Thursday, July 30, 2009

Proposed new Brooklyn Botanic Garden visitors center:A potential window collision bird deathtrap?

I got this email thru my subscription Brooklyn Papers.One of the links which i am attaching here, is about the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's proposed new visitor's center...Yep...it's all glass from the sketch i see ( they said the design won a green award...wondering if birds were thought of as one of the criteria) .I cant tell how high the building will be or whatever but its going to be 22,000 square feet ( so it says).

That's not good for a birding spot that potentially could see bird collisions.

http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/32/29/32_29_jk_botanic.html

if you can't open the link, go to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's website which i think is http://www.bbg.org/ ( or google it)I will be sending an inquiry to them asking for more details on the glass structure and composite of that glass.For more information about the dangers of reflective glass upon birds, see Project Safe flight or American Bird Conservancy

site:http://www.abcbirds.org/conservationissues/threats/buildings.html

http://www.nycaudubon.org/NYCASBirdWatch/TabDefault.asp

http://www.nycaudubon.org/projects/safeflight/

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Birdwatchers No Featherweights in Contributions to Economy

“This U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service study further reinforces the importance of bird conservation,” said Darin Schroeder, American Bird Conservancy’s Vice President for Conservation Advocacy. “The State of the Birds report released earlier this year found that one-third of all bird species in the U.S. are in decline or facing serious threats. This report confirms that losing these species could have significant economic consequences.”





Contact: Joshua Winchell

703-358-2279

Joshua_winchell@fws.gov



Birdwatchers No Featherweights in Contributions to Economy



A new report released today by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows one

of every five Americans watches birds, and in doing so, birdwatchers

contributed $36 billion to the U.S. economy in 2006, the most recent year

for which economic data are available. The report – Birding in the United

States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis –shows that total participation

in birdwatching is strong at 48 million, and remaining at a steady 20

percent of the U.S. population since 1996.



Participation rates vary, but are generally greater in the northern half of

the country. The five top states with the greatest birding participation

rates include Montana (40 percent), Maine (39 percent), Vermont (38

percent), Minnesota (33 percent) and Iowa (33 percent).



The report identifies who birders are, where they live, how avid they are,

and what kinds of birds they watch. In addition to demographic information,

this report also provides an estimate of how much birders spend on their

hobby and the economic impact of these expenditures.



The report is an addendum to the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting,

and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. The 2006 survey is the eleventh in a

series of surveys conducted about every 5 years that began in 1955. The

survey, conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in partnership with

state wildlife agencies and national conservation organizations, has become

the reference for participation and expenditure information on fish and

wildlife recreation in the United States. The survey helps quantify how

enjoyment of the outdoors and wildlife contributes to society and promotes

a healthy economy – and further strengthens the Service’s commitment to

conserve the nation’s wildlife for the enjoyment and benefit of the

American people.



A copy of the Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic

Analysis can be downloaded here:

http://library.fws.gov/Pubs/birding_natsurvey06.pdf



In conjunction with the release of the birding report, the Service also

issued another similar addendum to the 2006 Survey entitled, Wildlife

Watching Trends: 1991–2006 A Reference Report. This report shows similar

trends in wildlife-watching, a broader category that includes large and

small-mammal viewing.



An overview of the Survey, and a wealth of other information, can be found

online at:

http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/NationalSurvey/National_Survey.htm



The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to

conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for

the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and

trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific

excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated

professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our

work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.











Steve Holmer

Director of Public Relations

American Bird Conservancy

202/234-7181 ext. 216 or

202/744-6459 (cell)

sholmer@abcbirds.org

www.abcbirds.org



American Bird Conservancy operates the Bird News Network, which distributes the latest information about birds and bird conservation through videos, press releases, and news stories.
Video releases are available at Bird News Network Videos or view the latest news stories and subscribe to the network's RSS feed at http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/latestnews.html

House Passes Bill to Protect Migratory Birds

MEDIA RELEASE

Contact: Steve Holmer, American Bird Conservancy, 202-234-7181, ext. 216, sholmer@abcbirds.org, www.abcbirds.org



House Passes Bill to Protect Migratory Birds

Joint Ventures Play Important Role in Restoring Chesapeake Bay

(Washington, D.C., July 14, 2009) Earlier today the United States House of Representatives passed H.R. 2188, the Joint Ventures for Bird Habitat Conservation Act of 2009, which was introduced by Rep. Frank Kratovil, the freshman Democrat representing the 1st district of Maryland. The bill would formally authorize the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Joint Ventures Program, which has been effectively carrying out bird conservation planning and projects since 1987.

“American Bird Conservancy appreciates the effective leadership of Rep. Kratovil to get this bill passed. Joint Ventures are a proven success and have made a huge difference for bird conservation,” said Darin Schroeder, American Bird Conservancy’s Vice President for Conservation Advocacy. “By applying science and bringing people together, Joint Ventures across the U.S. have created a model for solving wildlife management problems and restoring habitats critical to conserving declining species.”

Joint ventures are regional partnerships involving federal, state, and local government agencies, corporations, tribes, individuals, and conservation organizations which advance conservation efforts and help identify local land use priorities. There are currently 21 JVs in the United States that provide coordination for conservation planning, and implementing projects to benefit birds and other species. JVs develop science-based goals and strategies, and a non-regulatory approach for achieving conservation.

Maryland is primarily part of the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture (ACJV) which is focused on the conservation of habitat for native birds in the Atlantic Flyway of the United States from Maine south to Puerto Rico. The ACJV partnership has protected 158,000 acres in Maryland, and restored another 98,000 acres. The ACJV helps direct funding for the restoration of Chesapeake Bay such as land acquisition and supports projects to plant aquatic vegetation in the Bay benefitting birds and other wildlife.

The western end of Maryland is part of the recently-created Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture which is working to conserve species such as the Kentucky, Worm-eating, Prairie, and Golden-winged Warblers, Wood Thrush, American Woodcock, and American Black Duck. Nationally, Joint Ventures have directed $4.5 billion in conservation spending from Federal grants and programs, state conservation dollars, and private donations and have protected, restored, or enhanced more than 13 million acres of important habitat for migratory bird species.

#30#

American Bird Conservancy (ABC) conserves native wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. ABC acts to safeguard the rarest bird species, restore habitats, and reduce threats, while building capacity in the conservation movement. ABC is the voice for birds, ensuring that they are adequately protected; that sufficient funding is available for bird conservation; and that land is protected and properly managed to maintain viable habitat. ABC is a 501(c)(3) membership organization that is consistently awarded a top, four-star rating by the independent group, Charity Navigator.


















Steve Holmer

Director of Public Relations

American Bird Conservancy

202/234-7181 ext. 216 or

202/744-6459 (cell)

sholmer@abcbirds.org

www.abcbirds.org



American Bird Conservancy operates the Bird News Network, which distributes the latest information about birds and bird conservation through videos, press releases, and news stories.
Video releases are available at Bird News Network Videos or view the latest news stories and subscribe to the network's RSS feed at http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/latestnews.html