Tuesday, December 30, 2008

ornithological research news

If you're looking for some good reading, see the research page of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. Lots of excellent articles on a wide array of ornithological research done by the Center's staff.

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Similarly, see the research page of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, to see what they're working on.

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See the website of the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, here. More good work.

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And lastly, see the science page at the website of the Point Reyes Bird Observatory. Many fine projects are taking place there also.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

bird conservation news, etc.

Read a fine new report, aimed at the new transition team for the incoming presidential administration, and produced by the American Bird Conservancy, and the National Audubon Society, here. There are a number of reasons this report is particularly worth reading; one is that it presents an excellent overview of the scope of conservation challenges that exist right now, and it summarizes some bird population information, and avian ecology issues extremely well in just a few pages. Highly recommended!

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Read the latest news from the Boreal Songbird Initiative here.

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If you've never visited any of these, check out the websites of the Biodiversity Project, and the Yellowstone to Yukon Project .

Monday, December 15, 2008

BirdLife Int'l. news, other alternative conservation-related news




Read the latest BirdLife International news, here.


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Tom Schultz, WSO Vice President and Co-Chair of Field trips, sent me an excellent weblink to an umbrella organization of sportsmen-and-women who are working to reduce climate change. The website does a stellar job of explaining the issues; highly recommended: click here.

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The latest Audubon at Home webpage is here.

Monday, December 8, 2008

alternative birding news

New publications from the staff of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center can be found listed at this link.

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Here are the latest Am. Bird Conservancy headline stories:
Western Bluebird Reintroduction Second Year Successes Monday, December 08, 2008 11:10:52 AM
Man-made Sandbars on the Missouri a Boost for Terns and Plovers Friday, December 05, 2008 12:10:22 AM
Critical Area in Costa Rica Protected from Development Thursday, December 04, 2008 2:35:22 AM
Pilot Hi-Tech Study Searches for Rare Hawaiian Birds Wednesday, December 03, 2008 9:30:33 AM
ABC Flagship Species to be Covered by the Endangered Species Act Tuesday, December 02, 2008 9:45:33 AM

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Recent Smithsonian white papers on the coffee/bird conservation connection are available here.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

emerging threat to boreal forest bird populations


An emerging threat to birds lies in the development of Canadian tar sands. Read about these factors:

Tar Sands Mining Destroys Boreal Bird Habitat
Tailings Ponds From Mining Trap Birds in Oily Waste
Tar Sands Drilling Fragments Bird Habitat
Tar Sands Water Withdrawals Harm Wetlands and Water Habitats
Tar Sands Toxins Weaken and Kill Boreal Birds
Beyond Alberta—Impacts of Tar Sands Pipelines and Refineries

in a new report based at the following link:
Natural Resources Defense Council report