Birdchick Podcast

This is an old story (about a year ago) but there are photos of some jerk trying to smuggle hummingbirds in his underwear. Blake Richard Riede was a complete idiot and released several permanently injured birds of prey from their enclosures in Florida.  Species released from Boyd Hill Nature Trail Park include red-shouldered hawk, bald eagle and turkey vultures. All but one of the injured birds (a red-shouldered hawk) have been recovered.  You can TRY to watch the YouTube video that incriminated him but it's really long.  You don't see shenanigans happen until at least 10 minutes in and it's totally worse at 30 minutes in. Ned Brinkley sent an awesome letter on behalf of the tagged whimbrels who were legally shot in Guadeloupe about the importance of these birds to the rest of the world. Maybe Ned's letter (along with several others) will be  step in the right direction to get to set hunting limits during migration.  Go Ned and go ABA! Praying mantis kills another hummingbird.  It has happened before. Excellent clip from the Big Year movie--opens October 14!!    

It's the special news report everyone is waiting for--The Winter Finch Forecast!  Will you see finches this winter? Operation Migration has a web cam that live streams flight training for young whooping cranes.  Check it out (in daylight hours). NPR wants to tell us about a bird we've never heard of...though many birders have--the bar-tailed godwit.  It's a good story about migration and be sure to check out the matching cartoon. 3 words: Bald Baby Penguin.  Below is the before and after: Full story here. Want to run away from life this winter?  Check out this opportunity! For more bird jobs, go here. JAMAICAN FIELD ASSISTANTS (6) Not looking forward to cold weather, 6 hours of light, and watching the bird feeder? We have the answer. Be a field assistant on research studying American Redstarts in Jamaica. Project begins approximately January 10th and continues until mid-April (~1-2 positions) to mid-May (~4-5 positions). Assistants can expect long hours in the field, six days per week, walking in mangrove forests inhabited by crocodiles and maneuvering through dense second growth scrub. Being flexible with working conditions, schedule, and living situation is absolutely key to success at this position. Competitive applicants will be very self-motivated, have the ability to re-sight and follow small (6g) color-banded birds, and extract songbirds quickly and safely from mist nets. Experience collecting foraging behavioral data on small songbirds and banding and bleeding experience are all preferred, but not required. This is an all-expenses paid volunteer position (i.e. no salary, but travel to and from Jamaica as well as home-cooked Jamaican food and comfortable sea-side lodging are provided). Send an email with the subject “Jamaican Field Assistant”, a cover letter, CV, and contact info for 3 references to NATHAN COOPER (EM: nathanwands AT hotmail.com).    

Interesting...do satellite transmitters harm birds? Bald eagle rehabbed by The Raptor Center was banded and the band was recovered, giving a clue as to how birds fare post wildlife rehab. Bald eagle that was injured and is now used for public programs flies into a window at a football stadium causing public outcry from animal rights groups and highlights how dangerous windows are. Meanwhile San Fransisco approves guidelines for new construction to include bird friendly. Terre Haute, Indiana has a Crow Committee. Ducks Unlimited is asking hunters to purchase 2 Duck Stamps this year.  Will birders purchase 1?

I've been in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia which puts on an awesome little bird festival. I stayed at the Manor Inn and if you are ever there, I highly recommend it. Feathers in amber. Minnesota man named Craig Staloch accused of destroying 75% of pelicans nests that were on land he was leasing for farming. Bird watcher dies trying to photograph a peregrine...let this a lesson to all of us. 24 Nihoa Millerbirds have been moved to a different island to prevent extinction.

Kind of a bummer for migration.  Whimbrels--are really awesome type of shorebird have been fitted with satellite transmitters.  One even went through Hurricane Irene.  Alas, 2 of them have been legally shot, story here and here.  It's legal on this island to shoot shorebirds, they are not part of the Migratory Bird Treaty. News that record numbers of birds of prey poisoned in Scotland. Birds that were pets and released in their native Australia are teaching their wild counterparts human words. Download the podcast theme song, "The Cinnamon Funk."

The "Happy Feet" penguin that swam up onto the New Zealand shore starving, underwent some wildlife rehab and was released with a satellite transmitter has disappeared. Go check out the Sunbathing Birds gallery at Bird Watching Magazine--the titmouse looks disturbing! In really nice news, fewer migrating birds were trapped in the 911 Tribute of Lights.  Unlike last year when at least 10,000 migrating birds became trapped in the lights. Wind tunnels reveals how birds stay hydrated during migration.  I'm so relieved I don't have to migrate. Several common loons breeding in the Upper Midwest are sporting satellite transmitters in order for researchers to study the migration through the Great Lakes toward their southern winter homes. By using satellite tracking devices implanted in the loons from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Michigan Upper Peninsula, USGS scientists expect to learn information about avian botulism essential for managers to develop loon conservation strategies. I had a guest post over on the Skepchick blog--I'm so honored!  

