in some cases, hundreds of falcons. While the Arab world clings to its out-moded notions of masculinity and opulence, the rest of world has began to cry foul. In the wake of the international uproar about the illegal falcon trade, the UAE has actually gotten the “sport” classified a World Intangible Heritage by UNESCO. The duplicity of the United Nations is staggering as they embrace the “tradition” with one arm, and battle the illegal falcon trade through CITES with the other.

CITES lists 6 falcon species as particularly impacted by the falcon trade.

• Lanner Falcon
• Saker Falcon
• Laggar Falcon
• Barbary Falcon
• Peregrine Falcon
• Gyrfalcon

These species are deemed as the most desirable for their their prowess, trainability, and speed for those wishing to possess them. CITES has produced a wonderful identification guide to these species.

As an unfortunate side effect of falcon hunting, the Houbara Bustard, a favored prey item, is nearly extirpated from the Middle East where it has been sought as an aphrodisiac. As result, these hunters have been organizing falcon hunts in countries that still have healthy populations of Houbara Bustard. Recently, a story out of Pakistan relayed the details of sheiks coming into that country to hunt Houbara Bustards, even though they are “officially protected” in that nation. But the hunt was not illegal as Pakistan issued 27 special permits to dignitaries from countries such as Abu Dhabi. The situation just seems to be a repeat of the same old tired paradigm, if money can be made, to hell with the wildlife. If falconry continues with this species as the primary prey item will be extinct as a wild breeding bird soon.

So, back to the original discussion on MOB, should we disclose the locations of Peregrine Falcons and Gyrfalcons? My answer is “it is complicated.” The more bird-friendly folks observe these species, the collective desire to protect them will be amplified. But, the profit motive is always present, and in these economic times, many people are looking for any way to keep a roof over their heads. So, I say lets use our best discretion when communicating the locales of falcons amongst ourselves, birders that is. Instead of being precise as “3rd utility pole from the intersection”, say something like “south of town” and invite those interested to call or email you for more precise directions. This way we can share our sightings and protect the falcons at the same time.

VIDEO

Continue reading »]]> Every Groundhog Day, they drag a poor old Punxsutawney Phil out of his constructed den and see if he sees his own shadow. Will there be 6 more weeks of winter or is spring right around the corner? That predicitive logic might be acceptable for an eastern Groundhog (I personally prefer Woodchuck), but we have our own Groundhog in the Rockies who won’t even if see sunlight for another 3 or 4 months.

Hoary marmots live in the high alpine reaches of northwestern North America and, in particular, the Crown of the Continent ecosystem which encompasses Glacier National Park. They live and thrive in an environment that is immensely harsh. The winters are so taxing that the Hoary marmot must hibernate 7-8 months of the year. These 20 pound rodents spend their winters in a den on a talus slope under feet of snow and ice.

Come summer, the marmots feed upon alpine plants and frolic among the lichen-covered boulders. Folks that are fortunate enough to visit the high country will find these fearless creatures incredibly entertaining.

So if a Hoary Marmot sees its shadow in May, it means that summer is coming…well, even if he doesn’t, summer is coming.

Continue reading »]]> An interesting article from Japan describes a research project that placed small cameras on Black-browed Albatrosses to passively gather data on their lives. One very intriguing behavior came to light. The Albatrosses were actively following Killer Whales to probably feed on the scraps from the orca’s kills. What a great strategy to find a meal in an otherwise featureless expanse of blue.

Continue reading »]]> I had the great opportunity to give of talks at the Bridger Raptor Festival. This festival is a great educational event with many great exhibits and live rehab birds, including the Turkey Vulture that once threw up on me. The talks went well with great attendance. It has been a long time since the last time I spoke publicly, and it felt good to get back up on that horse.

Continue reading »]]> We are very pleased to announce the release of WilderTrack 2.0. WilderTrack is the most comprehensive birding and outdoor-focused web application available. If you enjoy watching and studying the natural world, and you need to be able to record, track, and share your outdoor life easily and quickly, WilderTrack is definitely for you.

With WilderTrack you get access to more than 29,000 species in the current database and the ability to record all of your birding, wildlife, hiking, and other outdoor activities in one simple, easy-to-use online package – no downloading or installing software.

Introducing WilderTrack for iPhone. Finally, there is a listing web application for the iPhone mobile device. Imagine being in the field and simply tapping your iPhone as you record and share your sightings and trips. Entering your data with WilderTrack for iPhone could not be any easier and quicker.

There are a host of new improvements and features to the core software.