This is where I'll be next week. From the American Birding Association Blog: Crazy female burrowing owl does 2 broods--1100 miles apart! Oklahoma should really look at the lesser prairie-chicken as an economic opportunity, not an economic bust.  There's a lesser prairie-chicken festival--Leks, Treks and More! It's hawk migration time--find a Hawk Count near you!   Big Year news--lots of discussion about below: A Swainson's hawk in the snow?  WildBird magazine makes an appearance in the movie! Jim Parsons is supposed to play a bird blogger.  Who is he?  Have you ever seen a bird blogger in a beret? Also Greg Miller (played by Jack Black in the film) has his own blog...and his own line of shirts:        

  Big Year news, we have a Trailer: And Audubon Magazine has an article with all 3 stars.  Steve Martin assures us they are respectful to birders... Crows tested with snakes and teddy bears. If you are remotely interested in whether or not birds have fingers or thumbs, you'll love this article. Manx Shearwater crisis in Pembrokeshire. Frigatebirds make headlines on CNN.    

Another great reason to buy a Duck Stamp:  Bird Watcher Supply, Blue Ridge Bird Seed Company and Dawsonville Wild Birds Unlimited have agreed to offer a 10% discount to their customers who display the current duck stamp. Promotion continues through the end of December, 2011. Here's an article about Sandy Komito, this is the guy who is portrayed by Owen Wilson in The Big Year Movie. Also, Mark Obmascik is now on Twitter and posted this photo for a new book cover (above), could this be a movie poster preview?For those interested, here's a blog post from when I spoke with a man who sat through an early preview several months ago. Minnesota man charged with excessive bird feeding gets probation. Record flock of sociable lapwings reported! Birdspot has a shop up temporarily--includes harlot shirts! Hurricane Irene Bird News: Bird migrates through Hurricane Irene (must read). New York Time article on birders birding post hurricane. Zen Birdfeeder writes about the birds in her yard during Tropical Storm Irene. eBird's breakdown of Hurricane Irene's birds.    

Reader feedback from Kevin Collison: "You frequently mention birding groups efforts to attract more birders (members). I have one, tell them to stop being so hard on hunters. Most hunters, like myself, have a love for nature too. I love hunting, birding, and nature photography." Interesting RADAR image from Saturday night of bird migration and Hurricane Irene: Birders are excited about hurricane birds and all kinds of terns and even a tropic bird have been reported. A wayward red-tailed hawk got caught in a New York City apartment building and the rescue team tried to lure it out with bread.  Really, guys, bread?  Thanks for the news, Space Doggity. A specimen collected in the 1960s proves to be an undocumented (and world's smallest) shearwater. It hasn't been seen since, is it extinct or hidden among other shearwaters?  Here's a photo of the Bryan's shearwater specimen. In less depressing news, there's a common murre nest on the Channel Islands that hatched chicks for the first time in 100 years!  Yay!  See sometimes conservation efforts CAN work. A contest for musician/bird look alikes.  

Brits at a pub were apparently eat crow (of sorts).  A Rook Salad is now off the menu.  Here's a followup story on what exactly you are allowed to eat wild bird wise in the UK.  Man, I thought the Migratory Bird Treaty was hard to explain. Careful what swift saliva you're eating in birds nest soup. Kellogg you're really making me not want to eat Froot Loops (and that's hard to do).  Kellogg goes after a non profit the Maya Archaeology Initiative an educational group in Guatemala for infringing on Toucan Sam.  Here are the 2 logos side by side.  Kellogg is being a jerk: Maya Archaeology Institute appears to be using a Toco Toucan (which isn't native to Guatemala) and I suspect Kellogg's Toucan Sam is unidentifiable but shows characteristics of Keel-billed Toucan and Blue Plate Mountain Toucan. Help Cornell Lab's version of HAL called Merlin learn how people see color on birds when trying to id them.    

Sony is releasing binoculars that can record HD video...in 3D.  Will these be any good? This guy needs to try and take a rose-breasted grosbeak out of a mist net--how hard do birds bite? Man arrested for feeding birds near Bob Hope Airport. Job opportunity for anyone who desires getting in to the suet industry. Why is that dead bird wearing a transmitter? Enter the Swarovski Digiscoper of the Year Contest!  For realz, you should!  

A penguin that was found WAY off course in New Zealand is getting a lift back towards its flock.  Here's a counter point to the story. Someone posted it on the Birdchick Facebook wall and I think didn't get the reaction from me he was expecting. More buzz is coming out about Big Year, this movie writer is not sure birdwatching can be funny.  Meanwhile, it looks like Fox has finally made their official movie page live. An article about ptarmigan and how being faster makes you better at mating...glad I'm not married to a ptarmigan. Popular Internet photos this week: Bald Blue Jay and albino Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Book I'm loving this week is Avian Architecture    

Overcrowded prison Brazil uses geese to keep prisoners in check. A study about bird brains and Communism...what won't researchers study? Harlot-gate, making female birders uncomfortable? 25 Things That Changed Birding Recently.

The American Birding Association is now offering clothes and other merchandise. Bread Amnesty--Park in the UK trying a campaign to get people to feed "healthier" food to waterfowl. Minnesota man in trouble over bird feeding set up.