• The launch of WilderTrack for iPhone
• Improved performance
• Rare Bird and ID Challenge sighting entry
• Easier sighting entry with new and improved QuickSight

Remember, as a member of WilderTrack.com, you automatically receive access to WilderTrack for iPhone. Just go to wildertrack.com on your iPhone or find the web app at apple.com.

Continue reading »]]> I was just informed about this story about Worcester’s buttonquail was known only through illustrations based on decades-old museum specimens until a television crew documented the live bird in the market before it was sold in January, NationalGeographic.com reported.

Scientists had suspected the bird, found only on the island of Luzon, to be extinct, according to NationalGeographic.com.

Continue reading »]]> With the approach of warming temperatures and longer days, we will soon be seeing the trickle and then the flood of migrants as they cascade into the forests and prairies of the northern latitudes. Most, if not all, of us herald this annual event with fervor. We think of the birds as making steady, daily progress northward, but according to an article recently published in Science, the yearly passage may be at a pace that is absolutely astonishing. The study focused on Purple Martins and Wood Thrushes (both rarities in our Montana neck of the woods, but bear with me) that were outfitted with small (weighing less than a dime) geolocator transmitters. The data streaming from those miniscule electronic devices brought to light that the birds were covering the vast distances with more speed than previously anticipated. The birds more traveling between ~230 and nearly 600 kilometers per day. These rates and distances underlie the importance of migration stopovers and the protection of these areas. The article abstract can be found at on the Science website.

Continue reading »]]> What a concept! Breaking the cycle of the historically adversarial relationship between resource industry and conservation groups, the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Partnership shows what can happen when folks actually sit down, find common ground, and do the right thing. I believe that this state has to learn the art of compromise, understanding that the best solution usually lies within the middle ground. I am very excited to see this collaborative process applied on other forests and federal lands in the West.

Of course, this plan is not without its detractors. The bone-heads on both sides (motorized recreation and hardcore enviros) and their nonsensical, no compromise stances are and will continue to throw stones at the plan from the sidelines. The “multiple-use” groups, not necessarily the individuals, are the worst offenders – they don’t have a plan, they are not going to contribute an alternative plan, and they are dead set against any plan that involves any real conservation. These guys are the worst outcome of the red state mentality, “I have rights, but I have no responsibility” – the heights of selfishness are continually displayed in these people. The hardcore enviros are no better. Their “No compromise” philosophy leads to discord and mistrust with communities and industry in the West. They create or, at least, encourage enemies. I am sick of hearing about the evil rancher, the greedy logger or the bourgeois businessman, while these idiots sing stupid songs and chants at hearings and meetings, even when they have a legitimate point (they do have legitimate points more often than not). The ideas seem silly coming from the court jesters in corduroys.

Key Elements of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Partnership Legislation

• Designates 570,000 acres of roadless country in 16 areas as wilderness.
• Establishes six “Stewardship Areas,” roughly equivalent to forest planning units
• Identifies 698,000 of forested acres as “eligible lands” for stewardship projects.
• Directs the FS to make a decision on one landscape-sale restoration project of up to 50,000 years in the “eligible lands” within a year of the bill passing.
• Directs the FS to mechanically treat 14,000 within two years and 70,000 within 10 years, with a priority on lands that have high road densities, ongoing impacts to wildlife and fish due to past logging and roading, are at high risk because of insects and high-severity fires, and which are in the wildland urban .
• Requires all projects carried out under the legislation to employ stewardship contracts, thereby funneling the value of timber taken back onto the landscape for restoration activities.
• Requires a post-project road density of less than 1.5 miles per square mile
• Requires that any roads necessary for a project have to be temporary.
• Requires INFISH riparian-protection standards for all projects
• Requires the Forest to establish a citizen-run Resource Advisory Council to advise it on identification of projects.
• Requires the RAC to establish multi-interest advisory committees to aid the forest in developing and monitoring projects.
• Requires the Forest to report back to Congress within five years on progress of activities directed in the plan
• All measures in the bill, except the wilderness designation, terminate in 10-15 years, when it is expected the next major revision of the forest plan will occur.
• Land-use allocations, standards and traveling planning not specified or directly implicated in
  the legislation default to the forest plan and other agency plans.
• The legislation has no effect on the appeals process or judicial review.

I encourage everyone to read about the plan at the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Partnership website. The entire Montana legislative delegation has voiced approval of the plan, save for Denny Rehberg (surprise, surprise), please contact Mr. Rehberg (see contact information below)

Montana Congressional Delegation